John L. Monk

Jack Graham-Parker was convicted of indecent exposure at Edinburgh station on three days in March 1920. He was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment

Here we are in the centenary of World War One. There have been many ceremonies, many articles on the price paid by those who fought in the trenches.

John Moir, a goods checker at Leith Walk Goods Yard, stole some tea and was fined £3 or 10 days imprisonment in April 1920

I recently read one on the assassination of Franz Ferdinand – the trigger that lead to over four years carnage, and I’m sure I’ll be reading more as we hit the various milestones of terror that form the history of those years.

Private Roy Crooks, of the 2nd Battalion Australian Forces, stole a suitcase from Edinburgh Waverley station in January 1918 and was fined £7 or 30 days imprisonment

We think of those times and…

I never did believe those disclaimers authors put up front in their novels: “This is a work of fiction; any resemblance to real-life people is coincidental.” Lindy Moone was parented by mental health professionals, and her grandfather worked in or lived near a castle like Hyperlink’s, so there is some real-life inspiration that gives this unbelievable novel a bizarre authenticity. The mental patients are so vivid and real, they can only be taken straight from real life. Real people, after all, are stranger than fictional characters.

I must not be as unhinged as I’ve suspected, because for all my willing suspension of disbelief, I couldn’t tell what was going on in Hyperlink from Hell. I envy the reviewer who writes, “I’d nearly finished the book before I realized who Al and Jimmie represent.” I hate being obtuse! People often have to explain jokes to me, which makes me shake my…