Heads You Lose

Lifting the Lid #2

by Rob Johnson

The assignment in Greece might have been the answer to Trevor and Sandra's problems except for one thing. Someone was trying to frame them for murder... with a watermelon.

'Money for old rope,' Sandra had said when they accepted the job of looking after the ageing Marcus Ingleby at his villa in Greece, but when a neighbour brings a gift for the old man, the prospect of spending most of the rest of their lives in a Greek prison becomes a terrifying reality.

Meanwhile, Ingleby has problems of his own. During his seventy-odd years, his cupboard has accumulated plenty of skeletons, one of which is about to be rattled by a couple of ex-cons and a retired police inspector from his murky past.

Heads You Lose is the sequel to Lifting the Lid and the second book in the 'Lifting the Lid' series, featuring Sandra Gray, Trevor Hawkins and his incorrigible dog, Milly.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2014

About the author

‘You’ll have to write an author biography of course.’
‘Oh? Why?’
‘Because people will want to know something about you before they lash out on buying one of your books.’
‘You think so, do you?’
‘Just do it, okay?’
‘So what do I tell them?’
‘For a start, you should mention that you’ve written four plays that were professionally produced and toured throughout the UK.’
‘Should I say anything about all the temp jobs I had, like working in the towels and linens stockroom at a big department store or as a fitter’s mate in a perfume factory?’
‘No, definitely not.’
‘Motorcycle dispatch rider?’
‘You were sacked, weren’t you?’
‘Boss said he could get a truck there quicker.’
‘Leave it out then, but make sure they know that you've published eight books so far. And don’t forget to put in something that shows you’re vaguely human.’
‘You mean this kind of thing: “I’m currently in Greece with my wife, Penny, seven cats and two rescue dogs and working on a new novel and a couple of screenplays”.’
‘It’ll have to do, I suppose, and then finish off with your website and social media stuff.’
‘Oh, okay then.’

* My website

* My Facebook author page

* Twitter @RobJohnson999

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy this anywhere near as much as the first in the series. It took me an age to get into it and I became confused between characters.

However, I do enjoy Mr Johnson’s style and will return to him again.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great second book, we now find Trevor and Sandra working together as private detectives and its seems business is not going so well. Then they get offered a job in Greece. The job is not all its cracked up to be. Soon they are in the frame for a murder , Throw in a a couple of side plots and an old enemy and you have a great story. It’s funny, its enthralling and it made me want to read more and more . come on Rob Johnson write lifting the lid #3

[Mr M.S.Skitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun. Plot was a bit weak but fun none the less. I enjoyed the descriptions of Greek ways and language. On to book three...

[Keith Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trevor and Sandra are running a detective agency, but it’s not doing too well, they’re just about out of funds. When Trevor’s latest assignment goes off the rails and he ends up in hospital he jumps at the offer of a seemingly simple baby-sitting job in Greece.

But when the baby he’s looking after is a seventy year old ex-con called Ingleby with a dubious sense of humour whom everyone seems to be after for one reason or another suddenly the job isn’t so easy after all. And when someone tries to frame Trevor and Sandra by leaving various body parts in their van and freezer, life gets even more complicated.

Heads You Lose is the follow up to Lifting The Lid and picks up pretty much where the other left off. That being said it is relatively stand alone and it’s not entirely necessary to read the first novel (but you’re missing out if you don’t).

It takes a little time to get going, with Sandra and Trevor going through the process of leaving England, but once they end up in Greece and the other protagonists are in place it really motors.

Johnson excels at setting up multiple story arcs and inter-weaving them in increasingly intriguing and amusing ways. In this case a couple of ex-cons are looking for the third man, the guy who got away with the proceeds of the robbery the trio was involved in. Trevor and Sandra are bystanders.

However in parallel Donna is trying to get revenge for her husband’s death (an event in the previous novel). She blames Trevor and Sandra. Here Ingleby is the by-stander, but each arc affects the other. Throw in some local cops and this is a highly entertaining, well-constructed screwball comedy that is as enjoyable as it is well written. It ranks alongside Declan Burke’s work in terms of quality.

To say any more would ruin the story, I strongly recommend you give it a try.

**Originally reviewed for Books and Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**

[Bill Hoyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and funny

I read "Lifting the Lid" before "Heads You Lose" and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. Both books had me laughing throughout but each is a real good crime story with dastardly villains and reluctant heroes too. Smoke a bowl, pop the top on a couple of cold ones then sit back and enjoy the adventures of Trevor and Sandra. You would be hard pressed to find a better entertainment bargain

[Red Tide · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very funny

The book was a sequel to another crime comedy. The characters in the first book weren't too relatable and the same cast shows up for this one. They haven't gotten better but instead, seem to be worse.

The humor is too much slapstick and no substance. It needed a serious counterpoint which was completely absent. I stopped reading halfway through.

[Pamela Allegretto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trevor Hawkins, Rob Johnson’s witty, hapless antagonist from Lifting the Lid, makes a return in this quirky mystery romp through the streets of Greece. The unique storyline, clever dialog, and a severed head for good measure keep the reader engaged. A total delight from beginning to end. My compliments.

[Terry Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sand in My Eyes

I love the way the author has developed the characters throughout these novels. As the plot swings from one extreme to another, deftly interwoven are the protagonists. And, a tension is created that can only be lessened by finishing the novel-or in this case, moving on to the third book in the series. Good read!

[Lisa Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second of the Lifting the Lid series of comedy murder capers is as rib tickling as the first. This is a great robbery of a book, with wonderfully memorable characters, fast-paced dialogue and a clever storyline, set mainly in Greece. It will also put you off watermelons for life! A word of warning…always check the toilet before you sit!

[Wpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heads You Lose

Enjoyed this story. Really interesting characters. Was glad to see Trevor finally getting over being timid and finally getting the girl. Liked Sandra and truly liked old Marcus. Hope I can find another book by this author.

[Hank Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read

A whole bunch of competing criminals to sort out. The hero's stumble into more misadventures than imaginable. On the run frombeveryone.

[Kevin Richard Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good pace, light humour.

Good pace, light humour. This sequel was better than book 1, both books keeping you reading. Multiple plots again which is good.

[Kev Rennell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle romp with a few twists. Enjoyable.

[sarah boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for the beNch or couch !

I read this during lockdown and at least something made me happy. Would recommend to people with good imagination S everywhere

[Patricia B Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny funny people

Rob's books are full of stupid people doing stupid stuff but in a funny way. I'd like to have a beer with most of them but am glad they're not in my family!!

[Mr Stewart R Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Rob Johnstone's larger than life characters. Also the plot is complex but very satisfying. I was very disappointed that there were only three books in this series.I wanted to continue to follow the characters.I loved Milly the dog!-

[Joanne Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Johnson sounds like a really interesting bloke. As a Brit living in Greece, I had wondered whether he would begin to draw on his own experiences abroad to begin informing Trevor’s trials and tribulations, and now in Heads You Lose, Trevor has travelled to Greece in order to care for an elderly (but not so disabled) patient. I have no doubt that there is a taverna close to where he lives where smoking is just about a condition of entry, and that there is a local officer Pericles whose gusto for seafood is only rivalled by his passion for his job.

I have to admit that I approached this book with a touch of reluctance. I really enjoyed Johnson’s first, Lifting the Lid; what if this one wasn’t as good? It’s hard to write a follow-up which contains the same characters with all their flaws and fascinations without being repetitive. To find new situations for them which contain the same combination of ridiculousness and Irish fate without being out and out dumb.
I should not have worried. Johnson has delivered another masterfully planned and executed novel, holding two intricate storylines and a large number of fascinating characters in his fingers. The story is so enjoyable that it’s easy to get lost in it and not appreciate the magic that he weaves so skilfully.

Firstly, his favourite characters – Trevor, Sandra and let’s not forget Milly – appear again, solidly consistent with their previous selves but in no way dull. They are joined by an enormous host of new characters, all fully rounded and wholly convincing. As with book 1, they are exaggerated versions of real life tweaked in order to be humorous, but never slip into caricatures, and I never felt the author was ridiculing them. One of my favourite new characters is Marcus Ingleby, the grouchy old man who Trevor and Sandra go to look after. Of course he has a dark past of his own, which manages to catch up with him at exactly the same time that Trevor (or let’s be honest, Sandra) is in charge, also the moment when Ingleby’s neighbour begins carrying out her careful plan of revenge.
Then there is Johnson’s timing. Although the beginning of the book is slow, his scene setting is impeccable and necessary. Around page 70 the strands begin to interweave, and the pace picks up. From then on the pacing is perfect, taking the characters from one ridiculous situation to the next and culminating with all of them getting an approximation of what they deserve. Johnson ties up all loose ends beautifully, even giving Trevor an opportunity to show that some of Sandra’s gumption has rubbed off.

The writing is professionally edited, making reading the story a highly enjoyable experience. It is a romp through expatriate Greece seen through the eyes of an observant and light hearted writer who is gentle on his characters and undoubtedly has a very quirky sense of humour.
It tickled my funny bone in all the right places.

[Awesome Indies Book Awards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include HEADS YOU LOSE (Lifting the Lid #2) by ROB JOHNSON in the library of Awesome Indies' Seal of Excellence recipients.

Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (4 stars):

Trevor Hawkins and Sandra Gray are two PIs who aren’t exactly a rousing success. When they’re hired to travel to Greece to be nursemaids to a sick old man, Marcus Ingleby, they see it as a welcome change of pace. Little do they know that the only case from which they made money, the downfall of semi-retired gangster, Harry Vincent, will follow them to Greece and complicate their lives beyond measure.

After an interesting opening which starts like a thriller, and ends with Trevor being bonked by a cheating spouse he’s been tailing, the reader is plunged head-on into a comic romp in which even the violent encounters and bloody, beheaded corpses are milked for laughs.

This story has an expansive cast of characters, with different, but ultimately interlocking motives. But, the author handles them well by introducing each in their own chapter. The suspense is kept up by only hinting at the complex relationships—there are two separate crimes that bring them all together—until near the end when the threads are brought together.

The main weakness of this book is that the relationship between Hawkins and Gray is not as fully explained as it could be. Their history is mostly hinted at until well past the book’s midpoint when the reader learns that they had an almost romantic encounter. Donna Vincent’s motive is exposed too early, taking away some of the mystery. This, however, is just one reader’s observation. Heads You Lose is a funny book, and well worth the read.

I give it four stars.

[Ravi T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice twist

Light and enjoyable read, keeps you interested in the plot with minor twists. Humor and mystery well balanced in a simple manner.