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Collection 1: The First Twelve Tales
After completing twelve humorous short stories about Jonothan Byrne, an Intensive Care Paramedic working in Brisbane, I thought it would be nice to collect them together in a single book (52,832 words). The numbering of the stories is based on the Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System, which is used worldwide to categorise emergency calls and has thirty two major categories. As such, I have picked numbers to write about based on nothing more than a creative whim, therefore, there is no need to read them according to the order they appear, just do what I did and pick one at random. If the synopsis grabs you, then please read on.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2017
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Harry Colfer
40 books28 followersHarry Colfer is the pseudonym of a critical care paramedic who lives and works in Brisbane, Australia. Although his stories are totally fictional, his writing style is very realistic and he maintains a healthy level of paranoia with respect to his anonymity.
Other than the Ambo Tales From The Frontline series, he has written two full length novels featuring the same characters, a murder mystery, Dead Regular, and the thriller sequel, Beneath Contempt. He is currently writing the third novel in the Jono series, High Acuity, with the fourth and final book existing only as ideas, notes, and a title, Show Cause.
Other than the Ambo Tales From The Frontline series, he has written two full length novels featuring the same characters, a murder mystery, Dead Regular, and the thriller sequel, Beneath Contempt. He is currently writing the third novel in the Jono series, High Acuity, with the fourth and final book existing only as ideas, notes, and a title, Show Cause.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 25, 2026
Collection 1: The First Twelve Tales by Harry Colfer
Synopsis /
Everyone knows a paramedic and all paramedics have a story to tell, it’s how we cope with the sometimes confronting nature of our job. Inevitably, when the yarning starts, the stories we tell are full of embellishments and always served with a heavy dose of dark ambo humour. In an effort to capture the flavour of this tradition, I started writing a series of short stories, each one based on my own frontline experiences, but totally fictionalised to protect all concerned.
My Thoughts /
Harry Colfer is the pseudonym of an experienced critical care paramedic with twenty years of on-road experience gained in both England and Australia. With his role being one of the highest trained prehospital clinicians, he regularly attends cardiac arrests, multi-system trauma and major incidents. As a way of dealing with his inevitable demons, he embraced the cathartic paramedic custom of storytelling and began writing in his spare time. Using his knowledge of the subject area, he created a series of short stories, Ambo Tales from the Frontline, eventually publishing one for each of the thirty-two codes used to categorise emergency calls. Although his stories are fictional, the clinical details and interventions are all accurate, thereby giving the reader an entertaining education in the frontline emergency world. Beyond this, his main protagonist, Jono, often says and does the things Harry wishes he could get away with, and that’s perhaps why he goes by his pen name.
This isn't my first Harry Colfer rodeo, having read his debut novel, Dead Regular, and the follow-on, Beneath Contempt; both of which I rated highly. This one will be no different. Collection 1: The First Twelve Tales is a collection of short stories about on-the-job callouts featuring Intensive Care Paramedic, Jonothan (Jono) Byrne. If there is one thing that you can guarantee about Jono (and Harry Colfer for that matter), it's that he doesn't mince words. You are going to get the raw, unfiltered, honest truth.
I'm not sure when it became deemed 'acceptable' behaviour to abuse our health care workers, but as a human race, we need to reverse that behaviour. Tell me how being spat at, sworn at, verbally abused or physically assaulted is in your job description. I realise this type of behaviour is not just saved for our front line workers, but is applied to any sort of health care worker, server, wait staff, front of house person, food and beverage attendant, customer service representative, retail sales representative, or cashier, who is deemed to be a fair target for physical or verbal abuse if something doesn't go our way. Let's be clear – there is no excuse for abuse.
Although Colfer's 'tales' are totally fictional, his writing style is very realistic, mixing black humour with some inescapable truths about the job. Generally speaking, there is a standard grading structure to the ambulance service. From student/intern, to qualified paramedics, to advanced care paramedics, to intensive care paramedics and specialised/extended care paramedics. Paramedics in Australia are graded based on their qualifications, experience, clinical capability and specialised training. Intensive Care Paramedic, Jonothan (Jono) Byrne would be described as a first responder who has a senior role focusing on complex, life-threatening cases; having extensive additional training in specialised clinical procedures, pharmacology, and critical trauma management.
So it comes as 'somewhat' of a surprise (actually, not really) to read that ambos are called out for nothing more serious than a broken toe; or a ride to the hospital to get a prescription refilled.
We’re arguably the most generalised clinicians, treating things from stubbed toes to multi-system trauma, obstetrics to geriatrics. We have to see and deal with all kinds of patients and the moment you think you have the job sussed is the day something comes along and bites you on the arse.
I was too bewildered to respond. How had the concept of what constituted an emergency degenerated to such a low level? Were we somehow at fault for pandering to these people? I sometimes felt that I was the bad guy when it came to natural selection.
The stories are random, so can be read in any order, with each functioning as a standalone snippet of life on the road. Some feature unpredictable endings. Some feature tediously boring situations. Others, heart-thumping chaos. All of the stories involve dark 'ambo' humour, quick-witted banter and even some cheesy dad jokes. And, while the stories may be fictional, the medical details and clinical interventions are accurately depicted and provide an eye opening insight into what life is like on any given shift for an ambo.
Synopsis /
Everyone knows a paramedic and all paramedics have a story to tell, it’s how we cope with the sometimes confronting nature of our job. Inevitably, when the yarning starts, the stories we tell are full of embellishments and always served with a heavy dose of dark ambo humour. In an effort to capture the flavour of this tradition, I started writing a series of short stories, each one based on my own frontline experiences, but totally fictionalised to protect all concerned.
My Thoughts /
Harry Colfer is the pseudonym of an experienced critical care paramedic with twenty years of on-road experience gained in both England and Australia. With his role being one of the highest trained prehospital clinicians, he regularly attends cardiac arrests, multi-system trauma and major incidents. As a way of dealing with his inevitable demons, he embraced the cathartic paramedic custom of storytelling and began writing in his spare time. Using his knowledge of the subject area, he created a series of short stories, Ambo Tales from the Frontline, eventually publishing one for each of the thirty-two codes used to categorise emergency calls. Although his stories are fictional, the clinical details and interventions are all accurate, thereby giving the reader an entertaining education in the frontline emergency world. Beyond this, his main protagonist, Jono, often says and does the things Harry wishes he could get away with, and that’s perhaps why he goes by his pen name.
This isn't my first Harry Colfer rodeo, having read his debut novel, Dead Regular, and the follow-on, Beneath Contempt; both of which I rated highly. This one will be no different. Collection 1: The First Twelve Tales is a collection of short stories about on-the-job callouts featuring Intensive Care Paramedic, Jonothan (Jono) Byrne. If there is one thing that you can guarantee about Jono (and Harry Colfer for that matter), it's that he doesn't mince words. You are going to get the raw, unfiltered, honest truth.
I'm not sure when it became deemed 'acceptable' behaviour to abuse our health care workers, but as a human race, we need to reverse that behaviour. Tell me how being spat at, sworn at, verbally abused or physically assaulted is in your job description. I realise this type of behaviour is not just saved for our front line workers, but is applied to any sort of health care worker, server, wait staff, front of house person, food and beverage attendant, customer service representative, retail sales representative, or cashier, who is deemed to be a fair target for physical or verbal abuse if something doesn't go our way. Let's be clear – there is no excuse for abuse.
Although Colfer's 'tales' are totally fictional, his writing style is very realistic, mixing black humour with some inescapable truths about the job. Generally speaking, there is a standard grading structure to the ambulance service. From student/intern, to qualified paramedics, to advanced care paramedics, to intensive care paramedics and specialised/extended care paramedics. Paramedics in Australia are graded based on their qualifications, experience, clinical capability and specialised training. Intensive Care Paramedic, Jonothan (Jono) Byrne would be described as a first responder who has a senior role focusing on complex, life-threatening cases; having extensive additional training in specialised clinical procedures, pharmacology, and critical trauma management.
So it comes as 'somewhat' of a surprise (actually, not really) to read that ambos are called out for nothing more serious than a broken toe; or a ride to the hospital to get a prescription refilled.
We’re arguably the most generalised clinicians, treating things from stubbed toes to multi-system trauma, obstetrics to geriatrics. We have to see and deal with all kinds of patients and the moment you think you have the job sussed is the day something comes along and bites you on the arse.
I was too bewildered to respond. How had the concept of what constituted an emergency degenerated to such a low level? Were we somehow at fault for pandering to these people? I sometimes felt that I was the bad guy when it came to natural selection.
The stories are random, so can be read in any order, with each functioning as a standalone snippet of life on the road. Some feature unpredictable endings. Some feature tediously boring situations. Others, heart-thumping chaos. All of the stories involve dark 'ambo' humour, quick-witted banter and even some cheesy dad jokes. And, while the stories may be fictional, the medical details and clinical interventions are accurately depicted and provide an eye opening insight into what life is like on any given shift for an ambo.
May 17, 2022
Enjoyed this collection very much. Some of it made me laugh out loud and some of it made me shake my head in sadness, at the public abuse of a system designed to help people. And unfortunately, from what I've heard, it is all true to life.
It was originally written as separate short stories and then collected together in one volume. Because of this I think, once or twice I found the banter between the paramedics a little tiresome, but having spent quite a bit of time around ambulance officers, I can truly attest to it's accuracy. Cheesy dad jokes and sarcasm that would peel paint off a tin shed are 'de rigeur' when it comes to these professionals! But some of it too, was so damn funny I couldn't continue reading for a while because I was helpless with laughter.
If you want a true to life insight into the world of a city paramedic, something that will make you think as well as make you laugh, you'll find this collection well worth your time. I hope Harry continues to write more.
It was originally written as separate short stories and then collected together in one volume. Because of this I think, once or twice I found the banter between the paramedics a little tiresome, but having spent quite a bit of time around ambulance officers, I can truly attest to it's accuracy. Cheesy dad jokes and sarcasm that would peel paint off a tin shed are 'de rigeur' when it comes to these professionals! But some of it too, was so damn funny I couldn't continue reading for a while because I was helpless with laughter.
If you want a true to life insight into the world of a city paramedic, something that will make you think as well as make you laugh, you'll find this collection well worth your time. I hope Harry continues to write more.
January 18, 2021
Loved reading the short stories so much, i couldn't wait for the #deadregularnovel book to come out - loved it too! Harry Colfer is certainly an author worth following.
The short stories are snippets of insight into the life, humour and coping mechanisms of paramedics and the real situations they attend - from tediously boring to heart-thumping chaos. Their length was ideal for me as I often found myself with a gap to fill in my day/night and needed something more captivating than the usual. These stories are certainly worth the read for entertainment, insight into the world of paramedics and for thought provoking ethical /moral issues (if you choose to think more deeply about the stories).
I would most certainly recommend Harry Colfer's short stories and novels if you want deeper and more detailed plots with a twist.
The short stories are snippets of insight into the life, humour and coping mechanisms of paramedics and the real situations they attend - from tediously boring to heart-thumping chaos. Their length was ideal for me as I often found myself with a gap to fill in my day/night and needed something more captivating than the usual. These stories are certainly worth the read for entertainment, insight into the world of paramedics and for thought provoking ethical /moral issues (if you choose to think more deeply about the stories).
I would most certainly recommend Harry Colfer's short stories and novels if you want deeper and more detailed plots with a twist.
January 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this collection of 12 different stories featuring the ambo and his partner of the day, attending call-outs in Brisbane, Australia. Some are serious, some make you shake your head. Being in the health profession, I can honestly say - yeah, I can see it all happening, and have heard some of it before while working!!
A light, humorous read with serious undertones. Recommended!
A light, humorous read with serious undertones. Recommended!
July 18, 2019
Loved it
August 13, 2022
Loved this series of short stories, very entertaining and I have read them twice, and I am sure I will read them again.
December 25, 2022
Absolutely phenomenal book, curated with quick wit and experienced paramedic practice that acutely reflects what it’s like to be a prehospital clinician.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews