One London Day

by C.C. Humphreys

July 30th 2018.
It’s the hottest Summer in fifty years and Joseph Severin, a respectable North London businessman, has taken on a lucrative side job. He’s doing the books, old school, (because these days the only trail you can’t trace is a paper one) for a rogue MI5 outfit, the Shadows, headed by clever, psychopathic Sebastien. When the game is rumbled, he sends their hitman, Mr Phipps, to kill Severin and get those books back.
For a simple man, Severin has a complicated life. He’s developed a sudden and wild passion for Lottie – aka ‘chaos on two legs’. Who is in love with Patrick, the next hot young black actor. Who is obsessed by Sonya, a gorgeous Russian escort. Who has one night to make the final money she needs for her daughter’s cancer operation. With MI6 onto them, and the books missing, the Shadows panic. And a day that begins with a hit in Finchley ends in violence and betrayal on the steamy night streets of Portobello.
ONE LONDON DAY is a daisy chain tale of characters and connections, a contemporary London Noir. Like that genre’s 40’s origins, this story has its hood, its moll, its femme fatale, its fancy boy. Everyone is both protagonist and antagonist. No one gets out unharmed – and some don’t get out at all.

Genres: Crime

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2021

About the author

aka Chris Humphreys

Chris (C.C.) Humphreys was born in Toronto, lived till he was seven in Los Angeles, then grew up in the UK. All four grandparents were actors, and since his father was an actor as well, it was inevitable he would follow the bloodline.

Chris (C.C.) Humphreys has played Hamlet in Calgary, a gladiator in Tunisia, waltzed in London’s West End, conned the landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street, commanded a starfleet in Andromeda, voiced Salem the cat in the original Sabrina, and is a dead immortal in Highlander. He has written eleven adult novels including The French Executioner, runner-up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers; Chasing the Wind; The Jack Absolute Trilogy; Vlad – The Last Confession; A Place Called Armageddon and Shakespeare’s Rebel – which he adapted into a play and which premiered at Bard on the Beach, Vancouver, in 2015. Plague won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in Canada in 2015. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. His epic fantasy series the Immortals’ Blood Trilogy, beginning with Smoke in the Glass' has just been published by Gollancz. He also published his other fantasy series, The Tapestry Trilogy, beginning in August 2020 with ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn’. His foray into modern crime, 'One London Day' was published in 2021. Hie new novel, the World War Two epic romance, 'Someday I'll Find You' is published by Doubleday in Canada on June 6, 2023.

Several of his novels are available as Audiobooks - read by himself! Find him here:
https://www.authorchrishumphreys.com/...

He is translated into thirteen languages. In 2015 he earned his Masters in Fine Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of British Columbia.

Check out his website: http://authorchrishumphreys.com

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, One London Day, by Chris Humphreys, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Joseph Severin is in over his head with his side job. This was not my cup of tea, I like characters with morals and values. These characters had none.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘What 26 year old doesn’t love to be moving in with Mummy?’

Canadian author Chris Humphreys (aka C.C. Humphreys) earned his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and is a novelist, playwright, actor, and swordsman. He has published eighteen novels to date – both historical fiction and epic fantasy – and was the recipient of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel in Canada in 2015 for his novel PLAGUE. He now offers ONE LONDON DAY – a mixture of satire, mystery, romance, and ‘noir crime.’ One of the threads that keeps the story flowing is Humphrey’s wry wit and scabrous plotline.

For those acquainted with Humphrey’s at times quixotic prose, the opening lines of this new novel will feel familiar (for those newcomers, settle in for a fine ride): ‘Mr. Phipps was in the gym. It wasn’t one of the best. He had memberships in different parts of the city because he always liked to work out before a gig and all he’d heard about that so far was that it was in North London. So he knew good gyms from bad. This one wasn’t serious, more an add on to the squash club. Basic machines, one rack of free weights. Still, that meant it wasn’t busy, not just after it opened at 7am. No one there, so he could play the CD he’d brought – they still had a stereo, crappy old thing but one plus to the place. He didn’t like wearing headphones. He liked to hear when a door opened. Lenny Kravitz sang about an American Woman. Mr. Phipps checked his stance in the floor length mirror and slowly raised the twenty pounders towards his reflection. One. Two… A phone rang. Playing ‘Rondo a la Turk.’ The phone he’d bought last night didn’t play tunes so this call wasn’t the one he was waiting for. This call was Sharon. The Ex. Always up early.’

The action follows this outline: ‘July 30th 2018 It’s the hottest Summer in fifty years and Joseph Severin, a respectable North London businessman, has taken on a lucrative side job. He’s doing the books, old school, (because these days the only trail you can trace is a paper one) for a rogue MI5 outfit, the Shadows, headed by clever, psychopathic Sebastien. When the game is rumbled, he sends their hitman, Mr. Phipps, to kill Severin ad get those books back. For a simple man, Severin has a complicated life. He’s developed a sudden and wild passion for Lottie – aka ‘chaos on tow legs.” Who is in love with Patrick, the next hot young black actor. Who is obsessed by Sonya, a gorgeous Russian escort. Who has one night to make the final money she needs for her daughter’s cancer operation. With MI6 onto them, and the books missing, the Shadows panic. And a day that begins with a hit in Finchley ends in violence and betrayal on the steamy night streets of Portobello. ONE LONDON DAY is a daisy chain tale of characters and connections, a contemporary London Noir. Like that genre’s 40’s origins, this story has its hood, its moll, its femme fatale, its fancy boy. Everyone is both protagonist and antagonist. No one gets out unharmed – and some don’t get out at all.’

Chris Humphreys imbues this tale with his many talents – music of substance, character development enhanced by his play writing, and the art of acting as the plot pummels along. It all works extraordinarily well. Very highly recommended!

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be perfectly honest, I did not like this book. Filled as it is with psycho killers, racism and macho misogyny. The author seems to delight in inventing obnoxious characters.

There are a couple of characters who I felt some sympathy for. Beautiful (of course) Russian Sonya working to fund her daughter’s life saving operation by selling sex (cliché?) , and Lottie. A young musician, who a certain Mr Severin, ‘happily’ married, develops a sudden passion for, and as a favour allows her to live in one of his properties. Mr Severin is keeping the books for the Shadows, (paper only-more difficult to trace). They are a group of unpleasant, entitled rich men, who all met at Oxford as students, in MI5, and the leader, Sebastien, is the psychopathic leader. They employ Mr Phipps to do their very dirty work for them and the fall out from his activities has fatal consequences for those around them so when it all goes wrong for the Shadows, they send Phipps to retrieve their paper accounts from Severin. Realising he is in danger, he endangers Lottie by getting her to hide the accounts in the flat he’s allowed her to live in.

A character who I thought was under used and very sympathetic, was MI5 operative Ellerby, the agent in charge of investigating the criminal activities of the Shadows. The story told from her POV would have been much more interesting to me but it isn’t that sort of story.

There is one section of the story which was fairly gripping involving the danger to Sonya and Lottie. This was the best but short, part of the novel.

I personally won’t be reading the next instalment with one of the characters from this book as I found the character repulsive, the style of writing obnoxious and the probable plot uninteresting. Perhaps it will have characters who I find more sympathetic and or interesting, but somehow, I doubt it.

I’m sorry to be so negative about a book but this is my honest reaction to it after a complete reading. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle.

[John Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One London Day is a departure of sorts for Canadian author C.C.Humphreys usually associated with historical and fantasy fiction. This rollicking, fast-paced crime novel paints a delicious picture of contemporary London and the miscreants that inhabit it. In this case, the bad guys are British intelligence agents on the fiddle. The inciting moment - a hit on a civilian - leads to a series of adventures involving many colorful, if unsavory, characters. The writing is tight and crisp. And cinematic. It's easy to imagine the story up there on the big screen. And of course there's a twist at the end. A highly recommended page turner.

[karim jadwat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! A tale of intrigue, suspense and passion, it takes you on a journey where you are drawn in by the fascinating characters without knowing which way the plot will turn. I couldn’t put it down and really look forward to the next C C Humphreys thriller, a big thanks to the author 👏👏👏

[Denis Wheller · Rating 4 out of 5]

People operating illegally need to keep track of their loot while avoiding a digital trail, which means a discrete, old school, accountant. Joe Severin runs a perfectly legal letting agency, but he is trained in double-entry bookkeeping. He has an expensive wife and two point five children so when an acquaintance asked him if he could keep covert books for a private ‘investment’ group (suitably rewarded, of course) he readily agreed. The group (soi-disant “The Shadows”) comprises five Oxford graduates who now have high flying careers; an MI5 agent, an MI6 agent, a Goldman Sachs partner, a Chargé d’Affaires based in Ankara, and an international trader. An ideal combination to make money from activities such as drug and people trafficking, and smuggling antiquities, then laundering it and augmenting it through the London Market, helped by inside information. Unfortunately, they seem to have been rumbled by MI5, necessitating that they close down the business and retrieve the books – which are the only way to access their assets. Enter Mr Phipps, contract killer, tasked with getting them and removing Joe from the equation. The second part is successful but where are the books? What connects Joe to a freelance pianist and an even freer escort? How many others must die?
This is a freestanding book, but looks to be the start of a series. The author, using C. C. rather than Chris, has published around 22 books, mostly fantasy, so this seems like a new venture on his part. The Kindle edition of this book is listed as C.C. while the print copies are Chris. There is a suggestion that it started as a screen play and the general structure does feel a bit like that. The style is quite arch to begin with but settles into a comfortable vehicle for conveying the plot, which is intricate but not particularly complicated. All of the main characters are well drawn but not overly embellished, and play their parts well. Backstories are mostly scant. For the most part the dénouement is not surprising, with a notable exception. Overall, I enjoyed the story even though I prefer more of a puzzle, more of a challenge.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

[GP Hyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a grim and grimy story of brutal men doing bad things.

The author writes brilliantly in the thriller genre and immediately we meet Mr Phipps, ex-paratrooper, gun-for-hire and with no scruples or morals. There is a group of businessmen, ‘The Shadows’, who have hit on a way of playing investments to make illicit profits. To do this, they keep their dealings in a physical format, ‘the books’, to avoid detection. They employ an accountant, Joe Severin, who unwisely decides that he fancies a slice of this dealing and does some investing on the side.

As a sub-plot, there is the story of Sonya, another one who is aiming to make big profits in her own way. She’s a sex-worker come to London to make the money to fund an operation for her sick daughter.

The author writes most skilfully. It’s economic and the characters are real living characters. The characterisation and action are very well conceived and credible.

But there’s a problem. In the first chapter, we see Mr Phipps in action on a ‘gig’. He’s been commissioned to kill Severin which he does with ruthless efficiency. So by the 5% mark, we know that Phipps is brutal, Severin’s stupid and the Shadows are ruthless. There is no conundrum to be resolved so the rest of the novel becomes one long character study. I normally aim to write spoiler-free reviews but here the author spoils it himself in the first chapter.

However, the writing is excellent and takes us into some very dark corners where we become close-up-and-personal with shadowy characters. So if you enjoy a very dark thriller with scarily convincing characters, this could well be for you.

[Peter Darbyshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

CC Humphreys is one of the best writers of historical fiction of our generation, if not the best. In novels such as Plague and Fire he transports readers mind and soul into the London of the 1700s so completely that his books may as well be actual history texts. And don’t even get me started on the delightful Jack Absolute novels — the redcoated James Bond of the 1800s. In One London Day he takes us to a London of more recent history — the late 2000s — and once again creates a city that feels even more real than the real thing.

The novel is a true tale of the modern age, mashing up noir detective fiction with spy thrillers and a near Joycean obsessiveness with London, and mixing in a hit man, an LA actor, a Russian escort, a corrupt accountant, a femme fatale of sorts and a rogue squad of MI5 agents, all of whose lives intersect and set off a chain of events that will leave readers turning the pages as fast as they can to get to the next twist. It’s the sort of tale that would be perfectly suited for a film adaptation, only no film can ever capture the complexity and passion of Humphreys’ imagination. Still, I’d happily watch the attempt.

Also, the title begs for a sequel — One London Week perhaps?

[Jordan McPeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent short read, even if a little familiar.

Broadly drawn characters and plot are what's good and not so good about this short thriller. Good in that the characters are distinctive and easily fill their roles in the plot. It's like jumping in the deep end, no waiting, just what you want from a fast-moving thriller. Not so good in that familiarity comes from using familiar character types. Nevertheless, Humphreys fleshes out most of the characters enough to keep it interesting. The Shadows get the thinnest treatment as supreme pricks and that's about it. I had trouble buying Sonya's backstory, even though it did get meatier later on. Joe and Lottie were the best developed parts, quite engaging.

Plot rings similar notes of familiarity, and takes a backseat to the characterization. I did enjoy the small pesky role of the parking warden. And the delicious comeuppance of one character was awful sweet.

Audiobook performance was very good.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A British spy thriller, One London Day (2026) by Chris Humphreys, is an understated tale of when an intended hit goes awry. It begins with an ordinary man working out in the gym, who is an assassin, given the task of collecting a set of account books. The hit is complicated by an unexpected visitor, setting off a series of events that involve several different characters, including a Russian escort, a desperate deadline, and the Ellerby, an ambitious agent at MI5. From its initially jumpy back-and-forth timeline and dullish characters, this spy story fails to deliver intrigue. Overall, it’s a somewhat mundane read with an ordinary two and a half star rating. Although I received an ARC in exchange for an independent review, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given without obligation.

[Donna Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “Shadows” make Vlad the Impaler look like a decent guy


Humphreys takes his readers on a roller coaster of actions, reactions, accidental meetings, and intentional mayhem. I listened to the Audible edition, read by Humphreys, and was swept along not only by his superb acting, but the intensity of the action. From respectable neighborhoods in North London, to upper-crust members only clubs, to seedy tenements, and all points in between, the intensity builds until there’s no way to stop reading, or in my case, listening.

As coincidence, paranoia, and greed bring the varied characters into contact, fate and irony are the only winners on this one London day.

[David Bowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Humphreys has created a wonderful painting of characters that don't typically come to mind when thinking of the UK's security services. The book is shorter than I was expecting, but that is a good thing. Chris is very concise with his words, removing the padding, consequently making the book a pleasure to read. As this book is part of a wider series, I look forward to reading the next instalment. Overall, this is a good book, but at times I really hated some of the characters - perhaps the reader isn't meant to like them? I found the storyline to be lacklustre, with no real punch. I finished the book thinking, "Is that it?".

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[Chris Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

One London Day by Chris Humphreys was not the right fit for me. The novel follows Mr. Severin, who quickly finds himself in over his head with a secret side job. While I usually enjoy fast-paced spy stories, this one failed to grab my attention. I struggled to get invested in the plot and connect with the characters. Still, I’m open to trying Humphreys’ other novels in the future. Despite some intriguing ideas present.
⭐️⭐️💫

[Rob Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling noir crime novel set across a few days in the summer of 2018.

It packs a lot into its 203 pages and really ramps up in the last third.

I hope CC Humphreys writes more present-day books like this in the future!

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little palate cleanser of a book. Simple, predictable and quick. Nothing wrong with it.

[Jenny Tenneson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written satsfying tale

Tbis is my first read of CC Humphreys books. I totslly enjoyed it. Grrat characters and a vivid description of the world of London.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. A series of coincidences and glimpses of different characters involved in a couple of murders.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not a pleasant read. The blurb gave no indication of what was to come. The book is full of characters with a total lack of morals, racism, misogyny and gratuitous violence. I don't mind a hard core thriller but I do expect there to be something in the story to balance it. This book was an uncomfortable read and very disappointing.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.

[Pgchuis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This wasn't at all what I thought I was getting - the blurb described 'The Shadows' as a rogue MI5 outfit, whereas they are in fact a bunch of public school boys who met at Oxford and are into people smuggling, drug trafficking and various other illegal activities. The 'ambitious Ellerby' at MI5 doesn't make an appearance until a third of the way through. There was also a fair amount of macho violence and more explicit sex than I had anticipated.

I can see this appealing to people who like a lot of action and morally compromised characters, but it really wasn't for me.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

A masterfully crafted narrative, the author has executed a shocking and engaging thriller. Each chapter does an excellent job of drawing the reader further and further into this modern-day noir, even shocking readers with the fate of one of the characters in the first chapter. The reader never knows what outcome will befall the characters as the story progresses, and the mystery of it all is what keeps readers engaged.

The best aspect of this narrative is actually twofold: the character growth and the setting. Getting to explore a morn-day London and the cultural melting pot the city is known for made for a fun setting, while the twists and turns the narrative took to connect each character made this a really exciting thriller. The pacing set the entire book into place, starting big with the first chapter before settling into a slow and entertaining back and forth between character growth and character interaction.

The Verdict

An exciting, mesmerizing, and enticing adult noir thriller like no other, author C.C. Humphries’s “One London Day” is a must-read of 2021. The narrative instantly draws the reader in and the balance of character growth with an inviting setting leads to a shocking finale as the story comes to a close. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!