Tracking down a doppelganger

New mystery novel takes some very unexpected turns

by Jeffrey Mannix

We’re appreciating in “Murder Ink” this month a new book from London’s Gallic Books by the peripatetic everyman Charles Lambert. The name of the book, which was released last week, is “Birthright.” I’d rather talk about the author than the book, and the book, at 400 pages, is one of the few real page turners I’ve read and reported on in a while.

Lambert is a Brit who graduated from Cambridge University with words swirling in his head and travel claiming his thoughts. In 1978, he moved to Italy with no intentions of returning to England and obtained a job teaching English in a college where fluency in the international language was critical for high achievers. He then found a calling to teach about words themselves, and expressions and slippery idioms of the English language to advanced-degree aspirants at Roma 3 University in Rome. There, he spent 30 years at that job, traveled extensively over generous semester and summer breaks, and began to come of age with his own fiction writing.

With writers, it’s nearly necessary to know something about their history. Ernest Hemingway became a legend, because he was Ernest Hemingway; J.M. Coetzee, Graham Greene and Beryl Markham, just off the top of my head, aren’t that kind of famous, because we don’t know much about them until we are swept away with “Disgrace,” “Angle of Repose” or “West with the Night.”

And so with Charles Lambert, we need to know that he loved words, partied hardy and wrote books (nine) with the ease of a scholar and the insouciance of a vagabond.

“Birthright” is a magisterial, devious, breathless and sneaky mystery. No cops, no forensics, no car chases, not even a locked-room puzzle. Sixteen-year-old Fiona Conway, the cosseted, bored daughter of a wealthy industrialist and a graceful shrew of a mother, one day finds on her mother’s dressing table a loop on a velvet cushion.

What she found was a newspaper clipping of a girl that looked exactly like her “in clothes she didn’t remember wearing.”

Thus begins Fiona’s journey to find her doppelganger (I’ve waited years to use that word!), and therein lies the grand mystery: who is this identical girl, and who is the woman beside her?

Up to about page 170, “Birthright” was shaping up to look like a young adult novel, and I was about to put it aside, despite the compelling wordsmithing, to move on to another book. But it nagged, it cajoled with theatric paragraphs and cameos of forbidding possibilities. And it was seductive with the sense that this search for what must be Fiona’s lost and unmentioned twin was not going to end well.

Fiona was soon to become heir to her deceased father’s vast estate, and with finding this identical likeness (I just cannot use doppelganger twice in the same piece) and having nothing to do but suffer the miserable British summer, she sets about investigating. Fiona first confides to her unapproving best friend Jennifer, who leads Fiona to her older brother, Patrick, recently paroled from prison for financial irregularities. The three begin to unravel the mystery of denial at every turn. Lives thrown asunder, the real mystery results in an embarrassingly mis-predicted murder, a clumsy cover-up and … Ah, I can’t say any more without a plot spoiler. And a good plot it is, which doesn’t deserve a leak of unexpected circumstances.

So that brings us back to Lambert. I see him as a literary gypsy and forever a midlist author for lack of taking himself more seriously. Lambert writes very well; it appears to come easy. He seems to have fun writing, so no need for the posturing and soul-searching. Lambert, I’m sure, would be fun to know and more fun to be related to. “Birthright” won’t hit the charts, but it could if Lambert stopped traipsing around the world, quit teaching for a paycheck, stopped partying, moved to New York City, had a couple of suits made and worked the publishing consortium.

You’ll like this book. You’ll lend this book. You can afford this 400-page paperback original for $18 less with your “Murder Ink” 15% discount at Maria’s Bookshop.

Thursday02

Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Farmington Museum, 3041 E. Main St. Exhibit runs thru April 26.

Janet Diaz’s “Hay Comida en la Casa” art opening, 4:30-6 p.m., FLC Art Gallery.

Bingo Night, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Leo Lloyd Avalanche Workshop, classroom session 6-8 p.m., field session Feb. 4, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. More info at www.thesanjuans.org

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Comedy Night, 6 p.m., Olde Tymer’s Café, 1000 Main Ave.

Ecstatic Dance w/Smiley Coyote, 6:30-8:30 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.

Songwriter Series, 7 p.m., iNDIGO Room, 1315 Main Ave.

Arm Wrestlin’ Tournament, 9 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.

Friday03

Horizon plays, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewing.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Ru Paul’s Drag Race Watch Party, 6 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.

Little Wilderness, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Ben Gibson Band plays, 7-10 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.

Drag Show, 8:30 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.

Pole Dancin’ Contest, 9 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.

Saturday04

Silverton White Out, at bike and nonmotorized winter recreation race, silvertonwhiteout.com

Vallecito Ice Fishing Tournament, 7:30 a.m., Vallecito Reservoir. Vcsa-co.org

Purgatory Demo Days, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Demo the latest gear from local shops.

Snow Science & Social, 1 p.m., Andrews Lake winter parking lot.

Coors Light Party & Giveaway, 3-4 p.m., Purgy’s Patio at Purgatory.

RC Hall plays, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewing.

Garret Young Collective plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

ShakespeareGrass, 6 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Punk show, 7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Booty Shakin’ Contest, 9 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.

Sunday05

Veterans Benefit Breakfast, 9 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.

Winter Celebration, full-moon ski and groomer fundraiser, 4-9 p.m., Hillcrest Golf Club, 2300 Rim Dr.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle & The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Feed the People! free mutual aid meal & winter gear drive for homeless community members, every Sunday, 2-4 p.m., Buckley Park.

Happy Snowdown Everyone!

Be

Monday06

Meditation & Dharma Talk, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Suite 109.

Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Comedy Showcase, weekly, 7:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Tuesday07

“Living With Alzheimers,” zoom talk with the Durango Dementia Coalition, 12 noon. Register at: tinyurl.com/yckkxu2y

Jason Thies plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Bluegrass Jam, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Wednesday08

Paint & Sip Night, 5:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Ecstatic Dance w/Beat Kitty, 6:30-8:30 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.

“Bears Ears: Landscape of Refuge and Resistance,” presentation, 7-8:30 p.m., FLC’s Lyceum Room. Hosted by San Juan Basin Archaeological Society.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Thursday02

Big Wheel Derby, 2 p.m., Balcony Bar & Grill, 600 Main Ave.

Rock, Pap’r, Scissors, 4 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Button Making, 4 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Name That Tune, 4 p.m., 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave.

Snowdown Jr. King and Queen Contest, 4:30 p.m., Best Western Rio Grande Inn, 400 E. 2nd Ave.

Cocktails for Conservation, 4:30 p.m., Main Mall, 835 Main Ave.

Boozin’ Beacons, 5 p.m., Channel 37, 1129 Narrow Gauge Ave.

Fly Tying Contest, 5 p.m., San Juan Angler, 600 Main Ave., Suite 202.

Long Spoons Contest, 5 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Giant Jenga, 5:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Beer Trivia, 5:30 p.m., Carver Brewing, 1022 Main.

A Mid-Snowdown Dance, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dance, 3416 Main Ave., Suite 101.

Dodgeball, 5:30 p.m., Durango Rec Center, 2700 Main Ave.

Champagne Pong, 6 p.m., DoubleTree, 501 Camino del Rio.

Game Night, 6 p.m., 11th St. Station.

French Fry Fortress Contest, 6 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Beer Pong, 6 p.m., The Garage, 121 W. 8th St.

Pinball, 6:30 p.m., The Garage, 121 W. 8th St.

Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.

Snow Job Blow Job, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Drunken Dictionary, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.

Knight Fight Night, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Drag Race & Fashion Show, 8 p.m., El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave.

Follies Gala Performance, 8 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Flip Cup, 8:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Pick Up Line Contest, 8:30 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Dance Party, 10 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Karaoke Competition, 10 p.m., 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave.

Friday03

Scavenger Hunt, 10 a.m., Billy Goat Saloon, Bayfield.

Kan Jam, 12:30 p.m., Balcony Bar & Grill, 600 Main Ave.

Snowdown Tournament & Renaissance Fair, 1-5 p.m., Durango Transit Center, 250 W. 8th St.

Skyhawk Scavenger Hunt, 1 p.m., Fort Lewis College Clocktower.

Senior Bingo, 1 p.m., La Plata County Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Super Sexy Car Wash, 2 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Tallywacker on the Garden, 2 p.m., Carver Brewing, 1022 Main Ave.

Apple Bobbing Contest, 3 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.

Explore Shakespeare Through STEAM, 3:30 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Hand on the Van Competition, 4 p.m., Grassburger, 726 Main Ave.

Chili Cook-Off, 4 p.m., The Garage, 121 W. 8th St.

Rug Racing, 5 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Spaghetti Dinner, 5-8 p.m., Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.

Redball Express, 5:30 p.m., 1099 Main Ave.

Snowdown Light Parade, 6 p.m., Main Ave. from College Dr. to 12th St.

Teens & Tweens Dance Party, 6:30 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Split Flipper Pinball Contest, 7 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Snowdown Follies, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. Videocast at Animas City Theatre.

Costume Ball, Post-Parade Awards & Balloon Drop, 7:15 p.m., Main Mall, 835 Main Ave.

Tortilla

Ave.

No Pants, Snow Pants, 9 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Silent Disco, 9 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Snowdown Follies, 10 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. Videocast at Animas City Theatre.

Karaoke Competition, 10 p.m., 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave.

Saturday04

Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension, 8 a.m., Highway 550 North at Lone Pine Dr.

3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament, 9 a.m., Durango Rec Center, 2700 Main Ave.

Foosball Tournament, 9:30 a.m., The Garage, 121 W. 8th St.

9-Ball Billiard Tournament, 10 a.m., The Garage, 121 W. 8th St.

Kids Snow Games, 10 a.m., Folsom Park, 11 Folsom Place.

Kids Coloring, 10 a.m., Kroegers Ace Hardware, 8 Town Plaza.

Pet Photo Booth, 10 a.m., Kroegers Ace Hardware, 8 Town Plaza.

Kids Pinball, 10:30 a.m., The Garage, 121 W. 8th St.

Shakespearean Preschool Soiree, 10:30 a.m., Durango Public Library.

Fly Casting Competition, 11 a.m., Park Elementary, 510 E. 6th Ave.

Golf Tournament, 11:30 a.m., Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.

Chili Cook-off, 12 noon, La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Bloody Mary Contest, 12 noon, La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Broom Ball Tournament, 12 noon, Chapman Hill, 500 Florida Rd.

Wine Tasting, 12 noon, Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave.

Tournament & Renaissance Fair, 12 noon-7 p.m., Durango Transit Center, 250 W. 8th St.

Slider Feast, 12 noon, 11th St. Station.

Canine Fashion Show, 1 p.m., McDonalds parking lot, 201 W. College Dr.