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The Konstantin Novellas
The Fix
"Moves faster than a speeding bullet. Can't wait for more from Keith Nixon."
Tony Black, author of Murder Mile
"Razor sharp and original."
Ryan Bracha, author of Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yet
"Keith Nixon plots a wonderful corporate caper with his tongue placed firmly in his cheek. THE FIX smacks of insanity brought on by too much time spent in the rat race, something many of us can relate to. Cool, creative and downright crude, THE FIX will get your heart pumping." Gerard Brennan, author of FIREPROOF
Murder. Theft. Sociopaths. And Margate. Just another day in banking then...
It’s pre crash 2007 and financial investment banker Josh Dedman’s life is unravelling fast. He’s fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank. His long-time girlfriend has cheats on him, then dumps him. His only friends are a Russian tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and a really irritating bloke he’s just met on the train. His waking hours are a nightmare and his dreams are haunted by a mystery blonde. And to cap it all, he lives in Margate…
Just when Josh thinks things can’t get any worse his sociopathic boss — Hershey Valentine — winds up dead and he finds himself the number one suspect. As the net closes in Josh discovers that no one is quite what they seem, including him, and that sometimes help comes from the most unlikely sources…
Part fiction, part lies (well, it is about banking) and excruciatingly funny, The Fix pulls no punches when revealing the naked truth of a man living a life he loathes.
Reviews
These are some of the review given for The Fix by readers:
"Nixon combines intrigue and humour in equal measures. I believe there is a sequel coming soon and I intend to be the first one to buy."
"The Fix was an absolutely brilliant read with a great storyline which kept you pondering whilst smiling your way through the story at the hilarious descriptive writing. I only put it down to sleep."
"Highly recommended."
"Exploring some unsavoury aspects of the banking life with verve and humour. Nixon has a distinctive 'voice' and handles his plot well, keeping you guessing until the very end. Definitely worth a read."
"I loved this book because it was fast paced and had memorable characters. From a female perspective I liked being in Josh's mind...It was like being one of the lads!...I found it a quick read as I just wanted to keep reading."
"A solid story with some excellent dark humour, and a real spread of characters. It reminded me of some of the better Ben Elton I have read."
"A pacey page turner with twists and turns aplenty that keep you entertained and amused in equal measure."
"If you enjoy a good crime story, if you enjoy a good story of human relationships 'The Fix' has both. It is also a story of financial skulduggery..."
"The story holds your attention and interest from the first page through to the last with its unexpected twists and turns. It is skillfully written and a very enjoyable read. I will be waiting in anticipation for his next book."
The Fix is registered on Authorgraph.com - for author signatures and personal dedications.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009ZITONW
Tony Black, author of Murder Mile
"Razor sharp and original."
Ryan Bracha, author of Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yet
"Keith Nixon plots a wonderful corporate caper with his tongue placed firmly in his cheek. THE FIX smacks of insanity brought on by too much time spent in the rat race, something many of us can relate to. Cool, creative and downright crude, THE FIX will get your heart pumping." Gerard Brennan, author of FIREPROOF
Murder. Theft. Sociopaths. And Margate. Just another day in banking then...
It’s pre crash 2007 and financial investment banker Josh Dedman’s life is unravelling fast. He’s fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank. His long-time girlfriend has cheats on him, then dumps him. His only friends are a Russian tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and a really irritating bloke he’s just met on the train. His waking hours are a nightmare and his dreams are haunted by a mystery blonde. And to cap it all, he lives in Margate…
Just when Josh thinks things can’t get any worse his sociopathic boss — Hershey Valentine — winds up dead and he finds himself the number one suspect. As the net closes in Josh discovers that no one is quite what they seem, including him, and that sometimes help comes from the most unlikely sources…
Part fiction, part lies (well, it is about banking) and excruciatingly funny, The Fix pulls no punches when revealing the naked truth of a man living a life he loathes.
Reviews
These are some of the review given for The Fix by readers:
"Nixon combines intrigue and humour in equal measures. I believe there is a sequel coming soon and I intend to be the first one to buy."
"The Fix was an absolutely brilliant read with a great storyline which kept you pondering whilst smiling your way through the story at the hilarious descriptive writing. I only put it down to sleep."
"Highly recommended."
"Exploring some unsavoury aspects of the banking life with verve and humour. Nixon has a distinctive 'voice' and handles his plot well, keeping you guessing until the very end. Definitely worth a read."
"I loved this book because it was fast paced and had memorable characters. From a female perspective I liked being in Josh's mind...It was like being one of the lads!...I found it a quick read as I just wanted to keep reading."
"A solid story with some excellent dark humour, and a real spread of characters. It reminded me of some of the better Ben Elton I have read."
"A pacey page turner with twists and turns aplenty that keep you entertained and amused in equal measure."
"If you enjoy a good crime story, if you enjoy a good story of human relationships 'The Fix' has both. It is also a story of financial skulduggery..."
"The story holds your attention and interest from the first page through to the last with its unexpected twists and turns. It is skillfully written and a very enjoyable read. I will be waiting in anticipation for his next book."
The Fix is registered on Authorgraph.com - for author signatures and personal dedications.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009ZITONW
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Keith Nixon
36 books175 followersBestselling author Keith Nixon lives in Cheshire, England and works in a high tech industry. Novels include the Solomon Gray, Konstantin, Harry Vaughan and Caradoc series.
Sign up to a regular newsletter for information on upcoming books, offers etc. at http://www.keithnixon.co.uk/stay-up-t...
He can be found on Twitter (@knntom) and Facebook or his website www.keithnixon.co.uk.
Praise for Keith Nixon’s Work
‘A stunning book and a new series that has become a must read. ’
-M.W. Craven, author of the Washington Poe series
‘Keith Nixon does for Margate what Peter James did for Brighton … As dark and brooding as the wind-lashed shores of the North Sea, and with its disturbing echoes of the Elm Guest House scandal and suggestions of deep-seated institutional corruption, Dig Two Graves is a superb addition to the rich Brit Crime scene. ’
Tim Baker, CWA shortlisted author of Fever City and City Without Stars
‘Deeply emotional, a dark rollercoaster ride. ’
Ed James, author of bestselling DI Fenchurch series
‘A compelling murder mystery with a multilayered and engaging new hero. Great read. ’
Mason Cross, author of the Carter Blake thriller series
‘A damaged detective, haunted by a tragic past, a young son missing or dead, a man on a quest for redemption. Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray is a fine creation and Dig Two Graves an intriguing, nourish mystery. Keith Nixon is a sparkling crime fiction talent. ’
Howard Linskey, author of the David Blake crime series
‘A dark, uncompromising tale of loss, murder, and revenge. Glorious noir, which takes the police procedural elements and gives them new life. I can't wait to read the next step in Solomon Gray's journey for answers ... ’
Luca Veste, author of the Murphy and Rossi series
‘One hell of a writer.’
Ken Bruen, Author of The Jack Taylor series
‘Nixon writes hard-hitting fiction, with a dash of humour, a cast of great characters, and a dollop of violence. Konstantin is a fantastic creation.’
Luca Veste, author of The Murphy and Rossi series and The Bonekeeper
‘Reads like the UK’s answer to Carl Hiassen. Criminally underrated.’
MW Craven, author of The Washington Poe series
‘Lean, mean and gritty, with writing as sharp as a razor cut. Keith Nixon serves up a ‘Konstantin Kocktail’, with equal parts Vodka to Vodka, that'll hit you just where it's needed.’
Matt Hilton, Author of the Joe Hunter thrillers
‘I have to liken reading this novel to being a smoker - it leaves a dirty taste in your mouth but you JUST CAN'T STOP.’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me, Tell Me No Lies, The Party
‘If you told me that Konstantin put the K in KGB, I wouldn't even argue. This character is a badass of the highest calibre.’
Gerard Brennan, author of Undercover
‘Feels like Snatch meets a steampunk Sherlock Holmes. Nixon continues the story of Russian-born Konstantin, anti-hero for the modern age. Like Marlowe before him, Konstantin has a penchant for finding trouble and an unflinching sense of morality to get him out of it.’
Joe Clifford, author of The Jay Porter series
‘Hardboiled action and sharp, gritty humour. Highly recommended.’
Paul D. Brazill, author of Guns Of Brixton and A Case Of Noir
‘Gritty and glorious, dirty and dynamic, fast and furious. My kind of book.’
Col’s Criminal Library
‘A superior action-thriller, layered with flashbacks, intriguing characters and tendon-snapping sequences of graphic violence.’
Murder, Mayhem and More
‘A fast-paced and witty tale.’
Big Al’s Books and Pals
‘With his unique style of writing, the author grabs the reader’s attention and makes for an entertaining read.’
By The Letter Book Reviews
‘Tight, punchy with a distinct voice.’
Crimesquad
‘The ability to get his readers onside, rooting for his messed-up characters as they battle against the
Sign up to a regular newsletter for information on upcoming books, offers etc. at http://www.keithnixon.co.uk/stay-up-t...
He can be found on Twitter (@knntom) and Facebook or his website www.keithnixon.co.uk.
Praise for Keith Nixon’s Work
‘A stunning book and a new series that has become a must read. ’
-M.W. Craven, author of the Washington Poe series
‘Keith Nixon does for Margate what Peter James did for Brighton … As dark and brooding as the wind-lashed shores of the North Sea, and with its disturbing echoes of the Elm Guest House scandal and suggestions of deep-seated institutional corruption, Dig Two Graves is a superb addition to the rich Brit Crime scene. ’
Tim Baker, CWA shortlisted author of Fever City and City Without Stars
‘Deeply emotional, a dark rollercoaster ride. ’
Ed James, author of bestselling DI Fenchurch series
‘A compelling murder mystery with a multilayered and engaging new hero. Great read. ’
Mason Cross, author of the Carter Blake thriller series
‘A damaged detective, haunted by a tragic past, a young son missing or dead, a man on a quest for redemption. Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray is a fine creation and Dig Two Graves an intriguing, nourish mystery. Keith Nixon is a sparkling crime fiction talent. ’
Howard Linskey, author of the David Blake crime series
‘A dark, uncompromising tale of loss, murder, and revenge. Glorious noir, which takes the police procedural elements and gives them new life. I can't wait to read the next step in Solomon Gray's journey for answers ... ’
Luca Veste, author of the Murphy and Rossi series
‘One hell of a writer.’
Ken Bruen, Author of The Jack Taylor series
‘Nixon writes hard-hitting fiction, with a dash of humour, a cast of great characters, and a dollop of violence. Konstantin is a fantastic creation.’
Luca Veste, author of The Murphy and Rossi series and The Bonekeeper
‘Reads like the UK’s answer to Carl Hiassen. Criminally underrated.’
MW Craven, author of The Washington Poe series
‘Lean, mean and gritty, with writing as sharp as a razor cut. Keith Nixon serves up a ‘Konstantin Kocktail’, with equal parts Vodka to Vodka, that'll hit you just where it's needed.’
Matt Hilton, Author of the Joe Hunter thrillers
‘I have to liken reading this novel to being a smoker - it leaves a dirty taste in your mouth but you JUST CAN'T STOP.’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me, Tell Me No Lies, The Party
‘If you told me that Konstantin put the K in KGB, I wouldn't even argue. This character is a badass of the highest calibre.’
Gerard Brennan, author of Undercover
‘Feels like Snatch meets a steampunk Sherlock Holmes. Nixon continues the story of Russian-born Konstantin, anti-hero for the modern age. Like Marlowe before him, Konstantin has a penchant for finding trouble and an unflinching sense of morality to get him out of it.’
Joe Clifford, author of The Jay Porter series
‘Hardboiled action and sharp, gritty humour. Highly recommended.’
Paul D. Brazill, author of Guns Of Brixton and A Case Of Noir
‘Gritty and glorious, dirty and dynamic, fast and furious. My kind of book.’
Col’s Criminal Library
‘A superior action-thriller, layered with flashbacks, intriguing characters and tendon-snapping sequences of graphic violence.’
Murder, Mayhem and More
‘A fast-paced and witty tale.’
Big Al’s Books and Pals
‘With his unique style of writing, the author grabs the reader’s attention and makes for an entertaining read.’
By The Letter Book Reviews
‘Tight, punchy with a distinct voice.’
Crimesquad
‘The ability to get his readers onside, rooting for his messed-up characters as they battle against the
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 26, 2013
You had me at “I am Fucked “
Any Book that starts with that opening line and goes on to describe its main character being robbed “same time, same place” every Wednesday by a Tramp/undercover KGB agent, cannot fail to grab your attention.
This is a trick that seasoned authors regularly fail to utilize effectively and set the tone for the rest of this fine book. That the author, Nixon, keeps up this level of attention grabbing and sheer entertainment for the next 200-odd pages is to his credit. It’s a difficult thing to sustain pace of this intensity in this kind of novel without confusing or overwhelming the reader but Nixon pulls it off skilfully. The first person narrative used is spot on. I normally detest this sort of narrative but Nixon’s use of this perspective lends the book a nervous, edgy feel and enhances the feeling of action.
Keith takes a main character in Josh Dedman who’s a bit pathetic and should be utterly unlikable (and would be lesser hands) and has you laughing along, shaking your head and cheering the cynical bastard on; mostly because his man voices your own twisted thoughts and makes you grin at them. There are elements of early Carl Hiassen insight and humour in this book as well as a pinch of Brookmyre intelligence in the plot. The last book I enjoyed with this kind of pace (and finished also in record time) was Incompetence by Rob Grant . The Fix shares Incompetence’ irreverent and very accurate observations of the world it’s set in but despite these observations, never descends into a rant.
I’d read another of this author’s books in a heartbeat and would recommend this novel to anyone. No matter which genre you frequent, go hang around with Josh in Margate, you’ll be glad you did.
If words were drugs, and Keith Nixon my local dealer, you’d find my sweating presence waiting for my man on a street corner.
Any Book that starts with that opening line and goes on to describe its main character being robbed “same time, same place” every Wednesday by a Tramp/undercover KGB agent, cannot fail to grab your attention.
This is a trick that seasoned authors regularly fail to utilize effectively and set the tone for the rest of this fine book. That the author, Nixon, keeps up this level of attention grabbing and sheer entertainment for the next 200-odd pages is to his credit. It’s a difficult thing to sustain pace of this intensity in this kind of novel without confusing or overwhelming the reader but Nixon pulls it off skilfully. The first person narrative used is spot on. I normally detest this sort of narrative but Nixon’s use of this perspective lends the book a nervous, edgy feel and enhances the feeling of action.
Keith takes a main character in Josh Dedman who’s a bit pathetic and should be utterly unlikable (and would be lesser hands) and has you laughing along, shaking your head and cheering the cynical bastard on; mostly because his man voices your own twisted thoughts and makes you grin at them. There are elements of early Carl Hiassen insight and humour in this book as well as a pinch of Brookmyre intelligence in the plot. The last book I enjoyed with this kind of pace (and finished also in record time) was Incompetence by Rob Grant . The Fix shares Incompetence’ irreverent and very accurate observations of the world it’s set in but despite these observations, never descends into a rant.
I’d read another of this author’s books in a heartbeat and would recommend this novel to anyone. No matter which genre you frequent, go hang around with Josh in Margate, you’ll be glad you did.
If words were drugs, and Keith Nixon my local dealer, you’d find my sweating presence waiting for my man on a street corner.
May 28, 2015
I chose The Fix for my book group. I was looking for something blokey, easy to read, set in England, compelling, and hopefully well written and funny.
So, to what extent did it meet my criteria?
Blokey? Absolutely. Possibly a bit too blokey for my tastes. One character uses an “arse rating” which jarred with me though the over-the-top sexism and all round total bastard qualities of Hershey Valentine were so extreme as to be quite enjoyable.
Easy to read? Undoubtedly.
Well written? Definitely, as a straight up piece of escapist nonsense which stayed just the right side of vaguely credible, and as an enjoyable, fairly original thriller, this hit the spot.
Set in England? Absolutely. I enjoy books set in London. The book is also set in Margate and Broadstairs, and other nearby seaside places in Kent - which was an added bonus. The locations were a big part of the book’s charm for me.
Compelling? Very much so. By the last third I was gripped. The plot doesn’t bear too much scrutiny, and whilst some of the characters are fairly improbable, they all added to the fun. And a great opening too.
Funny? Not really and certainly not “laugh out loud funny” as one reviewer claimed - but it was mildly amusing with some original ideas. As mentioned, Hershey Valentine’s over the top fiendishness was a delight, Josh’s inner thoughts were well expressed and had an everyman quality I could easily relate to, Konstantin was a great character, if completely implausible, and Claire’s superficiality and comeuppance were smile inducing. The Tourettes presentation seemed highly improbable given what else we knew about Josh. So not funny as such but generally well observed and amusingly written.
Other thoughts… the ending didn’t live up to the rest of the book and felt a bit pat. It seemed to me that Keith Nixon reached his ideal book length and then just tied up the loose ends as quickly as possible. I also feel something darker, or perhaps ambiguous, would have worked better in the context of the book, rather than the somewhat cliched happy ending.
Overall, and on its own terms (Stoner, The Road, or A Month in the Country it ain’t ), it was an enjoyable, somewhat inconsequential, well written piece of escapism, that scores high for me because of its more original elements and its sense of place.
4/5
So, to what extent did it meet my criteria?
Blokey? Absolutely. Possibly a bit too blokey for my tastes. One character uses an “arse rating” which jarred with me though the over-the-top sexism and all round total bastard qualities of Hershey Valentine were so extreme as to be quite enjoyable.
Easy to read? Undoubtedly.
Well written? Definitely, as a straight up piece of escapist nonsense which stayed just the right side of vaguely credible, and as an enjoyable, fairly original thriller, this hit the spot.
Set in England? Absolutely. I enjoy books set in London. The book is also set in Margate and Broadstairs, and other nearby seaside places in Kent - which was an added bonus. The locations were a big part of the book’s charm for me.
Compelling? Very much so. By the last third I was gripped. The plot doesn’t bear too much scrutiny, and whilst some of the characters are fairly improbable, they all added to the fun. And a great opening too.
Funny? Not really and certainly not “laugh out loud funny” as one reviewer claimed - but it was mildly amusing with some original ideas. As mentioned, Hershey Valentine’s over the top fiendishness was a delight, Josh’s inner thoughts were well expressed and had an everyman quality I could easily relate to, Konstantin was a great character, if completely implausible, and Claire’s superficiality and comeuppance were smile inducing. The Tourettes presentation seemed highly improbable given what else we knew about Josh. So not funny as such but generally well observed and amusingly written.
Other thoughts… the ending didn’t live up to the rest of the book and felt a bit pat. It seemed to me that Keith Nixon reached his ideal book length and then just tied up the loose ends as quickly as possible. I also feel something darker, or perhaps ambiguous, would have worked better in the context of the book, rather than the somewhat cliched happy ending.
Overall, and on its own terms (Stoner, The Road, or A Month in the Country it ain’t ), it was an enjoyable, somewhat inconsequential, well written piece of escapism, that scores high for me because of its more original elements and its sense of place.
4/5
September 1, 2013
The Fix caught me totally off guard. I expected something a little more conventional for some reason. What I got was a story that put two fingers up to convention and how refreshing it was. The story structure is quite slow to build up, normally a frustration, but with this novel I didn't care I was enjoying main character Josh's cynical observations on life far too much. The characters and humour were very much strengths of this novel. Nixon delights in putting his characters through the wringer.
Josh Dedman commutes from Margate to London where he works for a large bank. He despises all of his work mates and his boss Hershey Valentine. His relationship with PR consultant Claire is dead in the water. It’s fair to say Josh has a crap life. When Josh has the opportunity to score a few points over his boss he takes it in hilarious style. Nixon gives us plenty of questions to be answered – Who is the mystery blonde Josh meets on the train? Why is new friend Jack going out his way to help him? Meanwhile the bank is having serious problems with embezzlement issues and an unwilling patsy is needed. Is Josh a Dedman walking?
The Fix was enjoyable for the anti-heroes as much as much as the heroes. Nixon is unafraid to use strong language and toilet humour at times to make a scene more effective. However, he never overdoes it to the point of gratuity.
An unusual novel, I hesitate to use the term "crime caper" but the comic element was a major part of the book. The plot was well conceived and ultimately satisfying. There were enough red herrings to keep the mystery readers happy. I for one would love to read more of the adventures of Josh Dedman. A top not read that will appeal particularly to the British sense of humour.
Josh Dedman commutes from Margate to London where he works for a large bank. He despises all of his work mates and his boss Hershey Valentine. His relationship with PR consultant Claire is dead in the water. It’s fair to say Josh has a crap life. When Josh has the opportunity to score a few points over his boss he takes it in hilarious style. Nixon gives us plenty of questions to be answered – Who is the mystery blonde Josh meets on the train? Why is new friend Jack going out his way to help him? Meanwhile the bank is having serious problems with embezzlement issues and an unwilling patsy is needed. Is Josh a Dedman walking?
The Fix was enjoyable for the anti-heroes as much as much as the heroes. Nixon is unafraid to use strong language and toilet humour at times to make a scene more effective. However, he never overdoes it to the point of gratuity.
An unusual novel, I hesitate to use the term "crime caper" but the comic element was a major part of the book. The plot was well conceived and ultimately satisfying. There were enough red herrings to keep the mystery readers happy. I for one would love to read more of the adventures of Josh Dedman. A top not read that will appeal particularly to the British sense of humour.
August 12, 2015
"Murder. Theft. Sociopaths. And Margate. Just another day in banking then...
It’s pre-crash 2007 and financial investment banker Josh Dedman’s life is unravelling fast. He’s fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank. His long-time girlfriend cheats on him, then dumps him. His only friends are a Russian tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and a really irritating bloke he’s just met on the train. His waking hours are a nightmare and his dreams are haunted by a mystery blonde. And to cap it all, he lives in Margate.
Just when Josh thinks things can’t get any worse his sociopathic boss — Hershey Valentine — winds up murdered and he finds himself the number one suspect. As the net closes in Josh discovers that no one is quite what they seem, including him, and that sometimes help comes from the most unlikely sources...
Part fiction, part lies (well, it is about banking) and excruciatingly funny, THE FIX pulls no punches when revealing the naked truth of a man living a life he loathes. This is a crime fiction novel with a difference…"
Fabulously structured, it's quite hard to believe that 'The Fix' is Keith Nixon's debut novel. Short, punchy chapters take the reader on a fast paced thrilling ride, never once failing to hold the reader's attention.
The opening line of this novel delivered the message loud and clear, in a rather quirky way, that this novel was going to be nothing less than an adventure. If you like gritty realism and don't mind bad language, then I defy anyone not to be completely hooked by the first chapter.
The characters are something of a mixed bag. I couldn't help but like the main protagonist, ironically named Josh Dedman. Nothing at all goes right for this guy. Or so we're led to believe. But his ability to accept the sheer drudgery of his life and everything that’s thrown at him makes him all the more appealing. Konstantin, the ex KGB Russian tramp who is something of an expert at robbing people, is equally as quirky and likeable. Josh's heinously cruel girlfriend Claire and his equally nasty boss Hershey are less likeable but equally real, and all characters bring something important to the mix, creating a wonderful roller coaster of a ride that has one feverishly turning the page.
Keith Nixon is, without a doubt, a wordsmith. He tells it like it is and does it very well indeed. The dialogue is sharp, witty and thoroughly enjoyable. Throw in some bad language and dark humour and the author has produced something which is nothing short of fantastic.
Highly recommended read.
It’s pre-crash 2007 and financial investment banker Josh Dedman’s life is unravelling fast. He’s fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank. His long-time girlfriend cheats on him, then dumps him. His only friends are a Russian tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and a really irritating bloke he’s just met on the train. His waking hours are a nightmare and his dreams are haunted by a mystery blonde. And to cap it all, he lives in Margate.
Just when Josh thinks things can’t get any worse his sociopathic boss — Hershey Valentine — winds up murdered and he finds himself the number one suspect. As the net closes in Josh discovers that no one is quite what they seem, including him, and that sometimes help comes from the most unlikely sources...
Part fiction, part lies (well, it is about banking) and excruciatingly funny, THE FIX pulls no punches when revealing the naked truth of a man living a life he loathes. This is a crime fiction novel with a difference…"
Fabulously structured, it's quite hard to believe that 'The Fix' is Keith Nixon's debut novel. Short, punchy chapters take the reader on a fast paced thrilling ride, never once failing to hold the reader's attention.
The opening line of this novel delivered the message loud and clear, in a rather quirky way, that this novel was going to be nothing less than an adventure. If you like gritty realism and don't mind bad language, then I defy anyone not to be completely hooked by the first chapter.
The characters are something of a mixed bag. I couldn't help but like the main protagonist, ironically named Josh Dedman. Nothing at all goes right for this guy. Or so we're led to believe. But his ability to accept the sheer drudgery of his life and everything that’s thrown at him makes him all the more appealing. Konstantin, the ex KGB Russian tramp who is something of an expert at robbing people, is equally as quirky and likeable. Josh's heinously cruel girlfriend Claire and his equally nasty boss Hershey are less likeable but equally real, and all characters bring something important to the mix, creating a wonderful roller coaster of a ride that has one feverishly turning the page.
Keith Nixon is, without a doubt, a wordsmith. He tells it like it is and does it very well indeed. The dialogue is sharp, witty and thoroughly enjoyable. Throw in some bad language and dark humour and the author has produced something which is nothing short of fantastic.
Highly recommended read.
December 21, 2013
I love me some good black comedy and I just read one of the best of the year in Keith Nixon’s THE FIX. Josh Dedman is pretty much that—a deadman. His girlfriend cheats on him and then dumps him. He gets blamed when 20 million pounds comes up missing from the bank he works at and he’s blamed for that.
But, all is not doom and gloom. There are a few bright spots in his life. He goes out of his way each day to get mugged by a homeless Russian bum, accommodating the thief to the extent that he buys cheap wallets to defray his mugging costs, and he meets an irritating guy on his daily commute who tries his best to bore him to death. There’s a mysterious sexy blonde… And, yeah, those are the fun parts of his life.
And then, just when it seems like it couldn’t get any worse for him, his boss is whacked and he’s the number one suspect. With each development, I kept shaking my head and muttering, “It could happen, it could happen…”
This is the kind of corporate caper Joseph Finder might write if he spent a week studying everything Tim Dorsey ever wrote and then they collaborated.
In fact, the Russian bum Konstantine (who just happens to be an ex-KGB agent who’s fallen on hard times) and who mugs him daily, can find his long-lost twin brother in Florida. Just ask around for Serge Storm…
This laugh-out-loud novel is more than just entertainment—it’s an object lesson for parents who wish to keep their sons away from a career in banking.
This is one of those novels that I usually preface at the watercooler at work by saying, “You gotta read this book!” You really do. And then, once you’ve finished it, join me in petitioning Mr. Dixon to write a new novel starring Konstantine—this is a character who surely deserves his very own novel.
Blue skies,
Les
But, all is not doom and gloom. There are a few bright spots in his life. He goes out of his way each day to get mugged by a homeless Russian bum, accommodating the thief to the extent that he buys cheap wallets to defray his mugging costs, and he meets an irritating guy on his daily commute who tries his best to bore him to death. There’s a mysterious sexy blonde… And, yeah, those are the fun parts of his life.
And then, just when it seems like it couldn’t get any worse for him, his boss is whacked and he’s the number one suspect. With each development, I kept shaking my head and muttering, “It could happen, it could happen…”
This is the kind of corporate caper Joseph Finder might write if he spent a week studying everything Tim Dorsey ever wrote and then they collaborated.
In fact, the Russian bum Konstantine (who just happens to be an ex-KGB agent who’s fallen on hard times) and who mugs him daily, can find his long-lost twin brother in Florida. Just ask around for Serge Storm…
This laugh-out-loud novel is more than just entertainment—it’s an object lesson for parents who wish to keep their sons away from a career in banking.
This is one of those novels that I usually preface at the watercooler at work by saying, “You gotta read this book!” You really do. And then, once you’ve finished it, join me in petitioning Mr. Dixon to write a new novel starring Konstantine—this is a character who surely deserves his very own novel.
Blue skies,
Les
June 12, 2014
Also reviewed on my blog: http://bookaddictshaun.blogspot.co.uk...
Okay first off our main character Josh Dedman (really!) must be one of the unluckiest men I have ever read about. He is fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank he works at. He is then dumped by his cheating girlfriend. Both pretty bad right? Well then his boss, Hershey Valentine (just one of many fantastic character names) is murdered and Josh becomes the number one suspect. I went into this book with no huge expectations, just expecting an enjoyable read and I certainly got that! Josh isn't hard to relate to either especially for anybody that has ever had a nightmare boss, luckily I haven't but I could still empathise with him.
I really loved the character of Josh. Especially his outlook on life. At times I am sick of my own life, for a few years now things haven't gone the way I would've liked them to but I definitely wouldn't want to end up like this. The plot was brilliant and left me with no idea whatsoever of how the story would progress. Most people hate bankers, or at least have an opinion about them and this book pokes fun at them in a highly amusing way that I think people will really enjoy. Josh is a really easy character to like and I was rooting for him throughout the book whilst wondering what had happened to the £20 million and how it would all work out for him. Despite it being a bit of a satirical look at the banking word it's still a believable read with some realistic characters. I'm always intrigued by the City when I'm in London. It's like a whole different world within London with a fish market at bottom of it!
Nixon's writing was a highlight for me and reminiscent of somebody who has been published for years, not a debut novelist. Very descriptive and written in a conversational way that the book just went by super fast for me and was over before I knew it! It's a very comedic read and the comedy is brilliant and very, very funny. Lies, twists, turns and brilliantly created characters with amazing names (Claire Pigeon, Ian Culpepper, Mister Lamb), the book has it all. Nixon has also captured his settings incredibly well, especially the bits in Margate. Recommend this book to anybody regardless of what your usual genre of choice is. I will definitely be looking out for more books from Keith in the future.
Okay first off our main character Josh Dedman (really!) must be one of the unluckiest men I have ever read about. He is fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank he works at. He is then dumped by his cheating girlfriend. Both pretty bad right? Well then his boss, Hershey Valentine (just one of many fantastic character names) is murdered and Josh becomes the number one suspect. I went into this book with no huge expectations, just expecting an enjoyable read and I certainly got that! Josh isn't hard to relate to either especially for anybody that has ever had a nightmare boss, luckily I haven't but I could still empathise with him.
I really loved the character of Josh. Especially his outlook on life. At times I am sick of my own life, for a few years now things haven't gone the way I would've liked them to but I definitely wouldn't want to end up like this. The plot was brilliant and left me with no idea whatsoever of how the story would progress. Most people hate bankers, or at least have an opinion about them and this book pokes fun at them in a highly amusing way that I think people will really enjoy. Josh is a really easy character to like and I was rooting for him throughout the book whilst wondering what had happened to the £20 million and how it would all work out for him. Despite it being a bit of a satirical look at the banking word it's still a believable read with some realistic characters. I'm always intrigued by the City when I'm in London. It's like a whole different world within London with a fish market at bottom of it!
Nixon's writing was a highlight for me and reminiscent of somebody who has been published for years, not a debut novelist. Very descriptive and written in a conversational way that the book just went by super fast for me and was over before I knew it! It's a very comedic read and the comedy is brilliant and very, very funny. Lies, twists, turns and brilliantly created characters with amazing names (Claire Pigeon, Ian Culpepper, Mister Lamb), the book has it all. Nixon has also captured his settings incredibly well, especially the bits in Margate. Recommend this book to anybody regardless of what your usual genre of choice is. I will definitely be looking out for more books from Keith in the future.
February 18, 2013
The following 5* review is from the Books and Pals blog:
“It’s pre crash 2007 and financial investment banker Josh Dedman’s life is unravelling fast. He’s fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank. His long-time girlfriend cheats on him, then dumps him. His only friends are a Russian tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and a really irritating bloke he’s just met on the train. His waking hours are a nightmare and his dreams are haunted by a mystery blonde.”
Appraisal:
When I think comedic crime books, my immediate thought is Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder series (perhaps the most well known being The Hot Rock, which became a movie starring Robert Redford and George Segal). In these books, mastermind Dortmunder and his gang of criminals commit a series of well-planned crimes. They’re never caught, yet always end up empty handed in the end. The comedy comes from the idiosyncrasies of the characters and all the ways their best laid plans go awry.
In Keith Nixon’s debut novel, The Fix, the characters provide plenty of comedic moments with their quirks, but rather than a criminal as protagonist, we have a main character accused of the crime who keeps bumbling his way in deeper, providing some humorous moments. The protagonist, Josh, works for a bank, which also has some comedic moments, poking fun at the business world, not unlike what you might see in the movie and TV series The Office. Unlike Westlake’s humor, which at times could be almost slapstick-like and might remind someone of The Keystone Kops, Nixon’s humor is more subtle, as in, “Culpepper, being a banker, was as bereft of emotion as a corpse is of life.” As a former bank employee, this line really hit home for me.
Josh is a likeable character. The reader wants everything to work out for him. Does he manage to come out unscathed? Who stole the £20 million? Does Josh manage to get the girl? You’ll have to read The Fix yourself to find out.
“It’s pre crash 2007 and financial investment banker Josh Dedman’s life is unravelling fast. He’s fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank. His long-time girlfriend cheats on him, then dumps him. His only friends are a Russian tramp who claims to be ex-KGB and a really irritating bloke he’s just met on the train. His waking hours are a nightmare and his dreams are haunted by a mystery blonde.”
Appraisal:
When I think comedic crime books, my immediate thought is Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder series (perhaps the most well known being The Hot Rock, which became a movie starring Robert Redford and George Segal). In these books, mastermind Dortmunder and his gang of criminals commit a series of well-planned crimes. They’re never caught, yet always end up empty handed in the end. The comedy comes from the idiosyncrasies of the characters and all the ways their best laid plans go awry.
In Keith Nixon’s debut novel, The Fix, the characters provide plenty of comedic moments with their quirks, but rather than a criminal as protagonist, we have a main character accused of the crime who keeps bumbling his way in deeper, providing some humorous moments. The protagonist, Josh, works for a bank, which also has some comedic moments, poking fun at the business world, not unlike what you might see in the movie and TV series The Office. Unlike Westlake’s humor, which at times could be almost slapstick-like and might remind someone of The Keystone Kops, Nixon’s humor is more subtle, as in, “Culpepper, being a banker, was as bereft of emotion as a corpse is of life.” As a former bank employee, this line really hit home for me.
Josh is a likeable character. The reader wants everything to work out for him. Does he manage to come out unscathed? Who stole the £20 million? Does Josh manage to get the girl? You’ll have to read The Fix yourself to find out.
February 3, 2014
Set in 2007, a year before the financial crash, The Fix is about investment banker and everyman Josh Dedman. He's having a pretty bad time of things. He's framed and fired after £20 million goes missing from the bank where he works. His miserable and unpleasant girlfriend pretty much hates his guts, when she isn't cheating on him. He's unwillingly befriended by an irritating bloke on a train and even more unwillingly befriended by a foul-smelling Russian tramp who claims to be ex-KGB
When the man who framed Josh (and just happens to be his boss) is murdered he finds that he's the chief suspect. And that's when things really start to get unpleasant...
I knew that I was going to like The Fix on page one when it started with 'I am f***ed'. Anybody who can start a story like that is always going to get my attention. Nixon throws the reader straight into the action and keeps them there for the duration of the story. He takes a fairly complicated plot and spins it out nice and smooth, so the reader doesn't lose their way. He alternates the sad-sack first person narration of Dedman with third person viewpoints of several other characters, all written in terse, funny, effective prose. The pace is fast with little fat to chew through to get to the meat of the story. The main thing though is the characters. And Nixon does good characters.
Dedman makes a convincing everyman, but the supporting cast are just as clearly defined: whether it's Josh's nasty, spiteful girlfriend Claire, his vile American boss, Hershey, or his friend Jack, whose bravado masks a few secrets. And of course Konstantin Boryakov and Mr Lamb, who definitely qualify as my favourite characters and light up the tale whenever they appear.
The Fix is a very good tale, well told. It gets the right balance of laughs and thrills and comes highly recommended from this particular reader.
When the man who framed Josh (and just happens to be his boss) is murdered he finds that he's the chief suspect. And that's when things really start to get unpleasant...
I knew that I was going to like The Fix on page one when it started with 'I am f***ed'. Anybody who can start a story like that is always going to get my attention. Nixon throws the reader straight into the action and keeps them there for the duration of the story. He takes a fairly complicated plot and spins it out nice and smooth, so the reader doesn't lose their way. He alternates the sad-sack first person narration of Dedman with third person viewpoints of several other characters, all written in terse, funny, effective prose. The pace is fast with little fat to chew through to get to the meat of the story. The main thing though is the characters. And Nixon does good characters.
Dedman makes a convincing everyman, but the supporting cast are just as clearly defined: whether it's Josh's nasty, spiteful girlfriend Claire, his vile American boss, Hershey, or his friend Jack, whose bravado masks a few secrets. And of course Konstantin Boryakov and Mr Lamb, who definitely qualify as my favourite characters and light up the tale whenever they appear.
The Fix is a very good tale, well told. It gets the right balance of laughs and thrills and comes highly recommended from this particular reader.
May 28, 2013
A sizzler of a book which moves at a cracking pace. If I’d not been introduced to the writer I wouldn’t have picked it up on the cover alone as guns and bullets don’t normally do it for me. But this is more than crime fiction, it is crime literary fiction. It reinforces what I’ve always found – it’s not what you write so much as the way you write it. The sort of book where you look forward to every invigorating sentence. For instance I loved this line: ‘It’s said that everyone’s good at something, which implies that we’re terrible at lots of things.’
The chapters are in small bite-sized appetizing chunks which drive the pace. One of the book’s greatest strength are its colourfully-drawn characters, most of them dodgy or seedy or both.
The story begins with the shooting of American banker Hershey Valentine, second in command at the bank where £20 million pounds has gone missing. What follows, told mainly in flashback, is a lot of intrigue and double-dealing which can lose you if you don’t keep up, and nobody is quite who they seem. I got to about half way and thought I had a good idea whodunnit but nothing so simple!
My favourite scenes involved the interplay between Josh and Jack from their first encounter on the train - and the portrayal of discomfort and mismatch between what is said and what is thought - to their evolving friendship. Thinks Josh, ‘Jack has a gradual degrading effect like a steady ongoing dose of radiation.’ There are plenty more gritty and witty nuggets where that came from.
If there is any justice in the world this should be snapped up by a mainstream publisher who can give it the publicity, marketing and presentation it deserves.
The chapters are in small bite-sized appetizing chunks which drive the pace. One of the book’s greatest strength are its colourfully-drawn characters, most of them dodgy or seedy or both.
The story begins with the shooting of American banker Hershey Valentine, second in command at the bank where £20 million pounds has gone missing. What follows, told mainly in flashback, is a lot of intrigue and double-dealing which can lose you if you don’t keep up, and nobody is quite who they seem. I got to about half way and thought I had a good idea whodunnit but nothing so simple!
My favourite scenes involved the interplay between Josh and Jack from their first encounter on the train - and the portrayal of discomfort and mismatch between what is said and what is thought - to their evolving friendship. Thinks Josh, ‘Jack has a gradual degrading effect like a steady ongoing dose of radiation.’ There are plenty more gritty and witty nuggets where that came from.
If there is any justice in the world this should be snapped up by a mainstream publisher who can give it the publicity, marketing and presentation it deserves.
June 9, 2015
The Fix is pretty different from the usual books I would normally go for.
The book has pretty short chapters so overall it has quite a fast paced feel to it.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story, I hadn't got far into it when I came across this which I loved.
“Life. It's like a snow globe. From the outside it can look pretty, idyllic, calm. But in reality it's a sham. Look closely inside and you'll see everything is fake, plastic, very small and very, very meaningless. And then every now and again some bastard comes along and shakes the whole lot up.”
The author just tells the story as it is, theirs no airs and graces about it at all, it actually felt quite raw and not polished to me if that makes sense. The storyline was really believable and even though I can't say any of the characters were over appealing they were very life like.
There are a few humorous bits in the story and it certainly made for an entertaining read. I don't know if The Fix would appeal to everyone, it does feel a bit more of a blokes book than a woman's, I'm not sure if that's because of the lack of female presence in the story. There is only really one strong female character but overall I really enjoyed it and will certainly be reading more by the author.
The book has pretty short chapters so overall it has quite a fast paced feel to it.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story, I hadn't got far into it when I came across this which I loved.
“Life. It's like a snow globe. From the outside it can look pretty, idyllic, calm. But in reality it's a sham. Look closely inside and you'll see everything is fake, plastic, very small and very, very meaningless. And then every now and again some bastard comes along and shakes the whole lot up.”
The author just tells the story as it is, theirs no airs and graces about it at all, it actually felt quite raw and not polished to me if that makes sense. The storyline was really believable and even though I can't say any of the characters were over appealing they were very life like.
There are a few humorous bits in the story and it certainly made for an entertaining read. I don't know if The Fix would appeal to everyone, it does feel a bit more of a blokes book than a woman's, I'm not sure if that's because of the lack of female presence in the story. There is only really one strong female character but overall I really enjoyed it and will certainly be reading more by the author.
May 2, 2013
A strange read this one as I’m still unsure whether I actually enjoyed it or not! There are undoubtedly some good laugh out loud moments, and this is definitely an original and quirky crime caper, but I found that I had to keep giving the author the benefit of the doubt in his portrayal of the male characters with their rather unconstructed views on women. I like to think that they were so deliberately dislikeable that Nixon was merely drawing on artistic licence, but because of their inherent nastiness I found it difficult to care or empathise with any of them. Equally, the main female protagonist was just as risible and slow-witted as her male counterparts, so at least in this way there was a continuity in the characterisation. I did, however, love the ex-KGB Russian tramp, Konstantin, who has turned mugging into one of the easiest career choices ever, and he pretty much drove me on to see how his role developed within the story. Personally for me a bit of an unbalanced read, but with enough sparks of enjoyment to hold my interest.
June 24, 2015
A fast-paced thrill-ride, The Fix is an unusually- (but well-)structured crime novel complete with twists, interesting characters and a good dose of explicit realism.
The book follows the aptly named Dedman, a banker whose life has pretty much unravelled by the time we find him with his boss' dead body, and then have the at times funny, at times crude, always witty pleasure of finding out how he got there and how (if at all) he can get out.
The changing point of view between Dedman and a variety of colourful characters, the changing time perspectives, the twists and sharp writing all make this a great crime thriller. Recommended.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows the aptly named Dedman, a banker whose life has pretty much unravelled by the time we find him with his boss' dead body, and then have the at times funny, at times crude, always witty pleasure of finding out how he got there and how (if at all) he can get out.
The changing point of view between Dedman and a variety of colourful characters, the changing time perspectives, the twists and sharp writing all make this a great crime thriller. Recommended.
*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2014
A book about bankers? Not for me! Total scumbags! But then I though about The Wolf of Wall Street and was reminded of its brilliance, even though the characters were complete scumbags, so I gave a whirl! Soooooo glad I did! Stylish, sharp, sassy, supercool! Written at a frenetic pace with lots of dark humour, compelling characters and enough plot twists to keep you guessing. No poncey, verbose descriptive narrative here - just a brilliantly written , straight to the point, thriller. Would love to see this made into a movie by Martin McDonough, in the style of In Bruges. The ending was fantastic and thoroughly pleasing. You need to read this!
June 4, 2013
Keith Nixon delivers big fun in a tightly woven package. It has multiple character points of view which I love, but it took me one go round with all of them to get grounded, once I was it soared.
August 19, 2013
Interesting premise for a plot, some unexpected twists and turns, catching style, some of the characters a bit caricatured, though.
All in all, an enjoyable read.
All in all, an enjoyable read.
March 7, 2018
This is a great tale of greedy bankers, double dealing and intrigue, all done with a very dry, very caustic and sarcastically funny edge. Every character is well thought out and suitably repugnant! Our, (reluctant), hero is hysterical as he unwittingly gets caught up in escapade after escapade. Just reading about Hershey Valentine made me want to wash my hands and brush my teeth. He is perfectly cast as the evil banker and Mr Nixon's edgy writing stops him from becoming a caricature. Altogether a wicked and explosively funny story that I'm thrilled to recommend to anyone who likes their intrigue wrapped up in dark humour and mixed in with some laugh out loud moments. Treat yourself to a copy of The Fix by Keith Nixon. You can thank me later!
January 6, 2013
Josh Dedman is a twenty-something banker whose only friends are a Russian tramp who claims to be a spy, a lonely and overzealous bloke by the name of Jack, Liam from HR, and a girlfriend who refuses to see or speak to him. He shares a mutual hatred with his boss, Hershey Valentine, and herein lies his issue. There’s twenty million pounds that have disappeared from the bank, and the curious case of Hershey’s fresh corpse. Josh Dedman is the prime suspect in both cases.
The Fix had me at the word ‘Prologue’, with Josh in a bit of a bind, he’s just an average guy who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and is struggling to figure it all out.
As the main protagonist I found Josh likeable and personally related to his mundane observations on life, and his meandering thought processes. He works a job he hates, struggles to even pretend to focus his attention on anything he hasn’t got time for, and will occasionally show up late for work because he took a long-cut to follow the backsides of women (only with an 'Arse Score' of 7 or above, I noticed)he doesn’t know. I think his likeability is compounded by the fact that everybody he surrounds himself with is just so, I’d like to say detestable. This is, in my opinion, the skill in Keith Nixon’s writing, he has the ability to make you care for, or thoroughly dislike his characters, through their thoughts, dialogue and actions. It’s not just that though, the story itself is a classic whodunit, with more and more suspects falling into line as Hershey Valentine intentionally antagonises every single person he comes into contact with. Nobody is quite who they say they are, and by the end Nixon ties the whole little package up neatly, and even sticks a bow on for good measure, such is the control over the plot strands. His analogies are razor sharp, (“I reluctantly answer, gingerly pressing the phone to my ear like it’s a seashell in which I can’t quite believe I’ll be able to hear the sound of the waves”) and I was happy to note, original. His writing doesn’t treat the reader like an idiot, nor take itself too seriously. Knowing winks and nods in your direction throughout give you the impression that he’s happy to take you along for the ride, and if you give it a chance, you’ll be happy that you did. Definitely worth a read.
The Fix had me at the word ‘Prologue’, with Josh in a bit of a bind, he’s just an average guy who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and is struggling to figure it all out.
As the main protagonist I found Josh likeable and personally related to his mundane observations on life, and his meandering thought processes. He works a job he hates, struggles to even pretend to focus his attention on anything he hasn’t got time for, and will occasionally show up late for work because he took a long-cut to follow the backsides of women (only with an 'Arse Score' of 7 or above, I noticed)he doesn’t know. I think his likeability is compounded by the fact that everybody he surrounds himself with is just so, I’d like to say detestable. This is, in my opinion, the skill in Keith Nixon’s writing, he has the ability to make you care for, or thoroughly dislike his characters, through their thoughts, dialogue and actions. It’s not just that though, the story itself is a classic whodunit, with more and more suspects falling into line as Hershey Valentine intentionally antagonises every single person he comes into contact with. Nobody is quite who they say they are, and by the end Nixon ties the whole little package up neatly, and even sticks a bow on for good measure, such is the control over the plot strands. His analogies are razor sharp, (“I reluctantly answer, gingerly pressing the phone to my ear like it’s a seashell in which I can’t quite believe I’ll be able to hear the sound of the waves”) and I was happy to note, original. His writing doesn’t treat the reader like an idiot, nor take itself too seriously. Knowing winks and nods in your direction throughout give you the impression that he’s happy to take you along for the ride, and if you give it a chance, you’ll be happy that you did. Definitely worth a read.
February 25, 2013
When I think comedic crime books, my immediate thought is Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder series (perhaps the most well known being The Hot Rock, which became a movie starring Robert Redford and George Segal). In these books, mastermind Dortmunder and his gang of criminals commit a series of well-planned crimes. They’re never caught, yet always end up empty handed in the end. The comedy comes from the idiosyncrasies of the characters and all the ways their best laid plans go awry.
In Keith Nixon’s debut novel, The Fix, the characters provide plenty of comedic moments with their quirks, but rather than a criminal as protagonist, we have a main character accused of the crime who keeps bumbling his way in deeper, providing some humorous moments. The protagonist, Josh, works for a bank, which also has some comedic moments, poking fun at the business world, not unlike what you might see in the movie and TV series The Office. Unlike Westlake’s humor, which at times could be almost slapstick-like and might remind someone of The Keystone Kops, Nixon’s humor is more subtle, as in, “Culpepper, being a banker, was as bereft of emotion as a corpse is of life.” As a former bank employee, this line really hit home for me.
Josh is a likeable character. The reader wants everything to work out for him. Does he manage to come out unscathed? Who stole the £20 million? Does Josh manage to get the girl? You’ll have to read The Fix yourself to find out.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
In Keith Nixon’s debut novel, The Fix, the characters provide plenty of comedic moments with their quirks, but rather than a criminal as protagonist, we have a main character accused of the crime who keeps bumbling his way in deeper, providing some humorous moments. The protagonist, Josh, works for a bank, which also has some comedic moments, poking fun at the business world, not unlike what you might see in the movie and TV series The Office. Unlike Westlake’s humor, which at times could be almost slapstick-like and might remind someone of The Keystone Kops, Nixon’s humor is more subtle, as in, “Culpepper, being a banker, was as bereft of emotion as a corpse is of life.” As a former bank employee, this line really hit home for me.
Josh is a likeable character. The reader wants everything to work out for him. Does he manage to come out unscathed? Who stole the £20 million? Does Josh manage to get the girl? You’ll have to read The Fix yourself to find out.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
June 10, 2015
I have to liken reading this novel to being a smoker - it leaves a dirty taste in your mouth but you JUST CAN'T STOP. The Fix is a fantastic read - the characters are vile and hideous but I couldn't help liking them. They are ruthless and coarse, had me laughing out loud at some of the purely dreadful things they get up to, and they wouldn't look out of place in an Irvine Welsh novel - I LOVED IT. The behaviour carried out by some of the characters is down-right despicable and morals are extremely loose - this is not a book for the prudish among us, but if you like a down-to-earth, no-holds-barred, all-out grit-fest this is a must read.
Konstantin, (Russian tramp, ex-KGB, excellent pick-pocket) is a brilliant character, and I have heard that Keith's latest novel, I'm Dead Again, features Konstantin, alongside other characters from The Fix - this excites me, and I can't wait to read the next instalment of probably the most crude characters I have ever met!
Konstantin, (Russian tramp, ex-KGB, excellent pick-pocket) is a brilliant character, and I have heard that Keith's latest novel, I'm Dead Again, features Konstantin, alongside other characters from The Fix - this excites me, and I can't wait to read the next instalment of probably the most crude characters I have ever met!
February 3, 2014
The Fix is a refreshingly original novel that kept me up at night flipping through the pages. The main character, Josh Dedman, quickly became one of my all time favorite characters to follow since Palahniuk introduced us to the narrator of Fight Club. His cynical outlook on his environment was captivating. Being a country boy, I was delighted with the descriptive prose that Nixon used to describe the city of both Margate and London. He has a keen knack for details that bring his story to a level that is bigger than life. I especially fell in love with the Russian Konstantine. This interesting character could fill the pages of a novel all on his own.
I would definitely recommend this work to anyone regardless of your genre preferences.
I would definitely recommend this work to anyone regardless of your genre preferences.
January 15, 2015
There's a strong hint of Irvine Welsh in this author's punchy and at times hair-raising style. At first I wondered if the powerful narrative voice might overshadow the tale or its characters; instead, it proved complementary and indeed crucial in underpinning the gritty and at times starkly observed world of ambition, greed and the darker side of human nature.
The story rocks along at a perfect pace and the rhythm of twists and brutal turns made this one of my swiftest and most enjoyable reads in some time. When the expiry of a villain - no matter how detestable - has you simultaneously cheering and sighing in dismay, then I think it's safe to say the author has utterly nailed it.
A top read. Go, try, enjoy!
The story rocks along at a perfect pace and the rhythm of twists and brutal turns made this one of my swiftest and most enjoyable reads in some time. When the expiry of a villain - no matter how detestable - has you simultaneously cheering and sighing in dismay, then I think it's safe to say the author has utterly nailed it.
A top read. Go, try, enjoy!
April 4, 2018
This is a great tale of greedy bankers, double dealing and intrigue, all done with a very dry, very caustic and sarcastically funny edge. Every character is well thought out and suitably repugnant! Our, (reluctant), hero is hysterical as he unwittingly gets caught up in escapade after escapade. Just reading about Hershey Valentine made me want to wash my hands and brush my teeth. He is perfectly cast as the evil banker and Mr Nixon's edgy writing stops him from becoming a caricature. Altogether a wicked and explosively funny story that I'm thrilled to recommend to anyone who likes their intrigue wrapped up in dark humour and mixed in with some laugh out loud moments. Treat yourself to a copy of The Fix by Keith Nixon. You can thank me later!
March 3, 2014
Keith Nixon’s ‘The Fix’ has every one of the ingredients I look for in a novel – a real page-turner of a plot with plenty of twists and turns, a healthy dollop of humour, intriguing and well drawn characters, and last but by no means least, it’s extremely well written. Another thing I particularly liked about the book was the shifts in the points of view, which added greatly to the depth of the characterisation.
Rarely do I find a novel that I just can’t put down until I get to the end, but ‘The Fix’ had me riveted from start to finish. I’ll certainly be looking forward to Keith Nixon’s next offering, and I only hope it’ll be sooner rather than later.
Rarely do I find a novel that I just can’t put down until I get to the end, but ‘The Fix’ had me riveted from start to finish. I’ll certainly be looking forward to Keith Nixon’s next offering, and I only hope it’ll be sooner rather than later.
January 31, 2013
The Fix by Keith Nixon was an excellent read. A pacey page turner with twists and turns aplenty that keep you entertained and amused in equal measure. A well crafted plot that gels the characters together in their dislike of one hugely dislikeable man - Hershey Valentine. With poor Hershey getting his comeuppance The Fix cracks on at a fair pace. Out of the starting blocks from page one of chapter one you'll need your running shoes on to keep up. I really enjoyed the book...it even managed to put the county of Kent on the fictional literary map!
June 29, 2014
I love twisty well plotted crime fiction and that’s definitely what you get with The Fix.
A great opener and then you’re off with fast, slick, and witty writing, that doesn’t pull any punches or spare your blushes. The plot is clever, the kind where you really have to just keep on reading, so once started, I’d advise you to forget anything you might have planned to do. The characters, (good and bad) are fascinating, marinated in black humour and hugely entertaining.
A great read. Made all the better by knowing that KGB tramp Konstantin returns in a further two books.
A great opener and then you’re off with fast, slick, and witty writing, that doesn’t pull any punches or spare your blushes. The plot is clever, the kind where you really have to just keep on reading, so once started, I’d advise you to forget anything you might have planned to do. The characters, (good and bad) are fascinating, marinated in black humour and hugely entertaining.
A great read. Made all the better by knowing that KGB tramp Konstantin returns in a further two books.
November 19, 2014
The Fix starts off with one of the best opening chapters I've read and from then on doesn’t disappoint. A crime tale, but a very original one, skilfully written with neither the main protagonist, nor the reader having any real idea what's going in till the very end. But it’s a wonderful journey, with a plot which constantly changes direction coupled with great characters that drop in and out and back in again, keeping you off balance but always intrigued and entertained. Throw in a generous helping of dark humour and its anti-banker backdrop…doesn't get much better.
June 25, 2013
This book is likeable and goes down easily. I found its biggest asset to be its blithe and breezy sense of humor. Keith Nixon is good with witty wordplay. He also does a good job creating differentiated characters with a good bit of depth for a fairly short book. Josh engages sympathy, Hershey is a tremendous jerk, and Jack is also well drawn (and that's by no means all). The story held together pretty well too.
July 19, 2016
A somewhat quirky tale set during the recession, and the fall of a banker who loses everything. Bloody murder and mystery is soon to follow. A very clever plot that has the reader puzzled to the very end, with larger than life oddball characters that exist in the equation for no apparent reason, at least until this fascinating tale comes to its close. Highly recommended, thrills and fun.
March 18, 2013
Fast paced, funny, realistic and just a jolly good caper. Refreshingly original, great characters, strong plot. Look out for more from this author!
If you are offended by today's vernacular, or have no sense of humor this book is not for you.
If you are offended by today's vernacular, or have no sense of humor this book is not for you.
June 25, 2013
A highly enjoyable, quirky romp of a Crime that made me smile. If you’re expecting classic Noir or Cosy, this won’t be for you, but I’ve marked this author to pick up another of his novels, which is not something I do lightly. If you want to brighten your day, I recommend it.
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