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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, in The Case Of Cat Adam by Roger Ashton-Griffiths, the Rajah of Dusa Mathavasi asks Cat Adam to take on the role of cultural adviser, where he can hide from the Royal Academy of Music’s trustees, who want him to return the priceless double bass loaned to him since his graduation.
The Case Of Cat Adam
Roger Ashton-Griffiths’s debut novel is a standout tale that transports readers to the heyday of the princely Indian states in the 1920s. He is an accomplished actor who is returning to his long-held passion for Anglo-Indian literature, which is the topic of his PhD dissertation.
The novel jumps between Cat’s story in 1924 and his great-great-nephew’s trip tothe fictional Indian state of Dusa Mathavasi in the present to find answers to the great family mystery. Dr Philip Adam explores the destiny of his ancestor, expecting to find the whereabouts of the priceless double bass which disappeared with Cat. Instead, just like Cat before him, he gets caught up in a world full of adventure, lost love, politics, music, absolute monarchy, and a slew of other things.
India, 1924
Cat Adam, a once-bullied, overweight schoolboy, needs to hide, so he accepts the Rajah’s invitation to travel to Dusa Mathavasi, a long-forgotten princely state. He is hiding from The Trustees of the Royal Academy, who want him to return their priceless da Salò double bass, which was loaned to him after he graduated.
When he arrives, assuming the role of Master of the Rajah’s Music, he finds an aimless court in a decaying palace, and is denied the luxuries he desires. However, he soon meets the love of his life, Dr. Vijinalakshmi Rajmani, director of the women’s hospital. But it is not to last long, as Cat gets caught up in politics and returns to the road, carrying the valuable instrument with him.
Present Day
Dr Philip Adam is the self professed expert on Dusa Mathavasi, his passion driven not least by the craving to find the missing double bass, and reestablish his family’s funds.
When he hears that the former location of his great-great-uncle’s bungalow has been found, he goes to the far-flung reaches of the subcontinent where he also gets caught up in the politics of the oil-rich enclave, and fails to locate the da Salò.
Back at home, he understands he’s not got done with Dusa Mathavasi, and he hopes the same is true for his quest for the double bass.
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
My novel will appeal to those with diverse interests, not least the history and politics of India, the often-overlooked glory of the double bass, and perhaps those who have seen me in GAME OF THRONES and other productions over the years.
My professional life has been built around the exploration of diverse media – creativity by any means!
-Roger Ashton-Griffiths
After reading music at Lancaster University, Roger Ashton-Griffiths joined the English National Opera as a singer before migrating into acting. His screen roles include PT Barnum in GANGS OF NEW YORK (Scorsese, 2002), Alfred Hitchcock in GRACE OF MONACO (Dahan, 2014), and he is best known as Mace Tyrell in GAME OF THRONES (HBO, 2011-19).
Between his BMus and PhD in Creative Writing, at the University of East Anglia, he completed an MA in Fine Art at the University of East London, casting bronzes and carving oak trunks.
Find more from Roger Ashton-Griffiths now:
https://tinyurl.com/RogerAshton-GriffithsActor
https://tinyurl.com/RogerAshton-Griffiths-Literary
Published by Sharpe Books, The Case of Cat Adam is available in paperback (ISBN No: 979-8852280626) and Kindle format on Amazon.
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3Rc1l84
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3r8viLN
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