A tale of abduction, love and life. A suspenseful story told with a touch of humour and a sprinkling of wit.
Rupert is snatched off the street on the day he has planned to propose to his lover, Carla.
Follow Rupert on his journey in captivation.
Live with Carla's frantic search for Rupert.
Learn of Rupert's disfunctional parents and of Carla's eventful childhood.
What is George's secret?
Who is 'The General'?
Does 'The Bookmam' really exist?
A twisted tale of longing and love woven craftfully into the lives of the characters.
Laugh out load before weeping into your coffee cup. This book will take you through the guntlet of every emotion possible.
Available in eBook & Paperback.
Excerpt
It was an instinctive reaction, or rather an instinctive non-action that was Rupert’s first recollection of returning to consciousness. The non-action was exactly that. Rupert dare not move a single muscle, dare not make even the minutest sound.
After a few moments Rupert plucked up enough courage to very cautiously raise his right eyelid a fraction of a millimeter, he dared not move his head. Rupert peered about by revolving his eyeball in its socket to the limits of his peripheral vision.
Rupert could see nothing of any consequence from his position on the floor, apart from a small portion of the pile of greasy rags, and a torn page of an old newspaper that was wedged into a corner. Rupert could however, in the silent milliseconds between the almost constant rattling of the dilapidated van, hear muffled breathing from somewhere near his feet.
This breathing sound Rupert assumed, was where the teeth, that man with the insane smile, was sitting. Rupert believed that his very survival could depend on his abductors not knowing he was conscious. This was not something he had gleaned from watching the Hollywood blockbusters he so enjoyed, but a latent instinct, base nature, a deep primeval understanding for survival that is infused into the very fabric of every human being.
As he lay motionless Rupert could feel the movements of the van as it travelled, swaying slightly, bumping, accelerating and decelerating as it negotiated the roads along its route. Believing that he was, for the present, relatively safe Rupert stayed huddled on the rough floor as he started to try and fathom out exactly what the hell was happening.
Professional Reviews
So enjoyable
Sometimes writing a review is fairly straightforward, one just comments on the plot, and says whether you liked it or not, highlighting the odd phrase or sentence that caught one’s eye, simple!
But every now and then a book comes along which presents itself in such a manner that it defies the critic from using this ‘simple’ technique.
The Abduction of Rupert Deville is one such book.
On the surface it is about the crime of abduction, as is clear in the title, along with the aspect of suspense and the thrill of not knowing why, or who, has taken Rupert.
So far so good, and pretty much standard for a book of that genre.
However, the instant you begin to read you realise that this book is coming at you from a totally unexpected direction.
Not only does the narration instantly draw you into Rupert’s world, but the characters become alive, living people, real people. This alone is wonderful, yet there is much more.
Entwined within are a number of back stories revealing each of the characters pasts. These sit seamlessly in with the main plot.
Cleverly woven into the narration throughout are the thoughts of Rupert, Carla and of the other main characters. These introverted insights allow the reader to understand the worries, the fears, the hopes, anguish, wishes and dreams of all concerned.
The Abduction of Rupert DeVille is so much more than a thriller, and far more than a suspense novel.
It is a romance story, a spy book, a satirical journal and humorous comedy. It asks the reader questions about our humanity and our place in the social context of our own lives.
But above all it is a bloody good read; truly the type of book, and I know this is an over-used cliché, you will not want to put down.
If you hold any preconceived ideas about The Abduction of Rupert DeVille, dismiss them now. This is unlike any book you have read recently.
Five Stars from me.
5.0 out of 5 starsThis is a very British dark comedy and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is a very British dark comedy and I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I was disturbed a bit at times. This book takes you on an emotional journey, traversing every possible feeling, sometimes with no transitions or segues to ease the mental whiplash. Yet, somehow it all worked together, in the end, to make the story wonderful it a very specifically dark, funny, and unique way. And, don’t get me wrong; the writing is impeccable, almost lyrical at times. It was an easy and engaging read.
This emotional adventure starts with Rupert early in his day, contemplating the step-by-step (literally) plans he’d made for his special evening. Then he’s snatched off the street and the story begins. As the description explains, there’s a girlfriend and an employer worried about Rupert’s disappearance, and after you get to know him, you can totally understand why they’d worry so only after a few short hours.
Attempting to avoid spoilers, none of the characters in this book are quite what they seem. While Rupert is definitely mild-mannered, he’s also calculating, considerate, and most definitely a lover (not a fighter). George is probably my favorite character in this wacky tale of random events that all fit together perfectly, actually making sense in the larger scheme of things. He’s older and calmer than Rupert and Carla, but he might also be a bit scary (in the best possible way). Carla’s a simple girly-girl on the surface, but after taking a peek into her past, you learn that her perfect simplicity is hard earned.
There are moments in this story that made me blush, made me feel a bit queasy, made me laugh out loud, and even made me feel sentimental. I imagine that it was like reading the screenplay of a Guy Richie modern adaptation of a classic whodunit. There was violence, sex, mystery, and all the complexities of family dynamics.
This is definitely an adult only read; perfect for fans of dark humor, British humor, tales of calamity, and upbeat characters in odd and sometimes violent situations. I hope this author has more stories like this.
Entertaining and Lively Read
The Abduction of Rupert DeVille” is a delightful combination of suspense and witty humor that kept me reading well past my bedtime. What begins as a thrilling abduction evolves into a love story with a side trip into intrigue. Paul White’s characters are full bodied, true to life people whose interactions are sometimes puzzling and often humorous. From the moment Rupert is snatched from the bus stop where he waits daily for his transportation to work, this main character is obviously a charming and bumbling nerd. Fixated on his planned evening when he plans to propose to his girlfriend Carla, he misses his bus. In a matter of minutes he is grabbed and hustled into a waiting van by a threatening duo of thugs. Whisked into the country, boarded onto a plane, and flown to an unknown destination, he meets the General. The authoritarian General immediately realizes his men have kidnapped the wrong man. As Rupert awaits his fate at the hands of his captors he ruminates on how he came to be in such an unlikely position.
Meanwhile the love of his life Carla becomes concerned when Rupert doesn’t make his regular morning call to her. After several attempts to reach him by phone, she telephones his employer, bookstore owner George. This is followed by an often hilarious attempt by George to locate his usually reliable employee while attempting to reassure Carla.
The adventures of these three become entangled with the police and spies in a sometimes unbelievable but always entertaining read.
White manages to keep the reader engaged, even when things occur that border on the absurd. It’s a fun story with an intricate plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an exciting read.
“We’re going to use nine megaton warheads in space and we’re not sure they’re large enough to be effective. Why would you even consider using kiloton-range surface-to-air warheads as back-up?” The answer was succinct. “Because they’re all we have.”
