Under the Rotunda [Paperback]

'Beautifully written' Janice Long

'a contemporary romp through the second city'

'strong on character and dialogue, and peppered with familiar
sites and sounds'

'a post-modern mixture of realistic confusion and the belief of
what it is to be human'

It's Friday night and single mum, Andrea's cooking up a storm. She's invited her current boyfriend, Tony, her one time lover, Bobby and his current squeeze, Lisa. You could call it madness but they're all grown-ups so Andrea is sure they can handle it. What should be a civilised end to a stress filled working week rapidly descends into a chaotic mess. As skeletons are revealed and resentments unearthed Lisa loses it and storms out into the night with fatal consequences. Lisa's untimely death has a profound effect upon Tony, Andrea and Bobby in quite different and unexpected ways. Under the Rotunda is a disarming novel of hope and renewal set in Birmingham. You won't fail to be moved and entertained by the comic cuts, visceral dialogue and instantly memorable characters abound in this sparkling debut by Danny Bernardi. 'A dramatic first novel' Footsteps to Oxford online magazine

Danny Bernardi was born and still lives in Birmingham. He
studied drama at Bretton Hall University College where he developed his
interest in writing. He is the author of numerous short stories. Under the
Rotunda is his debut novel.

ONE

Tony's boss, Russell, operated what was known as 'an open door policy'.
This didn't actually mean his office door was open all that often, it just
meant he strolled around the open plan section where the minions toiled and
told them his door was always open. Russell tried his best to be available
for the staff but nobody dared approach him in case he gave them more work
or sent them on another pointless course. When it was serious, when they
were going to dispense with someone's services, then Russell usually shut
the fancy blinds which graced the windows of his expansive office.

Russell thought people couldn't see him when the blinds were shut but they
could. In fact Tony could quite easily catch the clinical light bouncing
off Russell's bald patch. He could also just about make out the huge woman
from personnel in there with him. It was too much to hope Russell had shut
the door and drawn the blinds for a quick ration of passion before
departing for the weekend cottage.

Tony shuffled some papers, armed himself with a pen and proceeded to
scribble the word slaphead four times accross the blank pad on his desk. At
a loss for anything else to do he turned around the biro, placed the blunt
end in his ear and flicked out a satisfyingly solid globule of dark ear
wax, removing it in one deft stroke. He then dragged the wax, rather
artistically for a chartered accountant, over the four words on the paper
in front of him.

Russell wrapped sausage-like fingers around the office door. 'Tony, could
you come through please?' he requested in his characteristic nasal
monotone.
'Just got to speak to a client. Promised to call her back. We're pitching
for the audit work next week so we ought to keep her sweet,' Tony pleaded,
playing for time before the inevitable swish of the corporate blade.
'Now please Tony!' Russell barked.