A new political mystery novel about a Finchley resident’s involvement in the 1966 football World Cup is due to launch next week.
Fixing Sixty Six tells the story of Harry Mullaly, a retired football reporter, who offers to sell his sensational account of the events of 1966 to an investigative journalist in 2016.
The novel, written by London-based writer Tim Flower, offers a fresh and controversial perspective on England’s famous win and features the contest between Yvonne Sieve and Margaret Thatcher for the Finchley seat at the 1966 General Election, as well as the Mexican team’s World Cup preparations at Finchley FC.
Flower said: “You could say it’s House of Cards meets Fever Pitch. Although all the main characters are fictional, it centres on real tournament incidents and the politics of the time.
“Most of the locations are also real, such as The Joiners Arms in Ballards Lane where Harry regularly drinks. The book also contains other references to Finchley such as Dollis Brook, Mill Hill East tube station and Finchley Baptist Church – so there is plenty of local and nostalgic interest for Finchley readers.”
The book, which officially launches on Sunday, December 1, is Flower’s first and was five years in the making. The 63-year-old’s previous written work includes stage and radio plays, the first of which had 11 performances at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Back in 2008, Flower quit his career as a City lawyer, which spanned 30 years, in order to focus on his writing.
“At the start of my legal career, I had planned to retire early and pursue something more creative,” added the father-of-three.
“In 2005, I joined a community theatre company as an actor and I soon found myself writing for theatre and wanting to do it full-time. So when my wife gave me the go-ahead to leave the law behind, I didn’t hesitate – despite grave words from my accountant.
“I’ve loved not only writing the book but researching what was a pivotal time in British history. I hope readers will enjoy the period details as much as I did discovering them.”
Fixing Sixty Six is available to buy from Amazon.
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