Tony Green was recently released having served a four-year prison sentence for murder. With the support of a loving fiancée he attempts to prevent the next generation from following in his own footsteps. Although Tony may be paying back his debt to society, he is about to discover other debts are not so easily repaid.
From the author of the Blood Memory series and Keeping Mum comes this tale of revenge, retribution and regret. If you were denied justice would you dispense your own?
PRAISE FOR SQUARE:
“One of the most realistic (and gruesome!) tales of revenge I’ve read in a very long time. 5 stars.” –M. Boutros
“Remind me never to annoy any fifty year-old women! Great story. Highly recommended.” –A. Lamb
** This is the first act of the full Square novel **
Perrin Briar is an English author best-known for his Blood Memory series, black comedy Keeping Mum, and revenge tale Square. He was born in Huntingdon, grew up in Norfolk, graduated from Bournemouth, worked in London, and then chucked it all in to live in South Korea.
He has written for BBC radio, and worked in the production and development departments of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
** Sign up to Perrin's newsletter at www.perrinbriar.com/mailing-list/ and get four free stories, news of forthcoming new novels, competitions, special prices, advanced novel previews and exclusive email-only serial story Skip! **
I was approached by author with the suggestion of reading it based upon my review of Darkly Dreaming Dexter, the author suggesting that I may find it interesting as it was of a similar genre. I can honestly say that I’m glad I downloaded it and gave it a read.
I’d been expecting a more Dexter-esque book than I was given, although the fact that I was told the book was of a ‘similar genre’ should have left me realising that my imagination was working in the wrong direction. Due to that I was pleasantly surprised by what I was given.
Have you ever wondered what an ex-con does when he gets out of prison with the desire to make a difference? Meet Tony, a traveller with the idea of changing things for his ilk. It is certainly a unique read, one which I plan to continue on with. Ending on a cliff-hanger this first part will leave you wanting to pick up the next in no time at all. In fact, I’m rather disappointed that I do not have the next one to continue!
A great read, I’m thankful that the author contacted me.
As a note, my four star review reflects the fact that I didn’t quite connect with the characters for the first couple of chapters whereas in other books I have found myself connecting much quicker. However, with the way things are going it may well end up being a five star review for the overall book – I guess we shall just have to wait and see about that!
Sent to my Kindle by author for review, "Square: Welcome Home" is actually a fraction of a much larger novel. There seems to be 4 books in all to complete the full novel. Author Perrin Briar asked me for an honest review on this first installment. Spending a total of just 45 minutes to read this "Square 1", I found it very easy to read. Seems a man, Tony Green, comes home from four years in prison to his fiance Becky. The community throws Tony a big bash to celebrate. The local crime boss Stivie, assumes now that Tony is back on the streets, he'll work for him again. Tony, on the other hand has other ideas. A community school to teach the "Travellers" ( Which I took as Irish Gypsies). Tony has one debt to settle with Stivie before he can begin his new life. Becky and Tony are scheduled to have a fancy dinner with Becky's parents. However, it looks like neither may arrive. A pretty simple smooth story line was nice to read. I'm not sure where this yarn took place. The characters were somewhat well developed. Along with some unique dialog made this book an interesting one to read. I gave it 4 stars out of 5. I took away one stars because I wasn't sure where this book took place. Also, "Travellers" is not really explained. Although I do remember them as Irish Gypsies. I'm pretty curious how the next "Square Book 2" keeps this going ? Are all 4 like the first ? Regardless of the size of a novel, If I'm engaged I have no problems reading a 600-700 page book. Piecemeal like this is something new to me. I have 116 books on my Kindle now. I'll read them all. Books in parts may be a problem. What if I don't get back to this for 3 weeks ?
A short look into the Gypsy Traveller community, and a Traveller who wants to make a change. I wish it hadn't ended so abruptly... when starting, I didn't realize it was a short story!
this book started out really boring so to speak. it only got better towards the end. left a whole bunch out. i get that hes home and paid his debt for a murder that he should have been there longer for. now someone wants him gone.
Okayy What a cliffhanger. I suspect Becky and Stivie have some sort of relationship while Tony was in prison .easy read. But not much can be extracted from the book except from the introduction of who is Tony and what he did before with his aspirations for the future undderlings.
So a lot had happened to Tony Green, but it didn't work in the book. I found the book to be frustrating and not even scary; suspense is even far from my mind. Even the ending didn't make any sense.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Tony has just gotten out of prison after four years inside. Becky, his financee, and his community throw him a surprise welcome home party. Crime boss, Stivie, is also there and he expects Tony to step back into his old role and begin working for him once again. Tony, though, has his own ideas (involving better access to education for the "traveller" community) and he wants to better his life and those around him, but he will have to pay off his missing brother's debt to Stivie before he can start his new life.
Square: Welcome Home is the first part of a much longer novel (I believe episode one, here, is the first quarter of the story). I really enjoyed diving into Tony's world and getting to know the characters. I found myself hooked right from the start. I wish it hadn't ended so soon and I'm looking forward to the rest of this mystery suspense novel.
I do have one question, though. I have a pretty good idea, but what exactly does "traveller" refer to in this context?
I was emailed by the author to read his ebook "Square" currently offered for free on Amazon, based on a previous book review I did for Darkly Dreaming Dexter. This is the first 'installment' of a longer series. Tony, an ex-con, is released on parole and ready to turn his life around. Before he went away for 4 years, he was part of a group of 'travelers' (which I later found out are similar to gypsies), and after his release, quickly integrates himself back into the group. He quickly realizes that the group now does not fit into his current plans.
Although this 'installment' is short, it does offer some insight into Tony, his girlfriend, Becky, and the group of travelers. Unfortunately, I wasn't drawn into the story or the characters. They were very two-dimensional without much depth and the story itself was very unmemorable - no twists, no suspense, no action. We are left hanging at the end, of course, about what the future holds for Tony and his travelers. Will the second book be better or is this just not my cup of tea?
An intriguing and enjoyable start to a clearly larger story. By itself, we are shown a fringe community of Travellers subsisting on generally non-violent crimes and the community as a whole, stacked against the rest of the world and seemingly an inevitable cycle generation to generation. The protagonist's story lances an almost dangerous beam of hope for a better life into this near hopeless community and though bound internally to better himself and his people, we are left in this chapter as he is laid low at the cusp of the start of his success in fulfilling this dream.
If the synopsis of the complete collection is any indication, perhaps this externally non-violent community is turning in on itself. I look forward to finding out.
Perrin, thank you for the recommendation and I can't wait to see the story's next turn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was asked by Perrin to read this for an honest review and I'm glad I did. It is a great story so far. The plot is original and the character development is great. Tony is out of prison and looking to turn a new leaf. As much as he wants to do this there are obstacles in his way. He is also learning that past debts, real or imagined will always need to he repaid. My only complaint is that this ended too soon. I can't wait to see what happens to Tony, his fiancee, his dreams and his goals. I would recommend this book to others withdrew warning that it will leave you wanting more.
A very in-depth character study and sociological microcosm analysis in a fast-paced and scary episode. After four ugly prison years Tony 's going straight--and better than just straight, he's got big plans to help his Gypsy community: literacy, education, learning trade skills. But crime boss Stivie thinks not: he 'll put Tony to work in a new scam, and that way Tony can pay off his missing brother's debt to the crime czar.
The author messaged me on Goodreads and asked for an honest review. I'm afraid my honest review isn't very positive.
First impressions: the writing is very choppy. Paragraphs consist of a single line of dialogue. There are some descriptors, but nothing that really drew me in to the writing. I know next to nothing about the characters, and the little that has been shown doesn't make me want to know them further.
This wasn't a read I particularly enjoyed, and not one I will be continuing.
I received this ebook for a honest review. I wish I could give a better review, but I didn't get enough in this sample. But, what I got was a heartwarming. Tony has changed for the better. There are people who don't want him to change and they will do whatever it takes to keep him in trouble. The book gets really interesting towards the end and then stops! Wow, I hate when books do that. It makes you want to buy the next book in the series. Lol. Thanks Perrin.
'Square' is one of those stories you can't put down. I was pulled in from the start as Tony's new life began. I enjoyed the storyline. Becky seems like the best thing to happen to Tony, especially waiting for him for four years while incarcerated. I loved Tony's ambitions for making a better life of those around him. I look forward to reading more of their story. A good add to your tbr list.
Tony is free, after four years in prison. Things have changed. People have left, others have arrived. He has a project.
Square, by Perrin Briar, is a different sort of story. It's difficult to review without giving away the twists and turns. I thought the dialogue was the key to the story. Mr. Briar did an excellent job.
I recently read a taster for this novel and I certainly want to know more. Perrin Briar has a Jeff Lindsay sort of vibe to his writing- and I adore Jeff Lindsay. Novels with this sort of theme of violence and murder are always so intriguing and can contain the sort of story that stays with you for a long time. I hope I get the chance to read the rest of it.
I had no idea this was a very short portion of the story. It got good and then ends. It is a series. So I just purchased the complete edition. I will give my review once I complete this series. I will say it is a great idea for a story.
This book started a little slow for me but as it went on it got better with every page. I really want to read the whole novel and find out what happens. This author knows how to build a story brick by brick ( or word by word) to a crescendo. I like his style.
This is the first episode of a very interesting series. It is not a long installment, and ends as a cliff hanger. Definitely leaves you wanting to know more about what is going to happen.
As a teaser for the second book this was well written and perfectly paced. An interesting story line that clearly has many twists and turns to go yet. It certainly lived up to the mystery, thriller, suspense tag.
It's an interesting story, I didn't realize it was a series until the last page. Can't wait to see what happens to Tony and Becky, if dreams do become real!