It is not often you get too put the phrases mod and pulp fiction into one sentence but thanks to Charlie McQuaker’s debut novel, Die Hard Mod, that feat can now be gracefully achieved. McQuaker’s book is the story of Stephen, a Belfast Mod who one morning is awoken by the local hard boys and beaten bloody for supplying spliff at a party. His Small Faces poster is smashed and his precious Northern Soul collection attacked. The death of his close friend at the same hand’s that tore him apart persuades Steve to head for Brighton where the love of his life now lives. Steve is obsessed with the film Quadrophenia so Brighton of course makes even more sense to the beleaguered Mod. Once ensconced there, Steve sets out to track down his baby and see if true love can reign o’er them. Meanwhile the Belfast Boys have just discovered where their quarry has run off to……..Cue numerous chewing gum adventures.
The aim of McQuaker and his publisher is to return the pot boiler to its rightful place on the bookshelves. Turn Off Your TV And Discover Fiction Like It Used To Be…….. runs the company slogan. Therefore McQuaker has written a short book that is equivalent to a line of sulphate; the book will take a day to read and along the way you will enjoy every twist and turn, even the ones you see coming from a hundred yards away. Mod has never been served well by Literature – off hand I can only think of Tony Parsons and Graham Parker who have used it well in their fiction – so McQuaker’s book is a welcome and refreshing addition to that canon. And yes there is an alleyway scene…………...
© Words - Paolo Hewitt/ ZANI
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