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The Point
Paul Morgan is a bad influence on his brother, Brian. When Paul crosses one thug too many, the cider-fuelled duo flee Belfast for Warrenpoint, the sleepy seaside resort of their childhood memories. For Brian a new life in The Point means going straight and falling in love with Rachel while Paul graduates from carjacking by unusual means to low-level racketeering. Brian can't help being dragged into his brother's bungling schemes, but Rachel can be violently persuasive herself . . . and she isn't the only one who wants to see an end to Paul's criminal career.
The Point is a 27,000-word novella by the author of Wee Rockets and Fireproof.
The Point is a 27,000-word novella by the author of Wee Rockets and Fireproof.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2011
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77 people want to read
About the author
Gerard Brennan
36 books43 followersGerard Brennan's latest novel is Disorder, Published by No Alibis Press. His short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies; including three volumes of The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime and Belfast Noir. He co-edited Requiems for the Departed, a collection of crime fiction based on Irish myths which won the 2011 Spinetingler Award for best anthology. His novella, The Point, was published by Pulp Press in October 2011 and won the 2012 Spinetingler Award for best novella. His novels, Wee Rockets and Fireproof, were published as ebooks by Blasted Heath in 2012. He graduated from the MA in creative writing at Queen's University Belfast in 2012 and is currently working on a PhD.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 28, 2012
Before I was five pages into The Point, James Joyce’s comment about Flann O’Brien came to mind: "This is a man with the true comic spirit".
The brothers Morgan, Brian and Paul are both Belfast born and bred. Hard-drinking womanizers, they emerge daily from the after effects of gallons of cheap cider and junk food to make a kind of living out of burglary and other ways of living off the community. Although they sometimes manage to pick up a "skank", a drunken woman in a pub, they don’t often get the anticipated enjoyment from their conquest. They are so pissed themselves at the moment of intercourse, that the exploit is only vaguely remembered, if indeed it ever happened. Had Brian managed to get it up at all last night before he woke up this morning to find himself in the woman of the house’s bath tub? That's about the limit of their philosophical inquiry. Brian’s occasional tendency to treat women like human beings--he has his humane moments, is cynically dismissed by Paul.
Paul, the elder brother, is fairly tall and thin, Brian is short and stout. Paul is a sort of superficially intelligent and charming predator, but the truth is that his gnat-brain never cops on to the fact that the hand he bites, immediately after it has helped him, or given him a gun, will boomerslap back into his face or nuts. Brian is a quick thinker, handy in times of trouble, but more risk-averse than Paul. Free of his brother's influence, he could be easily tempted into getting a good labouring job and going straight. Brian’s cross in life is his loyalty to Paul, and his willingness to go along with his harebrained, get-a-few-pounds-quick schemes, such as breaking into a student’s digs and ferreting through her underwear while seeing if she has left her dinner money behind her in the house.
When Paul makes an attempt to move into the comparative big time, he double crosses Mad Mickey, a forty-year old hippy Rastafarian crook with a mean streak. Mad Mickey lives in the back of a carpeted van, illuminated by black light and lava lamps. Paul is given a beating by Mad Mickey’s caveman sidekick. Once he has handed back the money he stole, he receives an ultimatum of one week to get out of the city. Paul convinces Brian, without telling him why, that it would be a good idea for them to leave Belfast for a small seaside town called Warrenpoint, also known as the Point, where they will be able to use their big city smarts to outwit the local yokels and make some easy pickings. To convey them to their new destination, Paul decides to literally steal Mad Mickey’s van out from under his ass.
Paul’s plans get off to a good start, but do not come to fruition in the way he’d anticipated. Brian revels in the provincial calm and falls for a beautiful young woman who was not afraid to burn the teat off a two-timing lover with a car cigarette lighter. Reassured that the younger brother Morgan is truly smitten, she introduces him to the delights of near-sober coupling. Paul, eventually gets to meet the local big man, who has a taste for torturing gamblers who welsh on their debts and, of course, tries to hoodwink him with his urban intelligence. But, as any boy from Belfast soon discovers when he wanders out of his built-up comfort zone, it never pays to under-estimate the importance of provincial know-how, know-where and know-when, or Mad Mickey's desire for revenge.
To go back to my first sentence, this is a novel that is pervaded and carried along by Gerard Brennan's congenital comic spirit. Brennan has a way of using plain language that systematically has you either laughing or chortling. "How in the the hell did he manage to do that?" you ask yourself after every laugh. You go back a couple of pages, to try to analyze what happened, and you discover that the skill is very subtle: the meanings of common phrases are thrown slightly out of skew; moments of tension are hilariously squashed under absurd stonewall replies; and characters "intelligently" deny ridiculous truths that Brennan has already let the reader into. Underlying those sleights of the writing hand is a Woody Allen-like sense of priming and timing. By now you'll have understood that my recommendation is to read The Point .
The brothers Morgan, Brian and Paul are both Belfast born and bred. Hard-drinking womanizers, they emerge daily from the after effects of gallons of cheap cider and junk food to make a kind of living out of burglary and other ways of living off the community. Although they sometimes manage to pick up a "skank", a drunken woman in a pub, they don’t often get the anticipated enjoyment from their conquest. They are so pissed themselves at the moment of intercourse, that the exploit is only vaguely remembered, if indeed it ever happened. Had Brian managed to get it up at all last night before he woke up this morning to find himself in the woman of the house’s bath tub? That's about the limit of their philosophical inquiry. Brian’s occasional tendency to treat women like human beings--he has his humane moments, is cynically dismissed by Paul.
Paul, the elder brother, is fairly tall and thin, Brian is short and stout. Paul is a sort of superficially intelligent and charming predator, but the truth is that his gnat-brain never cops on to the fact that the hand he bites, immediately after it has helped him, or given him a gun, will boomerslap back into his face or nuts. Brian is a quick thinker, handy in times of trouble, but more risk-averse than Paul. Free of his brother's influence, he could be easily tempted into getting a good labouring job and going straight. Brian’s cross in life is his loyalty to Paul, and his willingness to go along with his harebrained, get-a-few-pounds-quick schemes, such as breaking into a student’s digs and ferreting through her underwear while seeing if she has left her dinner money behind her in the house.
When Paul makes an attempt to move into the comparative big time, he double crosses Mad Mickey, a forty-year old hippy Rastafarian crook with a mean streak. Mad Mickey lives in the back of a carpeted van, illuminated by black light and lava lamps. Paul is given a beating by Mad Mickey’s caveman sidekick. Once he has handed back the money he stole, he receives an ultimatum of one week to get out of the city. Paul convinces Brian, without telling him why, that it would be a good idea for them to leave Belfast for a small seaside town called Warrenpoint, also known as the Point, where they will be able to use their big city smarts to outwit the local yokels and make some easy pickings. To convey them to their new destination, Paul decides to literally steal Mad Mickey’s van out from under his ass.
Paul’s plans get off to a good start, but do not come to fruition in the way he’d anticipated. Brian revels in the provincial calm and falls for a beautiful young woman who was not afraid to burn the teat off a two-timing lover with a car cigarette lighter. Reassured that the younger brother Morgan is truly smitten, she introduces him to the delights of near-sober coupling. Paul, eventually gets to meet the local big man, who has a taste for torturing gamblers who welsh on their debts and, of course, tries to hoodwink him with his urban intelligence. But, as any boy from Belfast soon discovers when he wanders out of his built-up comfort zone, it never pays to under-estimate the importance of provincial know-how, know-where and know-when, or Mad Mickey's desire for revenge.
To go back to my first sentence, this is a novel that is pervaded and carried along by Gerard Brennan's congenital comic spirit. Brennan has a way of using plain language that systematically has you either laughing or chortling. "How in the the hell did he manage to do that?" you ask yourself after every laugh. You go back a couple of pages, to try to analyze what happened, and you discover that the skill is very subtle: the meanings of common phrases are thrown slightly out of skew; moments of tension are hilariously squashed under absurd stonewall replies; and characters "intelligently" deny ridiculous truths that Brennan has already let the reader into. Underlying those sleights of the writing hand is a Woody Allen-like sense of priming and timing. By now you'll have understood that my recommendation is to read The Point .
August 22, 2019
Pulpy, pacy and punchy. One of the earlier ones from Mr @gerardbrennan (8 years old!) but already assured- very entertaining and full of Norn Irish humour and chips and guns at the seaside- go check it out!
May 24, 2019
Highly enjoyable fast paced novella with a fine cast of weird and wonderful villains. The Point is nicely plotted and highly satisfying. A highly recommended read.
April 10, 2014
This was one of those books that I picked up a while back, and saved on purpose, along with its sequel, Breaking Point, which I’ll be reviewing shortly after this.
It’s the story of trouble magnet Paul Morgan, and his put upon brother, Brian. Morgan gets on the wrong side of gangster hippy, Mad Mickey, just one too many times, and persuades his brother to leave Belfast for good. The fact that he decides to steal and burn out Mickey’s van in the process can only mean bad news for everybody. The pair arrive in Warrenpoint, a small town from their childhood, with separate agendas. Brian wants to settle down with his new, and secretly violent, girlfriend Rachel, whilst Paul simply sees it as an opportunity to flex and develop his criminal muscles, with disastrous results.
So yeah, I saved this on purpose, because I knew what I’d be getting, and I knew I’d love it, and wanted to know that I’d got something to fall back on when I hit a reading lull. You basically know that when you get a Brennan book, you’re getting quality. It’s hard to believe that Gerard Brennan isn’t out burgling students, stealing cars and tapping dealers up for a few ounces of weed on the never never, such is the quality of the hand that guides his stories through a small-time underworld. It’s filled with quirky scumbags, violent retribution, and a blossoming love between two dysfunctional characters. Brian and Paul’s brotherly relationship is as real as they come, with the deadest of the two deadbeats constantly pulling on the bond between them to pull favours and forgiveness, and get them without fail. Basically, it’s a cracker.
My advice is to get both this and Breaking Point at the same time, and read them immediately after one another, to get the whole experience of Gerard Brennan’s sneaky wee world. Recommended reading.
It’s the story of trouble magnet Paul Morgan, and his put upon brother, Brian. Morgan gets on the wrong side of gangster hippy, Mad Mickey, just one too many times, and persuades his brother to leave Belfast for good. The fact that he decides to steal and burn out Mickey’s van in the process can only mean bad news for everybody. The pair arrive in Warrenpoint, a small town from their childhood, with separate agendas. Brian wants to settle down with his new, and secretly violent, girlfriend Rachel, whilst Paul simply sees it as an opportunity to flex and develop his criminal muscles, with disastrous results.
So yeah, I saved this on purpose, because I knew what I’d be getting, and I knew I’d love it, and wanted to know that I’d got something to fall back on when I hit a reading lull. You basically know that when you get a Brennan book, you’re getting quality. It’s hard to believe that Gerard Brennan isn’t out burgling students, stealing cars and tapping dealers up for a few ounces of weed on the never never, such is the quality of the hand that guides his stories through a small-time underworld. It’s filled with quirky scumbags, violent retribution, and a blossoming love between two dysfunctional characters. Brian and Paul’s brotherly relationship is as real as they come, with the deadest of the two deadbeats constantly pulling on the bond between them to pull favours and forgiveness, and get them without fail. Basically, it’s a cracker.
My advice is to get both this and Breaking Point at the same time, and read them immediately after one another, to get the whole experience of Gerard Brennan’s sneaky wee world. Recommended reading.
December 5, 2011
You know you're in a shed load of trouble when Mad Mickey wants a wee word, and that's the predicament scallywag Paul Morgan finds himself in at the start of The Point. Given a week to get out of Belfast by the 'hippy-gangster,' Morgan gets his brother Brian to flit with him to a place called Warrenpoint, hence the book's title.
He makes one wee mistake: pinching Mad Mickey's van and setting it alight. After he does that you know the Morgan boys are in for some bother.
The Point rattles along a good pace. The characters are well drawn, especially Mad Mickey the 'hippie-gangster' who sits cross legged on a beanbag in the back of a carpeted van, menacing folk under the glow from some lava lamps. And there's ballsy Rachel who's under 'court ordered' counselling for turning a mugger's Stanley Knife on him. Thank ye gods for a kick ass woman in a book who isn't cast in the victim role or as the eye candle.
The dialogue is crisp and realistic and at times you’re chortling away to yourself like an eejit. Like when beleaguered Morgan asks what kind of mood Mickey is in. Go on, you know you want to say it.
Hats off to the writer too for not trying to anglicise/poncify his dialogue. His characters are from Northern Ireland, so why should they sound like they're presenting the news on the BBC?
The Point was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Mr Brennan.
Note – with its short chapters, The Point is perfect for reading on your Kindle.
He makes one wee mistake: pinching Mad Mickey's van and setting it alight. After he does that you know the Morgan boys are in for some bother.
The Point rattles along a good pace. The characters are well drawn, especially Mad Mickey the 'hippie-gangster' who sits cross legged on a beanbag in the back of a carpeted van, menacing folk under the glow from some lava lamps. And there's ballsy Rachel who's under 'court ordered' counselling for turning a mugger's Stanley Knife on him. Thank ye gods for a kick ass woman in a book who isn't cast in the victim role or as the eye candle.
The dialogue is crisp and realistic and at times you’re chortling away to yourself like an eejit. Like when beleaguered Morgan asks what kind of mood Mickey is in. Go on, you know you want to say it.
Hats off to the writer too for not trying to anglicise/poncify his dialogue. His characters are from Northern Ireland, so why should they sound like they're presenting the news on the BBC?
The Point was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Mr Brennan.
Note – with its short chapters, The Point is perfect for reading on your Kindle.
October 26, 2014
Two thieving young brothers Paul and Brian Morgan from Belfast decide to seek easy pickings in the seaside town of Warrenpoint in this fast paced novella from Gerard Brennan. Written in a very easy going style with short fast paced chapters, the story details the various escapades of the brothers oblivious to the fact that they are being hounded by old adversary Mad Mickey. Brian gets a girlfriend Rachel and a job while Paul spends his time hanging around with the local criminals including the fearsome O’Rourke. When Mickey finally tracks the brothers down to the Point events inevitably lead to a bloody conclusion. But it’s the clash of personalities between the brothers which is the narrative core of the story bringing an added depth to the action. This is yet another fine piece of work published by Blasted Heath, from an author who has also appeared in several editions of the Mammoth Book of Best British Crime. Well done Mr Brennan.
February 5, 2015
What a clever entertaining novella. This is a wonderful read that draws you into a larger than life world of petty crime, drug dealing, protection rackets and small time criminal gangs.
It reminded me at times of the film Lock stock and two smoking barrels. Brennan's writing is fresh and all consuming as it completely engrosses you in the activities of two Belfast brothers trying their luck in nearby Warrenpoint.
I especially enjoyed the crisp dialogue and the comedy moments that run through this piece which at times is quite violent.
Full of believable characters the story propels you breathlessly to its dramatic conclusion that leaves many opportunities to move things along further. In addition I would be keen to read a full length novel to assess Gerard Brennan's quality. At times this story reads like a comic strip and demonstrates an author at ease with words and telling tales.
It reminded me at times of the film Lock stock and two smoking barrels. Brennan's writing is fresh and all consuming as it completely engrosses you in the activities of two Belfast brothers trying their luck in nearby Warrenpoint.
I especially enjoyed the crisp dialogue and the comedy moments that run through this piece which at times is quite violent.
Full of believable characters the story propels you breathlessly to its dramatic conclusion that leaves many opportunities to move things along further. In addition I would be keen to read a full length novel to assess Gerard Brennan's quality. At times this story reads like a comic strip and demonstrates an author at ease with words and telling tales.
March 3, 2019
The Point is a novella. And whilst it’s a relatively short book - I flew through in a couple of hours - it packs one heck of a punch. The writing is tight, each scene crafted and shorn of flab, and the pace is electric and never lets up. What really struck me about The Point was that it managed to work at a number of different levels - it has crime and violence, warmth and tenderness, humour and pathos - and it had gritty realism to the anarchic arc of the Morgan brothers freewheeling lives. I believed in the characters and their relationships to each other, and the dialogue was spot on. Paul, Brian and Rachel are fully formed and come alive on the page. I would love to see this adapted into a movie or two hour TV show. If you want a gritty shot of Irish noir then order up this fine fare.
May 14, 2023
A good fun, rollicking read about small town criminals in Northern Ireland. If Elmore Leonard was from Belfast he'd probably write a book like this.
September 28, 2014
Paul Morgan, small time crook, crosses crime boss Mad Mickey one time too many. He’s given a week to get out of Belfast or suffer the consequences. Deciding it’s wisest to start again, Paul drags his brother Brian along to a backwater called Warrenpoint (which gives the story it’s title).
But before he departs forever, Paul steals and burns a van belonging to Mickey who can’t ignore the insult. As the brothers settle into their new life, Brian going straight, Paul finding new and increasingly serious ways to break the law, Mickey hunts them down.
I devoured this offering from Gerard Brennan. The style is pacy, direct and hard as nails. There’s an underlying sense of humour throughout that doesn’t sensationalise the criminal acts that come thick and fast.
The characters are excellently drawn, the dialogue snappy and the setting bleak. The Morgans are similar, yet different. Paul is totally incapable of changing his ways. He knows he’s in trouble from pretty much the first page, but he can’t help himself, despite the consequences this has for his brother. Brian, deep down, doesn’t particularly enjoy the seedier side of life, recognizing the consequences of his actions where Paul does not. For example he apologises to a girl the pair had scared during a robbery by putting a postcard through her door, pretending to be from the IRA and a case of mistaken identity. Misguided but actually amusing in the fashion it’s written.
Paul relishes the move to The Point where he meets another strong and defining character, Rachel O’Hare. When we first meet her, she’s exacting revenge in a rather painful manner on an imminently ex-boyfriend. Then we learn she’s receiving counseling for assaulting a fourteen year old boy who’d tried to rob her at knife point. This girl doesn’t mess around.
Unfortunately, Paul’s continued bad behavior attracts the attention of Mad Mickey’s men, forcing the trio to make a decision – stay and fight or run and start again. The resulting ending was masterful and quite a surprise.
An example of the no-nonsense prose, when the boys are out committing the burglary.
”So which one?” Brian asked.
“This one.” Paul stopped dead in his tracks and turned to his right. He walked up to the front door of number 45 and grabbed the knocker. Then he pummeled the door as if it had spilled his pint.
An excellent story cleverly told by a masterful writer.
**Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog. May have receive free review copy.**
But before he departs forever, Paul steals and burns a van belonging to Mickey who can’t ignore the insult. As the brothers settle into their new life, Brian going straight, Paul finding new and increasingly serious ways to break the law, Mickey hunts them down.
I devoured this offering from Gerard Brennan. The style is pacy, direct and hard as nails. There’s an underlying sense of humour throughout that doesn’t sensationalise the criminal acts that come thick and fast.
The characters are excellently drawn, the dialogue snappy and the setting bleak. The Morgans are similar, yet different. Paul is totally incapable of changing his ways. He knows he’s in trouble from pretty much the first page, but he can’t help himself, despite the consequences this has for his brother. Brian, deep down, doesn’t particularly enjoy the seedier side of life, recognizing the consequences of his actions where Paul does not. For example he apologises to a girl the pair had scared during a robbery by putting a postcard through her door, pretending to be from the IRA and a case of mistaken identity. Misguided but actually amusing in the fashion it’s written.
Paul relishes the move to The Point where he meets another strong and defining character, Rachel O’Hare. When we first meet her, she’s exacting revenge in a rather painful manner on an imminently ex-boyfriend. Then we learn she’s receiving counseling for assaulting a fourteen year old boy who’d tried to rob her at knife point. This girl doesn’t mess around.
Unfortunately, Paul’s continued bad behavior attracts the attention of Mad Mickey’s men, forcing the trio to make a decision – stay and fight or run and start again. The resulting ending was masterful and quite a surprise.
An example of the no-nonsense prose, when the boys are out committing the burglary.
”So which one?” Brian asked.
“This one.” Paul stopped dead in his tracks and turned to his right. He walked up to the front door of number 45 and grabbed the knocker. Then he pummeled the door as if it had spilled his pint.
An excellent story cleverly told by a masterful writer.
**Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog. May have receive free review copy.**
September 3, 2013
Paul Morgan, small time crook, crosses crime boss Mad Mickey one time too many. He’s given a week to get out of Belfast or suffer the consequences. Deciding it’s wisest to start again, Paul drags his brother Brian along to a backwater called Warrenpoint (which gives the story it’s title).
But before he departs forever, Paul steals and burns a van belonging to Mickey who can’t ignore the insult. As the brothers settle into their new life, Brian going straight, Paul finding new and increasingly serious ways to break the law, Mickey hunts them down.
I devoured this offering from Gerard Brennan. The style is pacy, direct and hard as nails. There’s an underlying sense of humour throughout that doesn’t sensationalise the criminal acts that come thick and fast.
The characters are excellently drawn, the dialogue snappy and the setting bleak. The Morgans are similar, yet different. Paul is totally incapable of changing his ways. He knows he’s in trouble from pretty much the first page, but he can’t help himself, despite the consequences this has for his brother. Brian, deep down, doesn’t particularly enjoy the seedier side of life, recognizing the consequences of his actions where Paul does not. For example he apologises to a girl the pair had scared during a robbery by putting a postcard through her door, pretending to be from the IRA and a case of mistaken identity. Misguided but actually amusing in the fashion it’s written.
Paul relishes the move to The Point where he meets another strong and defining character, Rachel O’Hare. When we first meet her, she’s exacting revenge in a rather painful manner on an imminently ex-boyfriend. Then we learn she’s receiving counseling for assaulting a fourteen year old boy who’d tried to rob her at knife point. This girl doesn’t mess around.
Unfortunately, Paul’s continued bad behavior attracts the attention of Mad Mickey’s men, forcing the trio to make a decision – stay and fight or run and start again. The resulting ending was masterful and quite a surprise.
An example of the no-nonsense prose, when the boys are out committing the burglary.
”So which one?” Brian asked.
“This one.” Paul stopped dead in his tracks and turned to his right. He walked up to the front door of number 45 and grabbed the knocker. Then he pummeled the door as if it had spilled his pint.
An excellent story cleverly told by a masterful writer.
**Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog. May have receive free review copy.**
But before he departs forever, Paul steals and burns a van belonging to Mickey who can’t ignore the insult. As the brothers settle into their new life, Brian going straight, Paul finding new and increasingly serious ways to break the law, Mickey hunts them down.
I devoured this offering from Gerard Brennan. The style is pacy, direct and hard as nails. There’s an underlying sense of humour throughout that doesn’t sensationalise the criminal acts that come thick and fast.
The characters are excellently drawn, the dialogue snappy and the setting bleak. The Morgans are similar, yet different. Paul is totally incapable of changing his ways. He knows he’s in trouble from pretty much the first page, but he can’t help himself, despite the consequences this has for his brother. Brian, deep down, doesn’t particularly enjoy the seedier side of life, recognizing the consequences of his actions where Paul does not. For example he apologises to a girl the pair had scared during a robbery by putting a postcard through her door, pretending to be from the IRA and a case of mistaken identity. Misguided but actually amusing in the fashion it’s written.
Paul relishes the move to The Point where he meets another strong and defining character, Rachel O’Hare. When we first meet her, she’s exacting revenge in a rather painful manner on an imminently ex-boyfriend. Then we learn she’s receiving counseling for assaulting a fourteen year old boy who’d tried to rob her at knife point. This girl doesn’t mess around.
Unfortunately, Paul’s continued bad behavior attracts the attention of Mad Mickey’s men, forcing the trio to make a decision – stay and fight or run and start again. The resulting ending was masterful and quite a surprise.
An example of the no-nonsense prose, when the boys are out committing the burglary.
”So which one?” Brian asked.
“This one.” Paul stopped dead in his tracks and turned to his right. He walked up to the front door of number 45 and grabbed the knocker. Then he pummeled the door as if it had spilled his pint.
An excellent story cleverly told by a masterful writer.
**Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog. May have receive free review copy.**
January 17, 2012
The Point is a sharp and snappy slice of noir whose serrated edge cuts deep into the hearts and bodies of its characters. Brothers, Paul and Brian Morgan have lived a life of small time crime largely thanks to older brother Paul whose influence over his young sibling is evident by the unlawful predicaments the duo find themselves in. However, when Brian makes an attempt for the straight and narrow, Paul is disenfranchised and does whatever he can to lead Brian back down the rocky road of unorganised crime.
The banter between brothers and honest interation captures the brotherly love and displays the raw feelings each has towards their kin perfectly. The bond, however strong, is tested when Brian meets Rachel - a young lady who brings new meaning to 'hell have no fury like a woman scorned'. It's Rachel - the epicentre of cataclysmic destruction that threatens the brother's future and ultimately adds further fuel to the fiery 'Point'.
Not to mention, 'The Point' is loaded with small time gangsters with dreams of making it big. In fact, it is with numerous factions that Paul finds himself in debt and danger - lesson here 'messing with gangsters' money is messing with their pride'. Brennan gives 'The Point' enough humour but douses it with plenty of blood to keep it on the level. As a Pulp Press original, it fits the bill perfectly. I look forward to reading Brennan's 'Wee Rockets' published by Blasted Heath. As far as precursors go for author full lengths, 'The Point' does it better than most. A pacy read that's sure to entertain - 3.5 stars.
The banter between brothers and honest interation captures the brotherly love and displays the raw feelings each has towards their kin perfectly. The bond, however strong, is tested when Brian meets Rachel - a young lady who brings new meaning to 'hell have no fury like a woman scorned'. It's Rachel - the epicentre of cataclysmic destruction that threatens the brother's future and ultimately adds further fuel to the fiery 'Point'.
Not to mention, 'The Point' is loaded with small time gangsters with dreams of making it big. In fact, it is with numerous factions that Paul finds himself in debt and danger - lesson here 'messing with gangsters' money is messing with their pride'. Brennan gives 'The Point' enough humour but douses it with plenty of blood to keep it on the level. As a Pulp Press original, it fits the bill perfectly. I look forward to reading Brennan's 'Wee Rockets' published by Blasted Heath. As far as precursors go for author full lengths, 'The Point' does it better than most. A pacy read that's sure to entertain - 3.5 stars.
November 30, 2011
Gerard Brennan's 'The Point' may be compact and bijou but, to be honest, that is the only 'negative' (and it isn't really even that) that I have with it - as a novella ... even a longish one ... it left me wanting more!
The characters were all interesting and different, very easy to distinguish from each other with their own little ticks. The self-acknowledged charmer Paul's dialogue never clashed/mashed with the sardonic Rachel; the pace started off fast and never let up but, at the same time, never felt rushed; the plot was relatively simple but that simply let Gerard tell a great yarn, with his characters, without having to resort to any literary (or genre) tricks.
For the majority of the book there was a very obvious undertone of Norn Irish humour (dark and mischievous) that softened the edges of violence and violent people and then, right near the end, the humour stopped and the dark took over completely. Again, this is not a criticism as, from the moment where a character was ended with a simple twist of the neck, the tone simply lifted up a visceral notch to bring you, breathless, to the end.
I don't think that Gerard was out to prove anything with this book but, for me, he has simply solidified himself as up there with the best of the new crop of Irish (and especially Norn Irish, of course) crime writers.
The characters were all interesting and different, very easy to distinguish from each other with their own little ticks. The self-acknowledged charmer Paul's dialogue never clashed/mashed with the sardonic Rachel; the pace started off fast and never let up but, at the same time, never felt rushed; the plot was relatively simple but that simply let Gerard tell a great yarn, with his characters, without having to resort to any literary (or genre) tricks.
For the majority of the book there was a very obvious undertone of Norn Irish humour (dark and mischievous) that softened the edges of violence and violent people and then, right near the end, the humour stopped and the dark took over completely. Again, this is not a criticism as, from the moment where a character was ended with a simple twist of the neck, the tone simply lifted up a visceral notch to bring you, breathless, to the end.
I don't think that Gerard was out to prove anything with this book but, for me, he has simply solidified himself as up there with the best of the new crop of Irish (and especially Norn Irish, of course) crime writers.
May 14, 2012
The pacing is great and the dialog is fantastic. Although classic noir isn't something that generally appeals to me -- it's too sexist -- I enjoy Irish crime quite a lot, and Brennan is one of those authors whose works I scoop up whenever I can. The Pointe is a fast, solid, enjoyable read that kept me locked into the story from start to finish. I actually read it in one day, and I'm a slow reader. (I don't think I've ever done that before.) Really great stuff. The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five (i wanted to give it 4.5) is because I needed slightly more depth in the characters. (This is merely a personal taste thing, frankly.) Everything else is dead perfect, very well-written. I liked the character, Rachel, by the way. It was fun seeing she was just as screwed up as Brian and the rest.
November 23, 2013
This is a fairly short novella but the story benefits from being pared down. There's no superfluous fluff here. We don't get endless, bland descriptions of clothing, smoking habits, weather, car driving styles etc etc. It's lots of action, snappy dialogue, and just the right amount of exposition to make sure you know what's driving the characters' motivation.
The tale of two brothers. The older is a bit of a lad and has gotten the younger into a spot of bother by proxy. Running from a local gangster, it follows their exploits in the town they go to hide out in. It's a violent and foul-mouthed book, so if that's not your cup of tea, then you've been warned. The traumatic ending leaves open possibilities for a fraught follow-up.
The tale of two brothers. The older is a bit of a lad and has gotten the younger into a spot of bother by proxy. Running from a local gangster, it follows their exploits in the town they go to hide out in. It's a violent and foul-mouthed book, so if that's not your cup of tea, then you've been warned. The traumatic ending leaves open possibilities for a fraught follow-up.
September 8, 2013
Perhaps best described as Ulster noir, The Point follows the lives of Brian and Paul Morgan. Paul is a small-time crook dragging his reluctant younger brother along in his wake. But when he crosses a Belfast gangster they have to leave town fast and head for the small seaside resort of Warrenpoint to start again.
Whilst Brian embraces his new life and gets a girlfriend and a job, Paul seeks out the local crime boss to continue his career. What follows is a roller-coaster novella with punchy dialogue and believable characters. The ending feels a little rushed but overall an entertaining read.
Whilst Brian embraces his new life and gets a girlfriend and a job, Paul seeks out the local crime boss to continue his career. What follows is a roller-coaster novella with punchy dialogue and believable characters. The ending feels a little rushed but overall an entertaining read.
June 27, 2012
A cracking read.
I have a thing for noir set in small towns, and especially small British towns populated by small-time crooks in over their heads. Brennan really understands his characters, burglar brothers Paul and Brian Morgan, and there are some very touching and sincere exchanges between the two. It doesn't hurt that the finale is a more over-the-top version of the Three Stooges doing Tarantino (and I mean that in the best fist-pumping-whilst-reading-alone-in-my-office kind of way.)
An excellent introduction to Brennan, and nice sort of companion piece to his novel, Wee Rockets.
I have a thing for noir set in small towns, and especially small British towns populated by small-time crooks in over their heads. Brennan really understands his characters, burglar brothers Paul and Brian Morgan, and there are some very touching and sincere exchanges between the two. It doesn't hurt that the finale is a more over-the-top version of the Three Stooges doing Tarantino (and I mean that in the best fist-pumping-whilst-reading-alone-in-my-office kind of way.)
An excellent introduction to Brennan, and nice sort of companion piece to his novel, Wee Rockets.
January 7, 2015
Not a bad wee story. A couple of hood brothers move out of Belfast to start new lives, but old habits are hard to break.
It's a pretty quick read – short chapters, each with its own page break. I finished it in around 3 hours and my only complaint is that it was £7.99. I think that's steep for a small book containing a story of this length.
It's a pretty quick read – short chapters, each with its own page break. I finished it in around 3 hours and my only complaint is that it was £7.99. I think that's steep for a small book containing a story of this length.
November 29, 2011
I enjoyed Brennan's style (in a similar vein to Colin Bateman), but felt that this book went nowhere, and was wrapped up very suddenly and far too hurriedly, like Brennan had just got bored with the whole thing. Some definite promise, but needs more plot and character development.
September 11, 2012
You know what's wrong with this book? NOTHING!!!
Well ... Except it's too damn short, leaving me wanting more, more, more. But isn't that the sign of a winner?
Actually, it's perfect in every way. Buy it. Read it,
Well ... Except it's too damn short, leaving me wanting more, more, more. But isn't that the sign of a winner?
Actually, it's perfect in every way. Buy it. Read it,
May 19, 2013
Not my favourite of his books but I must say I enjoyed it. I felt that it was gritty and interesting with good characters but maybe not enough time to expand the character within the short timeframe in the book. Characters were as likeable as the ones in Wee Rockets but still kept me entertained.
December 21, 2014
A compulsively readable crime story set in Northern Ireland. The characters and settings are thin, but the dialog is lively and the story hums along. Reads like a treatment for an Irish Guy Ritchie film.
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