Hard Man

Dark Chapter Press A-Z #8

by Jack Rollins

Ruling the dark underworld of Tilwick is no easy feat, but Eddie Garfield does so with brutal efficiency.
For sixty years, he has abided by two simple rules, rules that have painted the cobbles with splattered blood and broken teeth, and forged an impressive legacy.

But sixty years is a long time ... people are becoming restless; the criminal young bloods are ambitious and hungry to take their slice of the pie, and they'll do anything to obtain it.

Even if it means taking down one of their own...

Hard Man takes place in the mysterious town of Tilwick, where the demon Mammon is worshipped as a god. The town featured in Rollins' story 'Home, Sweet Home' (Kill For A Copy, Dark Chapter Press), and will soon provide the chilling backdrop for his long-awaited novel, Carsun.

34 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2023

About the author

+++ Get your FREE, exclusive horror ebooks including 'Tender Morsels' and 'A Haunting at Collingwood House' at https://www.jackrollins.substack.com +++

Jack Rollins was born and raised among the twisting cobbled streets and lanes, ruined forts and rolling moors of rural Northumberland, England in 1980. He is the author of the horror novel The Cabinet of Doctor Blessing, the novella The Séance and a range of short , dark fiction tales. Jack lives in Newcastle, England.

Jack can be found online at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jackrollinshorror

Reviews

[Nev Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is brutal at times. As you would expect with a story about underworld gangs, there is a certain amount of violence involved. Some of it just a little slap, some of it all out fights and some of it uses some brutal techniques that I truly hope only to exist in the mind of Jack Rollins!"

See here for the full review:

Hard Man

[Dale Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, brutal read. Love a good crime thriller where gangsters are knocking the sh*t out of each other. Makes a change the other genres i usually read.

Jack's writing is great and you get fully immersed in the life of Eddie. Would love a follow up or prequel to tell more of Eddie's story.

[Lou Canning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty and fast paced

Wow!
Gritty, action packed very violent and no holding back, this story about one man, a hard man.
Reminded me of the classic British films about gangs and hard men.
If you are a bit squeamish it won’t be for you.
Like Jack’s other books, this one is also Very good in my opinion. 👏👏

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty tale

This story had the perfect anti-hero in it.. As I read I saw Jason Statham as the main character. Some won't like this story for the violence, but it wasn't too graphic. No nightmares here.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would've been another 5 star from me for Rollins, but I was a bit bummed with the ending.

[Pam Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good quick read.

[Terry M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short read, which packs a punch, literally. The pages are filled with gangster style violence and not one for the squeamish.

[Miranda Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutal short story. I was hooked from the opening and enjoyed the first person POV as though the main character was talking to me in a pub.

The rough setting with dealing and fighting and a touch of territorial gangs in pubs felt familiar as I have been in those pubs and met those people - even broken up some of those fights, though maybe not 'quite' as violent!

A quintissentially British read about the rougher side of life. Really enjoyed it. But it's not for the faint hearted, being blatant and graphic.