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Just a Small Town
Four young people fight to survive the streets, in this gritty novella about those left “Compulsive reading.” —Mick Finlay, author of the Arrowood mysteries
Industry is in decline. The streets are in decay. Many have gone—while those who remain seek escape in drugs.
Alex consumes heroin to forget his abusive father. Jim hides from guilt about the friend he didn’t save. Chelsi’s brother killed a local boy, and ostracism pushes her toward a rival gang, prostitution, and loneliness. Danny is a hustler, but needs protection from the drug gang that supplies him.
Can any of them endure against the odds in a town that could be anywhere in a world of addiction, crime, isolation, and manipulation?
Debut author Paul Linggood raises challenging questions about a society that has become increasingly violent, in this novella of gripping suspense and gut-wrenching realism.
“Each helpless soul, from the middle-aged labourers down the pub, to the hustling teenagers . . . are woven together by one common denominator.” —Stephen Scarcliffe, author of the Chemical Estate series
“Brings a feral world to life.” —Helen Marshall, author of The Migration
Industry is in decline. The streets are in decay. Many have gone—while those who remain seek escape in drugs.
Alex consumes heroin to forget his abusive father. Jim hides from guilt about the friend he didn’t save. Chelsi’s brother killed a local boy, and ostracism pushes her toward a rival gang, prostitution, and loneliness. Danny is a hustler, but needs protection from the drug gang that supplies him.
Can any of them endure against the odds in a town that could be anywhere in a world of addiction, crime, isolation, and manipulation?
Debut author Paul Linggood raises challenging questions about a society that has become increasingly violent, in this novella of gripping suspense and gut-wrenching realism.
“Each helpless soul, from the middle-aged labourers down the pub, to the hustling teenagers . . . are woven together by one common denominator.” —Stephen Scarcliffe, author of the Chemical Estate series
“Brings a feral world to life.” —Helen Marshall, author of The Migration
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 20, 2020
Just a Small Town is a gut-wrenching novel about the tragedies of four people. The story unfolds as each character shares their point of view and outlines how the choices they made dictated how they lived.
From school bullying, drug addiction, drug dealing, and homelessness, the reader follows Jim’s, Alex’s, Chelsi’s, and Danny’s paths growing up in a small town.
At first blush, Just a Small Town seemed to be a quick and easy read. However, for me, I could not wrap my head around all the colloquialisms. So it took me a while to get through the book since I had to deduce the meaning of each term by inference.
Although I liked some of the outcomes after reading the book, I found it a little too depressing for my tastes. Further, I felt that a more developed plot line linking each of the characters together would lend itself for a smoother and better narrative.
Overall a satisfying read. Three stars. I liked it.
I received a digital copy of the book from Hookline Books. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
From school bullying, drug addiction, drug dealing, and homelessness, the reader follows Jim’s, Alex’s, Chelsi’s, and Danny’s paths growing up in a small town.
At first blush, Just a Small Town seemed to be a quick and easy read. However, for me, I could not wrap my head around all the colloquialisms. So it took me a while to get through the book since I had to deduce the meaning of each term by inference.
Although I liked some of the outcomes after reading the book, I found it a little too depressing for my tastes. Further, I felt that a more developed plot line linking each of the characters together would lend itself for a smoother and better narrative.
Overall a satisfying read. Three stars. I liked it.
I received a digital copy of the book from Hookline Books. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 9, 2020
Just a Small Town follows the lives of four characters—Alex, Jim, Chelsi, and Danny. They each struggle with their own problems with drugs, guilt, and gangs. The book deals with heavy subjects like murder, suicide, and prostitution, but it is written in a way that makes it hard to stop reading.
The characters, plots, settings flowed seamlessly that once I caught on that the chapter headings were nicknames for some of the characters (Jim, Jonesy, and James are all one character), I just flew through the story. I was so invested in the characters, rooting for them to find their ways—especially Chelsi and Danny—that I couldn’t put the book down. My emotions were all over the place!
Paul Linggood’s book ends on a hopeful note, where the characters finally figured out what to do. I don’t read books from UK authors nearly as often as I should, so it was a nice change of pace. I’m still thinking about this book even after reading. Just a Small Town is a solid 4.5 stars.
A special thank you to the author for gifting me a review copy!
The characters, plots, settings flowed seamlessly that once I caught on that the chapter headings were nicknames for some of the characters (Jim, Jonesy, and James are all one character), I just flew through the story. I was so invested in the characters, rooting for them to find their ways—especially Chelsi and Danny—that I couldn’t put the book down. My emotions were all over the place!
Paul Linggood’s book ends on a hopeful note, where the characters finally figured out what to do. I don’t read books from UK authors nearly as often as I should, so it was a nice change of pace. I’m still thinking about this book even after reading. Just a Small Town is a solid 4.5 stars.
A special thank you to the author for gifting me a review copy!
August 22, 2020
This powerful and disturbing story captures just how easy it is for young people who are, for whatever reasons, feeling marginalised by society, finding it hard to believe in a better future or trying to cope with personal crises, to be sucked into a world of drugs, gangs and criminality. It demonstrates how easy it is for leaders of gangs to groom vulnerable teenagers with promises of an escape from their frustrations, anxieties and despair then, once the youngsters become entrenched in an even darker world, to intimidate and control them, making it very difficult for them to find an escape from its grip.
The author’s vivid portrayals of each of his characters showed how they were drawn ever-deeper into this stranglehold of drugs, addiction, gang-culture and escalating violence. I quickly felt immersed in, and at times almost overwhelmed by, the challenges they faced and their daily struggles to survive a dangerous and hostile environment – I soon found myself caring for them and fearing for them in equal measure. These evocative descriptions of their experiences encapsulated how feeling alienated, whether as an individual or as a community, creates conditions which can so easily lead to a state of anomie. This makes ruthless manipulation, by those who appear to be offering something more hopeful, so much easier. The consequential downward spiral and the despair engendered combine, making the prospect of escape feel increasingly impossible. There were many moments when I was reading when I found myself railing against the all too common political and economic decision-making which results in communities being “forgotten” and left feeling marginalised.
The graphic accounts of the characters’ experiences of family breakdown, addiction, deaths caused by overdoses or suicide, homelessness, prostitution, single-parenthood, criminal activity, imprisonment, intimidation etc, meant that I frequently found this "warts and all" debut novel from Paul Linggood rather harrowing to read. I think this was mainly because the descriptions always felt so powerfully authentic, something which is hardly surprising given his personal experience of being an ex-gang member and of having faced some similar challenges as he moved through his mid-teens into young adulthood. The hard-won triumph of hope over despair, the promise of a better future for one of his characters as the novel ends, feels equally authentic because this is what has happened for him. In his acknowledgements he thanks all the people who have offered their love, support and encouragement to help him turn his life around. I finished this story feeling full of admiration for him, not only for how determined he must have been to embark on this journey, but also for using his experiences to write this moving and impressive debut novel.
Although targeted at the YA market (it should be included in all school libraries!) it offers people of any age some important insights into the challenges so many young people face and, with its wide-ranging, topical themes, it would be an excellent choice for book groups.
With thanks to Nudge/NB for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author’s vivid portrayals of each of his characters showed how they were drawn ever-deeper into this stranglehold of drugs, addiction, gang-culture and escalating violence. I quickly felt immersed in, and at times almost overwhelmed by, the challenges they faced and their daily struggles to survive a dangerous and hostile environment – I soon found myself caring for them and fearing for them in equal measure. These evocative descriptions of their experiences encapsulated how feeling alienated, whether as an individual or as a community, creates conditions which can so easily lead to a state of anomie. This makes ruthless manipulation, by those who appear to be offering something more hopeful, so much easier. The consequential downward spiral and the despair engendered combine, making the prospect of escape feel increasingly impossible. There were many moments when I was reading when I found myself railing against the all too common political and economic decision-making which results in communities being “forgotten” and left feeling marginalised.
The graphic accounts of the characters’ experiences of family breakdown, addiction, deaths caused by overdoses or suicide, homelessness, prostitution, single-parenthood, criminal activity, imprisonment, intimidation etc, meant that I frequently found this "warts and all" debut novel from Paul Linggood rather harrowing to read. I think this was mainly because the descriptions always felt so powerfully authentic, something which is hardly surprising given his personal experience of being an ex-gang member and of having faced some similar challenges as he moved through his mid-teens into young adulthood. The hard-won triumph of hope over despair, the promise of a better future for one of his characters as the novel ends, feels equally authentic because this is what has happened for him. In his acknowledgements he thanks all the people who have offered their love, support and encouragement to help him turn his life around. I finished this story feeling full of admiration for him, not only for how determined he must have been to embark on this journey, but also for using his experiences to write this moving and impressive debut novel.
Although targeted at the YA market (it should be included in all school libraries!) it offers people of any age some important insights into the challenges so many young people face and, with its wide-ranging, topical themes, it would be an excellent choice for book groups.
With thanks to Nudge/NB for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
Now and again you find a book that stays with you so long after reading that you can't get it out of your head, that book for me is Just a Small Town. It's quite a short book at only 180 pages but every single word has been chosen carefully resulting in a gripping, gritty and brilliant read.
Just a Small Town is a clever title in itself as it could be set absolutely anywhere, you just need to read your local newspaper to see similarities to this book in your own area. The story follows four young people who live in a deprived area and it's heartbreaking to see them transform from innocent children to doing whatever they need to do to survive. Only the strong survive in this town.
I love how each chapter is dedicated to a particular character and their various guises as they change over time. It made me so angry to see how these youngsters were groomed and manipulated and it's even more shocking when you realise that this sort of thing does actually happen in real life. It's so thought-provoking and I think we really need to help deprived areas to give children a chance at life; no child should have to grow up so quickly and in such difficult circumstances. I'll get off my soapbox now!
Just a Small Town is an exceptional book and a brilliant debut; Paul Linggood brings this eye-opening story to life through his outstanding writing that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. The writing is so vibrant and the characters are so well developed and multi-dimensional that I could almost see them leaping from the page. I don't want to give anything away but I have to say that the ending is just brilliant. Have a virtual round of applause Mr Linggood.
One of the best debuts I have read this year, Just a Small Town is a tour de force from Paul Linggood and highly recommended reading. This is a perfect book to discuss at book club or with friends; I'll certainly be talking about it for a long time!
Just a Small Town is a clever title in itself as it could be set absolutely anywhere, you just need to read your local newspaper to see similarities to this book in your own area. The story follows four young people who live in a deprived area and it's heartbreaking to see them transform from innocent children to doing whatever they need to do to survive. Only the strong survive in this town.
I love how each chapter is dedicated to a particular character and their various guises as they change over time. It made me so angry to see how these youngsters were groomed and manipulated and it's even more shocking when you realise that this sort of thing does actually happen in real life. It's so thought-provoking and I think we really need to help deprived areas to give children a chance at life; no child should have to grow up so quickly and in such difficult circumstances. I'll get off my soapbox now!
Just a Small Town is an exceptional book and a brilliant debut; Paul Linggood brings this eye-opening story to life through his outstanding writing that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. The writing is so vibrant and the characters are so well developed and multi-dimensional that I could almost see them leaping from the page. I don't want to give anything away but I have to say that the ending is just brilliant. Have a virtual round of applause Mr Linggood.
One of the best debuts I have read this year, Just a Small Town is a tour de force from Paul Linggood and highly recommended reading. This is a perfect book to discuss at book club or with friends; I'll certainly be talking about it for a long time!
November 5, 2020
Just A Small Town is a truly gritty story about some residents of a small town. At 167 pages this book is quick read, but it dam well packs a punch. Even after finishing reading this I am still thinking of the characters and their situations.
We all want to believe that every town and city is idyllic. That every person living within the walls of their town is a good person. But, when you look deeper and take off those rose tinted glasses. That is when reality hits you, and you notice the ones that have fallen through the cracks or have got involved with the wrong people.
I myself live in a small town, but we are very blinkered and very rural here. The nearest town to us is 20miles away. My nearest McDonald's is 23miles away. Yep that's how rural we are!! I see daily on the news of in newspapers about gang cultures and the rise in stabbings around. Thankfully (not to my knowledge anyway) we don't have the gang mentality around here. But, we do have drug addicts and people that may not be doing the best for themselves.
So, when I was reading Just A Small Town it opened my eyes to what can happen out there. And, it broke my heart. Each chapter is a different character and slowly their lives intertwine with each other. It's a small town. Of course they are going to know each other. We see how they start out on the road to destruction, we get involved in their lives and feel emotionally connected to them.
I think reading this book and being a mother to two young children, made it harder for me to digest what I was reading. Some of the characters started out into the dark world of drugs and gangs at twelve years of age. My eldest is 6, and my youngest is 3. As any decent parent is, they naturally want the best for their children. And, your worst fear is that they go down that wrong route. I worry endlessly now about them. Worry if they are happy enough in school, worry what the future holds.
This story written by Paul Linggood who has been through those dark days. Gave more substance to the story, he has experienced what he has written about. And, it doesn't bare thinking about how that could affect you.
Just A Small Town may be urban fiction. But, it could be any small town in reality.
🌟I was gifted a copy by Paul in exchange for an honest review 🌟
We all want to believe that every town and city is idyllic. That every person living within the walls of their town is a good person. But, when you look deeper and take off those rose tinted glasses. That is when reality hits you, and you notice the ones that have fallen through the cracks or have got involved with the wrong people.
I myself live in a small town, but we are very blinkered and very rural here. The nearest town to us is 20miles away. My nearest McDonald's is 23miles away. Yep that's how rural we are!! I see daily on the news of in newspapers about gang cultures and the rise in stabbings around. Thankfully (not to my knowledge anyway) we don't have the gang mentality around here. But, we do have drug addicts and people that may not be doing the best for themselves.
So, when I was reading Just A Small Town it opened my eyes to what can happen out there. And, it broke my heart. Each chapter is a different character and slowly their lives intertwine with each other. It's a small town. Of course they are going to know each other. We see how they start out on the road to destruction, we get involved in their lives and feel emotionally connected to them.
I think reading this book and being a mother to two young children, made it harder for me to digest what I was reading. Some of the characters started out into the dark world of drugs and gangs at twelve years of age. My eldest is 6, and my youngest is 3. As any decent parent is, they naturally want the best for their children. And, your worst fear is that they go down that wrong route. I worry endlessly now about them. Worry if they are happy enough in school, worry what the future holds.
This story written by Paul Linggood who has been through those dark days. Gave more substance to the story, he has experienced what he has written about. And, it doesn't bare thinking about how that could affect you.
Just A Small Town may be urban fiction. But, it could be any small town in reality.
🌟I was gifted a copy by Paul in exchange for an honest review 🌟
December 22, 2020
Just A Small Town is a quick read which is just under 170 pages that will suck you into the world of drugs and gangs. Once you’ve finished you won’t be able to stop thinking about the characters and their fate.
This is a well written book with some great characters. Each chapter starts with a different character but as their story unwinds their live come together, some for the better and some not. The characters are well developed and felt very real. There are some that you really feel for and hope they will better their life as the years go on, but there are also a couple that wish didn’t exist. When you read this one you’ll know exactly what I mean.
My only criticism of this book was the changes in characters names. At the start of the book some of the characters are given one name but as the book progresses the names seem to change. At first I thought they were new characters but they’re not. This was a little confusing. Also, there was a big time gap which throw me a bit as one minute some of the characters were teenagers and then the next they were adults. I think if the book was a little longer this would have been less noticeable.
All in all, a great read that I would highly recommend.
A big thank you to Paul for sending me a physical copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Trigger Warning: Drugs, Drug use, Addiction, Gangs, Stabbing
This is a well written book with some great characters. Each chapter starts with a different character but as their story unwinds their live come together, some for the better and some not. The characters are well developed and felt very real. There are some that you really feel for and hope they will better their life as the years go on, but there are also a couple that wish didn’t exist. When you read this one you’ll know exactly what I mean.
My only criticism of this book was the changes in characters names. At the start of the book some of the characters are given one name but as the book progresses the names seem to change. At first I thought they were new characters but they’re not. This was a little confusing. Also, there was a big time gap which throw me a bit as one minute some of the characters were teenagers and then the next they were adults. I think if the book was a little longer this would have been less noticeable.
All in all, a great read that I would highly recommend.
A big thank you to Paul for sending me a physical copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Trigger Warning: Drugs, Drug use, Addiction, Gangs, Stabbing
December 11, 2020
Troubled teens. The lives of four teens are looked at in this book by Paul Linggood. We get an in-depth look at the very worst things that can happen to teens in England or around the world for that matter. Each of the four teens are drawn to the seedier side by the life they are forced to embrace. I found this book to be a heartbreaking look at the possibilities today's youths face.
January 4, 2021
A complete departure from anything I read during 2020, Just a Small Town was a total surprise for me. It tells the story of life for a group of people in a town and I’ll be honest, it’s pretty bleak – but it’s also eye opening. Most of the characters are young, and that they were by circumstance, placed so that they felt they had no options available to them was heart breaking reading.
I raced through this, the writing is wonderfully engaging and the characters and their lives makes for interesting and compelling reading. For such a short book there is a huge cast of characters, their stories connecting and intersecting, and it really took some effort trying to keep straight who was who, especially when the chapter headings (which uses the name of the character POV) changed the characters name, from given name to nicknames etc, as their circumstances in life progressed. It did feel to be needlessly confusing at times and there were several occasions where I was completely jarred from the story as I tried to figure out whose point of view I was inhabiting.
Despite this, it’s a fantastic book. There’s little in the way of joy, in fact it’s pretty depressing at times, but it feels real. The description of the lives these characters lead, of their experiences and the options available to them feels so honest and authentic to the point where at times I was forced to put the book down and reassess my own thoughts, and probably – if I’m honest – prejudices. It’s certainly made me reconsider how I see things.
It’s a fast paced read, one that seems to lose track of time as it goes on, but this only seems to heighten the sense of inevitability and crushing claustrophobia that surrounds the lives of the characters. Just A Small Town is an immersive read, and despite the hard hitting material, it is a book that I found incredibly easy to pick up and fall into. The ending I felt was perfectly pitched. It’s no fairy tale, and the ending is in keeping with that – but yet it still offers a glimmer of hope.
I raced through this, the writing is wonderfully engaging and the characters and their lives makes for interesting and compelling reading. For such a short book there is a huge cast of characters, their stories connecting and intersecting, and it really took some effort trying to keep straight who was who, especially when the chapter headings (which uses the name of the character POV) changed the characters name, from given name to nicknames etc, as their circumstances in life progressed. It did feel to be needlessly confusing at times and there were several occasions where I was completely jarred from the story as I tried to figure out whose point of view I was inhabiting.
Despite this, it’s a fantastic book. There’s little in the way of joy, in fact it’s pretty depressing at times, but it feels real. The description of the lives these characters lead, of their experiences and the options available to them feels so honest and authentic to the point where at times I was forced to put the book down and reassess my own thoughts, and probably – if I’m honest – prejudices. It’s certainly made me reconsider how I see things.
It’s a fast paced read, one that seems to lose track of time as it goes on, but this only seems to heighten the sense of inevitability and crushing claustrophobia that surrounds the lives of the characters. Just A Small Town is an immersive read, and despite the hard hitting material, it is a book that I found incredibly easy to pick up and fall into. The ending I felt was perfectly pitched. It’s no fairy tale, and the ending is in keeping with that – but yet it still offers a glimmer of hope.
December 25, 2020
A bold new voice, Looking forward to his future books
December 6, 2020
Finished this in a couple of long sessions today. Raw, convincing, painful at times... Riveting account of how a gang/drug culture can set teenagers onto a roadmap of violence and despair. 5 Stars. Highly recommended.
December 18, 2020
Alex, Jim, Chelsi & Danny are four young people, all mixed up in things that they shouldn’t be. Their stories are staggered across timelines and they are each involved in a number of negative events. Will each of them end up in a bad way, or is there light at the end of the tunnel?
As a word of warning there are challenging topics within this book and also a lot of swearing.
Just A Small Town felt like an interesting learning curve for me. Being somewhat naive, I had little idea about the severity of gangs and addiction to the extent covered in the storyline. I found the length of such goings on especially shocking and also the sacrifices that were made both intentionally and unintentionally.
The four characters worked well and I found them to be a great balance. Their ‘issues’ and perspectives were nicely dissimilar but also linked in some way which I found fascinating. I found myself with a lot of empathy for them, as although they were ‘bad’, it was obvious they were highly impacted by their upbringings. It was also good to have one character as a female and to provide an alternative angle to how women (girls) can get caught up in that world.
A chapter at a time is told by each of the characters which provides a broad overview of the goings on in the area that they live, and also how they are all intertwined. It’s fascinating to read, the sometimes unexpected, link and/or involvement between the characters and their respective problems.
I did have an issue with the timelines in the novel, as they were quite often confusing. The uncertainty around whether time had passed meant I found myself guessing from something that was said or mentioned in the description, instead of clarified directly. I think starting each chapter with either an age or year indicator may have helped with this and provided some clarity.
The ending was really unexpected, in a good way, as I feel like it did the storyline justice and also provided a resolution and a hint at hope in an otherwise dark story.
Hard-hitting and aggressive in nature, Just A Small Town really packs a punch. Definitely one for Crime lovers who like something a little different, and at only 180 pages it’s a fairly quick read.
As a word of warning there are challenging topics within this book and also a lot of swearing.
Just A Small Town felt like an interesting learning curve for me. Being somewhat naive, I had little idea about the severity of gangs and addiction to the extent covered in the storyline. I found the length of such goings on especially shocking and also the sacrifices that were made both intentionally and unintentionally.
The four characters worked well and I found them to be a great balance. Their ‘issues’ and perspectives were nicely dissimilar but also linked in some way which I found fascinating. I found myself with a lot of empathy for them, as although they were ‘bad’, it was obvious they were highly impacted by their upbringings. It was also good to have one character as a female and to provide an alternative angle to how women (girls) can get caught up in that world.
A chapter at a time is told by each of the characters which provides a broad overview of the goings on in the area that they live, and also how they are all intertwined. It’s fascinating to read, the sometimes unexpected, link and/or involvement between the characters and their respective problems.
I did have an issue with the timelines in the novel, as they were quite often confusing. The uncertainty around whether time had passed meant I found myself guessing from something that was said or mentioned in the description, instead of clarified directly. I think starting each chapter with either an age or year indicator may have helped with this and provided some clarity.
The ending was really unexpected, in a good way, as I feel like it did the storyline justice and also provided a resolution and a hint at hope in an otherwise dark story.
Hard-hitting and aggressive in nature, Just A Small Town really packs a punch. Definitely one for Crime lovers who like something a little different, and at only 180 pages it’s a fairly quick read.
October 27, 2020
I found this book a very hard hitting story about the tougher side of life. We see an insight into drug and gang culture, I felt myself drawn in straight away wanting to find out what secrets were kept in this town. It is a little different to what I normally read but I definitely want to read more by Paul the author. Each chapter is a different person and they all intertwine with each other. It is only 167 pages but Paul the author has done well with making those 167 pages powerful. Looking forward to the next book.
September 16, 2020
Read this within 24 hours. Each chapter concentrates on a different character, sometimes the character has a different name which confused me at the start but then I would have an "Ohhhhhh!" moment and carry on. I did feel that there's big chunks of time missing. One minute they're 16 and then 23.
I am from the same town as the author and I couldn't help but link some of the names to the places mentioned which distracted me a little. Doesn't take away the fact that it's an insight into the hardships of life and how bad it can be and I did actually like it in the end.
I am from the same town as the author and I couldn't help but link some of the names to the places mentioned which distracted me a little. Doesn't take away the fact that it's an insight into the hardships of life and how bad it can be and I did actually like it in the end.
November 4, 2020
Takes you to a world that you only read about in the newspapers. The characters feel real, they are left behind by parents, school and community. A fast read to a world none of us want to inhabit.
October 25, 2023
Brilliant quick read into the lives and the world of drugs and violence. So easy to see how people end up mixed up in this world and I kept wanting them to find the right way out.
September 3, 2021
'Enjoyed' isn't the right word for this book; I experienced it. It is filled with characters to root for as you helplessly witness their downfall, be that onto the streets or into prostitution or addiction.
Paul Linggood's use of the vernacular is skillful in drawing you ever closer to the individuals' inner thoughts and build-ups to their decisions. The novel is more like a series of short, interlinked stories, and each one has characters with distinct idiolects drip fed through the narration.
It is scary, important, and accessible.
Looking forward to reading more from this author!
Paul Linggood's use of the vernacular is skillful in drawing you ever closer to the individuals' inner thoughts and build-ups to their decisions. The novel is more like a series of short, interlinked stories, and each one has characters with distinct idiolects drip fed through the narration.
It is scary, important, and accessible.
Looking forward to reading more from this author!
October 25, 2023
Brutal and unflinching it gives an honest portrayal of desperation and survival. For a novella, the character development is excellent. In a short space of time we get to know each flawed character and I actually felt empathy for each one.
Thank you Bloodhound Books for the ARC
Thank you Bloodhound Books for the ARC
November 30, 2023
A short but powerful book. Clever and yet basic at the same time, I loved the connectivity angles and the rawness. This could be anywhere and happen to anyone which is what made it so readable. This is a book I will read again for sure.
January 12, 2022
A short but effective book.
A grim sojourn through the intertwining lives of people living in and around the small town.
A grim sojourn through the intertwining lives of people living in and around the small town.
November 5, 2023
I found it a little bit depressing but luckily it was a quick read I felt the characters needed to be linked together a bit better
December 18, 2023
A powerful and moving short read l, told from a different persons perspective each chapter. Hard hitting life stories of sex, drugs, violence and gangs.
February 3, 2021
I got the impression that there was a bit of time jumping in the beginning - but there's no indication of it whatsoever.
I feel that those in their middle age should still have life and hope in them - despite the fact that circumstances might not be so great.
A person also notices the name changes as you go through the book. I got the idea that these characters were all linked in some way.
Chelsi's character came across as a bit unbelievable, especially considering her age - even though she has been surrounded by bad influences and most likely doesn't know any better. I had an idea that she would land up in the situation she did - and it was sad that she gave up on some of the things she did; even though she had gone through the circumstances she did.
The foreshadowing in a particular chapter gave me a bad feeling.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I feel that those in their middle age should still have life and hope in them - despite the fact that circumstances might not be so great.
A person also notices the name changes as you go through the book. I got the idea that these characters were all linked in some way.
Chelsi's character came across as a bit unbelievable, especially considering her age - even though she has been surrounded by bad influences and most likely doesn't know any better. I had an idea that she would land up in the situation she did - and it was sad that she gave up on some of the things she did; even though she had gone through the circumstances she did.
The foreshadowing in a particular chapter gave me a bad feeling.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2023
This is a hard-hitting, quick read novella that tackles some of the main issues we see within society today.
Although dealing with some tough situations this was so well written that it was an easy read.
We follow the four stories of young people facing tough times - some dealing with drugs, killings, prostitution, crime and gangs - and we see how easy it is for life experiences to shape someone's decisions and take them down the wrong road.
It was easy to connect with the characters - although their lives were vastly different from my own, their situations were so familiar.
I really felt for each of them and easily became engrossed in their lives.
The writing style draws us in and creates a thought-provoking narrative as we follow the actions and effects on both the people themselves but also of the wider community too.
With interesting characters and a well developed storyline - I'd love to see more work from this author
Although dealing with some tough situations this was so well written that it was an easy read.
We follow the four stories of young people facing tough times - some dealing with drugs, killings, prostitution, crime and gangs - and we see how easy it is for life experiences to shape someone's decisions and take them down the wrong road.
It was easy to connect with the characters - although their lives were vastly different from my own, their situations were so familiar.
I really felt for each of them and easily became engrossed in their lives.
The writing style draws us in and creates a thought-provoking narrative as we follow the actions and effects on both the people themselves but also of the wider community too.
With interesting characters and a well developed storyline - I'd love to see more work from this author
February 20, 2021
This was a quick yet emotional read. It did take me a bit to get into this one, but once I caught onto the time jumps and nicknames, I couldn't put it down.
The book was pretty dark, following the lives of four troubled teens. Drug use, addiction, and gang activity are touched on, so it could definitely be a touchy book for some. I honestly hadn't thought about how severe these things were until reading this book, so it was a bit of an eye-opener for me.
The timeline and character nicknames were slightly confusing at first, but once I realized exactly what was going on, it was easier to focus on. I think a year at the start of each chapter would've made it a bit easier to keep up with everything happening.
The book was pretty dark, following the lives of four troubled teens. Drug use, addiction, and gang activity are touched on, so it could definitely be a touchy book for some. I honestly hadn't thought about how severe these things were until reading this book, so it was a bit of an eye-opener for me.
The timeline and character nicknames were slightly confusing at first, but once I realized exactly what was going on, it was easier to focus on. I think a year at the start of each chapter would've made it a bit easier to keep up with everything happening.
November 6, 2023
This is a novella about different people experiencing difficult situations, covering topics such as drugs, crime, murder as well as homelessness and prostitution, and explores some of the effects on other family members too. It was hard-hitting and thought-provoking throughout, showing some of the grim realities of becoming involved with drugs and gangs, and how people’s experiences can easily lead them down the wrong path. There were quite a few characters in this short story and some different time frames, which at times I found a little confusing. There was also some wording that I was unfamiliar with; however, overall it was a gripping read.
I received an ARC from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own.
I received an ARC from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own.
November 16, 2023
This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. This is a shorter story that packs a ton of emotion, suspense and gives off realistic feels. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. A story about four boys with different situations with one thing in common ... trying to survive. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into their world with ease. They kept me engaged from beginning to end. Connectable and relateable and just bring life to the story. A fast paced story that you don't want to miss. I enjoyed reading this book which I highly recommend
November 30, 2023
This was absolutely brilliant, a fast paced, hard hitting & thought provoking read. Highly recommend
November 6, 2023
A remarkable debut. Paul Linggood's book is an intense, brief, brave piece of writing. His style is distinctive and striking.
The fictional town of Dairwell really could be any post-industrial small town in England today. Four youths are caught up in the culture of drugs, despair and violent death. The real weight of this story is in the abysmal depths of human behaviour forced on those who have become dependent on drugs.
The author interchanges between characters with a deftness that bodes well for the future.
The fictional town of Dairwell really could be any post-industrial small town in England today. Four youths are caught up in the culture of drugs, despair and violent death. The real weight of this story is in the abysmal depths of human behaviour forced on those who have become dependent on drugs.
The author interchanges between characters with a deftness that bodes well for the future.
November 12, 2023
Once I started this book I knew that I would not want to put it down. The way it's written makes you feel fully immersed in the character's lives, and their stories are very cleverly connected. A brilliant book that I could also absolutely imagine as a television drama. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Bloodhound Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Bloodhound Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 20, 2023
An honest description of desperation and survival among troubled characters within a close knit town. The character development is excellent. We quickly get to know each flawed character and I actually felt compassion and understanding for each one.
An excellent, unputdownable novella.
An excellent, unputdownable novella.
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