The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock

By Kenny Boyle

0-3

FICTION

292 Pages, 5 x 11.75

Formats: Trade Paper

Trade Paper, $16.95 (US $16.95) (CA $22.95)

Publication Date: May 2022

ISBN 9781785633027

Rights: US & CA

Eye Books (May 2022)
Lightning Books

Price:	$16.95

Overview

Wendy just wants to be a poet. So how comes she's on the run after an art heist?

An aspiring writer from the Southside of Glasgow, Wendy is in a rut. She tries to brighten her call-center job by shoehorning as many long words as possible into conversations with customers. But her manager isn't amused by that and, after a public dressing-down, Wendy walks out.

Jobless and depressed, she finds consolation in a surprise friendship with another disgruntled ex-colleague, wild-child painter Cat, who encourages her to live more dangerously. It's just what Wendy needs and it's also brilliant for her creative juices. But a black cloud is about to overshadow this new-found liberation, as well as to put Wendy on the wrong side of the law.

Fresh, insightful and funny, as well as unflinchingly honest about the tougher side of life, Kenny Boyle's debut novel takes us deep into the psyche of a likeable misfit who treads a fine line between reality and fantasy - and just wants the world to see her true self.

Reviews

"Very different and engagingly unique. Kenny Boyle is bristling with talent, and this may well be the best book I’ve read in years." —Peter May

"A charming, funny and unique story that tackles tough issues with a gentleness and poignancy that really resonated with me." —Clare Grogan

"Funny, intelligent and insightful. Kenny Boyle is a singular voice." —Sanjeev Kohli

"Boyle is a fresh, playful new voice on the Scots literary scene. His quirky, unreliable narrator pulls on our heartstrings, takes us by the hand and never lets go. A fun, heart-rending read with a deadly serious undertone." —P.K. Lynch

"A bittersweet paean to friendship, art and making your mark, with a sharp line in patter and a big heart." —Alan Bissett

"A witty, honest, powerful tale of friendship, belief, self-care and courage. It’s very difficult to believe Kenny Boyle hasn’t written a trillion novels before. I enjoyed every minute of it and laughed and cried several times. Bloody bravo." —Leah MacRae

"From the first line, The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock has a kind of gleeful playfulness at its heart, a light sense of humour applied even to heavy material. Immediate and engaging, it will resonate with anyone who ever wanted to escape everyday life." —Rodge Glass

"Funny, heart-breaking and compassionate. Kenny Boyle deals with difficult subjects with great insight and a light touch. If you have ever dreamed of escape and of living life with no safety harness, this is the book for you." —Catherine Simpson

"A Thelma & Louise for modern times, where two misfits become something bigger and more forceful when they meet, on a philosophical quest reminiscent of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. A masterful debut novel." —Des Dillon

"A brilliant, big-hearted book about art, friendship, mental illness and the power of poetry and storytelling." —Mandy Haggith

"A fresh and fascinating debut novel, full of vivacity and wit. Kenny Boyle is a born storyteller. Prepare to be unsettled and surprised." —Donald S Murray

"Playful, witty and poignant – a refreshing new voice in Scottish literature." —Kevin MacNeil

"I fell in love with this book and its main character without even noticing. I loved spending time with Wendy. When it was over, I just wanted to start again because I didn’t want to be parted from her. A cracking read." —Karen Bartke

"Takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and never lets go. A modern Scottish version of Thelma & Louise that tackles mental health with humour, care and consideration". —Colin Burnett

"Few novels have wrong-footed me in the manner of this one. I initially thought it was going to be a buddy comedy/drama, but something more interesting was going on [too]. To say the final chapters are moving is a huge understatement. They blindside you with their power and honesty." —Snack Magazine

"By turns funny, charming and thought-provoking. Different, memorable, outstanding." —Undiscovered Scotland

Author Biography

Kenny Boyle is a writer and actor born on the Isle of Lewis. He trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and holds a masters in classical and contemporary text, as well as an honors degree from the University of Strathclyde. He is the star, alongside Natalie Clark, of the multi-award winning short film Perfect Strangers (2015) and of the feature-film follow-up Lost at Christmas (2020). His plays include Playthrough and An Isolated Incident, and in 2021 he received a New Playwrights Award from the Playwrights' Studio, Scotland. The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock is his debut novel.

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