Review by Dr. Robert Kimber
This is a Reader Review!

This is the second novel of Allen Lyne's that I've read. I enjoyed it and admire his capacity to generate plenty of fun. It’s unpretentious and appealing… and should go down well with those who know their Shakespeare.

The topsy-turvy use of characters and actors playing roles, quite apart from trying to be themselves, could only be written by a theatre person.

The writer makes it happen so convincingly. His “Jeffrey” has the same quiet, self-effacing qualities of “Jonathan” in the previous book. He’s obviously Lyne's sort of man, the kind of person who is created to be a sop to all the manipulation that is happening around him. In the process of learning he suffers body blows and emotional assaults of all kinds–and we sympathise.

The use of ice cream wagons [and “Greensleeves”--beautifully conceived!] as a front for drug distribution might keep it out of most school libraries. I reckon the mucking around with drugs is probably no more significant than cowboys and Indians murdering one another in Zane Grey Westerns. It’s a--moral, I recognise that, in the way it is done, though not all readers will necessarily see it that way because drug use and distribution--especially among the young--is a potent evil in contemporary society. I suspect the pervasiveness of drugs and drug usage in contemporary society is precisely the point the author is making.

Both of Lyne's books have great characters. They are vivid and they are strongly contrasted. In the current book Sally, Stella, Sister Sandy, Titania, the un-named lady in the bank, Moonflower, Jeffrey’s kids--all of them pop up as I type away. That’s good writing, I have a hunch the author has known them all personally.

Every Shakespeare lover should bubble with enthusiasm at what the writer has done with this story.

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Reviewed by: Molly Martin
Entertaining Read …….. Recommended ….. 5 stars

The narrative opens with a broken down car, cryptic coded message 'emus are cranky,' 'because they cannot fly,' a boiling cauldron and three old women. Jeffrey Case a thirty-eight year old dis-inherited scion of a wealthy family, divorced, cabdriver longs to become an actor. He has dabbled in acting for years with little success. Following delivery of a mysterious passenger to 2 Glassie Jeffrey finds himself caught up in a series of strange happenings. In his attempt to return a package containing only a head Jeffrey returns to 2 Glassie where he finds a group of peculiar Shakespeare quoting individuals all dressed in 1950s garb. Unable to rid himself of the head Jeffrey attempts to throw it into the sea only to have the head snagged by a black falcon. Nightmares filled with images of himself bowling severed heads toward headless bodies and a horrifying torture chamber, ice cream vendors who play Greensleeves and offer more than icy treats, retired workers and young junkies all figure in the conundrum. The head on a book shelf, the head in the frig, and the head in the bushes, women who yodel at odd moments, and an ex wife called Moonflower are all a part of the enigma surrounding Jeffrey Case. A mesmerizing flutist, conversations with Shakespeare himself, Hecate's hex and witches dust move the narrative forward. A night of great debauchery, The Bard's Players, Jeffrey performs as a double act on a regular basis and Yorrick understudies everyone.

Shakespeare is Alive and Well and Living in Sun City is the second offering produced by writer Lyne and read by this reviewer. Well rounded, spiritedly portrayed characters, vividly painted settings and animated dialog all move the tale along at breakneck speed in this fast paced romp. Writer Lyne skillfully weaves a fanciful, complex tale using the theater as his back drop, William Shakespeare in a 'what if' role and human foibles at their worst/best. Snappy dialog, betrayal, lust and puzzlement couple with fascinating settings and absorbing storyline to keep the reader moving along from chapter to chapter. Lyne has taken a well known theater figure, Shakespeare, placed him and his work in modern times to produce a highly entertaining work sure to please alike Shakespeare lovers and those who know little of the Bard.

Not for everyone; while language is not profane or vulgar there is some graphic sexual content.

For those who may not understand Aussie terms a small glossary might prove helpful to the US reader, but those few words only add to the fun for the reader.

Good book for a lazy summer afternoon, ages 13 and up.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.

Reviewed by: molly martin
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead

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