Mike Ripley is a very funny crime writer. After he had a major stroke, through sheer courage and bloody-mindedness, he got back to reasonable health - enough to write more novels, edit a crime list, continue with his column in Shots crime fanzine and complete this excellent book. My father suffered from innumerable strokes and I was so impressed by this book that I bought a number so that i could give them to his club and those I knew who had suffered the same fate or whose partners had. They were all encouraged, informed and amused by it. Highly recommended.