Broken Eggshells is described by the author as a 'black comedy in several hues of yellow'. As a big fan of Iain Banks, Colin Bateman and Robert Rankin (not so much black as mad) I was looking forward to reading it as it sounded right up my street.

The novel tells the story of three groups of people and the links between them.

Firstly we have a group of alternative terrorists, Toenails Lodge (they wanted to call themselves 'A large kangaroo with frilly knickers' so newsreaders would have to say 'the explosion has been confirmed as the work of a large kangaroo with frilly knickers'). Secondly, one of the worlds leading Mafia Dons and last, but not least, the Establishment in the form of the Police and HM Customs and Excise.

The stories at first seem worlds apart but all soon meet head on and things become clear. It is very well written with great characters. There are so many funny scenes it would take forever to list them all (well, 396 pages anyway). However, watch out for SOIRRU (Strategic Operational Identity Rapid Response Unit) which has the task of coming up with interesting names for government operations. The conversation between the three retired gentlemen who make up the unit had me in hysterics. Also the scene where DC Fern is on his way to recover the murder weapon..classic.

The humour is a mixture of Tom Sharpe's farce and Iain Banks's dark observations, yet original enough to be unique in it's own right. If you have a slightly warped sense of humour, and you like novels such as Complicity and Wilt, you will love this. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I for one wish Mr Cook every success as I look forward to many more happy hours reading further works in the future.

Booklore, June 30th, 2001

To say I haven't read a book quite like it would be unfair... I haven't read a book like it at all. In terms of pure comedy 'Broken Eggshells' will sit happily on your bookshelf with Douglas Adams' 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' or 'Dirk Gently' or perhaps Python. Yes this book is surreal but it's not sci-fi, impossibly unrealistic or a succession of sketches bound loosely by a vague plot.

As for what 'Broken Eggshells' is, the plot follows a group of international terrorists led by key character Geoff Trippic, who aim to right the injustice of mans' persistence in stupidly futile things. The story incorporates a Detective Sergeant who is entirely too intelligent for his own good and a seriously dangerous Mafia family. Set in London, Cook has used real streets; places and even statues, giving the reader a vivid 'this could be real' feel. Along with this comes a remarkably fast-paced story line encouraging the desire to read on. 'Broken Eggshells' is well researched, enjoying the benefit of background knowledge of psychology, communications technology, the mafia, local geography and erm... covert police departments.

You will not find any lack of depth in the plot, Cook writes in the knowledge that the reader must enter the universe of the book, but do not forget that this is a comedy and in this I have not found better. Anyone having the joy of using British Rail will relate to Geoff's character and his attempts to gain basic information from the ticket office, no personal jets for this global criminal. What I found most enjoyable about 'Broken Eggshells' was that the serious parts were actually serious and that the humour, in the main, is derived from real life. As with an observational stand up comedian, Cook shines a spot light on the comedy of everyday events and misunderstandings and encourages us to view life from an alternative point of view... the funny one.

CrossTalk Magazine, Summer 2001