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Seven Daze
Released from prison, and hacked off with a life of petty crime, Jim takes a new contract killing. But, what happens when your first hit fails? When the target has a heart attack before you can pull the trigger?
Charlotte, a keen city worker, jumps to the victim’s aid in South London’s busy streets. Should Jim carry out the contract and also kill Charlotte? What he shouldn’t do is help her save his life.
The man saved, Jim has a problem; not only does his boss want his advance back, he also expects compensation. Immediately. With seven days to make ten grand, Jim starts a one-man crime spree in the heart of London. But will his budding relationship with Charlotte prove to be a help or a hindrance as he struggles to stay alive?
Charlotte, a keen city worker, jumps to the victim’s aid in South London’s busy streets. Should Jim carry out the contract and also kill Charlotte? What he shouldn’t do is help her save his life.
The man saved, Jim has a problem; not only does his boss want his advance back, he also expects compensation. Immediately. With seven days to make ten grand, Jim starts a one-man crime spree in the heart of London. But will his budding relationship with Charlotte prove to be a help or a hindrance as he struggles to stay alive?
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 10, 2016
Out of all the Caffeine Nights books I had to read I would say that this was the one I was most excited to read! As a huge fan of London I am always looking for books where the city is as much a character in the book as the actual characters themselves and that was definitely the case here. I also really loved plot of the book from the blurb and was so eager to get started with it that I began reading at 1am and was still reading at 3am when I should've been asleep! But the book opens brilliantly and had me hooked from the off.
Charlie is a brilliant writer, this is one of the best written books I've read in a while and it's baffling how it took him so long to get published. I would say that this book is perfect for Caffeine Nights given their ethos and aims when it comes to publishing quality British fiction. It's a very British book in every way. Writing, dialogue, description and the book's characters.
Jim has recently been released from prison and after being given the idea by his former cellmate Harry, becomes a contract killer. Unfortunately his first hit doesn't go to plan and he ends up owing money for the failed hit and finding himself lumbered with a tag along in the form of Charlotte. To say too much about the plot would of course ruin the book but Jim ends up taking money from people who you would say probably don't need it anyway and it's a bit of a Dexter situation. You know Jim is in the wrong but he's actually a very likeable character that you want to see succeed.
I very much enjoyed his adventures across London, could easily see this book as a film or TV show. The city was just brought to life for me and I really loved it. Jim is a fairly crap thief though and throughout the book I was just waiting for him to get caught. Charlotte is also an intriguing character and you are left wondering throughout the book just what she has planned. A very enjoyable read that I highly recommend to crime fans. The only thing I would say is it was probably a. It longer than I would've liked but still a really great book that I stormed through.
Charlie is a brilliant writer, this is one of the best written books I've read in a while and it's baffling how it took him so long to get published. I would say that this book is perfect for Caffeine Nights given their ethos and aims when it comes to publishing quality British fiction. It's a very British book in every way. Writing, dialogue, description and the book's characters.
Jim has recently been released from prison and after being given the idea by his former cellmate Harry, becomes a contract killer. Unfortunately his first hit doesn't go to plan and he ends up owing money for the failed hit and finding himself lumbered with a tag along in the form of Charlotte. To say too much about the plot would of course ruin the book but Jim ends up taking money from people who you would say probably don't need it anyway and it's a bit of a Dexter situation. You know Jim is in the wrong but he's actually a very likeable character that you want to see succeed.
I very much enjoyed his adventures across London, could easily see this book as a film or TV show. The city was just brought to life for me and I really loved it. Jim is a fairly crap thief though and throughout the book I was just waiting for him to get caught. Charlotte is also an intriguing character and you are left wondering throughout the book just what she has planned. A very enjoyable read that I highly recommend to crime fans. The only thing I would say is it was probably a. It longer than I would've liked but still a really great book that I stormed through.
June 9, 2013
Seven Daze is the story of Jim who has just been released from prison. His former cellmate, lifer Harry, had sold the idea of becoming a contract killer to him and as he stands in an alley waiting to complete his first contract things go badly wrong. His mark has a heart attack. Jim and city worker, Charlotte, who appears out of nowhere help out the target and from there Jim’s nightmare begins. He must make ten grand in seven days or he’ll end up in the Thames wearing concrete leg warmers.
They say the devil is in the detail and that’s how it is with Charlie Wade’s writing. We get to see all aspects of Jim’s life as he struggles to repay the debt to his former employer. What Wade does well is the fine details. He creates a fully rounded and in depth character with Jim. His observations are often funny, wit, sarcastic and cynical sometimes all four at once.
I very much enjoyed the insights given into the character of Jim, as much as I enjoyed the events that unfolded. You can’t help but feel for Jim’s plight and most of those he is robbing won’t miss the money. After their shared experience Jim’s developing relationship with Charlotte has the reader wondering where this will go. Charlie Wade does a great job of keeping the book interesting despite his need to have to repeat some events given the nature of Jim’s task.
Overall a very enjoyable novel. The author writes in a very British way and his observations in the novel would, perhaps, appeal more to a British audience. He seems to play down events in a very British fashion where our friends over the pond might be tempted to make it more visceral. This to me makes it more effective, more realistic and more enjoyable for the honesty. Charlie Wade has made his mark here with his own brand of crime fiction. I hope more follows.
They say the devil is in the detail and that’s how it is with Charlie Wade’s writing. We get to see all aspects of Jim’s life as he struggles to repay the debt to his former employer. What Wade does well is the fine details. He creates a fully rounded and in depth character with Jim. His observations are often funny, wit, sarcastic and cynical sometimes all four at once.
I very much enjoyed the insights given into the character of Jim, as much as I enjoyed the events that unfolded. You can’t help but feel for Jim’s plight and most of those he is robbing won’t miss the money. After their shared experience Jim’s developing relationship with Charlotte has the reader wondering where this will go. Charlie Wade does a great job of keeping the book interesting despite his need to have to repeat some events given the nature of Jim’s task.
Overall a very enjoyable novel. The author writes in a very British way and his observations in the novel would, perhaps, appeal more to a British audience. He seems to play down events in a very British fashion where our friends over the pond might be tempted to make it more visceral. This to me makes it more effective, more realistic and more enjoyable for the honesty. Charlie Wade has made his mark here with his own brand of crime fiction. I hope more follows.
November 7, 2013
Jim is just out of prison and takes a job to kill a man. But Jim isn't the murdering type and when his target has a heart attack Jim, and random passerby Charlotte instead save his life.
Jim's employer is less than happy and gives him a choice - pay him £10k in a week or it's his end instead.
Jim embarks on a crime spree to get the cash whilst, to his great surprise, begins to build a relationship with Charlotte. Will he survive...?
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, Jim is a fascinating character, the author throws him a big challenge to overcome, not only trying to save his life but puzzle over why an attractive woman is interested in him. Jim is very well observed as are the supporting cast. Wade writes in great detail and provides a satisfying ending with an unexpected twist. An author to watch.
Jim's employer is less than happy and gives him a choice - pay him £10k in a week or it's his end instead.
Jim embarks on a crime spree to get the cash whilst, to his great surprise, begins to build a relationship with Charlotte. Will he survive...?
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, Jim is a fascinating character, the author throws him a big challenge to overcome, not only trying to save his life but puzzle over why an attractive woman is interested in him. Jim is very well observed as are the supporting cast. Wade writes in great detail and provides a satisfying ending with an unexpected twist. An author to watch.
July 20, 2013
Jim is a lousy liar and has a moral conscience and that makes him possibly the worst active opportunist thief roaming the streets of London. After his job as a first time assassin goes horribly wrong Jim has seven days to find ten grand but his life is further complicated by Charlotte, a sophisticated red-head way out of his league. Charlotte is the unfortunate passer-by who helps save the life of the man Jim is supposed to have sunk a bullet into. Jim should be robbing her blind but instead he slowly falls for her charms. Author Wade keeps us gagging until part two of the novel before he finally gives us a little of Charlotte’s point of view.
Wade picks up on the immoral actions of bankers throughout giving a sense of Robin Hood to the crimes Jim commits. You’re almost fooled into thinking that his many victims deserve everything they get as the tales shifts from the affluent Canary Wharf to the less glamorous back street pubs in the city.
But you know when a criminal is this bad at his job that it is only a matter of time before the handcuffs are going to be sliding back around his wrists and he’s going to finish up back inside. It is the when and which of his many clumsy crimes or whether he will be jammy enough to pull it off, along with the true intentions of Charlotte that keeps you hooked.
Seven Daze is a great read for those who fancy a light-hearted crime novel that takes you on a trip round London town.
Wade picks up on the immoral actions of bankers throughout giving a sense of Robin Hood to the crimes Jim commits. You’re almost fooled into thinking that his many victims deserve everything they get as the tales shifts from the affluent Canary Wharf to the less glamorous back street pubs in the city.
But you know when a criminal is this bad at his job that it is only a matter of time before the handcuffs are going to be sliding back around his wrists and he’s going to finish up back inside. It is the when and which of his many clumsy crimes or whether he will be jammy enough to pull it off, along with the true intentions of Charlotte that keeps you hooked.
Seven Daze is a great read for those who fancy a light-hearted crime novel that takes you on a trip round London town.
June 29, 2013
I like to keep schtum on any plot spoilers so I won't regale you with a narrative. Charlie writes with 'a twist' (bit like a good gin and tonic) so this tale of crime gone wrong squirms along as Jim tries to save his skin amongst the grit and glamour of London. A great read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews