ANTIPODEAN TRAVELER REVIEW
Having followed the adventures of this wild colonial boy for most of the last 50 years (mostly at a safe distance) I see he has written yet another enthralling read to follow his early epic story "Three Small Suspects" - this time a winning double.
Once again I found his narrative anecdotal style impossible to put aside until the outcome of each incident was revealed.
I postponed most of the DIY projects here at Cranford and found myself often reading on into the wee small hours.
As the chapters unfold we see the sympathetic side of Nick's nature coming through, but then his competitive side shows
with his American boating friends risking life and limb racing up river rapids full of boulders. Hair raising stuff!!
Determined to show off the quality of the World famous Hamilton Jet Propulsion units, coupled with the sturdy local built hulls.
Interviews with uniformed County Officials here and there are testament to the Authors tendency to take full advantage of vehicular horse power both on the long highways and the winding wide rivers he encountered. Always keeping the suspense, he still delivers his tale - at times even in a laconic style, but always honest and entertaining. I speculate that the famous Paul Hogan from Lightning Ridge (Crocodile Dundee) would write his memoirs in the same appealing style as Nick has achieved here. Hmmmmm. May be even a base for a thrilling movie to follow. Peter Jackson might have a ball with this one.
Once again I admit, after reading about his hair raising predicaments and all the outcomes, I am almost speechless, but mainly with admiration both for this man's achievements and his literary ability. Always on the go. Even the (almost) love episodes have been handled in gracious style such that I would even allow my God daughter to read.
It is said that idle hands are the devils play things. There is no sign of that in Nicks work ethic and life's experiences. This set of two books is a great read for everyone.
Gary Bruorton
Christchurch
THREE SMALL SUSPECTS REVIEW​
This is a memoir, each chapter a stand-alone episode, complete in its dramatic content and absolutely capable of stopping today’s kids in their tracks. This is not your urban fantasy horror thriller; it’s real kids doing ordinary everyday 1950’s things. Get a script writer involved. This is a TV serial in the making.
In his roistering tales of derring-do, Nick Horgan takes us back to a time when you were told that ‘kids who were bored, were boring’ and ‘entertainment’ was something you thought up for yourself. Ingenuity and daring were paramount as was the stoicism you displayed when your elders dealt out punishment.
This is a book of exploits that gives way to prideful memories. It is told in the direct and uncomplicated language of the young Nick himself, enjoyable for its lack of pretence and also of course for its total lack of political correctness.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the supervisory role played by adults. Not just your own mum and dad but also the local copper, your teacher, priest, neighbour or shop keeper would provide cursory supervision and at times admonishment. Nothing complicated, just a direct concern to see that the kids did not step too far over the line. Here you see a community that plays a role in the life of each child.
Well, that’s gone, the era has passed.
But, with a book like this there’s a glimmer of hope. Maybe ‘out there’ people and communities will take real responsibility for their children again and common sense may prevail over obsessive litigious acrimony.
Nick Horgan is a breath of fresh air.
Del Nightingale – ‘Writers at Work’ – Radio 3RPP