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Immortality: This Is Probably a Novel
Chester, a successful investigative reporter, is in fear of his life. He takes refuge in New Zealand, twelve thousand miles from Kate, the woman he cannot forget. His quiet life is interrupted when a stranger knocks on his door and takes him to the world’s best kept secret – Hell. He is certain this can’t be true and looks for answers to why he is being subjected to endless mysterious occurrences. These life changing answers are a long time coming and all the time he yearns for Kate – will she still want him? Powerful, moving and thought provoking.
You are invited into this mystery: intriguing, exciting and deadly.
“... packed such a punch... you’ll love watching Chester’s world slowly unravel.” Amazon and Goodreads reviewer
You are invited into this mystery: intriguing, exciting and deadly.
“... packed such a punch... you’ll love watching Chester’s world slowly unravel.” Amazon and Goodreads reviewer
- GenresMystery
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2020
33 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Anna Faversham
13 books247 followersI have lived most of my life in Kent, England but I’ve also lived in New Zealand and central Africa. Both had a lasting influence. Africa dragged my love of writing to the surface. Living some forty miles from the nearest tarmac road and seventy from anything pretending to be a bookshop, I soon ran out of bedtime stories for the children. Scribbling began.
On returning to England, fiction had to take a back seat as real life took over, you know the sort of thing - a proper job to keep feeding the mortgage and the growing family, and chores, chores and more chores. But a love of writing finally erupted into regular tap-tapping. I've written and read for the BBC and published short stories.
Finally, a little more time was found, seven novels have been completed, and more are in the pipeline. I like to include interesting facts in my writing and it is often the case that fact is stranger than fiction, as you probably know. The first book to be published was Hide in Time, a time travel romance. The second book was inspired by the smugglers’ caves I visited as a child, and the third is a sequel set in the ‘diamond isle’ – the Isle of Wight. My website tells more about the inspiration for the books.
And what do people say about the books?
“A clever mixture of suspense, romance and time travel” - Hide in Time
“Dark romantic mystery on a knife edge throughout” - One Dark Night.
www.annafaversham.uk
On returning to England, fiction had to take a back seat as real life took over, you know the sort of thing - a proper job to keep feeding the mortgage and the growing family, and chores, chores and more chores. But a love of writing finally erupted into regular tap-tapping. I've written and read for the BBC and published short stories.
Finally, a little more time was found, seven novels have been completed, and more are in the pipeline. I like to include interesting facts in my writing and it is often the case that fact is stranger than fiction, as you probably know. The first book to be published was Hide in Time, a time travel romance. The second book was inspired by the smugglers’ caves I visited as a child, and the third is a sequel set in the ‘diamond isle’ – the Isle of Wight. My website tells more about the inspiration for the books.
And what do people say about the books?
“A clever mixture of suspense, romance and time travel” - Hide in Time
“Dark romantic mystery on a knife edge throughout” - One Dark Night.
www.annafaversham.uk
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 18, 2020
As we follow investigative reporter Chester from London to New Zealand, with a lay off in Dubai, we learn he’s left the woman he loves, Kate, behind. He’s on the run, hiding from danger and New Zealand will be his haven. He’s impressed with the cabin that’s been built which he’d never seen and gradually his sense of calm returns. Chester has squatters on his property – Natty and Finn. Natty is pregnant and although Chester was going to kick them off his land, he relented and when a new shed was built, he installed them in there in return for small jobs they could do around the place.
But strange things began to happen to Chester and he wasn’t sure if they were nightmares or his imagination or…. The swan (that no one else could see) and Moggy, the little kitten that appeared seemed to be his only companions, unless he could count Finn and Natty. But what was going to happen?
Immortality: This is Probably a Novel by Anna Faversham is nothing like I expected! I’ve read a lot by this author and this is a complete turn around to her previous work. The writing is sublime, the mystique and paranormal elements fascinating. Chester was… Chester – neither likeable nor unlikeable. I’m really not sure what to think!!! I guess you’ll have to read it yourself to see… Recommended.
But strange things began to happen to Chester and he wasn’t sure if they were nightmares or his imagination or…. The swan (that no one else could see) and Moggy, the little kitten that appeared seemed to be his only companions, unless he could count Finn and Natty. But what was going to happen?
Immortality: This is Probably a Novel by Anna Faversham is nothing like I expected! I’ve read a lot by this author and this is a complete turn around to her previous work. The writing is sublime, the mystique and paranormal elements fascinating. Chester was… Chester – neither likeable nor unlikeable. I’m really not sure what to think!!! I guess you’ll have to read it yourself to see… Recommended.
June 25, 2020
Powerful, moving, and thoughtful, Immortality, This is Probably a Novel, takes the reader to the Gates of Hell and back. Author Anna Faversham has leaped out of her comfort zone to write a mystery/thriller that serves as a cautionary tale as well. Fleeing reporter Chester must reexamine his life and purpose, all while going on a bizarre journey that will test the boundaries of both his morality and beliefs. After an assignment that leaves him fleeing to hide in the outback of New Zealand, he meets a strange group of animals and characters that make him question the extent humans will go to achieve their desires. In the end, the discoveries knit together the mystery of life and everlasting life.
May 2, 2022
I will go with a solid 5 stars to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this … twice.
The overarching story line and plot are tantalizing as one reads about the investigative journalist who has gone into a dangerous environment undercover and must now go into hiding far away to avoid certain death at the hands of those whom he was investigating. He must leave London and will hide away in a remote area of New Zealand. The first chapter sets up the intrigue and suspense that is later unfolded, mostly through memories and, ultimately, through the events after the return to London. The characters are well developed and consistent. Chester is complex and interesting as a primary character and believable as a real individual. He, as all of us, is shaped, molded, and influenced by his past, which is revealed as the story unfolds. Chester learns many things along the way, including that we are neither bound by nor restricted from change by our past. The choices are ours.
As Chester travels incognito to New Zealand, he encounters characters that make him question the reality of the situations. He has just been through harrowing and frightfully dangerous events that have him on the run and his mind is racing as he travels. One question is, “Is my imagination running wild or is all of this real?” (My words, not the authors.) Was that camel really talking to him? Was he making up meanings on behalf of the camel through his own imagination? What did that dancer know, or were her words to him simply a coincidence? “You can run but you cannot hide.” Why didn’t the Indian couple see the little girl? That’s just the first chapter.
Chester grows and learns over the course of this story. He arrives at “The Cabin” in a secluded area of New Zealand behind security gate and fences. It is the perfect hide-away. As he walks the land, he finds a couple, Natty and Finn, camped in a tent on his land. From their looks, he assumes they are bums or tramps, or as Chester called them, “wilting wallies”, just living off the land with no ambition or virtues. He eventually learns that he should not jump to conclusions without learning more about people’s situations. (I will leave it there because the reader will understand as the book is read.) Would they add something to his life?
One night he hears a knock on the door and wonders how someone got in past his security gate and fencing. It is a doctor who basically invites himself in. This is where the fantasy begins to openly reveal itself in the book. At this point, I must interject that this portion can appeal to the atheist, the agnostic, and the religious. Chester does not believe in God though he had a Quaker upbringing before his parents died one not too long after the other when he was relatively young. To the atheist and agnostic, this can be viewed as a “fantasy of conscience” for those who have done bad and sometimes dastardly deeds during their lives. When they get close to the end of their lives, do their consciences tear away at them and do they suffer with remorse for the things they have done and how they have treated people? For the religious, this can be, not only a fantasy of conscience, but a fantasy of Hades and the just recompense of reward for their actions. Regardless of how it is viewed, these visits by those who have committed crimes against others have tales to tell and things to show Chester. He is visited by the doctor, the king, the union steward, and others who each tells a story and then is transported to another realm where Chester learns of their punishment for their deeds. The morning after the first visit, he is sure it was just a bad dream; a nightmare. Besides, what did this have to do with him? This happens several times.
Eventually he goes back to London for the trial and the rest of the details of his undercover work are revealed. Toward the end, he is still telling Kate that he doesn’t believe in God. She loves him, regardless.
I definitely recommend this book to any readers who enjoy a bit of intrigue, suspense, and the fantasy of conscience that are so well presented in this ... “probably” novel.
The overarching story line and plot are tantalizing as one reads about the investigative journalist who has gone into a dangerous environment undercover and must now go into hiding far away to avoid certain death at the hands of those whom he was investigating. He must leave London and will hide away in a remote area of New Zealand. The first chapter sets up the intrigue and suspense that is later unfolded, mostly through memories and, ultimately, through the events after the return to London. The characters are well developed and consistent. Chester is complex and interesting as a primary character and believable as a real individual. He, as all of us, is shaped, molded, and influenced by his past, which is revealed as the story unfolds. Chester learns many things along the way, including that we are neither bound by nor restricted from change by our past. The choices are ours.
As Chester travels incognito to New Zealand, he encounters characters that make him question the reality of the situations. He has just been through harrowing and frightfully dangerous events that have him on the run and his mind is racing as he travels. One question is, “Is my imagination running wild or is all of this real?” (My words, not the authors.) Was that camel really talking to him? Was he making up meanings on behalf of the camel through his own imagination? What did that dancer know, or were her words to him simply a coincidence? “You can run but you cannot hide.” Why didn’t the Indian couple see the little girl? That’s just the first chapter.
Chester grows and learns over the course of this story. He arrives at “The Cabin” in a secluded area of New Zealand behind security gate and fences. It is the perfect hide-away. As he walks the land, he finds a couple, Natty and Finn, camped in a tent on his land. From their looks, he assumes they are bums or tramps, or as Chester called them, “wilting wallies”, just living off the land with no ambition or virtues. He eventually learns that he should not jump to conclusions without learning more about people’s situations. (I will leave it there because the reader will understand as the book is read.) Would they add something to his life?
One night he hears a knock on the door and wonders how someone got in past his security gate and fencing. It is a doctor who basically invites himself in. This is where the fantasy begins to openly reveal itself in the book. At this point, I must interject that this portion can appeal to the atheist, the agnostic, and the religious. Chester does not believe in God though he had a Quaker upbringing before his parents died one not too long after the other when he was relatively young. To the atheist and agnostic, this can be viewed as a “fantasy of conscience” for those who have done bad and sometimes dastardly deeds during their lives. When they get close to the end of their lives, do their consciences tear away at them and do they suffer with remorse for the things they have done and how they have treated people? For the religious, this can be, not only a fantasy of conscience, but a fantasy of Hades and the just recompense of reward for their actions. Regardless of how it is viewed, these visits by those who have committed crimes against others have tales to tell and things to show Chester. He is visited by the doctor, the king, the union steward, and others who each tells a story and then is transported to another realm where Chester learns of their punishment for their deeds. The morning after the first visit, he is sure it was just a bad dream; a nightmare. Besides, what did this have to do with him? This happens several times.
Eventually he goes back to London for the trial and the rest of the details of his undercover work are revealed. Toward the end, he is still telling Kate that he doesn’t believe in God. She loves him, regardless.
I definitely recommend this book to any readers who enjoy a bit of intrigue, suspense, and the fantasy of conscience that are so well presented in this ... “probably” novel.
September 21, 2020
Anna Faversham unravels a suspenseful mystery in Immortality: This is Probably a Novel! Investigative reporter Chester is hiding away from civilization, longing for the day he can see his love Kate again, when a mysterious stranger comes to visit. Shortly thereafter, Chester is whisked away to Hell as his world begins to come apart at the seams. Faversham immediately builds the compelling mystery of Chester’s life, and she never lets up on the growing suspense of what is happening to him! This is a novel that will make you think, coupled with great characters, beautiful descriptions, and even a splash of romance. If you’re looking for a good suspenseful tale with depth, go into hiding with Chester in Immortality!
August 4, 2021
Wow! All the way through this book, I thought 'what's the subtitle about?' The meaning is right at the end and really made me smile. Chester is an undercover investigative journalist who is forced to hide in New Zealand. His beliefs and morals are challenged by some parable-ish dreams caused by jet lag and strong coffee. Chester also meets a young couple expecting their first child and lets them stay in his shed - Bethlehem style. A heartwarming story that touches on harrowing subjects, and a well deserved end for Chester.
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July 8, 2023
Not really a review - this is the blurb!
Chester, a successful investigative reporter, is in fear of his life. He takes refuge in New Zealand, twelve thousand miles from Kate, the woman he cannot forget. His quiet life is interrupted when a stranger knocks on his door and takes him to the world’s best kept secret – Hell. He is certain this can’t be true and looks for answers to why he is being subjected to endless mysterious occurrences. These life changing answers are a long time coming and all the time he yearns for Kate – will she still want him? Powerful, moving and thought provoking.
“... packed such a punch... you’ll love watching Chester’s world slowly unravel.” Goodreads Reviewer
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain
December 28, 2021
Anna Faversham sends you into orbit, brings you back down, and shakes you a bit in this fun, introspective novel. Peppering it with Christian theology, she writes the book in a way that can be enjoyed by all, regardless of religious belief. Excellent writing in the Christian Speculative Fiction genre.
September 9, 2020
What a unique, trippy story. I loved it! First off, I read this book because I heard the main character travels to places bizarre, leaving me feeling a little off balance (in the best possible way). I also read it because the sample pages looked so professionally done—I knew I was in good hands, and that a strange experience awaited. I was not disappointed!
This author knows her way around a narrative. The pacing is great. The dialog is great. The sense of place is … phenomenal. Great balance in the storytelling from beginning to end, and immersion into Chester’s viewpoint was rock solid. I was transported to wherever Chester went, throughout space and time and mysticism. There was a delicious sort of vertigo that I periodically felt, like in teacups at Disneyworld, but I always knew the author had my back—because of her expert use of narrative voice to mark the story pillars.
The imagery—dream images, nightmare almost—packed such a punch. Some were things I’ve not seen done in fiction before, and it gave the story an ancient feel, as though it was anchored in something very primal, which was remarkable. This is not a cookie cutter story!
Social commentary is woven throughout, to give the novel heft and meaning. The main character (Chester) juggles different ways of living and thinking. He’s conflicted, trying to say and do the right thing, even as he says and does the absolute wrong thing. His palpable awkwardness floats off the page.
If you liked the unreal vibe in Inception, you’ll love watching Chester’s world slowly unravel. Then, when you think you know where the story is going, everything gets woven back to where Chester started, firm ground reappears under your feet, you’re solid once more. This book is a gift. With a bow on top.
This author knows her way around a narrative. The pacing is great. The dialog is great. The sense of place is … phenomenal. Great balance in the storytelling from beginning to end, and immersion into Chester’s viewpoint was rock solid. I was transported to wherever Chester went, throughout space and time and mysticism. There was a delicious sort of vertigo that I periodically felt, like in teacups at Disneyworld, but I always knew the author had my back—because of her expert use of narrative voice to mark the story pillars.
The imagery—dream images, nightmare almost—packed such a punch. Some were things I’ve not seen done in fiction before, and it gave the story an ancient feel, as though it was anchored in something very primal, which was remarkable. This is not a cookie cutter story!
Social commentary is woven throughout, to give the novel heft and meaning. The main character (Chester) juggles different ways of living and thinking. He’s conflicted, trying to say and do the right thing, even as he says and does the absolute wrong thing. His palpable awkwardness floats off the page.
If you liked the unreal vibe in Inception, you’ll love watching Chester’s world slowly unravel. Then, when you think you know where the story is going, everything gets woven back to where Chester started, firm ground reappears under your feet, you’re solid once more. This book is a gift. With a bow on top.
June 27, 2020
We meet Chester, the protagonist, when he’s about to depart from London to go into hiding, leaving behind the woman he loves. It’s not long before he feels something strange is going on in his life, so he's relieved to reach the safety of his new home, off-the-grid in New Zealand. Then, someone knocks on his door, and his life is changed forever. When he returns to London to give evidence in the trial of a criminal gang, strange things still are happening to him, giving him reason to ask: “Why me?” We might ask: “Why has he been chosen for the mysterious task upon which he’s embarked?”
Faversham wields a sharp pen loaded with multi-colored “ink”: mystery, romance, drama. Her descriptions, both of her characters and her settings, are robust and precise without being pedantic. Even something as simple as Chester’s camel ride, taken on a layover in Dubai during his journey from England to New Zealand, is a fun read, leaving the impression we’re going to experience many things in the volume the author herself has experienced in life.
This is a book you’ll find totally absorbing. Start it early in the day because you’ll probably end up losing a lot of sleep with it by your side.
Faversham wields a sharp pen loaded with multi-colored “ink”: mystery, romance, drama. Her descriptions, both of her characters and her settings, are robust and precise without being pedantic. Even something as simple as Chester’s camel ride, taken on a layover in Dubai during his journey from England to New Zealand, is a fun read, leaving the impression we’re going to experience many things in the volume the author herself has experienced in life.
This is a book you’ll find totally absorbing. Start it early in the day because you’ll probably end up losing a lot of sleep with it by your side.
August 20, 2020
This is a beautifully written novel and far removed from the usual stories by Ms Faversham. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and the descriptions of Dubai and New Zealand were wonderful.
The mystery surrounding Chester unfolds slowly and although it's obvious he's hiding from something or someone, his life in New Zealand is an adventure in itself. He meets some interesting characters, very well drawn by the author, but it's the supernatural aspect I found intriguing. He's taken to the Gates of Hell by those who deserve to be there and must experience what they are suffering and why they are suffering. Could they be reflecting his own life? Is he being taught a salutary lesson to prevent him ending up there himself?
I became very fond of Chester and rooted for him to the very last page. A definite must read.
The mystery surrounding Chester unfolds slowly and although it's obvious he's hiding from something or someone, his life in New Zealand is an adventure in itself. He meets some interesting characters, very well drawn by the author, but it's the supernatural aspect I found intriguing. He's taken to the Gates of Hell by those who deserve to be there and must experience what they are suffering and why they are suffering. Could they be reflecting his own life? Is he being taught a salutary lesson to prevent him ending up there himself?
I became very fond of Chester and rooted for him to the very last page. A definite must read.
December 2, 2020
Immortality: This is Probably a Novel by Anna Faversham reminds me of the novels of C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams (particularly Williams’s Descent into Hell). However you feel about religion, all of these books invite us to think about our actions and their consequences. That description makes Immortality: This is Probably a Novel sound less fascinatingly readable than it is. It’s a heady blend of a blood moon, drug dealers, love, possum skins, supernatural events, and redemption. I enjoyed it a lot.
December 31, 2021
A well-written mystery. Chester had me rooting for him from the start, showing his kindness through the treatment of squatters on his land and his care for animals. His unravelling world held my attention, pondering was he experiencing dreams or hallucinations? His yearning for Kate was also intriguing; what had happened between them, would they be reunited? The Biblical references were thought-provoking, and a reminder of their relevance today, such as the story of Lazarus, one of my favourite lessons. I enjoyed this novel and recommend.
July 15, 2020
Not quite what I expected. This is different from previous books I have read by Anna Faversham but once got into it I realised just how clever the plot is. A lot of time must have been spent on thought and research resulting in an aborbing book. I thoroughly reccomend Immortality: This Is Probably a Novel. A very good read.
February 15, 2021
Chester is forced into hiding, but even before he leaves London mysterious things begin to happen. Is he becoming delusional? Has work-related stress overtaken him? Anna Faversham does an excellent job of slowly revealing Chester's flaws as he struggles to understand why strange occurrences continue to confront him. Do other people see what he sees? Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. While this novel has spiritual connotations, it's not overdone. What sent Chester into hiding isn't revealed until the end. I found this unique novel so riveting that I finished it in one day! It was a fast-paced, enjoyable read.
November 14, 2020
It tells the story of a character named Chester. He flees London and hides out in New Zealand for reasons that aren’t disclosed. There, he has a series of bizarre experience that may (or may not) be halucinations.
Eventually, Chester returns to London and we learn why he was hiding in N. Z.
All in all, a very creative story that is worth reading
Eventually, Chester returns to London and we learn why he was hiding in N. Z.
All in all, a very creative story that is worth reading
March 6, 2021
Very good book.
This is a book that you will get involved with the characters and they will become like you actually know them. Highly recommend
This is a book that you will get involved with the characters and they will become like you actually know them. Highly recommend
February 10, 2025
This is, probably, a novel- because there are two love stories.. and , also- a detective! What with the murder, and the trial, and some lucky escapes. A triller, too, assuredly- you really have no idea what will happen from one page to another, and the mafia are involved. Additionally- science fiction! Cause you travel in time, and across the Universe; as for aliens- they are not at all what you expect them to be.
There are even some elements of a horror story- unquestionably some scenes and descriptions are sickening and gruesome.. but don’t worry! Plenty of passages read cute and pretty, as well as those that make you laugh.
You are interested in farming, organic gardening, and caring for environment..? There is something for you in here, too.
Then, there is the most fantastic boss to a talented man.. the latter is obscenely rich, but chooses to work in life threatening profession (science fiction.. this bit..? hmm).
Last but not least, the book might well be described as musings of a seeking Christian. The themes of God, and Heaven, and Hell, with bible references a plenty are all permeating.
To summarise, if you are looking for a read that is entertaining, covers pretty much every topic there is, and elicits the entire spectrum of human emotions- choose “Immortality”- a definitely unique book.
There are even some elements of a horror story- unquestionably some scenes and descriptions are sickening and gruesome.. but don’t worry! Plenty of passages read cute and pretty, as well as those that make you laugh.
You are interested in farming, organic gardening, and caring for environment..? There is something for you in here, too.
Then, there is the most fantastic boss to a talented man.. the latter is obscenely rich, but chooses to work in life threatening profession (science fiction.. this bit..? hmm).
Last but not least, the book might well be described as musings of a seeking Christian. The themes of God, and Heaven, and Hell, with bible references a plenty are all permeating.
To summarise, if you are looking for a read that is entertaining, covers pretty much every topic there is, and elicits the entire spectrum of human emotions- choose “Immortality”- a definitely unique book.
October 24, 2021
The prose is engaging and lively, and I was absorbed right from the first page. It is, at times, an unsettling read, mirroring Chester’s own experiences as he leaves London to go into hiding in New Zealand and is visited by people with troubling stories to tell. Are they real, or are they hallucinations or spirits? This is a both a morality tale and a redemption tale, and the storytelling is so skilled that the layers of meaning are revealed and understood in good time, and to powerful effect. A compelling novel that I didn’t want to put down, this is a highly-recommended read. This book might be especially profound if, like me, you are at a time in your life when you are more introspective about the meaning of life and your significance in the world, and it speaks to your ruminations about past actions and their consequences, and how you can proceed to live more compassionately, and less selfishly.
June 23, 2023
Chester, an undercover journalist has to go into hiding in New Zealand until after he testifies at a trial against gangsters. He knows too much about their smuggling/drug dealing activities. He leaves behind Kate, the love of his life. In New Zealand he begins his new life while suffering from strange and puzzling experiences – transportation to other universes. Or dreams? This book is fast-paced and has interesting characters, descriptions of London and New Zealand. Definitely thought-provoking as it is reminiscent of both Dickens and C.S. Lewis. Includes 17 Questions for Book Clubs.
September 26, 2025
Wow! What a story! Chester is hiding out in his cabin on a large piece of remote land in New Zealand. This story unfolds slowly. Strange visitors appear and transport him to other realms or worlds that are horrifying yet impart life lessons. We learn more about Chester’s background, the danger he’s hiding from, and the woman he loves. The story unfolds slowly and is beautifully written, which kept me turning pages. I must give some trigger warnings: this story describes aborted fetuses and has possum hunting.
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September 9, 2020Returned it, didn't care for it, returned before finishing
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews