Teeth Kicker: A dark and original debut crime thriller for fans of Mark Brandi and Matthew Spencer

by Glenn Orgias

Pay your debts. Protect your family. Never cross a loan shark. This blisteringly original crime thriller and exciting debut smashes Mr Inbetween, Monkey Grip and Animal Kingdom into a gutter opera on the vicious, bent and drug-laden streets of Newcastle - written by the Pushcart nominated writer and 2009 shark attack survivor Vincent Silk is back in the decaying maw of Australia's Steel City after losing everything – his money, his self-respect and his friends and family. He wants to make amends but first he has to pay back an unhinged loan shark. With no way to make good, Vincent is forced to take on a brutal new working as an enforcer, a teeth kicker, collecting debts in a town where everyone owes someone something. Vincent is big and imposing, so he should be a natural at hunting down late-payers, but he hates the violence and his conscience weighs heavy. Every knock on a door tests his resolve, especially when his next target turns out to be Henrietta, the woman who once saved him from an OD - and the person he's in love with. Vincent wants to protect her, and he knows running isn't an option. The shark would come for their families, including Vincent's younger brother, Ray. Vincent and Ray have a complicated past, scarred by a horrific car accident that made Ray an amputee and left Vincent with a metal plate in his head. As Ray spirals into his own trouble, Vincent enacts a brash plan to solve everyone's problems ... Until it all unravels, and he's left with an impossible choice. PRAISE 'A stunning thriller that grips from the opening page to its heart-stopping finale. The best crime novel I've read in years' Mark Brandi, bestselling author of Wimmera, The Rip, The Others and Southern Aurora. 'Orgias's portrayal of Vincent and the underbelly of 1990s Newcastle is brave and clear-eyed enough to show the tough realities, but tender and full of heart. It's also a ripping drugs-and-crime story' Malcolm Knox, bestselling author of The First Friend 'A gritty debut with teeth, and heart ... An entertaining white-knuckle ride, with a complex portrayal of masculine virtues and challenges that stands in sharp contrast to the hardcore misogyny of the manosphere' Sydney Morning Herald 'A blistering, breathtaking gut punch of a novel' Kate Horan, bestselling author of The Inheritance and On the Edge 'This book is incredible ... I can't recommend it more' Matt Rogers, bestselling author of The Forsaken and The Damned 'By turns brutal and tender, Teeth Kicker finds humanity in the underworld and delivers a cracking thriller along the way' Gabriel Bergmoser, bestselling author of The Hunted, The Inheritance, The Hitchhiker and The Caretaker 'A brilliant debut – brutal, propulsive, and proof that our desire to love and be loved can outlast anything' Mitch Jennings, author of the award-winning A Town Called Treachery 'A masterclass in tension ... Original, gripping and impossible to shake' Shannon Kelly-White, author of Billie King 'Written with stark poetry, Orgias takes you on a ride that is equal parts savage and tender. The thug they call Machine – enigmatic, menacing and utterly strange-is the most intriguing crime character I've read in years. If this is Orgias's debut, I'll take another hit' Malcolm Kempt, author of A Gift Before Dying 'A page-turner with gritty and playful, brash and tender, with characters who will break your heart' Katerina Cosgrove, author of Bone Ash Sky and The Glass Heart 'Hard-edged, vivid and absolutely gripping, Teeth Kicker hits with the force of the best crime fiction ... Lean, dangerous and beautifully written' LJ Charleston, author of Fatal Females 'An impressive debut ... Brutal, unflinching, absolutely realistic and true to its place and time. It's also funny, deeply sad, and so full of heart. It's beautifully written, shades of Mark Brandi, Luke Davies, even Hemingway. There are moments of terrible violence and extraordinary beauty, with characters so real and...

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2026

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic Aussie crime debut. Teeth Kicker is dark and gritty but full of heart.

Set on the mean streets of Newcastle, brothers Vincent and Ray couldn’t be more different and have been estranged for some time now. But family is family and you will do anything for them. These brothers find themselves in some trouble with some unscrupulous people which brings them together.

A world of drug dealers, loan sharks, dirty cops and sex workers is always going to be disturbing and dangerous. Vince is still young and his life hasn’t turned out the way he had hoped. He makes some bad decisions that have a knock on effect on him and those around him.

It is not a happy story, but Vincent has a big heart and will protect those who he loves. He is deeply flawed but does what he has to do to survive in this world. It is brutal and messy, will make you squirm.

I look forward to more from this very talented writer.

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me this ARC to read.

[Gary Vassallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a dark and emotional story this was. My heart was in my mouth the whole way through. I could not put it down until I was finished. A wonderful depiction of the underbelly of Newcastle and a great cast of characters. Highly recommended.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Wow Teeth Kicker: A dark and original debut crime thriller for fans of Mark Brandi and Matthew Spencer by Glenn Orgias is an incredible crime fiction debut, it’s gritty and raw and I can’t stop thinking about teeth after reading this and not in a nice way.

The story is set on the shady streets of Newcastle, Australia amongst loan sharks, drug addicts, dirty cops and crime bosses.

Vincent Silk is twenty one and a terrific character, he’s deeply flawed, an addict, broke, has no friends and is full of self loathing. Vince does have a good heart but seems to continually make bad decisions much to his detriment, his future is chaotic.

In order to pay off his debts he finds himself reluctantly working as an enforcer for a loan shark, he can’t leave or they will come for him and his brother Ray. Will Vincent break not one but both of the loan sharks deadly rules?

Ray Silk is an amputee and seems to be on his own path of trouble and despair. The brothers are estranged but Vincent will fiercely protect his brother.

A brutally dark and insane debut that is not my usual vibe but it sure packed a punch and I recommend!

Publication Date 28 July 2026
Publisher Harper Collins

Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for an early copy of the book.

[Robert Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teeth Kicker is exactly the kind of novel I love. It’s a gripping crime novel, but it's also a beautifully written story about flawed people, loyalty, redemption, and the impossible moral choices we make to survive and protect those we love. You’re rooting for Vincent even as your frustration with him grows. Orgias does a great job of evoking a bleak, post-industrial setting that is vividly realized. Every good crime novel needs good villains, and the enigmatic Machine and ruthless Detoza deliver. If you're a fan of literary crime fiction in the vein of writers who care as much about character and theme as suspense, Teeth Kicker is well worth your time. Highly recommended.

[E Brodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, can I get some commotion for this title? It's an attention grabber, right?

I didn’t know what Teeth Kicker meant when I picked up this book, but I definitely wanted to find out. Turns out it’s slang for a debt collector who uses violence or the threat of violence to collect money. Teeth kicker. Gives you quite the visual, doesn’t it?

The description on Goodreads is a perfect summary: This blisteringly original crime thriller and exciting debut smashes Mr Inbetween, Monkey Grip and Animal Kingdom into a gutter opera on the vicious, bent and drug-laden streets of Newcastle. A gutter opera. I love that.

Young Vincent is out of jail and back in Newcastle’s criminal underbelly where the massive debt he owes an unhinged loan shark called Machine is still waiting to be repaid. The only way out is for Vincent to work off his debt as Machine’s enforcer. One of the tensions in this story is that, despite where he finds himself in life, violence isn’t part of Vincent’s nature. So when his next target turns out to be a woman who once saved him, he’s trapped. If he doesn’t do his job, Machine will come after his family. If he does, he’ll hurt the woman he loves.

This is a super dark, super gritty and sharply observed account of life as a drug addict in recovery surrounded by criminals, prostitution and poverty. As well as authentic storytelling, the way Glenn Orgias describes settings is such a treat to read. Listen to this:

‘The dance floor moved like one thing with different appendages, its shadow enormous on the wall like some frantic mechanism that had come loose in a timepiece.’

And this:

‘The room was lit by romantic pools of light but its ornate ceiling peeled like the underside of a leper.’

Vincent is a character who mostly infuriated and disappointed me but ultimately redeemed himself in an ending that was like a punch to the gut and kept me thinking about him for a long time after.

[Michele (michelethebookdragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could have easily been titled King Hit or Gut Punch. Anything that describes the brutality of this story. A story that to me had so much heart as well.

We follow Vincent as he spirals into the violent and unforgiving world of loan sharks, dirty cops, drugs and maniacal henchmen. Vincent needs to pay off his debt and finds himself in deeper trouble than he ever has been in, and much deeper than he can handle. He is at heart a gentle soul that has been dealt a shit hand.

Every time he thought maybe he was clawing his way out, he would suffer another setback and find himself sinking, beholden to his boss and far from where he wanted to be.

When his younger brother Ray becomes the target of the thugs Vincent works for, he knows he needs to sort things out, once and for all. Can he finally pull himself together and make up for the past?

Wow this story. Incredibly well written and with characters I won't forget for some time. This depraved and vicious world was so real to read but unbelievably had a soft touch at times.

Another insanely good debut novel from an Aussie author. If you like your stories dark, dirty and gritty then Teeth Kicker is for you.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young man is hired by a loan shark in the role of reluctant debt collector, as a means of paying off his own dues. Instead he chooses to walk the precarious and dangerous path of a modern day Robin Hood. It’s about such choices, and the consequences that catch up with you.

Against a backdrop of underground crime, drugs and addiction, this book offers up a powerful glimpse into the lives of those less privileged, with both empathy and compassion, allowing us to see a side of life that most are fortunate enough to not experience.

It explores the grown-distant and forever-changed relationship between two brothers following an ill-fated car accident, which I gather is semi autobiographical. Peripherally it is also a love story, our character feeling deeply for a trans woman likewise caught up in trouble.

Set in Newcastle during the 1990s, the book has a distinctly Australian atmosphere, the author himself originally from the Central Coast and Newcastle regions. I found it the kind of descriptive writing that makes scenes tangible, nailing exact feelings and atmospheres and smells and sensations with aptly chosen language.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Gritty, Debt Collecting, Rough Around The Edges

full review ⬇️

Wow. This sure one was great, gritty debut.

From the first page, Teeth Kicker immediately had that raw, unpolished feel that reminded me a little of Trent Dalton's writing. The characters aren't polished either and that's exactly the point. They're flawed, messy, and trying to survive in a world that doesn't make life easy.

A down on his luck drug addict paired up with a germaphobe debt collector was the storyline I didn’t realise I needed in my life. Such an unexpected combination, and one that added plenty of personality to the story.

It took a little time for me to place the era, picture the characters in my head and fully settle into the story but once everything clicked I found myself very invested.

What stood out most was Glenn Orgias' voice as a writer. For a debut novel, this feels incredibly confident and I'm genuinely excited to see what he writes next.

If you enjoy Australian crime fiction that's gritty, character driven and a little rough around the edges, this is well worth a look.

[John Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear eyed, uncompromising and compelling, Teeth Kicker enters the Newcastle crime scene from the basement and tells its story from the underside, giving voice to the invisible casualties of a brutal, corrupt sub-sub-culture of addicts, debtors, thieves, gamblers, dealers and bottom feeder thugs. We meet Vincent, who has a goodish heart and a genius for making poor decisions, and his brother Ray, who lost an arm to one of those decisions, and seems compelled to make a few monumentally poor decisions of his own. We also meet Machine, a brilliantly realised crim with a warehouse of issues of his own. And Henrietta, who just wants to be loved for herself. Teeth Kicker is a pacy, raw, character driven crime novel with the heart of a Miles Franklin winner. If you loved Mr Inbetween and Two Hands, you're sure to find what you've been missing in Teeth Kicker.

[Goofayou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything other reviewers are saying about TEETH KICKER is true. The setting is great. The love story sneaks up on you and hits you in the gut (whoever said that was right on!) The tone is dark and gritty. The brutality is balanced by its heart. All true.

But the sole reason I am writing this review is that no one has mentioned The Machine!! Since the moment he enters the story, he’s the most compelling villain I’ve encountered in a crime novel in many years. It’s rare an author gives so much dimension to a henchman, but like everything else in the novel, Henrietta most of all, Glenn gave The Machine an arc instead of treating him like a tool or a means to an end.

It’s all brilliant. Along with FIVE DECEMBERS (James Kestrel) and A GIFT BEFORE DYING (Malcolm Kempt), Glenn’s debut crime novel is a recent read that is going to stick with me for a long, long time.

[Dhyanna Raffi-David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, Teeth Kicker knocked me out.

Sure, it's a gritty crime novel full of violence, debt collectors, and underworld bosses—but Glenn Orgias know how to level up, that story has heart.

Vincent is a recovering addict with a fundamentally good soul. He wants to make up for the damage he's done, especially to his younger brother, Ray, but every step toward redemption drags him deeper into the life he's trying to escape. You can't help but root for him.

What really sets this book apart is its humanity. There are no cardboard heroes or villains here. Everyone is broken. Everyone is carrying a difficult load. Even the hardest characters have moments that surprised me.

The writing is sharp, vivid, and authentic. Half the scenes hit like a gut-punch, the other half are insightful and thought-provoking.

If you like crime fiction with real emotional weight—stories about guilt, loyalty, family, and second chances—read this book. I was lucky enough to read Teeth Kicker before its release, and it's one of those rare novels that has stayed with me. I still catch myself thinking about Vincent.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an early version of this blistering crime novel set in 90s Australia (thanks to the author for sharing!). It's wonderful, moving, dark, and shot through with a surprising tenderness - from the main character's struggles with self-loathing, recovery, addiction, his own predicament, his love and sense of responsibility towards both his brother and the novel's sparkling love interest. With a sort of minimalist but propulsive prose that eschews interiority, it builds and builds with a tension and underlying humour that makes it difficult to put down. Tremendous book, one for lovers of crime, seedy underbellies, face tattoos, shit going terribly, irrevocably, wrong, and for those who like good writing full of heart and hope, despite the darkness.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a razor sharp debut! @g_orgias

Vincent Silk is stuck between a rock and a hard place - an ex-felon, a drug addict and in debt to some bad people. When he starts working for the loan shark he owes, Vincent is drawn deeper in the dark underworld of drugs and violence, and while trying to protect those he loves the most, he also brings them closer to the danger he is trying to escape.

This story plays out like Underbelly mixed with Animal Kingdom - while balancing the opposing forces of cruelty and tenderness, gritty and soft, brutality and compassion.

This novel explores the complexities of addiction, guilt, family, shame, relationships and conscience.

[Jay Dwight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is dark, it's gritty. But underneath is a story of what one might sacrifice for those he loves the most.

Lots of familiarity for me with this one, being set in the Newcastle area. But we're on the dark side of the city. Vincent is an addict, and after release from incarceration, he needs to make good on his debt to a loan shark. As he has no means to pay, he's employed by the loan shark as a debt collector, a teeth kicker.

Brutal at times, this provides an insight to a side of life many of us are lucky enough to never had to be so deeply involved in.

[David LeBrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to work with Glenn Orgias as a critique partner, swapping feedback on Teeth Kicker and my memoir, Delirium Vitae. Orgias is the real deal, and watching Teeth Kicker evolve was a joy--its world always vivid and lived-in. Written with a stripped-down intensity reminiscent of Hemingway and Donald Ray Pollock, while grounded, violent, and relentlessly human, Teeth Kicker is a misty-eyed crime novel with a broken nose.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. It had me gripped from the start - no time in “getting into it”. The descriptive scenes of a working class grit had me transported to Vincent and Ray’s world. Although it’s a crime thriller, there’s a huge amount of depth in the relationships that you can even find yourself understanding / appreciating the not so good guys. I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Looking forward to future books by Glenn.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book five stars not because I necessarily enjoyed the content of the story but because the author spun a tale that drew me into the underbelly of a world of drugs and crime so realistically that I’m grateful it wasn’t part of my life. I really did like the main character. He was sensitive and compassionate and caught up ,because of his own addiction ,into an ugly cycle of debt collecting and violence for a cruel boss. This was certainly a story well told .

[Angie Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this novel! It's fast and gritty, but never without heart and emotional complexity. Teeth Kicker is filled with rough places and raw characters—characters that stick. Most importantly, you won't just be rooting for Vincent as he tries to right many wrongs, you'll fall in love with him.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading this during the early beta stages and even then it was exceptionally well written. I looked forward to reading it every day rather than being obliged to. The setting and characters feel so real. The prose is exquisite. Honestly seems like it could be a modern classic. Give it a shot if you’re even remotely interested in the genre and subject matter.

[Marisa Urgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this through my writing group and became aware of Glenn's work that way. Wow! I absolutely see why this author has a Pushcart nomination for his writing. Lots of twists and emotional stakes.

[Emma Sneakybooktok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crime novel set in the 90's in Newcastle? This book was delicious! It was gritty, dark atmospheric and really packed a punch with it's plotline and story of the Underground world of addictions, organised crime and dodgy cops! This had me on the edge of my seat the whole book, wanting more 😍

[Laura Creedle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teeth Kicker is a gritty noir with more broken, mangled fingers than you could possibly imagine, infused with the kind of humanism you just can't fake. The central love story crept up on me and hit me like a gut punch. Really enjoyed.

[Amy Slade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern day tragedy....beautifully real yet damaged individuals trying to make a better life for themselves and do the right thing. Gritty yet tender, terrifying yet funny......such brilliant observations about human imperfections...excellent for getting teen-age boys reading and I loved it too!

[Anna Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me all the feels. Beautiful and sad, and so well written. I was worried it would be too dark, and while there is a lot of violence, the great big beating heart at the centre makes it worth it. Loved this book.

[Clare Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than one review has named this novel as brutal, and I can't think of a better descriptor.

You would be hard pressed not to have some sort of reaction reading this. At times a difficult and confronting read but overall a masterful and gritty thriller.

[Duncan Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty and full of heart, let's call this nu-pulp. Aussie crime needs a bit of a kick up the butt and this can do it.

[Josh Hortinela · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cracker of a thriller! A dark, gritty and deeply compelling tale of redemption and forgiveness.

[William Nixey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is destined to become an Australian classic. Recommended!

[Brendon Fehre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great world building - lots of twists and turns - not my world but certainly worth the time spent reading this and learning something about another time and place and people - highly recommended.

[Madeleine Laing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making my English detective-mystery-loving crime bookclub read this tragic story about how poverty is the real crime and our whole society is complicit :)