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Deben Market, a fishing port on the coast of England, a gentle, picturesque place where the sea laps at the shore and the pace of life is as rhythmic as the waves.
But it’s also a place of surprising magic and colourful characters that will surprise and delight you.
This enigmatic series of short stories will draw you in and compel you to revisit time and again to find all the connections and secrets, revelations and twists.
The Magic of Deben Market
The Magic of Deben Market
From the publisher
It's rare to find a short story collection of such power as this: adjectives such as 'haunting', 'poignant', 'vivid' and 'rich' come to mind, but these are clichés which fail to capture the enigmatic and dynamic magic locked inside this book.
Bowmore weaves a complex tale of interwoven characters around the imaginary coastal town of Deben Market on Britain's east coast, but he does this with such skill that you'll immediately find yourself wanting to read these stories again and again.
In effect, the book is a kind of quasi-novel, layered, soul-stirring, utterly gripping - at times, wistful, at times comic, and at other times breathtakingly suspenseful and supremely thrilling.
Do yourself a favour: come to Deben Market. The magic may never leave you.
Amazon.com Review 23/03/21
Amazon.co.uk 5 out of 5 stars
Charming and Magical
Charming book of separate stories which all come together to tell a wonderfully magical tale. If Deben Marker were a real place, I’d add it to my bucket list of places to visit.
Amazon.co.uk Review 02/02/21
Amazon.co.uk 5 out of 5 stars
An Outstanding Collection
I loved this book. The writing is superb and the characters leap from the page. The tales of Moony Moore (in eight parts) were my favourite stories, but all the stories in this collection are brilliantly written and have a subtle link to one another. There is a great sense of place in this collection - quite a feat considering Deben Market is a fictional town on the east coast of Britain. It felt as real as any town I have actually visited. David Bowmore draws the reader into the world of Deben Market with such ease I wanted it to be a real place and to go and visit it. It's one of the few books where I've read certain chapters twice because they were so well written.
Goodreads Comment 21/01/21
Goodreads
Thoroughly enjoyable read. I particularly enjoyed the character, Moody Moore. The writer captures him perfectly. Using regional dialect and all it entails - spelling words phonetically, etc is a very difficult thing to pull off, but David Bowmore has mastered it.
I laughed, almost cried, and found lots to mull over when I'd finished this book.
Well done to the author
Amazon.com Review 04/01/21
Amazon.com 5 out of 5 stars
Entertaining
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to Deben Market. Some of my favorite stories are The Rise and Fall of Wally Thomson, Chef, Matt in the Mirror, Time Traveler (the conclusion of both the story "The Old Ways" from Tall Tales and Short Fiction and "The Rise and Fall of Wally Thomson"). Moony Moore was the major thread through the book and it is an amazing story. Love this book.
Amazon.co.uk Review 04/11/20
Amazon.co.uk 5 out of 5 stars
Enthralling: Ingenious
Once you've read this you'll have lived several lives in Deben Market.
You'll know the streets and people, the houses, pubs and shorefront.
You've learned people's habits, hates and desperate secrets.
You'll know the streets and people, the houses, pubs and shorefront.
You've learned people's habits, hates and desperate secrets.
You'll probably have read some of the stories at least twice.
This has been a unique opportunity for me.
What an ingenious idea so expertly assembled.
This is on my 'to be read again' shelf.
Amazon and Goodreads Review 01/11/20
Goodreads and Amazon. 5 out of 5 stars
Deben Market is truly a magical place. David Bowmore did an excellent job of fleshing out the town with an interesting assortment of people and their plights. My favorites of those, of course, were Moony the fisherman and Alistair. I can't wait to see what else he has in store for the place where legends never die.
Amazon Review 27/09/20
Amazon.com 5 out of 5 stars
A Fine Collection of Chance Meetings
If the saying 'write what you know' is anything to go by, Dave needs an intervention set up as soon as possible as most of his characters seem to be drunken bar flies ready for a good old rumble.
I had a good few chuckles at Moony's antics while reading these tales, he seemed quite the lad and well worth investing the time to read about this character and his journey.
I had a good few chuckles at Moony's antics while reading these tales, he seemed quite the lad and well worth investing the time to read about this character and his journey.
Mr Bowmore, thanks for the very well thought out day trip down to Deben Market- looking forward to the next outing.
next round is on you !
Amazon Review 25/08/20
Amazon.com 5 out of 5 stars
Discovering The Magic of Deben Market
David Bowmore has the amazing ability to create characters that enthrall and entice you to always want more. After reading The Magic of Deben Market, I felt like I had the distinct honor of being welcomed into the lives and homes of each person on these pages. Not only did I enjoy this book immensely, I felt the need to turn back and start again to make sure I hadn't missed anything. This book is truly Magic and I recommend reading it today.
Amazon Review 04/08/20
Amazon.com.au 5 out of 5 stars
A talented Writer
David Bowmore always manages to weave an intricate web of feeling and wonder into his stories. A great first collection from a talented writer. Check it out.
Amazon Review 15/07/20
Amazon.com 5 out of 5 stars
The Magic of David Bowmore
In The Magic of Deben Market, David Bowmore has created a town that is totally believable. Its characters are richly developed, including some unseen ones. The story is gripping and entertaining making it a hard book to put down. Make sure you have plenty of uninterrupted time for this one. I eagerly look forward to his future creations.
Goodreads Review 30/06/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads
The Magic of Deben Market by Author David Bowmore was an excellent read. I got so involved with the expertly intertwined characters and the vivid locales, it was one of those books that you hate to see end. The Magic of Deben Market is more than one kind of "magic." David Bowmore wove a tapestry of lives with history and lessons learned, regret, love and sorrow. I could smell the bar and the brisk sea air and I could feel the disappointment and expectation of his characters. I was satisfied with the ending and yet unsatisfied, because I didn't want those stories to end. Maybe, old Mooney will come back one day... Very good book and I highly recommend it!
Amazon/Goodreads Review 23/05/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads and Amazon
A magical read
A wonderful collection of characters, their stories differing wildly but drawn together in Deben, a sleepy coastal town. Look forward to reading more from this author.
Facebook Review 08/05/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Facebook
'I just finished “The Magic of Deben Market” by David Bowmore while sojourning in the wilds of Northern Arizona. An amazingly well wrought book weaving many themed short stories together, several with continuing characters. Descriptions of the characters and settings in the fictional town of Deben Market on the coast of England are vivid but not laborious as they are so skillfully integrated with the action and dialog. As an American, I found the English dialect to be enlightening and amusing, as well as adding color and tone. The ‘magic’ is subtle and imaginative. One character, Mooney Moore and his encounters with others in town was so captivating, I confess that I skipped ahead to the ending of his segments to find closure, subsequently returning to the remaining stories. His understanding of human foibles, frailties and different ages in nonpareil.'
Goodreads Review 06/05/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads
I wanted this book to go on, and on. David Bowmore's masterpiece proves why we will never lose our desire to be lost in a good story. The Magic of Deben Market makes you a part of it, within a few lines you are immersed, and experience a sense of time lost forever.
The sharply defined characters come to life in your head - how they are formed by the vicissitudes of time and fate become a part of your person. The energy the town pulsates with, It is like Merlin himself was a part of weaving The Magic of Deben Market; exposing the wealth, and frailties of human nature.
David Bowmore leaves me wanting to read more of his work.
Goodreads Review 06/05/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads
I finished this beautifully written anthology today and loved it so much I plan on reading it again. The characters and story lines in the book often intersect at different points in history, unraveling the life stories of visitors and residents of the quaint seaside town of Deben Market. The author can channel the voice of a young unwed mother, a bank robber, a ghost, a fisherman, a witch and a time traveller with ease. This is a must read and I am looking forward to more novels by David Bowmore.
Amazon Review 12/02/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
The Characters felt so close, I didn’t want the book to end.
Who knew that East Anglia had its own version of Peyton Place, a lovely fishing village named Deben Market? David Bowmore did, with his presentation of this quaint little town, its family owned shops, community center like public houses, and seaside charm. Like the aforementioned, made famous by a book, movie, and television series, Deben Market has all the makings for that and much more. He tells of the lives of those who call the place home, weaving their stories in-and-out of each other’s lives like a textile artist until the finished work is a beauty to behold. There are stories of love (with and without commitment), hatred, deceit, determination, pain, joy, mystery, magic, and death. He binds his work with a tale about the town’s most interesting character, so endearing, you’re sorry to see the story end. Even strangers passing through the town feel it’s a special place and leave the better for it. This is not a book for children, but any adult reading it will feel they have been carried away and want to go looking for the magic of Deben Market themselves.
Goodreads/Amazon Review 10/02/20
Published on Goodreads.com and Amazon Canada
Awesome Book!
Everyone stop what you are doing and buy this book right now! It's not often that I say this, but I was up till 3 in the morning reading because I couldn't put it down. I am drawn to fully fleshed characters. David delivers this with a backhoe. Mooney Moore will now be one of my lifetime favorite people. Yes, the individuals inhabiting these pages become that real. You experience a sense of dislocation when you finish the book to find yourself in your own home and not in Deben Market. The story unfolds with vivid description, painted by a master storyteller. Not a word is out of place, everything has been carefully crafted, you can see the work that went into this book. The end result is something that sucks you in and stays with you long after you put it down.
As writers, we study other people’s work, how they write, the words they use and the way they string them together to accomplish the things they want to do. This is a writer worthy of watching. His lyrical style is unique, effortlessly evoking emotional responses from the reader. This is what we aim for. When something so beautiful comes together you want the experience to last forever. It does when it lives in your memory like this.
I can honestly say David Bowmore has become one of my favorite authors. I'm so glad to have found him. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
Amazon Review 02/02/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.co.uk
Deben Market Worth A Visit!
A wonderful interweaving of stories about the characters who live in this quiet fishing village - and what goes on behind closed doors. Whilst there is a supernatural element to this story, the characters are totally believable; with tales of betrayal, loss, sadness, lust and love - revealing the full gamut of human emotion. Shows astute observation with some wonderful descriptive passages. Cleverly constructed - I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Amazon Review 22/01/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
Captivating Stories
If The Magic of Deben Market was a book full of quirky characters living in an eastern seaside town in Britain, it'd be one heck of an entertaining read. And it is entertaining, believe me, but, man, it's so much more. You've got a guy who becomes friends with a ghost; a lady who develops a better relationship with her new electronic PA than she ever had with her departed husband; a man who may or may not have been abducted by aliens, and Gilbert, who decides his fate by flipping a coin. And then there's Matt - I'll never look at my reflection in the mirror the same way again. The true magic of the book, however, is the ability of the author to bring his characters to life through the brilliance of his writing. He is a confident and imaginative story teller who uses well crafted sentences and dialog to take the reader deep into the mind of his characters. It's stunning. After every story I sat back and thought, well that was great. It's my favorite. Then I'd read the next one and I'd like it even better. And the same with the next, and the next, until I finally gave up picking a favorite. I loved them all. In fact, toward the end I slowed down to savor each exquisite story, not wanting the book to end. Then I said to myself to heck with it. I'll just read The Magic of Deben Market again. And I will. Soon. Highly recommended.
Amazon Review 18/01/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
Magical In Every Way!
This beautiful book took me on a journey to a place where Magic and miracles still abound. From the story of Moony and his mentor, Big Nick, to the secret of Gavin Maddock, you'll step into a word of sorrow, surprise, laughter, and love. You don't want to miss this one. I now know why it hit #1 in France. A must-read book!
Amazon Review 13/01/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
A Magical Journey
In the small town of Deben Market on the coast of the North Sea, David Bowmore takes you on a tour of the town residents. He gracefully weaves stories of ordinary people who sometimes do extraordinary things, of ghosts and bank robbers, murders and gentle goodbyes. Each character is crafted in a unique voice, one that shows the flaws, the hopes, and the tribulations of living, all drawn to this village by the sea, where old fishing boats transport people from the reality of the streets of Deben Market through the veil of the supernatural. David Bowmore is an extraordinary artist, painting pictures with his words that draws me back again and again to Deben Market, well after the final chapter.
Amazon Review 08/01/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
A well-earned five star book
I never leave five-star reviews for independent writers, but this book checked off every talking point. David figured out a way to mix murder/mystery, ghost/paranormal, sci-fi and suspense into a collection of short stories that each intertwined around each other to form an extremely unique reading experience. Honestly, this isn't a short story collection. It's a novel. A rare one. Give it a try for yourself and see what I'm talking about. It's very hard to write outside the box, but David found a way, and did an amazing job.
Goodreads Review 03/01/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads
I finished David Bowmore's The Magic of Deben Market today. While anthologies and short story collections aren't my usual thing, I must say that I was captivated right from the start. Bowmore writes with an easy-going style and I found myself going from story to story. This is the sort of book you take on holidays to read sitting by the pool or on a long-haul flight. There is something in this book for everyone.
Well done, David. I can't wait for the next one.
Well done, David. I can't wait for the next one.
Amazon Review 01/01/20
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
I felt the Magic!
I was drawn to this book by its title and the mystical cover of the book. I wanted to “feel” what the man on the cover was feeling. I wanted to sit on the dock and talk with the man, to know the stories of life in Deben Market. I wanted to know the people, the scenery, the secrets, legends and if there were skeletons in any closets.
Moony Moore welcomed me into the little seaside town where I met many interesting characters and their tales.
The book left me with a serene feeling, the kind one experiences after a short getaway in a beautiful place.
Bravo to David Bowmore on writing this book! I will be watching for any new releases from David.
Moony Moore welcomed me into the little seaside town where I met many interesting characters and their tales.
The book left me with a serene feeling, the kind one experiences after a short getaway in a beautiful place.
Bravo to David Bowmore on writing this book! I will be watching for any new releases from David.
Amazon Review 23/12/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.co.uk
Magical
This is a collection of tales about inhabitants of the fictional coastal town of Deben Market. Some of them turn out to be ghosts! Further into the book, characters and their stories start to overlap and intermingle. The story of the main character Mooney unfolds throughout the book. Old Nick and the time traveller were my other favourite characters. An unusual and enjoyable debut collection.
Amazon Review 01/12/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
The Magic of Deben Market pulls the reader to a different time and place and makes him want to stay.
David Bowmore’s The Magic of Deben Market took me to a different time and place, one where the diverse characters tell their stories with unique dialects, perspectives, and voices. Each character comes alive through David’s masterful ability to portray people readers can visualize. I was transported onto fishing boats and into pubs and flats, countrysides and towns that made me feel like a traveler and instilled a desire to remain where I was, happy in the pages of the market for which the book is named.
Goodreads Review 24/09/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads.com
I've read a lot of books and then along comes David Bowmore’s "The Magic of Deben Market"—if you want to get lost in a special place, take a visit to this unseeming little coastal town and experience the magic. You’ll find that everything adds up in the end for one plus one is two. Simple as that!
I LOVED everything about The Magic of Deben Market. I finished it, sitting outside on the yard swing, the wind blowing just right, the river water crashing against the rough rocks, a steaming cup at my hand...this was amazing. The story is in me, sinking in deeper and deeper, the characters coming back to the center of my mind like actors in a play coming to take a bow on center stage. I'm still thinking of the right words to say—about how I feel after reading this, and thought, well, I'll start with— Brilliant—to me—in every sense of the word. Maybe it touched me so because it's so close to the kinds of stories I love, the Spoon River tales, my own imaginary Tinta Town. I'll be walking around for a long time absorbing this.
I LOVED everything about The Magic of Deben Market. I finished it, sitting outside on the yard swing, the wind blowing just right, the river water crashing against the rough rocks, a steaming cup at my hand...this was amazing. The story is in me, sinking in deeper and deeper, the characters coming back to the center of my mind like actors in a play coming to take a bow on center stage. I'm still thinking of the right words to say—about how I feel after reading this, and thought, well, I'll start with— Brilliant—to me—in every sense of the word. Maybe it touched me so because it's so close to the kinds of stories I love, the Spoon River tales, my own imaginary Tinta Town. I'll be walking around for a long time absorbing this.
Amazon/Goodreads Review 21/11/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com and Goodreads
A Ghost Tale On The Sea
Reading The Magic of Deben Market was like walking through an art show with different paintings of a seaside town, each telling its own little glimpse of the characters that have had the experience of being in that town. I could smell the fish and hear Old Nick telling his stories. It was an adventure that made me want to go to the sea and hope to glimpse a ghost or two.
Amazon Review 17/11/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.co.uk
The further in you get, the further you want to go!
Really good! The further through this collection of intriguing tales I got, the further I wanted to go! The more the stories start to interweave, the more exciting this book becomes.
An interesting volume of stories with one of the most satisfying endings of a short story collection I've read.
I've read a few of David Bowmore's stories in the past, but he has really outdone himself with The Magic of Deben Market.
An interesting volume of stories with one of the most satisfying endings of a short story collection I've read.
I've read a few of David Bowmore's stories in the past, but he has really outdone himself with The Magic of Deben Market.
Goodreads Review 22/09/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads.com
This was a great book. Every story, although separate, helped to weave the tapestry of the fictional sea side town. Greatly enjoyable read
Goodreads Comment 24/08/19
Comment on Goodreads.com
Intriguing is the word. As we gnats fly and land from spot to spot in the small town of Deben Market, we make acquaintance with characters that have lived there their entire lives, or just arrived on a mission of their own, and some of them who crossed over from another dimension into this one. A heavy dose of surrealism puts the reader in a dreamlike state and, when the last story unfolds and another mystery is sewn into the fabric of Deben Market, one can't help but wonder for what's next for David Bowmore? A gem of a book!
Amazon Review 21/08/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
An excellent book which captures the imagination.
A fascinating story about the magical town of Deben Market. Clever characterisation that captures the imagination. My favourite character is the old fisherman Mooney and his tales about the sea. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how the stories unfold.
Goodreads Review 20/08/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Goodreads.com
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it!
This is a beautifully intertwined collection of shorts about various characters who have links to the quaint (and fictional) English coastal town, Deben Market.
From the obvious favourite, Moony Moore, the gruff old fisherman whose story starts and ends the book and fills chapters in between, to one of my personal favourites, Kathy/Charlotte the Time Traveller; you are captivated from the beginning and want to delve into the lives of each of these people.
My clear favourite was Clay though; those who know me will know why.
Well done, David - a GREAT first collection
Amazon Review 06/08/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
Enchanted by the Magic of Deben Market
This was one of the best books I've read this year. The Magic of Deben Market is a collection of short stories, and while each one can stand on its own, the collection as a whole is so much more. From beginning to end, it becomes a novel of interwoven stories, each connected by the enchanting setting of the town of Deben Market and its inhabitants. A character mentioned in passing in one story may later be the main character of his or her own story, and from there, play an even bigger part in the grander scheme of the entire book. Each story propelled me on to the next. I don't often go back and reread books, but this is one I can see myself revisiting to find even more nuances and connections as I watch the story unfold again. The twists and surprises along the way didn't disappoint. This was a satisfying read that I would highly recommend!
Amazon Review 18/07/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
Deben Market Truly is Magical
David Bowmore has created a fictional village inhabited by characters that will reside in your mind long after the last page is turned. Like a long-awaited journey to a favorite holiday location, you don't want the visit to end. As you stroll through this charming seacoast town, you hear people tell stories of family secrets, love, hope, heartache, and glory reimagined. So pull up a chair, grab a pint, and spend some time getting to know to the wonderful world of Deben Market.
Amazon Review 18/07/19
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful and moving
This book is magical on many levels and I really enjoyed it. It is also the sort of book that lends itself to multiple readings, as you go through each story and many of the characters interact with one another. I would quite have liked a map of the town, showing significant locations, perhaps this could be included in a future edition. Overall this was an excellent book and I would recommend it to everyone.
Amazon Review 06/07/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
Magical Read
A wonderfully crafted story of quirky and unforgettable characters who have attachments to the town of Deben Market. David Bowmore takes you on a journey to the North Sea and will not put you ashore until this tale has been told. Loved it!
Amazon Review 01/07/19
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Holiday Escapist Read
Bought the paperback version. Wonderfully fluid tales, entwining the lives of the inhabitants of an idyllic Engligh coastal village. But deep undercurrents of mystery and intrigue make this a perfect holiday read. Spine- tingling. Could not put it down. When is the next one out ? Gabrielle
Amazon Review 28/06/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
Couldn't put it book down!
I was intrigued by the concept of this book, as well as charmed by the interesting cover. And so I bought it, only to be immediately whisked away into the world of Deben Market, a seaside town that seemingly has seen better days but is still teeming with life, with magic, mystery, struggles, romance and all the flaws and glories of the human spirit.. plus there's ghosts! It's a selection of connected short stories with characters that come to life- and a few stay with you long after you've closed the book.
Amazon Review 27/06/19
5.0 out of 5 stars Published on Amazon.com
Fun-tastic!
What a treat this book provides! So happy to have met these characters and learn about their lives, woes and dreams, hopes and nightmares! Don’t miss!
Lulu Review 27/06/19
Let me get the facts out of the way first. I had to ask myself while reading David Bowmore's newly released The Magic of Deben Market am I reading a collection of short stories or a novel with multiple plots? The book is divided into 32 stories, or chapters, most of them taking place in or referencing Deben Market, a small fishing village. This is not a multiple genre collection, although there are a couple of the stories that are borderline paranormal. The characters in the stories, or chapters, are sometimes linked, sometimes not. The most prevalent character is Moony Moore, and his stories stick out at as being almost entirely about him and his life. Okay, now that I've stated the facts, here's what you really need to know. The magic of the Magic of Deben Market is the spellbinding way that David introduces each scene and the characters with amazing richness of language, detail and nuance. I would find it difficult to believe that David doesn't know his characters in real life, and doesn't live in Deben Market. By the end of the book I felt I had just read a non-poetic version of Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology, where every character had come to life to share with me their story, and there are a wide range of them, from the humorous to the haunting. Deben Market isn't a place you might consider a travel destination, but if you go there, send me a postcard. I highly recommend this book.
Amazon Review 25/06/19
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well written and thoroughly enjoyable.
There is indeed magic in Deben market, the book is superb, brilliantly told tale after brilliantly told tale weave a web of intrigue. Stand alone stories mix with others that join together to paint a picture of strange happenings in the small sea side town. The characters are very relatable and well defined, anyone who's lived anywhere will find someone familiar within the pages.
