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Escape and Evasion
'Escape and Evasion reads like a Network for the Bitcoin era.' Tony Parsons
City banker Joseph Ashcroft has stolen £1.34 billion from his own bank.
He has given it – untraceably – to impoverished strangers worldwide, and has fled.
Why has he done this? And will he get away with it?
Joseph knows that if he leaves the country, he will easily be tracked down. So he opts for hiding close by – first in the city, then in the woods near the home of his estranged family. An ex-soldier, he’s adept at the art of camouflage.
On Joseph’s trail is Ben Lancaster, the bank’s head of security and, as it happens, a former army friend with whom he shares a violent, guilt-ridden past.
The hunt is on.
Escape and Evasion is a tragicomic tale of buried secrets, the lengths a man will go to win back those he loves, and the fallout from a monumental change of heart.
City banker Joseph Ashcroft has stolen £1.34 billion from his own bank.
He has given it – untraceably – to impoverished strangers worldwide, and has fled.
Why has he done this? And will he get away with it?
Joseph knows that if he leaves the country, he will easily be tracked down. So he opts for hiding close by – first in the city, then in the woods near the home of his estranged family. An ex-soldier, he’s adept at the art of camouflage.
On Joseph’s trail is Ben Lancaster, the bank’s head of security and, as it happens, a former army friend with whom he shares a violent, guilt-ridden past.
The hunt is on.
Escape and Evasion is a tragicomic tale of buried secrets, the lengths a man will go to win back those he loves, and the fallout from a monumental change of heart.
400 pages, Paperback
Published May 3, 2018
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Wakling
15 books11 followersChristopher George Wakling was born in 1970. He studied English at Oxford and has worked as a farm hand, teacher and lawyer. He has written four novels: Towards the Sun, The Undertow, Beneath the Diamond Sky and On Cape Three Points. The first three were literary thrillers, published under the name Christopher Wakling, but his latest book, Towards the Sun, isn’t thrilling at all, so he’s published it as Christopher George. This name decision is a publishing thing. Some books are translated into Dutch, French, Spanish and Italian. Christopher George Wakling is the Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at Bristol University. From time to time he teaches creative writing for the Arvon Foundation, and writes travel journalism for The Independent. Married with two children, he lives in Bristol.
- From author's website
- From author's website
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 7, 2018
The narration was absolutely brilliant but I just couldn't get on with the style of writing.
If this had not been an audiobook I could not have finished the story. I feel like I have been on a survival course and I guess I have.
This was most probably a great story but it didn't work for me at all. I will try reading other books by this author to see if I enjoy those better.
If this had not been an audiobook I could not have finished the story. I feel like I have been on a survival course and I guess I have.
This was most probably a great story but it didn't work for me at all. I will try reading other books by this author to see if I enjoy those better.
April 27, 2018
I have enjoyed every minute of it, and I have to admit that it's really not the sort of book that I'd usually pick up. It's incredibly well written; funny and poignant, deals with some dark issues and races along at a pace that can be quite breathtaking at times.
One of the joys of going into a book 'blind' as it were, is that warmth you get as a reader when you discover a story that resonates, that makes you feel good about yourself, and is a bloody good read. That's exactly what happened for me as I was reading Escape And Evasion.
Joseph Ashcroft; City Banker; wealthy, hugely successful, but unhappy. The story opens as Joseph presses a button that will make him a thief. He's taken over a billion pounds from his employers and distributed it across the world. He's left no trace, the recipients will not know where it came from.
What follows is Joseph's escape from the world of flash cars and obscene amounts of money, but what also follows is a carefully crafted story of a man and his history. The reader is witness to Joseph's greatest fear, and also to his madness, vulnerabilities and his kindnesses. There's humour, and sadness and tension that absolutely grips the reader throughout.
Escape and Evasion is a modern story, totally relevant and perfectly pitched. I loved it and can't wait to find more from this author
One of the joys of going into a book 'blind' as it were, is that warmth you get as a reader when you discover a story that resonates, that makes you feel good about yourself, and is a bloody good read. That's exactly what happened for me as I was reading Escape And Evasion.
Joseph Ashcroft; City Banker; wealthy, hugely successful, but unhappy. The story opens as Joseph presses a button that will make him a thief. He's taken over a billion pounds from his employers and distributed it across the world. He's left no trace, the recipients will not know where it came from.
What follows is Joseph's escape from the world of flash cars and obscene amounts of money, but what also follows is a carefully crafted story of a man and his history. The reader is witness to Joseph's greatest fear, and also to his madness, vulnerabilities and his kindnesses. There's humour, and sadness and tension that absolutely grips the reader throughout.
Escape and Evasion is a modern story, totally relevant and perfectly pitched. I loved it and can't wait to find more from this author
June 10, 2018
A fast paced thriller with hidden depths. The main character's actions are not always believable but the story is well written with a strong narrative that makes for a real desire to find out what happens next. Definitely one to recommend and read for pleasure.
November 22, 2022
This clever, suspenseful and poignant thriller kept me hooked to the end. The premise appealed to me - Joseph Ashcroft, a Robin Hood for the cyber age, pulls off an audacious heist, electronically distributing £1.34 billion from his own bank to multiple accounts of impoverished strangers around the globe. The narration is unusual, revealing a depth of character that is compelling. Joseph goes on the run, but ultimately he can't run from himself. A book for the modern age laying bare the fractured heart of contemporary life and the longing for a return to home.
July 11, 2018
DNF at pg 247. premise was good. but the writing was terrible disjointed and the story just stopped moving. skipped to the end to find out the whole thing was a complete waste of time 🙃
November 23, 2022
Starts off as one kind of book, turns into another. A bit of a comedy of errors. The plot holes are recompensed in the end by the exploration of male vulnerability, friendship and mental health.
September 16, 2023
Don't we all get caught up in our heads sometimes
October 29, 2020
The writing style was engaging but the plot a little disappointing for the expectations set by the title.
That said, I did enjoy the book and feel the writer has potential, although in honesty I'm no literary expert to judge that. Just my humble...
That said, I did enjoy the book and feel the writer has potential, although in honesty I'm no literary expert to judge that. Just my humble...
October 12, 2024
I did not finish this book, gave up 135 pages in. Not sure if it was intentional because of the character’s assumed diagnosis…. But I just found the authors writing style too distracting!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews