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Faceman: A Hull gangland coming of age story
In 1988, Tom’s grandfather drove his silver XJ6 Jaguar off the Hessle Road flyover at eighty with Tom in the passenger seat. Unlike the old man, six-year-old Tom survived but the burns were extreme. It took him six months to get out of hospital. At school, the kids pointed and called him Roadmap, Face, Waxman, Pretty Boy and lots more.
Tom teaches law at the University. He gets plastered most nights. His pretty, pixie haired wife is sleeping with her chiropractor. Tom is overweight. He is ashamed of the way he looks and what he has become. He talks to the ghost of his dead father who lives in the shed at the bottom of the garden even though he makes the words up himself.
When Our Dave from across the road asks him to help with a legal matter, Tom steps into a world where the lines between right and wrong blur. He learns that Our Dave has lost someone he loves, and he knows that someone is trying to kill the man too.
Well, what can Tom do about it?
He can hardly look after himself.
Like the ghost of Tom’s father says, he’s made a cock up of being Tom Williams so far.
He’s going to be someone else, someone better.
He’s going to become Face.
Tom teaches law at the University. He gets plastered most nights. His pretty, pixie haired wife is sleeping with her chiropractor. Tom is overweight. He is ashamed of the way he looks and what he has become. He talks to the ghost of his dead father who lives in the shed at the bottom of the garden even though he makes the words up himself.
When Our Dave from across the road asks him to help with a legal matter, Tom steps into a world where the lines between right and wrong blur. He learns that Our Dave has lost someone he loves, and he knows that someone is trying to kill the man too.
Well, what can Tom do about it?
He can hardly look after himself.
Like the ghost of Tom’s father says, he’s made a cock up of being Tom Williams so far.
He’s going to be someone else, someone better.
He’s going to become Face.
223 pages, Paperback
Published May 31, 2024
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Chris Speck
26 books68 followersChris Speck is a writer and musician from East Yorkshire, UK.
He writes crime thrillers set in Hull, historical novels set in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and seafaring tales set out in the North Sea.
His latest book, Queen of Queens, is a murder mystery set in the legendary Hull pub, The Queens. Young Billie Jackson must find a killer before they find her.
The Witch at the End of the Lane is a historical thriller set in Beverley, 1794. Expect ghosts (four of them), a kidnap, and at least one murder.
Chris spent his twenties travelling the world — first as a guitar teacher, then teaching English in countries as diverse as Hungary, Spain, and Papua New Guinea — before returning to the flatlands of East Yorkshire.
He also plays washboard in the legendary skiffle group, Black Kes.
He writes crime thrillers set in Hull, historical novels set in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and seafaring tales set out in the North Sea.
His latest book, Queen of Queens, is a murder mystery set in the legendary Hull pub, The Queens. Young Billie Jackson must find a killer before they find her.
The Witch at the End of the Lane is a historical thriller set in Beverley, 1794. Expect ghosts (four of them), a kidnap, and at least one murder.
Chris spent his twenties travelling the world — first as a guitar teacher, then teaching English in countries as diverse as Hungary, Spain, and Papua New Guinea — before returning to the flatlands of East Yorkshire.
He also plays washboard in the legendary skiffle group, Black Kes.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 31, 2024
Full of a great level of humour this adds a new dimension to the avenue cars series. Face is a great new character and this book has all the hallmarks of Chris’s excellent writing. Combined with a love of the city it’s set in you can’t go wrong with these books they are a tour de force of northern crime writing. 5* from me
August 21, 2024
Great and off-beat series continues
Loved this book. Off-beat series with fascinating characters, unusual situations, and some questionable ethics and moral dilemmas. Funny, even hilariously so, even in the face of death and violence. Strangely satisfying. Looking forward to the fourth and final installment.
Loved this book. Off-beat series with fascinating characters, unusual situations, and some questionable ethics and moral dilemmas. Funny, even hilariously so, even in the face of death and violence. Strangely satisfying. Looking forward to the fourth and final installment.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews