maddox

by Chris Abrahams

After a stint as a music venue proprietor, Geoff Maddox is getting on with his life: managing his complex domestic situation; visiting the local shopping mall; and socialising with the regulars at the Stella Maris Hotel. This routine is disrupted by a fateful encounter with a young dancer, Amber, and the reappearance of an unsavoury character from his past. His life is rerouted into an undisciplined quest to fulfil his desire and prove himself. Maddox is a fast-paced, blackly comic ride around the inner workings of a man with time on his hands. Chris Abrahams was born in Oamaru, New Zealand but grew up in Sydney, Australia. For most of his adult life he has been a musician working in the fields of improvised music and electronica, touring internationally, producing and co-producing over 50 albums, and winning two Aria awards. Maddox is his first novel.

326 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2019

Reviews

[Pramble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Abrahams is not a talkative chap, but it seems like he spends his time pondering what people really mean when they something or say nothing. It is an entertaining, self-deprecating, first-person story from someone who consistently makes silly mistakes, loses money, is exploited and seems to come second in every race.
The story never slips into slapstick and the words are chosen carefully. I hope Chris follows it up.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort of a fucked up mix of Confederacy of Dunces, Jack Irish, and Murray Whelan, with a touch of Andrew McGahans Praise (kind of, if you squint)
🤨
I liked it.

3.9

[Karl Javernig · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read. I look forward to more from Chris.