Today it’s Clifton Chenier. If you’ve forgotten who he was, or you never knew, he’s worth a refresher.

*Spoiler alert* Score one for me. A couple of weeks ago, I participated in a Facebook discussion, sparked  by Maxim Jacubowski, about McMafia and James Norton’s performance as Alex. Maxim, a highly respected figure in the mystery business, saw him as one-dimensional. I understood that but argued that Norton has already proved his range by segueing from the seriously psychotic Tommy in Happy Valley into the randy vicar  in Grantchester, and that if his portrayal was dead-pan, that was exactly how it was meant to be.

I went on to predict that at the end, Alex would evolve into someone very like Michael Corleone, in The Godfather.

As it turned out, that’s what happened, but there was much more. In fact the series turned out to be a pretty shameless reworking of the entire Godfather trilogy. Alex’s father Dimitri equalled the ageing Don with his enemies ranged against him. His interaction with Rebecca, his girlfriend, was close to Michael’s with Kaye, through the film series. There was the flaky sister, although her other half did make it out unscathed. (I admit that Faye Marsay’s casting did throw me; given her capabilities I expected more meat to her character.) The early murder of the reckless Uncle Boris had shades of the slaughter of Sonny Corleone, which Michael was always going to avenge. The retribution that befell Vadim happened following a funeral, as did the climax of the first Godfather. To cap it all, Vadim’s daughter died in a failed attempt on her father’s life. Where have we seen that before?

Maybe all this was trailed; if so, I missed it, as I am sure did most of the viewing audience.

Having made all these comparisons I must now concede that the makers of McMafia did not have a novel to adapt. Their series was based on a piece of non-fiction. My guess at the ending didn’t stop me from watching right to the finish; in fact it probably encouraged me. Okay, the guy who played Dimitri was no Marlon Brando in any language but he didn’t need to be because James Norton was able to carry the whole thing on his shoulders.

The next 007? I hope so, if only to ensure that McMafia 2 doesn’t happen; well should be left alone.

I have just noticed an item on sale on Amazon. This is its description:

‘Motion Activated Toilet Seat Night Light’

I kid you not. It begs all sorts of questions, not least, what colour is it?

Thanks to all those who’ve explored Bob Skinner’s distant future in Skinner’s Elves. Last time I looked it stood at 399 on the overall Kindle sales list, a number I find both gratifying and astonishing.

Getting in the way of work, yes, even on a Sunday, ‘Versatile” by Sir George I-Van Morrison. He surely is, for on the same day, he released a blues set called ‘Roll with the Punches’, 31 tracks in total. The Man is, not to put too fine a point on it, still fucking brilliant; in fact I’ve never heard him sing better . . . even if he will never be John Coltrane.

This gives me hope, for he was born in the same year as me, on a birthday he shares with my wife.

Thanks to everyone who has sampled ‘Skinner’s Elves’ since it was published two days ago, and thanks also to the generous reviewers.

I note that it’s number 75 in one of the Amazon category rankings. For a short story, that looks pretty good.

I’m gratified by the pre-order response to Skinner’s Elves, the Christmas short story that I announced a couple of days ago, and which publishes on Amazon Kindle tomorrow, December 1. it’s only 6,000 words long but it tries to stand convention on its head, by beginning  with a solution and ending with a mystery.

Enjoy. It’s for you.

I’m happy, and a little surprised if I’m honest, to announce a new arrival that wasn’t even a twinkle until a week ago. With very little encouragement, and with Christmas in mind, I have put together a 6,000 word Bob Skinner short story, set 24 years in the future. Its title is ‘Skinner’s Elves’, and it will be published on Friday, December 1, exclusively as an ebook, in the Amazon Kindle store. It’s available for pre-order now.

It sounds like a story for children, but it isn’t. In a real sense, however it’s a tale about children and the power they have to help us overcome, and to emerge from, the deepest despair.

Great day in our house; ‘State Secrets’, the 28th Bob Skinner mystery, is published, officially, in hardback, trade paperback, and ebook formats.

Happy to say it’s flying off the shelf and melting the Internet.

Lunch today with more than a little nostalgia; the Finlay family are back in the Waterside Bistro, Haddington, on the banks of the other Tyne. Jim is there too, in support of his sons, who are the new face of this business. Everything was just like old times, 30-odd years ago, including the quality of the food.

Welcome back, you’ve been missed.