Brenton Brown

Flat dialogue and creaky prose get in the way of compelling elements in this continuation of the semi-autobiographical Brenton Brown saga that Wheatle started with Brixton Rock. Brenton is living in south London near his half-sister, Juliet, with whom, 20 years ago, he had a passionate affair, producing a daughter, Breanna. A select few know the truth, but Clayton, Juliet’s banker husband, and Breanna are not among them; Breanna has always called Benton uncle. Brenton wants her to know the truth, and Juliet is sympathetic, but their friends who know worry about how Breanna would react to such shocking news. Brenton has other problems as well: he doesn’t like Breanna’s boyfriend; things aren’t going well with his own girlfriend; his mother is sick, and he resents her for shoving him into a series of youth homes. As Breanna’s 21st birthday draws near, Brenton ponders using the occasion to redefine relations. Juliet, meanwhile, is weighing a run for parliament and spending more time than she’d like thinking about her half-brother. Buried beneath the constant repetition of the characters’ most basic thoughts and long passages of boring exposition are some modest rewards. (Dec.)