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London Underground #1
Something You Are
Is evil something you do, or something you are? A debut noir from an extrarodinary new talent. Nic Caruana never meant to make a living by killing people. Once, he was destined for a white-collar job in a middle-class area. But like many kids, he made a fatal mistake. Now, he inhabits the bleak, dark city that runs like a seam beneath London. His latest job is to track down the daughter of an arms dealer, using any weapon necessary to get to the truth. But Nic has fallen in love with his dangerous employer's wife. When the missing girl turns up dead, this grief-stricken mother starts playing twisted games with Nic—and this time he has nothing in his amory to protect himself. Taut, spare, and wonderfully plotted, this is the first in a series of menacing urban crime novels from a writer of exceptional talent.
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
24 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Hanna Jameson
6 books445 followersHanna Jameson's fourth novel, part murder mystery and part post-apocalyptic thriller - THE LAST - is out early 2019, with Viking UK and Simon & Schuster - Atria Books US. The Last is the story of an American academic searching for the truth about a girl who has been murdered in his Swiss hotel in the aftermath of a nuclear war that has destroyed most of the Western world.
Jameson had written the first draft of her debut, award-nominated novel - SOMETHING YOU ARE - at just seventeen. Something You Are and two further novels in the series - GIRL SEVEN and ROAD KILL - are available now in the UK, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.
She lives in London currently, and is working on screenwriting projects. She likes whiskey, history, and emotionally taxing TV shows.
Jameson had written the first draft of her debut, award-nominated novel - SOMETHING YOU ARE - at just seventeen. Something You Are and two further novels in the series - GIRL SEVEN and ROAD KILL - are available now in the UK, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.
She lives in London currently, and is working on screenwriting projects. She likes whiskey, history, and emotionally taxing TV shows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 31, 2013
The first time I killed someone I wasn't paid for it.Meet Nic Caruana. Actually, you better hope you never meet Nic Caruana because if you do it likely means you are in for a world a hurt: perhaps some disfigurement...creative mutilation...and only if you're really lucky, a quick death.
~Something You Are, Hanna Jameson
Nic is your average English bloke just trying to make a living on the mean streets of London's underbelly. He's not a psychopath, but he is a murderer for hire. He's done some very bad things that he doesn't really feel all that bad about. He can be brutal, detached, ruthless. But he remains human and interesting and sympathetic. He is estranged from his normal, suburban parents, his junkie sister, and a war hero brother flying helicopters in Afghanistan.
Nic was a good kid until something very bad happened to him. Now he isn't good any more.
To all my crime loving GR friends out there, this is a fresh new voice in the genre to make your toes curl. It's noir that's black as night, with pages that bleed violence so in your face you can hear the bones cracking. The dialogue is sharp as razor blades, not only moving the plot forward at an adrenalized rush, but constructing flesh and blood characters right out of the ether one word at a time.
And are you ready for this? In a genre that's predominantly male territory, Something You Are was written by a slip of a girl who drafted Nic's story when she was just 17 years old. Now she's an old maid at 23, but she's got at least two more London Underground books drafted and I can only hope we see them sooner rather than later.
I will warn off more sensitive readers: this book features a lot of graphic violence and is set firmly in London's unforgiving, unsentimental crime scene of amoral people breaking all kinds of laws along with a shitload of bones. But goddammit, it's pretty damn fine storytelling. A punch to the kidneys, an uppercut to the chin, and I think I'll have an Irish whiskey and a fag now, thanks very much.
This review can also be found at Busty Book Bimbo.
March 3, 2014
When someone gives you a book and says 'read this, it's by an 18 year old girl from my wriiting group' you might be expecting many things, but it is very unlikely that you will be expecting this. I certainly wasn't. A crime novel of great darkness, with brilliant characters, taut writing, and many moments of sly humour. Like many of the best crime novels and films this begins by introducing a character you think is bad and then says there are levels way, way beyond/below this. To me it read like a less silly version of David Peace, can't wait to read the next book!
March 24, 2019
A book in the style of a Raymond Chandler, a case taken, a crime to solve and a femme fatale. Sounds familiar, feels familiar, yet is unique enough to stand apart from its supposed genre. Our protagonist, Nic Caruana, isn't so much of a detective as a problem solver, a killer, in short a hit man. He is good at his job, and is therefore sought after for his services. His reputation goes before him, yet we find he is damaged, and attracts likewise. A notable underworld character hires to Nic to find his missing teenaged daughter, but soon turns into a hunt for her brutal murderer in the dark side of London so familiar from media
July 26, 2013
If you're looking for 21st century noir, then Hanna Jameson has something to give you. Something You Are is a dark commentary on today. Nic Caruana is a modern everyman, the guy we could all become. Young, sharp, headed for the middle class dream, one stumble sent him into the dark world of paid assassins. But, for me, the most stunning part of this book is the question she poses in the title, Something You Are, and the dark, but insightful answer she gives.
August 7, 2022
“Something You Are” (SYA) is the debut novel by Hanna Jameson and the first in the gangland crime “London Underground” trilogy.
When people call Nic Caruana it’s because that want someone to disappear…permanently. But when Emma Dyer, the sixteen year old daughter of one of London’s gangland bosses Pat Dyer, is found brutally murdered Pat doesn’t want the perpetrator to disappear, he wants vengeance. But until this can happen Nic needs to retrace Emma’s last steps to find out what exactly happened and who did what.
SYA is a solid enough debut, set in the world of London’s gangsters. It’s is a hard hitting, visceral tale of discovery and revenge with many of the anticipated characters types present (contract killer, crime bosses of various styles, the well connected nightclub owner, bent coppers, and various lackeys) without being too stereotypical. Also the overall main story is straightforward and well told.
But it is not without its flaws, for example:
- the main character I found incredibly confusing, for example a contract killer with a code I get…but one that seemingly finds violence hard to look at, or one that gets emotionally involved with his clients at first meeting just seemed a touch too unprofessional perhaps? I guess I struggled to see clearly what Nic’s motivations were to be convincing
- Also if Nic’s a contract killer why is he investigating who committed the crime. Why doesn’t Pat bring him in once the killer is identified?
- There are various subplots which are there to either provide background to the main characters or develop the story. Some of these work, some of these are a little bewildering, and some that should be there aren’t (I’m assuming/hoping there will be more about some specific characters in the next two books)
- The narrative tended to jump around with scenes changing so quickly I needed to re-read passages to see the connection and how someone got from point A to point B
That said SYA is not a bad book and it left me with enough interest to not only see where the series goes next but also to see how Jameson’s writing evolves.
SYA gets 3 pairs of concrete shoes out of 5.
When people call Nic Caruana it’s because that want someone to disappear…permanently. But when Emma Dyer, the sixteen year old daughter of one of London’s gangland bosses Pat Dyer, is found brutally murdered Pat doesn’t want the perpetrator to disappear, he wants vengeance. But until this can happen Nic needs to retrace Emma’s last steps to find out what exactly happened and who did what.
SYA is a solid enough debut, set in the world of London’s gangsters. It’s is a hard hitting, visceral tale of discovery and revenge with many of the anticipated characters types present (contract killer, crime bosses of various styles, the well connected nightclub owner, bent coppers, and various lackeys) without being too stereotypical. Also the overall main story is straightforward and well told.
But it is not without its flaws, for example:
- the main character I found incredibly confusing, for example a contract killer with a code I get…but one that seemingly finds violence hard to look at, or one that gets emotionally involved with his clients at first meeting just seemed a touch too unprofessional perhaps? I guess I struggled to see clearly what Nic’s motivations were to be convincing
- Also if Nic’s a contract killer why is he investigating who committed the crime. Why doesn’t Pat bring him in once the killer is identified?
- There are various subplots which are there to either provide background to the main characters or develop the story. Some of these work, some of these are a little bewildering, and some that should be there aren’t (I’m assuming/hoping there will be more about some specific characters in the next two books)
- The narrative tended to jump around with scenes changing so quickly I needed to re-read passages to see the connection and how someone got from point A to point B
That said SYA is not a bad book and it left me with enough interest to not only see where the series goes next but also to see how Jameson’s writing evolves.
SYA gets 3 pairs of concrete shoes out of 5.
November 4, 2015
I thought this was a very good noir crime novel. The protagonist and first-person narrator is Nic, a freelance underworld enforcer and killer in London who is employed by a crime boss to find his missing daughter. I found it fresh, gripping and well written, and I became very involved with the story.
The story is bleak, very violent in places and very well told. The prose is readable and the characters generally well drawn and believable. I particularly liked the neat sketching in of how Nic came into his "occupation" without a lot of cumbersome back-story to weigh down the plot. Things move at a good pace and I found the London underworld which Jameson depicts to be repellently plausible. I did think that the culmination of the story was a little weaker, but certainly not enough to spoil anything. Do be warned that there is liberal use of what TV warnings call "very strong language" and some truly sickening violence in places, but I thought both were completely justified and absolutely true to the characters Jameson depicts.
If you want likeable characters to identify with or object to swearing and violence then this book won't be for you. Otherwise, I can recommend it as an exciting, involving and in places quite thoughtful crime novel.
The story is bleak, very violent in places and very well told. The prose is readable and the characters generally well drawn and believable. I particularly liked the neat sketching in of how Nic came into his "occupation" without a lot of cumbersome back-story to weigh down the plot. Things move at a good pace and I found the London underworld which Jameson depicts to be repellently plausible. I did think that the culmination of the story was a little weaker, but certainly not enough to spoil anything. Do be warned that there is liberal use of what TV warnings call "very strong language" and some truly sickening violence in places, but I thought both were completely justified and absolutely true to the characters Jameson depicts.
If you want likeable characters to identify with or object to swearing and violence then this book won't be for you. Otherwise, I can recommend it as an exciting, involving and in places quite thoughtful crime novel.
January 31, 2016
Ultimately I was disappointed. Though I was impressed with the fact that this was a full and complex novel with some maturity, written by a seventeen year-old, it just wasn't quite what I was looking for - and hence I ended up not enjoying it massively, as much credit as I wanted to give the author.
The book revolves around a kinda 'fixer' bloke in London, who is employed to find the killers of a teenage girl and allow her father to exact vengeance. This is the central storyline, but alongside this there are numerous strands of fucked-up junkies, fucked-up family relationships, fucked-up gangs, fucked-up jobs on the side, and the fucked-up nature of the central character making his living how he does. The violence is frequent and explicit, as is the sex, and the mindlessness of this ended up making me lose interest in the uniformly unlikeable cast of characters and what all the shagging and killing was all for.
I've read gritty brutal stuff like this before, but have generally only enjoyed it when there's been more humour, more sympathetic treatment of characters, and more hope about it all. This novel seemed to be written to shock the reader, and in doing so it lost the interest of this one.
The book revolves around a kinda 'fixer' bloke in London, who is employed to find the killers of a teenage girl and allow her father to exact vengeance. This is the central storyline, but alongside this there are numerous strands of fucked-up junkies, fucked-up family relationships, fucked-up gangs, fucked-up jobs on the side, and the fucked-up nature of the central character making his living how he does. The violence is frequent and explicit, as is the sex, and the mindlessness of this ended up making me lose interest in the uniformly unlikeable cast of characters and what all the shagging and killing was all for.
I've read gritty brutal stuff like this before, but have generally only enjoyed it when there's been more humour, more sympathetic treatment of characters, and more hope about it all. This novel seemed to be written to shock the reader, and in doing so it lost the interest of this one.
March 18, 2019
Read fluently. Had some nice characters but it felt a little over the top to me.
July 7, 2022
I have finished reading “Something You Are” by Hanna Jameson.
This is the first part of the author’s ‘London Trilogy’. It is a Noir crime thriller. It follows the story of Nic Carauna, a freelance hitman hired by an arms dealer to investigate the kidnapping of his daughter.
In the interests of full disclosure, I decided to read this book after reading “The Last” which I have previously reviewed. I felt it had promise although I didn’t think it quite went over the edge for me. I decided to give the author another try and here we are.
The noir in this book is very evident. The protagonist Nic, while not a sadist, is certainly comfortable with dishing out death or inflicting pain on people. He seems to see such things as a function of his job and basically accepts he is a screw up in life, so he may as well carry on with his profession.
Nic is also a rather frustrating character. He hardly ever seems to take responsibility for his own actions. When he experiences the consequences of them he hardly seems to learn. It might just be me, but I would have thought someone in such a life or death job would be more calculating. Forgetting to check your corners could after all result in a 9mm surprise. To be honest I felt the supporting characters were a lot more interesting and easier to understand in terms of their motivations and behaviour, such as his housemate and occasional partner in crime Mark. I did not especially like the arms dealer’s wife Claire. I felt she hit too many noir cliches.
Again, it may be my unfamiliarity with noir, but the story moved a bit too slowly for my liking. Too many small and slow encounters that seemed a bit innocuous at first. Sometimes they later turned out to be more relevant. The slow pace throughout most of the book seemed to necessitate the sudden pick up in speed in the last quarter. Now, evidently this is often an old- fashioned trick just to give the reader a thrill ride to the end. But it felt imbalanced here.
I felt overall this book was a missed opportunity. I only really started to care about the characters towards the end, yet the rest of the trilogy as far as I know moves on to another cast. Is this confidence on the author’s behalf or a big miscalculation? I honestly can’t tell. It just seems a shame and a potentially big waste. Even though I felt there was something lacking in “The Last” I actually enjoyed it more. There was a lot more potential, genuine tension, vivid danger and overall humanity in that book.
There are some philosophical themes played on such as the emptiness of revenge and resentment between children and their parents.
Will I read the rest of the London Trilogy? To be honest, it may be a while until I consider it. I see a lot of potential in this author but I think they may need to listen to more people like me who doesn’t tell them that everything they write is awesome.
This is the first part of the author’s ‘London Trilogy’. It is a Noir crime thriller. It follows the story of Nic Carauna, a freelance hitman hired by an arms dealer to investigate the kidnapping of his daughter.
In the interests of full disclosure, I decided to read this book after reading “The Last” which I have previously reviewed. I felt it had promise although I didn’t think it quite went over the edge for me. I decided to give the author another try and here we are.
The noir in this book is very evident. The protagonist Nic, while not a sadist, is certainly comfortable with dishing out death or inflicting pain on people. He seems to see such things as a function of his job and basically accepts he is a screw up in life, so he may as well carry on with his profession.
Nic is also a rather frustrating character. He hardly ever seems to take responsibility for his own actions. When he experiences the consequences of them he hardly seems to learn. It might just be me, but I would have thought someone in such a life or death job would be more calculating. Forgetting to check your corners could after all result in a 9mm surprise. To be honest I felt the supporting characters were a lot more interesting and easier to understand in terms of their motivations and behaviour, such as his housemate and occasional partner in crime Mark. I did not especially like the arms dealer’s wife Claire. I felt she hit too many noir cliches.
Again, it may be my unfamiliarity with noir, but the story moved a bit too slowly for my liking. Too many small and slow encounters that seemed a bit innocuous at first. Sometimes they later turned out to be more relevant. The slow pace throughout most of the book seemed to necessitate the sudden pick up in speed in the last quarter. Now, evidently this is often an old- fashioned trick just to give the reader a thrill ride to the end. But it felt imbalanced here.
I felt overall this book was a missed opportunity. I only really started to care about the characters towards the end, yet the rest of the trilogy as far as I know moves on to another cast. Is this confidence on the author’s behalf or a big miscalculation? I honestly can’t tell. It just seems a shame and a potentially big waste. Even though I felt there was something lacking in “The Last” I actually enjoyed it more. There was a lot more potential, genuine tension, vivid danger and overall humanity in that book.
There are some philosophical themes played on such as the emptiness of revenge and resentment between children and their parents.
Will I read the rest of the London Trilogy? To be honest, it may be a while until I consider it. I see a lot of potential in this author but I think they may need to listen to more people like me who doesn’t tell them that everything they write is awesome.
May 25, 2020
Nic Caruana is paid to find and kill people. In his youth, he stabbed a bully in self-defence, an act that has sculpted the life we meet him living. A child has gone missing and her father has paid Nic to find her, then to find her killers. But there are issues in the family, and when I say issues, the father is a fearsome nutter, and the wife has mother-daughter issues, seemingly jealous of her daughter’s youth, among other stuff and she’s pretty keen on bedding our Nic.
With all this baggage dragging at Nic’s heels he still finds the daughter, and the two punks involved in her disappearance. Two young punks who performed some sick acts on the girl, filmed their acts, which is never a smart act, as it always gets passed on and makes the investigation a doddle. But there’s no accounting for stupid. Nic deals with one of the sicko lads, and the other he lets walk. Go figure.
There’s another scary chap involved, a Shakespeare note writer, who we discover is too much of a nutter for Nic to deal with and a deal is done to let Nic live. I never felt the menace for this chap, but was happy Nic didn’t die. It always helps a series if the protagonist survives.
It's suggested that Nic is good at this job of finding and killing but this story illustrates a distinct lack of finesse. He has a mate, a gay mate who has some dodgy chums, that is more together and gets him out of trouble.
I liked Nic. He has a fear of death, and that is refreshing. I’m going to buy the second book. You should read the first. It’s a good start. And it’s in London. What more can I say?
With all this baggage dragging at Nic’s heels he still finds the daughter, and the two punks involved in her disappearance. Two young punks who performed some sick acts on the girl, filmed their acts, which is never a smart act, as it always gets passed on and makes the investigation a doddle. But there’s no accounting for stupid. Nic deals with one of the sicko lads, and the other he lets walk. Go figure.
There’s another scary chap involved, a Shakespeare note writer, who we discover is too much of a nutter for Nic to deal with and a deal is done to let Nic live. I never felt the menace for this chap, but was happy Nic didn’t die. It always helps a series if the protagonist survives.
It's suggested that Nic is good at this job of finding and killing but this story illustrates a distinct lack of finesse. He has a mate, a gay mate who has some dodgy chums, that is more together and gets him out of trouble.
I liked Nic. He has a fear of death, and that is refreshing. I’m going to buy the second book. You should read the first. It’s a good start. And it’s in London. What more can I say?
September 26, 2024
I bought this book many moons ago as I planned to see a dear friend who I have since lost contact with. You know how it is, you grow up and grow apart...
I say this as this is definitely not the sort of book I would normally read. It is gruesome in numerous places but none of the gore is gratuitous - it all serves a purpose in the overarching story and is used to emphasise characterisation that just couldn't be done by other means.
I'm still to this day somewhat surprised that it hasn't been adapted to the big or small screen as it's written with a cinematic quality that can often lack in this genre. The book will urge you on to read more just as you're squeamishly trying to resist doing so
I say this as this is definitely not the sort of book I would normally read. It is gruesome in numerous places but none of the gore is gratuitous - it all serves a purpose in the overarching story and is used to emphasise characterisation that just couldn't be done by other means.
I'm still to this day somewhat surprised that it hasn't been adapted to the big or small screen as it's written with a cinematic quality that can often lack in this genre. The book will urge you on to read more just as you're squeamishly trying to resist doing so
November 23, 2019
That was a rollercoaster of a read! Nic is a fixer and his flat mate Mark a cleaner. Nit handymen, mind. A teenager goes missing and her dad enlists Nic’s help. Of course, nothing is as it seems... The characterization is such that you are left wanting more. It’s dark, brutal, violent, and occasionally touching, a la Reservoir Dogs. Definitely cinematic. There is plenty of colour and it’s certainly splashed all over the place. I’d read more for sure.
June 3, 2024
You never really get to know the main character, it's like the author couldn't decide if he was a good guy doing bad stuff, a bad guy with bad conscience or a lame sociopath getting through life doing what he knows best. Many stories aren't really relevant to the main story, and I found more violent parts that I thought were needed, even the level of violence... unnecessary.
I kept wishing the book would turn out better getting closer to the end, it didn't.
I kept wishing the book would turn out better getting closer to the end, it didn't.
May 13, 2023
Some gritty writing
Gritty story. Written by a young girl, about a man who hires himself out to do violence. His employer has a daughter who was killed. Nic things the guy also commits violence against his wife who always has bruises and injuries. Nic is enraptured by her.
But in this story all is not as it seems.
Gritty story. Written by a young girl, about a man who hires himself out to do violence. His employer has a daughter who was killed. Nic things the guy also commits violence against his wife who always has bruises and injuries. Nic is enraptured by her.
But in this story all is not as it seems.
February 3, 2021
A little disappointed that the kidnap/murder story seemed to become more of a subplot than the main story, but on the whole a gritty crime novel, brutal and dark, with an interesting lead character that has been well established for follow-up novels in the series.
January 5, 2017
Knap thrillerdebuut van een jonge vrouwelijke auteur.
Rauw en hard.
Ben erg benieuwd naar het volgende deel.
Alleen jammer van wat taalfoutjes in de Nederlandse uitgave.
Rauw en hard.
Ben erg benieuwd naar het volgende deel.
Alleen jammer van wat taalfoutjes in de Nederlandse uitgave.
Read
November 26, 2019Hmmm
Never really got into this book fully. Not sure why, but it just didn't grab hold of my imagination me in a convincing way.
Never really got into this book fully. Not sure why, but it just didn't grab hold of my imagination me in a convincing way.
February 10, 2021
Simply, I don't know why anyone would want to read this nasty story.
September 10, 2021
that Jameson can write well is as impressive as praising Hitler for the ability to off people.
June 18, 2023
Enjoyable read
January 16, 2014
Orginally posted at http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2014...
Hanna Jameson wrote Something You Are when she was only 17! 17! I actually didn't know this before I read the story and normally I would have had some major reservations when reading books written by young authors. However when you read Something You Are you wont be able to tell that Hanna Jameson wrote this at this young an age, it feels like a very grown up story and her writing style is that of an almost veteran author, so as far as this debut goes, its a rock solid start. What is even more impressive is that Hanna Jameson was shortlisted for The Crime Writers Association "John Creasey" (Best Debut) award! Unfortunately Hanna Jameson didn't won, but she does show that she mean business.
Something You Are opens with a scene of the past that centers around the main protagonist Nic Caruana, and from this point on Hanna Jameson managed to set the mood just straight and pretty dark, gritty underground feeling. It seems that the rays of sun just can penetrate the dark air that Hanna Jameson creates. Soon after this fast and violent introduction to Something You Are, you see Nice Caruana in the present time, he has grown up but hasn't lost any hairs of his "wild side". Nic now is a hitman, paid to clean up jobs and he is being called into action by Pat Dyer, an notorious arms dealer, who is in great need of Nic's services. Pat Dyer's 16-year-old daughter has gone missing. The introduction in the present day dark and bleak London was done in a perfect way and really gave Nic's character a very dangerous shroud, Nic lives together with a roommate who also doesn't shy away from pulling either his gun or his knife, though there relation remains to be guessed at best, only several communications with post-it notes, it is pretty interesting to say the least and I hope to see how this will unfold, will we see more of this other hitman?
The promise of the story might seem a bit straightforward and you might think ow no not another crime investigation taking place in London, well if you think that, you're wrong. Yes several elements can be seen in other books as well but Hanna Jameson shows just how to lift her story above many others. The story of Something You Are really start to take a turn for the better as soon as Nic finds out that Pat Dyers daughter has been murdered, the grieving father and mother both want retribution and Nic's expertise makes him best suited for this. However with more distance between Nic and Pat but decreasing distance between Nic and Pat's wife, relations start to shift and change and Nic finds himself in a much more thicker web that he had heretofore had dared to guess. The best thing of it all is, is that Hanna Jameson really managed to write up this personal struggle between Nic and his clients, you can just see that Nic has a pretty hard time coming to terms with it all. Added to this is that the story doesn't only revolve around the daughter of Pat but there are numerous side tracks that show more the dark underground London that Hanna Jameson is introducing us to. These side tracks help to both give a nice pacing and much more dynamic to the world and Nic's contacts include drug dealers and other thugs a like.
The ending of Something You Are gives some very interesting plot changes and further establishes Nic as a guy you just do not want to have working against you. But. Yes there is a but. Nic isn't all just mister tough-guy, he also has a bit of a softer side, which more comes to show by the relation with his parents and his sister. In the beginning when you read about Nic's sister it seems that he hates her, but it soon comes to show that he does care deeply for her well being and does his best to support her in any way he can. This further made Nic's character that much more fleshed out and much more complex and even more deadly because how far will you go for you loved ones??
Something You Are is a great first book in a darker than dark London. Normally you see the grim side in Urban Fantasy but Hanna Jameson neatly translated a very dark a grim setting into this exciting new crime series "London Underground". She introduces you to a deadly protagonist that plays the role as the antihero in a perfect manner. In Something You Are, Hanna Jameson sets down the baselines and ground rules of her playing field, one of which I will be eager to see explored in the second book in the series Girl Seven. This is a very strong debut and I reckon this is by far the last we have heard of this new voice in crime fiction.
Hanna Jameson wrote Something You Are when she was only 17! 17! I actually didn't know this before I read the story and normally I would have had some major reservations when reading books written by young authors. However when you read Something You Are you wont be able to tell that Hanna Jameson wrote this at this young an age, it feels like a very grown up story and her writing style is that of an almost veteran author, so as far as this debut goes, its a rock solid start. What is even more impressive is that Hanna Jameson was shortlisted for The Crime Writers Association "John Creasey" (Best Debut) award! Unfortunately Hanna Jameson didn't won, but she does show that she mean business.
Something You Are opens with a scene of the past that centers around the main protagonist Nic Caruana, and from this point on Hanna Jameson managed to set the mood just straight and pretty dark, gritty underground feeling. It seems that the rays of sun just can penetrate the dark air that Hanna Jameson creates. Soon after this fast and violent introduction to Something You Are, you see Nice Caruana in the present time, he has grown up but hasn't lost any hairs of his "wild side". Nic now is a hitman, paid to clean up jobs and he is being called into action by Pat Dyer, an notorious arms dealer, who is in great need of Nic's services. Pat Dyer's 16-year-old daughter has gone missing. The introduction in the present day dark and bleak London was done in a perfect way and really gave Nic's character a very dangerous shroud, Nic lives together with a roommate who also doesn't shy away from pulling either his gun or his knife, though there relation remains to be guessed at best, only several communications with post-it notes, it is pretty interesting to say the least and I hope to see how this will unfold, will we see more of this other hitman?
The promise of the story might seem a bit straightforward and you might think ow no not another crime investigation taking place in London, well if you think that, you're wrong. Yes several elements can be seen in other books as well but Hanna Jameson shows just how to lift her story above many others. The story of Something You Are really start to take a turn for the better as soon as Nic finds out that Pat Dyers daughter has been murdered, the grieving father and mother both want retribution and Nic's expertise makes him best suited for this. However with more distance between Nic and Pat but decreasing distance between Nic and Pat's wife, relations start to shift and change and Nic finds himself in a much more thicker web that he had heretofore had dared to guess. The best thing of it all is, is that Hanna Jameson really managed to write up this personal struggle between Nic and his clients, you can just see that Nic has a pretty hard time coming to terms with it all. Added to this is that the story doesn't only revolve around the daughter of Pat but there are numerous side tracks that show more the dark underground London that Hanna Jameson is introducing us to. These side tracks help to both give a nice pacing and much more dynamic to the world and Nic's contacts include drug dealers and other thugs a like.
The ending of Something You Are gives some very interesting plot changes and further establishes Nic as a guy you just do not want to have working against you. But. Yes there is a but. Nic isn't all just mister tough-guy, he also has a bit of a softer side, which more comes to show by the relation with his parents and his sister. In the beginning when you read about Nic's sister it seems that he hates her, but it soon comes to show that he does care deeply for her well being and does his best to support her in any way he can. This further made Nic's character that much more fleshed out and much more complex and even more deadly because how far will you go for you loved ones??
Something You Are is a great first book in a darker than dark London. Normally you see the grim side in Urban Fantasy but Hanna Jameson neatly translated a very dark a grim setting into this exciting new crime series "London Underground". She introduces you to a deadly protagonist that plays the role as the antihero in a perfect manner. In Something You Are, Hanna Jameson sets down the baselines and ground rules of her playing field, one of which I will be eager to see explored in the second book in the series Girl Seven. This is a very strong debut and I reckon this is by far the last we have heard of this new voice in crime fiction.
March 18, 2013
Zum Inhalt:
Nic Caruana ist 17 Jahre alt, als er aus Notwehr heraus das erste Mal einen Menschen getötet hat, seitdem sind 10 Jahre vergangen und er verdient mittlerweile sein Geld damit Menschen aufzuspüren bzw. sie nicht mehr aufspürbar zu machen. Dann wird er von einer zwielichtigen Gestalt aus London darum gebeten, seine Tochter wieder aufzuspüren. Nic ahnt bereits vorher, dass es sich hierbei um keinen leichten Fall handeln wird. Wenig später wird die brutal zugerichtete Tochter tot aufgefunden und Nic hat nun einen Auftrag, er soll ihren Mörder finden.
Erster Satz:
Sie waren zu dritt, standen an der Ecke zwischen Hauptstraße und unserem Haus.
Meine Meinung:
Der Debütroman von Hanna Jameson hat es in sich. Sie berichtet die gesamte Geschichte aus der Perspektive von Nic Caruana. Da dieser sich seinen Lebensunterhalt durch Einschüchterung und ggf. auch mal Mord verdient, wird man als Leser nicht geschont.
Obwohl Nic in einer eher düsteren Welt lebt und er seinen Lebensunterhalt auch mit düsteren Geschäften sichert, erfährt man auch einiges aus seiner Vergangenheit und seiner Familie. Das hat das Lesen des Buches für mich sehr interessant gemacht, da man hier aus seiner Perspektive erfährt, wie er zu dem geworden ist, was nun heute ist. Er fühlt sich seinen Eltern gegenüber schuldig, da er trotz eines intakten Elternhauses nichts aus sich gemacht hat und auch seiner drogenabhängigen Schwester nicht helfen kann. Nur sein Bruder scheint alles richtig gemacht zu haben und daher kann er ihm kaum unter die Augen treten.
Die anderen Charaktere sind unterschiedlich gut charakterisiert. Da sie alle aus der Sicht von Nic dargestellt werden, sind diese sehr subjektiv eingefärbt, jedoch hat man es bei fast allen Charakteren mit Leuten zu tun, die man am liebsten niemals treffen würde. Einige von ihnen scheinen ein gutes Doppelleben führen zu können, jedoch ist mit keinem von ihnen zu scherzen.
Jameson hat eine sehr eindringliche Art wie sie die Dinge beschreibt. Beim Lesen hatte ich teilweise das Gefühl, dass es mir direkt unter die Haut ging und die grausigen Details konnte ich mir (manchmal zu) gut vorstellen. Dabei lässt einen die Geschichte jedoch alles andere als kalt. Während des Lesens wollte ich unbedingt wissen, wer dieses arme Mädchen umgebracht hat und man erfährt mehr und mehr aus der Szene. Nach und nach findet man zusammen mit Nic immer mehr Puzzleteil um sich ein genaues Bild machen zu können.
Insgesamt empfand ich diesen Krimi als wirklich guten Debütroman von Hanna Jameson und ich hoffe, dass man bald mehr von ihr zu lesen bekommt.
Nic Caruana ist 17 Jahre alt, als er aus Notwehr heraus das erste Mal einen Menschen getötet hat, seitdem sind 10 Jahre vergangen und er verdient mittlerweile sein Geld damit Menschen aufzuspüren bzw. sie nicht mehr aufspürbar zu machen. Dann wird er von einer zwielichtigen Gestalt aus London darum gebeten, seine Tochter wieder aufzuspüren. Nic ahnt bereits vorher, dass es sich hierbei um keinen leichten Fall handeln wird. Wenig später wird die brutal zugerichtete Tochter tot aufgefunden und Nic hat nun einen Auftrag, er soll ihren Mörder finden.
Erster Satz:
Sie waren zu dritt, standen an der Ecke zwischen Hauptstraße und unserem Haus.
Meine Meinung:
Der Debütroman von Hanna Jameson hat es in sich. Sie berichtet die gesamte Geschichte aus der Perspektive von Nic Caruana. Da dieser sich seinen Lebensunterhalt durch Einschüchterung und ggf. auch mal Mord verdient, wird man als Leser nicht geschont.
Obwohl Nic in einer eher düsteren Welt lebt und er seinen Lebensunterhalt auch mit düsteren Geschäften sichert, erfährt man auch einiges aus seiner Vergangenheit und seiner Familie. Das hat das Lesen des Buches für mich sehr interessant gemacht, da man hier aus seiner Perspektive erfährt, wie er zu dem geworden ist, was nun heute ist. Er fühlt sich seinen Eltern gegenüber schuldig, da er trotz eines intakten Elternhauses nichts aus sich gemacht hat und auch seiner drogenabhängigen Schwester nicht helfen kann. Nur sein Bruder scheint alles richtig gemacht zu haben und daher kann er ihm kaum unter die Augen treten.
Die anderen Charaktere sind unterschiedlich gut charakterisiert. Da sie alle aus der Sicht von Nic dargestellt werden, sind diese sehr subjektiv eingefärbt, jedoch hat man es bei fast allen Charakteren mit Leuten zu tun, die man am liebsten niemals treffen würde. Einige von ihnen scheinen ein gutes Doppelleben führen zu können, jedoch ist mit keinem von ihnen zu scherzen.
Jameson hat eine sehr eindringliche Art wie sie die Dinge beschreibt. Beim Lesen hatte ich teilweise das Gefühl, dass es mir direkt unter die Haut ging und die grausigen Details konnte ich mir (manchmal zu) gut vorstellen. Dabei lässt einen die Geschichte jedoch alles andere als kalt. Während des Lesens wollte ich unbedingt wissen, wer dieses arme Mädchen umgebracht hat und man erfährt mehr und mehr aus der Szene. Nach und nach findet man zusammen mit Nic immer mehr Puzzleteil um sich ein genaues Bild machen zu können.
Insgesamt empfand ich diesen Krimi als wirklich guten Debütroman von Hanna Jameson und ich hoffe, dass man bald mehr von ihr zu lesen bekommt.
July 9, 2015
Kurzzusammenfassung:
Die Geschichte von “Privatdetektiv” (sprich Auftragskiller) Nic Caruana, der als Teenager unabsichtlich einen Mord begangen hat, und nun durch die Untiefen der Londoner Gangsterszene watet, hat Hanna Jameson schon mit 17 erdacht – mit 22 hat sie nun ihren ersten Roman vorgelegt. In ihm erhält Einzel- und Grenzgänger Nic den Auftrag, die Mörder der 16jährigen Tochter des Waffenhändlers Pat und dessen enigmatischer Frau Clare ausfindig zu machen. Dabei verliebt er sich nicht nur obsessiv in Clare, sondern hinterlässt auch eine Schneise der Gewalt – und am Ende bleibt die Frage, wofür das Ganze.
Meine Meinung:
Bemerkenswert. Würde ich sagen, müsste ich meine Meinung über Hanna Jamesons Erstling in einem Wort zusammenfassen. Denn der Roman der Britin kommt so noir, so brutal, so blutig und fluchfreudig daher, er könnte auch von einem männlichen Autor Mitte Dreißig geschrieben worden sein. Die Welt, durch die sich Nic auf der Suche nach den Mördern der 16jährigen schlägt, ist gefühlskalt, mitleidlos und hält zwischen all der Trübnis nur kleine Funken von Wärme für den Endzwanziger bereit, meist in Form seiner schrägen Wohngemeinschaft mit dem folterlustigen Russlandimmigranten Mark oder der noch unklaren Affäre mit der drogenabhängigen Daisy . Natürlich ist auch seine Familie kein Rückhalt, sondern Quelle von Schmerz und Traumata. Und die ungesunde Affäre mit der manipulativen Clare führt Nic nur noch mehr ins Gefühlschaos. Wenn er denn welche hätte.
Klingt alles nach einem Buch, das man nicht lesen muss? Tut es auf jeden Fall trotzdem! Ich hatte mich in wenigen Tagen durchgefressen, denn die Geschichte hat – vom etwas schwerfälligen Ende mal abgesehen – richtig viel Tempo, und die vielen außergewöhnlichen Charaktere sind zwar nicht liebenswert, doch interessant und faszinierend. Dass es eine Fortsetzung geben wird, davon kann man ausgehen, und ich werde garantiert wieder einen Blick reinwerfen, denn ich bin gespannt, wie sich nicht nur Nic Caruana, sondern auch Hanna Jameson als Autorin entwickeln wird.
Fazit:
Hart, abgründig, schräg, teilweise ultra-brutal – und hypnotisch geschrieben. Ein außergewöhnlicher Noir-Krimi für alle, die mal was anderes suchen als das übliche Ermittler-Einerlei.
Die Geschichte von “Privatdetektiv” (sprich Auftragskiller) Nic Caruana, der als Teenager unabsichtlich einen Mord begangen hat, und nun durch die Untiefen der Londoner Gangsterszene watet, hat Hanna Jameson schon mit 17 erdacht – mit 22 hat sie nun ihren ersten Roman vorgelegt. In ihm erhält Einzel- und Grenzgänger Nic den Auftrag, die Mörder der 16jährigen Tochter des Waffenhändlers Pat und dessen enigmatischer Frau Clare ausfindig zu machen. Dabei verliebt er sich nicht nur obsessiv in Clare, sondern hinterlässt auch eine Schneise der Gewalt – und am Ende bleibt die Frage, wofür das Ganze.
Meine Meinung:
Bemerkenswert. Würde ich sagen, müsste ich meine Meinung über Hanna Jamesons Erstling in einem Wort zusammenfassen. Denn der Roman der Britin kommt so noir, so brutal, so blutig und fluchfreudig daher, er könnte auch von einem männlichen Autor Mitte Dreißig geschrieben worden sein. Die Welt, durch die sich Nic auf der Suche nach den Mördern der 16jährigen schlägt, ist gefühlskalt, mitleidlos und hält zwischen all der Trübnis nur kleine Funken von Wärme für den Endzwanziger bereit, meist in Form seiner schrägen Wohngemeinschaft mit dem folterlustigen Russlandimmigranten Mark oder der noch unklaren Affäre mit der drogenabhängigen Daisy . Natürlich ist auch seine Familie kein Rückhalt, sondern Quelle von Schmerz und Traumata. Und die ungesunde Affäre mit der manipulativen Clare führt Nic nur noch mehr ins Gefühlschaos. Wenn er denn welche hätte.
Klingt alles nach einem Buch, das man nicht lesen muss? Tut es auf jeden Fall trotzdem! Ich hatte mich in wenigen Tagen durchgefressen, denn die Geschichte hat – vom etwas schwerfälligen Ende mal abgesehen – richtig viel Tempo, und die vielen außergewöhnlichen Charaktere sind zwar nicht liebenswert, doch interessant und faszinierend. Dass es eine Fortsetzung geben wird, davon kann man ausgehen, und ich werde garantiert wieder einen Blick reinwerfen, denn ich bin gespannt, wie sich nicht nur Nic Caruana, sondern auch Hanna Jameson als Autorin entwickeln wird.
Fazit:
Hart, abgründig, schräg, teilweise ultra-brutal – und hypnotisch geschrieben. Ein außergewöhnlicher Noir-Krimi für alle, die mal was anderes suchen als das übliche Ermittler-Einerlei.
October 26, 2016
I had a good time with Something You Are, Hanna Jameson's hard-nosed debut crime novel. But I also feel a little bit conflicted about it.
I don't read a lot of crime, and usually when I do, the best I tend to think is "That was fine". I think what it come down to is that I'm the /worst/ when it comes to names, so whenever I stumble into an intricate plot with multiple characters, I tend to lose track very quickly. Happens in films, too. I guess I just have the attention span of a walnut - and so when I read crime I tend to feel a bit behind the pace.
That all applies to Something You Are. It was fine. I got a bit lost because I'm an idiot (I don't even think it's a very complex plot, but I remember losing track a little regardless). I didn't walk away with any great opinion about its plot or story, I wasn't particularly moved or affected overall. I think I wanted a little bit more from it. Maybe I was just a bit jealous, as I am with any debut author younger than me (so, all of them these days), of the talent on display and didn't want to concede too much. That's small and petty and stupid, but human. And sometimes these little barriers count for things without us really realising.
That's not to say that this isn't a well-written and interesting story - one of these reviews uses the word "accomplished" and I totally agree.
Jameson creates a really strong sense of place, and that for me was its stand-out feature. I slipped into another world: the writing is immersive, grounded, punchy. The characters are dark, moody and unpredictable - delightfully noirish. There's a good edge to the writing, with flourishes of violence and hard drinking and hard truths scattered throughout. No-one gets it easy in Jameson's world - and I really liked that.
I should also say that I read this maybe two years ago, and it's still stayed with me in a way that most books don't. And that's definitely a credit to the writing.
This is a three-and-a half star review really, but I've rounded down to three (sorry, Hanna). I reckon a bigger crime fan would get more out of it than I did, but by the same token I still enjoyed the read and am looking forward to picking up the rest of the series.
I don't read a lot of crime, and usually when I do, the best I tend to think is "That was fine". I think what it come down to is that I'm the /worst/ when it comes to names, so whenever I stumble into an intricate plot with multiple characters, I tend to lose track very quickly. Happens in films, too. I guess I just have the attention span of a walnut - and so when I read crime I tend to feel a bit behind the pace.
That all applies to Something You Are. It was fine. I got a bit lost because I'm an idiot (I don't even think it's a very complex plot, but I remember losing track a little regardless). I didn't walk away with any great opinion about its plot or story, I wasn't particularly moved or affected overall. I think I wanted a little bit more from it. Maybe I was just a bit jealous, as I am with any debut author younger than me (so, all of them these days), of the talent on display and didn't want to concede too much. That's small and petty and stupid, but human. And sometimes these little barriers count for things without us really realising.
That's not to say that this isn't a well-written and interesting story - one of these reviews uses the word "accomplished" and I totally agree.
Jameson creates a really strong sense of place, and that for me was its stand-out feature. I slipped into another world: the writing is immersive, grounded, punchy. The characters are dark, moody and unpredictable - delightfully noirish. There's a good edge to the writing, with flourishes of violence and hard drinking and hard truths scattered throughout. No-one gets it easy in Jameson's world - and I really liked that.
I should also say that I read this maybe two years ago, and it's still stayed with me in a way that most books don't. And that's definitely a credit to the writing.
This is a three-and-a half star review really, but I've rounded down to three (sorry, Hanna). I reckon a bigger crime fan would get more out of it than I did, but by the same token I still enjoyed the read and am looking forward to picking up the rest of the series.
November 11, 2013
I had known beforehand that the author wrote this when she was 17 (!!) I probably would have been awestruck throughout the entire book! As it was, I liked it, but didn't love it. The background between the main character and his roommate wasn't fleshed out enough for me (when/how did they meet? What's the roommate's back story?) and a lot of the connections felt like the reader should have just KNOWN (The Underground is - what?) despite this being the first in the series, overall it was a tightly written read with well done characters and plenty of twists - tho the obsession with Chloe got a bit boring. I had to order a hardback version from Amazon as they didn't stock it on kindle, this seems to be a trend with UK authors, it's very hit or miss. What is the problem?
July 30, 2015
When I first started this book I was so excited that I couldn't put it down. Finally, I thought, a strong male character that kicks ass! However, as the book progressed through it's unusual twists and turns, Nic, the 'hired hit' showed his vulnerability. Normally I wouldn't mind, but this time, it irritated me. I was not happy with the character's inability to remain detached and felt that it removed the 'fierceness' of the story.
However, the last two chapters had me tearing through the last pages, with a few WTFs?? said out loud and a couple of gasps at the final twist.
If I could, I'd give it 4.5 stars.
In summary: it won't stop me with purchasing her next book, but it will stop me from putting this in the 'to keep forever' pile.
However, the last two chapters had me tearing through the last pages, with a few WTFs?? said out loud and a couple of gasps at the final twist.
If I could, I'd give it 4.5 stars.
In summary: it won't stop me with purchasing her next book, but it will stop me from putting this in the 'to keep forever' pile.
August 3, 2013
At the age of 17 Nic had one of those life changing events that can lead a person onto other paths. And so he becomes a 'gun for hire', employed by people who work outside of the law. When Pat's teenage daughter is found raped, shot and beaten (not necessarily in that order), he pays Nic to track down the killer and exact the kind of justice that can put a man behind bars. This was one of the most exciting crime novels I've read in a while and I'm sure some people will happily pick faults but I can't/won't purely for the sheer exhilarating entertainment value. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
April 14, 2013
"Something You Are is Hanna Jameson‘s debut novel, written when she was just 17 years old, and the first in a trilogy - London Underground.
Something You Are centres on Nic Cuaruana, an anti-hero flung into a life of crime, shady dealings and murder by a horrific accident at a young age. The prologue which outlines this incident is instantly gripping, and sets the harsh, uncompromising tone for the whole novel." (Excerpt from full review at For Books' Sake.)
Something You Are centres on Nic Cuaruana, an anti-hero flung into a life of crime, shady dealings and murder by a horrific accident at a young age. The prologue which outlines this incident is instantly gripping, and sets the harsh, uncompromising tone for the whole novel." (Excerpt from full review at For Books' Sake.)
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