*Pocket Prose* as published on our website, from The Long Reads article, Own it: The Power of Taking Responsibility.

1. Insight and reflection
Reflect on yourself, your (inter)actions and behaviour

2. Identify behavioural and thinking/emotive patterns from childhood
Once you’ve identified a copied behaviour, be bold: confront yourself by asking a partner/friend if (a) you exhibit said behaviour, and (b) how that makes them feel.

3. Move from childhood — powerless — you to adult — in control — you
Stop blaming childhood and parents for who you are.

4. Take (over) responsibility for said patterns/behaviour
Realise you’ve grown; your behaviour reflects on you, not your parents. Everything you exhibit is a decision and responsibility.

5. Decide which patterns/behaviour belong to the person you strive to be
You’re in control now; you own the power to determine who you want to become.

6. Grow, adapt, improve, evolve. Become a better you
Repeat this for any behaviour stopping you from becoming the best version of yourself in your journey through life.

• Category: Fiction

• Genre: Detective, Mystery

Books in the DI Caius Beauchamp series:

1. THE OTHER HALF

2. THE IN CROWD

3. A DEADLY INHERITANCE

I was smitten and uber excited to have found this witty and addictive mystery series about an Irish-Jamaican DI, whose family history makes him not happy with his last name; he stubbornly pronounces it the French, phonetic way.

As it happens, Caius Beauchamp is drawn into the world of the upper class, a world he isn’t comfortable with and rather wouldn’t live in. But then the girlfriend of a namesake, this time pronounced as it “should be” (“Beecham”) is found murdered, and oh boy, those aristocrats and their privileges…

There are socialites galore in all three of the books, and it’s fun to see how close Caius and his team, DS Matthew (Matt) Cheung and DC Amy Noakes, are. How they watch each other’s backs, both personally and professionally. We get peeks into their personal lives, and watch relationships evolve.

I’m mindful of not giving away too much, because some characters on the side of the police, but also on that of the victims, suspects, and criminals, can be found throughout all three of the books. I highly appreciate the way the author weaves cultural history and contemporary consequences in her story. That awareness is laudable, and I feel authors do have a social responsibility. At Newcastle Noir some years ago, crime writer and poet Michael J. Malone stated this in a panel, and it was a lightbulb moment for me. Yes, crime writing is entertaining, yes, it’s enjoyable, but yes, authors can paint something that makes you think as well, makes you realise what is happening in our contemporary world.

*Read the full review on our website, joncazcole.com.