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Mangel #1
Deadfolk
As dodgy English towns go, Mangel doesn’t look like much; but it’s everything to Royston Blake. In Mangel, Blake is head doorman at Hoppers Wine Bar and Bistro, drives a Ford Capri 2.8i, and generally has no trouble getting laid. On any given day, he can walk the streets of his town knowing he’s respected by one and all.
That is, until a rumor begins to circulate that Blake’s "lost his bottle", and everything goes to hell. Even his best mates, Fin and Legsy, have heard the talk that the formerly hard-living bruiser has gone soft, lost his edge, and become a pushover in a town where he can ill afford it. To make matters worse, the Munton brothers are after him, and the thought of ending up in the back of their notorious Meat Wagon is almost too much to bear. Something’s gotta give, but it sure as hell won’t be Blake.
What ensues is an outrageously bloody showdown that will leave a permanent scar on the grubby face of Blake’s beloved West Country town. Deadfolk is a brutal black comedy that introduces a wholly original voice to the ranks of literature’s most memorable protagonists.
That is, until a rumor begins to circulate that Blake’s "lost his bottle", and everything goes to hell. Even his best mates, Fin and Legsy, have heard the talk that the formerly hard-living bruiser has gone soft, lost his edge, and become a pushover in a town where he can ill afford it. To make matters worse, the Munton brothers are after him, and the thought of ending up in the back of their notorious Meat Wagon is almost too much to bear. Something’s gotta give, but it sure as hell won’t be Blake.
What ensues is an outrageously bloody showdown that will leave a permanent scar on the grubby face of Blake’s beloved West Country town. Deadfolk is a brutal black comedy that introduces a wholly original voice to the ranks of literature’s most memorable protagonists.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2004
27 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Williams
11 books52 followersAuthor of the Mangel series of DEADFOLK, FAGS AND LAGER (US edition BOOZE AND BURN), KING OF THE ROAD, ONE DEAD HEN and MADE OF STONE, all featuring nightclub doorman antihero Royston Blake. Plus standalone STAIRWAY TO HELL and novella GRAVEN IMAGE. English, scatalogical and dark.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 30, 2011
This is the worst book I have ever read. It is written in English vernacular, making it hard to get into in the first place, and then has a very unsympathetic main character who is basically a serial murderer. Bottom line: Never order a Kindle book just because it is on the "Best sellers under $2 list".
April 25, 2010
RATING: 4.0
It isn't the poshest job, but working as Head Doorman of Hoppers Wine Bar & Bistro offers a certain amount of prestige for Roystan Blake—a chance to flirt with some of the birds, an occasional work-out of the muscles when a bloke gets rowdy. Blake has spent his whole life in Mangel, Britain's crappiest town; and it's rare that any of the locals ever leaves. He has a few friends that he hangs with, and he and his mates have a general loyalty to one another. On the other end of the spectrum are the Munton family who are almost like Mangel's underworld and with whom Blake has frequent confrontations.
Blake, a decidedly lower class individual, is proud of his job; so when he backs down in an encounter with one of the Muntons, word gets out that he has lost his "bottle", i.e., that he's lost his courage. The reality is that Blake believes this to be true and needs to get his bottle back. He's been sloppy about taking care of himself for the past few years, lost some of his heft, muscles gone to mush. You see, he's been in a bit of a funk after the death of his wife, who he was accused of murdering. But in an effort to regain his courage and reputation, he gets himself into another whole level of trouble after killing one of the Munton brothers. From there, things deteriorate, and Blake's problems escalate, with several more dead bodies being sent to the local cemetery along the way.
The earlier part of the book is completely hilarious. Blake's view of himself is completely at odds with the person that he really is. There's a certain element of pathos to his character, a kind of lovable and naïve loser who is mostly interested in moving up at Hoppers Wine Bar & Bistro and in driving his undependable Ford Capri 2.8i. Early on, his weapon of choice is his head. "I were skilled in every category of headbutt in the book. Straight, sidewinder, piledriver—you name it, I'd swung it. The secret, right, is to keep your neck relaxed and picture your swede like a demolition ball. Mark your target—nose or cheekbone is best—then swing that ball." And there's one specific headbutt that has a real impact on his future. As the book progresses, however, Blake starts to lose any semblance of control he had over his own behavior. He goes around in a fog killing people without really registering what he is doing. Giving Blake a monkey wrench or a gun is not a good idea.
At first, I had a problem with the fact that the book was written in the local Mangel dialect, and it took me quite a while before I was able to get into the character's voice. Once I did, however, I found being in his head to be a riotous yet horrifying trip. There's no sophistication to Blake, not much intelligence, so he operates pretty much on an "act now, consider later" basis. As he says, "I'd be the first to confess I wouldn't know a bright idea if it did a shite in me pocket." Self-analysis and remorse are definitely not going to be something you see in Blake's actions.
Over the course of the book, Blake disintegrates from a likeable loser who has a certain appealing bravado into a manic killing machine. I found the latter character hard to take. I preferred the Befuddled Blake to the Beastly Blake.
DEADFOLK is Williams' first book, and it's a completely original work. Well plotted, great dialogue, fast paced with touches of tenderness edging around the dark center, DEADFOLK is a book that the reader who prefers noir over nice will certainly appreciate. I know that I will be looking for Williams' future books, as he shows the promise of great things to come.
PS: For those of you who would like to visit Mangel, the crappiest town in Britain, here is The Mangel Informer on the Web: http://www.thisismangel.com/index2.html
It isn't the poshest job, but working as Head Doorman of Hoppers Wine Bar & Bistro offers a certain amount of prestige for Roystan Blake—a chance to flirt with some of the birds, an occasional work-out of the muscles when a bloke gets rowdy. Blake has spent his whole life in Mangel, Britain's crappiest town; and it's rare that any of the locals ever leaves. He has a few friends that he hangs with, and he and his mates have a general loyalty to one another. On the other end of the spectrum are the Munton family who are almost like Mangel's underworld and with whom Blake has frequent confrontations.
Blake, a decidedly lower class individual, is proud of his job; so when he backs down in an encounter with one of the Muntons, word gets out that he has lost his "bottle", i.e., that he's lost his courage. The reality is that Blake believes this to be true and needs to get his bottle back. He's been sloppy about taking care of himself for the past few years, lost some of his heft, muscles gone to mush. You see, he's been in a bit of a funk after the death of his wife, who he was accused of murdering. But in an effort to regain his courage and reputation, he gets himself into another whole level of trouble after killing one of the Munton brothers. From there, things deteriorate, and Blake's problems escalate, with several more dead bodies being sent to the local cemetery along the way.
The earlier part of the book is completely hilarious. Blake's view of himself is completely at odds with the person that he really is. There's a certain element of pathos to his character, a kind of lovable and naïve loser who is mostly interested in moving up at Hoppers Wine Bar & Bistro and in driving his undependable Ford Capri 2.8i. Early on, his weapon of choice is his head. "I were skilled in every category of headbutt in the book. Straight, sidewinder, piledriver—you name it, I'd swung it. The secret, right, is to keep your neck relaxed and picture your swede like a demolition ball. Mark your target—nose or cheekbone is best—then swing that ball." And there's one specific headbutt that has a real impact on his future. As the book progresses, however, Blake starts to lose any semblance of control he had over his own behavior. He goes around in a fog killing people without really registering what he is doing. Giving Blake a monkey wrench or a gun is not a good idea.
At first, I had a problem with the fact that the book was written in the local Mangel dialect, and it took me quite a while before I was able to get into the character's voice. Once I did, however, I found being in his head to be a riotous yet horrifying trip. There's no sophistication to Blake, not much intelligence, so he operates pretty much on an "act now, consider later" basis. As he says, "I'd be the first to confess I wouldn't know a bright idea if it did a shite in me pocket." Self-analysis and remorse are definitely not going to be something you see in Blake's actions.
Over the course of the book, Blake disintegrates from a likeable loser who has a certain appealing bravado into a manic killing machine. I found the latter character hard to take. I preferred the Befuddled Blake to the Beastly Blake.
DEADFOLK is Williams' first book, and it's a completely original work. Well plotted, great dialogue, fast paced with touches of tenderness edging around the dark center, DEADFOLK is a book that the reader who prefers noir over nice will certainly appreciate. I know that I will be looking for Williams' future books, as he shows the promise of great things to come.
PS: For those of you who would like to visit Mangel, the crappiest town in Britain, here is The Mangel Informer on the Web: http://www.thisismangel.com/index2.html
April 19, 2012
Alright, Reader. DEADFOLK sure played with me Swede.
The story follows Blake, "Royston Blake, head doorman," as he often states, through his attempt to 'get his bottle back' in the British town of Mangel. The Mangel dialect really threw me for a loop, and it took me fifty pages or so to wrap my head around the slang well enough to keep the reading fluid. BUT, be patient and give it some time. I almost put the book away at a couple points, but I'm glad I continued to slog through, as it was well worth it in the end.
And it is a slog - the inhabitants of Mangel are an ugly crowd. Blake is a thug who spent his early years robbing houses and hurting innocent people with his two mates, Legs and Fin. The atmosphere is full of lager, spit, blood, fried gut-busting-food, sex and farts. Williams plants you right in the seedy town. In fact, Mangel holds such a presence throughout the story that it really is a character itself. It's the small town where everyone knows each other (hilarious moments when Blake puts on his 'disguise'), no one talks and no one leaves (many references to characters being stuck.) There isn't mob crime - just the assholes down the street that vandalize property, pick fights and/or maybe rumor-has-it kill people.
You get to know Blake's routine (food, bar, alcohol, women, doorman, walking, driving the Capri,etc) as he wanders from one mess to the next in such haphazard fashion that I had no idea where the story was heading - other than a bad place. Blake's rough and mundane life is slow but rife with excellent bits of character. And just when the 'everyday' parts suck you in, William's minimalist violence sparks and jabs you in the side with a shot of adrenaline. It is executed very well and kept me turning the pages.
Blake is not a likeable character, but there are small threads throughout that make him sympathetic enough to keep me interested/caring about his life. Blake's internal struggle is well done but to say anymore would spoil the story. The black humor is also great fun but I don't want to spoil too much of that either (Blake's dream near the end and chasing an old man on a moped for example.)
I'm not without my complaints - It was a bit long for me (adding to the slow-burn effect) and the dialect/slang was difficult at first. I also wanted to know a little more about the Muntons earlier, but overall, I highly recommend DEADFOLK. It's a monkey wrench to the swede that will leave you wanting more dark and dirty British noir.
5/5
Publication Description (Amazon.com):
Royston Blake is head doorman at Hoppers Wine Bar & Bistro in the backwater English town of Mangel. He drives a Ford Capri 2.8i and can walk the streets of his town knowing he's respected by one and all—until a rumour begins to circulate that Blake's “lost his bottle.” Even his sharp-tongued girl, Sal, has overheard the talk that the formerly fearsome bloke has gone soft, lost his edge, and become a pushover in a town where he can ill afford it. To make matters worse, the violent Munton brothers are after him, and the thought of ending up in the back of their bloody Meat Wagon is almost too much to bear. Something's gotta give, but it sure as hell won’t be Blake. Following advice from his best mate, Legsy, Blake embarks on a plan to re-establish his reputation as a hard man, ensure his appeal to the women of Mangel, and seal his future with the new owner of Hoppers. The logic of the plan is sound: knock around Baz Munton a bit and regain the respect of Mangel's populace. But sound logic never really took off in Mangel, and Blake finds he’s got his work cut out for him. This brutal black comedy introduces a wholly original voice to the ranks of contemporary literature’s most memorable protagonists.
The story follows Blake, "Royston Blake, head doorman," as he often states, through his attempt to 'get his bottle back' in the British town of Mangel. The Mangel dialect really threw me for a loop, and it took me fifty pages or so to wrap my head around the slang well enough to keep the reading fluid. BUT, be patient and give it some time. I almost put the book away at a couple points, but I'm glad I continued to slog through, as it was well worth it in the end.
And it is a slog - the inhabitants of Mangel are an ugly crowd. Blake is a thug who spent his early years robbing houses and hurting innocent people with his two mates, Legs and Fin. The atmosphere is full of lager, spit, blood, fried gut-busting-food, sex and farts. Williams plants you right in the seedy town. In fact, Mangel holds such a presence throughout the story that it really is a character itself. It's the small town where everyone knows each other (hilarious moments when Blake puts on his 'disguise'), no one talks and no one leaves (many references to characters being stuck.) There isn't mob crime - just the assholes down the street that vandalize property, pick fights and/or maybe rumor-has-it kill people.
You get to know Blake's routine (food, bar, alcohol, women, doorman, walking, driving the Capri,etc) as he wanders from one mess to the next in such haphazard fashion that I had no idea where the story was heading - other than a bad place. Blake's rough and mundane life is slow but rife with excellent bits of character. And just when the 'everyday' parts suck you in, William's minimalist violence sparks and jabs you in the side with a shot of adrenaline. It is executed very well and kept me turning the pages.
Blake is not a likeable character, but there are small threads throughout that make him sympathetic enough to keep me interested/caring about his life. Blake's internal struggle is well done but to say anymore would spoil the story. The black humor is also great fun but I don't want to spoil too much of that either (Blake's dream near the end and chasing an old man on a moped for example.)
I'm not without my complaints - It was a bit long for me (adding to the slow-burn effect) and the dialect/slang was difficult at first. I also wanted to know a little more about the Muntons earlier, but overall, I highly recommend DEADFOLK. It's a monkey wrench to the swede that will leave you wanting more dark and dirty British noir.
5/5
Publication Description (Amazon.com):
Royston Blake is head doorman at Hoppers Wine Bar & Bistro in the backwater English town of Mangel. He drives a Ford Capri 2.8i and can walk the streets of his town knowing he's respected by one and all—until a rumour begins to circulate that Blake's “lost his bottle.” Even his sharp-tongued girl, Sal, has overheard the talk that the formerly fearsome bloke has gone soft, lost his edge, and become a pushover in a town where he can ill afford it. To make matters worse, the violent Munton brothers are after him, and the thought of ending up in the back of their bloody Meat Wagon is almost too much to bear. Something's gotta give, but it sure as hell won’t be Blake. Following advice from his best mate, Legsy, Blake embarks on a plan to re-establish his reputation as a hard man, ensure his appeal to the women of Mangel, and seal his future with the new owner of Hoppers. The logic of the plan is sound: knock around Baz Munton a bit and regain the respect of Mangel's populace. But sound logic never really took off in Mangel, and Blake finds he’s got his work cut out for him. This brutal black comedy introduces a wholly original voice to the ranks of contemporary literature’s most memorable protagonists.
January 13, 2017
Not quite my cup of tea mainly because it is written in the 1st person, as it has been pointed out in the other reviews in a "stream of consciousness" kind of way, but also because the slang used here makes it a rather difficult read for anyone who isn't brit (or from that particular region the story is situated in).
The book would be very grim if it wasn't for the black humour sprinkled in there.
Once I got past the language I was really into it and wanted to know if and how the main character was going to get out of that bloody town. About two thirds in though, I got discouraged, the plot is just one catastrophe after another and I just wanted that sociopathic misogynistic a-hole that is Blake to just sort himself out.
Overall: it was a fun read, although I couldn't care too much for the characters as they were all so awful. I think it lacked structure making it all the less believable.
I won't be reading the sequels but I think it could appeal to the right kind of reader.
PS: If you are put off by violence, don't even consider it, in places it is very gruesome.
The book would be very grim if it wasn't for the black humour sprinkled in there.
Once I got past the language I was really into it and wanted to know if and how the main character was going to get out of that bloody town. About two thirds in though, I got discouraged, the plot is just one catastrophe after another and I just wanted that sociopathic misogynistic a-hole that is Blake to just sort himself out.
Overall: it was a fun read, although I couldn't care too much for the characters as they were all so awful. I think it lacked structure making it all the less believable.
I won't be reading the sequels but I think it could appeal to the right kind of reader.
PS: If you are put off by violence, don't even consider it, in places it is very gruesome.
August 19, 2012
England, my love. Some books are animals. This one is an animal. Not any specific animal. Just animal. Loved it. Cheap as chips and funny as lard. Smells like pub and reads like late night TV, battered sausages and white noise all at the same time. Chainsaws, bouncers,men, women, friends and foes. Better than Lord of the Rings. Honest. Buy it.
September 12, 2017
Well, I am really not sure about this one. On the one hand it is an interesting read and is certainly something rather different (I believe Brit Noir has been mentioned) but on the other Blake is really quite annoying and not particularly likeable in the least. Its also written as the characters speak which does make it feel grittier but it does also take a bit of getting used to. I think on the whole I did enjoy it but it is one of those that does leave you wondering...
June 22, 2011
Royston Blake is not the kind of character that you want to be friends with. Most of his friends end up dead. Hell, Royston Blake isn't even the kind of character that you want to be in the same room with. But he sure is a hell of a lot of fun to read about.
While some readers may be daunted with the slang and vernacular of the first-person narration, if you give it time, it creates a rhythm that really helps to inform the rest of the book. The character, language and setting all come together to create a violent comedy or comedic violence, depending on how you look at it.
I might be the first one to make this comparison, but Deadfolk has the pacing of a Chester Himes' novel like A RAGE IN HARLEM, as well as some of the comedic flair and working class slang. They are two different books, but the tradition carries on.
If I have any gripe, it is that the story ends a little abruptly with what feels like a few loose ends. But that's nit-picking. This story is about pace and character, and it wouldn't work if it weren't a little rough around the edges.
Looking forward to the next book in the series, FAGS AND LAGER (or BOOZE AND BURN, which is the title it unfortunately got for its US publication. Not that it's a bad title, it's just not great like FAGS AND LAGER).
While some readers may be daunted with the slang and vernacular of the first-person narration, if you give it time, it creates a rhythm that really helps to inform the rest of the book. The character, language and setting all come together to create a violent comedy or comedic violence, depending on how you look at it.
I might be the first one to make this comparison, but Deadfolk has the pacing of a Chester Himes' novel like A RAGE IN HARLEM, as well as some of the comedic flair and working class slang. They are two different books, but the tradition carries on.
If I have any gripe, it is that the story ends a little abruptly with what feels like a few loose ends. But that's nit-picking. This story is about pace and character, and it wouldn't work if it weren't a little rough around the edges.
Looking forward to the next book in the series, FAGS AND LAGER (or BOOZE AND BURN, which is the title it unfortunately got for its US publication. Not that it's a bad title, it's just not great like FAGS AND LAGER).
December 1, 2022
A novel with a taste of lager, tobacco smoke and blood.
The protagonist is a marginalized and aggressive person, a hawbuck working as a head doorman at a local hick pub in a provincial town called Mangel. At the same time, he is a beer lover who never lose a chance to drink free lager at the expense of the pub during working hours. Well, he is Royston Blake, isn’t he? It's not for nothing that he is a security bouncer in one of the most fashionable hellhole on the block. A wanker who makes no cause-effect links; a person who is completely void of the ability to identify them; a person who is absolutely deprived of the ability of critical thinking and who has no idea about what culture and conscience are.
Everything would be fine, but due to being a typical social leper, Blake accumulates appropriate people all around himself. Weirdo mates who have no goals in life but regularly spending time by drinking lager at the cheapest Mangel’s pub with the telling title “The Long Nose”. Ladies who take their crotch as the most tradable commodity — but really, Blake believes that any ass is good enough regardless of “mileage”. And of course, supernatural bastards just like himself in the form of criminals who don't disdain to knock anyone's teeth out just for fun.
It is well known that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. Especially if it concerns a man who considers himself an important one. Especially if he is heavily dependent on lager, his weight is about 260 lbs and he believes in his inviolability too much. Because, of course, for every hunter there is a bigger hunter.
The protagonist is a marginalized and aggressive person, a hawbuck working as a head doorman at a local hick pub in a provincial town called Mangel. At the same time, he is a beer lover who never lose a chance to drink free lager at the expense of the pub during working hours. Well, he is Royston Blake, isn’t he? It's not for nothing that he is a security bouncer in one of the most fashionable hellhole on the block. A wanker who makes no cause-effect links; a person who is completely void of the ability to identify them; a person who is absolutely deprived of the ability of critical thinking and who has no idea about what culture and conscience are.
Everything would be fine, but due to being a typical social leper, Blake accumulates appropriate people all around himself. Weirdo mates who have no goals in life but regularly spending time by drinking lager at the cheapest Mangel’s pub with the telling title “The Long Nose”. Ladies who take their crotch as the most tradable commodity — but really, Blake believes that any ass is good enough regardless of “mileage”. And of course, supernatural bastards just like himself in the form of criminals who don't disdain to knock anyone's teeth out just for fun.
It is well known that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. Especially if it concerns a man who considers himself an important one. Especially if he is heavily dependent on lager, his weight is about 260 lbs and he believes in his inviolability too much. Because, of course, for every hunter there is a bigger hunter.
June 17, 2017
I should start this review by saying I bought this when the kindle edition was very cheap in June 2012...and it has sat in my unread folder until now, June 2017. I've started it many times before but never reached beyond the first few chapters because the language made it quite difficult to get into. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally committed to finishing it this time around. The main character is a very simple man who likes to essentially regard himself as the thug of the city, while remaining terrified of the thug family who run the town in terms of crime etc. While I wouldn't say I loved the story there was enough to keep it going and keep me interested and once I became used to the character's dialect and slang I found it significantly easier to read. I liked reading about his antics and found the portrayal of a serial murderer as a fairly normal bloke, and certainly not an evil man, to be interesting. A nice read but I don't think i'll be picking up the others in the future.
September 21, 2018
A crime novel with a difference, funny, macabre and packed full of violence. In Royston Blake, Charlie Williams has given us an anti hero to relish, a lovable lowlife trapped in his own world. This is written straight from the dark heart of provincial England.
December 21, 2018
Una mierda. Punto.
Un poco antes de la mitad remonta pero poco después le hacen una revelación importante al protagonista y este reacciona como quien observa el vuelo de las moscas y por lo tanto volvemos al comentario inicial. No sé ni cómo lo he acabado.
Un poco antes de la mitad remonta pero poco después le hacen una revelación importante al protagonista y este reacciona como quien observa el vuelo de las moscas y por lo tanto volvemos al comentario inicial. No sé ni cómo lo he acabado.
December 3, 2019
The top of my copy reads "Demented, Hilarious, and Near impossible to put down".... I would say this is fairly accurate!
November 8, 2022
I love Royston Blake, and I love this book.
August 29, 2013
A bit of a rough read from the start as its written in some sort of a British Isles or Irish brogue. (Even that sentence has the dialect structure ;) ). It IS written by a Brit... And I don't know the different accents well enough to be able to plac them other than that. However, I did get used to the vernacular pretty quickly --there was an easy cadence to it, and after a few pages, it gave me no grief.
This first book in a series, is written, and told in, first person vernacular by this unreliable narrator; this one knew she was missing most of the story. (But I think that was intended.) There are FOUR more after this one; I believe each will reveal enough so we'll know what's really going on!
Sorry for the following rather disjointed review, but the book lent itself to it, I swear!
Royston Blake is our guy. He's NOT straight up, drinks a lot, smokes a lot, misses his dead wife dreadfully, is dragging his arse about town, especially after its become known (small town, ya know) that the Muntons, who've "done him wrong", have not been brought to rights. He's "lost his bottle", lost his reputation, and the citizens of Mangel are like sharks when blood is in the water. They can't help themselves; it's in their nature.
Finally, he decides to do something about it.
(In the background, the citizens listen to "the War" on the telly, or we hear it as they flip through channels. This is kep very vague, low key. But it seems to involve the killing, or gathering?, of "deadfolk".)
The story meanders around a lot; we get to hear every stray thought that one's through Blake's "swede", as it hits every little bump in his Ego (or Id) -- his fears are flung about, he does a deed or two, daily wanking in front of the telly; he DOES love his car!, a very temperamental old beat up Ford Capri. Blake ends up walking more than driving, or bumming rides... He IS a very casual killer (or maybe not), a criminal surely, and a thief. But he didn't kill his wife. I think. HE thinks.
Something is wrong with Blake. Heck, something's wrong with the TOWN ("no one ever leaves... They can come in from outside, but no one from here ever leaves...") And that something is whatever's wrong with all the citizens. But Blake is still some special kind of wrong, even so.
THIS WOULD BE FUNNY AS A MOVIE!
Sometimes, this series is described as Funny Noir. I'd have to agree. I'm not even sure HOW I found it funny, but I did. I also am not sure why I gave it 4 stars ;) It deserves the rating though. :)
I kept wondering when something other than piddley stuff was going to happen... Surely, the story background has been laid by halfway through th book!
This first book in a series, is written, and told in, first person vernacular by this unreliable narrator; this one knew she was missing most of the story. (But I think that was intended.) There are FOUR more after this one; I believe each will reveal enough so we'll know what's really going on!
Sorry for the following rather disjointed review, but the book lent itself to it, I swear!
Royston Blake is our guy. He's NOT straight up, drinks a lot, smokes a lot, misses his dead wife dreadfully, is dragging his arse about town, especially after its become known (small town, ya know) that the Muntons, who've "done him wrong", have not been brought to rights. He's "lost his bottle", lost his reputation, and the citizens of Mangel are like sharks when blood is in the water. They can't help themselves; it's in their nature.
Finally, he decides to do something about it.
(In the background, the citizens listen to "the War" on the telly, or we hear it as they flip through channels. This is kep very vague, low key. But it seems to involve the killing, or gathering?, of "deadfolk".)
The story meanders around a lot; we get to hear every stray thought that one's through Blake's "swede", as it hits every little bump in his Ego (or Id) -- his fears are flung about, he does a deed or two, daily wanking in front of the telly; he DOES love his car!, a very temperamental old beat up Ford Capri. Blake ends up walking more than driving, or bumming rides... He IS a very casual killer (or maybe not), a criminal surely, and a thief. But he didn't kill his wife. I think. HE thinks.
Something is wrong with Blake. Heck, something's wrong with the TOWN ("no one ever leaves... They can come in from outside, but no one from here ever leaves...") And that something is whatever's wrong with all the citizens. But Blake is still some special kind of wrong, even so.
THIS WOULD BE FUNNY AS A MOVIE!
Sometimes, this series is described as Funny Noir. I'd have to agree. I'm not even sure HOW I found it funny, but I did. I also am not sure why I gave it 4 stars ;) It deserves the rating though. :)
I kept wondering when something other than piddley stuff was going to happen... Surely, the story background has been laid by halfway through th book!
November 3, 2014
Deadfolk, by Charlie Williams, is not a conventional crime story. The protagonist, Royston Blake, is a simple man with simple needs: to win back the respect of his town after a scuffle with a local hard case who's publicly humiliated Blake and put Blake's job as a bouncer in jeopardy. Blake's a strong man who can take a beating and come back for more, but he's far from being any kind of criminal mastermind.
Blake only intends to confront the man who's taken him down a peg and get some of his own back, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. He soon finds himself sucked into the thieving schemes of his enemy's brothers, and learns that among his friends and the townsfolk, he's completely miscalculated where allegiances lie. It seems brutality, dishonesty and avarice lurk just beneath the surface of everyone he knows. As the double-crosses and bodies pile up, Blake's physical and mental state deteriorate right along with the possibility of any neat exit from the grave he seems to be digging for himself.
Reviews for the book have been mixed and Deadfolk may be challenging, particularly to American sensibilities, for a few reasons, but don't let that deter you from this at times savage, at times savagely funny, tale. The book is written from antihero Blake's point of view, and Blake thinks and speaks entirely in British slang. Context provides all the information needed to comprehend unfamiliar expressions, and ultimately the heavy use of slang adds to the realism.
Blake's story may also seem an insignificant one to American audiences, who are used to crime sagas featuring epic battles between warring factions of gangs, or gangs and cops, but first appearances can be deceiving. Blake's struggle to re-assert his manhood and pride is archetypal, and in that sense this stripped-down crime story has as much to say about hard men faced with hard choices as any story featuring a huge cast, or crimes so large they border on terrorism. If anything, keeping the focus on this one man in this one small town with this one small goal makes it more personal and relatable, and elevates the story to the degree that it reads as a sort of crime-literary hybrid.
The graphic violence may be a turnoff to some as well, but anyone who's familiar with, and has enjoyed, Brit-crime movies like The Krays, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, or The Take will find this book has much in common with those films in terms of tone and content. If you enjoy a good character study, a little black comedy and large doses of realism, give Deadfolk a try.
Blake only intends to confront the man who's taken him down a peg and get some of his own back, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. He soon finds himself sucked into the thieving schemes of his enemy's brothers, and learns that among his friends and the townsfolk, he's completely miscalculated where allegiances lie. It seems brutality, dishonesty and avarice lurk just beneath the surface of everyone he knows. As the double-crosses and bodies pile up, Blake's physical and mental state deteriorate right along with the possibility of any neat exit from the grave he seems to be digging for himself.
Reviews for the book have been mixed and Deadfolk may be challenging, particularly to American sensibilities, for a few reasons, but don't let that deter you from this at times savage, at times savagely funny, tale. The book is written from antihero Blake's point of view, and Blake thinks and speaks entirely in British slang. Context provides all the information needed to comprehend unfamiliar expressions, and ultimately the heavy use of slang adds to the realism.
Blake's story may also seem an insignificant one to American audiences, who are used to crime sagas featuring epic battles between warring factions of gangs, or gangs and cops, but first appearances can be deceiving. Blake's struggle to re-assert his manhood and pride is archetypal, and in that sense this stripped-down crime story has as much to say about hard men faced with hard choices as any story featuring a huge cast, or crimes so large they border on terrorism. If anything, keeping the focus on this one man in this one small town with this one small goal makes it more personal and relatable, and elevates the story to the degree that it reads as a sort of crime-literary hybrid.
The graphic violence may be a turnoff to some as well, but anyone who's familiar with, and has enjoyed, Brit-crime movies like The Krays, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, or The Take will find this book has much in common with those films in terms of tone and content. If you enjoy a good character study, a little black comedy and large doses of realism, give Deadfolk a try.
May 28, 2012
Great in parts, not so great overall
This book annoyed me so much in the first couple of chapters that I put it down and didn't return to it until I was hard up for a read a few weeks later. The narrative (first person by Blake the main character) seemed like a constant stream of consciousness rather than a proper story, but once I got over that and slipped into the thought process and constant colloquialisms, I started to enjoy the story.
The thing that made this book enjoyable for me overall, despite some elements I couldn't like, including the main character, was the excellent supporting cast that the author uses to effectively flesh out and humanise a pretty poor Main character in Blake. These supporting characters brought the book alive for me.
The main character and the overall story reminds me a little of Irvine Welsh's "Filth" but a bit less interesting.
I might revisit Blake and Mangle in future, and would definitely give a different type of story from the author a go as his writing is funny, touching and engaging at times.
This book annoyed me so much in the first couple of chapters that I put it down and didn't return to it until I was hard up for a read a few weeks later. The narrative (first person by Blake the main character) seemed like a constant stream of consciousness rather than a proper story, but once I got over that and slipped into the thought process and constant colloquialisms, I started to enjoy the story.
The thing that made this book enjoyable for me overall, despite some elements I couldn't like, including the main character, was the excellent supporting cast that the author uses to effectively flesh out and humanise a pretty poor Main character in Blake. These supporting characters brought the book alive for me.
The main character and the overall story reminds me a little of Irvine Welsh's "Filth" but a bit less interesting.
I might revisit Blake and Mangle in future, and would definitely give a different type of story from the author a go as his writing is funny, touching and engaging at times.
July 30, 2012
You might ask why I gave this book 4 stars if I didn't really like it. But, the thing is, for the right audience, I think this would be a very good book. The plot itself was solid and the main character, Blake, was engaging. My problem was that I was language-challenged. First, I can't tolerate too much of first person, present tense, because it really gets on my nerves. The biggest issue was that I couldn't understand the slang Blake used.
The story had a "stream of consciousness" feel which might attract some readers. (I'm okay with that as long as it's 3rd person, past tense for the most part. It's just easier to read.)
Blake was funny (dark humor) and witty when I could understand what he was saying.
This book was definitely for some other reader and I didn't want to be unduly harsh just because of my own mental inability to understand what characters were saying. I won't be trying any other books by this author, but I think others might really enjoy the series.
The story had a "stream of consciousness" feel which might attract some readers. (I'm okay with that as long as it's 3rd person, past tense for the most part. It's just easier to read.)
Blake was funny (dark humor) and witty when I could understand what he was saying.
This book was definitely for some other reader and I didn't want to be unduly harsh just because of my own mental inability to understand what characters were saying. I won't be trying any other books by this author, but I think others might really enjoy the series.
May 22, 2013
I liked this book more than I thought I would. Some of the reviewers I read were put off by the wording and terminology used. Now I don't know which specific British dialect was used but I found it easy enough to follow along within the context of the story. (The Kindle's built in dictionary didn't hurt either.)
"Deadfolk" is a very entertaining noir story with no real good guys. At the same time I couldn't help wondering what would happen to them while flipping from chapter to chapter. It's a quick read that I highly recommend.
And if you have a hard time with the language, don't give up. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes quite entertaining while rattling around in your head. I enjoy Joe R. Lansdales's noir books set in the locale and dialect of east Texas. I know I would be disappointed if someone were to abandon those wonderful stories on account of the regional phrasing. I'm glad I saw this one through and will be continuing the series.
"Deadfolk" is a very entertaining noir story with no real good guys. At the same time I couldn't help wondering what would happen to them while flipping from chapter to chapter. It's a quick read that I highly recommend.
And if you have a hard time with the language, don't give up. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes quite entertaining while rattling around in your head. I enjoy Joe R. Lansdales's noir books set in the locale and dialect of east Texas. I know I would be disappointed if someone were to abandon those wonderful stories on account of the regional phrasing. I'm glad I saw this one through and will be continuing the series.
July 14, 2013
Very entertaining, once you get past the British slang. It's amazing being inside Blake's head and seeing how he thinks. Sometimes I'm astonished by his insight and other times I wonder how he even made it this far in life. Anytime you feel like visiting a crappy little town in England this is the place to start.
What can I say about Royston Blake. He is definitely not all there in his head. Now that I've read as far as the third book in this series I can think back on the first book and be a little more descriptive in my review. Royston Blake is the head door man at the most popular bar in Mangel. He is a thug, basically. He likes the ladies. He has a high opinion of himself and his abilities. In short, he is a character with no real redeeming value. That being said, he is awesome! There is just something about him that is likable. You want him to succeed.
Definitely a series worth reading!
What can I say about Royston Blake. He is definitely not all there in his head. Now that I've read as far as the third book in this series I can think back on the first book and be a little more descriptive in my review. Royston Blake is the head door man at the most popular bar in Mangel. He is a thug, basically. He likes the ladies. He has a high opinion of himself and his abilities. In short, he is a character with no real redeeming value. That being said, he is awesome! There is just something about him that is likable. You want him to succeed.
Definitely a series worth reading!
February 23, 2014
Set in the backwater English town of Mangel. A rumour circulates that Royston Blake, normally respected by everyone, has gone soft. With advice from his best mate, he tries to re-establish his reputation. Eventually, he gets involved with the Munton Brothers, who are the meanest crooks and stand-over men in the town. His life then goes into a downward spiral when he has a fight with Baz Munton and kills him.
This novel was hard to get into because the writing is in dialect, not just the dialogue but the narrative too. In addition, the first third was slow going as it dealt mainly with Blake’s boring life in a boring town. The action started to get going when he tangled with Baz Munton. But it never really reached any high note. The final half of the book staggered from ineptitude to horror and back again. One tantalising item that was never resolved was the “doofer”, which those in the know coveted.
This novel was hard to get into because the writing is in dialect, not just the dialogue but the narrative too. In addition, the first third was slow going as it dealt mainly with Blake’s boring life in a boring town. The action started to get going when he tangled with Baz Munton. But it never really reached any high note. The final half of the book staggered from ineptitude to horror and back again. One tantalising item that was never resolved was the “doofer”, which those in the know coveted.
May 8, 2011
Once I was able to figure out the way the book was written, ( it is written in British English) and figure out the slang terms I flew right through Deadfolk. The plot was very well written and very well thought out. I enjoyed the characters and the way they evolved. Blake was always at war with himself the way he saw himself and the way he actually was. I enjoyed that through out the book we were given glimpses of the characters past, and what made them the way they were. It wasn't all dumped on us at once, so as the story evolved you were able to put together the characters. You were able to believe that they could be real people. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
November 3, 2011
Royston Blake is the head doorman for a bar in Mangel, a town where everyone is down on their luck and no one expects things to improve.
Blake is content with his position until a rumor begins to spread that he’s lost his courage, a sticky situation for a man with his job. Things go from bad to worst as he becomes the target of abuse from the Muntons, a trio of brutish brothers who formerly owned his place of employment.
When Blake, on the advice of one of his mates, goes head to head with one of the brothers, things take a decidedly downward turn and open the door for murder, mayhem and some surprising developments.
The slang made it a bit difficult to get into the book at first. But hang in there. It’s worth the challenge. There’s plenty of fun ahead.
Blake is content with his position until a rumor begins to spread that he’s lost his courage, a sticky situation for a man with his job. Things go from bad to worst as he becomes the target of abuse from the Muntons, a trio of brutish brothers who formerly owned his place of employment.
When Blake, on the advice of one of his mates, goes head to head with one of the brothers, things take a decidedly downward turn and open the door for murder, mayhem and some surprising developments.
The slang made it a bit difficult to get into the book at first. But hang in there. It’s worth the challenge. There’s plenty of fun ahead.
Want to read
June 8, 2010from Guardian book blog: For those that don't know, Royston Blake is – or was – the head doorman of Hoppers wine bar and bistro in Mangel, one of the finest literary depictions of a crap town I have ever encountered. He was first brought to life in 2004 by Charlie Williams, who published the story of Royston's struggle to maintain his position as the hardest man in Mangel in the novel Deadfolk.
Deadfolk rightly received a handful of very good reviews and sold a respectable number of copies. It was followed by Fags and Lager and King of the Road – both of which also received equally favourable reviews, but sold in smaller quantities.
Deadfolk rightly received a handful of very good reviews and sold a respectable number of copies. It was followed by Fags and Lager and King of the Road – both of which also received equally favourable reviews, but sold in smaller quantities.
August 28, 2011
Once I became acclimated to the North English dialect and figured out some of the slang I was able to really get into this book. I increasingly enjoyed the antihero of a main character and the sympathy you build up for this mass murder. It was fun getting inside his small minded head and imagining how awful towns, like the one in the book, must exist up there.
Overall the main character and some sub characters were well flushed out, the plot started moving along at nice pace about a quarter into the book and I found myself attached to the main character and his fate.
I got this book through the giveaways page on this site.
Overall the main character and some sub characters were well flushed out, the plot started moving along at nice pace about a quarter into the book and I found myself attached to the main character and his fate.
I got this book through the giveaways page on this site.
November 5, 2015
Al principio me costó interesarme, sobre todo porque el personaje principal es un matón con poca sesera. Pero el autor logra construir a su alrededor un mundo vivo e interesante que le hace mas "simpático", aún cuando es un imbécil de tomo y lomo.
La primera mitad es la mas floja, pero la acción se hace trepidante mientras avanza hacia el final, manteniendote en vilo, y haciendo que te preocupes por Royston Blake, preguntándote cómo diablos logrará zafar con vida.
En suma, un libro entretenido, curioso y que se lee de una sentada (demoré 3 días, leyendo en los tiempos muertos del transporte público).
La primera mitad es la mas floja, pero la acción se hace trepidante mientras avanza hacia el final, manteniendote en vilo, y haciendo que te preocupes por Royston Blake, preguntándote cómo diablos logrará zafar con vida.
En suma, un libro entretenido, curioso y que se lee de una sentada (demoré 3 días, leyendo en los tiempos muertos del transporte público).
August 31, 2012
Not bad but also not brilliant. I liked and hated the way I got stuck in the head of Royston Blake, his simple needs sometimes frustrated and amused me at the same time. The one thing I struggled with was a voice for him I could not make up my mind if the accent was Essex, Newcastle or more Southern england (Taunton), maybe thats just me.
The end wasn't really an end, it left me wondering what all the fuss was about and a huge question mark over what happens to him but maybe that is picked up in another book. Not sure if I care enough to find out.
The end wasn't really an end, it left me wondering what all the fuss was about and a huge question mark over what happens to him but maybe that is picked up in another book. Not sure if I care enough to find out.
February 12, 2014
When I saw reviews of this describing the main character as an 'antihero', I thought it would be the usual guy who's rough around the edges, had a run of bad luck, but you can sympathize with him. Nope. Blake is a truly reprehensible character, but then so is everyone in Mangel. In fact, what with the mysterious references to how people can't leave Mangel, I wonder if the author means it to represent Hell. Entertaining overall, but I don't think I could stick with the character for a whole series.
May 25, 2011
Great use of voice to shape the main character. Started off a little slow and good portions of the first 70 pages could be excised or summarized since they were harkened to throughout the later portions of the book. But from page 160 on, the story kicks into high gear and gives the expertly drawn characters a nice playground in which to play.
July 30, 2011
Set in a dead-end English village that few bother to visit and none leave, this entertaining pulp novel in the traditions of Jim Thompson and Richard Stark (Donald Westlake) follows sex, drugs, meat pies, and murder in the life of a club bouncer who has lost the respect of the townies and runs afoul of the town bullies.
November 23, 2012
This book was miles away from what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting along the lines of SNATCH or LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS. You know, a comedic British crime plot. This was not that, not all, although there were elements of that. It was much darker than I was expecting.
The voice of Royston Blake, however, is rather interesting and I will likely read others in this series.
The voice of Royston Blake, however, is rather interesting and I will likely read others in this series.
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