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Urban Decay
Urban Decay is an apt description for this collection of crime tales. Brought to you by Gritfiction – the guys behind the Near to the Knuckle fiction site.
Following on from his 2013 release Criminal Thoughts Urban Decay will satisfy those who wanted more. Aidan Thorn is very much at the top of his game and we are proud to bring you this outstanding collection of crime fiction.
Following on from his 2013 release Criminal Thoughts Urban Decay will satisfy those who wanted more. Aidan Thorn is very much at the top of his game and we are proud to bring you this outstanding collection of crime fiction.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2015
7 people want to read
About the author
Aidan Thorn
15 books9 followersAidan Thorn is a writer from Southampton, England. Southampton is home to the Spitfire and the greatest footballer ever to have lived, Matthew Le Tissier, however, sadly it's more famous for being the place a big ship left from before sinking and the home of Craig David. Aidan would like to put Southampton on the map for more than sinking ships and bad music.
Aidan's first short story collection, Criminal Thoughts, was released in December 2013. His short fiction has also appeared in the Byker Books Radgepacket series and the Near to the Knuckle Anthology: Gloves Off, as well as online at various eZines. He is currently working on two novella length projects and various short stories for his next collection.
Aidan's first short story collection, Criminal Thoughts, was released in December 2013. His short fiction has also appeared in the Byker Books Radgepacket series and the Near to the Knuckle Anthology: Gloves Off, as well as online at various eZines. He is currently working on two novella length projects and various short stories for his next collection.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 2, 2016
Absolute blast this collection of stories. Some brutal and heart breaking moments are captured in these stories - stories where hope is often teased for the characters. There's one quite sinister character that pops up through some of the stories and by the time you get to the last story you really begin to find out what he's capable of. No idea why I hadn't read Aidan Thorn's stuff before but had purchased his other stuff before I was halfway through reading this. Looking forward to getting into some more.
March 6, 2016
This is the second Gritfiction Ltd. offering that I have reviewed (Gloves Off was the first). Here, Aidan Thorn offers twelves stories and 1 novella. As with any short story collection, taste will vary from reader to reader. Hence, the four stars rating. I felt the vignettes had too little space for character development. However, the short stories and the long short story, the novella, do showcase the writer's chops for detailing bad choices, bad luck, and the occasional redemptive dark heart in a compromised world.
Forewarned: All these stories have profanity and British slang in them. If you're undeterred and like a walk on the dark side, then you are in for a salty treat. No spoilers below.
Loathe Thy Neighbour. Yes, there is that wordplay on 'love' and 'loathe.' Imagine Parker from Richard Stark series had come home for afternoon tea with his mother. He learns that the neighborhood has gone to seed. He has a solution.
Sign of the Times is more 'slice of life' than a short story. Sometimes things are not meant to last and what comes next is no better.
The Replacement is Introspection meets Assumption with the O. Henry ending.
Lucky is another fast vignette, which has some slang that might be unfamiliar to American readers.
Pick Up is a Nelson Algren bar scene in which the person you least expect has the heart of gold.
Serving Sonny Side Up is a geometry story: the Mark, the Make, and the Cop. Don't expect three equal sides in this triangle.
Trick or Treat or is another straight-up vignette. Disclosure: I. Hate. Clowns.
Taking Out The Trash is the cautionary tale that some days nothing will go right, including doing wrong. Eddie should have stayed in bed, but he had work to do.
Waste Disposal has a recurring character (Eddie). Eddie learned something new: problem-solving skills.
Work Related Stress isn't your typical tale of two girls complaining about their boss over drinks at Bennigans. Some unique British phrases here. HR is useless.
Real Men don't wear wife-beater t-shirts unless you're an idiot by the name of Gary. This story has my favorite turn of phrase: "a copper in prison is like a hare at the racetrack -- be quick or be dead." They say 'hare' and we say 'rabbit.' To-may-toes. To-mah-toes The whole thing didn't get called off.
Taking the Fall. If you've read any of Eddie Muller Billy Nichols crime stories, then you know a prizefighter's world is more than getting a broken nose. Tony Ricco makes another appearance.
A Sporting Chance is a 9-chapter novella. Jason, a pro athlete, has just signed a contract. Out for a few drinks with guys he thought were his friends, he is rescued by Tony Ricco and life goes sideways from there. Let's just say that Anthony Richards aka Tony Ricco isn't Sir Cliff Richard, the philanthropist.
Overall, a quick read and the novella proves to me that Aidan Thorn is the writer, who can paint the scene and put flesh on the bone. I look forward to more of his writing.
Forewarned: All these stories have profanity and British slang in them. If you're undeterred and like a walk on the dark side, then you are in for a salty treat. No spoilers below.
Loathe Thy Neighbour. Yes, there is that wordplay on 'love' and 'loathe.' Imagine Parker from Richard Stark series had come home for afternoon tea with his mother. He learns that the neighborhood has gone to seed. He has a solution.
Sign of the Times is more 'slice of life' than a short story. Sometimes things are not meant to last and what comes next is no better.
The Replacement is Introspection meets Assumption with the O. Henry ending.
Lucky is another fast vignette, which has some slang that might be unfamiliar to American readers.
Pick Up is a Nelson Algren bar scene in which the person you least expect has the heart of gold.
Serving Sonny Side Up is a geometry story: the Mark, the Make, and the Cop. Don't expect three equal sides in this triangle.
Trick or Treat or is another straight-up vignette. Disclosure: I. Hate. Clowns.
Taking Out The Trash is the cautionary tale that some days nothing will go right, including doing wrong. Eddie should have stayed in bed, but he had work to do.
Waste Disposal has a recurring character (Eddie). Eddie learned something new: problem-solving skills.
Work Related Stress isn't your typical tale of two girls complaining about their boss over drinks at Bennigans. Some unique British phrases here. HR is useless.
Real Men don't wear wife-beater t-shirts unless you're an idiot by the name of Gary. This story has my favorite turn of phrase: "a copper in prison is like a hare at the racetrack -- be quick or be dead." They say 'hare' and we say 'rabbit.' To-may-toes. To-mah-toes The whole thing didn't get called off.
Taking the Fall. If you've read any of Eddie Muller Billy Nichols crime stories, then you know a prizefighter's world is more than getting a broken nose. Tony Ricco makes another appearance.
A Sporting Chance is a 9-chapter novella. Jason, a pro athlete, has just signed a contract. Out for a few drinks with guys he thought were his friends, he is rescued by Tony Ricco and life goes sideways from there. Let's just say that Anthony Richards aka Tony Ricco isn't Sir Cliff Richard, the philanthropist.
Overall, a quick read and the novella proves to me that Aidan Thorn is the writer, who can paint the scene and put flesh on the bone. I look forward to more of his writing.
September 26, 2015
I expected great things when opening up Urban Decay was not disappointed in the least. From the opening story, Loathe Thy Neighbour, this collection jumps straight out of the gate with a wickedly perfect ending. The novella, A Sporting Chance, shows just how dangerously close a regular Joe Schmo can get to falling into the wrong side of the law. We are all just one poor choice away from being a criminal. There is not a bad story in this book. Each title holds their own and should be considered top shelf. The motley cast of degenerates, thugs and villains pop off the pages with a flavor that kept me flipping though until the closing credits. I thoroughly enjoyed Thorn's style and will be looking forward to his next contribution to the world of darkly gritty literature.
October 25, 2015
With so many UK writers trying to emulate the style of some of the great U.S. scribes it’s refreshing to read a collection that is unashamedly British in feel and style. These stories take place on YOUR estate and in YOUR town.
The author has some fantastic surprise endings and you connect emotionally with some of the larger tales. The dialogue is pretty snappy and clever too. This collection isn’t going to change your life but it’s engaging, entertaining and great value.
The author has some fantastic surprise endings and you connect emotionally with some of the larger tales. The dialogue is pretty snappy and clever too. This collection isn’t going to change your life but it’s engaging, entertaining and great value.
February 15, 2016
Sharp and punchy short collection of Brit Grit ranging from flash pieces to a concluding novella. Aidan Thorn has really got a way with twists. Another trait of this collection that heightens its impact is the interlinkage among the stories, which reveals itself gradually.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews