Face Down: A fast paced urban and gritty crime thriller that you can't put down

by Garry Bushell

Face Down is the third instalment of the Harry Tyler pulp fiction trilogy. Book one, The Face, introduced undercover cop Harry Tyler and told how he brought down vicious South London crime family, the Bakers. The novel was a controversial success when it was published, selling out three editions and making front page news. The follow-up, Two-Faced saw detective turned renegade Harry escape a lonely death in Ireland after being set up by MI5. Face Down catches up with Harry in 2012. The fast-talking character is surviving on his wits in the North West of England until fate conspires to reunite him with villain John Baker, known as Johnny Too, released from jail early as bait for a serial killer. When an angry vigilante takes the law into his own hands the Kent police are stumped. But could the brutal serial killer be taking his cues from an outspoken rightwing newspaper columnist? Jailed South London crime lord Johnny Too agrees to be the bait to lure him into the open and end his reign of murder and terror. There’s just one problem – he wants retired undercover detective Harry Tyler, the man who put him away, to be part of the plot. And Harry’s dead. Isn’t he? Praise for 'The Face' “Excellent pulp fiction” – Jonathan Ross “Completely bloody brilliant” – Roy ‘Pretty Boy’ Shaw “Raw funny and authentic” – Barbara Windsor Praise for 'Two-Faced' “Fantastic – I want to play Harry in the movie” – Dave Legeno* “Gritty and gripping” – Billy Murray “A must read” – Dave Courtney Praise for 'Face Down' “An absolute triumph - it’s even tougher and raunchier than the first two books.” – Jeff Turner, the Cockney Rejects

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2013

About the author

English newspaper columnist, OI! music journalist, television presenter, author, musician and political activist. Bushell also sings in the Cockney OI! bands GBX and the Gonads. He managed the New York City Oi! band Maninblack until the death of the band frontman Andre Schlessinger. Bushell's recurring topical themes are comedy, country and class. He has campaigned for an English Parliament, a Benny Hill statue and for variety and talent shows on TV. His TV column Bushell on the Box still appears weekly in the Daily Star Sunday, and he writes for the Arts & Entertainment section of the Sunday Express.

Reviews

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punchy, funny and steams along like a bullet train with no brakes

[Gavin Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so, this will be a review on two separate accounts. On the first part this is the closing book in a trilogy, it is not har to get to grips with the characters and follow in, the basics of it are all pretty straight up London gangster/tough guy stuff but that is by no means meant to sound a bad thing. The writing is sharp and Bushell is really on the ball.
Secondly, the novel is short, a short sharp shock would be an apt description, easy to fly through in a night with no problem. I did enjoy it enough that I went straight to a large internet retailer and buy the series for my kindle. NOW, this is where it got entertaining, the trilogy is the bollocks, when you get it from the beginning it is a belter. The characters are as entertaining as it gets and it is so fast paced you don’t have a hope in hell of putting it down. I did have my reservations as the whole UK gangster underworld thing for me usually just doesn’t wash but the Harry Tyler series really stands out from the crowd.
Just remember though Garry, Punk’s Not Dead!

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

F#@king brilliant

Like they say third time lucky and all that..
I'm glad I read it but only because I've now read them all..