"Request: If you enjoyed this book please don't keep it a secret." The above is written by the Author on the last page of the book and this is one book that shouldn't be kept a secret! It has to be one of the funniest books that I have read in a long time. The humour and the style of writing allows the reader to think that this only happened in London last week that someone had won the Globobillions Lottery but no-one has come forward to claim the prize. Rumours abound straight away. Leo Morphetus is an addicted entrepreneur, always trying new ways to make a living. His latest being his Barista tricycle and himself selling coffees on the move. He has separated from his wife Helen and Amy his daughter. He stopped buying lottery tickets ages ago but the local shopkeeper and his wife are certain that he had bought a ticket and from them. The rumours start by them and soon the media is involved. Throughout the whole book Donna the newspaper reporter never gives up trying to uncover who won the ticket in order to get her big story. Events reach the stage where everyone is sure that Leo has won and he and his friend Vince decide to pretend that they have. Helen has a boyfriend Tony who now decides to blackmail Helen now he thinks Leo has actually won. Leo has promised to pay Poppy, a child with cancer, to go to the USA for treatment. The bank manager, desperate for a 'rich client', credits cash ignoring all rules and protocols into a joint account for Leo and Vince whereupon they go and lead the high life - especially Vince and his love for clothes - top hotels are booked and as the managers of the hotels think Leo is the winner, all bills are written off. Begging letters start, Leo's father in law who doesn't like him now is trying to push himself up the Council ladder by asking Leo to donate funds to his various projects, TV are now interested but read the book as there is more. The real winner happens to be a Muslim lady who can't accept the cash because of her beliefs, but wants to send her two daughters to university and despite taking advice form a Muslim lady counsellor she is not further forward with what she can do with the money as her culture does not allow gambling or to spend winnings. When Leo and Vince are at the stage where they have to confess, things work out in an unusual way and I won't say how or why as this is the best part of the book. The author has written one of those brilliant books that tend to come along from time to time and as stated at the top of this review I am not keeping it a secret. Read it you won't be disappointed!
Catherine Bryce, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Humorous Fiction |
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Thoroughly recommended.
Just the book for when you're on the beach or by the pool when, let's face it, we all fantasize about what we'd do with a huge lottery win! Bill Dare, author and playwright, is probably best known for his work on radio and television comedy programmes, most notably 'Dead Ringers' and 'Spitting Image'. 'The Billion Pound Lie' does not disappoint...it's funny and nail-biting from beginning to end. The characters grow and change before your eyes, as they choose or are forced into deception after deception, all bar the main protagonist, Leo, who charms, or sleepwalks, his way through the farce without one word of a lie. This book is immensly pleasurable reading, the plot twisting all the time so the reader's attention is held throughout.... Read Full Review
I loved this book and it makes you think about the consequences of winning such a large amount, give it a read you will not be disappointed.
The Billion pound lotto has just been won and whilst no one knows who the winner is they do know which shop it was bought from. Leo buys his tickets at the same shop and speculation was rife who it was that won and somehow everyone thinks it is Leo! Vince is Leo's friend who urges him to go along with the speculation without saying he had won or not. Leo is homeless and drunk and he decides to see if he can get enough money to find somewhere to live, the lie starts running away with him and as he finds himself getting deeper and deeper he has no idea how it will all end.... Read Full Review
