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Sweeper!
128 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2000
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 28, 2020
A rollercoaster crime thriller from a master of the art of going off topic, and promoting the Jag
September 26, 2021
It’s the best book
August 13, 2023
Superb! Ivo Graham's reading of this Literary classic is perfect! What Steve Bruce doesn't know about how to write thrillers wouldn't fill a tripe factory 🏭
July 27, 2024
“When Maureen came down, she was certainly younger, but no more desirable. I thanked my stars I'm married to an attractive woman and have a good family life.”
A lesser novel might attempt to use all the background football tactics as some sort of reflection of the underworld manoeuvres happening in the main plot. As it is, the title really does just seem to refer to “the Sweeper system” in the defensive game, and the literal fact that the murder victim sometimes held a broom. Flawless.
“Francois–Auguste Jacquemin. French national but of African extraction. Don't ask me which country his parents come from. I can't remember.”
There are too many things to highlight, and no single line can properly get across the otherworldly cadence with which Bruce writes. It's like a dream. It's a mystery thriller, and Steve Barnes is there. It's Bula Quo.
“Right now I felt like I was going to die. That's what influenza does: it reduces your will to live.”
It’s hard to properly articulate. The man's inner monologue is just a thing to behold; chock-full of some of the least witty quips imaginable, baffling commentary on the problems of the modern world, and bizarrely frequent references to how little he understands or cares about anything other than the upcoming match against Burnwick. At one stage, somebody has to explain to him what ‘pancreas’ means.
“‘‘You smell,’ she replied. I knew it wasn't true so I guessed that when she wasn't busy being a terrorist, she must have a sense of humour.”
It's really just…like I would recommend to almost anyone but it's inarguably the worst thing I've ever read. The real trick with Sweeper! is that it obsesses you so thoroughly with its moment-to-moment crapness that you're almost blindsided when its biggest blunder ends up being the overall plot. I won't say more, but, like, Steve, buddy, what the fuck was that?
“The Jag was in its usual place, outside the club reception. It's an XJ8, 3.2, sports version, V reg. As I drove fast to the infirmary, following the ambulance as it cut a swathe through the traffic, I wasn't thinking of power assisted steering and speed sensitive variable ratios. I was considering how life can be so sweet one minute and suddenly, without warning, we are dead."
A lesser novel might attempt to use all the background football tactics as some sort of reflection of the underworld manoeuvres happening in the main plot. As it is, the title really does just seem to refer to “the Sweeper system” in the defensive game, and the literal fact that the murder victim sometimes held a broom. Flawless.
“Francois–Auguste Jacquemin. French national but of African extraction. Don't ask me which country his parents come from. I can't remember.”
There are too many things to highlight, and no single line can properly get across the otherworldly cadence with which Bruce writes. It's like a dream. It's a mystery thriller, and Steve Barnes is there. It's Bula Quo.
“Right now I felt like I was going to die. That's what influenza does: it reduces your will to live.”
It’s hard to properly articulate. The man's inner monologue is just a thing to behold; chock-full of some of the least witty quips imaginable, baffling commentary on the problems of the modern world, and bizarrely frequent references to how little he understands or cares about anything other than the upcoming match against Burnwick. At one stage, somebody has to explain to him what ‘pancreas’ means.
“‘‘You smell,’ she replied. I knew it wasn't true so I guessed that when she wasn't busy being a terrorist, she must have a sense of humour.”
It's really just…like I would recommend to almost anyone but it's inarguably the worst thing I've ever read. The real trick with Sweeper! is that it obsesses you so thoroughly with its moment-to-moment crapness that you're almost blindsided when its biggest blunder ends up being the overall plot. I won't say more, but, like, Steve, buddy, what the fuck was that?
“The Jag was in its usual place, outside the club reception. It's an XJ8, 3.2, sports version, V reg. As I drove fast to the infirmary, following the ambulance as it cut a swathe through the traffic, I wasn't thinking of power assisted steering and speed sensitive variable ratios. I was considering how life can be so sweet one minute and suddenly, without warning, we are dead."
May 3, 2024
Chaos.
Read
August 24, 2025i am still waiting for the addition of the edition "reading and commentary by quickly kevin team".
seriously, like with the striker*, the experience to listening to the QK boys (and ivo!) is pure 5 stars, and the book itself is like weak two.
i absolutely have no idea what happened at the end. who were the good guys, who were the bad guys, but, as a yugoslavian, the only question on my mind is, where did he get names like stefan dušan and drago mihajlović, i was rolling with laughter. between all the different baddies, and the hardest threat of them all, the influenza virus, it's a shock our beloved manager got out alive.
also, i could be a great spy, as my answer to "who is your favourite footballer?" is always going to be gianluca zambrotta, so i could throw stefe off, thinking i am from the italian mafia.
*in the style of the author himself, adding this footnote to tell you to check book 1
seriously, like with the striker*, the experience to listening to the QK boys (and ivo!) is pure 5 stars, and the book itself is like weak two.
i absolutely have no idea what happened at the end. who were the good guys, who were the bad guys, but, as a yugoslavian, the only question on my mind is, where did he get names like stefan dušan and drago mihajlović, i was rolling with laughter. between all the different baddies, and the hardest threat of them all, the influenza virus, it's a shock our beloved manager got out alive.
also, i could be a great spy, as my answer to "who is your favourite footballer?" is always going to be gianluca zambrotta, so i could throw stefe off, thinking i am from the italian mafia.
*in the style of the author himself, adding this footnote to tell you to check book 1
August 10, 2025
Exactly what I was hoping for from the first book, this was a hilarious read! Constantly going off on tangents and a fun drinking game where you take a shot every time he mentions having influenza. A true rollercoaster ride.
December 5, 2024
If there is a better book out there involving a tripe factory I'm yet to read it
January 2, 2025
Stunning from start to finish, another tour de force from Bruce.
December 30, 2024
The pinnacle of modern literature. This book will change your life for the better.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews