The Fairfax Redemption

Author – Christopher Shevlin

How do you feel about HobNobs? It’s not critical that you love these oat-filled biscuits. It’s just that I devoured an entire package while reading this latest installment of Christopher Shevlin’s Jonathan Fairfax series. People in the book enjoyed them, so I felt left out. It is also not imperative to have previously read the other 3 books in this series since the author provides the necessary background for first-time readers.

Jonathan Fairfax is an awkward, unassuming young illustrator who manages to get himself into the most outlandish predicaments. The Fairfax Redemption begins when Jonathan is busily trying to mind his own business whilst avoiding his ex-girlfriend and backs right into her. Then his girlfriend befriends his ex, Rachel. And so, to avoid accidentally bumping into Rachel’s uncle, The Murderer, Jonathan agrees to help Rachel bring him home from prison. 

Jonathan has a bit of history with the murderer and is absolutely terrified of him. Colin, the murderer, takes a job in a chicken shop. Meanwhile, the unscrupulous Teddy Robinson’s mayoral campaign is not going well. Let the next series of horribly traumatic events begin! 

In the Fairfax Redemption, Christopher Shevlin takes on conspiracy theories, corrupt politicians, corrupt advertising agencies, and chicken shops. Oh and as you might have guessed from the title, there is a prison break. This fast-paced perfectly timed farce takes the modern-day political thriller plot to dizzying new heights, or at least over a few fences and in through an upstairs window.  But it’s the perfectly drawn caricatures of those people that we meet nearly every day, or at least read about in the news that drive this hilarious suspense-filled romp.

Whether you add this to your stack of holiday cheer or start it now as a way to poke serious fun at that ghastly thing we call reality, you won’t regret this read. Start with The Fairfax Redemption and backtrack. It is possible to read this as a stand-alone book. But don’t deprive yourself – go back and read the others if you haven’t read them.