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The Derailing of Douglas Jones Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

“Witty and poignant … a thrilling tale filled with twists, turns, and unexpected revelations.”
— The Book Commentary

“Not just a mystery or a thriller; it’s a profound commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of fate, morality, and the search for significance.”
— Daniel Rhodes

A tragicomic, small-town Australian mystery for fans of Richard Osman and Chris Hammer from the Grand Prize winner of the 2024 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition.

Stationmaster Douglas Jones and his remote country town of Bangle are perfectly suited: inconsequential specks in the universe, left behind as the world hurtles like a freight train toward the age of computers. But when Douglas’s best mate—the charismatic celebrity lawyer Bill Carlisle—is killed in a hit-and-run and the police won’t lift a finger, it will be up to Douglas to find the culprit. In a decaying mining town of 26 people, surely it’s only a matter of time.
As Douglas discovers Bill’s connections to organised crime, corrupt cops, a relentless bikie, and a seductive femme fatale, he soon finds himself swimming dangerously out of his depth. And when a gruesome accident has Sydney detectives looking at him for murder, finding Bill’s killer becomes the least of his worries. Can’t a bloke have a mid-life crisis in peace?
Bonus content: eBook version includes the short story ‘Botched’, winner of the 93rd Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition Grand Prize.
An ode to the tragicomic characters of Kingsley Amis, Jonathon Coe, Evelyn Waugh and their vintage, The Derailing of Douglas Jones follows a man fighting his every urge to be safe and predictable, with catastrophic consequences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Derailing of Douglas Jones is a compelling exploration of an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Douglas Jones, a 40-year-old stationmaster in a small town, embodies a cautious, risk-averse life governed by his belief in the Ledger of Fortune, where every joy is counterbalanced by sorrow. This philosophical axiom keeps Douglas in a state of existential stasis, limiting his life to routine and a peculiar hobby of painting miniature stamps. Strempel masterfully sets the stage for Douglas's mid-life crisis as technological advances threaten his job and his only friend, Bill Carlisle, is killed in a hit-and-run. Discontent with the police's lack of commitment to the investigation, Douglas begins his investigation, rapidly descending into chaos, putting him into the crosshairs of organized crime detectives and a killer.
The narrative deftly combines dark comedy and existential drama elements, reminiscent of Kingsley Amis and Evelyn Waugh, portraying Douglas's transformation from a passive observer to an active participant in a world of organized crime and romantic entanglements.
Strempel's writing is witty and poignant, capturing the beauty of small-town life and human relationships.
The Derailing of Douglas Jones is not just a mystery or a thriller; it's a profound commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of fate, morality, and the search for significance.
- The Book Commentary

From the Author

While Douglas Jones is a fictional character, I wanted to write about someone who absolutely exists. Not a specific man, but the concept of a person who lives the quietest life they can until one day they realise the peaceful life they've led no longer satisfied them. What happens to a person whose entire existence has revolved around avoiding conflict and excitement when the opportunity presents itself to break out of their comfort zone? Will they embrace the adventure or actively avoid upsetting their delicately balanced equilibrium?
Douglas Jones is a man whose life has been marked by highs followed immediately by crushing lows, leading him to believe the Ledger of Fortune seeks balance. What goes up must come down. So when he reluctantly accepts the generosity of his friend Bill — who gives him a Porsche for his 40th birthday — part of him knows it will end in an appropriate catastrophe.
I wasn't a prolific reader as a kid; that came later with the introduction to books I actually connected with. Perhaps an old-fashioned taste for my age, but I loved the tragi-comic and occasionally absurd characters of
Lucky Jim, A Confederacy of Dunces, Don Quixote, A Good Man in Africa and the like. Frustrating but loveable in their own perplexing way.
I hope you enjoy
The Derailing of Douglas Jones — an extraordinary month in the otherwise ordinary life of a remote country town stationmaster.
- Matt

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1BKD84
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Matt Strempel (June 14, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 14, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 957 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 436 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

About the author

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Matt Strempel
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Matt is the author of two novels, War of the Sparrows (2021) and The Derailing of Douglas Jones (2024). In October of 2024, he won the Grand Prize in the 93rd Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition for his short story, ‘Botched’.

While not writing fiction, Matt Strempel is the co-founder of john+john, a creative agency in Sydney. He lives in the Southern Highlands of NSW with his wife, two children, and a menagerie of pets including two mini dachshunds, a ragdoll cat and chickens.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
13 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2024
    In The Derailing of Douglas Jones, Matt Strempel crafts a captivating tale of friendship, tragedy, and self-discovery set against the backdrop of a small Australian town. Douglas is an unremarkable stationmaster who is thrust into turmoil when his friend Bill, a lawyer embroiled in questionable dealings, is murdered. The narrative explores Douglas's emotional journey as he struggles with guilt and the unbearable weight of loss while he seeks justice in a seemingly indifferent world. Strempel's writing beautifully captures the beauty of human relationships and the quest for meaning in chaos. This compelling story is a gripping mystery and a profound exploration of personal change.

    The conflict is masterfully crafted. Externally, the central conflict revolves around Douglas's relationship with Bill and the chaos that arises from Bill's reckless lifestyle and dangerous legal dealings. As Douglas is drawn into Bill's world of crime, he faces ethical dilemmas that challenge his morals and principles. The story also incorporates social conflicts, particularly how the townsfolk perceive both men. The town of Bangle becomes a character in its own right, shaping the narrative through its gossip, charm, and reputation. As the tension escalates with Bill's legal complications and the looming threat of violence from bikie gangs, Douglas’s life becomes increasingly entangled in a web of fear and anxiety. Internally, the most profound conflict lies within Douglas himself. He battles feelings of inadequacy, the need for acceptance, and a crippling fear of failure as he approaches his fortieth birthday. His deep-seated desire to change and reclaim his identity is juxtaposed with his lifelong tendency to avoid confrontation and maintain the status quo. Throughout the narrative, Douglas oscillates between self-doubt and the fervent desire to take charge of his life. This narrative offers genuinely flawed and believable characters, an intricate plot, and great storytelling.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2024
    The Derailing of Douglas Jones by Matt Strempel delivers an entertaining narrative that explores one character’s experience of loss, grief, and his journey towards change. Set against the backdrop of a small Australian town, Douglas, an unremarkable stationmaster, is thrust into turmoil when his friend Bill, a lawyer involved in shady dealings is killed. Because the police are slow in solving the case, Douglas takes matters into his own hands and quickly discovers that his friend is not what he seemed to be, the town hides deep currents of crime, and more. Can he solve the case and find closure for his friend.
    The setting of The Derailing of Douglas Jones shapes the story and the protagonist's journey in an intriguing manner. Bangle, a small rural town in Australia, becomes a microcosm for the struggles faced by its inhabitants. The surroundings are described vividly, with the train station looming as a symbol of Douglas’s ordinary life—and his confinement within it. The quiet yet isolating landscape accentuates Douglas's feelings of loneliness and stagnation. Strempel skillfully uses the setting to contrast the seemingly idyllic life of a small town with the undercurrents of chaos just beneath the surface. The presence of bikie gangs and the shadow of criminal activity intermingled with the mundane, everyday life create a tension that amplifies the narrative’s stakes. As Douglas moves through familiar locales—the post office, the pub, and the train station—each site becomes a reminder of his unfulfilled dreams and the life he has yet to live fully. The seasonal changes also seem to reflect the climates of the protagonist’s soul. The progression from the heat of summer to the cooler fall days parallels his journey from a life tethered to mediocrity towards one where he begins to embrace change.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2024
    Matt Strempel’s The Derailing of Douglas Jones explores themes of identity, loss, and the struggle for self-acceptance. The narrative is a tale of personal transformation. From the very beginning, Douglas lives a mundane life, a conformist who defines character in relation to his more vibrant friend, Bill. The tragic loss of Bill becomes a a catalyst for Douglas's journey toward understanding himself and reevaluating his life's choices. He suffers with guilt and because the police are not doing enough to solve the murder of his friend, he takes the matter into his hands, following an investigation that leads to unsavory revelations and truths about himself he never knew. His internal conflict highlights the broader human experience of feeling powerless in the face of tragedy. Additionally, the story questions the societal pressure to conform to certain life milestones, such as career success and social acceptance. As Douglas reflects on his life choices, readers are led to consider what it means to truly live and whether it is more important to pursue happiness or simply exist within societal norms. This book is well-crafted, with strong plot points, a protagonist that is relatable, and prose that is just gorgeous.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Paul Goldsmith
    5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging and relatable story, brilliantly written
    Reviewed in Australia on September 9, 2024
    Reading this book as someone who grew up in regional Australia, it feels like you know the people and the places intimately, enjoying the yarn every step of the way whilst drawing on your past for comparables.

    The narrative is masterfully woven, just when you think you know the 'who done it'... you don't, and another possibly comes alive, yet without any needless throwing of direction.

    On the surface, the characters are nothing out of the ordinary. However the way they're entwined into this story and their individuality in a small country town makes them both deep and relatable.

    The writing is first class; descriptive to a point that makes you feel present, and with the perfect amount of poise - never a word too many. It feels like every word, every metaphor has been painstakingly thought out, and the result is an exception read that has you wandering the street of Bangle (and stinging for a succulent country Australian Chinese meal).
  • Tracey Edwards
    5.0 out of 5 stars Douglas …
    Reviewed in Australia on August 27, 2024
    A great read full of twists and turns. Entwining Douglas’s life from childhood to mid life and the challenges we all face. I loved it and was drawn in by the mystery. Reading about the “bush” of Australia drew you completely in. Well written, perfectly described left me imaging all the places.
    It’s the second book I’ve read by Matt. I loved his first and am looking forward to the next book. Well done.
  • James Borbone
    5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliantly written, witty and emotional book.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 24, 2024
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Having read War of the Sparrows by the same author, I was keen to read more of Matt Strempel's work. This was a real page turner full of twists and turns which touched on so many sentiments - sadness, happiness, frustration, regret, hope, pity to name a few. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
  • Daniel Jennings
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great 2nd book from an emerging Aussie author
    Reviewed in Australia on June 16, 2024
    Love this book, a well written reflection on relationships and tragedy with a smattering of fun to keep the reader engaged.

    Arrived super quick, goes great with an early night and a cup of tea.
    Customer image
    Daniel Jennings
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great 2nd book from an emerging Aussie author
    Reviewed in Australia on June 16, 2024
    Love this book, a well written reflection on relationships and tragedy with a smattering of fun to keep the reader engaged.

    Arrived super quick, goes great with an early night and a cup of tea.
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    Customer image

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