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Spurious Games
A local chess player is discovered dead, his untimely end seeming suspicious. Detective Inspector John Logos of Cornwall's St Borstal Constabulary is called in to investigate what turns out to be a serial killer running amok in the sedate contemplative world of Cornish chess. The detectives quickly find themselves as pawns in the game of an arrogant mastermind calling himself 'The Turk' who taunts them with chess-related clues. Baffled, they call in Caradoc Pritchard, an eccentric Welsh Professor, serial iconoclast and expert in forensic profiling. Together they must work against the clock to predict the killer's next move.
As the action comes to a dramatic climax only one player can win, but only if he avoids stalemate.
A literary novel of ideas masquerading as a whodunit, Spurious Games exhibits a consistently droll sense of humour that belies its essential seriousness as an extended riff on authenticity. Despite its roots in chess, there are a number of important 'side shows', all treated with equal ironic irreverence.
As the action comes to a dramatic climax only one player can win, but only if he avoids stalemate.
A literary novel of ideas masquerading as a whodunit, Spurious Games exhibits a consistently droll sense of humour that belies its essential seriousness as an extended riff on authenticity. Despite its roots in chess, there are a number of important 'side shows', all treated with equal ironic irreverence.
Hardcover
Published July 28, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 28, 2020
"Spurious Games" by David Jenkins is a droll, irreverent, and thoroughly entertaining novel. It pretends to be a murder mystery, but is actually a satirical novel of ideas, many of which, in addition to being hilarious, are probing and thought-provoking.
The “plot,” which comprises far less of the story than would be the case in a traditional murder mystery, concerns a serial killer preying on chess players in an English town. Because of the chess connection, police Superintendent Polgooth, an unrelentingly officious and bumptious buffoon, feels he has no choice but to call upon detectives, officers, and an eccentric professor, who are chess players themselves, and have connections to the local chess scene. He desperately needs them to help analyze the obscure, taunting messages left by the serial killer. This sets up a persistently jocular interplay, where patient, methodical, analytic chess players—especially Detective Inspector John Logos, past his prime, ailing physically, but determined to come off desk duty for his last hurrah—continually test the patience of the old-school superintendent, much in the way that Stan Laurel infuriated the eye-rolling, slow-burning Oliver Hardy.
The book is narrated in a voice which is erudite, intelligent, and articulate—I found it consistently charming and alluring. Episodes involving bondage clubs, magic acts, and the rousing resurrection of a well-known historical chess automaton, provide much color and many laughs.
This book is not for everyone. No book is. As an author myself, I am well aware of the unfortunate syndrome of bad reviews being served up by readers for whom a book is just a bad fit. So, I will offer a few suggestions to try to stave off such misalignments, which make for both unhappy readers and disappointed writers:
If you are a diehard fan of traditional, hard-boiled mysteries, which stick closely to the plot, and if you find frequent asides, observations, and excursions into matters scientific, philosophical, and pedagogical tiresome—this book is probably not for you.
If you are a stickler for realistic dialogue, you may be irked by the fact that, pretty much, every character in this book speaks with the same cadence and eloquent charm as the omniscient narrator. I, personally, found the sardonic wit and wordplay of the narrator a joy, so for me, having the characters mimic that voice was just additionally joyful. And the story is more of a send-up than a gritty, realistic tale, so I saw no problem with it. But if this sort of thing is a sore point for you, then it’s probably best to avoid this novel.
Finally, there is the chess. I, myself, wrote a novel where chess was a theme, and while my novel had far less actual chess in it than does "Spurious Games," I nonetheless had a few readers who complained bitterly about having to plow through any amount of chess strategy and tactics whatsoever. "Spurious Games" features a good deal of chess, including diagrams, and full, notated games. If you’re a chess aficionado you’ll love it. I believe you can enjoy this novel even if you know nothing about chess, but to do so, you’ll have to willingly accede to missing out on a tiny sliver of the work’s gestalt.
I highly recommend "Spurious Games." It is a funny, intelligent, and engaging novel, with lovably outrageous characters, and interesting, unexpected meanderings. David Jenkins is a brilliant fellow, and a gifted author. I look forward to his next work.
The “plot,” which comprises far less of the story than would be the case in a traditional murder mystery, concerns a serial killer preying on chess players in an English town. Because of the chess connection, police Superintendent Polgooth, an unrelentingly officious and bumptious buffoon, feels he has no choice but to call upon detectives, officers, and an eccentric professor, who are chess players themselves, and have connections to the local chess scene. He desperately needs them to help analyze the obscure, taunting messages left by the serial killer. This sets up a persistently jocular interplay, where patient, methodical, analytic chess players—especially Detective Inspector John Logos, past his prime, ailing physically, but determined to come off desk duty for his last hurrah—continually test the patience of the old-school superintendent, much in the way that Stan Laurel infuriated the eye-rolling, slow-burning Oliver Hardy.
The book is narrated in a voice which is erudite, intelligent, and articulate—I found it consistently charming and alluring. Episodes involving bondage clubs, magic acts, and the rousing resurrection of a well-known historical chess automaton, provide much color and many laughs.
This book is not for everyone. No book is. As an author myself, I am well aware of the unfortunate syndrome of bad reviews being served up by readers for whom a book is just a bad fit. So, I will offer a few suggestions to try to stave off such misalignments, which make for both unhappy readers and disappointed writers:
If you are a diehard fan of traditional, hard-boiled mysteries, which stick closely to the plot, and if you find frequent asides, observations, and excursions into matters scientific, philosophical, and pedagogical tiresome—this book is probably not for you.
If you are a stickler for realistic dialogue, you may be irked by the fact that, pretty much, every character in this book speaks with the same cadence and eloquent charm as the omniscient narrator. I, personally, found the sardonic wit and wordplay of the narrator a joy, so for me, having the characters mimic that voice was just additionally joyful. And the story is more of a send-up than a gritty, realistic tale, so I saw no problem with it. But if this sort of thing is a sore point for you, then it’s probably best to avoid this novel.
Finally, there is the chess. I, myself, wrote a novel where chess was a theme, and while my novel had far less actual chess in it than does "Spurious Games," I nonetheless had a few readers who complained bitterly about having to plow through any amount of chess strategy and tactics whatsoever. "Spurious Games" features a good deal of chess, including diagrams, and full, notated games. If you’re a chess aficionado you’ll love it. I believe you can enjoy this novel even if you know nothing about chess, but to do so, you’ll have to willingly accede to missing out on a tiny sliver of the work’s gestalt.
I highly recommend "Spurious Games." It is a funny, intelligent, and engaging novel, with lovably outrageous characters, and interesting, unexpected meanderings. David Jenkins is a brilliant fellow, and a gifted author. I look forward to his next work.
August 26, 2020
Spurious Games offers an interesting, unexpected read. The author is writing on a number of levels, satirical, historical, plot-driven mystery, social commentary. This is something I rarely say, but—I am absolutely sure I didn't get as much as I might have out of this title. I was engaged by the central narrative, but could tell that I was missing asides and references to topics I'm not familiar with.
In all, this title is an engaging, but frustrating read.
In all, this title is an engaging, but frustrating read.
October 4, 2020
A scintillating read: technically a crime novel -- but in reality much, much more. Set in vividly realised present-day Cornwall, it centres on a murder spree within the local chess community. According to gossip amongst local readers, it is a mordantly amusing (possibly libellous) take on the actual and eccentrically peopled Cornish Chess Association of which the author is, apparently, president (for now, at any rate). Chess players will recognise the many gambits deployed in the hunt for the killer but it will also appeal to a much wider audience with its witty and ruthless debunking of cod spirituality, evangelical zealots in pursuit of the End Days, and masters of the universe whose technological savvy is undermined by their status as moral pigmies. The author is an erstwhile player in the Moscow Chess Olympiad, theatre director and professor of qualitative evaluation working out of the University of the South Pacific and his unusual c.v. (as described on the book jacket) perhaps accounts for the novel's engaging blend of erudition, humour and popular culture. Think Alison Lurie's "Imaginary Friends".
August 22, 2021
Very original writing distinguishes this highly entertaining book from anything else of its type, although it is hardly a normal whodunnit in any case. The range of references and allusions is breathtaking, but naturally achieved without any hint of the author showing off or grandstanding his extremely impressive knowledge.
The traditional thriller (or police procedural) reader may not find the plot entirely convincing, but it hangs together enough to make you want to know what happens next. But i think that would be missing the point. The plot is just a vehicle for presenting a cascade of stimulating intellectual ideas and the whole thing flows in a very enjoyable way. Chess is referenced heavily at certain points in the book, but readers do not need any special knowledge of the game to get the full benefit of reading this extraordinarily creative and engaging work.
The traditional thriller (or police procedural) reader may not find the plot entirely convincing, but it hangs together enough to make you want to know what happens next. But i think that would be missing the point. The plot is just a vehicle for presenting a cascade of stimulating intellectual ideas and the whole thing flows in a very enjoyable way. Chess is referenced heavily at certain points in the book, but readers do not need any special knowledge of the game to get the full benefit of reading this extraordinarily creative and engaging work.
October 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this book as it satisfied my love of crime fiction and kept me guessing to the last 'who dunnit'. The chess content was interesting, but you don't need to play chess to enjoy this book. The characters were well written and believable and the story moved along at a good pace. In fact, I read the book quickly, which is always a good sign, I didn't want to put the story down because I wanted to know what happened next. Overall, a really good read. If you come from Cornwall and play chess in the local league there's the added bonus that you recognise the places mentioned.
October 17, 2020
I have been received a number of comments to pass on. Reviews as below:
"Witty and brilliant. Totally enjoyable reading - clever, entertaining, one of a kind."
Birdfeeder
"Seriously entertaining. Authenticity is a great topic for exploration (‘All that glitters …’), but why bury it in a whodunnit? The wide-ranging cruise of Spurious Games docks at many exotic ports, but I was too busy looking for Detective Inspector John Logan’s checkmate. Would readers think it a spoiler alert if I flag this fiction as faux, deceit, phantasmagoria, even rip-off? In the guise of murder mystery, David Jenkins has put the spotlight relentlessly on validity, spoof, falsification and artificiality—all while entertaining us with the narratives of a Cornish police force.
I quite liked the ambiguous ending and don't want clever clogs readers to solve it for me and tidy up the mess."
Professor Robert Stake
University of Illinois
"I liked this book, but then I'm biased seeing as philosophy and chess are two big things in my life!
Being objective there's a lot of sly humour in this work, and the thought provoking philosophical digressions and chess conundrums are why I'll read it again.
There is a plot for people who like that sort of thing but I stress this is not a conventional detective novel. [Usually not my sort of thing either despite my godfather writing the popular Wycliffe series] I hope David can be persuaded to write a sequel but he's put a lot of ideas and energy into this first detective novel. [Sure he has plenty of other friends to dispose of !]
Does remind me of other favoured writers, Rabelais, Moorcock and maybe even beloved Milligan."
Jeremy Menadue. leading Cornwall chess player
"Spurious Games displays faint echoes of Nabokov, umbert Eco. even Spike Milligan's Puckoon. but really Jenkins' eccentric genius is unique."
Andrew Davies, multiple award-winning screen writer for television and film
Brilliant crime thriller with a clever chess theme that will keep you guessing. I don't play chess and still really enjoyed the book.
Julian Friedmann
"Witty and brilliant. Totally enjoyable reading - clever, entertaining, one of a kind."
Birdfeeder
"Seriously entertaining. Authenticity is a great topic for exploration (‘All that glitters …’), but why bury it in a whodunnit? The wide-ranging cruise of Spurious Games docks at many exotic ports, but I was too busy looking for Detective Inspector John Logan’s checkmate. Would readers think it a spoiler alert if I flag this fiction as faux, deceit, phantasmagoria, even rip-off? In the guise of murder mystery, David Jenkins has put the spotlight relentlessly on validity, spoof, falsification and artificiality—all while entertaining us with the narratives of a Cornish police force.
I quite liked the ambiguous ending and don't want clever clogs readers to solve it for me and tidy up the mess."
Professor Robert Stake
University of Illinois
"I liked this book, but then I'm biased seeing as philosophy and chess are two big things in my life!
Being objective there's a lot of sly humour in this work, and the thought provoking philosophical digressions and chess conundrums are why I'll read it again.
There is a plot for people who like that sort of thing but I stress this is not a conventional detective novel. [Usually not my sort of thing either despite my godfather writing the popular Wycliffe series] I hope David can be persuaded to write a sequel but he's put a lot of ideas and energy into this first detective novel. [Sure he has plenty of other friends to dispose of !]
Does remind me of other favoured writers, Rabelais, Moorcock and maybe even beloved Milligan."
Jeremy Menadue. leading Cornwall chess player
"Spurious Games displays faint echoes of Nabokov, umbert Eco. even Spike Milligan's Puckoon. but really Jenkins' eccentric genius is unique."
Andrew Davies, multiple award-winning screen writer for television and film
Brilliant crime thriller with a clever chess theme that will keep you guessing. I don't play chess and still really enjoyed the book.
Julian Friedmann
October 16, 2020
A book like no other I have read. Is it an academic paper masquerading as a chess novel, a who-dunnit that happens to have a few chess problems? An absurdist’s eye view of an absurd world? Either way, a unique cast of characters roam the streets of Cornwall and London seeking truth, enlightenment and a good game of chess.
January 16, 2021
This novel ranges widely across pop culture, magic shows and fortune-telling, cyber espionage, pro-sex feminism, doppelgängers, New Age spirituality, and whether the game of chess affects a person's mental health.
I felt the story was amusing, especially with the uncommon names and terms such as Professor of Psychology and Plagiarism, Professor of Money Laundering, Julian Assange Solutions, Chubby Checker and etc. The novel was written with an unusual choice of words, or maybe my limited vocabulary is unable to catch up with the author's high-level vocabulary. Nevertheless, I can sense the author is an extremely knowledgeable person who has extensive knowledge in various fields. I might not understand some of the histories mentioned in this book, somehow, I quite admire the author's brilliance and his expertise in chess.
To be honest, I almost want to give up this book until it reaches the probability theory and Nash Equilibrium, which is something that I learned when I was in university. I wasn't really good at that subject, but at least it helps me a bit to understand the story. The storyline is quite refreshing, using chess games to analyse the murder case and to find out the next possible murder victim. Leaving the chess and other irrelevant philosophical content aside, the case itself is very intriguing. And the characters are hilarious or colourful respectively.
Thanks to NetGalley and Troubador Publishing Ltd. (Matador) for providing me with a free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I felt the story was amusing, especially with the uncommon names and terms such as Professor of Psychology and Plagiarism, Professor of Money Laundering, Julian Assange Solutions, Chubby Checker and etc. The novel was written with an unusual choice of words, or maybe my limited vocabulary is unable to catch up with the author's high-level vocabulary. Nevertheless, I can sense the author is an extremely knowledgeable person who has extensive knowledge in various fields. I might not understand some of the histories mentioned in this book, somehow, I quite admire the author's brilliance and his expertise in chess.
To be honest, I almost want to give up this book until it reaches the probability theory and Nash Equilibrium, which is something that I learned when I was in university. I wasn't really good at that subject, but at least it helps me a bit to understand the story. The storyline is quite refreshing, using chess games to analyse the murder case and to find out the next possible murder victim. Leaving the chess and other irrelevant philosophical content aside, the case itself is very intriguing. And the characters are hilarious or colourful respectively.
Thanks to NetGalley and Troubador Publishing Ltd. (Matador) for providing me with a free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews