Robin Anderson Author Reviews

High Jinks In High C

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Scythed, seared and delivered’ – A very fresh blossom!"
Grady Harp

Robin Anderson takes a million and one chances in this stingingly funny novel and his writing style is so
adept that he knows exactly how to balance camp with storyline. A little background: Anderson was born
inScotland and educated in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and South Africa and while his novels have a
decidedly bent twist, his day job is that of an internationally respected interior designer. What we have not
encountered in his previous novels is his dedication to animals - except of course the pets of his characters
we have met.

Robin Anderson has penned 29 books and this reader has read almost all of them – with glee! As a matter
of fact, Robin Anderson seems to gain such glee in writing his novels that teeter back and forth between
farce, eroticism and adventure that picking up a new story by him is always an expected pleasure. One
thing you can always depend on in the novels of Robin Anderson is to be shocked, at times embarrassed,
and all the while entertained with some of the most audacious ideas and situations and characters ever created. Robin is naughty to the extreme and gets away with it because he writes so well. He has polished his recipe for entertainment to a fare-thee-well. The language is purple indeed and the encounters are so varied and so 'can't-top-this-one' that the reader will be left breathless from laughter by books weird ending. Climb on board, if you've a mind to, and go for another outrageous Robin Anderson ride.

HIGH JINKS IN HIGH C is a particularly fine story and Robin provides a synopsis that captures the moment – and beyond – ‘In the tale of Cinderella the heroine only has two ugly sisters and an ugly stepmother to contend with: whereas in High Jinks in High C, young Dot Brownstone, the heroine (later to metamorphose into the highly ambitious Narcissa Defarge), finds herself having to deal with not only a pair of wearisome, adoptive parents and a zealous, over-possessive childhood friend but more - much more. Enter the dashing young Baron Pieter Listig Maritz (himself a metamorphosis extraordinaire) and Narcissa soon finds herself caught up in a world of wicked uncles, aunts, questionable acquaintances, double-crossing lovers and unparalleled intrigue. Throw in a talented, songstress daughter, a fairy tale castle, a tropical island, a vengeful murder or two and let the high jinks in a very discordant High C begin.’

Who can resist? Certainly not his avid followers. And if this is a first, you’ve opened a well-oiled door! At times Robin’s writing seems like a Dr. Seuss tale written for adults with human characters instead of Seuss characters: if Horton Hears a Who then Robinson hears a Hoot!

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"Be surprised! Be very surprised...many times over!"
Kathy Kozakewich

As I’ve come to expect of Robin Anderson’s wildly adventuresome stories, “High Jinks in High C” never flags or fails to astound, astonish, or amaze. It’s not only due to the extremely varied—and unique!—characters but also the various escapades in which the cast members become involved, either willingly or unwillingly.

There’s nothing tame about a Robin Anderson book, but that’s part of the appeal. I started this book on October 29th and finished it early Halloween morning – the timing could not be more appropriate!

“High Jinks in High C” is a romp through different levels of society and takes place on number of continents. If you’ve never read one of Robin Anderson’s books, firstly be prepared for a shock…or a dozen. I’ve read quite a few of Mr Anderson’s tales and have never been bored; surprised, yes. Titillated? Of course. Sometimes slightly appalled? Oh yeah. But always, always very entertained. I certainly found this latest in his oeuvre hard to put down. And when I was finished reading I was smiling…always a good sign.

I wish the rating system came in half-measures, because Robin Anderson's "High Jinks in High C" definitely rates 4½ on my scale.