Reversed Forecast

The first novel from the brilliantly unconventional Nicola Barker is a tale of gambling, allergies, music and dogs, set in some of Londons less scenic locations. Chance meetings between its cast of eccentric individuals Ruby the bookie's cashier, violently disturbed (and disturbing) Vincent, Samantha the would-be cabaret singer, wilfully sickly Sylvia and Little Buttercup the never-quite-made-it greyhound result in the unlikeliest of couples; and theres always the risk that it could all work out disastrously as characters select each other and try or dont try to make winning combinations. But, as Ruby, the storys soft-centred heroine, observes: Losing, thats the whole point of the gamble.