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The Debut Novel from John G Gemmell
Based on the cardinal sin of greed
Greed is an emotion, but avarice is a behaviour
There is an old Aesop’s fable about a dog with a bone who crosses a bridge over a stream. He looks in the water and sees his reflection. He believes that the other dog has a bigger bone and drops his in an attempt to get a bigger one. He ends up with nothing. Sometimes that’s what can happen when greed takes over.
We applaud people who have an ambition to succeed, but frown upon it when it becomes greed. By the time it becomes avarice in our modern world, the consequences can be destructive, especially if you combine it with narcissism.
We follow the journey of two men, reunited from a past that they want to forget, who go on a journey to escape the police and unknown criminals. At the same time, it follows the fortunes of an Anglo-Calabrian family desperate to succeed at all costs. It involves lorry theft, money laundering, people smuggling before inevitably arcing towards the drug trade.
The desire to show their family that they can be successful shapes the choices that they make, the stories becoming increasingly entwined as not everyone turns out to be who they first appear, as it races to a conclusion.
Can they find a way to overcome the Dogs of Avarice.
MEET THE O’HARES - THE ANGLO - CALABRIANS OF MORECAMBE
Matty O’Hare
Villain/Hero of the story. Leader of a gang of lorry thieves and rascals from Morecambe. He falls for Christina one night in Preston. His ambition and drive increases the risks that he takes.
Christina de Luca
A glamorous Italian from the foothills of Calabria, dubbed the ‘Contessa’ behind her back. Desperate to escape suffocation in Italy, she is on a mission to prove to her family she can be successful.
Angelo O’Hare
The eldest son. Italian by name but English by nature. Quiet , studious and socially awkward. Destined for a career in technology.
Marco O’Hare
The youngest son. Arrived in to the world at a hundred miles an hour and has never stopped. Never satisfied, always blaming others. Will either be a huge success or a car crash.
Stephen Whyte
A middle aged, successful forensic accountant. Although he is keeping a complicated past that kicks this story off.
Davy Gavin
Retired builder and something of a local legend. Spends most days at the bowling club listening to tales of ailments and deaths, or Gods waiting room as he calls it.
The Whyte’s from Glasgow
Lisa Whyte
Highly successful woman who set up the DK Partnership, the best PR agency focused on green credentials. Always busy juggling her career and co-parenting.
Kathy Gavin
Also retired, although no-one really knows what she did. Her fiefdom is the kitchen believing that everyone needs to be fed, and a cup of tea is never far away.
Cameron Whyte
A typical eight year old boy who you have to beg to get off his playstation. Reluctantly being schooled at a private school getting an education his grandfather never got.
Bella Saad
Half French/Half Lebanese, she followed her parents around the world in the diplomatic corp. Speaks posh English, but can pepper it up with Glaswegian when needed. Always there for her best friend, Lisa, when needed.
Emily Whyte
A bundle of pig-tailed joy. Lover of unicorns and mermaids.
Nonno & Nonna De Luca
Original founders of a textile company. Lived through the ravages of the Second war. Fourth generation of the family to own the De Luca villa in Catanzaro. Mamma and Papa to Christina and Bruno.
The Calabrians from Catanzaro
Bruno De Luca
Bruno de Luca, brother to Chrristina.People think he is a middle of the road businessman, hawking clothes and fashion accessories around Europe. They see him as a middle of the league player, not someone to give much more than a secondary glance. He finds this to be deeply offensive, as his enormous ego wants him to be seen at the top table.
Father Contardo ( Conte)
A humble man of the cloth. The life long family priest to the De Lucas’s. Presided over the hatches, matches and despatches.
Nino
The prince of mystery. Part of the tree that likes to flourish. Lurking around the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, taking advantage of the weak.
A band of thieves and scally-wags
Tony Fowler
The second villain/hero of the story. A man who lives life underneath the radar. His day job is as a professional thief, his other job is providing his own unique social commentary on life,
Steven ‘Hammy’ Hamilton
Life long friend and lieutenant to Matty O’Hare. Money laundering and fencing stolen goods is his bag. A man of few words, when he speaks people listen.
Benny D’Arcy
2nd Lieutenant to Matty O’Hare. A man who comes to life when it all kicks off and he can crack some heads. Doesn’t appreciate the Mr D’Arcy jokes.
Frankie Williams
Proper old school notorious gangland figure from the Manchester underworld. Started in the world of fruit machines and juke boxes, before migrating to security at nightclubs. Takes a back seat these days, but always there to give advice to his boys.
The Williams family from Manchester
Francis Williams
One of Frankies boys. They hold a tight grip over the nightclubs. Control the doors and you control the floors. ( Somehow in my mind I have Tony Curran, the actor down to play Francis)
Kenny Williams
The second of Frankies boys running nightclub security, using intimidation and violence to keep the competitors away.
Josie Williams
Daughter to Frankie, and half-sister to the boys. Party girl and professional influencer. #JosieWills. ‘I aspire to inspire’. Always a risk of making the front pages of the papers.
Gateshead Social Club ( Fictional)
The office for Tony Fowler, where he can get up to mischief. It doesnt exist in real life, but if it did I bet you it would serve Carling.
For a wonderful read on the roles that working mens clubs have had on society, I reccomend Clubland
Bliss Nightclub, Preston (Fictional)
The sweaty pulsating nightclub in the 80’s where Matty OHare control the doors, and where he first meets the exotic Christina de Luca.
Again this is just a figment of my imagination, mostly based on Maestro’s in Glasgow…and yes, I was rather partial to a bit of eyeliner back then.
Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham ( Factual)
This one is real. A wonderful family owned hotel with 3 restaurants , 2 golf courses and a spa. I would content it has the best carvery anywhere in England.
This was where Stephen and Tony were taken on the first night by the witness protection team
Tickled Trout, Preston ( Factual)
One of the many places that the Matty OHares team would gather to meet and plot their next job, hidden away without any eavesdroppers. Where the staff all know them, nourished by mugs of tea and proper sandwiches.
Lost track of the number of meetings I have had here, on the banks of the river ( without the criminality)
Ship Inn, Morecambe ( Fictional)
Sadly this one is not real either, which is is shame as it is the perfect little back street boozer. Complete with a sassy barmaid, cackling old boys, young teens and an intolerance of anyone with fancy ideas.
The perfect place for Matty to take his pompous brother-in law for a Lancashire aperitivo.
The Jolly Fisherman, Craster ( Factual)
Fed up with ready meals Stephen & Tony escape to the pub for an evening of good food. Before they face the flames of revenge on the way home.
This is a brilliant historic pub with stunning views over the North Sea. It has won many awards for the quality of its seafood. Highly reccomend the crab
The Botanist. Manchester
Part of a chain of gastro-pubs and botanical cocktail bars. It’s located in Deansgate, and their vision is to bring the garden inside. the famous vertical kebabs do exist, so much that the company has trade marked the name.
https://thebotanist.uk.com/locations/deansgate-manchester
Rowardennan Hotel
Situated on the eastern bank of Loch Lomond, underneath the towering Ben Lomond. It is a little gem for walkers and travellers to meet up for great pub food and a dram or two, with traditional Scottish hospitality.
https://www.rowardennanhotel.co.uk/
My Illusion Nightclub, Manchester
My Illusion nightclub sadly doesn’t exist. Imagine harsh concrete and metal. Brutalism with a very expensive sound and light system. The crowd is full of the beautiful people, there to party there to be seen.
( The name is a nod to Joy Division and their song Atmosphere - ‘ Walk in silence, don’t turn away in silence, your confusion, my illusion’
Catanzarro, Calabria
Catanzaro is found on the Ionian Sean, part of the Eastern Mediterranean. It is the capital of Calabria, and is known as the ‘City of two Seas. Historically it was the centre of the velvet and silk industry in Europe. In the book it is the home to the de Luca family, and is where Christina was born.
The main centre is set high up on the hills, cascading down to the Lido.
The book has a couple of events played out at the Immaculate Church of Badalato, dating back to 1686 does exist.
The Villa de Luca and the Bai Copanella Hotel don’t exist. Both come from my imagination, through long days in Southern Italy, fuelled by Aperol Spritz.
MORECAMBE
Morecambe Bay hosts the UKs largest expanse of tidal sand and mud with beautuful views out to the Lake District. It is a traditional Victorian sea side resortwhich withered when it couldnt compete with cheap package holidays. However there is a glimmer that with the right imagination and investment, it may be about to turn the corner.
In the book this is the home for Matty O’Hare and Christina de Luca.
The events of the 5th February 2004 was the darkest day in the history of the town, when 21 people needlessly perished on the Bay. I felt I could not ignore out, although my characters are entirely fictional, I have chosen to represent how I think they would have responded to the unfolding tragedy.