A SIMPLE SCALE
David Llewellyn (Seren)
An intriguing premise: music plagiarism forms the basis for this gripping and fast-paced novel. Spanning three decades and two countries, Welsh writer David Llewellyn’s dramatic story begins in New York during the aftermath of 9/11. Famous composer Sol Conrad’s PA Natalie is contacted by a Pavel Grekov, claiming that a popular TV theme tune attributed to Sol Conrad was in fact composed by his grandfather Sergey Grekov. What transpires, via Los Angeles and Leningrad, is the background story and Natalie’s attempts to investigate the allegations against her employer, who is suffering with dementia.
The relationships formed between the characters prove pivotal from the offset, managing to convey the varying strands of the storyline with conviction. What could have been a complex plot has been smartly managed by Llewellyn in the service of conveying a suspenseful narrative. The atmosphere of the novel is enhanced by the various locations, bringing each period to life. The foray into Russia between the 1930s and 50s provides an atmospheric setting to parallel the dark times experienced in post-9/11 America. The deft descriptive work manages to set the scene, providing a sense of place. The tension is notched up similarly onto the scores on which the story is based until we discover the outcome.
A Simple Scale is a compelling and suspenseful novel that this reader could not resist from the beginning, enhanced by its plot twists. With such vivid descriptions of each location, it’s difficult not to envisage and be swept away into that period in time. RHIANON HOLLEY
Price: £9.99. Info: www.serenbooks.com
