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Game Changer #1
Sold
The Gold Coast swelters in record temperatures, and car salesman Gary Braswell’s feeling hot under the collar. His sales are at rock bottom, and he’s up to his neck in debt to loan shark Jocko Mackenzie. Gary’s sweating on a fat commission from a mysterious Russian couple. If the loan’s not repaid, there’s more than Gary’s kneecaps at stake – his long-suffering wife’s also in peril. But Jocko wants more than repayment and has sinister plans for the hapless salesman.
When Gary turns his skills to real estate sales, he’s soon embroiled in the murky world of money laundering. Things get even hotter when the federal police start sniffing around. With Jocko on his tail, Gary concocts a scam of unimaginable scale and audacity. Success means money – lots of it; failure – death. But hard-drinking, cocaine-snorting Gary is incapable of planning ahead. So, can he pull it off?
Hilarious and dark, SOLD is noir reading at its best – a whirlpool of sex, drugs, and real estate.
When Gary turns his skills to real estate sales, he’s soon embroiled in the murky world of money laundering. Things get even hotter when the federal police start sniffing around. With Jocko on his tail, Gary concocts a scam of unimaginable scale and audacity. Success means money – lots of it; failure – death. But hard-drinking, cocaine-snorting Gary is incapable of planning ahead. So, can he pull it off?
Hilarious and dark, SOLD is noir reading at its best – a whirlpool of sex, drugs, and real estate.
- GenresCrime
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2017
59 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Blair Denholm
23 books225 followersBlair Denholm is a freelance writer and translator who has lived in Moscow, New York, Munich, Abu Dhabi and Australia. He has written content for commercial websites and done corporate voice-over work in English and Russian.
His first novel in the Gary Braswell series, SOLD, was released by Clan Destine Press in November 2017 and is getting rave reviews. He is also working on a murder mystery based on a real event that occurred in Moscow in the late 1980s.
Blair interpreted for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Moscow, translated for the Sochi Winter Olympics and voted in a foreign election despite having no eligibility to do so. He was also almost lost at sea on a dilapidated Russian fishing boat sailing from Hobart to New Zealand. He currently resides in the beautiful Southern Downs district in Queensland with his partner Sandra and two crazy canines.
His first novel in the Gary Braswell series, SOLD, was released by Clan Destine Press in November 2017 and is getting rave reviews. He is also working on a murder mystery based on a real event that occurred in Moscow in the late 1980s.
Blair interpreted for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Moscow, translated for the Sochi Winter Olympics and voted in a foreign election despite having no eligibility to do so. He was also almost lost at sea on a dilapidated Russian fishing boat sailing from Hobart to New Zealand. He currently resides in the beautiful Southern Downs district in Queensland with his partner Sandra and two crazy canines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 16, 2017
I started this book thinking I would only read a few pages before going to sleep, instead a few hours later I was in deep, this book hooked me in big time. Not normally the genre I read in all honesty, as I’m not usually big into the crime noir style so I wonder if it’s because of its distinctive Aussie feel that sucked me in right away. The language and writing never lets you forget what country this is set in. I loved that! Mainly set in the glitzy but seedy world of the sun drenched Gold Coast, Queensland. Gary the main protagonist has a habit of getting himself into financial pickles due to his uncontrollable gambling addiction, plus he’s an asshole of epic proportions, he drinks too much and worries about the consequences later. Although Gary is completely self destructive and makes terrible life choices you sensed the author had a lot of fun with this character, lot’s of tongue in cheek humour to set the tone for a rollicking good ride. There’s all sorts of crazy situations from the start. The writing is blunt and not pretty so if easily offended by crude language you might want to skip this but it gave the story the right edge and much to my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I’d like to personally thank the author Blair Denholm for a copy of this book.
I’d like to personally thank the author Blair Denholm for a copy of this book.
December 15, 2017
”If you gaze too long into an abyss, you’ll miss the first race at Eagle Farm.
- Gary Braswell
Gary, Gary, Gary…
To put it in the Aussie vernacular, Gary Braswell is a bit of a boofhead.
And a self-centred, egotistical one at that. He doesn’t have too many redeeming features, as the world pretty much revolves around him and the scrapes he gets himself into. Gary lives in his own bubble, and others only enter his orbit when he needs something from them, or help getting out of the mess du jour.
On the plus side, Gary’s a bit of a red hot salesman and pathological liar. Both attributes which help in his careers of car salesman and real estate agent.
”Excuses were his forte after all.”
Gary likes a drink, and is an inveterate imbiber of chemical substances. He hasn’t met a high he doesn’t like (except for a “bad” eccy he dropped once in Bali). His other key vices include betting on the gee gees, the cricket, keno, visiting Jupiter’s (casino) and borrowing money from loan sharks to feed these needs.
”Bit of a worry: he was too young for alcohol induced memory loss.”
Gary is a totally reprehensible character and his own worst enemy. He simply does not learn from his past mistakes, he just finds more ways of making more of them.
We meet Gary Braswell when he is the top car salesman at the “Euro Prestige Cars” car yard. The money’s very good, but unfortunately for Gary money slips through his fingers like water.
Enter Jocko Mackenzie, the local loan shark and drug dealer who Gary owes money to. After paying Jocko back the $4k he owed, Gary thinks he’s in the clear, but Jocko has other ideas. The fun and games are just about to begin.
”For an illegal bookmaker, Jocko had a reputation of reasonabless.”
”…what the media might describe as a ‘colourful character’ who conducts nefarious activates on the Gold Coast.”
I kept cringing at the scrapes Gary was continually finding himself in, and sometimes talking himself out of. Mainly though, he kept paddling up the proverbial creek without a paddle, as he lurched from one Gary made disaster to another. Rotten as his character is, I couldn’t help but urge him out of the current dung heap he’d dug himself into.
There is a lot of black humour throughout this book. There are many bizarre situations and turns of phrase which had me laughing out loud at times (to the puzzled and amused looks of others on my work commute).
Speaking of colour, there is a lot of blue language. Look away if you’re easily offended. Though goodness knows, if I was in Gary’s shoes, I’d also be using a colourful phrase or two.
Luckily for Gary, he has his besotted wife Maddie and loyal mate Foss stick by him through thick and thin. They’re more than he deserves, especially his wife Maddie.
”Outside Foss’ place, he knocked over a wheelie bin with the car door. He lurched up the path and crashed to the ground. His body sprawled on the footpath like he’d been felled by a sniper.”
Coked up real estate agents, nouveau riche Russian émigrés, corrupt federal cops are all here.
Even the local birdlife isn’t immune from the madness. Combusting ibises and smouldering seagulls add to the imagery of things going awry. And let’s not forget the icy pole stealing cockatoo.
Yes, it’s hot as hades and getting hotter.
I’ve heard on the grapevine that there will be more adventures of Gary Braswell to come. I can’t wait.
Many thanks to the Author, Blair Denholm who kindly offered me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. Which I honestly thoroughly enjoyed reading.
- Gary Braswell
Gary, Gary, Gary…
To put it in the Aussie vernacular, Gary Braswell is a bit of a boofhead.
And a self-centred, egotistical one at that. He doesn’t have too many redeeming features, as the world pretty much revolves around him and the scrapes he gets himself into. Gary lives in his own bubble, and others only enter his orbit when he needs something from them, or help getting out of the mess du jour.
On the plus side, Gary’s a bit of a red hot salesman and pathological liar. Both attributes which help in his careers of car salesman and real estate agent.
”Excuses were his forte after all.”
Gary likes a drink, and is an inveterate imbiber of chemical substances. He hasn’t met a high he doesn’t like (except for a “bad” eccy he dropped once in Bali). His other key vices include betting on the gee gees, the cricket, keno, visiting Jupiter’s (casino) and borrowing money from loan sharks to feed these needs.
”Bit of a worry: he was too young for alcohol induced memory loss.”
Gary is a totally reprehensible character and his own worst enemy. He simply does not learn from his past mistakes, he just finds more ways of making more of them.
We meet Gary Braswell when he is the top car salesman at the “Euro Prestige Cars” car yard. The money’s very good, but unfortunately for Gary money slips through his fingers like water.
Enter Jocko Mackenzie, the local loan shark and drug dealer who Gary owes money to. After paying Jocko back the $4k he owed, Gary thinks he’s in the clear, but Jocko has other ideas. The fun and games are just about to begin.
”For an illegal bookmaker, Jocko had a reputation of reasonabless.”
”…what the media might describe as a ‘colourful character’ who conducts nefarious activates on the Gold Coast.”
I kept cringing at the scrapes Gary was continually finding himself in, and sometimes talking himself out of. Mainly though, he kept paddling up the proverbial creek without a paddle, as he lurched from one Gary made disaster to another. Rotten as his character is, I couldn’t help but urge him out of the current dung heap he’d dug himself into.
There is a lot of black humour throughout this book. There are many bizarre situations and turns of phrase which had me laughing out loud at times (to the puzzled and amused looks of others on my work commute).
Speaking of colour, there is a lot of blue language. Look away if you’re easily offended. Though goodness knows, if I was in Gary’s shoes, I’d also be using a colourful phrase or two.
Luckily for Gary, he has his besotted wife Maddie and loyal mate Foss stick by him through thick and thin. They’re more than he deserves, especially his wife Maddie.
”Outside Foss’ place, he knocked over a wheelie bin with the car door. He lurched up the path and crashed to the ground. His body sprawled on the footpath like he’d been felled by a sniper.”
Coked up real estate agents, nouveau riche Russian émigrés, corrupt federal cops are all here.
Even the local birdlife isn’t immune from the madness. Combusting ibises and smouldering seagulls add to the imagery of things going awry. And let’s not forget the icy pole stealing cockatoo.
Yes, it’s hot as hades and getting hotter.
I’ve heard on the grapevine that there will be more adventures of Gary Braswell to come. I can’t wait.
Many thanks to the Author, Blair Denholm who kindly offered me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. Which I honestly thoroughly enjoyed reading.
December 13, 2017
You have to admire any author who doesn't just create a profoundly unlikeable protagonist but then grants them full permission to be as ordinary a human being as they can possibly be. In SOLD, Blair Denholm's creation, Gary Braswell is the sort of bloke that you'd be forgiven for belting over the head with a shovel, after watching him dig his own grave any day.
Comic in styling, SOLD is set on the Gold Coast in the sweltering heat of summer, where Braswell takes the not-so-big step from used car salesman to real estate, at about the same time that his gambling debts are threatening to bury him. Because of his drinking, gambling and behaving like a prize dick, his wife's starting to get heartily sick of him into the bargain. (If there is a character in this novel that you dearly wish had been equipped with a shovel very early on, it's Braswell's wife Maddie.)
Steeped in black, dark humour, reader's reactions to Braswell, Maddie, and their shared fates are likely to affect their like or dislike of this novel immensely. There's not a lot of light, hope or love for Gary Braswell. He's a died in the wool self-centred, obnoxious bloke, who really deserves that aforementioned shovel about the head and shoulders. Maddie is either a saint to tolerate him for as long as she does, or an idiot - your choice. Because the humour is very dark, very black and very low key, there are passages when you might need to remind yourself that this is a comic novel because all too often Braswell is simply too realistically narcissistic.
All of this behaviour is woven into a plot involving sales commissions, selling activity, Russians, loan sharks, their minders, and a lot of rushing about trying to avoid the seemingly inevitable. Perhaps some trimming down of the repetition of Braswell behaving badly might be beneficial as it gets a bit "samey" in places.
The ending's another brave undertaking, clearly telegraphing a follow-up, leaving Braswell with another woman in tow (did I mention he's a revolting human being...). All in all SOLD is the sort of novel that will appeal to readers who don't want everything nice, neat and tidy, with the action driven by a self-centred pain in the rear, the humour dark, dry and pointed, the language particularly Australian, frequently gross (exploding birds and itchy rears) and very "adults only" in places, and the action fast and furious.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Comic in styling, SOLD is set on the Gold Coast in the sweltering heat of summer, where Braswell takes the not-so-big step from used car salesman to real estate, at about the same time that his gambling debts are threatening to bury him. Because of his drinking, gambling and behaving like a prize dick, his wife's starting to get heartily sick of him into the bargain. (If there is a character in this novel that you dearly wish had been equipped with a shovel very early on, it's Braswell's wife Maddie.)
Steeped in black, dark humour, reader's reactions to Braswell, Maddie, and their shared fates are likely to affect their like or dislike of this novel immensely. There's not a lot of light, hope or love for Gary Braswell. He's a died in the wool self-centred, obnoxious bloke, who really deserves that aforementioned shovel about the head and shoulders. Maddie is either a saint to tolerate him for as long as she does, or an idiot - your choice. Because the humour is very dark, very black and very low key, there are passages when you might need to remind yourself that this is a comic novel because all too often Braswell is simply too realistically narcissistic.
All of this behaviour is woven into a plot involving sales commissions, selling activity, Russians, loan sharks, their minders, and a lot of rushing about trying to avoid the seemingly inevitable. Perhaps some trimming down of the repetition of Braswell behaving badly might be beneficial as it gets a bit "samey" in places.
The ending's another brave undertaking, clearly telegraphing a follow-up, leaving Braswell with another woman in tow (did I mention he's a revolting human being...). All in all SOLD is the sort of novel that will appeal to readers who don't want everything nice, neat and tidy, with the action driven by a self-centred pain in the rear, the humour dark, dry and pointed, the language particularly Australian, frequently gross (exploding birds and itchy rears) and very "adults only" in places, and the action fast and furious.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
December 7, 2017
SOLD is the first crime fiction book by Australian author, Blair Denholm. On Queensland’s Gold Coast it’s hot, really hot. Maybe nice for the tourists, but it’s not helping Gary Braswell sell cars. Usually Southport Euro Motors best salesman, he’s in a sales slump. This is a problem, as he owes his bookie, Jocko Mackenzie, a packet. And Jocko’s enforcer, Bradley Jones (newly released after serving time for rape) would like to persuade payment by getting up close and personal with Gary’s wife, Maddie.
Lavish purchases by a Russian businessman get him out of that spot in the nick of time. And when Gary throws in car sales for real estate (he thinks this is a step up), that same Russian helps his sales figures along with more purchases. But Jocko and Bradley aren’t finished with him yet. Gary enlists his best mate, Jeff Foss to come up with a strategy to help him wriggle out of the bookie’s dangerous plans and keep Maddie safe.
Denholm’s protagonist doesn’t inspire respect. He remains shallow throughout and his best mate Foss sums Gary up succinctly: “You’re a drunk and a gambler who always loses. The only good thing about you is your loyalty, and even that’s questionable when you’re pissed. Which is often. You’re a worthless excuse for a man.” Despite the danger he puts his wife in, and the promises he makes, he lacks willpower: he displays only token resistance before succumbing to temptation involving alcohol, gambling, sex and drugs.
Not only does he lack strength of character, but Gary’s intelligence is also in question. Perhaps he doesn’t believe the maxim “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” As the story progresses and things take a decidedly dark turn, the standard of Gary’s behaviour sinks lower and lower, so that any empathy the reader might have had for him dries up. Does Gary get what he deserves?
Denholm captures the feel of Gold Coast with consummate ease and his dialogue is spot on. The cover warns the reader about the sex (it’s explicit) and the drugs. Copious use of expletives probably goes hand in hand with those, although the body count is higher than one might expect in real estate. The humour is crazy and very black. Exploding birds and itching nether regions are a quirky addition to this dark and gritty read.
With thanks to the author and Clan Destine Press for this copy to read and review.
Lavish purchases by a Russian businessman get him out of that spot in the nick of time. And when Gary throws in car sales for real estate (he thinks this is a step up), that same Russian helps his sales figures along with more purchases. But Jocko and Bradley aren’t finished with him yet. Gary enlists his best mate, Jeff Foss to come up with a strategy to help him wriggle out of the bookie’s dangerous plans and keep Maddie safe.
Denholm’s protagonist doesn’t inspire respect. He remains shallow throughout and his best mate Foss sums Gary up succinctly: “You’re a drunk and a gambler who always loses. The only good thing about you is your loyalty, and even that’s questionable when you’re pissed. Which is often. You’re a worthless excuse for a man.” Despite the danger he puts his wife in, and the promises he makes, he lacks willpower: he displays only token resistance before succumbing to temptation involving alcohol, gambling, sex and drugs.
Not only does he lack strength of character, but Gary’s intelligence is also in question. Perhaps he doesn’t believe the maxim “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” As the story progresses and things take a decidedly dark turn, the standard of Gary’s behaviour sinks lower and lower, so that any empathy the reader might have had for him dries up. Does Gary get what he deserves?
Denholm captures the feel of Gold Coast with consummate ease and his dialogue is spot on. The cover warns the reader about the sex (it’s explicit) and the drugs. Copious use of expletives probably goes hand in hand with those, although the body count is higher than one might expect in real estate. The humour is crazy and very black. Exploding birds and itching nether regions are a quirky addition to this dark and gritty read.
With thanks to the author and Clan Destine Press for this copy to read and review.
December 21, 2017
This book had me hooked from page 1.
The story takes place on the Gold Coast of Australia where we get to follow the tribulations of Gary Braswell, a gregarious car salesman who switches to a career in real estate for the lucrative commissions.
Gary is addicted to alcohol, gambling, drugs, and is a compulsive liar. Yet, somehow it's hard not to sympathize with him. At least in the beginning of the story, when it is also made clear that his flawed character is partly stemming from a rough childhood, growing up with abusive foster parents.
As he tries to get out of a gambling debt, Gary gets deeper into trouble when his bookie demands that he become a drug mule as punishment for not paying back his debt fast enough. This evolves into a tangled web that involves crooked Russian investors, federal police officers and Gary's friends and loved ones. Gary doesn't do himself any favours. For every step he takes trying to set things straight, he gets deeper and deeper into trouble.
As the story progressed, I was torn between wanting Gary to get away with all his shenanigans and get caught or even get killed.
The book is very well written and the story moves along at a fast pace. Thankfully, it's not afflicted by superfluous exposition like so many other books. It does have quite a bit of Aussie slang as well as brand names and places that can stump a reader who has never been to this part of the world. But it doesn't take away from the story, quite the opposite. I also really like the relationship between Gary and his best mate Foss, who stick by each other no matter what.
To someone who has never been to Australia and the Gold Coast, I have mixed emotions about visiting after reading certain parts of this book. ("The gaudy city masqueraded as paradise, but sometimes it was hell on Earth.")
The main thing about this book is that it's a page turner and keeps you at the edge of your seat until the end. It is the kind of story that should be turned into a movie, preferably directed by Quentin Tarantino.
The story takes place on the Gold Coast of Australia where we get to follow the tribulations of Gary Braswell, a gregarious car salesman who switches to a career in real estate for the lucrative commissions.
Gary is addicted to alcohol, gambling, drugs, and is a compulsive liar. Yet, somehow it's hard not to sympathize with him. At least in the beginning of the story, when it is also made clear that his flawed character is partly stemming from a rough childhood, growing up with abusive foster parents.
As he tries to get out of a gambling debt, Gary gets deeper into trouble when his bookie demands that he become a drug mule as punishment for not paying back his debt fast enough. This evolves into a tangled web that involves crooked Russian investors, federal police officers and Gary's friends and loved ones. Gary doesn't do himself any favours. For every step he takes trying to set things straight, he gets deeper and deeper into trouble.
As the story progressed, I was torn between wanting Gary to get away with all his shenanigans and get caught or even get killed.
The book is very well written and the story moves along at a fast pace. Thankfully, it's not afflicted by superfluous exposition like so many other books. It does have quite a bit of Aussie slang as well as brand names and places that can stump a reader who has never been to this part of the world. But it doesn't take away from the story, quite the opposite. I also really like the relationship between Gary and his best mate Foss, who stick by each other no matter what.
To someone who has never been to Australia and the Gold Coast, I have mixed emotions about visiting after reading certain parts of this book. ("The gaudy city masqueraded as paradise, but sometimes it was hell on Earth.")
The main thing about this book is that it's a page turner and keeps you at the edge of your seat until the end. It is the kind of story that should be turned into a movie, preferably directed by Quentin Tarantino.
December 15, 2017
Blair Denholm has invented Braswell, one of the most utterly despicable, using, alcoholic, gambling addicted, non-heroic, arseholes of a protagonist I have ever come across in his recently published "Sold".
Brasswell is a walking, sweet talking, Ford XR6 driving disaster zone. At the end of the first chapter I girded my loins and wished I could climb inside the pages and strangle the twerp.
I pressed on, determined to hate the protagonist and strangle the author for inventing such a crass charcter - but then an Ibis self detonated in the Gold Coast heat and I said to myself, "hey, this could turn out alright". And it did
I disliked every character in this novel except for the bit-players - Braswell's wife, his best friend, and the owner of the car yard.
Braswell is expert at turning opportunity into disaster and who pays the price? Guess.
I'd still like to strangle Braswell, the epitome of the Gold Coast bogan, and author Blair Denholm, because he sucked me right in.
Beware the incendiary seagulls and strap yourself in tight for a hell of a ride.
Balir Denholm, write more of these --- or I will come a hunting.
Good stuff.
Brasswell is a walking, sweet talking, Ford XR6 driving disaster zone. At the end of the first chapter I girded my loins and wished I could climb inside the pages and strangle the twerp.
I pressed on, determined to hate the protagonist and strangle the author for inventing such a crass charcter - but then an Ibis self detonated in the Gold Coast heat and I said to myself, "hey, this could turn out alright". And it did
I disliked every character in this novel except for the bit-players - Braswell's wife, his best friend, and the owner of the car yard.
Braswell is expert at turning opportunity into disaster and who pays the price? Guess.
I'd still like to strangle Braswell, the epitome of the Gold Coast bogan, and author Blair Denholm, because he sucked me right in.
Beware the incendiary seagulls and strap yourself in tight for a hell of a ride.
Balir Denholm, write more of these --- or I will come a hunting.
Good stuff.
January 16, 2018
Sold (Clan Destine Press 2017) is the debut novel for Blair Denholm. Set in the seedy heart of Queensland’s Gold Coast, the novel’s protagonist is the hapless used car salesman turned real estate agent, Gary Braswell. Gary is a thoroughly flawed character: he’s an alcoholic who doesn’t say no to the odd line of coke; he’s up to his neck in gambling debts; he’s cheated on his long-suffering wife and lied to his boss and his best mate; and he’s not averse to becoming involved in some dodgy business deals. The book opens with Gary in a particularly bad patch of trouble, which only gets worse. He owes big bucks to a nasty loan shark with a violent offsider, he gets mixed up with a shady Russian couple involved in money laundering, and then the Federal Police are tipped off. Gary deals with his problems by avoiding them, drinking more, obtaining more drugs, telling more lies, and obfuscating to everyone around him.
This is a dark comedy, and while Gary is immensely dislikeable (as are many of the male characters in the book), the author does imbue him with a degree of naivety that elicits some empathy for his plight, particularly as the hole in which he finds himself gets deeper and deeper with each chapter, no matter how Gary tries to turn his fortunes around. But there were quite a few red flags in the story for me, mostly around misogynist behaviour and attitudes, gratuitous sexual violence, and the lack of agency for female characters, that I found difficult to ignore. This muddied the waters somewhat when trying to classify this book – it mostly reads as a comedy, but then there is a dash of heavy-handed violence or pornography that really isn’t funny. A generous view would be that the author has purposely written the male protagonists this way in order to present a tongue-in-cheek representation of these attitudes. The plot points are outrageous and over the top, but it is the kind of story where that is expected, and it plays on the absurdity of the situations in which the characters find themselves. But I found the lack of plausible motivations and the shallowness of some of the characters harder to ignore. I would have liked to see more development, particularly of the female characters.
The book is promoted as ‘a whirlpool of sex, drugs and real estate’ and it certainly is that, along with copious alcohol and gambling, standover men, bad debts, money exchanged in brown paper bags, and violent payback. At the centre of it all, Gary Braswell concocts an ambitious scam, to outwit the scammers, with everything – his work, his success, his marriage, his life – on the line.
This is a dark comedy, and while Gary is immensely dislikeable (as are many of the male characters in the book), the author does imbue him with a degree of naivety that elicits some empathy for his plight, particularly as the hole in which he finds himself gets deeper and deeper with each chapter, no matter how Gary tries to turn his fortunes around. But there were quite a few red flags in the story for me, mostly around misogynist behaviour and attitudes, gratuitous sexual violence, and the lack of agency for female characters, that I found difficult to ignore. This muddied the waters somewhat when trying to classify this book – it mostly reads as a comedy, but then there is a dash of heavy-handed violence or pornography that really isn’t funny. A generous view would be that the author has purposely written the male protagonists this way in order to present a tongue-in-cheek representation of these attitudes. The plot points are outrageous and over the top, but it is the kind of story where that is expected, and it plays on the absurdity of the situations in which the characters find themselves. But I found the lack of plausible motivations and the shallowness of some of the characters harder to ignore. I would have liked to see more development, particularly of the female characters.
The book is promoted as ‘a whirlpool of sex, drugs and real estate’ and it certainly is that, along with copious alcohol and gambling, standover men, bad debts, money exchanged in brown paper bags, and violent payback. At the centre of it all, Gary Braswell concocts an ambitious scam, to outwit the scammers, with everything – his work, his success, his marriage, his life – on the line.
January 26, 2018
Blair Denholm has created a dark and at the same time, comedic, tale. His protagonist, Gray Braswell, is not your typical hero. He's a used car salesman, with a variety of addictions, gambling amongst them. He never says no, to liquor, to drugs, to gambling. His refusal to deny himself any "pleasure" lands him and his long-suffering wife, Maddie, in dire straights. He has borrowed money from Jocko MacKenzie, a loan shark, and when MacKenzie comes calling, with threats, Gary struggles to repay the loan. Even when he has repaid the debt, MacKenzie still expects more, and the story takes off. It is action packed and fast paced.
Gary changes jobs from car salesman to a real estate agent, looking for a bigger payout. He's a natural salesman, fast taking, and quick thinking, and soon he has some solid prospects. Unfortunately for Gary, who is nearly always functioning at some level of inebriation, he becomes embroiled in an even more deadly game with overseas investors looking for a money laundering opportunity. It's out of the frying pan and into the fire for Gary. The pit he digs just gets deeper and steeper, and he just keeps digging.
Sold is a fantastic romp. I thoroughly enjoyed the vernacular and the Aussie slang. Denholm's writing style is immensely readable, full of dark humor and crass undertones. Denholm looks in the seediest corners of the human soul and paints what he finds in vivid detail, unapologetically. I loved that Gary was such a sot, that he was so unwilling to stop the insanity. Throughout, he is a person who gives in entirely to desire with very little concern for the consequences, which is immensely irritating. I cannot tell you how many times Gary annoyed me. But he was also very charming. It's not often you find a hero so flagrantly unpleasant. I quite liked Gary Braswell, even as flawed as a human could be, he was entertaining.
Denholm is a master storyteller. Sold was a romp, easy to read, and enjoy. There are cautionary tales here, but Denholm seems infinitely unconcerned with whether his readers take them to heart. I'm pretty happy (maybe not the right word) that he ended this novel with an opening for more because there has to be more. I'm already looking forward to the next book of the Gary Braswell Cluster----well, you know.
Gary changes jobs from car salesman to a real estate agent, looking for a bigger payout. He's a natural salesman, fast taking, and quick thinking, and soon he has some solid prospects. Unfortunately for Gary, who is nearly always functioning at some level of inebriation, he becomes embroiled in an even more deadly game with overseas investors looking for a money laundering opportunity. It's out of the frying pan and into the fire for Gary. The pit he digs just gets deeper and steeper, and he just keeps digging.
Sold is a fantastic romp. I thoroughly enjoyed the vernacular and the Aussie slang. Denholm's writing style is immensely readable, full of dark humor and crass undertones. Denholm looks in the seediest corners of the human soul and paints what he finds in vivid detail, unapologetically. I loved that Gary was such a sot, that he was so unwilling to stop the insanity. Throughout, he is a person who gives in entirely to desire with very little concern for the consequences, which is immensely irritating. I cannot tell you how many times Gary annoyed me. But he was also very charming. It's not often you find a hero so flagrantly unpleasant. I quite liked Gary Braswell, even as flawed as a human could be, he was entertaining.
Denholm is a master storyteller. Sold was a romp, easy to read, and enjoy. There are cautionary tales here, but Denholm seems infinitely unconcerned with whether his readers take them to heart. I'm pretty happy (maybe not the right word) that he ended this novel with an opening for more because there has to be more. I'm already looking forward to the next book of the Gary Braswell Cluster----well, you know.
Read
December 11, 2017I will never visit the Gold Coast again without expecting to see a Gary Braswell character racing up/down/over/out/off or simply away some form of shit-storm he has created! What an idiot!
Idiot or not, I got sucked right into the self-inflicted chaos of Gary's existence and had to read to what I thought was the proverbial bitter end but arrgghhh - there was no end!
Blair Denholm has created a character that makes us cringe but also laugh out loud. Real life would have never given me an insight into Gary's mind - which most lives in his nether regions - and judging by some of the other equally unpleasant characters, they are not far behind.
I like the way Blair Denholm has added so much depth to this pathetically shallow character - based on some of his priceless descriptions of him.
Other characters too, were adorned with uniquely hilarious descriptions such as having a 'forehead big enough for a power-point-presentation' to name just one of the best ones.
Foss - Gary's long time mate and 'life coach' is the one figure in the whole book who remains 'good' and 'solid' and unlike 'good' Maddie, his long-suffering wife, is at least not subjected to an undeserved abhorrent near-demise.
The Russians? 'Romashka' is 'camomile' in Russian. Mr and Mrs Romashkin and their boss are anything but 'calming'.
The dialog in the novel is so very Australian, so realistic. That's how so many 'Aussies' really talk.
Yes, there is fair bit of swearing and that too is exactly how many Aussies talk.
Part of me is exhausted from living vicariously through Gary's dramas and the other part is wondering when I get to read the next installment!
Well done, Blair - you have captured a genuine Aussie world in your saga!
ps I will also look out for self-combusting ibises...
Idiot or not, I got sucked right into the self-inflicted chaos of Gary's existence and had to read to what I thought was the proverbial bitter end but arrgghhh - there was no end!
Blair Denholm has created a character that makes us cringe but also laugh out loud. Real life would have never given me an insight into Gary's mind - which most lives in his nether regions - and judging by some of the other equally unpleasant characters, they are not far behind.
I like the way Blair Denholm has added so much depth to this pathetically shallow character - based on some of his priceless descriptions of him.
Other characters too, were adorned with uniquely hilarious descriptions such as having a 'forehead big enough for a power-point-presentation' to name just one of the best ones.
Foss - Gary's long time mate and 'life coach' is the one figure in the whole book who remains 'good' and 'solid' and unlike 'good' Maddie, his long-suffering wife, is at least not subjected to an undeserved abhorrent near-demise.
The Russians? 'Romashka' is 'camomile' in Russian. Mr and Mrs Romashkin and their boss are anything but 'calming'.
The dialog in the novel is so very Australian, so realistic. That's how so many 'Aussies' really talk.
Yes, there is fair bit of swearing and that too is exactly how many Aussies talk.
Part of me is exhausted from living vicariously through Gary's dramas and the other part is wondering when I get to read the next installment!
Well done, Blair - you have captured a genuine Aussie world in your saga!
ps I will also look out for self-combusting ibises...
December 15, 2017
I am fortunate to have read SOLD written by Blair Denholm. Wow talking about an awesome story line. While I was reading this fabulous book, me being a Gold Coaster it totally took me directly to the places where Gary Braswell was hanging out after chasing his tail on many attempts to cover his own arse.
Starting as a car sales man, then dealing with the loan shark having to confess to his boss that he had totally Fu*& up and his balls where hanging on the line if he didn’t have the cash to pay his loan by a due date kept me hanging my seat..
I felt like saying Gary come on mate, wake up buddy no need to try and mingle into the real estate market trying to get a new start.. I would highly recommend this brilliantly written story line to anyone who is after a spell bonding experience…
Starting as a car sales man, then dealing with the loan shark having to confess to his boss that he had totally Fu*& up and his balls where hanging on the line if he didn’t have the cash to pay his loan by a due date kept me hanging my seat..
I felt like saying Gary come on mate, wake up buddy no need to try and mingle into the real estate market trying to get a new start.. I would highly recommend this brilliantly written story line to anyone who is after a spell bonding experience…
November 16, 2019
I found this book to be really entertaining. English is not my native language so the novel had an added benefit for me: it was like a crash course in Aussie slang. The story is set in Queensland. It is well written and fast paced. You never know what's happening next because Gary Braswell can't stay still for one single second. I won't say more except to recommend this book. I can't wait for the sequel.
February 14, 2018
‘People are looking for me and can track me if the phone’s on.’
Australian author Blair Denholm lives in Tasmania at present but has lived and worked in New York, Moscow, Munich, Abu Dhabi in addition to Australia. He has published two books – ESCAPE FROM PASSING WINDS and now SOLD. Blair is also a translator, speaks fluent Russian (he interpreted for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Moscow and translated for the Sochi Winter Olympics Organizing Committee) as well as a traveler and has escaped situations and detainments in life much as he writes in his new book! SOLD is the initial installment in what he plans to be an Aussie comic-Noir trilogy, featuring the hapless and incorrigible anti-hero, Gary Braswell.
Blair Denholm, in this reader’s opinion, appears to be a very bright star on the literary landscape. His language and tone for relaying his tale of crime and corruption and drug abuse and sexuality is at once raw and lyrical. On every page of this book there are both gasps of fright and guffaws of laughter as we follow one the more interesting if oddball characters who seems to be headed to become a globally appreciated anti-hero.
Blair has composed a fine synopsis – better than anyone else could write as he is involved in the milieu of the proposed trilogy – ‘The Gold Coast swelters in record temperatures, and car salesman Gary Braswell's hot under the collar. With sales at rock-bottom, and up to his neck in debt to loan shark Jocko Mackenzie, Gary's sweating on a fat commission from a mysterious Russian couple. If the loan is not repaid, there's more than Gary's kneecaps at stake - his long-suffering wife's also in peril. But Jocko demands more than repayment and has sinister plans for the hapless salesman. Gary turns his skills to real estate and is soon embroiled in the murky world of money laundering. With the federal police sniffing around and Jocko on his tail, Gary concocts an audacious scam. Success means money - lots of it. Failure means death. But can hard-drinking, cocaine-snorting Gary pull it off? Hilarious and dark, Sold is noir at its best - a whirlpool of sex, drugs, and real estate.’
Aside from being solid entertainment, SOLD has some philosophical asides that focus on many of our current obsessions. Blair keeps us guessing (as reading detectives) while he places the spotlight on the Aussie jester Gary Braswell. This is a [heck] of a fine book – and it is just an aperitif to the trilogy!
Australian author Blair Denholm lives in Tasmania at present but has lived and worked in New York, Moscow, Munich, Abu Dhabi in addition to Australia. He has published two books – ESCAPE FROM PASSING WINDS and now SOLD. Blair is also a translator, speaks fluent Russian (he interpreted for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Moscow and translated for the Sochi Winter Olympics Organizing Committee) as well as a traveler and has escaped situations and detainments in life much as he writes in his new book! SOLD is the initial installment in what he plans to be an Aussie comic-Noir trilogy, featuring the hapless and incorrigible anti-hero, Gary Braswell.
Blair Denholm, in this reader’s opinion, appears to be a very bright star on the literary landscape. His language and tone for relaying his tale of crime and corruption and drug abuse and sexuality is at once raw and lyrical. On every page of this book there are both gasps of fright and guffaws of laughter as we follow one the more interesting if oddball characters who seems to be headed to become a globally appreciated anti-hero.
Blair has composed a fine synopsis – better than anyone else could write as he is involved in the milieu of the proposed trilogy – ‘The Gold Coast swelters in record temperatures, and car salesman Gary Braswell's hot under the collar. With sales at rock-bottom, and up to his neck in debt to loan shark Jocko Mackenzie, Gary's sweating on a fat commission from a mysterious Russian couple. If the loan is not repaid, there's more than Gary's kneecaps at stake - his long-suffering wife's also in peril. But Jocko demands more than repayment and has sinister plans for the hapless salesman. Gary turns his skills to real estate and is soon embroiled in the murky world of money laundering. With the federal police sniffing around and Jocko on his tail, Gary concocts an audacious scam. Success means money - lots of it. Failure means death. But can hard-drinking, cocaine-snorting Gary pull it off? Hilarious and dark, Sold is noir at its best - a whirlpool of sex, drugs, and real estate.’
Aside from being solid entertainment, SOLD has some philosophical asides that focus on many of our current obsessions. Blair keeps us guessing (as reading detectives) while he places the spotlight on the Aussie jester Gary Braswell. This is a [heck] of a fine book – and it is just an aperitif to the trilogy!
February 18, 2018
Set in the seedy underbelly of the Gold Coast, SOLD is a dark romp through self-combusting wildlife, drug dealers, cut-throat bookies, crooked cops, and Russian mafia. Mixed up in all of these is one Gary Braswell, a self-centred, slick talking salesman who manages to dig himself in deeper with each passing day. Gary is one of the most unlikeable characters ever written, and yet, you can't help hanging on for the ride as his life spirals out of control. He is larger than life, but very believable. His actions ring true to his portrayal as an addictive, narcissistic fast talker with very little conscience. Despite his short-comings Gary is able to charm people on first meeting and maintains the loyalty of his wife, Maddie, and his long-term friend, Foss.
All of the characters in SOLD are solid and, with the exception of Bradley Jones, inhabit their roles without caricature. However, even Jones has a moment toward the end of the narrative, when another side of him is revealed to the reader. The portrayal of the underside of the Gold Coast is authentic and the author's skilful juxtaposition of the 'normal lives' of people like Maddie's mother against the train-wreck of her son-in-law's life captures the contradictions of the coastal city. Overall SOLD is compulsive reading.
Readers should be aware that the language is colourful and the narrative does take some dark and violent turns.
All of the characters in SOLD are solid and, with the exception of Bradley Jones, inhabit their roles without caricature. However, even Jones has a moment toward the end of the narrative, when another side of him is revealed to the reader. The portrayal of the underside of the Gold Coast is authentic and the author's skilful juxtaposition of the 'normal lives' of people like Maddie's mother against the train-wreck of her son-in-law's life captures the contradictions of the coastal city. Overall SOLD is compulsive reading.
Readers should be aware that the language is colourful and the narrative does take some dark and violent turns.
August 26, 2019
Few can master the art of humor and tension as well as Blair Denholm! Sold is a masterpiece of outrageous scams, gritty crime, and likeable characters (at least the ones you’re supposed to like). Gary is in major debt to loan shark Jocko, but when some mysterious Russians show up he hatches up a scheme to end all that. I enjoyed seeing how all the various storylines came together in one smash-bang end. This one’s great for anyone who enjoys a good crime thriller tinged with humor!
May 13, 2018
From my friends, I have heard of the legend of Gary Braswell, a drunkard, gambler and all-time arsehole of a protagonist. I did enjoy this book, for the use of language (gotta love Aussie Slang) to the pace of the story.
Thank you, Blair, for showing me what a real 'fair dinkum' bloke is like.
Thank you, Blair, for showing me what a real 'fair dinkum' bloke is like.
November 16, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Sold although I had some quibbles with plotting and some of the gross-out elements. The writing is first class and moves the story along at a terrific pace (I read it in two sittings). The central characters are well developed (Gary is a totally unredeemable c**t, an assessment with which I know he would agree) and the dialogue is lively and authentic. Sold brought to mind the Les Norton novels of Robert G Barrett, written in the 1980s. If you haven’t read them it’s worth having a look. And the relationship between Gary and Foss also brought to mind the relationship (although reversed) between Dangerous Davies and Mod in Leslie Thomas’s The Last Detective which was turned into an amusing TV series.
All in all, an excellent first effort and if Blair Denholm needs any encouragement to continue, he has mine.
All in all, an excellent first effort and if Blair Denholm needs any encouragement to continue, he has mine.
December 12, 2017
SOLD is a great yarn, but from the get-out you get the sneaking feeling that this is not going to end well for Gary Braswell. And then by Chapter 2, it’s a No… this is not a ‘and they lived happily ever after’ kind of book. It is not long into the story we come to understand precisely who and what Braswell is a hedonist; an egocentric, alcoholic gambling addicted car salesman who will con anyone, including his long suffering wife and only friend, to benefit himself. And the Gold Coast is the perfect setting for Braswell: a neon-lit façade. The story line has everything required for lovers of a contemporary, fast paced, rip-roaring read… international money-laundering, murder, mayhem, blackmail, drugs, sex, and written with an ironic sense of humour… (keep an eye out for the kamikaze Ibis’s, a prophetic metaphor for both Gary Braswell and the venality of the Gold Coast.) This is author Blair Denham’s first novel, and if SOLD is any indication, it will not be his last.
March 1, 2018
Think of the 90's, think of 'My name is Earl' meets 'Hank Moody' - both of them off into Gangster land, sleeping with the client's wife, making deals that might never happen, trusting the wrong people, with a long bad karma list... and always on the edge of being caught -- going down the spiral staircase, chapter after chapter.... trying to do the right thing but fucking up over and over again. That's pretty much Gary's life story, a naive optimist, as he heaves himself from one job opportunity to another only to bury himself in even deeper shit every time worse than before. The thing is, he's so naive that his actions make you even laugh, even though it's a bit tragic really... What I like about the writing is, it has an old school feel to it. 90's movies, 90's writing style. And so is Gary's nature... old school, he's not ready to catch his ride growing up. Not capable of becoming a responsible adult. In a sense, though, being so flawed and adventurous makes him very human. One has to forgive him despite the fact he's a bit of a loser. Like Hank Moody, his balls itch a lot and he fucks up all the time - but he means well... he's just hoping for the best only realizing that the best he had was Maddie, his wife... if you enjoy a bit of an Australian crazy rollercoaster ride, grab yourself a copy!
February 10, 2019
20th Century Noir at it's Most Entertaining!
Very much enjoyed this superbly paced, well written and engaging novel.
The author presents Gary as an ordinary man, with an ordinary life. As you read further you peel back the layers of Gary and his life, uncovering a severely flawed human being. And while you want to hate the man for being a scoundrel and an idiot you feel sympathy for him. The author, Blair Denholm carefully crafted this story with realism and subtle conscious you do not easily find in today’s genre piece.
The writing is blunt, frank and unapologetic, just like the character and yet there is a conscious grace and style that pulls you in and makes you want to know more.
A page-turner from the beginning, the author makes very logical choices in an illogical and sometimes absurd situation that is unnervingly realistic. You chuckle and enjoy while knowing that out there somewhere a poor sucker is mirroring Gary Braswell’s life.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves an exploration of the human condition and examining life choices and the sometimes – albeit subconscious—consequences. As I was reading, I was reminded of the shows Better Call Saul, Shameless, Breaking Bad, and the acclaimed novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”.
Very much enjoyed this superbly paced, well written and engaging novel.
The author presents Gary as an ordinary man, with an ordinary life. As you read further you peel back the layers of Gary and his life, uncovering a severely flawed human being. And while you want to hate the man for being a scoundrel and an idiot you feel sympathy for him. The author, Blair Denholm carefully crafted this story with realism and subtle conscious you do not easily find in today’s genre piece.
The writing is blunt, frank and unapologetic, just like the character and yet there is a conscious grace and style that pulls you in and makes you want to know more.
A page-turner from the beginning, the author makes very logical choices in an illogical and sometimes absurd situation that is unnervingly realistic. You chuckle and enjoy while knowing that out there somewhere a poor sucker is mirroring Gary Braswell’s life.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves an exploration of the human condition and examining life choices and the sometimes – albeit subconscious—consequences. As I was reading, I was reminded of the shows Better Call Saul, Shameless, Breaking Bad, and the acclaimed novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”.
November 29, 2017
Thanks to the author for giving me a free copy - I was duly entertained.
This book was kind of a cross between a Robert G. Barrett and an Elmore Leonard novel. Definitely a better storyteller than the former but the dialogue doesn't come close to what Leonard could conjure up. Dialogue aside, I'd say Sold leans more in the Leonard direction as there are few if any characters in this work you could describe as nice or likeable. The protagonist is a complete self-serving prat who ultimately gets everything he deserves. Shame that the one person in his life who should've meant the most gets treated the worst. That's life for you though, and I'm glad the author didn't pull any punches to cater for happy ending enthusiasts. Rule number one with karma: it doesn't exist.
If the author hasn't angled this novel towards a film production, he should. The whole thing comes across as something ready-made for the silver screen, and the inherent larrikinism in the protagonist would appeal to a certain class of Australian. Hell, it might appeal to a few who aren't Australians.
My quibbles with the book are minor - and I do wish Goodreads would let us mark for half-stars, as this is more 4.5 than 4 effort. The main irk is the characterisation of the protagonist. You don't really know any more about him at the novel's end than you do at the beginning. He was selfish scum on page one and ends up that way with little development. The other one is the inclusion of Russians. They're a soft target when it comes to the literary criminal world, and thanks to the Western media which depicts Russians and their society as a walking Gangsters Inc. convention, seeing these people in literature usually makes me wince as that's how they're inevitably drawn. Sold is no different.
Withal, I liked it and thanks again to the author for sending me a freebie.
This book was kind of a cross between a Robert G. Barrett and an Elmore Leonard novel. Definitely a better storyteller than the former but the dialogue doesn't come close to what Leonard could conjure up. Dialogue aside, I'd say Sold leans more in the Leonard direction as there are few if any characters in this work you could describe as nice or likeable. The protagonist is a complete self-serving prat who ultimately gets everything he deserves. Shame that the one person in his life who should've meant the most gets treated the worst. That's life for you though, and I'm glad the author didn't pull any punches to cater for happy ending enthusiasts. Rule number one with karma: it doesn't exist.
If the author hasn't angled this novel towards a film production, he should. The whole thing comes across as something ready-made for the silver screen, and the inherent larrikinism in the protagonist would appeal to a certain class of Australian. Hell, it might appeal to a few who aren't Australians.
My quibbles with the book are minor - and I do wish Goodreads would let us mark for half-stars, as this is more 4.5 than 4 effort. The main irk is the characterisation of the protagonist. You don't really know any more about him at the novel's end than you do at the beginning. He was selfish scum on page one and ends up that way with little development. The other one is the inclusion of Russians. They're a soft target when it comes to the literary criminal world, and thanks to the Western media which depicts Russians and their society as a walking Gangsters Inc. convention, seeing these people in literature usually makes me wince as that's how they're inevitably drawn. Sold is no different.
Withal, I liked it and thanks again to the author for sending me a freebie.
January 23, 2018
A neatly executed work of comic grunge
SOLD is a well-paced thriller. Its is the world of corruption in the real-estate industry and in banking, violent drug dealers and police officers; and also, it should be said, of acts of decency and friendship.
It is one in which what otherwise passes as our “moral compass” is, as often as not, missing in action.
The central character is one Gary Braswell, car salesman turned real-estate agent, drunkard and chronic gambler now in debt to a drug dealer.
SOLD makes no attempt to mask or excuse its anti-hero’s flaws: reckless and repeated acts of irresponsibility, adultery, drunkenness, gambling, cocaine sniffing, complete and dangerous incompetence, and a limitless penchant for untruth. And when the reader is sure that he has grasped the extent of these failings, the otherwise charming anti-hero surprises him with a new and excruciating act of folly, mostly, but not always, pushing the story to its inevitable conclusion.
All of this is effected with a deft comic touch (and an ample, if sometimes surprising, supply of coarse language and scatalogical detail). In Braswell himself there is not the least sense of “the tragic”, even in the face of certain barbaric acts, which the reader will see as the story unfolds.
At the novel’s end Braswell’s future is undecided, his past is in tatters, and he is being hunted by Russian gangsters, all of which undoubtedly paves the way for a sequel.
And if the sequel is as entertaining as SOLD it will be a good read.
btw: the ibises that burst ino flames mid-flight are an intriguing detail: they seem to act as a literary device to remind the reader that this is a work of outrageous fiction; and they work, too, as an avian presaging of Braswell the scavenger’s own fate.
SOLD is a well-paced thriller. Its is the world of corruption in the real-estate industry and in banking, violent drug dealers and police officers; and also, it should be said, of acts of decency and friendship.
It is one in which what otherwise passes as our “moral compass” is, as often as not, missing in action.
The central character is one Gary Braswell, car salesman turned real-estate agent, drunkard and chronic gambler now in debt to a drug dealer.
SOLD makes no attempt to mask or excuse its anti-hero’s flaws: reckless and repeated acts of irresponsibility, adultery, drunkenness, gambling, cocaine sniffing, complete and dangerous incompetence, and a limitless penchant for untruth. And when the reader is sure that he has grasped the extent of these failings, the otherwise charming anti-hero surprises him with a new and excruciating act of folly, mostly, but not always, pushing the story to its inevitable conclusion.
All of this is effected with a deft comic touch (and an ample, if sometimes surprising, supply of coarse language and scatalogical detail). In Braswell himself there is not the least sense of “the tragic”, even in the face of certain barbaric acts, which the reader will see as the story unfolds.
At the novel’s end Braswell’s future is undecided, his past is in tatters, and he is being hunted by Russian gangsters, all of which undoubtedly paves the way for a sequel.
And if the sequel is as entertaining as SOLD it will be a good read.
btw: the ibises that burst ino flames mid-flight are an intriguing detail: they seem to act as a literary device to remind the reader that this is a work of outrageous fiction; and they work, too, as an avian presaging of Braswell the scavenger’s own fate.
Read
February 27, 2018I am not rating this book since I can’t rate it fairly. I ultimately loathed this book. I can handle violence, drugs, etc. I just cannot handle every character being unredeemable. I never have been able to handle it. It’s why I couldn’t watch more than three episodes of AMERICAN HORROR STORY. Stephen King is horror, but he always has characters who fight for good and the light.
I loved the Aussie language in the book. I loved Denholm’s writing style. The book comes alive from the first page on.
I just hated it anyway. Those hollow soulless people. There are too many of them. We seem to be getting more and more people like that.
I think Gary is perhaps a narcissist. Maybe a sociopath. Maybe sometimes there’s not much difference.
I need to go read something filled with sunshine and light. I know I’m lame. I’m okay with it:)
I loved the Aussie language in the book. I loved Denholm’s writing style. The book comes alive from the first page on.
I just hated it anyway. Those hollow soulless people. There are too many of them. We seem to be getting more and more people like that.
I think Gary is perhaps a narcissist. Maybe a sociopath. Maybe sometimes there’s not much difference.
I need to go read something filled with sunshine and light. I know I’m lame. I’m okay with it:)
February 18, 2018
Sold me!!
Blair Denholm has a conversational style that is easy to read, along with a fantastic talent for description.
quote:'Foss’s voice was like the voice- over guy for just about every Hollywood movie, deep as the Pacific Ocean,
except with a broad Aussie accent. Gary sometimes wondered if his mate had a third testicle.'
quote: 'He was six foot three, lean and angular, with a BMI at the lower end of the scale in a third world
country and limbs that stuck out like a praying mantis.'
I love these words. Blair sets the scene and lures the reader into his character's seedy world of desperate danger, all set on Queensland's Gold Coast. Highly recommended!
Blair Denholm has a conversational style that is easy to read, along with a fantastic talent for description.
quote:'Foss’s voice was like the voice- over guy for just about every Hollywood movie, deep as the Pacific Ocean,
except with a broad Aussie accent. Gary sometimes wondered if his mate had a third testicle.'
quote: 'He was six foot three, lean and angular, with a BMI at the lower end of the scale in a third world
country and limbs that stuck out like a praying mantis.'
I love these words. Blair sets the scene and lures the reader into his character's seedy world of desperate danger, all set on Queensland's Gold Coast. Highly recommended!
February 22, 2018
Sold fits my warped sense of humour to a T. It's a noir crime thriller centred upon the hapless but resourceful Gary Braswell. He will gamble on anything, even which raindrop reaches the ground first, drinks like a thirsty fish, and this lands him in deep shit with his local bookie Jocko.
You see, Gary owes him a bucket load of cash and has to pay it ... or else. But like any loan shark, Jocko has still more plans for Gary. They're the kind that don't include happy endings, if you know what I mean.
Luckily, Gary has a plan. But it soon lands him in one hell of a mess when he involves his best mate Foss, a Russian to whom he sells four luxury cars and a house, the Russian's wife, and his boss. That's before we even include the Federal Police and other unsavoury characters. I found it hard not to feel sorry for him, even if he does attract trouble like seagulls to a chip.
Sold kept me turning pages that led me deeper into an involved spaghetti of conflicts that the author Blair Denholm weaves like the master he is. And I predict it will keep you rapt and laughing until the final page.
It's well worth the five stars.
You see, Gary owes him a bucket load of cash and has to pay it ... or else. But like any loan shark, Jocko has still more plans for Gary. They're the kind that don't include happy endings, if you know what I mean.
Luckily, Gary has a plan. But it soon lands him in one hell of a mess when he involves his best mate Foss, a Russian to whom he sells four luxury cars and a house, the Russian's wife, and his boss. That's before we even include the Federal Police and other unsavoury characters. I found it hard not to feel sorry for him, even if he does attract trouble like seagulls to a chip.
Sold kept me turning pages that led me deeper into an involved spaghetti of conflicts that the author Blair Denholm weaves like the master he is. And I predict it will keep you rapt and laughing until the final page.
It's well worth the five stars.
November 30, 2017
When we meet Gary Braswell he's in the shit. In a form slump his gambling debts have spiralled out of control and bookmaker Jocko aims to collect. Gary has no hope of meeting the looming deadline, unless he can pull a miracle out of his arse. Adding to his misery, temperatures in Queensland are soaring to such heights that ibises are combusting before his very eyes.
Author, Blair Denholm takes us on a train wreck of a journey deep into the seedy side of real estate, where alcohol and drugs fuel Gary's crazed attempts to get his life back on track. This is a tale of desperation, deceit and the pursuit of the deal.
I really wanted to find something in Gary to like, and for a while I thought his love for his wife Maddie would carry the day. But, no! A true mythomaniac, he finds ways to justify even his worst excesses, for me a reminder of someone far too close for comfort! I know this man and he is charming, but dangerous to be near. That made this book a difficult read for me, and at one stage I tossed it across the room and left it there for a few days. But...
...yes, there's a but...
...I had to know the rest of the story. And that, my friends, is the art of a great storyteller; to take readers to uncomfortable places, but in such a way that we remain engaged and committed to the end. Blair Denholm has mastered this skill with wry wit and dinky-di Aussie-based humour.
SOLD is a gritty read, but well worth it.
Author, Blair Denholm takes us on a train wreck of a journey deep into the seedy side of real estate, where alcohol and drugs fuel Gary's crazed attempts to get his life back on track. This is a tale of desperation, deceit and the pursuit of the deal.
I really wanted to find something in Gary to like, and for a while I thought his love for his wife Maddie would carry the day. But, no! A true mythomaniac, he finds ways to justify even his worst excesses, for me a reminder of someone far too close for comfort! I know this man and he is charming, but dangerous to be near. That made this book a difficult read for me, and at one stage I tossed it across the room and left it there for a few days. But...
...yes, there's a but...
...I had to know the rest of the story. And that, my friends, is the art of a great storyteller; to take readers to uncomfortable places, but in such a way that we remain engaged and committed to the end. Blair Denholm has mastered this skill with wry wit and dinky-di Aussie-based humour.
SOLD is a gritty read, but well worth it.
May 26, 2020
A new author to me who proved his talent.A most gripping tail well worth reading looking forward to the next in the series.Would recommend it to anyone who likes crime thrillers.Allready ordered book 2
December 9, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review. I really enjoyed reading this novel but have to say I didn't really like Gary all that much. What a tosser! He's a guy who just keeps on getting into deeper shit with every move he makes. From selling cars to dodgy Russians to even dodgier real estate deals, Gary tends to drag those closest to him into the cesspool of trouble he can't climb out of. The author did a great job in capturing the Gold Coast hype and the "Aussieness" of the characters. Drugs, gambling, cheating, lying and crooked cops all go together in this entertaining novel. Be warned though, if you are a bit precious about swear words, there's a few inside the covers! Every time I see an Ibis now I will be watching it closely......
I may not have warmed to Gary but am looking forward to seeing if he behaves any better in the future.
I may not have warmed to Gary but am looking forward to seeing if he behaves any better in the future.
December 7, 2017
SOLD is a very well written book, full of unexpected one liners, and some great descriptions that I can relate to areas on the Gold Coast that I could picture vividly in my mind as I read. I love that Gary is portrayed with everyday issues which makes the story easy to read. Extremely enjoyable for any crime/adventure buffs looking for something to read, especially for those who are after am little taste of what Australian Gold Coast can be like. Blair Denholm will be our next Australian Author hitting the top 10 so make sure you make yourself one of the first to enjoy his book writing journey from the start. You won’t want to miss out on any book Blair releases. I totally recommend this book, with Christmas just around the corner, it's a brilliant gift for any crime/adventure reader!!
I might have to become a Real Estate Agent!
I might have to become a Real Estate Agent!
November 21, 2017
Full disclosure here: the author and me are mates.
Full-full disclosure: I am mates with other authors that I wouldn't write a review for.
I loved the book.
Often in genre fiction there is a code: if the novel is set in the real estate industry, then a few pages go here and there to explain (to fuckwits like us, readers) how it works, or if it is set in rural Tasmania, there we go with the full explanation of convict history and the scars left in people that haven't seen a prison other than on their TV screens. It is half wanting to add depth to a story (that lacks it for itself), and half sort of genre-tical apologies for not writing proper, non-genre literature.
You won't find any of that bullshit in Sold: it doesn't need it. The book is all narrative protein, good fun and action.
Blair has a knack to come up with details that make the conversations lively and that shape funnily identifiable types. It seems that all his time spent in pubs hasn't gone to waste, after all.
The conversations with the old ex-military man and the... ehem... selling tricks that the main character pulls are possibly my favourite scenes: lying as an art. Which is a big theme in the book. And the twist that the policemen bring to the story elaborates on the moral inversion that seems to pervade the novel (to which the real estate industry setting seems to add quite naturally), with the curious exception of the hero, Gary Brasswell, who only lies for money. And a bit for love. And for... well, he is quite likeable, anyway. No need to go into such detail.
Also, lots of Australian slang to learn for those of us born abroad. I had to check my sources quite a few times. Most of you won't have to, be reassured.
The book is sooooooo much better than your plans for this evening, than anything on TV and than bloody brain-sucking Facebook. And I bet there is much more (and better) sex in it than in your own life, so get one and start reading it straightaway.
Full-full disclosure: I am mates with other authors that I wouldn't write a review for.
I loved the book.
Often in genre fiction there is a code: if the novel is set in the real estate industry, then a few pages go here and there to explain (to fuckwits like us, readers) how it works, or if it is set in rural Tasmania, there we go with the full explanation of convict history and the scars left in people that haven't seen a prison other than on their TV screens. It is half wanting to add depth to a story (that lacks it for itself), and half sort of genre-tical apologies for not writing proper, non-genre literature.
You won't find any of that bullshit in Sold: it doesn't need it. The book is all narrative protein, good fun and action.
Blair has a knack to come up with details that make the conversations lively and that shape funnily identifiable types. It seems that all his time spent in pubs hasn't gone to waste, after all.
The conversations with the old ex-military man and the... ehem... selling tricks that the main character pulls are possibly my favourite scenes: lying as an art. Which is a big theme in the book. And the twist that the policemen bring to the story elaborates on the moral inversion that seems to pervade the novel (to which the real estate industry setting seems to add quite naturally), with the curious exception of the hero, Gary Brasswell, who only lies for money. And a bit for love. And for... well, he is quite likeable, anyway. No need to go into such detail.
Also, lots of Australian slang to learn for those of us born abroad. I had to check my sources quite a few times. Most of you won't have to, be reassured.
The book is sooooooo much better than your plans for this evening, than anything on TV and than bloody brain-sucking Facebook. And I bet there is much more (and better) sex in it than in your own life, so get one and start reading it straightaway.
November 19, 2017
A fast paced novel that had me trying to turn the pages quicker than I was able to read. Gary Braswell is a selfish, inconsiderate wanna be who couldn't tell the truth to save his own life. Gary finds it easy to lie and make up countless stories and scenarios digging himself deeper into trouble by the minute. It is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. You won't believe his responses when he is pushed to the wall, how can one man be so callous and selfish? I found myself wanting Gary to win, to come out the other side if only for the sake of his long suffering wife Maddie, what he does next had me wishing someone would finish him off for being such a bastard.
I read this book at a faster pace than I normally read, eager to find out how it all turns out, what happens to Maddie, does this mongrel survive? Sit back, relax and let your inner Gary take the journey as you read this one. Love him or hate him Gary Braswell is a survivor and he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. In Gary's world Gary is number 1. An enjoyable, exciting and easy to read novel.
You may never look at your local real estate agent the same way again.
I read this book at a faster pace than I normally read, eager to find out how it all turns out, what happens to Maddie, does this mongrel survive? Sit back, relax and let your inner Gary take the journey as you read this one. Love him or hate him Gary Braswell is a survivor and he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. In Gary's world Gary is number 1. An enjoyable, exciting and easy to read novel.
You may never look at your local real estate agent the same way again.
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