I'm Dead Again

The Konstantin Novellas

by Keith Nixon

‘One hell of a writer.’
Ken Bruen, Author of The Jack Taylor series

David Brodie, literally once ace reporter, is on a serious downward slide with ex-wife, ex-job and ex-bank balance hanging around his neck. Until he receives a phone call. From a dead man. Soon it could be ex-life.

When the corpse of her ex-husband turns up in dubious circumstances Emily Hollowman enlists ex-KGB and current tramp Konstantin Boryakov to investigate. With stone cold killer, Mr. Lamb in tow the pair discovers all roads lead to disgraced businessman, Gordon Dredge, the man who cost Brodie everything.
But Dredge is in trouble too, in debt to gangland boss Stevie ‘The Steroid’ Oakhill. But Oakhill has his own problems, a Chechen by the name of Adam is trying to take his business.
The hilarious follow-up to bestselling The Fix – gangsters, murder and a multitude of sarcasm await... who will die first?

Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Bestselling author Keith Nixon lives in Cheshire, England and works in a high tech industry. Novels include the Solomon Gray, Konstantin, Harry Vaughan and Caradoc series.

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He can be found on Twitter (@knntom) and Facebook or his website www.keithnixon.co.uk.

Praise for Keith Nixon’s Work
‘A stunning book and a new series that has become a must read. ’
-M.W. Craven, author of the Washington Poe series

‘Keith Nixon does for Margate what Peter James did for Brighton … As dark and brooding as the wind-lashed shores of the North Sea, and with its disturbing echoes of the Elm Guest House scandal and suggestions of deep-seated institutional corruption, Dig Two Graves is a superb addition to the rich Brit Crime scene. ’
Tim Baker, CWA shortlisted author of Fever City and City Without Stars

‘Deeply emotional, a dark rollercoaster ride. ’
Ed James, author of bestselling DI Fenchurch series

‘A compelling murder mystery with a multilayered and engaging new hero. Great read. ’
Mason Cross, author of the Carter Blake thriller series

‘A damaged detective, haunted by a tragic past, a young son missing or dead, a man on a quest for redemption. Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray is a fine creation and Dig Two Graves an intriguing, nourish mystery. Keith Nixon is a sparkling crime fiction talent. ’
Howard Linskey, author of the David Blake crime series

‘A dark, uncompromising tale of loss, murder, and revenge. Glorious noir, which takes the police procedural elements and gives them new life. I can't wait to read the next step in Solomon Gray's journey for answers ... ’
Luca Veste, author of the Murphy and Rossi series

‘One hell of a writer.’
Ken Bruen, Author of The Jack Taylor series

‘Nixon writes hard-hitting fiction, with a dash of humour, a cast of great characters, and a dollop of violence. Konstantin is a fantastic creation.’
Luca Veste, author of The Murphy and Rossi series and The Bonekeeper

‘Reads like the UK’s answer to Carl Hiassen. Criminally underrated.’
MW Craven, author of The Washington Poe series

‘Lean, mean and gritty, with writing as sharp as a razor cut. Keith Nixon serves up a ‘Konstantin Kocktail’, with equal parts Vodka to Vodka, that'll hit you just where it's needed.’
Matt Hilton, Author of the Joe Hunter thrillers

‘I have to liken reading this novel to being a smoker - it leaves a dirty taste in your mouth but you JUST CAN'T STOP.’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me, Tell Me No Lies, The Party

‘If you told me that Konstantin put the K in KGB, I wouldn't even argue. This character is a badass of the highest calibre.’
Gerard Brennan, author of Undercover

‘Feels like Snatch meets a steampunk Sherlock Holmes. Nixon continues the story of Russian-born Konstantin, anti-hero for the modern age. Like Marlowe before him, Konstantin has a penchant for finding trouble and an unflinching sense of morality to get him out of it.’
Joe Clifford, author of The Jay Porter series

‘Hardboiled action and sharp, gritty humour. Highly recommended.’
Paul D. Brazill, author of Guns Of Brixton and A Case Of Noir

‘Gritty and glorious, dirty and dynamic, fast and furious. My kind of book.’
Col’s Criminal Library
‘A superior action-thriller, layered with flashbacks, intriguing characters and tendon-snapping sequences of graphic violence.’
Murder, Mayhem and More

‘A fast-paced and witty tale.’
Big Al’s Books and Pals

‘With his unique style of writing, the author grabs the reader’s attention and makes for an entertaining read.’
By The Letter Book Reviews

‘Tight, punchy with a distinct voice.’
Crimesquad

‘The ability to get his readers onside, rooting for his messed-up characters as they battle against the

Reviews

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

What sets Keith Nixon's crime thrillers apart from the pack isn't the tight, intricate plots (although that doesn't hurt). Instead it is two other things, at least for me. First, the characters, where even the baddest of the bad may have some redeeming qualities and the good guys are far from perfect. The other quality, especially in Nixon's debut, The Fix, and returning full force in I'm Dead Again, is a sense of humor underlying it all.

In fact, it is this last quality more than anything that justifies billing this as the follow-up to The Fix. Sure, there are a couple return characters, but in between Nixon also wrote and released a novella series featuring Konstantin Boryakov who also appears here and in The Fix.

A fast-paced and witty tale, I'm Dead Again should please fans of crime fiction. It's easily my favorite of Nixon's books thus far.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Book Monitor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read other Keith Nixon Books and really like his style. This doesn't disappoint. Short sharp chapters keep the action flowing and a cast of characters with oodles of flaws and foibles. David Brodie is a washed up reporter with nothing left to live for, and nothing to die for. He finds himself in the midst of gansters, crooks, coppers (good and bad) a pretty woman,an incredibly appealing ex-KGB operative and a whole load of complications. Well written, darkly humourous at times, and character driven, this is a crime book that is a bit out of the ordinary and that keeps the reader turning the pages. A good read.

[Chris Tunnicliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Brodie is a reporter desperately in need of a big story, he finds himself caught up in murder and mayhem. The good guys are likable, the nasty guys believable.

I have not read any others in this series but will be looking out for them.

Lots of action, humerous in parts a great page turner, loved it!!

[Cassandra MADEUP BookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ee once again a great Crime Thriller from Keith Nixon!

I loved every page, and for a few particular reasons.

Firstly, the Characters. They are far from perfect, but none of them are wholly bad either. Each of them makes decisions for particular reasons, essentially, they are human. It makes for much more rounded and believable Characters, it also keeps the story Line exciting because we’re never quite sure what anybody is going to do.

Secondly, the layout. The chapters aren’t long, and the use of shorter sentences is perfect for the tone, they build suspense and give us a lot more of the Characters attitude. He’s sarcastic, rude, and quite frankly the funniest Crime Character I’ve ever come across!

Every Chapter has had me laughing several times over what the Character is thinking, the “sod it” attitude, and the wit and sass of the Author.

I loved the plot line, which kept me guessing and snickering from start to very end, and the ending. Wow. I actually burst out laughing at the last line. It was perfect, once again the perfect tone for the characters and story, and i loved it!

So many times through the story I have sat giggling away to myself, or outright cackling. My Partner will soon begin to consider having me committed 🙈🙈

I absolutely adore Keith Nixons unique tone and style, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for the Characters, and what Hell will break loose in the next instalment!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great crime thriller - full of suspense, twists, and characters so flawed you're not sure whether to hug or shoot them.

David Brodie, a washed up reporter, joins forces with Lucy, a woman on the brink, and, well, it all goes wrong (for them, not the reader) from there. Add some assassins, gangsters, dead bodies, policemen and thieves to the mix and you get the idea. Or, at least, you think you do, until something else wonderfully unexpected happens.

The style is short and punchy, the structure intricate but easy to follow, and the story just keeps on giving. Highly addictive, recommended reading.

*I received a free copy from the publisher. This is my honest review.

[Phil Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great thriller, set in the UK with killings galore, and confrontations between British gangsters, dodgy business men, bent coppers, chechen rebels, the KGB and a ruined ex journalist plus sweet love story (with a twist) ...what more do you want..the book became more gripping with every page..I would recommend to all Thriller fans

[Suze Clarke-Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although  I had read Russian Roulette, I haven't read The Fix, but didn't feel disadvantaged by that. I'm Dead Again worked well as a standalone. That said, I will be seeking it out because if this one is anything to go by, I'll love it!

The story is quite complex, with a large cast of double crossing gangsters, bent and straight cops, killers and innocent bystanders with down at heel reporter David Brodie finding himself in the middle of it all.

It was great to meet Konstantin again. He's fab. I fell a little bit in love with him in Russian Roulette and nothing has changed here. I'm not sure what it is about him as he spends half his time filthy and unwashed, he's rude and loves fighting. I think it's the broken English - I have a weakness for that. He and Mr Lamb, who I imagine to be be completely immaculate and well mannered, are the oddest couple, but oh so good together. More of  this double act please!

But David Brodie - what a creation! His wretchedness is beautifully  written. A man who has lost everything, fallen from grace, living in a dump and driving one too. He doesn't keep clean or care about himself or others. But he is the most vividly described character with the best lines and turns of phrase - his chapters are written in the first person, present tense (the others are written in third person, past tense) which really made them stand out. And he has my favourite line (possibly ever): 'Somewhere in the corner my depression skulks ignoring me after I throw a  couple of tinnies, drained of the contents, of course, in its direction.' Brilliant. I must try that with mine. Although I suspect empty wine bottles might make more mess!

I can't go without mentioning Lucy, who is brilliant, ballsy and brave. And Brodie's meeting with her mother is comedy genius. I was laughing out loud.

The pace zips along, with loads of action, but for me this one was all about the characters. They are all brilliantly written, and somehow there was something redeemable in even the worst them, except perhaps for Stevie. And the vein of black humour runs all the way through the book.

The chapter headings are again a triumph, including The U-Bend of Life, A Rather Blunt Missive, Lamb Chops, The Damned Unite and my favourite, The Dildo. Talking of which, I was delighted to see it make a return - although probably not the same one!

It was a joy to read another of Keith's books and I look forward to hearing more of Konstantin and Lamb, and maybe Brodie, if we're lucky. In the meantime, I 'm away to get my hands on a copy of The Fix!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm dead again by Keith Nixon.

David Brodie, literally once ace reporter, is on a serious downward slide with ex-wife, ex-job and ex-bank balance hanging around his neck. Until he receives a phone call. From a dead man. Soon it could be ex-life.

When the corpse of her ex-husband turns up in dubious circumstances Emily Hollowman enlists ex-KGB and current tramp Konstantin Boryakov to investigate. With stone cold killer, Mr. Lamb in tow the pair discovers all roads lead to disgraced businessman, Gordon Dredge, the man who cost Brodie everything.
But Dredge is in trouble too, in debt to gangland boss Stevie ‘The Steroid’ Oakhill. But Oakhill has his own problems, a Chechen by the name of Adam is trying to take his business.
The hilarious follow-up to bestselling The Fix – gangsters, murder and a multitude of sarcasm await... who will die first?

This was a fantastic read . I loved most of the characters. Full of action shocks and twists too. This will keep you on the edge of your seat. I'm looking forward to the next part. 5*.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number 3 in the Konstantin series and it didn't disappoint.

Due to the fabulous writing by Keith Nixon we once again have a motley crew of misfits along with the usual violence, swearing and dark humour that this series brings. And I loved it.

I am pleased to say that our favourite ex KGB spy and unlikely hero is back in all his glory after a smaller part in book 2 . The relationship with the mysterious Mr Lamb has evolved further and they make an interesting, and sometimes comical, partnership.

A spider web of storylines all brought to a slap bang explosive ending!

A fat 5 stars. Now onto book 4.

[Melanie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure Mr Nixon's books should carry some kind of warning. Something like; "May cause you to burst out laughing when your partner is trying to sleep" or "If you don't want to embarrass yourself, wear incontinence pants" because the writing is so darkly humorous that these little accidents are inevitable. Also, the books should say, "Don't start this at midnight because you will not be able to put it down". I finished at 5.05am! Just one more chapter turned into an inability to stop reading and an addiction to get to the end. Maybe we should have KNBA, Keith Nixon Books Anonymous, so we can support each other. I don't know exactly what it is that makes these books so head and shoulders above the rest. Is it the prose, the dialogue, which is so brilliantly British and cutting edge sarcastic? The characters, who should be unlikable but whom I love as if they're my best friends? Or maybe it's the plot itself, intricate and cleverly laid out so you're not quite sure what's going to happen to who, or why? Let's agree that it's a mixture of all these things that make this book, and the Konstantin and David Brodie books so superb. Why they aren't, at the very least, on the small screen is another of life's great mysteries. Yet another standing ovation for Mr Nixon and his eloquence and articulation, (he's had so many I think he probably owes me a new pair of shoes). My funny bone was tickled, I was amused, intrigued, captivated, uplifted and transformed all at the same time. And considering I only got 3 hours sleep, I'm feeling quite refreshed. Isn't it awesome how a great book can do all that? Buy I'm Dead Again today! You can thank me later!!!!

[Kamini Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Konstantin. My biggest disappointment was that he did not seem to be as much of a main character. There is plenty of maneuvering, deception and action.

[Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this book a little. I don't know if it's just because I hadn't read the first two in the series and didn't know what to expect, but I found it confusing, with so many characters and points of view that I was never quite certain what was happening.
The writing style was entertaining, but never quite enough to compensate.

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was starting to think I wasn't meant to read more from Keith Nixon but finally I got my hands on I'm Dead Again which sees the return of ex-KGB Konstantin Boryakov for another action-packed read that had me fully engrossed over the course of a fun-filled afternoon.

My favourite character in I'm Dead Again was by far reporter David Brodie who the blurb describes as somebody who is on a serious downward slide. He is so wonderfully cynical and sarcastic, with an at times too realistic outlook on the world rather than being one of those 'Oh, it can only get better...' types. I don't think you'll find any rose-tinted glasses amongst his personal possessions. He is a character who is basically muddling along through life, not really caring whether his days begin or end, perhaps even preferring them to end for good with his blase attitude towards things such as red lights... Brodie lays blame for his predicament firmly at the door of disgraced businessman Gordon Dredge, and his outlook on life changes drastically when he is presented with the opportunity for some form of vengeance towards Dredge.

I'm Dead Again features a large cast of characters, and as with The Fix they are all so well-drawn. It's a story where every characters is hunting somebody or something but they are also being hunted themselves. Dredge is a man not without his own problems, namely his debt to Stevie 'The Steroid' Oakhill. Oakhill himself having to content with a Chechen trying to takeover his business. There's real excitement when reading I'm Dead Again because there's very few ways to predict which way the story will go. And which characters will even be alive by the end of it. I was definitely rooting for Brodie though. He is a character who is easy to believe in - I tried to ignore any similarities I had in my own outlook on life at times - and somebody who I definitely wanted to succeed, seeing in him the person he could become. It's a thought-provoking read in the way that it shows the effect that being involved with a person like Dredge can have, whether that's on criminals he associates with, reporters like Brodie or anybody else who just happens to get caught up with him.

Konstantin is a character who continues to evolve naturally, once again the reader learning more about him and enjoying the time spent in his company enough to want to read more about him in the future. Returning characters from The Fix help flesh out the novel, giving us updates into how they too have progressed, some fates being a little bit better than others... Keith Nixon somehow takes so many different elements: comedy, drama, gangsters, crime, thriller, black humour and mixes them all up to create a finished product which is pretty damn good. It's clear reading how much fun Keith must have writing these novels, but they are also at times serious but always enjoyable and compelling reads and this time around a real example of just how far people can go when they are pushed to their limits.

I am lucky enough to have a copy of Keith Nixon's standalone crime novel The Corpse Role which I hope to have a review for over the coming weeks. Until then if you haven't already, I would definitely recommend picking up The Fix and I'm Dead Again.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm Dead Again though easily read as a stand alone, features Konstantin Boryakov who we first get to meet in The Fix.

The Fix and I'm Dead Again are very different from the usual crime thrillers I read. Keith's style is very unique and different from others in the same genre that I have read so far.

Again as in the The Fix, I'm Dead Again has very short chapters which makes the story flow quite quickly. With the chapters being short it makes this story even more action packed.

I'm actually warming to Konstantin now, being ex KGB and a tramp he isn't going to come across as one of the nicest people you could meet but I found that in this story he was much more of a likeable character than in The Fix, although I feel that the author seems to be holding back with this character and would love to find out more about him. There certainly seems to be a variety of characters which makes it even more interesting.

With his unique style of writing, the author certainly grabs the readers attention and it certainly makes for an entertaining read. Look forward to seeing more of Konstantin and seeing what the future holds for him.

I won a signed copy of this book in a give away run by The Book Club, so many thanks to them and the author.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reporter and anti-hero David Brodie is a self-employed hack, down on his luck and appearance since his wife left with the kids. ‘Somewhere in the corner my depression skulks, ignoring me after I throw a couple of tinnies, drained of their contents, of course, in its direction’. He doesn't care if he's alive or dead and drives a clapped out old banger he calls The Shit Machine. Then a man is found murdered and what follows is a darkly comic complex intrigue involving ex KGB tramp, Konstantin (who also appreared in The Fix), bent policemen, dodgy businessmen and gangsters, oh and our man Brodie, in pursuit of truth and justice. The writing is always fresh and incisive with a wonderful command of language and large dollops of dark wit. There were a lot of guns and I did find some of the money transactions and following the plot required a lot of concentration. I did sometimes lose sight of who was who. But it all came together in a very satisfying way and revelations that I didn't see coming!

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by Caffeine Nights Publishing in exchange for an honest review. My rating is actually 4.5 stars but Goodreads and Amazon do not allow me to do the half star bit!!

This book both intrigued and baffled me at times. It was one of those books where as you are reading you are trying to figure out whether it is a crime novel, a thriller, an action novel, old style detective novel, a mystery or maybe even a bit gangster. There was so much happening that I could not figure out where it best fit. However that is one of the things I liked about it. It does not fit perfectly into anyone of these genres which can be appealing for readers who like to mix things up a bit. (A note to Mike Craven~ I thought this before I read your review so I am not stealing your thoughts

[Rob Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Keith Nixon’s previous books for their fast pace, gripping plots, great characters and masterful prose style, but with this latest novel, he has somehow managed to surpass himself in every one of these areas. In particular, the prose is tighter and even more polished, the dialogue snappy and utterly convincing, and as for the characters, I certainly hope we’ll be seeing a lot more of David Brodie in Nixon’s future work. “I’m Dead Again” is an excellent read and stylishly written. With some totally unexpected twists and a generous helping of humour, this is a book that I cannot recommend highly enough.

[Robert Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of Nixon's 'The Fix' you're in for a treat. You'll find some of the same characters, this time given bigger roles (Russian maverick Konstantin and the sinister puppet master Lamb), but its journalist on the edge Dave Brodie who owns centre stage here, as he kamikaze pilots the 'Shit machine' through a kaleidoscope of events, twists and characters which takes a highly skilled writer to pull off. 'I'm dead again' is a taught, fast paced crime thriller with a noir tint, sprinkled with cynical wit. Another cracker from Keith Nixon. Highly recommended.

[Ryan Bracha]

Review to follow...

[Tiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

One year ago, reporter David Brodie was following the trail of an enormous sum of missing money involving some very powerful people. When he got too close to the truth he was set up as a pedophile and lost everything.....his family and his job. Now he has been contacted by a man who says he can help David get revenge on those responsible. One problem though.....this man supposedly died two months ago.

With some returning characters.....ex KGB agent Konstatin Boryakov and the mysterious (and scary) Mr.Lamb......and lots of new ones including gangsters, crooked cops and dirty businessmen, this was a noir, very intricate and often humorous story of greed, power, revenge and murder. Another very good book from Keith Nixon.

[Fiona Hanrahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm Dead Again Keith Nixon
I read this book as I wanted to see more of Konstantin in action as I had come across him in a previous book. He did not feature a much as I had hoped but nevertheless this book delivered other interesting characters. The plot is twisting and multifaceted and has lots of violence. Keith Nixon has a quirky sense of humour and so although there is a lot of bloodshed there are many laugh our loud moments. Happy to recommend this book to fellow readers and give it 4 stars.

[Sarah Ramsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow I have missed book 2 in this series but it can be read as a stand-alone book. Found myself unable to put the book down, it is a great read.

[anil singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

Enjoyed Russian Roulette the first book, and was not disappointed with the second. A real page turner and cannot wait for the rest of the series.