“The previous events of his life and this horrific moment were so incongruent that a faint hope surfaced. Perhaps this was nothing more than a vivid nightmare.”
Despite having no recollection of the murder, Paul Ranson knows he is the primary suspect and begins a desperate search for the truth. As the police close in, Paul is convinced that he must confront a force of hatred that has grown against him. A prospect too terrifying to face alone.
Peter Dudgeon started writing short stories at the age of fourteen, inspired Stephen King’s early novels. At twenty-two he graduated in English Language and Literature and has since travelled the length and breadth of the UK (occasionally beyond) as a management consultant. He lives in North East Lincolnshire, with his wife, two daughters and a troublesome Labrador.
Ticket is another cracking read from Peter Dudgeon, the author of Chance. This gritty thriller tells the story of Paul Ranson, who has unwittingly become a man wanted for murder after he buys a total stranger a train ticket. Whilst he has no recollection of the crime he soon works out that the police will have no option but choose him as their prime suspect. Suspecting that he was drugged, Paul decides that his best option is to run and try and work out who has set him up. Over the course of the novel we're introduced to different characters, in various scenarios and varying amounts of time "before the ticket". Some novels that are written in this way can confuse the reader but not this one. The order in which we're introduced to these other characters is done superbly and the author then skillfully pulls all the threads together and neatly combines them to give a satisfying ending. Although this was a good read I found that I didn't enjoy it as much as his second novel, Chance as I didn't feel the writing was as polished but that, surely, is a testament to how much this author's writing has progressed and that's why I'm looking forward to Peter Dudgeon's next offering "Circle" due out this autumn.
Picked up this book after a recommendation from a friend. I usually read thrillers, particularly those with serial killers. It was written in a style that reminded me of Dan Brown, where several threads were running in parallel, leaving a cliff hanger at the end of most chapters - this kept me wanting more. It's the story of a seemingly chance romantic encounter that ends tragically and the remainder of the book is a race against time to discover who's responsible and why. Whilst there are elements of police procedure, it is not a police procedural, more of a mystery thriller, and a fast paced one at that. Characters and believable and easy to relate to. Violence is infrequent, well described and avoids sensationalism. There are plenty of twists and turns, but the plot never feels contrived. Some of the subject matter is dark - domestic and child abuse - but is handled subtly and with style. Best thriller I've read this year.
You're tired, lonely, living a corporate life on the road when you meet a vulnerable young woman in need of your help. She wants to repay your kindness with money and more. When your chance romantic encounter leads to her death, do you stay to face the music, or flee to face your past?
Review
Another cracking read from a brilliant author.
Paul Ranson (a married man) is on a journey by train from London to Newcastle (a journey that is becoming a habit) drinking overpriced beer from the trolley and watching Jack Nicholson films on his laptop.
He meets a young woman (Annabelle) on this journey when she sits opposite him on a pretty empty train and a conversation starts. It becomes apparent that she has misplaced her purse and therefore has no money to buy a ticket, and the ticket conductor is approaching. Paul therefore offers kindly to buy the same, Annabelle informs him that her hotel is only a short walk from the station and if he accompanies her back to the hotel she has money in her room and will repay him.
Upon arriving at the hotel a romantic encounter ensues and Paul wakes up the following morning to the woman lying dead and no recollection of what happened. Suspecting he has been drugged and knowing the police will be after him, he walks out of the hotel and goes on the run.
We are then introduced to various other characters in short punchy chapters which leave you wondering who is who. People who knew Paul from previous jobs, people who are looking for Paul for various reasons including ones who he has upset through the course of his work and a reverend called Kassia and a detective called Vicky, both of whom believe in him and want to help him.
Want to find out more, then my suggestion is you read the book. To give you a laugh, I was reading this on my way to and home from work on a train. Made me think about the relationships that can materialise from train journeys. I have a few train buddies who I catch up with most days to work and I was even telling them about this book and advising them that they need to read the same.
As I’ve said before, another cracking read from this up and coming author and one that has definitely made a lasting impression on me this year with both books I’ve been lucky to read, this one I bought before I knew the author and Chance his second book which was kindly gifted to me as a review copy for the author. Peter is an author who I will be following and waiting eagerly for his next book which I believe is due out in the autumn and called “Circle”.
Wow! What a read! This popped up on my 'you may also like' suggestions on Amazon so I took the plunge. I will be honest, to start with I was struggling to put all the characters together. If you have the same problem, do not let this put you off at all. Eventually, the "18 months before the ticket" approach is simply brilliant. Unlike the standard progressive story, this approach gradually feeds you the pieces of the puzzle. It is fast paced, gritty and in no way at all predictable. I loved it, Peter Dudgeon deserves to be known!!
I liked the book , though the time line jumping back and forth was jarring .The main character was fairly well drawn , the lesser characters were not .It just missed the mark for me .
Good read, not usually a fan of jumping time frames but so well written it was easy to follow, interesting story, will definitely read more from this author.