Review by Pat Mead

I devoured this book in a couple of sittings. With most other books that would have been it, put it on the shelf, read something else. But instead, a few weeks later I decided to re-read it - was it really as good as I had thought the first time round? No, it wasn't. It was better.

Gwion Dubh (pronounced Duv) is a scrumptious mix of hard-boiled private eye (think Philip Marlowe), and natural- world-wise solver of mysteries (think Brother Cadfael), plus a whole lot more. His long years of training in the druid college have tuned his senses to resonate with every creature, tree and other-worldly being in the great forest which is his natural milieu. He communicates with tree dryads, heather plants, gorse bushes, foxes, and just about everything else. His equipment is minimal - a smudge stick, hip flask, ogham sticks and an owl feather for directional guidance.

So, what does a druid gumshoe do? Well, certainly not your everyday investigations. "My missions," says Gwion, "came generally from higher up, you might say. And crossing dimensions might enter into it. Probably best not to ask about the Big Boss at this stage, but on forest command, he's at the top of the tree. When he pipes, you dance."

And the two separate but linked tales from Gwion's casebook fairly dance along too. On one level it's a real page-turner, a good read. But at the same time there's meaty esoteric stuff in here. Quite educational really. In "The Case of the Meddling Honey", a lovelorn young woman dabbles in the occult, summoning a faery king with a one-track mind and seriously disrupting the natural order of things in the forest. Dire doings are also afoot in the second story, "A Case of the Blast from the Past", where greedy merchants in league with evil magicians have forced their way into the far distant past in order to plunder the birch trees for their sap. The tree dryads are dispossessed and enslaved, the land is desecrated. Can Gwion summon and control the mighty elemental forces he needs to put all back to rights again?

I am bowled over by the sheer inventiveness of this book, and seriously impressed by the deep well of knowledge at its source. Arthur Billington's illustrations are also a joy, a perfect complement to the fast-moving, racy text. More, please!

"I was doubtful, but wary of saying so. Most dolls have a blind spot when it comes to the hubby. He's theirs to belittle, but to the outside world they invest him with as much gallantry and skill as Pwyll in the land of Annwn when he really resembles Mr Bean on a bad day."

Once in a while I come across a book that I simply can't put down - so I do things like standing in the kitchen with it in one hand, reading as I'm stirring cheese sauce or gravy. For as long as it takes (at least a couple of days) I modify my life to snatch as many reading opportunities as possible - even going to bed early (and it takes a lot to make me do that)!!!!!

Gwion Dubh; Druid Investigator was one such book. I must admit I mainly bought it out of curiosity in the first place because I don't tend to read fiction ......... so, for it to end up being so damnably ENJOYABLE is obviously a big point in its favour. Gwion Dubh ("Yep, that's Dubh, pronounced 'Duv', those Celts have a lot to answer for.....") is a gumshoe who knows how to spell trouble in the very best calligraphy of Raymond Chandler. He's a great character, with his robe that's been turned from white to fawn by his many forest assignments and his shades through which he carefully appraises dolls, dames and demonic baddies. It's hilariously funny - although try explaining jokes about Pwyll in Annwn to husbands who think the Mabinogi is a book about mad moggies - but it's so much more than that too.

Penny Billington (editor of OBOD's Touchstone magazine) obviously has a huge range of knowledge of all things Druidic combined with a huge love of and respect for the lands of Albion. The scintillating humour with which she crafts her stories is hung like fairy lights across a solid framework of the understanding of someone who has walked their path with dedication and delight in discovery. It's always good to be able to laugh at ourselves, provided it's not done in a cynical and disempowering manner, and this book more than amply provides us with such an opportunity.

I want more, a sequel ......... but, for now, you can buy this one from the OBOD bookshop.

You gotta read this!

It's the (fictional??) casebook of a Druid...not the original Gwion Fach, who went on to become Taliesin, but an intrepid modern Druid investigator called Gwion Dubh. Penny Billington, editor of the OBOD mag Touchstone (and who will be a speaker at this year's DF seminar at Glastonbury), has written a very readable, tongue in cheek, yet subtly instructive "casebook" of a character who is somewhere between Philip Marlowe and every would be Merlin whoever wandered into the deeper recesses of the deep green.

He does so in a bid to mediate and salve the more unfortunate interactions of the folk of Tree and Leaf with errant humanity. "Been there, done that"??? you'll nod and smile wryly to yourself! Not been there (yet) ?.....you'll learn a lot, through Penny's amusing but sage take on Gwion's casebook.

Mike Harris for The Company Of Avalon, autumn 2008

Review by Pat Mead

Oh yes! Gwion Dubh rides again. What? You missed his first adventures? Ah, take cover, lest the sky fall on you.

This is one cool Druid investigator. Robe, shades, ogham sticks, and of course a vast store of esoteric knowledge and experience. After his previous brush with a rampant faery king and a starving wildlife population, followed by an epic battle in the far distant past to preserve the forest, Gwion is once more on the road at the bidding of The Big Boss (think pipe music, hairy legs and horns.) Accompanied by Hugo, a raven-with-attitude, he discovers his mission lies in the Wirral, unfamiliar turf to our hero. There he finds a bunch of Viking re-enactors, who very much walk their talk in everyday life (well, with the exception of the burning, pillaging and whatever). The group is in disarray because one of their members has been magically enslaved. Another victim of the dastardly plot is a fair – and feisty – maiden who, Gwion eventually realises, represents the very land itself.

So, not only do we get lots of Celtic and Druidic stuff, we also get interesting insights into the Northern Tradition. Gwion admits it’s a steep learning curve for him, but he is far from daunted. In fact, with admirable pragmatism, he starts his quest at the public library. Before long he is embroiled in abduction, pursuit, rune magic, herb healing, gods, goddesses, archetypes, and a whole heap of other exciting stuff, climaxing in the appearance of the Wild Hunt and Woden himself as the story comes to a crashing conclusion.

The Gwion Dubh books are a great read. Gwion is a well-rounded character, adept at both natural philosophy and wisecracks, immensely learned from all his years at Druid college, but modest and self-deprecating despite his powers and abilities. An excellent guy to have on your side when there’s a psychic or spiritual mess to clean up. And the stories themselves are fun – simple page-turning fun. Bring out the next adventure immediately (hey, I’m just passing on an order from The Big Boss…) Pat Mead