Big-business bromance lacks bite

If a work of fiction is titled after its main characters, it would be expected that the characters, or the relationship between them, is somewhat interesting, unique or profound.

Sadly, that is not the case with Alexander Starritt’s Drayton and Mackenzie.

Taking place mostly between the housing market crash that kicked off in 2007 and the COVID pandemic — but ultimately covering the entire lives of the titular duo — the novel follows James Drayton and Roland Mackenzie as they create and run renewable energy business off the coast of Scotland.

James and Roland first meet at Oxford, where they are both on the rowing team. Neither is that excited about the sport, nor do they make much of an impact on each other. But they meet again years later, when James is working for McKinsey, a real-life multinational consulting firm, and Roland has returned from an unintended year-long excursion to India. Inexplicably, they start a business together.

The characters are pretty common archetypes — James is a restrained, serious over-achiever while Roland is a spontaneous, personable fun guy. On the surface, they wouldn’t make great friends, but — of course — they do, mostly because their differences make them ideal business partners.

A fair bit of background is given to both James’ and Roland’s upbringings. Both are completely believable characters, although perhaps too much. There’s nothing overly intriguing about them and they share little dramatic tension, which doesn’t exactly make for a great page-turner — unless you’re really into the ins and outs of hydrogen energy and corporate takeovers.

Starritt is a Scottish-born writer who has published two other well-received novels, The Beast and We Germans. Drayton and Mackenzie was originally published in the U.K. in 2025 to some acclaim, particularly from the Financial Times. That should say something about the intended audience of this big-business bromance.

If you’re into fictionalized cameos by the likes of Ben Bernanke and Elon Musk, this could be the book for you.

Bogged down by corporate-speak and minute business details, Drayton and Mackenzie lacks a human element. This is especially disappointing given the title — and, one would assume, Starritt’s intent.

However, the characters’ names also become the handle of the business they start, so perhaps it does make sense in an ironic way.

Overall, it’s quite a slow-paced read. It picks up a bit near the end, with a not-too-surprising love triangle and little more human emotion coming into play. However, at over 500 pages, it all feels too little, too late.

Alan MacKenzie (no relation) is a Winnipeg-based writer.