Dinner At The Happy Skeleton

Dan is a promiscuous gay advertising copywriter plying his trade in London with his cockney sparrow partner-in-crime and art director, Sandra. Everything in Dan’s life including his sexual encounters are moving at a frenetic pace and the world seems like a very acceptable place - until he and Sandra are unceremoniously made redundant. With 15 K in his back pocket and the summer months looming, Dan has time to reflect on the breakup of his last serious relationship and the man he now blames for his inability to form a deep and meaningful relationship with anyone. In a desperate quest to confront his ex-lover and put this chapter of his life well and truly behind him, he eventually finds himself in Ljubljana. But fate has other ideas in store.This is a wickedly witty romp of a read. Dan is the kind of lovable though mischievous protagonist you can’t help rooting for, and the characters populating his world all ring true. Indeed, I feel pretty sure I’ve met a few of them before.Like Chalmers’ previous novels, this one is peppered with some very funny lines. One of my favourites has to be: ‘Tell you the truth, I feel slightly comforted to be travelling Ryanair these days. If I was a terrorist seeking immortality, I’d want to take down more than a crateful of tabloid-token-cutters.’Terrific stuff.Alex Pearl is author of 'Sleeping with the Blackbirds'

Full disclosure: I met Chris once and we're friends on Facebook. Like him, I'm a London-based copywriter, but there the resemblance ends. I'm middle-aged, straight and married. So, why did I read this book?Well, I'm a sensitive soul and when I read heavy, gloomy books on my Kindle, I like to lighten the psychic load by occasionally poking about in something light and fun. And that's exactly what this book is. It's a genre that's not much talked about but very enjoyable: gently humorous true-to-life romance.Chris doesn't sugar coat the story of his gay, approaching forty protagonist, but there's a deftness of touch here that made me look forward to each chapter.It's a bit like Alfie (also written by a native north west author), and a bit like Bridget Jones (it could be equally cinematic) but, strangely enough, the book's tone most reminds me of what Bill Bryson might have written if he'd decided to write about London's gay scene. I love the way he describes the simple pleasures of checking in at a foreign hotel or fetching a glass of bubbly from a trestle table.Okay, I felt the plot didn't need to rely quite so much on coincidences and, towards the end, there were some puns I could have done without. But the writing was one of the things I most enjoyed about the book. You often hear that authors should 'murder their darlings' but Chris's delight in a lively bit of wordplay is one of the strengths of this book.If you're looking for a lively, entertaining read, this should get 4.5 stars. Personally, I only give 5 stars to Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn or Nabokov, but this is a book most people would enjoy: funny, but with a hint of realistic sadness and a kind of inner propulsion to the plot that keeps you moving through itIt won't change your life, but it might just alter your perspective - and it's a lot of fun.

This book captures time, place and feeling so well. Chalmers is a deft story-teller whose protagonist's wry voice conceals much of what he really feels. There are some superb moments, wonderful examples of alliteration and a cast of great characters. At heart though this is a love story, or a story about the search for love and should be read widely because of this.

Laugh-out-loud funnyThis book pulls off the trick of reading like a slice of daily life in the advertising/media world whilst also being extremely funny. I found the characters believable and the action engaging and fast moving, without ever feeling far-fetched. The author has a way with words that can find the humour in the most intense situations. It's grown-up and thought provoking without ever being a difficult read. Saucy in parts, serious in others, it also captures the atmosphere of some unusual locations around Europe. I couldn't always pronounce them, but I loved reading about them! Highly recommended, this is a perfect holiday read.

I love reading Chris Chalmers’ books. His writing style is easy and conversational, peppered with cracking witticisms, jokes and one liners. I suspect that Dinner at the Happy Skeleton draws on a lot of the authors’ life experience and this makes it all the more endearing.His characters are well drawn and make for an enviable friendship group.The story of Dan’s world from order to choas and back again via psychological abuse, world travel, Gary Numan and contemporary classical music together with “slut in a rut” promiscuity and some ill advised liaisons was entrancing!In fact, I’d like to go for a beer with Dan and listen to more of his story.

Cards on the table. I know the writer. He's a published author so I'm very jealous of him. Why would I give a good review? Because I have to. Dinner At The Happy Skeleton is a bloody good read. Clever, funny, and contemporary with truly likeable characters and a story that keeps you going back for more. Beautifully written with a nicely critical eye on the awful world of advertising.

Mr Chalmers has captured a place (indeed, several places!) and a time with a truly deft touch. The novel has the gentle welcoming warmth of an English Summer, and characters that pop off the pages and make you laugh out loud. Above all, it has humanity.

Funny, warm and often surprising (in a good way). Full of smart observations and sideways glances at the naughty noughties. Leaves you wanting to know what happened next. More please.

An engaging read... fast-paced and genuinely funny.

I don't often review books - mostly because it's all been said already - but I felt I had to recommend this one .

First I laughed, then I related and after that came the tears. Chris Chalmers' delightfully engaging tale of Dan the almost-40'ish copywriter grabbed me from page 1.

DINNER AT THE HAPPY SKELETON by Chris Chalmers is a witty, charming, and honest story of love and friendship, and I enjoyed this book from start to finish.

Firstly I have to say that one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book is because I love the main character to the moon and back.

It's the most unromantic rom-com that ever there was, and I mean that in a good way - it's not full of hearts, flowers and tears.