Safe Hands: Mickey Blake Thriller, Book 1

by W.A. Kelly

SOMETIMES, TO BREAK OUT . . . YOU HAVE TO BREAK IN

Safe Hands is the first in a new British crime series featuring safecracker, Mickey Blake.

A RETIRED SAFECRACKER

Mickey Blake was the best, able to open any safe with only his heightened sense of touch. For the last 18 years, he’s been retired, hiding out in Spain and trying to save his marriage. But now his wife is dying, he owes money to the wrong people and time is running out.

A DESPERATE MOTHER

Living in a rundown seaside town, Hazel is a single mum driven to kill to avenge her friend and stop her teenage son being sucked into a life of crime.

ONE LAST JOB

Mickey meets Hazel when he returns to the UK for one last job—to open a huge vault inside a gangland casino. Before that, he needs to deal with a dead body, a corrupt undercover cop, an unhinged crime boss and a son that hates his guts. Can Mickey and Hazel get out clean?

Audible Audio

Published February 21, 2024

About the author

Wayne Kelly is a screenwriter and novelist. His debut crime novel, SAFE HANDS, is released in November 2023.

In addition to novels and short stories, he’s written and directed several short films including INKLING, which was an official selection at the International HorrorHound Film Festival in Ohio. He is producer of the award-winning feature-length documentary, NO FARE: The Sian Green Story.

Since 2014 he’s hosted The Joined Up Writing Podcast, where he interviews successful authors about their books, writing and journeys to publication.
With his limited spare time, he’s a singer-songwriter with The Wry Dogs and devoted cat father to Milo. He loves to cycle around the beautiful Leicestershire countryside, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great title for a book about a ‘retired’ safe cracker, Mickey Blake, and the chaotic thrilling drama he gets himself involved in as he returns to Skeggy from Spain ‘for just one last job’….of course there would be no book/story if all went to plan
There are a lot of differing elements in this book that make up the exciting plot…good feisty and importantly believable characters, wry humour throughout, fab descriptions of Skegness and surrounding areas, emotive father/son and mother/son relationships plus a whole host of issues including historical rape (that is dealt with well ) all woven into this got to say really good read and start to a new British crime series
I enjoyed the writing, casual and welcoming to the reader, really liked the 2 main characters Mickey and Hazel and found Mickey’s exasperation at a ‘colleague’s’ mis use of phrases and words very amusing, often at the tensest times
Really good read that zapped along and look forward to Book 2….

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I loved this book and was hooked from start to finish.
Mickey Blake was an expert safe cracker back in the day and had retired to Spain with his wife. He used to be a boxer and didn’t have a great childhood. His wife had terminal cancer and the medical costs were creeping up and they just couldn’t afford them any longer. Mickey was approached to do one last job and his financial situation meant he didn’t have much choice!

Hazel is a bookkeeper who also works in a bar in Skegness. She has a grown up son called Warren and is determined to right some wrongs from her past. When Mickey walks into the bar they immediately click and start to confide in each other.

The story is split into chapters about Mickey and Hazel which makes it an easy read. It’s fast paced and more and more secrets from the past are revealed. I can’t wait to read more in this series. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Glenise Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down, had to finish it, even when I was stirring the gravy for Christmas dinner. The characters, the plot twists, I couldn’t figure out how the author would tie everything up to my satisfaction, but he did.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cracking read. It was a bit different from the normal crime fiction I usually read but compelling nonetheless. Mickey is an ex-boxer and ex safecracker who is forced into doing a job for Graham Southey who is a nasty piece of work. Mickey has no choice as his wife's medical bills need to be paid. Things don't seem to add up regarding the motivation and target of the job.

My initial doubts before I started as to whether this would be a book I would enjoy were quickly dispelled. Mickey is a likeable character filled with guilt over past events and in particular his lack of relationship with his son. Hazel is very likeable and the two make a really good partnership when both find themselves involved in the same set of events. The order of the book was great. It's in countdown mode to the heist itself and as I got closer to the big day, I found myself thinking just one more chapter before I could put it down. I'm delighted to see this seems to be the first in a series and I really look forward to seeing what is next in store for both of these characters.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great debut crime novel. Well written with a steady pace & a ‘different’ plot, touches of humour too with some brilliant main characters.

Mickey Blake is a retired safe cracker who returns to the UK from Spain for ‘one last job’. Does it all go to plan? What do you think? Aside from the over-arching crime story, there are some complex personal relationships unpicked too & these are handled sensitively. I’m not going to regurgitate the blurb here, you can read it yourself.

Definitely not cozy crime nor a gore fest but the gallows humour is required at times & works well. An enjoyable, easy read & I'm looking forward to book 2.

[Chris Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly original crime novel with funny dialogue and characters you can really care about - anyone who has recently enjoyed The Gentleman on Netflix will LOVE this.

But whereas Guy Ritchie showcases the oddball underworld of the South, this is a love letter to the seedier side of The Midlands…

It’s Scarface in Skegness.

Our hero Mickey Blake is the reluctant criminal who finds the cruel hands of fate working against him - and you’ll be right by his side as he races against the clock to unravel the mystery behind the job he’s been drawn into.

Whilst the author delivers funny conversations and a witty turn of phrase, his prose beautifully conjures a sense of place. You’ll smell the chip fat and graffiti aerosols hanging in the air… whilst your feet stick to the carpets.

The book cracks along at a pace towards a heartstopping conclusion… and if you can work it out, you are a cleverer reader than me!

An exciting thriller - highly recommended, and I look forward to further adventures set in this world.

[Dan Howarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking read with a compelling main character. This series is just getting started and is one to watch.

[ThrillerSeeker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In dire need of cash to settle his wife’s medical bills, retired safecracker Mickey Blake comes out of retirement returning to Skegness to carry out another job for a local gangster.
This is a fast-paced debut with a great twist from a talented writer. I hope to see the next in the series soon!

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was unsure if I was going to enjoy this book before I started reading it. WOW! I was hooked right from the beginning to this compelling, easy to read fast paced book!

It centres on Mickey, an aging ex safe cracker con hiding out in Spain, but due to some financial troubles, gets lured back to the UK to do ‘one last safe cracking job’

The characters are so well written that you share everything that they’re going through, and the dry humour is not over the top and is understated. Just exquisite and absolutely to my taste.

I highly recommend this book and I honestly can’t wait for the next instalment! Congratulations WA Kelly for such an enjoyable book!

[Laura Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Throughout the first few chapters, I wasn’t sure it would pull me in but the story really picked up pace, character development was strong and I was fully invested by the end. Great crime novel! Can’t wait for book two!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book! A debut novel which kept me gripped throughout

[Annette Hoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual type of crime book but I am so glad I was given the chance to read it as an ARC.

Strong characters interlaced with humour, messed up families and a clever crime story. Was not a fan of Mickey Blake but he grew on me. Looking forward to reading more of these books in the future.

Definitely recommend.

[Alex Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable debut crime thriller, Safe Hands from W Kelly Is something a little different.

Ex Pat Retired safecracker Mickey is desperate for cash and when one last big job calls out to him he can’t say no.

He heads back to the UK to take on the job for a local gangster and that’s when things really spiral out of control….

A fast paced read with Characters that you want to cheer for, well written, action packed and really a quite compelling story play out in a book that really took me by surprise in a good way!

The finale is great as it’s not what you expect. With Shades of British Gangster Movies, it reminded me of tv shows of old like Hustle. And that’s high praise as that was sone show.

A cracking start to what I hope is a new series.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking page turner!

A great read with twists and turns throughout. Likeable and highly unlikeable characters makes this book unputdownable. A fabulous debut novel.

[Peter Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it’s certainly an unusual character to base a new series on, a sixty-year-old former safe cracker who hasn’t worked in eighteen years. If nothing else, it will be fascinating where the follow ups head. Mickey is a complex character who doesn’t so much have a bit of baggage but rather a vintage Louis Vuitton travel trunk full. Bullied by his own father, he has spent the entirety of his adult life trying to avoid turning into the man he despised, without seeing the damage this caused his own family. A promising boxer, he quit early in his career after seriously injuring an opponent, a guilt he has carried with him ever since. Crime came easy to him, the money was most welcome, but he was always drawn into the skill aspect, pitching his wits against the safe. Now he feels trapped in a marriage that should have ended years ago, again feeling the guilt for the poor way he treated his wife. No wonder a trip to Skegness seems like a fillip to him.

The plot is nice and crazy, at first seeming too straightforward, but of course it isn’t, a simple event signals this and like railway points being thrown, we head off on a different track. Being the first in a series there is the expected back story introduced, but these are so cleverly incorporated into the plot that it steams along and even incorporates the occasional toot of pleasure. It’s not all laughs though, there is violence, some jeopardy and a body to be dealt with, enough to add some real thrills to the mix. Runaway trains do have a tendency to crash…

Safecracking puts me in mind of the post war black and white British movies, but this is no Noir and it is thoroughly modern in style. The criminals use the language we would expect, and the setting is real and has the faded, run down neglect, we now associate with British seaside towns. Serious issues are addressed but it never gets too heavy and whilst never quite ending up in saucy postcard territory there is a certain cheekiness to proceedings, in the end this is a crime caper.

There is a lot of humour throughout, mostly dry and with a sarcastic observational edge, which I found engaging and not overdone. I loved the comment from Mickey telling how he worried when his son fell in with the wrong crowd, “drugs?” was the response, “no, performing arts” the reply. He also has an ear for an interesting turn of phrase and savage putdowns from the street, like ‘sanctimonious piece of excrement’.

The theme through is the family; our commitments, ties and the love we engender. In some cases this is obvious, whereas elsewhere it is buried deeper, but it is manifest in all the significant characters in the own way. This is typified by the strained relationship between Mickey and son Liam, who summarises the position perfectly in that no matter who much you love someone and want to protect them, you must let them live their lives and make their own mistakes. These interactions help to bring some substance to the story.

The supporting cast of characters are an intriguingly mixed bunch, admittedly a couple come straight from central casting but we do want our villains to be nasty. Single mum Hazel is a gem, battling to do the right thing but always seeming to be swimming against a tide of bad circumstances. Her son Warren doesn’t help and represents a generation of confused teens whose attention is easily distracted.

An engaging seaside crime caper, where revenge comes with a side order of laughs.

[Ian Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovered this author and book whilst attending a local book festival where I bought far too many books that is good for me.

Had a good chat with the author there and this new series intrigued me.

Follows a retired safe-cracker - Mickey Blake - 20 years or so after his last job living abroad in Spain looking after his now terminally ill wife trapped inside a loveless marriage.

With funds running out, he's coerced back for 1 last job back in the UK in his old stomping ground to fund medical expenses where he meets his past head-on in this thrilling non-stop actrion where things never really go as planned. Also thrown into the equation is the dying wish of his wife to make amends with their estranged son all mixed in with the pace of deadline of this job.

Plenty of fumour, with a plot and chanracters that you are invested in and want to learn more about, including Hazel a local barmaid and bookeeper whose own hsitory end up being deeply entwinned in the overall arc.

I blitzed through this book and really didn't want to put it down.

One thing I can guarantee is that you won't see/guess the ending.

By happenstance I started reading this book just before the next Book Festival arrived in town and happened to see the author had returned with a sequal. Well needless to say I jumped at the chance to purchase it and now that I've finished this first book in the series, if I finish the second one just as quick will have to wait longer for the next installment.

[Karen Heenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me preface this review by saying that crime novels are not my preferred genre - but on the other hand, if you hook me with solid characters, a good story, and a believable setting, I will follow you almost anywhere. And with Safe Hands, W.A. Kelly has absolutely done that, and I happily followed along.

Retired safe cracker Mickey is a well-developed, not always likable but always understandable character. Single mother Hazel is just trying to do her best, having had a good kid with a bad man. When Hazel and Mickey collide, sparks fly in more ways than one.

The job that Mickey has been called in to complete is interesting and well plotted, in the details we are permitted to know; the assorted unappealing characters are thoroughly rendered. Descriptions of Mickey's hands while working his magic are fascinating, and I would like to know if the author learned and new skills while writing this book.

I particularly enjoyed the dialogue and the very strong voices of the different characters.

The ending was extremely satisfying. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Paul Beebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe Hands is an absolute gem. What really stood out for me were the characters flawed, funny, and full of heart. Mickey, Hazel, and the rest of the cast felt real and lived-in, with backstories that mattered and choices that made sense. It’s rare to find a crime novel that balances grit with genuine warmth, but W. A. Kelly pulls it off brilliantly.

There’s plenty of tension and twisty plotting to keep you hooked, but it’s the dry humour and emotional undercurrents that linger. I found myself smiling at moments of unexpected levity, and caring far more about the characters than I usually do in a thriller.

Highly recommended if you like your crime fiction with depth, heart, and a few well-timed laughs.

[Denise Rolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book you meet Mickey and Hazel , Mickey is a retired safe cracker who receives an offer to do one last job. It’s an offer he can’t refuse. Hazel is a single mum on a mission , it’s personal and she’s not going to stop . The story is told from both of the main characters points of view which keeps it interesting and moving at a fast pace. There is a great twist / surprise towards the end of the book that I just did not see coming. The characters are well written and the story gripped me from the start of this enjoyable and entertaining book. I hope there will be more from Mickey in the future.

[Pat Rowhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real page turner from beginning to end and a really enjoyable read.

I was well invested in the protagonists, Mickey and Hazel, and wanted to keep reading to get through every twist and turn with them.

What Jean-Claude Izzo did for Marseille in his Montale series, W A Kelly is doing for Skegness with Mickey Blake.

[Annette Bowdrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook for this one, read by the author, and I absolutely recommend it. His local accent and ability to use other accents well made it a pleasure to listen to. I also love the fact that it's based around my home area and where we loved to holiday with the kids! Thanks for a great 'read'!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oceans 11 meets Skegness, an intriguing heist story this is a very different novel. Full of people you’re not sure if you like this is pacy and different as a read but you can tell the author has some great ideas and I look forward to seeing what he writes next 4* from me

[Dawn Loveless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skeggy and a safe

For me, I don't usually like this style of writing but I found myself getting into the story and not how it's written.

Quirky and different with twists and turns and I've pre ordered the sequel..

[Sarah Bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

SAFE HANDS is a rare find: gripping, gritty and thoroughly entertaining. Highly recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ericka Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, atmospheric and full of plot twists you don’t see coming.

[Meg Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic!! Could not put it down, would recommend this to anyone, especially if you love all things crime and thriller.

[Lol 007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book soo much, I didn't want it to end

[Sarah Prior · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟👏🏼