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From cheesy London nightclubs to Christmas in Goa, inner city tower blocks to Hong Kong karaoke bars, sleepy Welsh villages to jaded Chinese towns, Lee, Sol, and Vix are all fleeing their own personal demons. But how far do you have to go to get away?
380 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 1998
3 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 22, 2008
This was a real page turner. I liked the fully formed characters, the way the plots inter-linked and the twists were good.
December 18, 2023
Captivating story! Its an easy read and real page turner. The only thing that I dont quite like is the ending, which left me feeling a little unsatisfied; that being said I still loved this book
January 27, 2025
Fast moving drama set in the late 1990s about three young people, all who have left home and are travelling for different reasons. One has crossed gangsters, one has parent issues and one agreed to marry for money. Hence we follow the three from their domestic situations in England to India and S E Asia. Along the way their paths get intertwined as they experience adventures on the road.
It moved at a good pace, well thought out and very easy to read. I didn't really engage with any of the characters yet still read it quickly over a couple of days.
Easy throw away stuff. What I'd call a holiday read.
It moved at a good pace, well thought out and very easy to read. I didn't really engage with any of the characters yet still read it quickly over a couple of days.
Easy throw away stuff. What I'd call a holiday read.
June 17, 2019
Intriguing yet felt unfinished somehow... there were times I felt captivated to keep reading but I’m left somewhat disappointed. The book felt a little pointless in the end.
March 25, 2024
Cool settings but sloppy writing, even for the genre.
December 19, 2012
Excellent book, although it is quite a while since I read it and again, I chastice myself for not having kept notes about it.
Very much in the mold of the beach, as international travel forms the backdrop to the story.
There are three main stories told here, with a main character in each.
Lee works in a London nightclub ruled by gangsters. Slowly he starts doing favours for them, including a spot of driving. He is asked to dispose of a new merc but uses it to impress his would be girlfriend. Things go wrong when he opens the boot and finds a body. He uses it to fake his own death and heads for Goa.
Where he meets Sol. A man who is on the run after taking part in an arranged marriage to an illegal immigrant only for things to go wrong where he accidently shoots one of the gangsters who has tricked the girl into coming over here to work in prostitution.
Vix moves over to Hong Kong and becomes Sols girlfriend. She is leaving behind a life in a small wales community where she got in with some crusties and an overbearing father. She works as a hostess in a bar and a chinese mafia chief falls for her. They are arranging a fee for her to sleep with him when he is shot on the night of the hong kong celebrations.
A cracking read that succeeds despite the over the top storyline which does not do it justice when written down like this. The characterisation is first class and you seem to know and have an interest in all the players, including minor players such as Vix's dad.
Funny in places and broad in its scope, I will certainly look out for more by this talented author.
Very much in the mold of the beach, as international travel forms the backdrop to the story.
There are three main stories told here, with a main character in each.
Lee works in a London nightclub ruled by gangsters. Slowly he starts doing favours for them, including a spot of driving. He is asked to dispose of a new merc but uses it to impress his would be girlfriend. Things go wrong when he opens the boot and finds a body. He uses it to fake his own death and heads for Goa.
Where he meets Sol. A man who is on the run after taking part in an arranged marriage to an illegal immigrant only for things to go wrong where he accidently shoots one of the gangsters who has tricked the girl into coming over here to work in prostitution.
Vix moves over to Hong Kong and becomes Sols girlfriend. She is leaving behind a life in a small wales community where she got in with some crusties and an overbearing father. She works as a hostess in a bar and a chinese mafia chief falls for her. They are arranging a fee for her to sleep with him when he is shot on the night of the hong kong celebrations.
A cracking read that succeeds despite the over the top storyline which does not do it justice when written down like this. The characterisation is first class and you seem to know and have an interest in all the players, including minor players such as Vix's dad.
Funny in places and broad in its scope, I will certainly look out for more by this talented author.
March 11, 2014
not sure how I feel about the end.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews