The Beresford by Will Carver
Just outside the city – any city, every city – is a grand, spacious but affordable apartment building called The Beresford.
There’s a routine at The Beresford.
For Mrs May, every day’s the same: a cup of cold, black coffee in the morning, pruning roses, checking on her tenants, wine, prayer and an afternoon nap. She never leaves the building. Abe Schwartz also lives at The Beresford. His housemate Smythe no longer does. Because Abe just killed him. In exactly sixty seconds, Blair Conroy will ring the doorbell to her new home and Abe will answer the door. They will become friends. Perhaps lovers.
And, when the time comes for one of them to die, as is always the case at The Beresford, there will be sixty seconds to move the body before the next unknowing soul arrives at the door. Because nothing changes at The Beresford, until the doorbell rings...
About the author
Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series. He spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He turned down a professional rugby contract to study theatre and television at King Alfred’s, Winchester, where he set up a successful theatre company. He currently runs his own fitness and nutrition company, and lives in Reading with his two children. Will’s latest title published by Orenda Books, Hinton Hollow Death Trip was longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize, while Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year and for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell. Good Samaritans was a book of the year in Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Express, and hit number one on the eBook charts.
Review
‘The Beresford’ is the rental home of nightmares, quite spaceful apartments, a cheap rent, a library and a friendly landlady - but just don't let that doorbell ring! It seriously is like ‘44 Scotland Street on crack’. I don't know how Will manages to come up with such sinfully evil ideas - just please don't ever stop! I read a lot of books. Last year it was 236 and Hinton Hollow was definitely in the top 10 and ‘The Beresford’ will certainly be the same.
Mrs May was such an amazing character - I think I have her in my head as the granny from the Irn Bru advert mixed in with the granny from ‘This is the Greatest Song In The World’! On the outside a perfectly respectful green-fingered dame but black as treacle on the inside. But I do have some empathy for her by the end of the book as well. Oh to have dreamed up this whole concept. Carver is one talented wordsmith.
The rest of the characters were a revolving door of misfits and the misunderstood. From Abe and his love of books to Blair and their choice of coffee shops. I loved how the city wasn't named - as in every city there is a block of flats like this one with a transient population. Where the residents originally came from are also never named but anyone who lived in a small town will recognise sections of Blair’s backstory. After Abe kills for the first time I thought the story might be more sedate, but I don't think I even read the synopsis. I just greedily tore into the pages as I knew they would be this transportive experience that I was shocked by the next death and the 60 seconds thing! Idiot!
Anyway, the character I loved I can't really talk about but her strength and desire for life was palpable. She radiated off the page! If you have read this or are planning on going to let me know what you think of them!
Brilliant just brilliant!
