Bleeker Hill

by Russell Mardell

Britain of the not-too-distant future is a country at war with itself. After years of anarchy and chaos, bloodthirsty gangs and citywide destruction, The Party are now fighting to restore order through whatever means necessary - the fist, the bullet and even the terrifying practice of The Wash. It is a war between the lawless and their self-appointed judges, and neither side will relent until the other is destroyed. After an attack on their headquarters, a small band of Party members flee across the country, seeking refuge in a safe house deep in the snowy forests around Bleeker Hill. But as they near their destination, it soon becomes clear that the enemy they are running from may not be the biggest threat they will face. Because Bleeker Hill is far from safe... and they are not alone. As night closes in and the tensions within the group threaten to spiral out of control, each of them is soon forced to face a nightmare from which it might not be possible to escape. Bleeker Hill has a dark history and many stories to tell, and it will be heard... Bleeker Hill is a fast-paced thriller dealing with the dynamics of a strange dystopian society that blends into a paranormal horror story. It will appeal to fans of both of these genres, and will also be enjoyed by fans of Russell's first books, Silent Bombs Falling on Green Grass and Stone Bleeding, the second of which Bleeker Hill can be read as a follow-up to. The book also takes inspiration from George Orwell's 1984 and The Shining by Stephen King.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Thriller

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2013

About the author

Russell Mardell is a novelist, playwright, and producer based in the South West of England.

He is the author of the novels, Stone Bleeding, Bleeker Hill, Darkshines Seven and Cold Calling, and the short story collection, Silent Bombs Falling on Green Grass.

Having studied film production in London he has also worked on various short films and is an associate producer on the award-winning documentary, Rise: The Story of Augustines.

Russell is also one of the founders of The Salisbury Literary Festival

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, gritty, a little too realistic feeling! Wait, did I just say that? From the first page, over the muddy roads, I was hooked, completely. If we are going to have an apocalypse, and the world is going to go all dystopian and sideways, Bleeker Hill is how I would imagine it would be. Horrific. Frightening. Savage. Chaotic. Bleeker Hill is supposed to be a safe haven, but its underground labyrinth of tunnels is filled with one horror after another. Is there no true refuge? Where is the protection of The Party, or have they gotten too power hungry to see the havoc and disasters before their very eyes? What is The Wash?

Author Russell Mardell uses his command of all things terrifyingly nightmarish to create a bleak world with little to hope for, only a small chance to survive and a stark look at the depths to which humans will sink. With great care to each gruesome detail, I was awash in the gore and blood, the fear of the mysterious and unknown and the stark terror of what the characters had to face as they could no longer rely on those they once trusted to survive. Is this a testament to true human nature? Will we fight like a pack of wolves over a small bone?

Looking for a read on the dark side filled with realistic characters who often communicate with snarky dialogue, probably hiding their fear through attitude? This might be for you, especially if you have no problem sleeping with the lights on for a few days!

I wish to thank the author for this review copy and the nightmares that followed!

Publication Date: May 29, 2013 (eBook)(November 1, 2013 paperback)
Publisher: Matador
Number of pages: 376 (paperback)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adult Fiction/Horror
My Rating: 5 Stars
Available From: Amazon
Connect with the Author:  www.russellmardell.co.uk
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Anna-louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They are just stories, there's nothing to be scared of in stories"

So this is not my first dystopian book, it is however my first dystopian horror, saying that its my first dip into horror!. I don't think any other author could have made me read something outside of my comfort zone. This is one of those people who needs more people reading his books.

It is a well written easy to follow book, and damn disturbing in places. Its written as if it was a movie and you can picture things so freaking clearly you wish your imagination wasn't so good!and if you love descriptive writing this is the man to follow, there's a bit in there about a spider! very clever and ugh seriously,I don't think i can wear my hair down for the rest of the day! skin crawling indeed.

I don't want to give the plot away but it basically follows a group of people going to a safe house in a messed up Britain. You will find the characters well developed, they feel real not some hyped up dumbarse of a character and some are just plain nasty!! There's also very witty, sarcastic one liners throughout the book and i loved that, I'm not much of a quoter but I've been quoting stuff at people for days! There's most definitely a deeper meaning to it as well but i wouldn't go into that 1. See if you pick up on anything and 2.I might have got it wrong!.

As my first dip into horror it had my heart racing in places and i got so into the book i shouted at it when it would cut to another scene. T'was invested in the characters i liked and rather disturbingly got into the parts where the characters i didn't like got what they deserved! Oh and the ending ugh the ending!! Brilliant!

The Party Loves You! Have fun at Bleeker Hill *evil laugh*

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Cóctel de extraño regusto mezclando varios ingredientes.-

Género. Ciencia-Ficción.

Lo que nos cuenta. Un grupo armado llega con precaución a lo que antaño fue una gran mansión en la cima de una colina nevada y que ahora está algo deteriorada. En la Gran Bretaña del futuro, Sullivan es un preso que repentinamente es arrancado de su día a día en la cárcel para enfrentarse a la dura realidad exterior, en la que El Partido trata de dar algo de forma a la sociedad totalmente destrozada que supuestamente dirige y está muy interesado en cierta mansión sobre una colina. Al parecer, esta novela tiene lugar en el mismo universo que una obra previa del autor pero sin relación directa en trama ni personajes.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bleeker Hill begins where Mardell’s last book, Stone Bleeding, left off, in a country torn apart. Though they exist within the same universe, Bleeker Hill doesn't feel much like a sequel, it doesn't require any knowledge of prior event and centers on a completely new group of people.

A man named Sullivan has been released from jail and forced to join a small group that is loyal to The Party, a pseudogovernment that took over in an attempt to bring some order to the chaos that the former government left behind. But The Party has gone mad with power and taken things entirely too far. After their headquarters are attacked, the group flees to one of the few remaining safe houses in Bleeker Hill. It's one of those towns that everyone has heard stories about but very people have actually been to and for good reason. Stories themselves can't hurt anyone, but the secrets that they hide just might.

It took me quite a while to get into the story. In the beginning, a number of characters are introduced quickly and with little background to distinguish one name from another . This initially confused the heck out of me, but was really the only way to do it. As a reader, you come to know the characters as they come to know each other, and they discover things about themselves and this strange place they have ended up in.

One place where Mardell's books really stand out is in their use of descriptive language. He never falls into the trap of taking pages to describing something when merely stating its existence would be enough; however, there are times when it seems like single breath is held for pages and every single thing is illustrated in minute detail. Those are the moments that draw you in and they are moments that will remain with you long after this story has ended. Though at times the action touches on the supernatural, the most disturbing moments focus instead on the depths of human nature. Personally, I was hoping for a little bit more on the horror side; but, for the average reader, this is more approachable than a lot of the horror novels I have read.

Bleeker Hill has been described as ‘1984 meets The Shining’ but it reminded me more of J. M. Coetzee’s Waiting for the Barbarians. Both Bleeker Hill and Waiting for the Barbarians deal with the ambiguity of justice, how the perception of self affects one's actions, and probably a lot of other things I don't remember (it's been quite awhile since I read Coetzee).

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes well written novel that actually have something interesting to say about this thing we call humanity.

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tough one to review, because it had a lot going for it. It's the sort of thing that's good on paper, it checks all the right boxes. It had a good story, a creepy setting, a compelling hero, a mission and really strong atmospheric writing (it's as bleak as the title sounds). But altogether it just didn't work for me. For one thing it dragged on, 228 pages felt a lot longer. Surprisingly enough too, because the story has ton of action and yet it was somehow slow, something about the consistency of text was just too molassy. And yes the second thing is actually the amount of action, for the most part of the book it was like reading an action film, I don't even watch that many of those and I certainly don't care to read them. So yeah, a theoretically good book that turned out strangely and disappointingly boring, which no book should ever be. Pity really, a lot of potential there.

[Nathan Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bleeker Hill by Russell Mardell

Britain of the not-too-distant future is a country at war with itself. After years of anarchy and chaos, of bloodthirsty gangs and citywide destruction, The Party are now fighting to restore order through whatever means necessary – the fist, the bullet and even the terrifying practice of The Wash. It is a war between the lawless and their self-appointed judges, and neither side will relent until the other is destroyed.

After an attack on their headquarters, a small band of Party members flee across the country, seeking refuge in a safe house deep in the snowy forests around Bleeker Hill. But as they near their destination, it soon becomes clear that the enemy they are running from may not be the biggest threat they will face. Because Bleeker Hill is far from safe…and they are not alone…

Mixing the supernatural with mindless hordes, Bleeker Hill will leave you cold and probably a little pessimistic at the future of the human race. Mardell portrays a wintry future where anarchy is rife and what remains of the government hangs by a thread, known as “The Party”.
Convict Sullivan is sprung from a decaying prison by The Party, as reliable men are hard to come by. Sullivan finds himself enlisted in escorting the Prime Minister across a ravaged country to the infamous Bleaker Hill; a secretive government hidey hole, which despite the stories told about the place, may well be the rag tag groups last hope in a land broken by disorder.
I have mixed feelings about Bleeker Hill. The first two thirds roll along with wit, action and building intrigue in regards to the groups destination. The against character of Theo Maddox is a likeable piece of shit that could’ve very well held the entire book himself with his caustic comebacks and head butting, teeth spitting gung ho nature, if only he’d been less rapey. A villainous joy, Hans Gruber on steroids.
The action keeps up until they reach the dreaded Bleeker Hill, but this is where the book ground the gears a bit for me. You see I was enjoying the action and the shooting and potential movie catchphrases, but suddenly the book turns into a haunted house novel, granted Mardell writes extremely well, but this shift lost me and by the end I wasn’t sure if I was dealing with ghosts, zombies, Wedigos or all three. The arrival at Bleeker Hill, heralds a shift in mood and pace that somehow detracts from the rest of the novel, aside from this slight err, I loved it.
Atmospheric, witty and for the most part gripping. If you love dystopian apocaliterature that’s bleak and bloodier than a slaughterhouse’s killing floor, Bleeker Hill might well be worth a visit. Just be warned. It’s cold out there.

3.5/5

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taut British dystopian yarn mixing elements of V for Vendetta with 70s post-apocalyptic literature and Orwell's 1984. At times reminded me of Brother in the Land, at others The Chrysalids. I think this would make an excellent discussion topic for school classes on politics, dystopia, citizenship and society. Be warned, though, horror content. An excellent read.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very dreary and dark novel based in a dystopian era written by UK novelist Russell Mardell. The book is really well written and can easily be seen as an adapted movie; one that I would definitely watch. This is such a engaging novel filled with suspense, horror and all to real view of what the world could be like in an dystopian society. I found myself fond of the characters, rooting for their survival as well as disdain for the enemies. It was so disturbingly beautiful that I could not put it down until I was finished (thank goodness for unemployment lol).

The character development seemed so real, as if the author was describing close friends; all the way down to witty and clever lines to small individual attributes that makes a person unique. Essentially you follow this group in people through a broken system/government in Britain. They make it to a safe house that isn’t all that safe. The main character, Sullivan, is forced to join a new ‘established’ government called “The Party” when he is released from jail. But like any new type of power hungry government, we find that The Party has taking things to a horrific point.

A group of survivors gather together to heading to Bleeker Hill, a town filled with safe houses from The Party. However, the main safe house gets attacked and the group finds themselves again and trying to survive this apocalyptic society. “The Party are now fighting to restore order through whatever means necessary – the fist, the bullet and even the terrifying practice of The Wash.

The wash

This book mirrors many other stories throughout history. The ones that come to mind immediately are “V is for Vendetta“, “1984” by George Orwell, and even “The Walking Dead” comics (Minus the Zombies). One of the most common themes in these stories are survival, anti-government ideals, and fighting for your life against other survivors. It is common that our biggest enemy is ourselves. It is also echoes WWII Nazi experimentation; The Wash takes prisons, experiments on them and they never return.

Each member of the group, just as anyone who survives an apocalyptic event, carries in their heart anger, distrust, hurt, remorse and memories of loved ones. Mardell does a wonderful job bring each of those internal tragedies to light in the results of frustration and survival.

Only downfall of this book for me was getting into it. I started the book and found that it was rather slow catching. I put the book down, moved across my state, and picked up again when I got settled in. I wish I had stuck it out and finished it when I originally picked it up. Truly a hidden gem. I would love to see it adapted into a movie.

[Martin Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic British dystopian/apocalyptic horror. Britain in the not too distant future has broken down into chaos and disorder, violent gangs roam the country killing and destroying everything. You have to be tough and have your wits about you to survive. "The Party" is trying desperately to regain control and bring order and government but it is a case of one step forward, two steps back....

A party of survivors have banded together and are heading for Bleeker Hill, a party stronghold where they can hide out from the chaos and be safe....or can they? When they reach Bleeker Hill they find a young girl, Mia on her own and she has no recollection of why she is there and where everyone else has gone. They break into the stronghold, a subterranean maze of tunnels which turn out to be less of a safe haven and more of a decent into pure horror. Scary, atmospheric, characters that are very believable and that page turning quality make for an amazing ride of a book!

Russell Mardell has done it again. Brilliant, you must give it a try and remember the Party loves you!

[Nev Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like one of those films you start watching and keep watching hoping it's going to get better but never quite gets there.

This review was written before I started to take my reviewing seriously. I would need to re-read the book to give it a serious and fair review so the above review was what I posted at the time.

[Simon Pert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Bleeker Hill by Russell Mardell. Have read several of this authors books now and have enjoyed each one. This one was no exception. From the start I was hooked until the final page. A great read, interesting subject matter certainly in today's world and highly recommended.

[Jim]

I enjoyed this book.

[Janne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fick denna bok via en Goodreads giveaway, och glad är jag för det. Storbritannien i en hyfsat nära och mycket mörk framtid. Landet har störtats i fördärvet, allt är kaos. Mitt i allt detta blir Sullivan släppt ur fängelset och tvingas följa med det som finns kvar av partiledningen i sin flykt till vad de tror är en säker plats, Bleeker Hill. Karaktärerna är trovärdiga, det är mycket action, det är intensivt och bitvis riktigt spännande och jag gillade verkligen skildringen av världen. Rekommenderar denna bok, och kan definitivt tänka mig att läsa mer av Russell Mardell. Läs!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Members of the very nearly overthrown government seek refuge in the wrong place in this crazy book.The merging of a dystopian society and a seriously creepy haunted house (for lack of a better term) makes this book unique and fun to read. The characters were written well enough - some better done than others.The scary parts were genuinely scary and unsettling. I enjoyed this very much, and look forward to others in the series.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for review.

[Rob Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really well crafted cautionary tale of a dystopian Britain and the horrors it creates. The writing is tense, edge of the seat stuff, with some fantastic turn of phrases. Everything has been written with a bleak nightmarish monochrome hue, which pulls you in and gives you a real sense of inhabiting the cold and unerringly grim world with the characters. Just hope 'The Party' loves you. I loved this.

[Tarn Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really well crafted cautionary tale of a dystopian Britain and the horrors it creates. The writing is tense, edge of the seat stuff, with some fantastic turn of phrases. Everything has been written with a bleak nightmarish monochrome hue, which pulls you in and gives you a real sense of inhabiting the cold and unerringly grim world with the characters. Just hope 'The Party' loves you. I loved this.

[MARIA Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, very good descriptives, also good at building up the horror tension. I had not read the first book before this one so was a tad confused about what had happened previously, but worked it out as the book went along.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sorry but I just could not get into the flow with this book I tried my best but had to give up in the end I am sure that someone else will like this book but its not me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

[Vanda Bromwich]

I couldn't get into this - not my kind of book. Maybe it would appeal more to a man.