A Green Flash

by Winston Graham

Living between law-abiding respectability and the underworld, David Abden, who as a child killed his father, leaves prison and becomes successful in business and involved with two aubitious women

Hardcover

First published August 12, 1987

About the author

Winston Graham was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote contemporary thrillers, period novels, short stories, non-fiction, and plays. Born in Victoria Park, Manchester, he moved to Perranporth, Cornwall in 1925 and lived there for 34 years. Graham published his first novel, The House with the Stained Glass Windows, in 1934 and married Jean Williamson in 1939, who inspired the character Demelza in Poldark. During World War II, he joined the Auxiliary Coastguard Service. Graham became a member of the Society of Authors in 1945, serving as chairman from 1967 to 1969, and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, receiving an OBE in 1983. His Poldark series began with Ross Poldark in 1945 and concluded with Bella Poldark in 2002. He wrote 30 additional novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, including the acclaimed thriller Marnie, adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in 1964. Several other novels, including The Walking Stick and Fortune Is a Woman, were adapted for film. Graham also wrote plays, some adapted from his novels. His works have been translated into 31 languages, and his autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man, was published posthumously in 2003.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Elwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very absorbing read for me as it is set during the late sixties and early seventies, the era of my own youth, so there was a familiarity in the setting that was comfortable and nostalgic. The protagonist, David Abden, is a flawed and interesting character. As a child of eleven, he had killed a drunken and abusive father, and in spite of a series of visits with a psychiatrist, he continues to carry the tormenting thought that the killing was deliberate rather than accidental. He has difficulty relating to others, not just because of his background, but because of a degree of psychopathy in his nature that prevents him from empathizing with others. As a result, he has a criminal past of minor infractions, and some not so minor that he has spent time in prison. He drifts, almost indifferently into a job with an exclusive perfume company and ends up having an affair with Shona, the owner of the company, who is more than a decade older than he is. Although other women come into his life, Shona is the one who is able to break through his emotional barrier.

A series of interesting characters form part of his story: a wife who is aiming to compete with the Olympic fencing team; a group of Scottish relatives who come into the picture when he inherits a bleak and remote estate in the Highlands; a friend who is gay and reinforces some of his own ambivalence about himself; and a young woman, the widow of the cousin who left him the estate. The story contains much fascinating detail about the perfume industry, and the atmosphere of wheeler-dealing in London during the sixties rings true. Like all Winston Graham’s books, this one is well written. The green flash refers to the momentary phenomenon as the sun goes down, as transitory and difficult to see as it is for the hero to find what he is looking for. The ending is satisfying, if not conventionally happy. This was quite a fascinating read, and definitely not a predictable one.

[Infosifter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A strange but compelling novel.

[Jeff Senior · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my usual type of book. I generally read historical novels by Bernard Cornwell, legal thrillers by John Grisham and a variety of mystery tales plus some horror.
This one tells the tale of David Abden who, at the age of eleven, killed his father or at least contributed to his death. That event affects the way he lives his life, with a liking for fast cars, relationships with men and women, and an attitude to taking risks that leads to a spell in prison.
Central to his life for long periods is the mysterious Madame Shona, a Russian emigree of indeterminate age, for whom he is employed in her perfumery business and also has a long affair. In between are encounters with other women but he always is drawn back to Shona, helping to build her business and fighting off forgers that threaten it.
David's past leads to a further death and a need to confront his demons.
As I've said, this isn't my usual type of book but it is an interesting tale that's extremely well told.

[Margob99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up on holiday and found it a thoroughly engaging read. The protagonist evolves through a complex twisting trail of adventures, to become something beautifully unexpected. Held me to the very last line. A rare and treasured find.

[Marium Zahid · Rating 1 out of 5]

How can I read this??

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual character, I feel for a Winston Graham book. David Abden kills his father at the age of eleven. As you might guess, this haunts him all his life. He is not blamed for this except in his own thoughts and mind. It actually drives everything that happens to him and the people he associates with. I would rate this book much higher except I couldn't find any sympathy for the characters here until the very end.

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book but neither did I dislike it. It was more a case of me just not getting it. There did not seem to be much point to the story. I did not particularly like the characters and was never really gripped by the book. It was first published in 1986 so I think the writing was probably really good for the time it was released. It has not put me off Winston Graham and I would happily try something else he has written in the future.

[Bea Alden · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can you expect from a Winston Graham novel that begins with: "When he killed his father they sent him to a psychiatrist...?"
The protagonist,David, is, unusually, a rather unlikable character - through various adventures and intrigues one perceives his evolution as a person. Romance is, of course, included.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although dated, this was a good story about the workings of business and underhand tactics used.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish