3 Stars

I am trying to catch up with my reading after much of 2019 was a lost cause for different reasons. Kosmos by Adrian Laing was one of the first books I received from Flame Tree Press and I read it right away but just for some reason or other did not get a review written. That is too bad since this is an entertaining read, so it is time to get that review out and give this novel the recognition it deserves.

When two police officers wake an old man found sleeping in Hampstead Heath, the startled man lashes out and is arrested on assault charges. George Winsome is the public defender given the job of defending the man who will not give any information about himself than that he is the legendary wizard, Merlin. George believes the man is more likely insane than a wizard but does his best to prepare the defense which is looking more complicated by the minute when the officer the man assaulted dies and the charges become manslaughter. Then things take a turn for the weird.

As the trial progresses, it seems clear that there is a certain quality to Merlin that draws people to him. The jury becomes sympathetic to the man even when no one believes his story. Merlin, however, sticks with his story and feels that his meeting with George was destined in order to keep order in the universe. The judge’s son enacts a bizarre revenge against his father that even further opens the judge’s mind to the possibility of the supernatural and the media latches on to the story with a manic obsession. All is not fun and games, though, for Merlin is back for a purpose and must fulfill that purpose whether anyone believes in him or not.

Kosmos is a strange story that mixes police procedural with Arthurian legend to create a unique story. It did seem to bog down a little t times when the court proceedings drag on as I did not feel that was the main point of the story. But when the legendry Merlin was brought to the forefront and the mythology behind him focused on, the story is compelling and difficult to put down. Laing has a good grasp of Arthurian legend and the way he weaves it into the modern world was both fantastic and strikingly human. There is a strong humanity that runs through the story and gives it a beating heart that speaks to the reader. This is more than just a rebirth of the legend in the modern world. It is the beginning of an entirely new mythos.

What can a reader expect from Kosmos? In one work, expect the unexpected. The story does seem a bit scattered at times and can take a little work to unravel but it is rewarding in the end. While I think that it could have been more than it ultimately is, Laing manages to form an interesting and somewhat heart-warming tale that stuck with me after the last page. There is a strange power to this story that is difficult to explain but is there nonetheless. If you are looking for an offbeat story with a touch of the fantastic and a moral at the end, this is the book for you. I had never read anything by Laing before but was pleased with this book and would not hesitate to try another of his works in the future.

I would like to thank Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for this reader’s copy. Kosmos is available now.

Adrian Laing has concocted a tale of awe-inspiring wonder. The cover is awesome, but the story is beautiful. I don't read the synopsis before I start books; I go by the book cover alone. It makes the reading experience more exhilarating. I like to live dangerously. For me, KOSMOS is one of the biggest surprises of 2018.

KOSMOS starts out in 2001 where a homeless man is arrest by two dog patrollers. The oddly-dressed homeless man resists and struggles, resulting in his arrest and a minor assault charge. When the victim of the assault unexpectedly dies the homeless man is charged with manslaughter. The old homeless man is represented by rookie barrister George Winsome. To top it off, the man thinks he is Merlin. Yes, the wizard. Heather (George's partner) finds out she is pregnant during the trial.

KOSMOS is a compelling courtroom drama, but it's also a touching tale of finding your way. Merlin wins the hearts and minds of his fellow inmates and the prison staff. The trial is a bit farcical, which makes for some good laughs. At times, the story seemed a bit flat, though. But once you get into the latter third of KOSMOS, it really takes off. The third act is worth its weight in gold. The pay off is well worth it. The homeless man's true identity is revealed. George and Heather's life path becomes abundantly clear, too.

Adrian Laing can write great prose. He grabs you by the tie and pulls you into the story. The story is solid, but it does tend to slow down a bit here and there. I really enjoyed the characters. The characterization is unbelievable. The ending is everything.

Recommend!

George Winsome is assigned to represent an old homeless man accused of assault, a man who believes himself to be a great man of power and magic. Merlin thinks the meeting between himself and George is preordained, a way for him to keep the universe on track. Clearly everyone else thinks Merlin is a sandwich short of a picnic and George too big for his boots, which makes them the perfect peculiar couple.

Just based on this scenario it is quite easy to see how the innocent can fall prey to the criminal and/or legal system, and to get lost within misconceptions and misinformation. Aside from that Laing also shines a light on the archaic British legal system, and although everyone is amused by its eccentricities I wonder if they aren’t detrimental to the people having to go through said system.

For me the most intriguing aspect of this concept was whether or not we (people) need to believe in the improbable to sustain some semblance of hope in a world filled with uncertainty, fear and violence. To believe in a fictional or mythical character to achieve some sort of comfort in difficult times.

It also steers readers in the direction of accepting an element of peace in a role in life you might not have imagined yourself in, and yet might accidentally fall into. The few that understand that small acts of kindness will exact change, even if only for a few people, which is often more important than a ruthless high-ranking job with plenty of material gains.

Laing mixes folklore, magic and the modern legal system to create a quirky courtroom story with an underlying moral core.

Reading this was a pleasant surprise and turned out to be nothing like I thought it was going to be! It's a blend of a courtroom drama, with an insightful and poignant story of finding your way in life and doing what makes you happy - it isn't always about the money!

Add to the mix a man who says he's Merlin - yes, THE Merlin! - and you find yourself totally involved with the fight for justice and watching how people can be transformed by those they meet along the way.

George Winsome - what a name for a lawyer! - is a barrister in training and finds himself thrown in the deep end for his first case! He has to learn the tricks of the trade as he goes and the pressure is on for him to win the case as there are expectations from his firm. His client, Merlin, is accused of manslaughter but is seemingly winning over the hearts and minds of those he meets in jail - prisoners and staff! - and the case soon grabs the attention of the media! The case itself turns even crazier too especially when the Jury seem more interested in what food is on offer, and the Judge is dealing with a son who seeks revenge in a rather peculiar way!

I really enjoyed the character of Merlin as he was just so pleasant and wise! He's often puzzled by the world he finds himself in and it was good to see modern life through his eyes. He forms a great bond with George and that really helps in the second part of the book where he is there seemingly to guide George and his girlfriend Heather as they face some tougher times in their lives and they try to work out the point of it all!

So if you're looking for a book that has a bit of fantasy, touches of humour and a strong courtroom drama element, then this is the book for you! A really enjoyable read!!

Part One of this book is the trial of Merlin, an apparently homeless man who is arrested for assault after two men try to take his staff. The young barrister who represents him decides not to take on a 'leader' in the trial but conduct it on his own despite his lack of experience. The entire trial is very engaging. And yes, Merlin insists he is that Merlin of the King Arthur legend.
Part Two digresses from the realist mode of the courtroom into the realm of fantasy and that's where the story left me cold as fantasy is not my genre of preference. Considering the way the book started, it could have gone in many directions after the trial ended, most of them being of much more interest to me than pursuing the fantasy that Merlin really was Merlin. No doubt some people will love this narrative but for me only Part One was truly engaging.

This is quite an unusual read and therefore tricky to review. It mainly concerns Merlin and George and Merlin’s court case so there is a lot of legal and courtroom scenes in it. This took me a little while to get into but once I did the story whizzed along. Some of the courtroom scenes and the scenes with Merlin were quite funny and the whole book had a feeling of quirkiness to it, which I enjoyed. Regardless of whether you believe there could be someone named Merlin alive today, having also been alive hundreds of years ago is irrelevant. The story draws you in, skeptical or not, and works its magic on you. I use the word magic here very specifically because something happens during that book. I don’t know what it is but I know when I finished reading I felt a lovely sense of calm which is not how I normally feel at the end of a book.

The characterisation is brilliant, I particularly liked Merlin and George. George was almost pompous to start with but develops over the course of the book into someone I liked and enjoyed reading about. Merlin was himself the whole way through, he had a lovely naivety of current culture and behaviours and was a fascinating character.

A large part of the story is the court case which is written in such a way that it is informative but not stuffy and dry. This part of the book was written in such a way that it flowed well despite the fact that court procedure had to be followed correctly and therefore there were legal terminology and processes to be included.

This is a story which takes you from people who are focused on what they can achieve and how they can do better in their own lives to people who wonder who they can make other people’s lives better. As the book cover says, it is a story of love and redemption and a funny and enjoyable one as well. Definitely worth a try if you want something different and something that will make you wonder what you would have done, if you were George.

Reading the blurb for this book I remember responding to Anne with something along the lines of “That sounds MAD, I’m in”. While the book was not entirely as crazy as I was expecting, I came away from it thoroughly satisfied.

The first half of this book is almost entirely a courtroom drama, with George defending Merlin against the crown, represented by a much more senior and well versed lawyer.

The two lock horns on numerous occasions throughout the court battle, which I found wonderfully engaging. Despite reading a large number of crime novels, I have not read too many which look at the courtroom setting, and I found this part of the book very interesting and engaging. I may need to pick up a couple of court room dramas…

The second part of the novel changes setting and focusses more on the lives of George, his girlfriend and Merlin. For me, this is where the book really came to life, and I flew through the closing stages.

I had gone into this book expecting a wild and humorous ride, and while it is still that, it is so much more. What we have here is a heartwarming tale of redemption, with an absolutely fantastic array of characters, that I already miss, and a brilliantly plotted story, I have to admit. I loved it.

Book centers around a newly minted barrister, George and Merlin. George defends Merlin in in modern day court, much like Miracle on 34th Street. The characters were well developed. I enjoyed the book.h