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Jas Anderson Thriller #2
Banged Up
Detective-Sergeant Jas Anderson, the violent anti-hero of FreeForm, ended that story being expelled from the Glasgow police force. Banged Up starts with Jas being framed by his ex-colleagues, and remanded to Barlinnie prison. Soon he is forced to share a cell with Steve McStay, sentenced for aggravated assault on two gay men. In this all-male environment, inmates don't divide into gay and straight, but into who fucks and who gets fucked. But resilient as ever, Jas forms an unlikely partnership with Steve in his fight for survival.
- GenresM M RomanceQueerMystery
220 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
8 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 8, 2022
I liked Jas Anderson when I first encountered him two years ago in Freeform and hoped better things for him in subsequent titles in this series. Alas no - our battered and ground down cynical MC remains emotionally stunted and isolated, still trying to overcome physical deficits from injuries incurred in the first book. After the first few chapters whereby he gets recruited to look for a missing person request by an ambiguously malevolent recurring secondary character - Jas is remanded to prison awaiting trail for trumped up charges.
The remainder of this brutal yet gripping read (told in the author's pared down style) takes place over a span of ten days where poor Jas has to endure faces all the expected violence, barely hidden vice and deceit, manipulation and powerplays - a couple of scenes were truly awful and warnings here about sexual assault. Given the Glaswegian setting - almost all dialogue is written in phonetic wording - which may throw challenges for readers unfamiliar with the northern dialect. I managed to glean what was being said most of the time by sounding the words in my head (and aloud a couple of times) - it works I tell you (don't focus on the spelling -and just read it as it sounds).
There is no romance per se but some glimmers of hope emerge by book's end. Much of the M-M sex is perfunctory (almost transactional) with at least one eyebrow raising post-coitus scenario ; so much for 'afterglow'!! 4.75 stars and I've bought book three already in anticipation for yet another exciting read.
The remainder of this brutal yet gripping read (told in the author's pared down style) takes place over a span of ten days where poor Jas has to endure faces all the expected violence, barely hidden vice and deceit, manipulation and powerplays - a couple of scenes were truly awful and warnings here about sexual assault. Given the Glaswegian setting - almost all dialogue is written in phonetic wording - which may throw challenges for readers unfamiliar with the northern dialect. I managed to glean what was being said most of the time by sounding the words in my head (and aloud a couple of times) - it works I tell you (don't focus on the spelling -and just read it as it sounds).
There is no romance per se but some glimmers of hope emerge by book's end. Much of the M-M sex is perfunctory (almost transactional) with at least one eyebrow raising post-coitus scenario ; so much for 'afterglow'!! 4.75 stars and I've bought book three already in anticipation for yet another exciting read.
December 14, 2019
I found this book jarring and gut wrenching and I loved every moment of it. Jas Anderson has quickly become one of my favorite protagonists ever.
The mystery/thriller aspect of this book was superb, and an excellent indictment of private prisons. I appreciate that the author examined how incarceration mangles the behavior and psychology of people who may or may not be capable of reasonable behavior outside of imprisonment. The ease with which Jas understands the violence of this power-based hierarchy and navigates it with what integrity he can is one of the things I love about him as a character. Jas's self-awareness around his own rage and the sexual pleasure he takes in violence is the other. He never hates himself for it, and never expresses shame, while also working not hurt people unless they want him to and they understand what consensual sexual violence between them will mean. I appreciated that even when this book became at times prison sexploitation porn, it never lost its humanity, and Jas maintained his own clear ethics.
Jas's interactions with Stevie are difficult and unnerving, but they also struck me as deeply kind. Knowing how desperately unstable Stevie is, he works hard not to damage him further. This made the ending all the more satisfying. I'm anticipating that Some Kind of Love will be excellent.
The mystery/thriller aspect of this book was superb, and an excellent indictment of private prisons. I appreciate that the author examined how incarceration mangles the behavior and psychology of people who may or may not be capable of reasonable behavior outside of imprisonment. The ease with which Jas understands the violence of this power-based hierarchy and navigates it with what integrity he can is one of the things I love about him as a character. Jas's self-awareness around his own rage and the sexual pleasure he takes in violence is the other. He never hates himself for it, and never expresses shame, while also working not hurt people unless they want him to and they understand what consensual sexual violence between them will mean. I appreciated that even when this book became at times prison sexploitation porn, it never lost its humanity, and Jas maintained his own clear ethics.
Jas's interactions with Stevie are difficult and unnerving, but they also struck me as deeply kind. Knowing how desperately unstable Stevie is, he works hard not to damage him further. This made the ending all the more satisfying. I'm anticipating that Some Kind of Love will be excellent.
December 27, 2019
Scotch wi’ a touch of rye…
Scottish author Jack Dickson is also a screenwriter, playwright, classically trained pianist, and a Tai Chi teacher. His Jas Anderson Thriller series was originally published in the UK and now is made available to an even wider audience through the auspices of ReQueered Tales publishers in Los Angeles. He lives in Glasgow.
While gay romance novels continue to flourish, with variations into the paranormal sphere, few authors write gay mysteries or thrillers and Jack Dickson is the major exception. His writing embraces the dark edges yet not without a wry humor. For those yet to encounter the Jas Anderson Thrillers, BANGED UP is Book 2 of that series, Book 1 (FREEFORM) introduced ‘a tough new gay cop, Detective-Sergeant Jas Anderson. A violent anti-hero, suspended from duty for assault, Jas is the natural suspect when his lover is found brutally murdered. Now on the run and struggling to clear his name, Jas uncovers Leigh's involvement in a blackmail ring, and even his lover's identity becomes confused.’
Now in this second installment, Detective Sergeant Jas Anderson, the violent antihero, is imprisoned and fighting for his life, having being expelled from the Glasgow police force. Being framed by his ex-colleagues, he is remanded to Barlinnie – a poorly run, underfunded and understaffed prison - and instead of the usual accommodation for law enforcers in solitary, he is forced to share a cell with Steve McStay, sentenced for aggravated assault on two gay men. In this all-male environment, inmates don’t divide into gay and straight, but rather into who dominates … and who doesn't. Resilient as ever, Jas forms an unlikely partnership with Steve in his fight for survival.
Now that the background and plot are understood, the author’s writing style becomes the reason for embracing this fine series. Incorporating the Scottish verbiage and content, Jack opens with – “Tear the whole rotten place doon. Mr. Anderson, that’s whit ah’d dae.” Smooth buzzing behind one ear. Jas stared into the mirror. Terry’s clippers continued their progress. So did the chat. “Built tae hold nine hundred. There’s ower two thousand in there, these days. Two thousand animals in cells wi’ nae plumbin”.”
While getting use to the Scottish verbiage take s bit, the prose style ultimately adds considerably to the atmosphere of this story. Unafraid to linger in violence and in all manner of abusive crimes – BDSM especially – this story bristles with the realities of prison life and offers a sexy main character tough as nails but with a heart of gold. Dig into this novel and experience a new concept of thriller – one that stays with you and hopefully initiates some change in our own prison system.
Scottish author Jack Dickson is also a screenwriter, playwright, classically trained pianist, and a Tai Chi teacher. His Jas Anderson Thriller series was originally published in the UK and now is made available to an even wider audience through the auspices of ReQueered Tales publishers in Los Angeles. He lives in Glasgow.
While gay romance novels continue to flourish, with variations into the paranormal sphere, few authors write gay mysteries or thrillers and Jack Dickson is the major exception. His writing embraces the dark edges yet not without a wry humor. For those yet to encounter the Jas Anderson Thrillers, BANGED UP is Book 2 of that series, Book 1 (FREEFORM) introduced ‘a tough new gay cop, Detective-Sergeant Jas Anderson. A violent anti-hero, suspended from duty for assault, Jas is the natural suspect when his lover is found brutally murdered. Now on the run and struggling to clear his name, Jas uncovers Leigh's involvement in a blackmail ring, and even his lover's identity becomes confused.’
Now in this second installment, Detective Sergeant Jas Anderson, the violent antihero, is imprisoned and fighting for his life, having being expelled from the Glasgow police force. Being framed by his ex-colleagues, he is remanded to Barlinnie – a poorly run, underfunded and understaffed prison - and instead of the usual accommodation for law enforcers in solitary, he is forced to share a cell with Steve McStay, sentenced for aggravated assault on two gay men. In this all-male environment, inmates don’t divide into gay and straight, but rather into who dominates … and who doesn't. Resilient as ever, Jas forms an unlikely partnership with Steve in his fight for survival.
Now that the background and plot are understood, the author’s writing style becomes the reason for embracing this fine series. Incorporating the Scottish verbiage and content, Jack opens with – “Tear the whole rotten place doon. Mr. Anderson, that’s whit ah’d dae.” Smooth buzzing behind one ear. Jas stared into the mirror. Terry’s clippers continued their progress. So did the chat. “Built tae hold nine hundred. There’s ower two thousand in there, these days. Two thousand animals in cells wi’ nae plumbin”.”
While getting use to the Scottish verbiage take s bit, the prose style ultimately adds considerably to the atmosphere of this story. Unafraid to linger in violence and in all manner of abusive crimes – BDSM especially – this story bristles with the realities of prison life and offers a sexy main character tough as nails but with a heart of gold. Dig into this novel and experience a new concept of thriller – one that stays with you and hopefully initiates some change in our own prison system.
April 28, 2015
Second in the Jas Anderson series after Freeform. Seriously, folks, why are these books not better known? The author has dropped out of site, but this series is pretty unique in that it's mainstream crime but with a gay protagonist. Do not think hearts and roses. This series is so gritty it's actually like having your teeth pulled sometimes reading it, but, hey, no pain no gain, right? This one is set in prison so if prison rape is a kink you'll like this. Jas is a cop, remember, so prison is not a good place for him to be.
I'm going to read this whole series again.
Brilliant.
I'm going to read this whole series again.
Brilliant.
August 27, 2020
This is such a brutal story. I've bought six of Jack Dickson's books, and I'd say that this one is my second favourite. I find the world that he creates is totally believable. Yes, I know it does exist - inner city, crime, horrific jail conditions, people in charge who abuse their power... but you could write about those real things and, yet, not bring them to life.
February 5, 2024
The follow up to Freeform. Couldn’t put it down, but I found the prison setting difficult to deal with; and be warned, there is a very raw, on page, rape scene. However the writing and character building is as good, and the book does move the storyline with more of Jas’ history coming to light. Not a light read by any means.
August 2, 2017
Not bad if you can handle the Scottish dialect. I was more interested in Jas's prison survival techniques rather than the mystery that led him to the slammer. The whole search for Paul McGhee kind of got lost in the shuffle for me, but this was still a good read.
September 4, 2022
Wtf dnf at 61%
August 23, 2013
An interesting modern, first person account of life behind bars in a British prison. The author comes across as honest and forthcoming about the glamorous life of a criminal prior to bring arrested and how he learns to cope with an incarcerated existence. What drew me to this book was his escape from the prison but in the end this was but a small incident in this book filled with violence.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews