Before reading it, the idea of living forever, not growing old and not having to think about the inconvenience of dying seemed like it would be a perfect existence. The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book as well as the publisher of the work. It is a beautiful treatise on the human condition, the rationale for life and living and the purpose of mankind in our limited time on earth. A Life Eternal is a poignant exploration that really gets you thinking about whether immortality would be a blessing or a curse.

This is a sequel to Sam's first appearence in 'South by South West Wales' (I love these titles), which I read a while ago. It was one of those books that made me forget I was reading - it was that well crafted and involving. What separates this from other similarly-themed tales is the unique explanation Ayre gives for the immortality his character suffers from as well as its resolution, and above all the journey Deakin takes. The author’s knowledge as a history teacher also shines through, and Ayre is able to deftly summarise the stark realities of key events of the twentieth century through the eyes of his protagonist in a way that’s always plausible and interesting. It’s neither about characters nor story, and, to be honest, there aren’t actually any “characters” at all.What an amazing book, I loved the way the story progressed and it’s exploration of the meaning of life and what it means to be human. We have a potential werewolf prowling the Scottish moors, a strange tale of demonic possession that could have been written by Conan Doyle, a mad scientist with an 'Island of Dr Moreau' vibe, as well as my favourite, a 'Wicker Man' type story set on the outer islands of the West Coast, which, I have to say, had me on the edge of my seat. Rob Deakin is equal parts everyman and no-man, but is ultimately generally unlikeable and his “glass half-empty” personality made the times he lived through, and the people he interacted with more ‘history textbook’ and less ‘historical novel’. This fascination with endless life is what drew me into this story, and it was what kept me reading when I became a little weary of the main character. It culminates by bringing us up to date to London in the Covid-19 era with one of the most heart-breaking and moving sections I have ever come across in fiction.

This is not just another trite tale or formulaic adventure; it has clearly been written by someone with a particular story they want to tell, and Richard Ayre’s passion to tell it well is evident throughout. His first novel was Minstrel's Bargain, and he has also written Point of Contact, a Sci-Fi chiller, and A Life Eternal, a speculative historical novel. However, he is still on the tail of the bad guys, helped this time by the local police chief who relies on his less than 'by the book' abilities to bring in the villains.I found the premise of A Life Eternal really interesting — I find it incredible how much the world changed in the twentieth century, and this is a really good premise. I can't start this review any other way than saying this is one of the best books I have read for a long time and is easily in my Top 5 favourites already! A race that will take them from the murky world of the East End to the even more shady world of the Victorian upper classes. This is one of the few books I’ve ever read that I want others to read, so I can discuss it with them.

He makes few connections that hang around for more than a chapter or so, and all of his experiences feel like time just passing. Without time, how does the new born baby learn how to hold, how to grasp, how to stand, how to walk? This book truly shows the talents of Fullerton; a modern John le Carre mixed with a hint of Clive Cussler. Before long, another woman has been murdered and the resulting riot in the street of the East End turns deadly. Not only a thrilling and constantly surprising supernatural thriller, but one of the warmest and most humane novels I’ve ever come across.He pretended that it did not bother him and pretty soon, he began to realize that it really did not bother him. Despite these immortality stories rarely having unique endings, this one managed to tell itself in a rather spellbinding fashion. One who whisks me away from my everyday life into the pages of his books to be thoroughly entertained. And living a simple life, pursuing a creative means of sustenance (carving wooden models and toys) leads to an encounter which will take your breath away as well as move you to tears. From Dunkirk to D-Day, the Cuban Missile Crisis to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the horrors of the twentieth century intensify while Deakin faces a new threat: a man who knows his secret and desires it for his own dark purposes.