Money is often described as the root of all evil, but no matter how you feel about it, it is essential for our existence and holds an undeniable power over our lives. Money can bring comfort, security, and opportunities, but if you let it control you it can also lead to greed, corruption, and moral decay. The dual nature of money has been a central theme in literature, exploring how sudden wealth can transform individuals and societies. Kit Power’s Millionaires Day delves into this complex relationship with money, presenting a gripping narrative that examines the impact of a miraculous windfall on a diverse group of characters.
22 December 2019, now known as Millionaires Day. At 8am, every sleeping person in the UK woke up to find one million pounds in a shiny black case under them. Where did it come from and how did it get there? Nobody knows. With one million in cash, problems should be solved, people should be happy but this miracle and inexplicable event creates problems and chaos with a sudden influx of wealth. Millionaires Day focus on a small number of the newly minted millionaires living in Milton Keynes (MK) and their reactions to their newfound fortunes.
This novella is told from the perspective of a few (un)lucky residents of Milton Keynes, over a three hour period; a homeless man, a neglected child, ruthless gangsters and even a dog. Each viewpoint is different, viewing the money as a blessing and/or curse. It offers a unique view of how money can bring out the worst in people and how no matter how much you have it is never enough for some and how greed has deadly consequences.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Millionaires Day although found it quite frustrating at times. It never explained why the money suddenly appeared and for what reason. And it introduced a “Finite Protocol” but never explained what this was or went anywhere with it, leaving lots of unanswered questions. I would have liked to see the story expanded more to make the story more rounded.
The characters in the story are an eclectic bunch, representing different aspects of society and human nature. The character of the unscrupulous, deplorable and greedy Mickey, a gang leader, is excellent and looks at the darker side of human nature while the character of Emma, the neglected child, goes to the opposite end of the spectrum with innocence and hope. And among the tension is the perspective of the dog, who has no use for money and is unaffected by greed or wealth, looks at the situation through a different lens, adding some uniqueness to the tale. The characters are well-crafted, although I found Billy to be quite confusing until I got used to them being referred to as plural.
While a short story, it is an engaging and thought-provoking tale about the power and corrupting influence of money and newfound wealth, inviting the reader to consider the various ways in which money can impact lives – for better or worse. It isn’t just a story of suddenly having enough money that should in theory solve some of life’s problems, but looks at the responsibilities of large amounts of money, the temptations it brings with it and even the chaos and challenges that can come with it. A story of selflessness vs selfishness.
The story is tense with a lot of suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for moments of reflection and character development amidst the chaos and action.
Millionaires Day is a compelling read, a thought-provoking novella that offers a unique take on the power of money and its impact on society. The writing is skilful with richly drawn characters and the money theme and the problems it can create is excellent. An excellent exploration of greed, morality, and human nature.
While I loved the premise of the tale, the characters and the writing style, I did feel that that it had something missing by giving no explanation as to where or why everybody was suddenly a millionaire – it raises a lot of questions. Introducing the “Finite Protocol” which seemed like it was going to play a big part but didn’t go anywhere felt like the story was incomplete.
A good story with a very interesting and thought-provoking theme and a mostly enjoyable read. Billy’s character of being constantly referred to in the third person took some getting used to and I had to re-read some bits to make sense of what was happening (once I realised it wasn’t an error in the book and that was the character trait, it wasn’t as confusing). But overall, a very good story, personally I would have like some bits to have expanded on and giving a few more details.
An interesting concept that is definitely worth a read.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £9.99 (Paperback) / £1.99 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
