Nirvana Bites

The Nirvana Series #1

by Debi Alper

Nirvana Bites  is an irreverent look at alternative living, set in the housing co-ops and S&M clubs of South London. When Jen goes for a job at the BBC, she gets more than she bargains for when she recognizes her potential boss as "Stapled Stan"—a man with a serious bondage problem. It seems that she is not the only one who knows his secret identity and soon Stan enlists her as a private investigator and protector. As she sets out on a quest to find and confront his blackmailers, Stan is concealed within Jen's homely community of anti-capitalist social misfits and New Age hippies. As the threats grow more serious and Jen's friends start to suffer, it becomes clear that an inconspicuous aquatic shop, Koi Korner, is hiding some dark secrets. Can Jen expose the perpetrators? Will life ever be the same again?

Genres: Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

I was born into a working class Jewish family (yes, we do exist!) in north London and became active in radical politics in the 70s.

In 1982, I went to Grenada and lived there on and off for the following four years, experiencing the revolution, the coup and subsequent US invasion and aftermath. For full details, see my Revo Blog.

On my return to London, I worked as a finance officer for Jewish Women in London (an oral history project) and Women Focusing (a national women’s photography organisation) and took a diploma in photojournalism at London College of Printing. Together with two friends on the course, we formed a photojournalism collective, working in the not-for-profit sector. Over the years, I also had jobs as a shop assistant, farm labourer, life model and wig maker – amongst other things …

I moved into the Shangri-La Housing Co-op in Peckham in 1989, providing the setting for my subsequent novels. Sadly, we had to move out of the co-op when the council repossessed the properties to turn them back into family homes. I was seven months pregnant at the time. As a result, the council had to re-house us and we moved to East Dulwich in 1995.

Soon after my second son was born, I joined the East Dulwich Writers’ Group although I had no previous experience of writing fiction apart from an abortive attempt to crack the women’s magazine short story market several years earlier. (Each story would start sweet enough but then gradually turned dark and twisted. Clearly my inner voice calling out …) I wrote Nirvana Bites in the evenings in long hand lying on the settee and then typed it up in chunks using borrowed laptops, fitting it in round working as a part-time finance officer and wedding photographer, as well as parenting two young children.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was undecided whether to read this. I am so glad I did. I loved it from page 1. It was funny, clever and a fantastic read. I loved all the characters. It all came together very well and is well worth a read

[Dawn Witney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual choice of reading matter, but this is a well written, action-packed book. It is so far removed from what I usually read that I didn't expect to enjoy it or be giving it a 5-star review! It grabs your attention from the first word and just keeps on delivering. Fast-paced with a pool of well-written characters to keep up your interest. Lots of action as Jen (Jenny) tries to find out who is putting the frighteners on Stapled Stan. She enlists the help of her friends at the Nirvana Housing Co-op and together they unravel the mystery. The book is entertaining, funny, scary and down-right makes-you-shudder, at times, but never boring. Well worth reading. Excellent.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by my friend who enjoyed it and even though it's not my usual sort of thing, I fancied reading something different.
I found it surprisingly enjoyable! Humorous more than laugh out loud funny, but if you're looking for something different this is for you!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wickedly brilliant writing. Not my usual read but creative and inventive and she takes you to places that I never want to go. Looking forward to studying with Debi in the fall.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

that was fun and thrilling and smart! the sad ending caught me off guard, though, even if it was totally in line with the book

[David Fox-Meakin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nirvana Bites tells the story of Jen and her selection of radicalist neighbours who inadvertently find themselves helping out 'Stapled Stan', an acquaintance of Jen's from her days involved in the London S&M scene. Someone has it in for him and as Jen starts to get involved in trying to find out who and why, she and her friends also start to find themselves targets of violence. Can the local aquatics shop hold they key to who is out to get them, and more importantly can they be stopped? With an array of colourful characters along the way, Nirvana Bites makes for an enjoyable comedy thriller. Well worth a read, especially if you pick a copy up in Poundland as I did!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romp of a story of goings-on south of the river, exuberant, well-writ, populated with a cast of odd-balls and entertaining. Touches of Christopher Brookmyre lunacy. And a hugely impressive, relevant cover - well done!

[Rj Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully entertaining and educating Red Top Bus ride through South London's alternative culture scene by way of a mystery plot.

In the guise of Tahir Shah with his style of showing a unique perspective by way of telling a good story.

A great find.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly absorbing and enjoyable story. A mystery and a thriller with humour thrown in