It is with great pleasure and excitement that I join the blog tour for Paul Marriner and his latest novel Miracle Number Four.

Paul grew up in a west London suburb, not unlike the suburbs in which Miracle Number Four is based. He now lives in Berkshire with his wife and two children, from whom he has learnt far more than he was able to teach. Paul is passionate about music, sport and, most of all,  writing, on which he now concentrates full-time. He has written five novels and his primary literary ambition is that you enjoy reading them while he is hard at work on the next one, whilst still finding time to play drums.

My stop on the tour will take the form of a book review.

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Title: Miracle Number Four

Written by: Paul Marriner

Cover Design by: JD Smith Design Ltd.

Published by: Bluescale Publishing

This is a coming of age story set during the 1970s in London. With dreams of a career in rock, a crush on the prettiest girl in town, and a mother in remission from cancer, Mike’s future looks bright. Music brings him excitement and a chance to shine, but life off-stage is complicated. Together with family, friends and band mates, Mike finds joy, sadness and loss. Troubling secrets surface while a new friend brings both fresh perspectives and a cruel reality. The radios and pubs blast rock into the suburban nights and the band prepare for their big break.

Miracle Number Four takes us smoothly on a journey through the seasons as Mike pursues his dream of becoming a rock star. The book opens in the spring of 1975 when Mike’s mum has just finished her radiotherapy and her hair is growing back. Mike’s dad buys him a base guitar and Mike forms a band.

Paul Marriner captures the atmosphere of the era perfectly, weaving in iconic music, TV adverts and the specialist stores seamlessly to immediately transport the reader back in time. It was lovely to reminisce about life before mobile phones and laptops. I particularly like the way many of the chapters are themed around a popular song from the period. I found myself singing the lyrics as I read.

With heart-rendering moments we follow Mike through rehearsals, new friendships to tragic deaths and finally in the Spring of 1977 when the band headlines at the Hammersmith Palais with a touching tribute to his friend Richard and his mother.

I enjoyed this book because it is a realistic rendition of the trials and tribulations of life in rock and roll during the 1970’s, portraying the attitudes of the time perfectly. But what really makes it stand out above other books set in this era is the music. I challenge your mind not to tune in to the various songs as you read.

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To join the other stops on the blog tour take a look at the schedule below: 

I would like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Through My Letterbox for organising this blog tour and inviting me to take part. Thank you.