4.5★s
The Wainwright Boys is a novel by British author, Paul Webb. Four unrelated men receive a solicitor’s letter requesting they present themselves at an office in Keswick, that it will be to their advantage to do so. Once they decide it probably isn’t a scam of some sort, each sets out to make his way to the Lake District to arrive at the appointed time, four weeks hence. But each finds that the journey is far from straightforward.

With his job at the bank far from secure, a hefty mortgage on his Sussex home, two university loans to service and two BMW leases to pay, Dominic Cartwright welcomes a break from his unsatisfactory life and his unhappy marriage. Anything would be an improvement, and something to his advantage would be embraced. He’ll pop in at the Cotswolds aunt who might favour him in her will, then his son in Birmingham and his daughter in Manchester: simple!

When Gavin Wheeler learns the Spanish Guardia Civil are on his trail, he understands the new mayor might not be looking favourably on his time-share scheme, and heading back to the UK to check out this offered inducement in the Lakes District is a timely move. His wife and sons will be safe with his assistant until he returns.

After his dummy-spit at a family of B&B guests, it’s clear Greg Barnes needs a break. His partner in life and business, Martin encourages him to check out the summons to Keswick, and Greg suggests he can trek there while researching new marketing angles for their (currently Sherlock-Holmes-themed) Bowness guesthouse.

Robin Cox-Robinson is hiding with his young mistress on his dilapidated sailboat at a marina in Solent, but his vengeful ex-wife manages to locate him anyway. Her bailiff threat is rounded off with a bundle of bills tossed in his general direction. The solicitor’s letter, though… an opportunity to avoid the demands? He could sail there, covering both transport and accommodation, perfect!

Three out of four of Webb’s protagonists don’t initially command a great deal of respect from the reader, seeming more focussed on themselves than anything else, the exception being Greg, who is likeable from the start. Eventually, they do reveal some better qualities…

Before they eventually reach Keswick, each of them encounters his share of disasters through poor choices, inadequate preparation, or simply bad luck, but there are also quite a few charitable types who help to save the day.

As well as inserting a plug for his earlier novel, The Smugglers’ Fingers, Webb manages to subject the four to some hilarious predicaments. He has one or other of them: landing illegally in the UK; jumping from a moving train; acting as roadie for an ageing, irredeemably awful, country/punk band; getting involved in a farcical attempted bank robbery; and being rescued multiple times from storms at sea.

Also some: attend a fetish party dressed in a perishing wetsuit; have a sailboat hijacked; heroically save a hostage while supposedly staying incognito; get a lift with drunken canal boaters; comfort a woman in labour; beat for pheasants; and become the victim of a crusading journalist.

As well, a thatched-roof cottage burns down; a tent is destroyed in a storm; and numerous bizarre B&B’s are explored, including one decorated with porn. And when they finally arrive in Keswick, there’s a mountain to climb before all is revealed by a wealthy young widow.

There’s plenty of humour, some of it quite dark, and liberal use of expletives. From his gorgeous descriptions of the Lakes District, it’s clear that Webb should be getting a commission from the tourist board. And if the premise at first seems a bit predictable, the journey each man undertakes is well worth the reader’s investment, and there’s a lump-in-the-throat twist in the resolution. Entertaining and enjoyable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Toubador Publishing.

A funny well written story about 4 men and their journey to becoming new and improved versions of themselves

This was quite gripping. 4 unrelated men all receive a letter from a solicitor inviting them to Keswick to hear something to their advantage. They all have reasons to leave their current lives and take some time out. The journey each of them makes and the final ending made this a great book.

Fantastic setting. Interesting characters. Strong plot. All ingredients for a great read. Add on the humorous dialogue and clever writing style and this is a complete winner. My only complaint is that it was too short! Looking forward to more from this talented author and hoping he writes fast…

The Wainwright Boys by Paul Webb
I read this book based on the title and content blurb as I love doing the Wainwright walks in Cumbria.
I found the book enjoyable and am glad I read it. It’s about a group of young adults on a church camping holiday in the Lake District. It’s a book that jumps between past and present and i kept loosing track of who was who initially but settled into it. The premise of the mystery reveal was very good but I was disappointed by the last couple of chapters. I felt it was very rushed and there are so many unanswered questions afterwards.
Thanks to the publishers for allowing me an early read of this.

The funniest novel I've read in years. Its dark humour makes compulsive reading and I was hooked from beginning to end.
The four men at the centre of the plot - the Wainwright boys - Dom, Gavin, Greg, and Robbie, are decidedly sleazy when we first meet them. Down on their luck, drifting aimlessly towards middle age, their lives are all at a breaking point. Then comes the mysterious summons to Keswick and all hell is let loose. By the time they reach their destination they are all changed men.
The author clearly knows a thing or two about sailing. The nautical scenes are skillfully and beautifully written, reminding me of Hammond Innes at his best (when he wrote similar scenes to either enhance his fiction or recount his own adventures at sea), and the Lake District is brought lovingly to life in all its beauty.
The characters are crazy, eccentric, and despite (or perhaps because of) their many flaws, are surprisingly loveable. A refreshing, original, and uplifting novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A funny and well-written story where you will love to hate the characters!

The Wainright Boys by Paul Webb is a darkly funny and very well written novella set in a place close to my heart, the Lake District in Cumbria (Keswick was a regular day out for us so it was an essential read!)

In 1976, at a Christian Brotherhood holiday camp, Mary Wainwright kept a red leatherette diary, a very detailed diary of her time there. It's the present day and a solicitors letter has been sent to four men, four very different men, to come to the Lake District, for it will be very worth their while, to the tune of a share of a quarter of a million pounds worth their while

The wry humour within the Wainright boys had me chuckling throughout and there could not be four more different guests to a party. An elaborate scheme is set up to encourage these four men to come to the Lake District and not one of them has a clue why. What follows is an often hilarious but utterly intriguing account of their summons from their current lives and their behaviour when they arrive at Cumbria, culminating in a gut-busting trek up Blencathra (usually takes a few hours but have never done it with "Sharp Edge" because that is pure sadism! JKJK, it is a hikers dream tbh - Even the title and namesake Mary Waingright is a nod to "The Wainwrights" which is the local name for the tops of the fells - nice little detail in that)

I digress, the book is a good read and I really wish there was more of it imho. The descriptions of the area show a great love and understanding of the Lake District and the narrative and dialogue flowed really well. A good, fun read with a little bit of a plot twist that rounds it off nicely. A quick read I that I recommend highly

Thank you to Netgalley, Troubador, Matador and the author Paul Webb for this awesome ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

The Wainwright Boys by Paul Webb

Any book set in the Lake District is set to be a winner in my mind , and this one did not disappoint.
Four men , seemingly unknown to each other receive a letter from a solicitor informing them that they need to get themselves to the picturesque town of Keswick.
The book follows these oddbeat men from different places to find out what awaits them there.

An unusual and unique plot which has many emotions and lots of interest to keep you reading.