From the synopsis, The Basilwade Chronicles started life as a collection of short stories published on Cafelit Magazine’s website. These stories were then brought together to create this book.

The book does read like it is individual stories all about the people who live in the small town of Basilwade. There are many normal folks like you and me, mixed in with quite a few eccentric folks. They have normal jobs, do normal things but their lives have been given comedic value which makes this book a real giggle-fest at times.

We begin with Derek going speed dating and managing to insult all his dates, where he meets Mary who doesn’t stand for his insults but somehow by the power of a bus journey and a mother who is desperate for her to get herself a man the two hook up. Each story by the end is leading you into the next person’s life, they are linked somehow.

I particularly loved the story about a beautician wanting to join a knitting class but without her realising whilst she is trying to give the other women in the group tips on looking their best she manages to make them all feel inadequate and ugly. Even the one member she doesn’t say anything to feels that way as she feels that she obviously is too ‘past it’ that the beautician can’t even help her.

This is a pure escapism book, something to read when you require a pick-me-up, something to put a smile on your face. Dawn Knox has the imagination to turn the mundane, everyday task, jobs, people and give them all a pinch of humour but keeping them within the realms of normality. Nothing is far-fetched. These are things you could certainly imagining happening in everyday life.