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Mickey Take: When a debt goes bad...
When a debt goes bad... someone's looking to make a killing. Michael Field just lost his City job and his beautiful wife in one fell swoop. Unemployed and down on his luck, he's propositioned by one-time friend, Herbert Long. The job is non-negotiable. It's pay-back for a cover-up years ago. But something's not right; it all seems too easy. And it's not just the job that doesn't add up. Part of him is flattered by the improbable advances of the beautiful young woman who calls herself Grace de Manton, but his inner realist is suspicious. What is her game? Could she be connected with Herb somehow? He can't shake the feeling he's being watched. Then there's the threatening voice of a stranger down the phone... and that man lurking in the shadows. In this complex criminal web, Mickey doesn't know who to protect and who to fear. But with even those closest to him seemingly involved, who can he trust? A hapless pawn in a bigger game that's playing out between local crime lords, all he knows is whatever happens, he's not going back into that bloody chamber...
340 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2014
10 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Steven Hayward
2 books30 followersI'm a financial crime consultant who suddenly decided some time ago that my dream was to write fiction. My debut novel, Mickey Take, features an ex-banker who throws in the towel on his "big" City job, but that's where the similarity ends. Between writing crime thrillers and volunteering as the financial controller of the annual New Ways Advent Ball (newways.org.uk), I periodically venture back into the London commuter scene. In contrast, Michael Field, the protagonist and primary narrator of Mickey Take, is perhaps less likely to resume his career in financial services anytime soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 7, 2017
I had the pleasure of purchasing a signed paperback of "Mickey Take - When a debt goes bad" a couple months ago and unfortunately never got round to reading it, but boy do I wish I had read it sooner, it's brilliant! I was hooked from the first chapter to the last thrilling page.
I loved the way the story was told from the first person narrative as you always get to know exactly what is truly going on inside that persons head and this was really well done.
Mickey is class - he's a great character that Steven Hayward has developed splendidly and I personally would love to read more of him in future books.
The writing is intelligent and professional with a plot line that has been cleverly thought out with plenty of twists and turns and the feeling of not knowing who you can trust coming at you all the time. 'The Watcher' chapters were definitely creepy and tense and the early visits to 'Bleak House' had me really freaked out.
"Mickey Take - When a debt goes bad" is a joy to read, it's an easy to follow and understand British crime thriller, intense and unnerving - I can't recommend you read this book enough.
Steven Hayward is a very talented and well thought of author within several online book clubs and I truly believe he deserves every success with his work. I look forward to reading his follow up novella "Jammed Up" very soon and hopefully many more books in the future.
5 stars!
I loved the way the story was told from the first person narrative as you always get to know exactly what is truly going on inside that persons head and this was really well done.
Mickey is class - he's a great character that Steven Hayward has developed splendidly and I personally would love to read more of him in future books.
The writing is intelligent and professional with a plot line that has been cleverly thought out with plenty of twists and turns and the feeling of not knowing who you can trust coming at you all the time. 'The Watcher' chapters were definitely creepy and tense and the early visits to 'Bleak House' had me really freaked out.
"Mickey Take - When a debt goes bad" is a joy to read, it's an easy to follow and understand British crime thriller, intense and unnerving - I can't recommend you read this book enough.
Steven Hayward is a very talented and well thought of author within several online book clubs and I truly believe he deserves every success with his work. I look forward to reading his follow up novella "Jammed Up" very soon and hopefully many more books in the future.
5 stars!
May 4, 2016
What a brilliant find Steven Hayward has been,this is his debut novel and a little bit off track to my normal gendre but he can certainly tell one hell of a story.
The first chapter sets the scene back in 1983 which will change so many lives. It is here where you are introduced to The Watcher, who will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck more than once.
The story on the whole is told in the first person narrative through Michael Field an ex banker doing a favour for an old friend and paying a debt off from years before.
Nothing is ever simple though and this story is certainly an iceberg with the main bulk of it sitting beneath the surface. There are some pretty dodgy characters in this book of gangsters, revenge and dodgy dealings, but what I loved the most was how Steven Hayward would set a scene and let my imagination run wild with what had happened there. Boy did I scare myself.
Excellent reading and book Two is just round the corner. Mint!
The first chapter sets the scene back in 1983 which will change so many lives. It is here where you are introduced to The Watcher, who will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck more than once.
The story on the whole is told in the first person narrative through Michael Field an ex banker doing a favour for an old friend and paying a debt off from years before.
Nothing is ever simple though and this story is certainly an iceberg with the main bulk of it sitting beneath the surface. There are some pretty dodgy characters in this book of gangsters, revenge and dodgy dealings, but what I loved the most was how Steven Hayward would set a scene and let my imagination run wild with what had happened there. Boy did I scare myself.
Excellent reading and book Two is just round the corner. Mint!
April 21, 2016
Having won a signed copy on The Book Club auction I couldn't wait to start reading it. And I sure has hell wasn't disappointed. Oh Mickey your so fine, your so fine you blow my mine is what I think of this book!
So we start off with the prologue and one gritty scene of a car crash in December 1983.Which left me wanting to know more. Then we fast forward to the year 2009. Where we meet Michael Field an ex banker who is having much luck, having lost his job and wife. Herbert who is Mickey's old time friend makes a job proposal that is non-negotiable. It is a payback for a cover-up years ago. But it all seems to easy and Mickey feels something isn't right. Then Grace de Manton is making advantages which Mickey is flattered by. But who is Grace? could she be connected to Herbert? And the whole time feeling like he is being watched and something isn't right after the voice of a stranger threatening him down the phone.
There is lots of Flashbacks at the start of the story which I found very fitting, Which all becomes clear at the end. I have to say I love the mention of Woolworths, who didn't love that shop?! it totally took me back to the Eighties LOL
For me this isn't your normal crime book I would say its more a physiological thriller with gangland. The whole debt storyline was touching on Martina Cole style with the underworld storyline. But I have to say I found the author's style of writing very unique. Mickey is a strong, quirky, upbeat character and I love how the narrator has portrayed the story through Mickey's eyes which I honestly think this is absolutely class. There is also brief extracts from the watcher's perspective keeping you wondering who the watcher is, very clever I have to say. Mickey Take is one hell of a page tuner with lots of twists and turns that will have you guessing until the end. I honestly couldn't get enough and I am looking forward to reading more of Steven Hayward's books in the future, hopefully with Mickey in them!
I highly recommend this book giving it 5 massive stars.
So we start off with the prologue and one gritty scene of a car crash in December 1983.Which left me wanting to know more. Then we fast forward to the year 2009. Where we meet Michael Field an ex banker who is having much luck, having lost his job and wife. Herbert who is Mickey's old time friend makes a job proposal that is non-negotiable. It is a payback for a cover-up years ago. But it all seems to easy and Mickey feels something isn't right. Then Grace de Manton is making advantages which Mickey is flattered by. But who is Grace? could she be connected to Herbert? And the whole time feeling like he is being watched and something isn't right after the voice of a stranger threatening him down the phone.
There is lots of Flashbacks at the start of the story which I found very fitting, Which all becomes clear at the end. I have to say I love the mention of Woolworths, who didn't love that shop?! it totally took me back to the Eighties LOL
For me this isn't your normal crime book I would say its more a physiological thriller with gangland. The whole debt storyline was touching on Martina Cole style with the underworld storyline. But I have to say I found the author's style of writing very unique. Mickey is a strong, quirky, upbeat character and I love how the narrator has portrayed the story through Mickey's eyes which I honestly think this is absolutely class. There is also brief extracts from the watcher's perspective keeping you wondering who the watcher is, very clever I have to say. Mickey Take is one hell of a page tuner with lots of twists and turns that will have you guessing until the end. I honestly couldn't get enough and I am looking forward to reading more of Steven Hayward's books in the future, hopefully with Mickey in them!
I highly recommend this book giving it 5 massive stars.
March 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It did take me a bit of time to get into it, but after the first few chapters, it really flowed with a quick pace and intrigue. I am not a huge fan of first person writing, but this plot really works best from Mickey's point of view. He has ongoing debates with his more sensible persona 'The Banker' and the reader gets a real feel for the inner struggles Mickey faces daily. For me, I felt empathy for Mickey even though he often succumbed to poor choices. It took me a while to figure out Grace's role in the story - was she genuine or just another person out to tempt Mickey's rogue side. Clever writing. I found myself rooting for Mickey to make the right choices - to stand up for himself and lose his weak character. Thankfully, the author didn't disappoint. The only thing I would say is I thought Herb wasn't developed enough. He is a crucial part of this story but he was absent too often and I found this a bit frustrating. There is definitely a sequel here and I look forward to what trouble Mickey finds himself in next.
November 11, 2016
Had me hooked from start to finish
This was a truly mesmerising story!
The sub-title “When a Debt goes Bad” had me thinking it would be a story about gambling. Not so. The suspense unravels from the very first scene and keeps you gripped right to the end. All you know about the main character Mickey Field is that he owes someone big time. It is a notion that has him searching an abandoned house, hoping to retrieve a camera that contains something incriminating. Yet what he finds is worse, the smell of death, a hidden room that conceals a torture chamber. It leaves you with the notion there is something very fishy going on behind the scenes.
Added to the suspense, is another invisible character - a watcher - who follows Mickey’s every mood. The story (mainly depicted through the eyes of the main character) is written in first person but I like the author’s style - it feels like he’s telling it to your face and as for the debt... It is a saga that pushes deep into the past of its characters with so many twists you don’t get the answers until the very end.
This was a truly mesmerising story!
The sub-title “When a Debt goes Bad” had me thinking it would be a story about gambling. Not so. The suspense unravels from the very first scene and keeps you gripped right to the end. All you know about the main character Mickey Field is that he owes someone big time. It is a notion that has him searching an abandoned house, hoping to retrieve a camera that contains something incriminating. Yet what he finds is worse, the smell of death, a hidden room that conceals a torture chamber. It leaves you with the notion there is something very fishy going on behind the scenes.
Added to the suspense, is another invisible character - a watcher - who follows Mickey’s every mood. The story (mainly depicted through the eyes of the main character) is written in first person but I like the author’s style - it feels like he’s telling it to your face and as for the debt... It is a saga that pushes deep into the past of its characters with so many twists you don’t get the answers until the very end.
March 4, 2015
Received my copy today, thank you :-) I'm just in the middle of 4 books im reviewing but I'll read and review this after those. Thanks again
2.5-3 stars. Review to follow
I've just realised I'd forgotten to review this. And the fact that I still remember the story is a good thing, for the book, not necessarily for me :-/
This is totally not my genre but my New Years resolution was to try to read around a bit which is why I gave this a go. It took me over 100 to even partially understand wtf was going on. All a little far fetched but a story is a story - some are ridiculously far fetched and others arent. All in all 2.5-3 stars. No grammatical or printing errors that I noticed. Just not my genre.
2.5-3 stars. Review to follow
I've just realised I'd forgotten to review this. And the fact that I still remember the story is a good thing, for the book, not necessarily for me :-/
This is totally not my genre but my New Years resolution was to try to read around a bit which is why I gave this a go. It took me over 100 to even partially understand wtf was going on. All a little far fetched but a story is a story - some are ridiculously far fetched and others arent. All in all 2.5-3 stars. No grammatical or printing errors that I noticed. Just not my genre.
May 27, 2016
Michael field split up from his wife and got fired from his job as a city banker he cant seemed to turn his life around until his friend and a small time ganster herbert long turns up in his life and needs help from mickey, herbert is after payback from mickey from years ago and he cant get out of it,then theres grace but who is this grace is she connected to herbert.
this book was not crime its more psychological thriller and i really enjoyed it and hoping theres more to this sequel and more from steven hayward although it was slow at the begining i am glad to have carried on to see what happens next, i gave this book a 5 star
this book was not crime its more psychological thriller and i really enjoyed it and hoping theres more to this sequel and more from steven hayward although it was slow at the begining i am glad to have carried on to see what happens next, i gave this book a 5 star
October 18, 2016
Long overdue and with a smile similar to Jack Nicholson's iconic leering face whilst holding an axe, Michael Field walks away from his city life. Then bang, leaving behind a job that along with the break down of his marriage was never really the life he wanted, his elation soon vanishes when he reluctantly walks into a situation that makes his old life appealing.
Written in the first person, Michael takes you on a journey that begins with a phone call from an old friend, and continues along a path that has you second guessing yourself. A crime story with a likeable character who you care about, 'Mickey Take' had me gripped from the first until the last page.
Written in the first person, Michael takes you on a journey that begins with a phone call from an old friend, and continues along a path that has you second guessing yourself. A crime story with a likeable character who you care about, 'Mickey Take' had me gripped from the first until the last page.
January 14, 2015
Mickey is a man who, in some ways, is entirely unsympathetic --- yet his story is so compelling you won't be able to put it down. The suspense never stops. From the love interest, Grace, to the shadowy father figure, Herb, or the even more shadowy men in the background, Mickey Take features a memorable cast of characters, each with a dark secret. If you're a fan of the Guy Ritchie type of British gangster movies, you'll love the pace and tone of this really fun book. I found it a smooth and magnetic read.
January 30, 2016
Wow! Loved it!
Expertly written, intriguing plot, keeps you guessing!
It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Steven I think you will go far!
We have a complex but cleverly interwoven plot, with characters that are easy to relate to, a believable set of circumstances which all come together expertly at the end. I particularly loved the fluidity of writing – enough long and short sentences and such varied language. WELL DONE!
Expertly written, intriguing plot, keeps you guessing!
It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Steven I think you will go far!
We have a complex but cleverly interwoven plot, with characters that are easy to relate to, a believable set of circumstances which all come together expertly at the end. I particularly loved the fluidity of writing – enough long and short sentences and such varied language. WELL DONE!
March 28, 2016
It isn't too often that I find a book that I can't finish. This is one of the few. I have to say that the prologue started me thinking ' this is going to be good'. I read the next few chapters and just couldn't get into it. The first person POV usually works for me but I just couldn't get to like Mickey. I don't know what it was about him but he just didn't grab me. If I'd managed to get past the first few chapters, I might have found it to get better. But I couldn't!
April 19, 2016
I really struggled to get in to this book initially but I'm so glad that I persevered as the book gets a whole lot better! I thought that the characters were great and edgy that gave the book a great feel. The pace was spot on and the storyline was thrilling. You didn't know which way it was going to go! I'm interested already to see what Steven comes up with next - should be very good if this one is anything to go by!
April 19, 2016
It took me a few pages to get into this book and I nearly abandoned it. Boy oh boy, I'm so glad I didn't as I would have missed out on a cracking story.
I loved Mickey and felt so sorry for him. Everything going wrong at once. He's not perfect but there again who is? That's what makes him human.
There are lots of twists and turns and this makes it quite a complex tale but it's easy to follow.
I hope we get to meet Mickey again.
An excellent start to Mr. Hayward's publishing career.
I loved Mickey and felt so sorry for him. Everything going wrong at once. He's not perfect but there again who is? That's what makes him human.
There are lots of twists and turns and this makes it quite a complex tale but it's easy to follow.
I hope we get to meet Mickey again.
An excellent start to Mr. Hayward's publishing career.
April 19, 2016
Mickey Take -Steven Hayward 4*
The first few chapters are choppy and jump about a lot. Stick with it and hold onto your hat as this is a layered complex story with some great characters. Packed with twists and flashbacks the writing style is almost cluttered, but overall the story is compelling enough that you overlook that. Mickey is a strong enough character to carry a sequel, or even a series - I look forward to seeing what he gets upto next.
The first few chapters are choppy and jump about a lot. Stick with it and hold onto your hat as this is a layered complex story with some great characters. Packed with twists and flashbacks the writing style is almost cluttered, but overall the story is compelling enough that you overlook that. Mickey is a strong enough character to carry a sequel, or even a series - I look forward to seeing what he gets upto next.
April 6, 2016
A book full of action and thrills drawing to a conclusion in which all the various themes are drawn together and explained.The characters are well drawn and believable leaving us as the Reader to want to follow their adventures and mishaps.An excellent start for a debut novel boding well for the future
April 14, 2016
I absolutely loved this book! I loved the style it was written in, atmospherically it made me think of smoking guns and shady dealings.. loved this.. The characters are very attractive, which I think is incredibly important, and I can easily see this as a slick film making pots of money!
I absolutely recommend that you pick up a copy, this book is a real treat!
I absolutely recommend that you pick up a copy, this book is a real treat!
February 3, 2015
Gripping debut novel that introduces us to Mickey - ex-banker and something of a loser, who finds himself embroiled in things dark and dangerous. Very well written with a complexity of twists and turns that will keep you wondering and turning pages until the end. Let's hope there will be a sequel.
January 31, 2016
I found this book hard to get into at first but I kept going and boy am I glad I did . Full of twists and suspense . Mickey was a loveable rogue And Grace was very intriguing . I couldn't wait to see what happened to them both. I give this book 5 stars
November 30, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It is a real page turner and I was reading til 4 this morning because I couldn't put it down. An excellent debut, I am so looking forward to his next one.
April 11, 2016
End to end great reading amazing story telling and writing thoroughly enjoyable
November 28, 2025
Michael Field is in a fix. He’s lost his job and his wife and things are not looking great. Then along comes a former friend - Herbert Long with a proposition.
But from the off something feels off - he can’t quite put his finger on what it is - it could be the beautiful lady Grace, maybe he’s being watched or maybe it’s something much more sinister that he’s become unwittingly embroiled in.
I’m afraid I found no connection with the characters, the plot somewhat unlikely and the novel quite disconnected.
But from the off something feels off - he can’t quite put his finger on what it is - it could be the beautiful lady Grace, maybe he’s being watched or maybe it’s something much more sinister that he’s become unwittingly embroiled in.
I’m afraid I found no connection with the characters, the plot somewhat unlikely and the novel quite disconnected.
April 11, 2016
A great page turner.
Mickey's wife has left him and he's been fired from a good job as a city banker so he feels he has lost everything and doesn't know how to move forward. Herb, a friend from his youth gets in touch and wants him to do a job for him. Herb has something over Mickey. With the void in his life, Mickey almost becomes an insecure teenager again as gets sucked into a world of crime.
This is a complex book and clever on many levels with a lot of twists and turns. I had no idea where it was going. The first person narrative works brilliantly as the reader follows the story through Mickey's eyes and only knows as much as he does. Throughout the novel there are snippets from The Watcher's perspective, which creates a dreadful sense of threat and foreboding as the implication from early on is that the watcher is capable of hideous crimes.
I liked the character of Mickey who is very upbeat and tells it like it is. Mickey's real flaw is that he is too trusting and easily led by those around him and because of that he is quite vulnerable.
Mickey's wife has left him and he's been fired from a good job as a city banker so he feels he has lost everything and doesn't know how to move forward. Herb, a friend from his youth gets in touch and wants him to do a job for him. Herb has something over Mickey. With the void in his life, Mickey almost becomes an insecure teenager again as gets sucked into a world of crime.
This is a complex book and clever on many levels with a lot of twists and turns. I had no idea where it was going. The first person narrative works brilliantly as the reader follows the story through Mickey's eyes and only knows as much as he does. Throughout the novel there are snippets from The Watcher's perspective, which creates a dreadful sense of threat and foreboding as the implication from early on is that the watcher is capable of hideous crimes.
I liked the character of Mickey who is very upbeat and tells it like it is. Mickey's real flaw is that he is too trusting and easily led by those around him and because of that he is quite vulnerable.
April 3, 2016
A fairly light hearted very enjoyable book. Michael loses his job and his wife in a short space of time and is asked to “do a favour” by a life- long friend. Things from his past come to haunt him and the girl he chatted up for a bet turns out she was out to catch him for a very different reason.
Mickey is the innocent pawn in all of this, except for what he did years ago which he feels very guilty about. A little fish in a very big pond. What goes around comes around springs to mind.
Excellent characters, a brilliant plot which at times is quite complicated. There a lot of key characters both in the present and the past. An excellent use of humour, no excessive bad language (always good in my book so to speak!) and no excessive violence. Could this be the start of a series?
Mickey is a likeable character as is Grace and I could see more developing from this.
A recommended read.
Mickey is the innocent pawn in all of this, except for what he did years ago which he feels very guilty about. A little fish in a very big pond. What goes around comes around springs to mind.
Excellent characters, a brilliant plot which at times is quite complicated. There a lot of key characters both in the present and the past. An excellent use of humour, no excessive bad language (always good in my book so to speak!) and no excessive violence. Could this be the start of a series?
Mickey is a likeable character as is Grace and I could see more developing from this.
A recommended read.
April 9, 2016
I would highly recommend this book. It is an engaging read, with a strong storyline.
It has a unique style as it uses flashbacks a lot, which I was a bit worried about but they are done so well with their own titled sections that went really well with the main story. I felt they did not distract as they were as solid as the rest of the book.
I really liked Mickey. He seems like a real person not just a one dimensional main character. and I thought the supporting characters were well rounded too.
I found it well written and was happy with the ending too, (which I always complain about the most.)
It has a unique style as it uses flashbacks a lot, which I was a bit worried about but they are done so well with their own titled sections that went really well with the main story. I felt they did not distract as they were as solid as the rest of the book.
I really liked Mickey. He seems like a real person not just a one dimensional main character. and I thought the supporting characters were well rounded too.
I found it well written and was happy with the ending too, (which I always complain about the most.)
April 12, 2016
Mickey Take is a fantastic read from start to finish! I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Michael Field is a fascinating character and, in spite of his misdemeanours, he comes across as a likeable rogue and the first person narrative works very well and adds to the vividness and immediacy of the narration. The other characters are also well-drawn and again sympathetic inspite of character flaws. There are many interesting twists and turns along the way and the denouement draws everything together satisfactorily.
April 10, 2016
Fantastic read! kept me hooked throughout, even the beginning which other people said was slow I enjoyed. The twists and turns of the story added to my enjoyment. I didn't want the book to end! good job on a brill first novel, can't wait to read your next book!!@
April 10, 2016
Mickey Take is a well written easy book to read. Mickey lost his job and his wife and is asked for help by an old friend, he meets Grace and their relationship develops along with other twists and turns. I will definitely read more by this author
April 14, 2016
Just staeted
August 24, 2016
gripping read and cannot wait to read more by this author
October 21, 2016
Dissapointed book was not has good has back cover read up
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews