Book Review 01 - The Wizard's Butler

"He thinks he's a wizard," they said.

For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn't care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive and keep him from squandering the estate for a year.

They didn't tell him about the pixies.

I had made an 'unofficial' New Year resolution not to get behind with my book reviews this year . . . Yep, that didn't even begin, let alone last *g*

I came across this book via J and he thought I'd enjoy it. We do like a lot of the same genre or book, but equally there are quite a few we don't share. I first read this book a couple of years ago(ish). I thought I'd reviewed it at the time, but despite checking on LJ at least twice, I can't find a review; nor can I find one on Amazon. Thus I can only conclude that I only shared what I thought about it with caffyolay (and J of course *g*).

I really, really enjoyed the book - and it definitely stood up to a re-read. NL is a very good writer and a very good story teller, who weaves a picture and draws you into a world of wizardry where pixies keep the house free from dust and fairies keep the garden free from weeds. And it is a good idea not to annoy the pixies, i.e. when Roger started dusting and tidying up, the pixies got annoyed. However, Shackleford (who is a wizard) advised Roger to leave a saucer of whisky out overnight and that would keep the pixies happy. Roger did and the pixies were happy.

There is also a great deal of humour in the book, laugh out loud humour, but also very subtle, gentle humour. In many ways, and I mean no disrespect at all to my American friends, his humour is more British humour than American humour.

Shackleford is a very, very wealthy man and his niece and her husband want his money and his house and need to get him in effect 'sectioned', so they take over, so they advertised for a butler. Roger had been an army medic, who served three terms in Afghanistan and then an EMT, but it had all got too much for him. Thus, when he saw the position he decided to apply for it. He takes to the job very well, even to the wearing of the butler's uniform and the formal things that go with it. As he said to more than one person, he'd spent most of his adult life wearing a uniform, a butler's uniform was no different, just better quality and no one was trying to kill him.

He likes and respects Shackleford very much and even from the beginning he doesn't think Shackleford is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, nor does he see him as a frail old man. He soon realises just why Shackleford's niece was prepared to pay him such a large sum of money. As the weeks go by, he learns the truth; including the truth about Shackleford and quite why he has problems and why he forgets certain things. It's all down to an amulet; an amulet that has great powers of its own.

Shackleford has a close female friend who pops up from time to time and clearly approves of Roger and helps the men find a good doctor who will be willing to go to Court and tell the truth. The doctor does say from the start that she will be honest, she can't be bought, she won't lie and say Shackleford is mentally fit if he isn't. She doesn't have to lie.

Another part of Roger's job is to help Shackleford track down any relation he may have, someone who has 'talent' of the kind Shackleford has and who would take over the house and also the businesses that Shackleford owns, when he dies. Thanks for some DNA research they do find a youngish woman; who comes to stay for a few weeks. She gets on with Shackleford and he likes and trusts her, but she isn't certain she is up to the 'job' of taking on not just the house (that has a 'life' of its own, in more ways than one) but also his business, charity work and his money.

Roger learns to much during the year with Shackleford, not just the pixies like whisky and keep the house clean, but that wizards do exist. Perhaps more importantly he learns more about himself and starts to be able to dispel his ghosts and realise he does have a purpose in life and a job he loves. In fact he even considers going to Butler School after the year has ended.

He and Shackleford need one another, like one another, respect one another, trust one another and care for one another. It's not a father-son bond, nor is there any hint of any romance, it's not just a employer-employee relationship, it's one of those rare relationships that really can't be defined.

I guessed a particular part of the ending, but that didn't impact at all on my enjoyment of the book, not at all. Nor did the fact I had read the book relativity recently. I am quite sure it is a book I shall read again; I am also certain that it will be one of the best books I will read this year. That's saying something, given it was my first book of the year. It is a book I would happily recommend.

I shall use this for the 'Main male character' square of this year's Book Bingo.