Call Billy 07471949129: A psychological contemporary drama: have you called Billy yet?

by Sam Ellison

Edinburgh is meant to be a new start for the Gillespie family. Rachel has enrolled as a mature student at the university, while Andrew is spending more time with the kids. But Rachel’s ‘new start’ morphs into ‘new affair’ with fellow student Ryan. Or is it Stevie?


Either way, her lover is not what he seems. When his past surfaces in the guise of a name on Rachel’s library ticket, the affair turns nasty. And then her teenage daughter unwittingly discovers the deceit and the family begins its spin into free fall.
Have you called Billy yet?

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[Nicola Fantom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't get on this for me it was very dull and boring and too many characters to follow and keep up with who is who.

[Nicola Tonner]

Call Billy is a psychological drama with heart, which I literally couldn't put down. It's refreshing to have a gritty no holds barred read written from a female perspective. The family dynamics were messed up and the characters flawed (especially Rachel) but this made it all the better and more believable. The character of Abi was beautifully written, and as a mother of a 14yr old daughter I have a new found respect and understanding for what it is to be a teenager.
Sam is a keen observer of human behaviour from all perspectives. The format of the book allowed each character, male and female, to have a very strong voice. I especially empathised with Andrew and all his efforts to please other people and to be appreciated.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes to be surprised and challenged. Can't wait to read "Call Abi" and continue this exciting journey!!.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel and Andrew Gillespie have recently moved from Oban to Edinburgh with their teenage children, ostensibly to make a new start. Rachel has enrolled as a mature student at the university where she embarks upon an affair with another student, whilst Andrew is left to spend more time with their children. Call Billy is an intriguing story which doesn't shy away from showing the difficulties which send the Gillespie family into a downward spiral, which then threatens the future stability of them all.

The story gets off to a slow start, which I think is deliberate, as it gives us a chance to get to know the characters and to find out what makes them tick. And finding out what makes them act in the way that they do is a major part of the story. They're an odd bunch, to be sure, and it took me ages to warm to any of them, but as the story gets more involved, so I started to connect better with what was happening on the page. I'm being deliberately vague about what was going on, as to say too much would be to spoil the overall drama of Call Billy which, to be honest, is best read with no spoilers from me.

I liked the author's writing style, which is sharp and sassy, and the Scottish vernacular gives the story an authenticity of speech which is helpful as it places the novel firmly in the here and now. There's an gritty edginess to Call Billy which I appreciated, and whilst it's not always an easy read, I admire the way in which the author has allowed the story to evolve at its own distinct pace.

I'm pleased to say that there are plans for the story to be continued...

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a portrait of gritty urban life and family dysfunction this bleak novel has a lot going for it. The story of a family in melt-down with a cast of unsavoury characters, it tackles some serious issues – abuse, domestic violence, drugs, alcohol, dementia – but the dysfunction is so unremitting and so persistent that ultimately the book lost its edge for me. The characters lurch from one crisis to another with no respite and no reflection, and they are all so feckless, so consistently making bad decisions that I lost patience with the whole sorry shower of them. The story is told from multiple perspectives, which is effective in allowing everyone a voice, but for me their voices all sounded similarly self-obsessed and if the chapters hadn't been headed with the name of the character speaking it would have been hard to differentiate them at times. The frenetic nature of the narrative doesn’t allow the reader to really get inside the characters’ minds and I would have appreciated more reflection and less action. However, that said, I stuck with it and felt that the author had achieved her aim in showing us a slice of contemporary life at a particular time and place.

[Michelle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel and Andrew are married with two children, Abi, 15 and Callum, 7. The couple moved from Oban to Edinburgh for a fresh start. This has not proved altogether successful.
Rachel is very unlikeable, a full-time university student, has addiction problems and lusts after fellow addict and student, Ryan.
Andrew is weak, self-centred and only slightly less hopeless as a parent than Rachel.
However, even though the two main characters are flawed, there are traits about them that make them fascinating and utterly compelling to read about.
Between Rachel, Andrew and the other supporting characters it makes Call Billy a must read.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Paul Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. This is an accomplished debut novel of family dysfunction with well written and complex characters. The book is structured around the viewpoint of four main characters and the author shows a great deal of empathy and an understanding that there are no heroes and villains in these situations, just people. The book has a gritty side that can be difficult to read but adds a great deal to the narrative. I really wanted to find out what happened to all of these characters and felt that I had to stay with them till the end. An "unputdownable" book!

[Nancy Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The line between Edinburgh’s middle-class population and its often concealed underworld of poverty and addiction is typically a sturdy one; but this compelling and skilful little book blurs it in a way that is most haunting.

The 4 narrating characters each have a distinct and equally interesting voice which lay bare the drama and complexity of family life and unresolved trauma.

It explores the gory and nauseating depths of addiction without filter, but remains compassionate and hopeful.

Important and enjoyable. Never read anything like it.

[Rita Kokay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. This book is the best I read in the last few years! Such a gripping story, with such everyday characters, written in a way that you actually feel like you know them in person. You feel them! For me the psychological drama was so overwhelming that I had to put down the book for a few hours after every couple of chapters, just to digest it. Absolutely amazing writing. Buy it! Read it! Oh and don't forget to actually CALL Billy.

[Underpaid Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent debut novel. I won't talk about the story line as I don't want to give any spoilers but this is a very honest, stark portrayal of a marriage breaking down which sounds a bit grim but there is a lot of humour in the book and the characters are some of the best portrayed I've read in a long time. The author has taken great care in having realistic motivations and behaviours within all the protagonists and it meshes together seamlessly.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure where this book was going initially but it pulls you in brilliantly with fascinating characters presenting a side of life that most of us have no idea about. It quickly became a page turner for me. Each sentence seemed to be carefully crafted making it a delight to read despite some tough talking!

[Susan Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read
Facinating characters
Short chapters
Easy to pick up and down

[Dai · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable but gritty book. I normally guess endings but didn’t this time. Well written with likeable (and hateable) characters. Look forward to Call Abi and more Scots-Noire.

[Alfred Nobile · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book written in the first person. Too many characters and therefore confusing and hard to follow storyline

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at page 62

[Aida Alberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own. It's a well told twisty book peppered with surprises here and there so definitely pick this up and prepare to be well entertained. Happy reading!

[Janice Lombardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew and Rachel are married with children Abi (15) and Callum (5). Rachel is into parties and takes courses at the University. A party is thrown by the family and many students, friends their age with parents begin to arrive.
However, Rachel is interested only when Ryan arrives. Liz, Rachel's mom, forgot her purse and comes back to the house the following day. At this time, Andrew tells Liz that her husband, Carl, abused Rachel and her sister. This becomes an awful shock to Liz who soon has a series of mini-strokes, causing her to go haywire. At uni, Rachel sees Ryan meet up with Billy. Who is he? I suppose since Rachel introduced herself to Billy and took his phone number - on her arm - someone. (?) Rachel sleeps with Ryan and when he sees the phone number for Billy, he goes quite insane. He beats Rachel up so badly that she is hospitalized. Regardless, Rachel admits her feelings for Ryan and moves to her friend Dawn's yucky basement. India, their niece, visits with her parents and stays there to work with Andrew, David and their boss. Rachel knows that Ryan is having relations with others but will do whatever it takes to have a part of him. (Ryan shows Rachel how illegal drugs can intensify the mood.) Although Rachel goes back to her family after the hospital, she eventually returns to Dawn's basement with her daughter, Abi, who now is dating wilder Ash. Rachel brings home a selection of men, quits school, drinks and does drugs. Liz moves in with Andrew and his family and we are treated to a bit of humor on the staircase. Andrew, somehow, moves on with Megan. Still martried, he proposes to her and she accepts.
David makes a shady deal with fake soil samples for half a million dollars so a theme park can be built. Andrew finds out and has the "real" samples evaluated.
All of the characters are selfish, if not self-indulgent. For good measure a bit of wry humor is thrown in. The final chapters really make this book! Surprises are on the way!