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David Blake #1
Crime Machine by Howard Linskey
David Blake is no gangster, or so he likes to think. He's a white-collar criminal, working for gangster Bobby Mahoney, enjoying the good life while the money keeps on pouring in. Trouble is, a big chunk of that money has just gone missing, along with Geordie Cartwright, and Blake is getting the blame. Has Geordie done a runner with The Drop or has he been killed by a rival gang? As Blake goes deeper into the Newcastle underworld, a seedy and violent place filled with dodgy clubs, pubs, lap-dancing bars and brothels, he slowly starts to uncover the truth; there's a rat in Bobby's crew and someone else is planning a take-over. Meanwhile the Serious and Organised Crime squad and an ambitious D.I are both closing in on Bobby. It's just a matter of time before he's finally nicked for good. Blake must uncover the truth before it's too late for them all. If that were not enough, he has to choose between his girlfriend, the beautiful lawyer Laura and the impossible-to-resist Sarah, his boss's gorgeous young daughter. Sarah might just be the most dangerous person in his life right now, if her dad finds out. In a desperate and bloody finale, Blake has to make an agonising choice and someone has to pay the ultimate price in 'The Drop' 'Linskey delivers a flawless feel for time and place, snappy down to earth dialect dialogue mixed in with unrelenting violence and pace. A Tyneside Dashiell Hammett to put Martina Cole firmly in her place' - Times 'Writing that leaps off the page in its lacerating forcefulness... a classic British gangster novel that evokes and matches some of the best writing in the genre' - Crime Time Look out for the other books in Howard Linskey's David Blake series, The Damage and The Dead , as well as his Second World War Hunting the Hangman and Ungentlemanly Warfare
Paperback
First published March 31, 2011
38 people are currently reading
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About the author
Howard Linskey
31 books249 followersABOUT ME
A bit about me and my books. I am an author with Canelo, currently writing a series of William Shakespeare mysteries. The first is 'A Serpent In The Garden' which sees Will forced to look into the mysterious death of a lady in Elizabethan London. .
I am also the author of a series of books set in the north east of England, featuring journalists Tom Carney & Helen Norton with detective Ian Bradshaw, who all appear in ‘The Chosen Ones’, ‘The Search’, 'Behind Dead Eyes’ and ‘No Name Lane' and the standalones, 'Alice Teale Is Missing', 'Don't Let Him In' and The Inheritance'.
My WW2 historical novels include ‘Hunting the Hangman’, which tells the true story of the assassination of Nazi General, Reinhard Heydrich, and ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’. The latter features SOE agents, Harry Walsh and Emma Stirling and OSS agent, Sam Cooper.
My earlier novels, the David Blake books, have been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. The Times newspaper voted 'The Drop' one of its Top Five Thrillers of the Year and 'The Damage' one of its Top Summer Reads. Both books broke into the top five Amazon Kindle chart.
I’m honoured to be the ghost writer of ‘Surviving Hell’ which tells the true story of former Para, Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, who were wrongfully imprisoned in India for years, having committed no crime, and 'Surviving Hell', the autobiography of Princess Diana's former bodyguard, Lee Sansum.
On a far lighter note, I am also the writer behind ‘The Little Book Of Pintfulness’ a mindfulness spoof, which comprehensively proves that life is just better with beer. Please read responsibly.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, I led a series of different lives with a number of jobs, including barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management roles. I can confirm that writing books definitely beats working for a living.
I started writing many moons ago and was first published in the Newcastle United football fanzine, 'The Mag'. I then became a journalist and wrote for regional newspapers. I have also written for magazines and web sites and was once the English Premier League football correspondent for a Malaysian magazine. I've stopped all of that nonsense now, preferring to make up stuff instead and call myself an author.
I'm originally from Ferryhill in County Durham but, like most of the people I grew up with, I left the north east in search of work and never quite made it back. I am now settled in Hertfordshire with my lovely wife Alison and wonderful daughter Erin.
I'm still a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and can only assume that Mike Ashley is a punishment inflicted upon us for all of the crimes we committed in our past lives.
I am represented by the best Literary Agent in the UK, Phil Patterson at Marjacq. Catherine Pellegrino looks after my foreign rights there. If you are Brad Pitt and you wish to play David Blake in a movie then Leah Middleton takes care of Film and TV rights:
Marjacq Scripts Ltd
The Space
235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE
+44 (0) 20 7935 9499
F +44 (0) 20 7935 9115
enquiries@marjacq.com
A bit about me and my books. I am an author with Canelo, currently writing a series of William Shakespeare mysteries. The first is 'A Serpent In The Garden' which sees Will forced to look into the mysterious death of a lady in Elizabethan London. .
I am also the author of a series of books set in the north east of England, featuring journalists Tom Carney & Helen Norton with detective Ian Bradshaw, who all appear in ‘The Chosen Ones’, ‘The Search’, 'Behind Dead Eyes’ and ‘No Name Lane' and the standalones, 'Alice Teale Is Missing', 'Don't Let Him In' and The Inheritance'.
My WW2 historical novels include ‘Hunting the Hangman’, which tells the true story of the assassination of Nazi General, Reinhard Heydrich, and ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’. The latter features SOE agents, Harry Walsh and Emma Stirling and OSS agent, Sam Cooper.
My earlier novels, the David Blake books, have been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. The Times newspaper voted 'The Drop' one of its Top Five Thrillers of the Year and 'The Damage' one of its Top Summer Reads. Both books broke into the top five Amazon Kindle chart.
I’m honoured to be the ghost writer of ‘Surviving Hell’ which tells the true story of former Para, Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, who were wrongfully imprisoned in India for years, having committed no crime, and 'Surviving Hell', the autobiography of Princess Diana's former bodyguard, Lee Sansum.
On a far lighter note, I am also the writer behind ‘The Little Book Of Pintfulness’ a mindfulness spoof, which comprehensively proves that life is just better with beer. Please read responsibly.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, I led a series of different lives with a number of jobs, including barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management roles. I can confirm that writing books definitely beats working for a living.
I started writing many moons ago and was first published in the Newcastle United football fanzine, 'The Mag'. I then became a journalist and wrote for regional newspapers. I have also written for magazines and web sites and was once the English Premier League football correspondent for a Malaysian magazine. I've stopped all of that nonsense now, preferring to make up stuff instead and call myself an author.
I'm originally from Ferryhill in County Durham but, like most of the people I grew up with, I left the north east in search of work and never quite made it back. I am now settled in Hertfordshire with my lovely wife Alison and wonderful daughter Erin.
I'm still a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and can only assume that Mike Ashley is a punishment inflicted upon us for all of the crimes we committed in our past lives.
I am represented by the best Literary Agent in the UK, Phil Patterson at Marjacq. Catherine Pellegrino looks after my foreign rights there. If you are Brad Pitt and you wish to play David Blake in a movie then Leah Middleton takes care of Film and TV rights:
Marjacq Scripts Ltd
The Space
235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE
+44 (0) 20 7935 9499
F +44 (0) 20 7935 9115
enquiries@marjacq.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 15, 2018
Genre: Crime Fiction, mafia element
POV: First-person, singular
Theme: Be careful who you trust
Setting: Newcastle, England
I love books where the setting feels like a character all on its own and this book with all of its landmark descriptions and comedic dialogues full of slang made for a fun, interesting read! The side characters were very colorful and it was refreshing to read work from a male author.
This book had a lighter tone to it--definitely enjoyable, but not a dark story, despite some darkish scenarios scattered within the text. I was hoping to get that heavyweight, crime saga feel that I got while reading White Rabbit, but I didn't. Nevertheless, The Drop was still an engaging story that was well-paced.
Issues?
What would've made this story a five-star read for me was increased character development on the part of David (the narrator) and the boss, Bobby. The reader knew all about how Bobby earned his title, but there wasn't demonstration of it.
What was the Drop? Looking forward to reading all about the progression of David Blake's character in book two!
POV: First-person, singular
Theme: Be careful who you trust
Setting: Newcastle, England
I love books where the setting feels like a character all on its own and this book with all of its landmark descriptions and comedic dialogues full of slang made for a fun, interesting read! The side characters were very colorful and it was refreshing to read work from a male author.
This book had a lighter tone to it--definitely enjoyable, but not a dark story, despite some darkish scenarios scattered within the text. I was hoping to get that heavyweight, crime saga feel that I got while reading White Rabbit, but I didn't. Nevertheless, The Drop was still an engaging story that was well-paced.
Issues?
What would've made this story a five-star read for me was increased character development on the part of David (the narrator) and the boss, Bobby. The reader knew all about how Bobby earned his title, but there wasn't demonstration of it.
What was the Drop? Looking forward to reading all about the progression of David Blake's character in book two!
June 19, 2012
This book was recommended to me by a fellow reader, and I am extremely glad that I took their advice! Howard Linskey released this, his debit novel in April 2011 and his follow up book is due for release in April 2012.
It takes less than two chapters for me to be utterly engrossed in this book. David Blake is a gangster, except he isn't your ordinary violent and ruthless man. He is somebody that has worked his was on to Bobby Mahoney's firm by giving his sound judgement on things and proving his loyalty. When David returns from his holiday, he gets news that Bobby is not a happy man. David, who is head of Bobby's security, has managed to leave an important drop to another man in the firm who, it seems, has disappeared off the face of the planet. Pretty soon David realises that he has to find the money and the person responsible.
I really liked David Blake from the off and as he races to find the people who have Bobby's money I found myself liking him even more. This was not your typical gangster that roughs everybody up; he merely asks politely and leaves the roughing up to his colleague Finney. The story has a relentless kind of pace as David uncovers more and more things that aren't quite right.
Although David is the main character, we meet a hell of a lot more along the way, all who make the story that little bit more interesting. Bobby, David's boss features heavily as does Bobby's young daughter Sarah. We also see some of the other people who are either on the firm or were once part of it. The characters and storyline kept me turning pages late into the night.
There is actually an underlying humour to this book too which I loved. The setting up in Newcastle was done perfectly, with no overkill on either the accent or the place. I loved the ending, and the fact that this is the perfect opener for the second book. An absolutely cracking debut novel and the follow up is already pre-ordered. If you haven't heard of Howard Linskey, take note, this man is already a well remembered name in my never ending list of great authors.
It takes less than two chapters for me to be utterly engrossed in this book. David Blake is a gangster, except he isn't your ordinary violent and ruthless man. He is somebody that has worked his was on to Bobby Mahoney's firm by giving his sound judgement on things and proving his loyalty. When David returns from his holiday, he gets news that Bobby is not a happy man. David, who is head of Bobby's security, has managed to leave an important drop to another man in the firm who, it seems, has disappeared off the face of the planet. Pretty soon David realises that he has to find the money and the person responsible.
I really liked David Blake from the off and as he races to find the people who have Bobby's money I found myself liking him even more. This was not your typical gangster that roughs everybody up; he merely asks politely and leaves the roughing up to his colleague Finney. The story has a relentless kind of pace as David uncovers more and more things that aren't quite right.
Although David is the main character, we meet a hell of a lot more along the way, all who make the story that little bit more interesting. Bobby, David's boss features heavily as does Bobby's young daughter Sarah. We also see some of the other people who are either on the firm or were once part of it. The characters and storyline kept me turning pages late into the night.
There is actually an underlying humour to this book too which I loved. The setting up in Newcastle was done perfectly, with no overkill on either the accent or the place. I loved the ending, and the fact that this is the perfect opener for the second book. An absolutely cracking debut novel and the follow up is already pre-ordered. If you haven't heard of Howard Linskey, take note, this man is already a well remembered name in my never ending list of great authors.
March 1, 2013
The Drop is set in Newcastle and the story is told from the perspective of David Blake, an organizer and ideas man for Bobby Mahoney the Mr Big of the criminal underworld. David has what some would see as a great life, money, fast cars and women, but is seen as an outsider by many members of Bobby’s gang because he doesn’t have to get his hands dirty with real crime like murder or robbery. Thing start to change for David when a money drop to a middle man for an organized crime outfit disappears with the handler and David Blake has to find out what went wrong and return the money, or he’s in big trouble. It is difficult to say any more about the actual story without this review becoming a spoiler. However, the book is a well written fast paced, gritty crime thriller that includes gang warfare, police corruption and betrayal. This book is very much in the brit-crime tradition of films from ‘Get Carter’ to ‘Snatch’ and anyone that likes that style will love this book. A really entertaining read and I will certainly place his new book on my reading list.
November 3, 2014
I really, really enjoyed reading 'The Drop' Howard Linskey brings a breath of fresh air to this genre. David Blake is authentic & dangerous he used his intelligence to confidently uncover a plot that was out to end him - a tense novel building up into an explosive ending. I enjoyed reading the conversations didn't want them to end & the interactions between characters left me feeling like a fly on the wall, can't wait to read the next book.
March 7, 2020
This review is for the audio book, which was narrated in an accent appropriate to the setting. As a whole, The Drop is an enjoyable crime thriller told in first person by David Blake, a lieutenant of Newcastle gangster Bobby Mahoney. Despite not breaking any new ground, Howard Linskey writes in an entertaining style and keeps the story moving. However, he has some annoying habits, such as using the Blake to get on his soapbox and get things off his chest. He's certainly not the only author to do it, but it interrupts the story. In a similar vein, Blake regularly tries to take a moral stance in an attempt to convince us that his crew might be gangsters but they're good guys really - or at least better than the real bad guys. When he wants to make a point, he makes sure it's rammed home by labouring it from every angle. Finally, there's a scene at a drug dealer's flat when Blake and his accomplice encounter a Premier League footballer and his WAG. Linskey almost ties himself in knots trying to come up with different ways to refer to the supposed player without naming him. He clearly couldn't use a real name and didn't want to go down the route of a fictional one. The presence of this couple was unnecessary and awkward and should have been cut. It's to Linskey's credit that despite all these issues I still enjoyed The Drop enough to want to continue the series.
September 28, 2022
Very enjoyable crime/gangster novel set in the North East of England. Hard hitting and realistic with well developed characters. This is the first of a series of three books featuring the fictional character David Blake.
Blake is the 'unlikely gangster' type security advisor and close compatriot of the gangland boss Bobby Mahoney. When Blake is away on holiday in Thailand with his girlfriend, things start to go awry back home and he returns to find himself in the middle of a very tricky and dangerous situation as the whole gang appear under threat and he is being viewed very suspiciously by some members of the gang.
It's a 'race against time' novel set against a background of actual and threatened violence. Blake has to recover lost funds, stay alive, prove his innocence and find out where the threat is coming from. Fast moving and gripping stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It reminds me very much of a series of books written in the early 1970s by John Wainwright writing as Jack Ripley set in Leeds. I have read these many times and they are great favourites of mine.
Blake is the 'unlikely gangster' type security advisor and close compatriot of the gangland boss Bobby Mahoney. When Blake is away on holiday in Thailand with his girlfriend, things start to go awry back home and he returns to find himself in the middle of a very tricky and dangerous situation as the whole gang appear under threat and he is being viewed very suspiciously by some members of the gang.
It's a 'race against time' novel set against a background of actual and threatened violence. Blake has to recover lost funds, stay alive, prove his innocence and find out where the threat is coming from. Fast moving and gripping stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It reminds me very much of a series of books written in the early 1970s by John Wainwright writing as Jack Ripley set in Leeds. I have read these many times and they are great favourites of mine.
May 19, 2025
This ticked along okay for a debut novel, and I was willing to forgive the whoopsie where our hero, having gone to a meet in a taxi because he was over the limit to drive, then somehow got into his own car & drove home. When he later got bundled into his own car, barely able to start the ignition with shaking hands, and was wondering why he hadn't been blindfolded as they drove him.... You get the idea. The punctuation errors that should never have got through editing also suggest that this was published in haste without anybody checking. That lot dropped a star, and then the hero, who is our narrator, found out the name of the key suspect, and then didn't tell us. I hate that, so another star goes. It did the job, but I hope he raised his game for the next one, if there is a next one.
January 13, 2018
Surprisingly good
I hate to admit it but I 1 click order quite a few crime novels for 99p which I never (yet) read. I couldn't even REMEMBER buying this one but gave it a go on a slow train ride. The train ride past very quickly. At the start its a bit of a "get carter" / "layer cake" mash up but it rapidly gets into its stride and the ending is excellent. I've just bought #2. I grew up in Glasgow and lived in Newcastle for 5 years and can't fault any of the descriptions of the bars etc in this book. The authenticity greatly adds to the whole story.
I hate to admit it but I 1 click order quite a few crime novels for 99p which I never (yet) read. I couldn't even REMEMBER buying this one but gave it a go on a slow train ride. The train ride past very quickly. At the start its a bit of a "get carter" / "layer cake" mash up but it rapidly gets into its stride and the ending is excellent. I've just bought #2. I grew up in Glasgow and lived in Newcastle for 5 years and can't fault any of the descriptions of the bars etc in this book. The authenticity greatly adds to the whole story.
December 22, 2022
Finished this book today, 5*/5* absolutely brilliant! Wrote in first person, this book has everything.
Guns,Violence, (and other things i can't mention on here) an amazing storyline!
Wrote so well that this book doesn't feel as long as it is!
Every single turn of the page is a cliffhanger! Defintiely a must read, based in and around Newcastle, it is easy to relate to the loactions. Eg Rosies. St James' Park, Central Station, they are all mentioned on multiple pages! I have already purchased the other two books on my Kindle can't wait to read them!
Guns,Violence, (and other things i can't mention on here) an amazing storyline!
Wrote so well that this book doesn't feel as long as it is!
Every single turn of the page is a cliffhanger! Defintiely a must read, based in and around Newcastle, it is easy to relate to the loactions. Eg Rosies. St James' Park, Central Station, they are all mentioned on multiple pages! I have already purchased the other two books on my Kindle can't wait to read them!
July 29, 2017
Brooding Geordie gangster fiction noir. Introducing the somewhat naive "white collar"criminal David Blake. The first of a superb trilogy each better than the last. This is a superb debut. The tension builds steadily as the plot unfolds. Imagine Get Carter meets the Long Good Friday and you're part of the way there. Get this, get the two sequels and enjoy.
December 23, 2018
Gripping read from the first page! Brutal and interesting insight into the criminal circles in Newcastle- excellent storytelling with realistic characters. Highly recommended when one enjoys crime novels and thrillers and does not mind gory details.
June 1, 2019
Best book I have read so far this year but I am going to start Ungentlemanly Warfare, or perhaps The Search next so that may change. Echoes of Get Carter in this but that may be because it is based in Newcastle, with language to match.
July 13, 2025
The first David Blake book is an excellent read. Linskey writes about the Newcastle underworld and doesn’t shy away from exposing the brutality and amorality of the place. Looking forward to reading the other two books in the series.
February 9, 2019
Of the three novels with the same title, I enjoyed this one the most.
August 4, 2022
Only giving four star as its not a genre I'd read normally but otherwise very enjoyable with some good humour and intense drama
May 27, 2024
It is not literary by any means, but a high-value entertainment piece.
September 14, 2024
The Drop(Newcastle Noir1)by Howard Linskey: story 10/10, characters 10/10, easy to read 10/10, superb newcastle gangsters story
#thedrop #howardlinskey #geordiegangstersstory #newcastlecrimebook #musthavebook #mustreadbook
#thedrop #howardlinskey #geordiegangstersstory #newcastlecrimebook #musthavebook #mustreadbook
July 7, 2025
Great read
One of the better crimes books I've read in quite a while. Try it out. I hope you enjoy t!
One of the better crimes books I've read in quite a while. Try it out. I hope you enjoy t!
September 21, 2019
Gritty, hard hitting and at times brutal, I loved this explosive north eastern thriller set in my local area and I look forward to reading more by this talented author again in the future.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
August 30, 2013
The Georgie Godfather...of sorts.
This is debut by Linskey and is written from David Blake's perspective, a self styled "plastic gangster". In his own words Blake works for a Newcastle crime lord as the ideas man... his sales and marketing director. He fancies himself suitably far enough removed from the day to day running of a gang life to not see himself as one until someone starts muscling in on their turf. It starts with the drop and its courier going missing. The drop is exactly what it seems: bribe money never reaching the corrupt middleman and all of a sudden Blake is tasked to find the money and the missing courier. He's suddenly and violently thrust into the middle of gangster life only to find his "colleagues" being picked off one by one. Blake is ultimately faced with the decision to walk away or fight back. This is a fantastical start to a new series and the detailed description of criminal and the more seedier life in Newcastle is very believable. I'm looking forward to reading "The Damage", the next David Blake book.
This is debut by Linskey and is written from David Blake's perspective, a self styled "plastic gangster". In his own words Blake works for a Newcastle crime lord as the ideas man... his sales and marketing director. He fancies himself suitably far enough removed from the day to day running of a gang life to not see himself as one until someone starts muscling in on their turf. It starts with the drop and its courier going missing. The drop is exactly what it seems: bribe money never reaching the corrupt middleman and all of a sudden Blake is tasked to find the money and the missing courier. He's suddenly and violently thrust into the middle of gangster life only to find his "colleagues" being picked off one by one. Blake is ultimately faced with the decision to walk away or fight back. This is a fantastical start to a new series and the detailed description of criminal and the more seedier life in Newcastle is very believable. I'm looking forward to reading "The Damage", the next David Blake book.
November 3, 2014
I first came across Howard Linskey in the eBook anthology True Brit Grit, with his story No Shortcuts which also features some of the characters from The Drop, but this was my first experience of a longer format of his work. The Drop is an astonishing British crime novel that effortlessly draws the reader into the drama. David Blake works for Newcastle crime lord Bobby Mahoney but when the Drop goes missing it’s his fault and Blake has to find out what’s happened and get the money back or he’ll be history. The story rattles by with a fast paced narrative as the search twists and turns its way through the city and beyond. As the search intensifies so the organisation starts collapse. Can Blake save himself and the crime world he lives in? The Drop really is one of those books that you can’t put down, a frantic slice of Northern grit and a truly electrifying read. The author Howard Linskey has crafted a Northern Godfather tale that is both engrossing and hypnotic. The most impressive thing is that this is a debut novel and one I highly recommend to crime fiction fans.
August 2, 2012
WOW!!
That's the only word I can find to start this review appropriately.
I have read a lot of British crime novels. I have been disappointed by a lot of British crime novels. But not this one. Debut novels are sometimes a bit sketchy. Not this one. 'The Drop' is one of the most gripping novels I have read in a number of years.
I won't go into the plot - others have already done that. I just want to praise the author for his plots, his characters (especially the relationship between David Blake and Finney), and the ability to grab me on the first page and not let up until the very end. The pacing was excellent - and the finale was brilliant.
Suffice to say that I am looking forward to reading more...and more...
That's the only word I can find to start this review appropriately.
I have read a lot of British crime novels. I have been disappointed by a lot of British crime novels. But not this one. Debut novels are sometimes a bit sketchy. Not this one. 'The Drop' is one of the most gripping novels I have read in a number of years.
I won't go into the plot - others have already done that. I just want to praise the author for his plots, his characters (especially the relationship between David Blake and Finney), and the ability to grab me on the first page and not let up until the very end. The pacing was excellent - and the finale was brilliant.
Suffice to say that I am looking forward to reading more...and more...
June 13, 2014
WOW!!
That's the only word I can find to start this review appropriately.
I have read a lot of British crime novels. I have been disappointed by a lot of British crime novels. But not this one. Debut novels are sometimes a bit sketchy. Not this one. 'The Drop' is one of the most gripping novels I have read in a number of years.
I won't go into the plot - others have already done that. I just want to praise the author for his plots, his characters (especially the relationship between David Blake and Finney), and the ability to grab me on the first page and not let up until the very end. The pacing was excellent - and the finale was brilliant.
Suffice to say that I am looking forward to reading more...and more...
That's the only word I can find to start this review appropriately.
I have read a lot of British crime novels. I have been disappointed by a lot of British crime novels. But not this one. Debut novels are sometimes a bit sketchy. Not this one. 'The Drop' is one of the most gripping novels I have read in a number of years.
I won't go into the plot - others have already done that. I just want to praise the author for his plots, his characters (especially the relationship between David Blake and Finney), and the ability to grab me on the first page and not let up until the very end. The pacing was excellent - and the finale was brilliant.
Suffice to say that I am looking forward to reading more...and more...
August 24, 2013
An absolutely stunning first novel! I was engaged from page one and read it in one go; an absolutely superb thriller/crime novel that's up there with some of the best stuff around.
Gripping, witty, bloody - it has pretty much everything going for it. Set in Newcastle Upon Tyne, which is a perfect location for a gritty story of low-life criminals, honour and dishonour among thieves, "The Drop" tells the story of a white collar criminal who finally has to get his hands dirty.
If you enjoy a good crime novel I can't recommend this one too highly. I've already started on Linskey's follow up ("The Damage")and it promises to be every good as his debut.
Gripping, witty, bloody - it has pretty much everything going for it. Set in Newcastle Upon Tyne, which is a perfect location for a gritty story of low-life criminals, honour and dishonour among thieves, "The Drop" tells the story of a white collar criminal who finally has to get his hands dirty.
If you enjoy a good crime novel I can't recommend this one too highly. I've already started on Linskey's follow up ("The Damage")and it promises to be every good as his debut.
September 4, 2013
This book Had some great reviews, so I downloaded it. However, I couldn't quite grasp what everyone was raving about at first. I just couldn't connect with this story, setting or its characters for the first half of the book but then all of a sudden I was hooked. Intrigued at the turn in events I soon found myself gripped and unable to put the book down. The second half of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. This is the reason I've only given it 4 stars. Usually, if a book doesn't grab me within the first chapter or two, I simply give up. I'm now glad I didn't.
October 9, 2013
A very gripping crime novel that will not allow you to put the book down or get anything else done.
There is a fair bit of violence, but it is so well written that at least on the side of the protagonist, I found myself saying "they had it coming" and almost cheered him on. Set in Newcastle, England it is well worth the readers while to choose the audio version of this book as it makes the book come alive even more. Well done to Howard Linskey and well done to the narrator.
I will make an effort to find more books by Howard Linskey. I liked his writing style and ability.
There is a fair bit of violence, but it is so well written that at least on the side of the protagonist, I found myself saying "they had it coming" and almost cheered him on. Set in Newcastle, England it is well worth the readers while to choose the audio version of this book as it makes the book come alive even more. Well done to Howard Linskey and well done to the narrator.
I will make an effort to find more books by Howard Linskey. I liked his writing style and ability.
August 30, 2014
This was a terrific crime thriller, with suspense, action, humor, and a likable protagonist. This is all written from the criminal's point of view, so it is not your typical cops and robbers police procedural. It is a lot like Goodfellas or The Sopranos as we learn how things work inside the mob. The story is set in Newcastle, England and is full of local slang and cultural references, some of which I knew, and some of which I was forced to look up! If this is really Linskey's first novel, he has done a great job! I will be looking for his next book(s).
November 3, 2014
First rate and a great concept by a debut author. Criminal gangs paying protection money to a shadowy (and far more powerful) gang, to allow them to continue with guarantees of protection from police. Unfortunately for the gang's money man, the last 'drop' of protection money has gone missing, and the money man (who doesn't think of himself as a criminal) finds himself with one option: find the cash or die.
Gritty, northern England setting, billed by the publishers as 'Get Carter' for 2011.
Gritty, northern England setting, billed by the publishers as 'Get Carter' for 2011.
April 25, 2012
I liked it. Wasn't crazy about it, but it was a fun, sharp read while bedded with a terrifying stomach fly. It's a novel that plays too much in the classic "buddy-gangster" trope, but it's nonetheless smartly plotted, populated with great characters (especially Sarah) and it's focused. Howard Linskey has put a clear vision on paper. THE DROP is paced like a Camaro on a friday night out. Fast, with a great pulse.
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