Nothing rhymes with silver - David Lee

Jake Silver is a brilliant young jazz pianist, but traumatised by the sudden death of his parents when he was 11 years old. He graphically describes his disturbed adolescence and how and why he gave up his university education to play the piano in a drinking club in London where, among his many wild and often very funny experiences, he tells of his seduction by an aging - but kinky - Hollywood superstar. At the age of 21 he leaves London to take a job leading a band in a Johannesburg night club, which turns out to be owned by the local gangster 'Godfather'. Just as his career is starting to take off, he meets and falls hopelessly and obsessively in love with his gangster boss' new wife. When she runs away from her husband's cruelty, Jake has to find her. After a frantic search taking him to Paris, London, Hollywood, New York and Rio he does eventually find her, when fate deals one final cruel blow. Packed with drama, sex and living life on the wild side, all told with wry, hip, Jewish humour, "Nothing Rhymes With Silver" is the most compelling read of the year.