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Harry Hendrick #1
Skin Deep
When washed up journalist Harry Hendrick wakes with a hangover and a mysterious tattoo on his neck, he shrugs it off as a bad night out.
When more tattoos appear — accompanied by visions of war-torn Afghanistan, bikies, boat people, murder, bar fights and a mysterious woman — he begins to dig a little deeper.
Harry’s search leads him to Jess McGrath. She’s successful, married; they are drawn to each other though they have nothing in common but unwanted tattoos and high definition nightmares. Together, they edge closer to unearthing the truth behind the sinister disappearance of an SAS hero and his girlfriend Kyla.
There’s a federal election looming, with pundits tipping a landslide win for opposition leader Andrew Cardinal. Harry knows there’s a link between these disturbing visions and Cardinal's shadowy past, and is compelled to right wrongs, one way or another.
Skin Deep is the thrilling, layered, genre-bending debut novel of Brisbane author and journalist Gary Kemble.
'An imaginative, fast-paced page-turner...' – BOOKS+PUBLISHING
When more tattoos appear — accompanied by visions of war-torn Afghanistan, bikies, boat people, murder, bar fights and a mysterious woman — he begins to dig a little deeper.
Harry’s search leads him to Jess McGrath. She’s successful, married; they are drawn to each other though they have nothing in common but unwanted tattoos and high definition nightmares. Together, they edge closer to unearthing the truth behind the sinister disappearance of an SAS hero and his girlfriend Kyla.
There’s a federal election looming, with pundits tipping a landslide win for opposition leader Andrew Cardinal. Harry knows there’s a link between these disturbing visions and Cardinal's shadowy past, and is compelled to right wrongs, one way or another.
Skin Deep is the thrilling, layered, genre-bending debut novel of Brisbane author and journalist Gary Kemble.
'An imaginative, fast-paced page-turner...' – BOOKS+PUBLISHING
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2015
54 people are currently reading
1250 people want to read
About the author
Gary Kemble
11 books48 followersGary Kemble has spent his life telling stories. He wrote, illustrated and self-published his first story (Back from the Grave) aged eight. His debut novel Strange Ink (aka Skin Deep in Australia/NZ) is due out in the US and UK in October 2018. You can follow him on Facebook (@garykembleauthor).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
January 5, 2016
This book kept me reading till 4am this morning! What a page turner!
My View:
If you want a book that will keep you reading till 4am then this book is for you! This reader was exhausted but satisfied when the last page was turned.
Frenetically paced, tension packed, great characters with a narrative that manages to encompass so much – corruption, politics - internal and external, war, asylum, greed, relationships, work…I could go on…an all woven so deftly into this incredible tale of justice and retribution. I don’t know how this author packed so much into one book without it becoming cumbersome or bogged down with issues. This narrative flowed, this narrative reached out and grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go until the last page was read!
This book has been touted as a genre mash up –and maybe that is what I found so refreshing and unique about this book. It is an action adventure, a paranormal crime thriller, a story of life and regrets and bikies and drugs and corrupt land developers and crime and politics and abuse, and…a little bit of everything else but all balanced and all with its own place in this narrative. If I was to describe this book I would probably settle on two words, crime thriller – the rest of the descriptors are just the stuff that makes this narrative interesting and compelling reading.
A great read. You won’t be disappointed if you pick this book up – tired maybe but not disappointed. :)
My View:
If you want a book that will keep you reading till 4am then this book is for you! This reader was exhausted but satisfied when the last page was turned.
Frenetically paced, tension packed, great characters with a narrative that manages to encompass so much – corruption, politics - internal and external, war, asylum, greed, relationships, work…I could go on…an all woven so deftly into this incredible tale of justice and retribution. I don’t know how this author packed so much into one book without it becoming cumbersome or bogged down with issues. This narrative flowed, this narrative reached out and grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go until the last page was read!
This book has been touted as a genre mash up –and maybe that is what I found so refreshing and unique about this book. It is an action adventure, a paranormal crime thriller, a story of life and regrets and bikies and drugs and corrupt land developers and crime and politics and abuse, and…a little bit of everything else but all balanced and all with its own place in this narrative. If I was to describe this book I would probably settle on two words, crime thriller – the rest of the descriptors are just the stuff that makes this narrative interesting and compelling reading.
A great read. You won’t be disappointed if you pick this book up – tired maybe but not disappointed. :)
September 6, 2016
Skin Deep is the first book in the Harry Hendrick series by British-born author, Gary Kemble. Harry Hendrick is a journalist for a small time local Brisbane newspaper, The Chermside Chronicle. Stories on traffic black spots, Meals on Wheels, and Chermside Bowls Club are his bread and butter. He’s feeling very fragile over the split, after six years living together, from his girlfriend, Bec, and has moved into a long-vacant house on Croydon Street.
When he wakes one Saturday morning, extremely hung-over from his best mate’s buck’s night, with a strange tattoo on his neck, he puts it down to inebriated bravado, even though it’s completely out of character for him. The local tattoo parlour denies all knowledge and only leaves him more confused with their comments on the nature of the design.
Days later, and after only one beer, another tattoo appears overnight. It seems to be a pictorial expression of the nightmares that plagued his sleep: desperate efforts to save drowning refugees. Perhaps those nightmares have something to do with his mental state, but the batteries that keep running down, the strange scratching noises below the floor and the urge to go out running in the mornings?
While Harry may be a small time journalist, one who never really fulfilled the promise he showed as a student, he still knows how to do research: through methods conventional, and some less so, he learns that he is not the only person experiencing this bizarre phenomenon. He soon finds himself involved in something bigger and more dangerous than he could ever have imagined.
Kemble manages to pack quite a lot into his tale: crooked property developers, drug-dealing motorcycle gangs, a Prime Ministerial candidate with a shady past, a sinking refugee boat, threats to heritage sites, the rape and massacre of innocent Afghans, an unexplained helicopter crash, a couple of ghosts and a bunch of suspicious deaths. That may sound ambitious, but Kemble brings it all together with consummate ease.
Kemble’s protagonist is a totally believable, ordinary guy: genuine, loyal to his friends, no major vices, a bit clueless about women, not terribly ambitious, a bit self-deprecating but with integrity at his core. His support characters are likewise appealing, or, where necessary, credibly villainous. Kemble’s intimate knowledge of Australian politics, journalism and the City of Brisbane are apparent in every paragraph.
Skin Deep has an original plot with a few twists and red herrings that keep the pages turning. The story moves along at a fast pace to a heart-stopping climax. This is a brilliant debut novel, and readers will be pleased to know that Harry Hendrick returns to the page in Bad Blood.
With thanks to Echo Publishing for this copy to read and review.
When he wakes one Saturday morning, extremely hung-over from his best mate’s buck’s night, with a strange tattoo on his neck, he puts it down to inebriated bravado, even though it’s completely out of character for him. The local tattoo parlour denies all knowledge and only leaves him more confused with their comments on the nature of the design.
Days later, and after only one beer, another tattoo appears overnight. It seems to be a pictorial expression of the nightmares that plagued his sleep: desperate efforts to save drowning refugees. Perhaps those nightmares have something to do with his mental state, but the batteries that keep running down, the strange scratching noises below the floor and the urge to go out running in the mornings?
While Harry may be a small time journalist, one who never really fulfilled the promise he showed as a student, he still knows how to do research: through methods conventional, and some less so, he learns that he is not the only person experiencing this bizarre phenomenon. He soon finds himself involved in something bigger and more dangerous than he could ever have imagined.
Kemble manages to pack quite a lot into his tale: crooked property developers, drug-dealing motorcycle gangs, a Prime Ministerial candidate with a shady past, a sinking refugee boat, threats to heritage sites, the rape and massacre of innocent Afghans, an unexplained helicopter crash, a couple of ghosts and a bunch of suspicious deaths. That may sound ambitious, but Kemble brings it all together with consummate ease.
Kemble’s protagonist is a totally believable, ordinary guy: genuine, loyal to his friends, no major vices, a bit clueless about women, not terribly ambitious, a bit self-deprecating but with integrity at his core. His support characters are likewise appealing, or, where necessary, credibly villainous. Kemble’s intimate knowledge of Australian politics, journalism and the City of Brisbane are apparent in every paragraph.
Skin Deep has an original plot with a few twists and red herrings that keep the pages turning. The story moves along at a fast pace to a heart-stopping climax. This is a brilliant debut novel, and readers will be pleased to know that Harry Hendrick returns to the page in Bad Blood.
With thanks to Echo Publishing for this copy to read and review.
October 24, 2021
What first drew me to this book was the gorgeous cover but sadly the inside of the book wasn’t as enticing and I paid dearly for my shallowness. I had such a hard time with this one, it was so dry and boring and it was quite painful for me to read. I even considered putting it aside unfinished a couple times but I really do try to avoid that if possible, you never know when a book can completely turn around and wow you. Sadly this book never turned around and stayed boring and painful to read the whole way through. I’m quite disappointed because the idea was so damn interesting and had so much potential. But it never lived up to its potential and I’ve already completely forgotten the details, that’s how mind numbing and unremarkable this book was.
September 29, 2019
4 stars:
-First time horror book, it is good
- Love skulls arts
-First time horror book, it is good
- Love skulls arts
August 1, 2015
This is an excellent debut novel from Gary Kemble. The story is tight, fast-paced and exciting, the characters three-dimensional and believable, and the researched details utterly authentic. A powerful supernatural crime/political thriller. Highly recommended.
June 16, 2018
Australian debutant Kemble blends dark mystery with a touch of the paranormal in this highly original and engaging read, which was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award.
Jaded journalist Harry Hendrick was once a rising star, but his career was derailed and is now circling the drain in Brisbane. He’s meandering through life, a shell of his former self, and one morning he wakes from a hangover after a friend’s stag do with a strange symbol tattooed on his neck. He writes it off as a stupid drunken choice, but then his mate Dave can’t remember anything about them going for a tattoo. It seems to have appeared out of nowhere and is followed by more tattoos and violent visions that seem to be tied to the war in Afghanistan. Something isn’t right. Then Dave meets Jess McGrath, a successful, married woman also suffering from mysterious tattoos and violent visions. As an election looms and the leading contender seems tied to their visions, Dave and Jess need to work out just what’s going on.
This is a smoothly written book with a highly original premise that could have stumbled, but debutant Kemble handles it well and makes it believable within the world of his novel. There are plenty of fascinating contemporary issues woven throughout the tale, and a great sense of place along with interesting characters. A novel that draws you in to begin with before building and building.
Jaded journalist Harry Hendrick was once a rising star, but his career was derailed and is now circling the drain in Brisbane. He’s meandering through life, a shell of his former self, and one morning he wakes from a hangover after a friend’s stag do with a strange symbol tattooed on his neck. He writes it off as a stupid drunken choice, but then his mate Dave can’t remember anything about them going for a tattoo. It seems to have appeared out of nowhere and is followed by more tattoos and violent visions that seem to be tied to the war in Afghanistan. Something isn’t right. Then Dave meets Jess McGrath, a successful, married woman also suffering from mysterious tattoos and violent visions. As an election looms and the leading contender seems tied to their visions, Dave and Jess need to work out just what’s going on.
This is a smoothly written book with a highly original premise that could have stumbled, but debutant Kemble handles it well and makes it believable within the world of his novel. There are plenty of fascinating contemporary issues woven throughout the tale, and a great sense of place along with interesting characters. A novel that draws you in to begin with before building and building.
May 17, 2019
I’m always looking for new horror books to dive into, and Gary Kemble’s Strange Ink grabbed me the moment I stumbled upon it in the library. A horror story surrounding mysterious tattoos sounded like the kind of thing I would adore.
In truth, I had rather mixed feelings towards this one. It wasn’t the horror I thought it would be, but it was an addictive read. I was constantly curious to see how things came together and was happy to keep turning the pages to witness how the events would play out.
If I’m being completely honest, there was a while when this one was a three-star rating. There were many strands coming together, and, even though it was not the horror I expected, I was enjoying watching the strands become untangled.
However, things came together too easily in the end for me to be completely happy. Add in the fact some elements were introduced and then done away with, and it felt as though certain aspects of the story occurred simply to tick off a checklist.
Overall, this made for an okay read, but it wasn’t what I’d imagined it would be.
In truth, I had rather mixed feelings towards this one. It wasn’t the horror I thought it would be, but it was an addictive read. I was constantly curious to see how things came together and was happy to keep turning the pages to witness how the events would play out.
If I’m being completely honest, there was a while when this one was a three-star rating. There were many strands coming together, and, even though it was not the horror I expected, I was enjoying watching the strands become untangled.
However, things came together too easily in the end for me to be completely happy. Add in the fact some elements were introduced and then done away with, and it felt as though certain aspects of the story occurred simply to tick off a checklist.
Overall, this made for an okay read, but it wasn’t what I’d imagined it would be.
July 26, 2019
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Harry Hendrick is a reporter working for the Chermside Chronicle, a local weekly newspaper in Brisbane, Australia. When he was studying journalism at university Harry found a story involving corruption and the local land developers that would have been huge and that would have seen him upon graduation working for one of the large and respected newspapers. It would have been ‘the‘ story that made Harry. Unfortunately, the story was debunked, testimonials recanted and documents deemed falsified, Harry made enemies and before it had even started his journalistic career took a massive nosedive and has failed to recover. That’s why now in his mid-thirties when others have gone on to bigger and better things Harry is still reporting on local fluff pieces at the local weekly newspaper as out of university it was the only job that he could get and he’s stayed there ever since.
Harry has recently broken up with Bec, his girlfriend after six years together and has moved into a new house. One of his friends, Dave is getting married and on the buck’s night (stag party) the group get up to all of the usual stuff, boozing, partying, strip clubs and the following morning with a massive hangover Harry wakes up with remnants of a nightmare where he is being buried needling his brain and with a mysterious symbol tattooed on the back of his neck.
Harry has no recollection of getting the tattoo, he was drunk but surely he’d remember getting a tattoo?! Photographs taken on the bucks night reveal nothing and his investigations into how he got the tattoo are also a dead-end with the local tattoo parlour denying any knowledge of tattooing Harry. Best to chalk it up to a stupid mistake made by being absolutely wasted and move on with life.
But then Harry has another nightmare, sweating, waking in fright, wondering where he is and with pain radiating from his body and, again, this nightmare is accompanied by another grisly new tattoo. What’s more, the tattoo depicts a scene from the nightmare, drowning bodies of refugees in a churning sea.
A few days later and yet another nightmare and another new tattoo for Harry. It’s not the same nightmare, again, it’s different and with each new nightmare and tattoo, they are becoming more vivid. Harry can recollect more and they seem to be someone else’s memories rather than a by-product of his own mental state. This time the nightmare transported Harry to war-torn Afghanistan as a soldier where he witnessed a heinous atrocity in a poppy field and he awakens with red poppies and skulls tattooed on him.
There’s a scratching noise under Harry’s house, his car battery keeps dying, he takes up running (which is not a Harry trait) and he is having thoughts that are not his own and all these elements add to the unease that Harry feels.
Ultimately, Harry begins to realise that with each new nightmare and the resulting horrific new tattoo that accompanies it that a tragic story is being pieced together. A tragic story that is being told through the ink, through the images that the tattoos depict upon his skin and it is up to Harry to uncover the truth behind the tattoos and what happened to the person that they originally belonged to.
At the same time as Harry is dealing with the fallout from the mysteriously appearing tattoos the election to crown Australia’s next Prime Minister is going on with a renowned war veteran the hot favourite to win by a landslide. Harry is also continuing to report for the local newspaper and one of the stories that he is currently reporting on involves saving and preserving the local water tower instead of letting yet another landmark fall, fade to memory to make way for yet another modern new development.
Biker gangs, drugs, corruption, greed, the horrors of war, the water tower, politics and the presidential candidate all have a part to play in the dark narrative. As Harry digs deeper the story strands that at first appear to be disparate pieces all come together. Once together they form a dangerous whole and build to a gripping culmination of the story told by Kemble.
The cover to Strange Ink is absolutely killer, the book features tattoos and the story sounded like it would dwell deep in the darkness. Those are things that should have made the book a ‘must-read‘ for me. Sadly, it wasn’t and I found Strange Ink to be rather hit-or-miss. It was a good 150-200 pages before I started to actually enjoy the book. Honestly, at one point, I was sceptical as to whether or not I’d even finish reading it and I considered giving up as I just wasn’t connecting with the book (both the character of Harry who I initially found unlikeable and the story) but I powered through. Now, after finishing, I’m glad that I persevered as after my initial apprehension Strange Ink turned into a creepy, dark and worthwhile read.
I think partly that I went into Strange Ink expecting something different to what I got. I expected full-blown horror and whilst there are the mysteriously appearing tattoos, old protection magic and possession with spirits from beyond the grave out for vengeance the book for most of its length is very low on outright scares and is far more in the vein of a thriller than horror. It’s perhaps best to dub Strange Ink as a supernatural thriller but a thriller nonetheless and not horror.
Strange Ink is a promising debut by Kemble with an intriguing story but, for me, it was definitely a book of two halves. I really struggled with the first half but along the way, as the tattoos and the resulting nightmares became more prominent and as the full story became clearer Strange Ink grew on me (as did Harry) and I enjoyed the fast-paced and tension-filled second half far more than I did the first half of the book.
Harry Hendrick is a reporter working for the Chermside Chronicle, a local weekly newspaper in Brisbane, Australia. When he was studying journalism at university Harry found a story involving corruption and the local land developers that would have been huge and that would have seen him upon graduation working for one of the large and respected newspapers. It would have been ‘the‘ story that made Harry. Unfortunately, the story was debunked, testimonials recanted and documents deemed falsified, Harry made enemies and before it had even started his journalistic career took a massive nosedive and has failed to recover. That’s why now in his mid-thirties when others have gone on to bigger and better things Harry is still reporting on local fluff pieces at the local weekly newspaper as out of university it was the only job that he could get and he’s stayed there ever since.
Harry has recently broken up with Bec, his girlfriend after six years together and has moved into a new house. One of his friends, Dave is getting married and on the buck’s night (stag party) the group get up to all of the usual stuff, boozing, partying, strip clubs and the following morning with a massive hangover Harry wakes up with remnants of a nightmare where he is being buried needling his brain and with a mysterious symbol tattooed on the back of his neck.
Harry has no recollection of getting the tattoo, he was drunk but surely he’d remember getting a tattoo?! Photographs taken on the bucks night reveal nothing and his investigations into how he got the tattoo are also a dead-end with the local tattoo parlour denying any knowledge of tattooing Harry. Best to chalk it up to a stupid mistake made by being absolutely wasted and move on with life.
But then Harry has another nightmare, sweating, waking in fright, wondering where he is and with pain radiating from his body and, again, this nightmare is accompanied by another grisly new tattoo. What’s more, the tattoo depicts a scene from the nightmare, drowning bodies of refugees in a churning sea.
A few days later and yet another nightmare and another new tattoo for Harry. It’s not the same nightmare, again, it’s different and with each new nightmare and tattoo, they are becoming more vivid. Harry can recollect more and they seem to be someone else’s memories rather than a by-product of his own mental state. This time the nightmare transported Harry to war-torn Afghanistan as a soldier where he witnessed a heinous atrocity in a poppy field and he awakens with red poppies and skulls tattooed on him.
There’s a scratching noise under Harry’s house, his car battery keeps dying, he takes up running (which is not a Harry trait) and he is having thoughts that are not his own and all these elements add to the unease that Harry feels.
Ultimately, Harry begins to realise that with each new nightmare and the resulting horrific new tattoo that accompanies it that a tragic story is being pieced together. A tragic story that is being told through the ink, through the images that the tattoos depict upon his skin and it is up to Harry to uncover the truth behind the tattoos and what happened to the person that they originally belonged to.
At the same time as Harry is dealing with the fallout from the mysteriously appearing tattoos the election to crown Australia’s next Prime Minister is going on with a renowned war veteran the hot favourite to win by a landslide. Harry is also continuing to report for the local newspaper and one of the stories that he is currently reporting on involves saving and preserving the local water tower instead of letting yet another landmark fall, fade to memory to make way for yet another modern new development.
Biker gangs, drugs, corruption, greed, the horrors of war, the water tower, politics and the presidential candidate all have a part to play in the dark narrative. As Harry digs deeper the story strands that at first appear to be disparate pieces all come together. Once together they form a dangerous whole and build to a gripping culmination of the story told by Kemble.
The cover to Strange Ink is absolutely killer, the book features tattoos and the story sounded like it would dwell deep in the darkness. Those are things that should have made the book a ‘must-read‘ for me. Sadly, it wasn’t and I found Strange Ink to be rather hit-or-miss. It was a good 150-200 pages before I started to actually enjoy the book. Honestly, at one point, I was sceptical as to whether or not I’d even finish reading it and I considered giving up as I just wasn’t connecting with the book (both the character of Harry who I initially found unlikeable and the story) but I powered through. Now, after finishing, I’m glad that I persevered as after my initial apprehension Strange Ink turned into a creepy, dark and worthwhile read.
I think partly that I went into Strange Ink expecting something different to what I got. I expected full-blown horror and whilst there are the mysteriously appearing tattoos, old protection magic and possession with spirits from beyond the grave out for vengeance the book for most of its length is very low on outright scares and is far more in the vein of a thriller than horror. It’s perhaps best to dub Strange Ink as a supernatural thriller but a thriller nonetheless and not horror.
Strange Ink is a promising debut by Kemble with an intriguing story but, for me, it was definitely a book of two halves. I really struggled with the first half but along the way, as the tattoos and the resulting nightmares became more prominent and as the full story became clearer Strange Ink grew on me (as did Harry) and I enjoyed the fast-paced and tension-filled second half far more than I did the first half of the book.
February 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! Great to read something by an Aussie writer. I liked the twists and turns of the relationship between life weary journo Harry Hendrick and SAS soldier Rob, whose life appears to Harry via flashbacks, nightmares and the mysterious appearance of tattoos, which all tell the story of a grim cover-up, and corruption in high places.
April 23, 2017
Loved the Brisbane setting, with such familiar suburbs and shopping centres and so on, and the idea had merit, but it went a bit too far down the rabbit hole for me and became too weird. Add to that the frequent swearing, and it wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Currently, the lasting effect of this book on me, is that now, as I drive around Brisbane, I notice more tattoo parlours!!
2.5★
Currently, the lasting effect of this book on me, is that now, as I drive around Brisbane, I notice more tattoo parlours!!
2.5★
November 17, 2015
4.5 stars. The debut novel, Skin Deep, by award-winning short story writer, Gary Kemble, published by Echo Publishing (who kindly sent me a review copy – thank you very much) is a ripper of a read. Not being familiar with Kemble’s work, I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially when the promotional blurb announced the novel was cross-genre. I have had mixed experiences with cross-genre novels (no pun intended) so worried I might be a little disappointed, especially as the blurb set my expectations high. What I read was a page-turning, exceptionally well-written, tale of regret, deception, betrayal, politics, war, corruption at the highest levels and all with a marvellous supernatural bent that evokes time, place and people with richness and depth.
Journalist Harry Hendrick, once a star student at the university where he did his journalism degree, who because of a major mis-step early in his career is stuck working for the a local Brisbane newspaper (having been rejected by all the major ones, including the “Brisbane Mail” – a thinly disguised Courier Mail, the paper for which I’ve written for over 16 years!). When he wakes one morning after a particularly wild night to find himself sporting an odd tattoo, he is unable to explain when or how he came about it, believing he must have been incredibly wasted not to recall. When other tattoos start appearing on his body, accompanied by vivid and horrific dreams, dreams that include olfactory and taste sensations as well, Harry knows something fantastical is happening to him. But who can he tell? Who would believe him? Not the girlfriend who has just dumped him, the attractive reporter at the Chronicle where he works or his patient boss. As for his best mate, Dave, he’s likely to think he’s mad. Harry isn’t convinced he’s not.
When the dreams intensify, and the tattoos appear with alarming regularity, telling their own gruesome version of the events Harry experiences night after night, he understands something major is afoot, something that involves not only the story that almost had him kicked out of university and discredited as a serious journalist years earlier, but one that involves wild and dangerous magic, a desperate desire for revenge and extraordinarily powerful people who will stop at nothing to ensure no-one lives to repeat the tale they’ve worked so hard to bury.
From the first page, this book gripped and didn’t let me go. Kemble is a terrific writer and his evocation of place, particularly, is outstanding. It’s not just Brisbane (which I know and love and smelt, felt and imagined as I read), but the surging seas off the coast of Australia, the dry, barren lands of the Middle East and even the interiors of houses and office buildings as well as landscapes. Likewise with people. Harry (along with the other characters in the book) is flesh and blood and his fear and confusion as events overtake him are visceral.
I don’t want to say too much for risk of spoiling the plot except to say that this political thriller-cum-action-crime-supernatural novel is fabulous. My only reservation is the cover. I don’t think it does justice to the contents and certainly, I never would have picked it up. The title is so apt and tantalising and yet the vague image of smoky squiggles just doesn’t cut it for this reader and if it as the same effect of repelling other potential ones, then it’s to their detriment as they’d miss out on a great novel.
A fantastic debut from a terrific writer. I cannot wait for his next book.
Journalist Harry Hendrick, once a star student at the university where he did his journalism degree, who because of a major mis-step early in his career is stuck working for the a local Brisbane newspaper (having been rejected by all the major ones, including the “Brisbane Mail” – a thinly disguised Courier Mail, the paper for which I’ve written for over 16 years!). When he wakes one morning after a particularly wild night to find himself sporting an odd tattoo, he is unable to explain when or how he came about it, believing he must have been incredibly wasted not to recall. When other tattoos start appearing on his body, accompanied by vivid and horrific dreams, dreams that include olfactory and taste sensations as well, Harry knows something fantastical is happening to him. But who can he tell? Who would believe him? Not the girlfriend who has just dumped him, the attractive reporter at the Chronicle where he works or his patient boss. As for his best mate, Dave, he’s likely to think he’s mad. Harry isn’t convinced he’s not.
When the dreams intensify, and the tattoos appear with alarming regularity, telling their own gruesome version of the events Harry experiences night after night, he understands something major is afoot, something that involves not only the story that almost had him kicked out of university and discredited as a serious journalist years earlier, but one that involves wild and dangerous magic, a desperate desire for revenge and extraordinarily powerful people who will stop at nothing to ensure no-one lives to repeat the tale they’ve worked so hard to bury.
From the first page, this book gripped and didn’t let me go. Kemble is a terrific writer and his evocation of place, particularly, is outstanding. It’s not just Brisbane (which I know and love and smelt, felt and imagined as I read), but the surging seas off the coast of Australia, the dry, barren lands of the Middle East and even the interiors of houses and office buildings as well as landscapes. Likewise with people. Harry (along with the other characters in the book) is flesh and blood and his fear and confusion as events overtake him are visceral.
I don’t want to say too much for risk of spoiling the plot except to say that this political thriller-cum-action-crime-supernatural novel is fabulous. My only reservation is the cover. I don’t think it does justice to the contents and certainly, I never would have picked it up. The title is so apt and tantalising and yet the vague image of smoky squiggles just doesn’t cut it for this reader and if it as the same effect of repelling other potential ones, then it’s to their detriment as they’d miss out on a great novel.
A fantastic debut from a terrific writer. I cannot wait for his next book.
January 19, 2016
‘This will only end when justice has been done.’
Harry Hendrick is a journalist in Brisbane. His career hasn’t quite followed the path he intended, damaged by a story he was following on corruption while he was still at university. Harry’s a good bloke, popular with his mates and easy to get along with. But he’s been unlucky in love, and has just broken up with his girlfriend and moved to a newly rented home. Not long after the move, Harry attends his mate Dave’s buck night. He wakes up with a hangover, and a tattoo on his neck with no recollection of obtaining it. Could it be just the consequences of a bad night out?
But more tattoos appear, and with the dreams about war-torn Afghanistan, boat people, bikies, bar fights and murder, Harry starts looking for answers. Where did the tattoos come from, and what do they mean? And who is the mysterious woman who has become part of the dream? He finds Jess McGrath, who also has unwanted tattoos and nightmares. What are the nightmares telling them? Who are the people appearing in their nightmares?
At the same time as Harry’s life is being taken over by tattoos and nightmares, there’s a federal election looming. Andrew Cardinal, the opposition leader, is tipped to have a landside win. There’s also a concerted local move to save an old water tower, which Harry investigates. The more Harry investigates, the more he becomes convinced that there are connections that need to be explored and he won’t be frightened off.
The pace of this novel kept me reading, suspending disbelief, accepting events that my logical self would reject as impossible. No time for this logic, though, I had to find out what would happen next. Mr Kemble has peopled his novel with some great characters and the city of Brisbane herself plays a starring role. The brutality of war, the power and corruption of politics seems sadly familiar.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Harry Hendrick is a journalist in Brisbane. His career hasn’t quite followed the path he intended, damaged by a story he was following on corruption while he was still at university. Harry’s a good bloke, popular with his mates and easy to get along with. But he’s been unlucky in love, and has just broken up with his girlfriend and moved to a newly rented home. Not long after the move, Harry attends his mate Dave’s buck night. He wakes up with a hangover, and a tattoo on his neck with no recollection of obtaining it. Could it be just the consequences of a bad night out?
But more tattoos appear, and with the dreams about war-torn Afghanistan, boat people, bikies, bar fights and murder, Harry starts looking for answers. Where did the tattoos come from, and what do they mean? And who is the mysterious woman who has become part of the dream? He finds Jess McGrath, who also has unwanted tattoos and nightmares. What are the nightmares telling them? Who are the people appearing in their nightmares?
At the same time as Harry’s life is being taken over by tattoos and nightmares, there’s a federal election looming. Andrew Cardinal, the opposition leader, is tipped to have a landside win. There’s also a concerted local move to save an old water tower, which Harry investigates. The more Harry investigates, the more he becomes convinced that there are connections that need to be explored and he won’t be frightened off.
The pace of this novel kept me reading, suspending disbelief, accepting events that my logical self would reject as impossible. No time for this logic, though, I had to find out what would happen next. Mr Kemble has peopled his novel with some great characters and the city of Brisbane herself plays a starring role. The brutality of war, the power and corruption of politics seems sadly familiar.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 14, 2015
This was a strangely compelling and original genre mash-up. I've never read anything quite like it and I found myself compulsively turning pages to unravel the mystery. It takes place in the kind of Joh-bruised Brisbane familiar to readers of Andrew McGahan – it reminded me strongly of
Last Drinks
in its vivid descriptions of oppressive heat and humidity, its jaded protagonist and the bleariness of booze, and also in its suggestion that this weather and this corruption are somehow magically symbiotic. I'm not from Brisbane so I can't speak to its familiarity, but there's definitely a strong, distinctive sense of place.
But it doesn't have the kind of dry, world-weary proceduralism you'd expect from a political thriller. (By the way, there is an excellent joke here at the gentle expense of Brisbane airport-thriller author John Birmingham.) The paranoia and scares are broadly sketched, and there's an earnest, almost allegorical quality to the narrative.
I've read heaps of paranormal-themed works that are refined and literary in style, and/or directed at a female audience. But despite the hallucinatory mood in Skin Deep, there's something blokey about the gruff prose. It's striking when terse writing is turned to such a fanciful notion: that tattoos mysteriously appear on a protagonist who can then access nightmarish visions associated with each one. Or are they memories? And if so, whose?
Strongly recommended for those who like crime fiction and political thrillers, and also for those who are interested in a harder-edged kind of paranormal horror story.
Disclosure: I proofread this book for Echo Publishing.
But it doesn't have the kind of dry, world-weary proceduralism you'd expect from a political thriller. (By the way, there is an excellent joke here at the gentle expense of Brisbane airport-thriller author John Birmingham.) The paranoia and scares are broadly sketched, and there's an earnest, almost allegorical quality to the narrative.
I've read heaps of paranormal-themed works that are refined and literary in style, and/or directed at a female audience. But despite the hallucinatory mood in Skin Deep, there's something blokey about the gruff prose. It's striking when terse writing is turned to such a fanciful notion: that tattoos mysteriously appear on a protagonist who can then access nightmarish visions associated with each one. Or are they memories? And if so, whose?
Strongly recommended for those who like crime fiction and political thrillers, and also for those who are interested in a harder-edged kind of paranormal horror story.
Disclosure: I proofread this book for Echo Publishing.
Read
February 15, 2019DNF at Page 135.
This book is advertised as a spine chilling horror and unfortunately it didn’t deliver.
Harry Hendrick is a 36 year old “down on his luck” character. His six year relationship has ended (much to his dismay) and he’s living out of boxes and working at the Chronicle ... still. He awakes from a nightmare to find a strange Ink on the back of his neck and starts to investigate how he got it. The strange happenings repeat and the nightmares when shared grip you.
The good things about the 135 pages I read were the two moments the ink appeared, the investigation as to how he got it/where was interesting and the nightmares themselves were all encompassing, written in such a vivid way. Also the back story of why he was working a dead end job was well written - discovering that there was a reason why this promising journalist studying and trying to bring to light things that shouldn’t have been happening gave the character a bit more depth.
The bad things are that the story meandered for a long time. We followed Harry in his everyday and it felt a lot like the book was just explaining what he was doing day to day. The character seemed to fall flat. Usually 100 pages is enough time to establish where the story was going but this book seems to have drifted from the initial plot that was promised. This book to me was not a thriller and more of a paranormal though even still it wasn’t drawing me in.
A quote that had me laughing waiting for a Doctors appointment - “Magic’s trendy these days, seems like everyone wants to go to Hogwarts or f**k a vampire...”
This book is advertised as a spine chilling horror and unfortunately it didn’t deliver.
Harry Hendrick is a 36 year old “down on his luck” character. His six year relationship has ended (much to his dismay) and he’s living out of boxes and working at the Chronicle ... still. He awakes from a nightmare to find a strange Ink on the back of his neck and starts to investigate how he got it. The strange happenings repeat and the nightmares when shared grip you.
The good things about the 135 pages I read were the two moments the ink appeared, the investigation as to how he got it/where was interesting and the nightmares themselves were all encompassing, written in such a vivid way. Also the back story of why he was working a dead end job was well written - discovering that there was a reason why this promising journalist studying and trying to bring to light things that shouldn’t have been happening gave the character a bit more depth.
The bad things are that the story meandered for a long time. We followed Harry in his everyday and it felt a lot like the book was just explaining what he was doing day to day. The character seemed to fall flat. Usually 100 pages is enough time to establish where the story was going but this book seems to have drifted from the initial plot that was promised. This book to me was not a thriller and more of a paranormal though even still it wasn’t drawing me in.
A quote that had me laughing waiting for a Doctors appointment - “Magic’s trendy these days, seems like everyone wants to go to Hogwarts or f**k a vampire...”
July 3, 2021
3.5 . It was a 4 until the ending. I found it a bit of a let down . Kemble is a good writer though .
October 9, 2018
Certainly an interesting read!!
The cover and title intrigued me instantly, especially with the sprayed edges. I figured, it looked like the perfect October read!
I wasn’t disappointed.
I loved the Characters, their individuality and the way they related to one another throughout the story. The progression of the relationships and the twists involved with them were well though out, and unlike with some Crime stories, it didn’t feel the relationships were forced in order to give a parallel storyline, Rather, the relationships flowed well and were interesting.
The story wasn’t what I was expecting at all, and I found that I enjoyed it for this! But, i would warn readers that if you tend to avoid books with strong language, perhaps avoid this one. For myself, the language suited the characters and situations, and didn’t feel out of place.
I adored the Idea with the Tattoos appearing gradually, and trying to find out why, I especially loved the added elements and relationships as a direct result! I won’t say more for fear of spoiling, but it was incredibly clever and so much Fun!
There were many surprises throughout the story, and it had me guessing throughout! A very individual concept which was well written and kept me hooked from page one, this is a story I would happily read again! And I would be intrigued to see what else the Author comes up with after this!
The ending was surprising, wonderful and fit perfectly. I wasn’t expecting it, and that made it all the nicer!
If you enjoy Crime, Mystery and a Romantic storyline with a twist, I would certainly recommend you give this a go!! And besides... that cover is a beauty 😍😍 Great job Gary! Can’t wait to see what else you have planned!
The cover and title intrigued me instantly, especially with the sprayed edges. I figured, it looked like the perfect October read!
I wasn’t disappointed.
I loved the Characters, their individuality and the way they related to one another throughout the story. The progression of the relationships and the twists involved with them were well though out, and unlike with some Crime stories, it didn’t feel the relationships were forced in order to give a parallel storyline, Rather, the relationships flowed well and were interesting.
The story wasn’t what I was expecting at all, and I found that I enjoyed it for this! But, i would warn readers that if you tend to avoid books with strong language, perhaps avoid this one. For myself, the language suited the characters and situations, and didn’t feel out of place.
I adored the Idea with the Tattoos appearing gradually, and trying to find out why, I especially loved the added elements and relationships as a direct result! I won’t say more for fear of spoiling, but it was incredibly clever and so much Fun!
There were many surprises throughout the story, and it had me guessing throughout! A very individual concept which was well written and kept me hooked from page one, this is a story I would happily read again! And I would be intrigued to see what else the Author comes up with after this!
The ending was surprising, wonderful and fit perfectly. I wasn’t expecting it, and that made it all the nicer!
If you enjoy Crime, Mystery and a Romantic storyline with a twist, I would certainly recommend you give this a go!! And besides... that cover is a beauty 😍😍 Great job Gary! Can’t wait to see what else you have planned!
July 14, 2015
Never has the questionable art of injecting ink into one's skin been imbued with so much ominous meaning.
If, like me, you're no fan of tattoos this book is definitely not going to persuade you otherwise, but then that's not what this story is about.
Gary Kemble has come up with an intriguing paranormal crime thriller, the ramifications of which stretch across the world and way back into human history.
The suspense takes a while to build (and the protagonist seems an unlikely member of Gen X given he's 36) but Harry Hendrick is a flawed hero you want to see catch a break, in both life and love.
This, along with the dark forces at work in the background, sets Skin Deep a cut above the usual good guy/bad guy crime story. I'm not sure everything is fully explained, but we learn enough to make this world a place where you want the wrongs to be set right.
My daughter asked me recently whether all motorbike riders were bikies. They are in Skin Deep - and a nasty bunch of cut-throat bastards they are too, daubed voraciously in ink and blood in equal measure.
I was held firmly in the grip of this story right to the end.
If, like me, you're no fan of tattoos this book is definitely not going to persuade you otherwise, but then that's not what this story is about.
Gary Kemble has come up with an intriguing paranormal crime thriller, the ramifications of which stretch across the world and way back into human history.
The suspense takes a while to build (and the protagonist seems an unlikely member of Gen X given he's 36) but Harry Hendrick is a flawed hero you want to see catch a break, in both life and love.
This, along with the dark forces at work in the background, sets Skin Deep a cut above the usual good guy/bad guy crime story. I'm not sure everything is fully explained, but we learn enough to make this world a place where you want the wrongs to be set right.
My daughter asked me recently whether all motorbike riders were bikies. They are in Skin Deep - and a nasty bunch of cut-throat bastards they are too, daubed voraciously in ink and blood in equal measure.
I was held firmly in the grip of this story right to the end.
December 22, 2015
A paranormal crime thriller with a blokey sensibility, Skin Deep is set in a Brisbane still dealing with the after-effects of many years of Joh rule.
http://newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/2015/12/22/crime-scene-gary-kemble-sk..
October 22, 2015
this was such a great, surprising read. i loved the central protagonist and was hypnotised by the strong sense of place (Brisbane) throughout the story. as a lover of paranormal twists and turns, this story pushed all my buttons and kept me wanting more. a true page tuner.
Disclosure: my novel, Ghost Girls, will also be published by Echo Publishing.
Disclosure: my novel, Ghost Girls, will also be published by Echo Publishing.
January 10, 2019
Im about half way thru here, and its a creepy, vibey, classic horror ghost story, would you like to know more. Well come back when im done. Thats all i have to say about that. Its hard to peg this book down, 1 hand its good, 1 hand long and drawn out. Its like reading a very strange agatha christie, or watching a weird version of murder she wrote. 3.5 stars
October 29, 2021
For most people, a tattoo has a meaning behind it, a special significance, even if it is as simple as that band you used to like that got you through your teenage years, or that boy you thought you would spend the rest of your life with, there is meaning behind them. Poor Harry Hendrick, reporter for a local newspaper where the most exciting thing he normally covers is problems with the Meals-on-Wheels service, certainly didn't intend to get a tattoo, so when he wakes up and finds one on the back of his neck he chalks it up to a few too many at the stag party the night before. These things happen, right?
Right?
But then the second one appears. And the third. Each one accompanied by a vivid nightmare; a massacre in Afghanistan, a refugee boat sinking, murders, mayhem, and each time he wakes it's to more pain and more ink stitched into his skin. His investigation into the meaning of the tattoos and their potential cause leads him down a dark path of political intrigue, corruption, murder and unfinished business that demands a price be paid in blood.
The first novel from author Gary Kemble, Strange Ink is an ambitious tale of ancient magic, mysticism and revenge that, sadly, doesn't quite like up to the tagline "Nightmares can get under your skin". While a thoroughly enjoyable read, with a collection of interesting charcters fleshing it out and a story that's got very little in the way of excess fat or waffle, the shock of the opening chapter is never quite matched by anything in the rest of the story. The action scenes are executed well, the moments where Harry finds himself almost a passenger in his own body are vividly described, as is the world he inhabits. Set in Australia, you can almost smell the barbecues and the dust, taste the beer on your tongue and feel the heat beating down on your skin.
The story is let down in a couple of places by events that seem to be hinting at something else going on, but which ultimately lead nowhere. Multiple occasions during the story, Harry wakes up from his nightmare to find his phone has somehow run out of charge overnight. This happens repeatedly, hinting that perhaps something is going on, that he is maybe using it while he was asleep or in some kind of fugue state...and then it is forgotten about and the story moves on. The same happens with his car, with the supposedly brand new battery somehow running flat repeatedly but we are never given a clear explanation of why. Was the power from those batteries somehow fuelling the appearance of the tattoos? Who knows? A perfect example, sadly, of Chekhov's Gun going sadly unused and instead gathering dust on the wall.
Minor complaints aside, this is a fine first novel and while it is light on the horror aspect, it draws you into Harry's world, makes you feel his confusion and fear, carries you along with him as he joins the dots together one by one until we reach a conclusion that is nicely satisfying. Strange Ink is a great first novel and Gary Kemble is definitely an author to watch.
Right?
But then the second one appears. And the third. Each one accompanied by a vivid nightmare; a massacre in Afghanistan, a refugee boat sinking, murders, mayhem, and each time he wakes it's to more pain and more ink stitched into his skin. His investigation into the meaning of the tattoos and their potential cause leads him down a dark path of political intrigue, corruption, murder and unfinished business that demands a price be paid in blood.
The first novel from author Gary Kemble, Strange Ink is an ambitious tale of ancient magic, mysticism and revenge that, sadly, doesn't quite like up to the tagline "Nightmares can get under your skin". While a thoroughly enjoyable read, with a collection of interesting charcters fleshing it out and a story that's got very little in the way of excess fat or waffle, the shock of the opening chapter is never quite matched by anything in the rest of the story. The action scenes are executed well, the moments where Harry finds himself almost a passenger in his own body are vividly described, as is the world he inhabits. Set in Australia, you can almost smell the barbecues and the dust, taste the beer on your tongue and feel the heat beating down on your skin.
The story is let down in a couple of places by events that seem to be hinting at something else going on, but which ultimately lead nowhere. Multiple occasions during the story, Harry wakes up from his nightmare to find his phone has somehow run out of charge overnight. This happens repeatedly, hinting that perhaps something is going on, that he is maybe using it while he was asleep or in some kind of fugue state...and then it is forgotten about and the story moves on. The same happens with his car, with the supposedly brand new battery somehow running flat repeatedly but we are never given a clear explanation of why. Was the power from those batteries somehow fuelling the appearance of the tattoos? Who knows? A perfect example, sadly, of Chekhov's Gun going sadly unused and instead gathering dust on the wall.
Minor complaints aside, this is a fine first novel and while it is light on the horror aspect, it draws you into Harry's world, makes you feel his confusion and fear, carries you along with him as he joins the dots together one by one until we reach a conclusion that is nicely satisfying. Strange Ink is a great first novel and Gary Kemble is definitely an author to watch.
October 8, 2019
Massive MASSIVE thanks to the wonderful team at Titan Books for my review copy of this horror debut-‘Strange Ink’ is out now in paperback wherever good books are sold! If you get this today you will have time to read it before the sequel, ‘Dark Ink’, comes through your letterbox!
What is there to say about this novel…it is remarkably assured for a debut, it is a strong opener for a series featuring journalist Harry Hendrick who is left with a memorable souvenir of what he thinks was a heavy night out.
Breaking up with his girlfriend has left him lonely and grieving for the life he imagined that he and Becky would’ve had so her reacts as most of us would, by getting drunk and stalking her facebook page for status updates(in a sad non stalker-y way)
So when he wakes up with a tattoo on his neck after blacking out and having a horrific nightmare, it doesn’t seem too far fetched that he has drunkenly agreed to a tattoo. His cynical, laid back buddy Dave provides a nice balast to Harry’s world weary cynicism and newspaper stablemate ,Christine, is a nice reminder of how he used to be before he let life get in the way. His journalist skills need sharpening, and this is the first time his lifestyle choices have resulted in a severe reflection on who he is and what he has been doing.
At the start of the book Harry is feeling sorry for himself, he is moping and could be read as a quite unlikable character which is a testament to Gary Kemble’s skills that you stick with him to find out how and why these tattoos are appearing.
Bringing his investigative skills to the fore, and sharpening them up thanks to Christine reminding him of the difference he made to her when she started at the Chronicle,in sharing his experiences and tips, Harry has no choice but to look into what is happening to him and the town that he lives in. He has to step up and look at the decisions he has made and take on board the consequences, the things he been putting off will be cast aside no longer. Harry has to dig inside and find that what is in your heart, sometimes, is exactly like wearing it on your sleeve.
I really enjoyed the growing sense of horror as Harry’s body becomes something unfamiliar and terrifying to him, his largest organ, the skin, is being overtaken by arcane symbols and scenes from nightmares that he cannot quite control. I loved the pace of the story, it felt developed enough to get a good grasp of Harry’s character and those of his closest allies, whilst leaving room for more.
The book is scary in the right places and constantly gripping, It is very hard to put it down and is one of those books where ‘one more chapter..’ is a promise to yourself that you constantly break!
I am very much looking forward to more from Gary Kemble and would highly recommend it for fans of Richard Kadrey, Lauren Beukes and Jim Butcher
What is there to say about this novel…it is remarkably assured for a debut, it is a strong opener for a series featuring journalist Harry Hendrick who is left with a memorable souvenir of what he thinks was a heavy night out.
Breaking up with his girlfriend has left him lonely and grieving for the life he imagined that he and Becky would’ve had so her reacts as most of us would, by getting drunk and stalking her facebook page for status updates(in a sad non stalker-y way)
So when he wakes up with a tattoo on his neck after blacking out and having a horrific nightmare, it doesn’t seem too far fetched that he has drunkenly agreed to a tattoo. His cynical, laid back buddy Dave provides a nice balast to Harry’s world weary cynicism and newspaper stablemate ,Christine, is a nice reminder of how he used to be before he let life get in the way. His journalist skills need sharpening, and this is the first time his lifestyle choices have resulted in a severe reflection on who he is and what he has been doing.
At the start of the book Harry is feeling sorry for himself, he is moping and could be read as a quite unlikable character which is a testament to Gary Kemble’s skills that you stick with him to find out how and why these tattoos are appearing.
Bringing his investigative skills to the fore, and sharpening them up thanks to Christine reminding him of the difference he made to her when she started at the Chronicle,in sharing his experiences and tips, Harry has no choice but to look into what is happening to him and the town that he lives in. He has to step up and look at the decisions he has made and take on board the consequences, the things he been putting off will be cast aside no longer. Harry has to dig inside and find that what is in your heart, sometimes, is exactly like wearing it on your sleeve.
I really enjoyed the growing sense of horror as Harry’s body becomes something unfamiliar and terrifying to him, his largest organ, the skin, is being overtaken by arcane symbols and scenes from nightmares that he cannot quite control. I loved the pace of the story, it felt developed enough to get a good grasp of Harry’s character and those of his closest allies, whilst leaving room for more.
The book is scary in the right places and constantly gripping, It is very hard to put it down and is one of those books where ‘one more chapter..’ is a promise to yourself that you constantly break!
I am very much looking forward to more from Gary Kemble and would highly recommend it for fans of Richard Kadrey, Lauren Beukes and Jim Butcher
November 15, 2023
Just when you think life couldn’t get any worse you find yourself waking up with a killer hangover and a tattoo you don’t remember getting.. must have been one helluva night?! But when more tattoos start to appear and the hellish nightmares increase in intensity.. you find yourself needing to know more. There’s a story here and the journalist within is determined to scratch that itch. The deeper he digs, the further he falls into the abyss of war torn Afghanistan crime and life as another from within. The raging thoughts cease to give up, if anything they are taking over, determined to right wrong.. insistent on justice.
.
I was so torn on how to rate this one! I was hook, line and sinker all book long.. could not stop turning the pages but the ending was such an anti climax! I never do 1/2 stars but this just was more than a 4 but not quite a 5.. bookworms I’m sure you can relate with me on this! I guess there’s a first for everything!
.
Let’s talk about the ending here for a hot sec.. There was SO much intense build up among the pages for the ending to just let it down. It lacked the detail the rest of the book oozed in excess but maybe that was the point.. the ghost of Rob was gone so everyday Harry is left standing on his own at the end. On the flip side though.. I do love the sentiment that justice was rightened after so much carpet swept buried crime.
.
My absolute favourite aspect of this read is the vivid memories of ghosts leaked by ink. How fucking creative!! The tattoos had a voice, they left a trail of clues and they were dark! They are likened to a spirit, to a curse and also to protection. I don’t want to ruin the read by giving too much away but the way the story wraps around the mystery ink reflecting the hellish nightmares is top notch writing! One would say.. to get under one’s skin. This is literally the ghosts motive and they are on a mission!
.
A lot can be said for following your intuition or listening to your gut and this really taps into that in so many ways. From listening to nightmares, to following ghosts, to latching onto strangers, to even being in possession of a gun.. Harry is really leaning into whatever is happening to him despite all warnings. He is hell bent that it is the right thing to do and the pull to keep going is stronger than himself. There is a link between the nightmares and his current surroundings, in particular, nominated opposition leader in the pending election. He is determined to reveal all/ expose it no matter the cost
.
This was addictive reading! It was fast paced, hauntingly disturbing and laced with murderous rage. It was like nothing I have read before and had such a creative edge that makes this a stand alone league. If you love crime, mystery, suspenseful detective puzzle work this is for you. Highly recommend diving into this one!!
.
I was so torn on how to rate this one! I was hook, line and sinker all book long.. could not stop turning the pages but the ending was such an anti climax! I never do 1/2 stars but this just was more than a 4 but not quite a 5.. bookworms I’m sure you can relate with me on this! I guess there’s a first for everything!
.
Let’s talk about the ending here for a hot sec.. There was SO much intense build up among the pages for the ending to just let it down. It lacked the detail the rest of the book oozed in excess but maybe that was the point.. the ghost of Rob was gone so everyday Harry is left standing on his own at the end. On the flip side though.. I do love the sentiment that justice was rightened after so much carpet swept buried crime.
.
My absolute favourite aspect of this read is the vivid memories of ghosts leaked by ink. How fucking creative!! The tattoos had a voice, they left a trail of clues and they were dark! They are likened to a spirit, to a curse and also to protection. I don’t want to ruin the read by giving too much away but the way the story wraps around the mystery ink reflecting the hellish nightmares is top notch writing! One would say.. to get under one’s skin. This is literally the ghosts motive and they are on a mission!
.
A lot can be said for following your intuition or listening to your gut and this really taps into that in so many ways. From listening to nightmares, to following ghosts, to latching onto strangers, to even being in possession of a gun.. Harry is really leaning into whatever is happening to him despite all warnings. He is hell bent that it is the right thing to do and the pull to keep going is stronger than himself. There is a link between the nightmares and his current surroundings, in particular, nominated opposition leader in the pending election. He is determined to reveal all/ expose it no matter the cost
.
This was addictive reading! It was fast paced, hauntingly disturbing and laced with murderous rage. It was like nothing I have read before and had such a creative edge that makes this a stand alone league. If you love crime, mystery, suspenseful detective puzzle work this is for you. Highly recommend diving into this one!!
January 20, 2020
Horror, mystery, corruption and sic ink in Brisvegas
I loved this story, it had so many elements it risked being a hot mess, but Kemble pulls it together like it couldn't be any other way.
Brilliant page turner whose descriptions, colloquialisms made me homesick not only for my homeland, but for my other family the Aussie Army.
Harry is a loveable, believable character who embraces the horror to seek justice. Loved it.
I loved this story, it had so many elements it risked being a hot mess, but Kemble pulls it together like it couldn't be any other way.
Brilliant page turner whose descriptions, colloquialisms made me homesick not only for my homeland, but for my other family the Aussie Army.
Harry is a loveable, believable character who embraces the horror to seek justice. Loved it.
November 27, 2020
Interesting premise, but a bit of a slog for me. The main protagonist is a journalist at a small local newspaper, and suddenly finds a tattoo on his body, with no recollection of how it got there. He also has disturbing dreams. He tries to figure out what is happening- did he have a blackout after a party? is he going crazy? is someone breaking in and tattooing him while he sleeps? He tries to keep his job while being distracted by the tattoos and nightmares. He starts running in the morning and there is for me way too much detail about where he goes and what he sees. The rest is how he finds out what the tattoos mean and how many people died because of a terrible incident in Afghanistan.
February 20, 2022
Eh, its a book. Down and out journalist with impulse issues has his body taken over by a foreign consciousness that he can't control and causes chaos in his life. At first I was so excited, Eddie Brock? OMG ARE WE READING VENOM?! Then I kept reading. No, we aren't reading Venom, cause this journalist, Harry Hendrick, just gets crappy magical tattoos that make him act like an asshole till the books ends. Just read Venom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2023
This crime thriller, set in Brisbane, begins with the most gruesome opening chapter I have ever encountered. And plenty more violence follows. That wasn't a problem. It's a crime thriller. But the supernatural element was not to my taste. If you don't mind a little fantasy (well, actually rather a lot) along with your intrepid journos, corrupt pollies, smart females, ageing activists, soldiers with a conscience & bogan bikers you might check this one out.
October 15, 2025
Great page turner with very interesting mystery. The premise hooked me instantly and kept me wanting to know more. I was also glad to read a story happening in Australia, which came along with some words specific to the continent. Very enjoyable!
December 8, 2019
DNF not really grabbed me very blokey start and not much else sadly for me to get a hook in
November 5, 2022
Beyond the initial intrigue of this book I really didn’t find the story enjoyable and the characters fell flat.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews