This collection of twelve contemporary short stories have been infused with references to the rich history and legends associated with the river Thames in England. Tim Walker’s stories were written during periods of convalescence over the past seven years and reflect his interests and experiences of living and working in towns along the course of England’s longest river wholly within the country. An author’s note near the end of the book explains the context and background to each story.
Some of these stories are updated versions (many with new endings) from the first edition of Thames Valley Tales, published in 2015. They are mixed with new stories to make up this collection selected for their suitability for the new audiobook.
The river Thames rises in a meadow in Gloucestershire, near Lechlade, and flows for 215 miles through nine counties, past Oxford, Reading, Henley, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor, Staines, Walton, Hampton Court and Kingston to London, before spilling into the North Sea. The settlements along the course of the river have witnessed many events that have shaped the country’s history and have given rise to myths and legends that dwell outside the bounds of verifiable history.
Tim’s Thames Valley Tales conjure up ghosts of the English Civil War, showcase an unlikely friendship between a pop star and an arms dealer, reveal a murder at Henley Regatta, expose a Runnymede rebellion, welcome the very modern merry Women of Windsor, find Dick Turpin’s treasure in Maidenhead Thicket, reveal a daring Colnbrook caper and cower from a tiger in Oxford
Also included are three bonus stories from the first edition that are not included in the audiobook. So, get comfortable and enjoy your journey down this mature, meandering river.
I'm delighted to be hosting the blog tour for Thames Valley Tales today. Many thanks to Tim Walker for the digital and audio copies of the book and to Donna Morfett for inviting me to take part in the tour.
The Grey Lady is a dual timeline story featuring a couple who make an impromptu overnight stay at a (real-life) country pub in Witney. Of course, it's the ideal setting for a ghost story but I wouldn't describe it as a chilling tale. Instead it's a rather bittersweet combination of humour and tragedy; unsurprisingly given Tim Walker's previous books, the historical elements are particularly interesting and as always, a testament to his research.
The Goldfish Bowl was one of my favourite stories in the collection. Max and Dez live next door to one another in an affluent area in Oxfordshire and strike up a friendship after applying to join the local rowing club. Dez is an international pop star while Max is a successful businessman but as is so often the case, what people see on the surface isn't the full picture. The well-developed plot is both humorous and suspenseful; I could easily imagine it being developed as a full-length novel but it works really well as a short story and has a great ending.
The White Horse is a contemporary story set in Uffington but as it follows the woman on an archaeological dig to determine the age of the famous White Horse carved into the chalk downs, it actually highlights ancient history of the area. I enjoyed the unexpected direction this story took and the wholly satisfying ending left me with a smile on my face.
Murder at the Henley Regatta is a fascinating setting for a murder. The sense of place is excellent and makes for a thoroughly entertaining bite-size whodunnit. Despite a few red herrings, I guessed the identity of the killer but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this well-structured short story.
Maidenhead Thicket is another reminder of the rich history and legends of the area, and given the setting, it's only right for Dick Turpin to make an appearance. However, it also reflects more recent insalubrious activities and the result is a fun little ghost story.
The Merry Women of Windsor is, as the title suggests, inspired by Shakespeare's famous play and is a tale of revenge but also friendship. One of the longer stories in the collection, it is split into four acts which allows for the story to be fully developed. The conclusion is particularly fun, reflecting as it does the ending of its famous counterpart. It's an amusing read throughout but Alice's malapropisms are a highlight.
The Colnbrook Caper was another of my favourites and I really loved the little interlude when the main character, Andy visits the Ostrich Inn – another real-life establishment – and is regaled with its gruesome history. Andy himself is making audacious plans and even though he's legally in the wrong, I couldn't help but hope his endeavours would prove successful. A tense, compelling short story with a cracking conclusion.
Runnymede Rebellion is the most political story in the collection. It's another dual timeline tale centred on the importance of Magna Carta, both at the time it was signed and 80 years later. As a rather ironic reflection of society, this is a thought-provoking story asks questions about inequality and freedom.
The Oxford Tiger is perhaps the most difficult to discuss without giving away any spoilers. It could best be described as magical realism as well as a cautionary tale of what might happen when people don't treat nature as they should. It's a dark and chilling story with an atmospheric sense of place.
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