Deadfolk

By Charlie Williams

Book Overview

No-one leaves Mangel ? at least not alive they don?t. Royston Blake is the Head Doorman of Hoppers Wine Bar & Bistro. He drives a Capri 2.8i and can walk down the street in Mangel knowing he?s respected by folks. But now there?s a rumour out that Blake?s lost his bottle. Even Sal?s heard the rumour. What?s more, the Muntons are after him and the thought of ending up in the back of their Meat Wagon is almost too much to bear. Something?s got to give. Determined to prove he hasn?t lost his nerve, Blake embarks on a plan designed to re-establish his reputation as a hard man, ensure his everlasting appeal to women and seal his future with the new owner of Hoppers, even if he is an outsider. Murder, mayhem and a chainsaw called Susan intertwine in this astonishing debut which marks the appearance of a fresh, funny and brutal new voice in British crime fiction. ?Cross James Ellroy?s unblinking eye for vicious gangland enforcement with Bill James?s gut-feeling for Britain?s meaner streets and you would end up in a trashcan alley somewhere near Mangel? I can?t wait for the next instalment? 5-star review, Western Daily Press ?Demented, hilarious, and near impossible to put down? Jason Starr, author of Tough Luck ?There is a dark heart to England, a claustrophobic core of oddity and violence. Deadfolk comes straight from this English heart, and even through all of its offbeat humour, there is no mistaking the earnestness of a writer who has something to say.? Nicholas Blincoe ?Plenty of memorably grim moments along the way? Big Issue in the North ?Carnage, chaos and a chainsaw called Susan add to his remarkable debut, which marks the appearance of a totally new voice in British fiction? Buzz ?Charlie Williams has come up trumps? the more politically correct among you can read this as social comment, the rest can just enjoy the ride? Guardian ?Imagine if you will the comparatively genteel Midsomer Murders transplanted to darkest Somerset and given a delight in excess worthy of Tarantino, the whole dripping with pitch black comedy and panache... this is compelling and highly enjoyable? The Third Alternative

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1852428511
• ISBN13: 9781852428518
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.9" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Pure genius

I thought this was the funniest book I'd read in years. It's bleak, depressing, dirty and *hilarious*--also the villain who narrates the tale is curiously likeable. Seriously, this book is a winner. Worth every penny. Buy it.

Warped, Menacing, Hilarious

Deadfolk stars Royston Blake -- a guy you would not enjoy bumping into down a dark alley but you will love on the page. He is a pub doorman with troubles, and his attempts at getting past them lead to one crime after another. All he wants is to be a respected pillar of the community. He has the physical stature but lacks self-awareness, and winds up getting and giving nothing but grief. The book is populated with characters that you can almost smell -- even before they wind up dead and rotting. The setting -- the town of "Mangel" -- is English backwater by way of the Twilight Zone, and the ripe language reflects that. But really it's not that far removed from midwest or Tex vernacular. There were some words I just did not know but I kind of rode the context -- you're not going to miss any big plot points over them. Also the local argot gets you more involved in the surroundings. When you look at this place you can see how someone like Royston Blake can happen. You kind of feel for him. I recommend Deadfolk to anyone who favors originality, knows how to laugh, and doesn't baulk at some nastiness. This is a book that reads well and is SO different from the usual fare. Royston Blake is a real piece of work.