Guy Hale always stuns me with his wit and dark humor. While in his Jimmy Wayne series, things got brutal, I think things are quite darker here in his series.
About the Book
Act II
Stratford-upon-Avon, spring 1932
Six years after a fire destroyed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a new troupe of actors is taking Stratford by storm. But offstage, Felix Richards suspects something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Morris Oxford feels he needs no introduction, he’s the greatest actor of a generation. The theatre means everything to him but his talent is tainted by the depths of his ambition.
All Our Yesterdays takes us back to where it all began. The stage is set but uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
My Thoughts
You will absolutely catch glimpses of the dark comedic genius that draws me to Hale’s writing, but he stays in the serious, darker side of things longer here. While the reasons were hinted at in the first book, we really get to the meat and bones of why that’s true in this one.
This book is a prequel to “The Croaking Raven,” the first book in “The Shakespeare Murders.” That one was a longer novel, which sets up the story. This one delves into the past and provides a backstory, almost like an entire novella devoted to a flashback scene. It’s quite innovative in that way, and I really enjoyed it. Rather than just offering a few sentences here and there, the author was able to provide background and really dive into the backstory. It really changed my perspective on some of the characters from the first book, making me like some of them better and others worse.
The first book has a clear detective novel, serial killer, crime fiction vibe. This one is something different and unique. I’d almost call it more of a psychological thriller. If you read the first book, you’ll know that there was a serial killer with a personal vendetta. Here, we watch the events leading up to that unfold in somewhat graphic detail. And it’s a little heartbreaking.
Who’s It For?
If you enjoy crime/detective series, this is a great one. However, this book isn’t that. But it is a great background for the first book and fills in a lot of information. I wouldn’t personally recommend reading this one without reading the first one. I always enjoy reading prequels after reading the first book. But there’s something to be said for reading it in the opposite order. As always, keep your mental health safe and read the content warnings. This book has some serious ones.
Content Warnings: This book contains topics that may disturb some readers, including, but not limited to, Bullying, Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Mental Illness, Relationship Abuse/Manipulation, Friendship Betrayal, Abuse of Power, Hostile Workplace, and Possibly More.
About the Author
Guy Hale was born in Worcestershire, England. His first job was as a Professional Golfer. He also played Rugby and raced motorcycles until his mid-twenties. When this failed to kill him he started writing plays, mostly two handers which he performed in pubs and assorted venues with his mate, Andy.
When no call from Hollywood came, he went back into golf until his mid-thirties. Having met and married the love of his life, Lou, he was encouraged to get a proper job … by the boss. This led to him getting into construction and the design and supply of light gauge steel, really exciting stuff!
Surprisingly, this surf bum, ex-rugby player, ex-golfer, keen motorcyclist and cyclist turned out to be pretty good at business and he and his partner, Matt, built a hugely successful company which they sold in 2018. Instead of doing the sensible thing and retiring he started Gulf Coast Records with Mike Zito and then started song writing. One night in a bar in LA, Mike told him a story about a dream he’d had. That story turned into the Jimmy Wayne saga and Guy was off and running.
Strange how you can drift into some things. Now the Jimmy Wayne Comeback Trail Trilogy is complete, it’s had great reviews and Mike and Guy have done a soundtrack, with the great Kid Andersen, to go along with the books.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/7CbLTJC
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/5ZDFT8R
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230851895-all-our-yesterdays
Author’s Website: https://www.guyhale.com/
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.