Catena

One decision, and a chain reaction of consequence:

When a man leaves a football match early, the ripple begins…

In the fictional county of Brakeshire, lives intersect in unexpected ways—linked by chance, choice, and the quiet gravity of timing. Catena is a novel of cascading events and character-driven vignettes, each chapter a standalone yet intricately connected story, echoing the Latin meaning of its title: chain, and a series of texts.

From fleeting encounters to seismic shifts, Andy Bracken explores how the seemingly insignificant can bind strangers together. With chapter titles borrowed from song lyrics, and a structure born from spontaneity, this is storytelling at its most organic and exhilarating.

Catena is a literary mosaic—understated, resonant, and unforgettable.

Buy at Amazon.co.uk

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Lulu.com

Author Notes

Oh, I was having fun when I did this one! I was also challenging myself, by applying pressure.

Catena, as in chain, as I wrote the first line with no preconceived ideas. It grew into a chapter. Once done, I started another chapter, that emerged from and was directed by the previous one.

Song titles became chapter titles! The only reason for them, was because I heard them on the radio or played the record, and thought, “oh, that’s a good one, I’ll use that!” And so on, and so on, everything informed by that which had gone before, with no clear plan.

Yet, as I went on my merry way, it was clear. Right up to the point where I stopped, looked at and considered what I had, before tying it all together. A euphoric moment!

Another record came from it - this time a full vinyl LP. Bands and musicians I knew chose a song from the list of chapter titles, and covered them. Not all of them, but enough for a ten track album!

And football shirts! I mean, proper football shirts made of technical material, and replete with sponsor names! Football shirts you could actually very comfortably play football in.

It all took me out of 2021 and into 2022.

Friend and fellow author, Ray Canham, described it as ‘an understated gem.’ It does, I think, play to my strengths. Having seventeen chapters, each essentially belonging to a unique personality, allowed me to examine their nuances and peccadilloes. I do enjoy poking at characters to reveal their psychological flaws and merits.

All in all, an exhilarating experience as a writer, that ultimately produced a book I’m very happy with. But I was exhausted by October 2021, and needed a break. I’d written and published seven novels in three years.

Unforeseen by me at the time, life would take over for a while, and it would be nearly three years before I’d reemerge.

Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent chain of interconnected stories

"Once again the author confounds expectation and serves up something different from what might be expected. Yes there is the Brakeshire settings, yes there are nods to previous novels, characters etc., and yes it still very much deals with human feelings, faults, fears etc. This time it is all wrapped up in a cleverly constructed, interconnected, chain of vignettes which reveal a larger overall story as you progress through them. It kept me guessing until the end. I'd say the author is becoming more accomplished with every piece of writing he puts out and hopefully word of mouth/social media/reviews will one day get his books out to many more people and if there were true justice in the world, the readership he deserves."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A butterfly flaps its wings........

"We often use words like coincidence, synchronicity, predestination or fate when describing random events or decisions that affect outcomes. Andy Bracken’s latest volume is a wonderfully fast-paced read which brilliantly examines a series of occurrences that are set into motion by one man’s uncharacteristic choice to leave a sporting event early.

Even though this is his shortest book to date, Mr. Bracken packs a lot into this story. His gift for compelling storytelling is only exceeded by his ability to create characters who are realistically human and believable. We are given a detailed glimpse into the minds and lives of perhaps a dozen people, each of whom is someone that any of us could encounter in our daily lives. While most of them are strangers to one another, a single random decision will link them all in unexpected and surprising ways.

Having read each of Andy Bracken’s books, I can honestly say that every single one has caused at least a single tear to travel down my cheek while reading. This one was no exception. This was a magnificent little book. You should most definitely read it, then read all his other books, then tell your friends."

More Reviews