Hello from Peter Reynolds
Peter Reynolds grew up in Nuneaton (a Midlands town not unlike the fictional Redwick in his first novel), where department stores once stood at the centre of everyday life. During his younger years, he spent many Saturdays with his parents in and around those stores, absorbing their polished floors and quietly bustling departments, intrigued as much by what lay behind the scenes as by what was on display. The hidden stockrooms, the routines, and the unseen lives of those who worked there left a lasting impression. Years later, those memories would form the foundation of his debut novel, The Heroes of Harrand & Blythe — a warm, quietly mysterious story of hidden doors, small acts of courage, and the subtle moments that can alter the course of a life.
His second work, Cluckageddon, takes a very different turn. This short, sharply observed satirical tale offers a wry and therapeutic reflection on modern British politics, imagining an alternative that is as absurd as it is uncomfortably plausible.
Book three, Unable to Assist, dares to ask what life would be like if the internet / A.I. decided to terminate itself overnight!
Peter came to writing later in life, discovering a deep enjoyment in creating characters who feel as real and familiar as the people we pass every day. His work is rooted in observation, memory, and a belief that even the most ordinary settings can hold extraordinary stories.
He lives in Lancashire with his wife and their two dogs, and is planning two more releases before the end of 2026.
Readers can stay up to date and connect with Peter via the Facebook group 'Harrand and Blythe'.
Bookshelf
My titles. Available from Amazon
Starting with 'The Heroes of Harrand and Blythe, i'm busy writing my next novel.
News & Musings
Here's where I discuss my ideas, and reveal some of the secrets of my writing.
Harrand and Blythe
My first novel ... and based on childhood memories that have stayed with my all these years.
Inside a busy 1970s department store, the future can be adjusted one small decision at a time.
Harrand & Blythe has stood at the centre of Redwick High Street for generations.
Customers come for shoes, televisions, hats and furniture. Staff stay for decades. The building hums with polish, routine, and the quiet confidence of a place that has always been there.
Arthur Jennings runs the shoe department. He believes most problems can be solved with patience, attention, and knowing when to remain silent.
When seventeen-year-old Simon arrives in 1970 for what he expects to be an ordinary apprenticeship interview, he finds himself drawn into Arthur’s orbit. Under Arthur’s careful guidance he begins to notice that Harrand & Blythe runs on more than routine.
Behind the shop floor, hidden beneath stockrooms and corridors, an unusual force is quietly at work.
As Simon grows older and the world beyond the store begins to change, he slowly discovers the responsibility Arthur has carried for years — and the cost of stepping in at exactly the right moment.
Warm, witty, and deeply humane, The Heroes of Harrand & Blythe is a novel about unnoticed kindness, inherited responsibility, and the invisible work that keeps the world turning.
Sometimes the smallest intervention can change everything.
Reviews
See what people have said about my work.
Atmospheric Storytelling
From the first pages the reader is drawn in to the World and atmosphere of the department store, the characters that work there and their lives. The book really evokes a now slightly forgotten era and the plot draws you in gradually. I loved it and didn't want it to end to so that I had to go back to reality.
Wow, What a Book, Love it!
You start reading this short book with a calm, almost ‘slow’ roll, and then the momentum of the story grasps you. You feel like you have to read thoroughly but quickly so as not to miss all the points building a detailed picture of why and how the world had to change. The book is full of humour and references to all the problems our country and others too face. It intelligently captures you and whisks you along in such a way that you can almost physically see what’s on the page - amazing fresh writing which makes an outrageous thought believable, I see Chickens in a new way and have a new respect for them.
Loved this Book!
This is a quietly powerful and deeply nostalgic story that blends everyday life with a gentle touch of the supernatural. Set in the unlikely setting of a department store, it transforms an ordinary place into something almost magical. At its heart is the idea that every choice we make can alter the direction of our lives, and perhaps even the lives of others
What makes the book so compelling is its emotional honesty. It doesn’t rely on dramatic twists, but instead draws you in with its comforting tone. There’s a strong sense of longing for simpler, less stressful times, and a reminder that life doesn’t have to be extraordinary to be meaningful
I won’t say more and ruin the story but I really enjoyed this and look forward to more books from this new author !