Our resident fiction reviewer, Cate Morrison, takes a look at a new novel on a topical issue

It was only days into lockdown in New Zealand last March when I heard that there was to be an interview with British Author Peter May. He has long been in my top five and I always look forward to his next book. I settled down to listen.

May told us that some fourteen years previously he had handed in a manuscript to his publisher which was rejected. The title? Lockdown.

It told the story of a global pandemic, London is the epicentre. The city is in lockdown. Civil disorder is rife. The deadly virus is claiming thousands of victims . Health and emergency services are overwhelmed. Two chapters in the British Prime Minister dies in ICU, a victim of the virus.

Sound familar? I say again, the novel was written 14 years ago. His publisher rejected it, “Will never happen. Too far fetched, people will not be able relate to it.”

It was consigned to May’s ‘drop box’.

Hours into 2021’s very own pandemic, the publisher was on the phone...

I enjoyed the read, although I am sure May had updated it before handing it back to the publisher. The reaction in London, the mounting deaths, the fear, the empty streets, crime, the disposal of bodies...it was the end, the how and why of the pandemic that kept me thinking long after I had closed the book.

May had studied the backdrop of bird flu (H5N) and the Spanish Flu. He felt that another pandemic could be due and sent this, his latest novel to be published. 15 years later he received the phone call from the same publishers and quite soon into 2021 lockdown in London.

Hard to say it was enjoyable, too soon for that, riveting yes, believable for me? Absolutely.