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The Shallows
Lieutenant Bradley Heap has gone AWOL and taken along his wife and son. They’re managing to cope until a chance encounter with a gang of drug dealers turns their world upside down.
With no money and no contacts, the Heaps are forced underground. It’s a tough path they’ve chosen, but they can cope with anything as long as they stay together as a family unit.
Detective John Locke of Police Scotland joins forces with the Navy police in the search for Heap and his wife on a trail that will take them from the middle of Scotland to the edge of the South Lakes.
The Shallows explores the limits of human endurance and examines how far people will go to protect the ones they love. It is a twisting tale of tension, despair and intrigue that encapsulates the essence of hope.
With no money and no contacts, the Heaps are forced underground. It’s a tough path they’ve chosen, but they can cope with anything as long as they stay together as a family unit.
Detective John Locke of Police Scotland joins forces with the Navy police in the search for Heap and his wife on a trail that will take them from the middle of Scotland to the edge of the South Lakes.
The Shallows explores the limits of human endurance and examines how far people will go to protect the ones they love. It is a twisting tale of tension, despair and intrigue that encapsulates the essence of hope.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2016
71 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Bird
52 books75 followersNigel Bird is the author of the Rat Pack series, The Shallows, the Southsiders series, In Loco Parentis, Smoke, Mr Suit and Dirty Old Town as well as a number of other novels, novellas and collections.
His work has appeared in a number of prestigious magazines and collections, including 2 editions of The Best Of British Crime,The Reader, Crimespree and Needle.
He is currently an editorial consultant for the publisher All Due Respect books.
He lives on the East Coast of Scotland in Dunbar (Sunny Dunny) with his wife and three children.
As well as writing fiction, he has been a teacher for thirty years and has worked in a number of mainstream and special schools.
His work has appeared in a number of prestigious magazines and collections, including 2 editions of The Best Of British Crime,The Reader, Crimespree and Needle.
He is currently an editorial consultant for the publisher All Due Respect books.
He lives on the East Coast of Scotland in Dunbar (Sunny Dunny) with his wife and three children.
As well as writing fiction, he has been a teacher for thirty years and has worked in a number of mainstream and special schools.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 25, 2016
Brad and Molly accidentally get mixed up with some heavy drug dealers. In order to save themselves and their young son, they make what may afterwards be seen as some unwise decisions. Brad is AWOL from the navy at the time and after years of being upright citizens, they fall foul of the law. This story asks how far you would go to protect your family.
I loved the story, the difficulties they got themselves involved in, and the rivalry between the police and the navy. It a was classic cat-and-mouse story and the shaves were close. My only misgiving is that I found it hard to imagine that previously law-abiding people would take the chances they did but I’ve never been in that position. Where would I really draw the line if I thought my child would starve or become embroiled in a gang shoot-out? I don’t know. This is an interesting and engaging story and I enjoyed it very much.
I loved the story, the difficulties they got themselves involved in, and the rivalry between the police and the navy. It a was classic cat-and-mouse story and the shaves were close. My only misgiving is that I found it hard to imagine that previously law-abiding people would take the chances they did but I’ve never been in that position. Where would I really draw the line if I thought my child would starve or become embroiled in a gang shoot-out? I don’t know. This is an interesting and engaging story and I enjoyed it very much.
April 23, 2016
The Shallows is a brilliantly modern Bonnie and Clyde thriller, with great pace and real emotion.
I came across Nigel Bird's work several years ago, in the form of his short stories. One of the best short story writers around, his short story collections Dirty Old Town (and other stories) and Beat on the Brat (and other stories) are collections I greatly enjoyed. And his novella Smoke is superb.
The Shallows is equally, an excellent piece. It displays Bird's usual quality of prose - tight, yet always poetic - a very hard trick to pull off. I read the whole book in less than two days. In those two gripping days, I was thrust into the fast disintegrating world of Brad and Molly Heap, and their son, Shem, as they, a normal family, do everything they can to stay one step ahead of their pursuers - the Navy, the Police, a gang of drug and people smugglers, and most pernicious of all, their own conscience. These are normal people in a tough situation, through no real fault of their own, fleeing for their lives. And I was with them every step of the way.
Right to the last few pages, Bird leaves us hanging, not knowing if the family will make it. And even if they do make it, it is unclear as to their future together. Carrying all these unknowns into the final pages, leaving the reader hanging onto every word - that is great writing.
There are various subplots within the book, all handled expertly by the author. One is the Navy's pursuit of runaway submariner, Brad. The sea plays a large part within this book. There, you might think, the title of the book stems from - The Shallows - Brad's escape from the depths to the shallows. But, for me, Bird hints at something else. We all have hidden depths. All of us. Those places where the darkness consumes us, and the answers lie hidden. And it is only by going down into the darkness that the answers will reveal themselves. But sometimes, we haven't got the luxury of such a journey. Sometimes it's all about getting through the next day.We know that journey to the depths awaits, but before we go any deeper, we need to first survive the shallows.
I came across Nigel Bird's work several years ago, in the form of his short stories. One of the best short story writers around, his short story collections Dirty Old Town (and other stories) and Beat on the Brat (and other stories) are collections I greatly enjoyed. And his novella Smoke is superb.
The Shallows is equally, an excellent piece. It displays Bird's usual quality of prose - tight, yet always poetic - a very hard trick to pull off. I read the whole book in less than two days. In those two gripping days, I was thrust into the fast disintegrating world of Brad and Molly Heap, and their son, Shem, as they, a normal family, do everything they can to stay one step ahead of their pursuers - the Navy, the Police, a gang of drug and people smugglers, and most pernicious of all, their own conscience. These are normal people in a tough situation, through no real fault of their own, fleeing for their lives. And I was with them every step of the way.
Right to the last few pages, Bird leaves us hanging, not knowing if the family will make it. And even if they do make it, it is unclear as to their future together. Carrying all these unknowns into the final pages, leaving the reader hanging onto every word - that is great writing.
There are various subplots within the book, all handled expertly by the author. One is the Navy's pursuit of runaway submariner, Brad. The sea plays a large part within this book. There, you might think, the title of the book stems from - The Shallows - Brad's escape from the depths to the shallows. But, for me, Bird hints at something else. We all have hidden depths. All of us. Those places where the darkness consumes us, and the answers lie hidden. And it is only by going down into the darkness that the answers will reveal themselves. But sometimes, we haven't got the luxury of such a journey. Sometimes it's all about getting through the next day.We know that journey to the depths awaits, but before we go any deeper, we need to first survive the shallows.
March 28, 2016
If we stand in the shallows of any river, we put ourselves in an ‘in-between’ place. On one side we are but moments away from the safety of the shore, however, take a few wrong steps, and we’re dragged into danger by the tide.
Such is the case for Lieutenant Bradley Heap of the Blue Watch, and his wife, Molly and their son Shem.
Following the suicide of one his crew, with his conscience getting the better of him, Brad Heap has gone AWOL. Now, all he wants to do is start a new life with his wife and son. He has spent enough time beneath the sea and needs to satiate his need for open spaces.
But such spaces have their own dangers, and when Brad and Molly stumble upon a disused cottage and discover it’s being used to grow cannabis by a local gangster, Red Fenton, an altercation follows, which puts them in a place no family would ever wish to be.
What follows is a fast-paced tale of how far people will go to protect their family. How things can so easily spiral out of control, and how a family can suddenly find themselves on the wrong side of the law and embroiled in a cat and mouse chase for survival. Bird pulls this off with great skill, and just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, Bird pulls you in a completely different direction.
There is also a tenderness in this tale. When Brad and Molly become separated, each of them faces their own challenges. Bird uses this to explore moral and social borders, and the regional settings of the Scottish Lochs down to the South Lakes, are skilfully juxtaposed against social commentary, as diverse as food banks and illegal immigrants.
Yet among the darkness, there is plenty of light, especially through the exploits and comical insights of Inspector Locke. However, Inspector Locke is no fool, and as he gets closer to finding Brad and Molly, the question you’ll find yourself asking is will Brad, Molly and Shem, reunite and get away safely? Or are Brad and Molly destined to be the Scottish Bonny and Clyde, and suffer the same disastrous fate.
The only way to find the answer to this, of course, is to read it and find out. You won’t be disappointed; this is an excellent tale, and I highly recommend it.
Such is the case for Lieutenant Bradley Heap of the Blue Watch, and his wife, Molly and their son Shem.
Following the suicide of one his crew, with his conscience getting the better of him, Brad Heap has gone AWOL. Now, all he wants to do is start a new life with his wife and son. He has spent enough time beneath the sea and needs to satiate his need for open spaces.
But such spaces have their own dangers, and when Brad and Molly stumble upon a disused cottage and discover it’s being used to grow cannabis by a local gangster, Red Fenton, an altercation follows, which puts them in a place no family would ever wish to be.
What follows is a fast-paced tale of how far people will go to protect their family. How things can so easily spiral out of control, and how a family can suddenly find themselves on the wrong side of the law and embroiled in a cat and mouse chase for survival. Bird pulls this off with great skill, and just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, Bird pulls you in a completely different direction.
There is also a tenderness in this tale. When Brad and Molly become separated, each of them faces their own challenges. Bird uses this to explore moral and social borders, and the regional settings of the Scottish Lochs down to the South Lakes, are skilfully juxtaposed against social commentary, as diverse as food banks and illegal immigrants.
Yet among the darkness, there is plenty of light, especially through the exploits and comical insights of Inspector Locke. However, Inspector Locke is no fool, and as he gets closer to finding Brad and Molly, the question you’ll find yourself asking is will Brad, Molly and Shem, reunite and get away safely? Or are Brad and Molly destined to be the Scottish Bonny and Clyde, and suffer the same disastrous fate.
The only way to find the answer to this, of course, is to read it and find out. You won’t be disappointed; this is an excellent tale, and I highly recommend it.
March 26, 2016
I've been following Nigel Bird's work since he started contributing short stories to the crime fiction community several years ago. This is an interesting development in his career, a novel that sits comfortably between family drama, crime thriller, and police procedural. Bird's empathy for and understanding of his characters is a highlight. I found myself rooting for this couple despite the many terrible decisions they make. In the end, they're ordinary people shoved into a difficult situation.
This is some of Bird's best plotting as well, with the story gradually picking up suspense before a nicely executed conclusion. The Shallows is similar in content to a lot of what you find on the Barnes and Noble mystery shelves. But it's about a third of the price, contains no filler, and is considerably more human.
This is some of Bird's best plotting as well, with the story gradually picking up suspense before a nicely executed conclusion. The Shallows is similar in content to a lot of what you find on the Barnes and Noble mystery shelves. But it's about a third of the price, contains no filler, and is considerably more human.
November 25, 2018
I liked this story, it was well written & grabbed you from the start!
October 11, 2016
What a fantastic read. Loved all the characters, felt I really knew them and wanted to spend time with them. The story is quite fast paced and well told, keeps you turning the pages for more. The ending for me was just how I wanted it to be. I could imagine being in the same situation as the family and doing all they could to be together. A truly meaningful story to how a tight family may be.
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June 1, 2022Emotional thriller
Read this as I read the Southsiders books and really liked them . This was also excellent. A lesson in doing the right thing and how procedure, pride and saving face drives some people more. Great story gets you routing for the family even after what they did. Recommended.
Read this as I read the Southsiders books and really liked them . This was also excellent. A lesson in doing the right thing and how procedure, pride and saving face drives some people more. Great story gets you routing for the family even after what they did. Recommended.
August 25, 2020
Wasn’t sure what to expect but a really clever storyline ... enjoyed it very much and the characters are very real and gritty
August 17, 2016
A novel that makes you pull for the "bad guys".
The Shallows is a story that makes you hope that the perpetrators never get caught even though they may have done some bad things. A writer who can make you pull for the bad guys is pretty good. I personally dislike reading British books. That's my own hang up. This book has the usual typos and unnecessary words that make you wonder where they came from but it's still a good story.
The Shallows is a story that makes you hope that the perpetrators never get caught even though they may have done some bad things. A writer who can make you pull for the bad guys is pretty good. I personally dislike reading British books. That's my own hang up. This book has the usual typos and unnecessary words that make you wonder where they came from but it's still a good story.
September 2, 2016
Really great stuff here; it's a great crime drama/procedural.
I read Bird's novella Smoke and loved it. The same skill is applied here, though I'd argue the plotting is better and this book is, satisfyingly, much longer. Plan to spend time with characters you love, though you know you shouldn't (that's noir, folks).
Well-paced. Suspenseful. Welcome to the work of Nigel Bird.
I read Bird's novella Smoke and loved it. The same skill is applied here, though I'd argue the plotting is better and this book is, satisfyingly, much longer. Plan to spend time with characters you love, though you know you shouldn't (that's noir, folks).
Well-paced. Suspenseful. Welcome to the work of Nigel Bird.
May 4, 2016
When naval Lieutenant Bradley Heap goes AWOL with his wife and son, he stumbles into drug dealing, people smuggling and murder.
Nigel Bird’s The Shallows is a tightly written and well-paced crime thriller that is full of well-drawn, realistic characters.
Tense and involving, The Shallows is great stuff!
Nigel Bird’s The Shallows is a tightly written and well-paced crime thriller that is full of well-drawn, realistic characters.
Tense and involving, The Shallows is great stuff!
October 10, 2016
A Family on the Run
Brad goes AWOL from the Navy and is on the run with Molly, his wife, and Shem, his seven year old child. They stumble onto a marijuana operation while looking for a place to spend the night. Nothing will be the same again! At this point, the story takes on a Bonnie and Clyde quality and is filled with suspense.
Brad goes AWOL from the Navy and is on the run with Molly, his wife, and Shem, his seven year old child. They stumble onto a marijuana operation while looking for a place to spend the night. Nothing will be the same again! At this point, the story takes on a Bonnie and Clyde quality and is filled with suspense.
June 19, 2016
Good read. Highly recommended.
This is a page Turner.
The fugitives win your sympathy when the world seems to be against them. Well written.
This is a page Turner.
The fugitives win your sympathy when the world seems to be against them. Well written.
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July 25, 2016This book took a long while to read because it wasn't as interresting as I originally thought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews