Slings and Arrows

Fantastic, wonderful read. I have ( had) no interest in darts but Nick McLoughlins magnificent writing kept me clued to the pages. The characters are as relevant in 2024 as he describes them in the 1980's. They are real , we all know people like them and in their situations. It's a feel good book with a mixture of laughter, sadness and happiness. I loved the ending, very clever.

A fantastic read, a genuine page-turner. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll never want it to end. What a great debut novel!

A moving and relatable trip back to the 80’s. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The descriptive writing stirred so many memories and I now know a lot more about darts too.

In the acknowledgements the author thanks the reader for taking the time to read Slings and Arrows. He goes on to say 'if you laugh only once, feel empathy towards any of the characters, or are pleased in some some way by the rhythm of a single sentence, then I shall consider that I have not failed.' Well he has certainly succeeded as I connected with each of those statements and thoroughly enjoyed the book from beginning to end. Thank you for taking me back to the 80's. I loved the cover too, the milk bottle brought intrigue before I even opened the first page.

This is a wonderful, warm-hearted read. Terry’s progress in the big darts tournament, along with other challenges he meets along the way, provides a framework for a thoughtful exploration of friendship and family, with a range of well-drawn characters. Set in the early 80s, the book is so much more than just an exercise in nostalgia for readers of a certain age (although, as a reader of a certain age myself, I enjoyed the way the references to music, television and the politics of the day ground the book in its setting). The ending was a surprise, but an entirely fitting one that crowned a thoroughly enjoyable, page-turning read. Nick McLoughlin managed to finish with a bullseye.