The Iron, The Switch and The Broomcupboard

Michael Lawrence

Orchard Books

1846164710

Jul 2007

Exploration of the effects of chance and caprice feels familiar territory to Michael Lawrence. Following on from consideration that is firmly rooted in the philosophical consequences of the decisions and choices we each of us play out in ‘The Aldous Lexicon’, Lawrence writes with a humorous frivolity that is immediately accessible and, at points, feels to be reaction against the depths and intricacies of ‘The Underwood See’.
Back for his ninth adventure, the hapless Jiggy McCue finds himself transported to a parallel world in which he becomes divorced from his familiar motley crew of musketeers. In itself, this highlights Lawrence’s aptitude for revealing the inner-workings and mechanics of group friendships, social interaction and communal thoughts and actions ‘ an understanding that places his series alongside stalwarts of children’s literature, Nesbit and Blyton, who showed similar awareness and ability to convey this effectually through unembellished, fast-moving prose style.
Literary influences figure highly in Michael Lawrence’s body of work, as he quite correctly asserts in his preface, this is not done ‘slavishly’ here, but rather creates parallels that are parodied ‘ and sometimes ridiculed(!) ‘ adding to the jovial nature of the predicaments Jiggy encounters.
Cleverly interweaving details and character facets from the previous books in the series, this is absurdist humour at its unequivocal best ‘ belly laughs abound in this rib-tickled read!