The Catch

by Tom Bale

How far do you go for a friendship? That's the question Daniel Wade is forced to ask when a simple favour has fatal consequences. For the sake of his old schoolmate, Robbie - and more importantly for Robbie's sister, Cate - Dan agrees to go along with a lie. But soon he's sucked into a conspiracy that threatens to consume them all.How hard do you fight for a fortune? For Gordon and Patricia Blake, the dead man held the key to a glorious future. Now that future has been ripped from their grasp, and the Blakes want to know why. Then they want revenge.How can you hope to survive? With a ruthless predator on their trail, Dan realises that evading justice is the least of their worries. All that matters now is staying alive.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook

544 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2013

About the author

Tom Bale is the author of nine thrillers, published between 2006 and 2018.

Reviews

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello Friends.

This author came recommended by Simon Kernick, one of my favourite authors. Now I have another favourite in Tom Bale, a new British author with four books and this being the latest, a stand alone great thriller.

Many of the books I read I pick due to high recommendations so often my books will be 4 stars, but here I have given this books 5 stars, why?

The large over 500 page book kept me gripped all the way, with a very clever thought out story from start to finish. I enjoyed very much how you were able to get to know so many great strong characters, the nasty cocky Robbie, the nice Dan, the attractive Cate, others I could mention but do not want to give any plot away.

An whole supply of twists and turns, and "What's going to happen next" moments, who lives, who dies.

You keep thinking in your head, which ways is this going, who will survive?

Each character so important to the story, and the author who lives in Brighton, can show how he knows the geography so well, as we travel around the local counties of East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey.

And I am happy to mention also that David (Tom Bale), his real name is a member of my group and has agreed in the future to do a Q & A's.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am new to Tom Bale's writing and reading `The Catch' which is a stand alone novel was an excellent introduction to this author. I found this story fairly zipped along, as we become embroiled in the life of Robbie Compton, whose one moment of intense stupidity has serious repercussions for those closest to him.

Robbie is an arrogant, irresponsible and headstrong individual whose greed and foolhardy actions, not to mention a dangerous liaison with a gangster's wife, draws him into the sights of not only a couple bent on revenge, but also into the path of a ruthless henchman. As the story unfolds, the bonds of friendship and loyalty become fragile with Dan and Cate, in particular, navigating the fallout of Robbie's actions and both paying a personal cost, stretching the boundaries of their relationship with the charming yet scheming Robbie. The characterisation of all three is spot on as Bale bestows Dan and Cate with complicated and emotional personal lives that become all the more difficult due to Robbie's actions, and we can see just how strong these friendships really arein the present, as they all seem to have grown away from their younger selves and are clinging to the loyalties of the past. Bale's firm grip on the characterisation resonates though other figures in the central plot who veer from seedy, to stupid, to calculating and scheming, and I would highlight in particular Patricia and Gordon Blake, who are after Robbie's blood and whose motives in this form an interesting diametric in the plot. Are they really as bad as we think they are? They are assisted by Jerry, one of the most inept right hand heavies ever, and the brilliant Stemper, a self contained and utterly ruthless troubleshooter and a mass of contradictions that plays with the reader's perception of him to some degree.

The plot is well-paced enough, but does rely at times on questionable coincidences that overall were forgiveable as the story arc did draw you in and hold you there. A good level of violence and bloodshed throughout, and some genuinely unexpected moments that catch the reader offguard. There are quite entertaining touches including Stemper's initial introduction to the book, the bumbling haplessness of Jerry, and Robbie's fledgling career as a bored housewife's gigolo in order to acquire an alibi, that add a nice humour to the book and peppered throughout with genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. Indeed, Robbie is a very effective comedic foil to the teeth gnashing and exasperation of the dull and intense Dan, and Robbie's confused sister Cate.

So, all in all, a good, well-executed, distinctly British thriller, that is certainly worth checking out, and having already purchased a copy of `Skin and Bones' on the strength of this one, I'm glad to have discovered a new author...

Read my Q&A with Tom Bale at http://ravencrimereads.wordpress.com

[Keyreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good mystery/ thriller and this is the first Tom Bale novel I've read.

This is the story of two friends who find themselves trapped in a series of lies and deception.

In the synopsis the reader is asked, how far will you go for friendship? My response: Not as far as these crazy people! What kind of friend gets you involved in a world of mess? What were you thinking Dan?!

I hated the main characters in this story. Robbie was nothing more than a parasite. I found myself yelling at the pages about how much of a jerk he was. Now Dan! Ahhhhh! He was naive and in love with a woman he could never have. The Money hungry characters with the big kidnapping idea was a little chessy. No surprise here how that turned out. But,Overall this was an entertaining read. I may read some more Tom Bale novels in the future.

[Trina Hollis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good plot, kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.

[Book Hunt With Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello bookish peeps!! This week’s review is on The Catch, by Tom Bale. I finally got on with a thriller after a long time📖…Yaayyy!!

It all starts with Dan agreeing to do a favour for his friend, Robbie, which then leads on to whole lot of chaos for them. Hank O'Brien was worth a lot of money to the Blakes and now they want revenge as their plans are foiled now that he is dead😠. With a crazy psychopath on their trail, Dan realizes that staying alive is more important than just avoiding the police😨

Who do you think will get to them first- the Blakes or the police?

Overall, the story was quite intriguing! The main leads and the side characters were well described, making the plot more realistic and interesting, a main reason why the book didn't feel too draggy. *Always stan a perfect length of description work!*😌

I loved how Dan and Robbie are best friends, but the exact opposite of each other😂. One is a risk-taker who trusts his luck while the other, is careful and cautious. The element of shock and surprise in the last 100 pages of the book definitely gave me the goose bumps😱.

To sum up, it was a good thriller but I did expect a lot more action scenes and a more clear ending from Dan's perspective🤔.

Do check out our review on Instagram🤗
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFw-bMZAA6k/

[Mary Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot had such promise but it was not fulfilled. Two friends get involved with something by accident, and no one involved knows the full story. The characters begin to wear thin, and the motivations of the "bad guy" don't make any sense. I would also say this book portrays homosexuality in a strange retro way. As other reviewers have said, the book ends with no resolution, perhaps the author intends to write a second novel. I won't be reading it if so!

[Davaonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was as ok read, not that memorable. It was good enough it were I wouldn't mind picking something else up by this author because I know the book will be enjoyable for the time that I would be reading it.

[Brad Audiobibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story with enough twists to keep you guessing until the end, well, until what might be the end though it leaves a lot unfinished as though there is indeed a missing chapter. Paul Thornley provides excellent narration.

[Lynn Glencorse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of this author's better books. I found the storyline to be a tad unbelievable

[Anna Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disappointing ending

This was a really great book until the end, which left me at a cliff hanger. Pretty upsetting since connections were finally made in the story.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio version of this book 📚- great thriller fast paced but disappointing ending, felt as though there was a chapter missing!! Narration was excellent

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

WTF? The final chapter was missing! A 4 star read easily, until it ended

[Ken Gorst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, written by a great author.

I love the way he builds suspense throughout the books and the endings are never what you'd expect.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a very disappointing ending for me that's why I gave it 3 stars only.

[Luisa Bermudez]

Im tracking my Dramiones so Im sorry, author of this book.

One shot story on lust wine and Draco/Hermione being coworker frenemies. It was just fun an a nice short read.

[Jane Dunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as good as his others.

[Melisa Greenfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, in all honesty, the first thriller/crime book I’ve read where I didn’t have the faintest clue as to what was going to happen or how it was going to end. The story focuses on a handful of people and those people are split into two groups – Dan, Robbie, and Cate in one and Gordon, Patricia, Jerry, and Stemper in the other – although that changes over time as some people leap ship and others go it alone. Some are good, some are bad, some are just plain deranged, and the bad might surprise you.

The story starts with Dan, Robbie, and Cate (Robbie’s sister) trying to fix one of Robbie’s previous mistakes. It becomes quite clear early on that Robbie is a reckless character with minimal thought of anyone else but himself with Dan and Cate both appearing to be fed up of helping him out of the troubles he gets himself into. The trio go to meet a guy called Hank who Robbie did business with in the past… let’s just say that it wasn’t 100% legit. Although the three go together, it’s Cate who has to deal with Hank directly and it doesn’t end smoothly, with Dan having to jump in. That’s where the story gets interesting…

Yet again, one of Robbie’s mistakes leads to Dan (and eventually Cate) getting dragged into all kinds of craziness. This time, however, it’s dangerous. After Robbie’s actions lead to the death of a man, both he and Dan have to decide what to do. Dan thinks they should confess to the police and explain it was a mistake, Robbie takes every opportunity to deny what happened and, ultimately, make it look like he was never there, happy for his friend to take the blame if necessary.

As it happens, the person that died as a result of Robbie’s carelessness wasn’t exactly a clean cut kind of guy – he, himself, was mixed up in trouble and with some dangerous people, something to do with money (I do know but I refuse to give the game away). When they hear that Hank has been killed, all manner of conspiracy theories are thought of – resulting in them determined to find the person who killed him to find out why. Cue madness.

I don’t want to give too much away but this book really surprised me. Firstly because I’ve never read a book before where I couldn’t even so much as hazard a guess as to what was going to happen, but also because the characters were so full – they changed, they surprised me, they grew as the story becomes more deep.

From the off, I hated Robbie; he was smug, rude, and selfish, three of the worst qualities in a human. Therefore it doesn’t really surprise you how low he’s willing to stoop, especially when it comes to those he loves. Dan is the complete opposite. Time and time again, he puts himself out for his best friend who never seems to return the favour, unless he can get something out of it too. He struggles with his guilt and the lies that he’s forced to tell and never really recovers. It’s this pairing that makes the book so gripping to read.

At times the narrative seemed a bit disjointed but, overall, it worked with the plotline. For the most part, nobody in the story knows fully what’s going on so with the narrative being here, there, and everywhere sometimes, it helps you understand how the characters would be feeling, to an extent. I’m not sure if this was a deliberate act by the author but it worked out in the end. Of course, however, it can sometimes get quite annoying.

That aside, I can’t think of many other bad points, really. The characters are wholesome and bring out a wide range of emotions ranging from anger to confusion, happiness to sadness. The story has several twists and turns that keep you reading and on the edge of your seat. The only other aspect of this book that I didn’t particularly feel was strong or like was the ending. It could have been wrapped up better, in my opinion. It was still a great read and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good thriller/crime book.

[Any Length · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dan is a whimp, who has a selfish, psychopathic leech for a friend (Robbie), is secretly in love with Robbie's older sister Kate (out of his league - yet terribly loney herself and somewhat still regretting her failed marriage to Martin who got his new girlfriend pregnant but wants Kate back). Robbie in his selfish ways does something terrible and is prepared to "shop" everyone for his own gain and to save his skin. Drawn between overloyalty to his friend and a ever lessening loyaly to his own fiancee Dan allows Robbie to drag him further and further into a web of lies and deceipt to cover up for Dan's crime. Even knowing that Robbie would deny any knowledge and let Dan take the blam for his actions, even when finding out that Robbie has supplied Dan's kid brother with drugs doesn't spur it still doesn't spur Dan into action. Meanwhile the plot thickens and Dan, Robbie and Kate get into real danger.
A drawn out comlicated story emerges which ends rather unsatisfactorily. I had to make myself listen to the rest of the talking book because I had too much time invested, but I didn't really enjoy it very much.
Themoral of the story - don't hang out with leeches. At the first whiff of them being "takers" and "users" drop them like a hot potatoe. There are other people out there you can have for friends.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Tom Bale (pseudonym) which I came across by seeing which audiobooks were narrated by Paul Thornley, then saw that it was in a similar style to Simon Kernick so decided to give it a go, and am pleased I did!

Although I now live abroad, I was born in West Sussex and spent my late teens and early twenties in Brighton where this book is based so it was like taking a walk down memory lane with Tom's very descriptive and accurate geographical references. I really liked the writing style and the dialogues were very 'real'. The characters were built up well but I feel that the lack of a best friend for Cate was a little strange.

I agree with some of the other reviewers in that it was difficult to know the ending as being a stand-alone thriller, no one was indispensable, making it a 'page-turner (so to say, as I heard the audiobook!).


I probably would have rated this a five-star book as I'm always impressed when an unknown author (to me) captures my attention so well if it hadn't been for the somewhat 'coincidental' story line and the lacking of a final chapter explaining the fate of the Corporation and Dan.

Having said that, it was a highly enjoyable, well-written thriller that has certainly put Tom Bale high up on my favourite authors list and a book which I would recommend to fans of Simon Kernick, Stephen Leather and, why not, Lee Child.

[YellowBlackKing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schon bei meinem ersten Bale, „Amok“, kritisierte ich einige Längen. Auch hier finde ich ist es eigentlich bis ungefähr Seite 530 nicht sehr spannend. Das Ende war zwar spannend, aber es war dann zum Schluss alles zu schnell. Es war außerdem ein relativ offenes Ende, was ich nicht mag. Ich hätte mir vielleicht 100 Seiten mehr am Ende, und dafür am Anfang weniger gewünscht. Es war auch kein richtiges Happy End. Die Charaktere fand ich aber ganz gut.

[lorna day · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsatisfactory

This appeared to be a great plot at the initial read of the first few chapters but lost its way as the story progressed becoming unbelievable, messy and unsatisfactory by its conclusion. A struggle!

[Jim]

it was a good read

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very good novel it held my attention all the way through, and I wanted to keep reading it