Exit Wounds

by Shaun Hutson

When small-time criminals tangle with big-time gangsters and territory-hungry Yardies, the city streets run with blood - in the best tradition of a master of urban suspense. It begins with a murderous chase through the streets of Kingston, Jamaica. When a local hard man escapes, the action moves to an unsuspecting Britain where Yardie drug dealers and criminals begin to die horribly. Meanwhile a small-time crook, Frank Newton, has gathered his posse to pull off the robbery that will finally give them financial independence - unaware that half the haul belongs to a London gang boss who knows who they are. In return for their lives they have to eliminate a merciless new Yardie chief, while they themselves are being shadowed by a tenacious police team. With millions of pounds now at stake, the risks are escalating, violence is soaring - and all is on course for a massive bloodbath

Genres: Horror, Fiction

414 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2000

About the author

British horror novelist, including horror and urban thriller novels.

His novella Slugs was made into a movie, although Hutson didn't like the movie. He also appeared in two horror movies himself.

Hutson is a Liverpool F.C. fan.

Reviews

[Sam Phillips]

Reading this book is similar to smoking cigarettes. The first few times you pick it up, it doesn't leave a good flavour in your mouth. Quickly putting it down, only to pick it up again at a later date. Each time reading a little more than the previous time. Before you know it your chain smoking, turning page after page to see what happens next. It sure is a dirty habit. Gritty and grimey with a hard taste. It's not for those with a weak stomach.

I thought I was done and had kicked the habit. Years later I'm still thinking about this book. If street crime thrillers are your marlboro lights, then I would strongly suggest lighting up. If you don't like it after the first 100 pages, crack a beer and keep reading, you will soon be hooked.

[Dammitkassi]

I'm on my reread my childhood books arc and I'm bloody loving it.

[Cathy]

After 50 pages I was thoroughly bored - chapter after chapter of introducing characters. Frank Newton keeps popping up, but otherwise no plotline of any kind emerges. Half of the other characters are violently killed. Chapters average at 5 pages length - supposedly to give a feel of fast-paced suspense. I realised that it was just the setting of something bigger to come. It just wasn't very interesting. After 70 pages all the small-time crooks finally met up with Frank Newton, to discuss the coming job. "Aha," I thought, "finally something is going to happen!". 50 pages after that still nothing much. Nope, pointless violence, no plot, not for me!

[Craig Williams]

Thrilling read

I really enjoyed reading this book it was a gripping story about gangland and I felt sorry for some of the characters i was hooked

[Patrick]

Slow start but second half zips along. Quite a simple but enjoyable crime thriller, though nothing really new and no real twists so not one of his best.

[Alex]

Nothing special, a good Summer Holiday read. Gritty and pulpy, like the heads of a lot of the characters who find themselves on the wrong end of shotguns.

[Jim Contoris]

Graphic violence. Not for the faint of heart.