Baxter's Requiem

(Paperback)

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'The fact that this novel is so witty is incidental to how good it is - it has characters you care about deeply and a heart as big as a cathedral' Miles Jupp

Let me tell you a story, about a man I knew, and a man I know...

Mr Baxter is ninety-four years old when he falls down his staircase and grudgingly finds himself resident at Melrose Gardens Retirement Home.

Baxter is many things - raconteur, retired music teacher, rabble-rouser, bon viveur - but 'good patient' he is not. He had every intention of living his twilight years with wine, music and revelry; not tea, telly and Tramadol. Indeed, Melrose Gardens is his worst nightmare - until he meets Gregory.

At only nineteen years of age, Greg has suffered a loss so heavy that he is in danger of giving up on life before he even gets going.

Determined to save the boy, Baxter decides to enlist his help on a mission to pay tribute to his long-lost love, Thomas: the man with whom he found true happiness; the man he waved off to fight in a senseless war; the man who never returned. The best man he ever knew.

With Gregory in tow Baxter sets out on a spirited escape from Melrose, bound for the war graves of Northern France. As Baxter shares his memories, the boy starts to see that life need not be a matter of mere endurance; that the world is huge and beautiful; that kindness is strength; and that the only way to honour the dead, is to live.

Baxter's Requiem is a glorious celebration of life, love and seizing every last second we have while we're here.

Reviews

Baxter's Requiem is a feelgood tale for the modern age . . . There is a touching tenderness between the two men as their friendship develops and despite the up-to-date touches, there is something refreshingly old-fashioned about this book . . . Crow's prose is natural and the story moves along swiftly . . . It is an easy read with an edifying tale of men dealing with their difficulties at different points in their lives. * Irish Examiner *
The finest love story I have read in years. Perfect I'd say. -- Phyllida Shrimpton, author of Sunflowers in February * . *
The fact that this novel is so witty is incidental to how good it is - it has characters you care about deeply and a heart as big as a cathedral -- Miles Jupp

Author Bio

Matthew Crow was born and raised in Newcastle. Having worked as a freelance journalist since his teens he has contributed to a number of publications including the Independent on Sunday and the Observer. He has written for adults and YA. His book My Dearest Jonah, was nominated for the Dylan Thomas Prize.