Jack Was Here

by Christopher Bardsley

Hugh Fitzgerald is losing control. In the aftermath of a traumatic end to his military career, his life has disintegrated. Hugh is approaching the end of his tether when a desperate plea for help arrives from a most unexpected quarter.

Nineteen-year-old Jack Kerr, halfway through a coming-of-age trip to Thailand, has disappeared. He has left few traces, little information, and absolutely no answers. As the days turn into weeks, his parents grow increasingly frantic.

They approach Hugh with a simple request; do whatever it takes to find their son, and do whatever it takes to bring him home. It sounds easy enough. The money is right. More importantly, it’s something to do – something useful.

But as soon as Hugh touches down in Thailand, the illusion of control begins to slip through his fingers. Jack’s warm trail is easy to find, but it leads somewhere unimaginable. Finally, as he closes in, Hugh is forced to resort to increasingly desperate measures.

Jack Was Here is an intoxicating glimpse into Thailand’s underworld. A startling debut from Christopher Bardsley.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

276 pages, Paperback

Published February 8, 2018

About the author

Born in 1987, Christopher Bardsley was raised in Melbourne, Australia. He undertook his studies at the University of Melbourne, where he received a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education. In 2012, Christopher was the recipient of Melbourne University’s Above Water prize for his short story Little Rock. He also received an honourable mention in the 2011 competition for his story Cripple Creek. Christopher has also published poetry and cultural criticism through Farrago magazine.

Christopher spent the beginning of his career teaching history at independent schools in Melbourne. While he is primarily an author of novels, his interests also include modern and ancient history, with a particular focus on interpreting political extremism.

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This remarkably accomplished debut novel introduces us to Hugh Fitzgerald, an Australian veteran who has retuned damaged in body and mind from combat in Afghanistan. Suffering from PTSD his life is in a downward spiral of alcohol and drugs. He has no aim in life anymore, no purpose, and alienates those around him. He’s not a likable character by any means, even if we can sympathise with his trauma. Then one day old family friends call on him to help trace their teenage son Jack who has gone missing in Thailand. Although initially reluctant, Hugh agrees to go. After all, why not? He has nothing else to do, and the financial reward is generous. He’s used to dangerous situations and has been to Thailand before. He’s soon immersed in the corrupt and seedy side of Thai life and the hunt for Jack becomes increasingly desperate.
This is an extremely well-written and well-paced novel, immersive and compelling. The setting is brilliantly conveyed – I could feel the heat and squalor and sense the danger and threat. (It’s certainly not a book the Thailand Tourist Board is likely to recommend.) There’s an honesty and authenticity to the writing that convinces, and although Hugh comes across at times as ruthless and hard, there’s nevertheless a complexity and moral ambiguity to him that draws the reader’s empathy and makes him a very interesting character.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from this talented writer.

[Starr Baumann]

Yeah, gonna have to DNF this at 19 percent, when he says it's ok that a teenage girl falls asleep with her head on his shoulder during a flight because she was cute.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked the moment I read"It used to make me really angry when I got that question."
I was curious about two things: what the question was and who it was that it angered. At the beginning, the author introduces us to Hugh, he's back home from a mission, he's now an Ex-Military officer and he's surviving on pension from the government and is difficult to be around because he's never sober and he doesn't open much to his therapists and family. So, he is pretty much a jerk, up until his brother Nick, a teacher, gets him to meet the parents of nineteen year old Jack who went backpacking in Thailand and so far is missing. They ask him to go in search of Jack and offer to pay him more than he's getting or making-and the next thing he knows, he's on a plane to Thailand to bring Jack home.
The plot thickens and you cannot help but be on the edge of your seat as Hugh finds that he's immersed in a dangerous world and finding Jack might lead to either death or never making it out of where they are. He's also got his own issues to deal with and drowning in alcohol or getting high doesn't seem to get him there.
What I loved about this book is that Hugh is not your dashing knight in armor. He's a pain, pessimistic, rude, self-absorbed but he's also afraid, hurting, guilty and when this other side of him is revealed, you cannot help but empathize with him.
There's a man in one of the bars in Bangkok who asked him "Yes. You will find him. But will you save him?" This was the one question that ran through my mind until I finished the book.
The story has a great flow, the action of each character adds to the thrill and perhaps, the one man, whom Hugh was so afraid of, is the one who helped him reach a turning point and that there is what made this story intense.
I've got to give a huge shout-out to Thistle Publishing for sending me an eARC to read and review. It sure did provide an insight to both the day and nightlife of Thailand and was such a great read. Fans of Mysteries, Thrillers and Crime are going to devour this.

[Jan Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant crime novel, and Christopher Bardsley is an author to watch for in the future.
Hugh Fitzgerald is an almost-broken man—served in the Australian army in Afghanistan, wounded and deployed home, his pension is generous enough to allow him to try and drink his way through his PTSD. He’s angry, he has terrible nightmares, and his wife has left him. He’s tough and gritty, though, and always was. When his brother seeks him out to help an old friend find their lost son in Bangkok, all expenses paid plus, Hugh takes on the job, though he’s kind of a wreck, and he knows it. His blatant honesty about himself is the charm here, no subtly, and he has a dark wit. The writing is superb and the plot tight though marred with a few too many typos (I'm looking at you, Thistle). I frankly couldn’t put this down. Hugh’s inner demons soon come crawling out in the excesses of Bangkok, and we learn more about his time in the service and his inner wounds as he hunts for young Jack Kerr. The secondary characters are well drawn, and Hugh’s insights and instinct for evil serve him well. The setting, from Bangkok to the border between Thailand and Cambodia, is so well written I could feel the awful humidity, almost smell the urban and human decay. I am very much looking forward to more from this author

[Chris Hannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Jack Was Here' tells the story of an ex-aussie soldier suffering from PTSD and his quest to find a missing person.

It's a book full of suspense and intrigue, with a hard-to-like protagonist who you somehow want to root for anyway. As we follow Hugh, the protagonist, we really get a sense of the dark underbelly of life in south-east Asia. Darkly comic in places, uncompromising as it is compelling, overall a really, really good read! I think 'Jack Was Here' would appeal to fans of Shantaram - though this is a much quicker read.

[Merryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I slogged 50% of the way through this when I abandoned it.

Unfortunately it is neither “suspenseful” or a “thriller” - in fact it just seems to lurch from one drunken / hung-over episode after another….

Hugh is a thoroughly unlikable protagonist and too much of the book focuses on Thai women in Thai bars. Half way into the book and our "hero" is still to start searching (or do anything much more than drink) for Jack.

I also found his depiction of Thai women offensive.

[Michael Bardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Backpacker-noir journey into the darker side of south east asia. Troubled protagonist battling inner demons and er, people who get in his way on a quest to save his brother's pupil. Tightly plotted and well paced - a page turner!

[Maisie · Rating 1 out of 5]

"That's what I think" - dumbdumb

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Thistle Publishing reached out to me with widgets for Jack Was Here by Christopher Bardsley. I downloaded the book and forgot about it for a week. Until a thunderstorm caused a power outage in the middle of the night.

I reported the outage to the power company and, knowing I would not get back to sleep for a while, opened Kindle and saw Jack Was Here on my downloaded books. Why not give it a look, I thought.

Bad idea. My attention was caught right off by the main character, Hugh, an Australian Marine whose time in Afghanistan has left him wounded body and soul. He has just about hit rock bottom, with alcohol as his favorite coping device. I did get back to sleep but finished the book before noon the next day.

Hugh's brother forces him out of his catastrophe of an apartment with a challenge: family friends want to hire him to find their son Jack, missing in Thailand. Hugh has been to Thailand and they hope he can aid the hired detective in finding their son. The Thai police have been useless; besides, there are sixty-eight other missing Australians.

Jack was a smart, underachieving kid who was using drugs. His folks thought a trip abroad would be good for him. He took off for Bangkok. It's been six weeks since they heard from him.

Jack's parents offer Huh ten thousand dollars to find Jack, with five hundred a week expenses, and fifteen thousand if he brings Jack home.

"Thailand had been playing on my thoughts over the last few months. It was a mecca for losers like me, a warm climate to piss away your troubles. (...)I didn't expect that finding Jack would be all that difficult." Jack was Here

Hugh accepts the offer. It was, he thought, the "best possible thing that could have happened to me at that point. It was a bit of direction in my life.

As Hugh follows the paper trail of phone and banking records, readers get a deep look into the seamy side of Thailand, the prostitution and party life that attracts kids and middle-aged office workers looking for unbridled freedom from the drudge of their lives. And into the criminal organizations that run drugs from Cambodia through Thailand, and the police corruption that benefits with colluding with the criminals.

Getting Jack involves some pretty ugly things, including murder. But Hugh is determined to save one young man, an expiation for surviving what his fellow soldiers did not.

I liked how Bardsley allowed Hugh to be the damaged person he is. I can't say readers will 'like' him and all his choices but we understand his struggle and pain.

[Stephanie Dagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh Fitzgerald is damaged, physically and mentally. Invalided out of the army after being blown up in a vehicle in Afghanistan, he’s now in a downward self-destructive spiral of drinking too much, smoking too much, depression and apathy. His ex-girlfriend is about to get married and he feels he has nothing in his life.
Then comes an unexpected plea from his over-achieving younger brother, Nick. The son of a friend of his has gone missing in Thailand. Knowing that Hugh has been there several times, and that he can handle himself when the pressure’s on, thanks to his army background, Nick suggests that Huge goes to try and find Jack and bring him home. Hugh is reluctant at first, then motivated by the fee alone. However, after some reflection he realises this mission is exactly what he needs. It seems that saving Jack may also be his own salvation. He can prove that he still has value.
He hits the ground running in Thailand, where he soon becomes immersed in its seedier side. He picks up Jack’s trail and doesn’t like where it’s leading at all, but he’s an honourable man and will see his commitment through to the bitter end. Flawed as he is with his addictions and failure to take better care of himself, at heart we see he has a strong moral code. It may not entirely agree with that of the general populace, but he plays by his own rules which he has thought through. He’s intelligent, surprisingly empathetic and loyal. He’ll do whatever it takes to get this job done.
Events take him from Thailand into the no-man’s land of between that country and Cambodia, namely Poipet, which has its own rules. Hugh has to track down The Chairman who is ruthless in the extreme. It’s going to take all his courage and determination to survive, and succeed.
We experience the glory and the horror of Thailand. The writing is no-holds-barred, and stunningly beautiful imagery is found next to the shockingly jagged and brutal. We see our hero’s finest moments as well his lowest. We get a real sense of the desperation of so many lives, and yet sense the optimism and spirit of these same people. You can feel the humidity, the energy, the tension. Christopher Bardsley takes you by the throat with his writing and hangs on for dear life. The book is unputdownable, combining thriller, social commentary, politics, travelogue and self-discovery, and it stays with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s a haunting, challenging and powerful book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers and have voluntarily reviewed it.

[Megan Tee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting thriller. A story about a father hiring his brother to find his son, and a tale of Thailand.

Despite how close the country is to mine, to the point that many visited Thailand. I never did. Although I do know of its dangers, and the way that a lot of things are really really cheap. So, I won’t talk about the portrayal. Even at times, I’m wondering a little. It just seems a little suspicious. But I don’t know so I won’t say.

But also, I wished for more complexity regarding Nick and his brother. They were distant, I could understand. But to the point that I’m even questioning their entire relationship, even some contact to me will have felt more real than this.

Not exactly having to meet face to face, but a little more in communication will be pretty good. And will add an emphasis, as well as a good and solid reason why Nick will go after Jack. Other than money. Because it is also a transaction.

I just didn’t understand, it felt a little too unbelievable. Because a lot of families will have unconscious prejudices against each other. It is just normal for it to happen.

Other than that, I enjoyed the story. Drugs, really play a heavy role here, Thailand is one of the best settings for it. While the story was decent in the execution, to the very end.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start with the positives. This book blew my expectations ( but yes I still gave 3 stars, you shall see why later).

Very good writing style. No first person( which is despise) unless in active conversation. Very few grammatical errors, actually I only came across one. The story was a good one. This was the first time I came across a novel with this plot. Although, it did become somewhat overwhelming and irritating toward the end.
The book gives real world perspective on the lives of tourist ( silly tourist) travelling into Thailand and Cambodia. Many leave their confined lives and find themselves getting up to mischief in these countries.
There is a murder scene or two but they were unavoidable ( be sure to have a strong stomach). This book is somewhat explicit but what do you expect it is Thailand and Drugs!

I am not going to reveal any spoilers but i do have a few questions.
From the description we see that he is a veteran who suffers from PTSD and that he was somehow on the path to total self annihilation. I did not get that perspective from the book. Beside the mention of him visiting his therapist and missing medication, I was not of the opinion that he was heading toward self destruction. Could this be due to the fact that there is a stereotype associated with mental health. There are many types on mental health issues and for those with PTSD they each experience it in a unique way. The book did however, pay some tribute to the lackadaisical effort the mental health professional put into supporting people. They were portrayed as just trying to fulfill some Ego trip.Was this the authors experience? Well I won't know. But it was good to highlight that there is a lack of genuine care for those who truly need support.

Also, in the beginning mention is made of Amber, I spent the entire book wondering what was the point of giving such detail mention of Amber when later on in the books she plays no part of Hugh Experience in Poipet or the rest of the book in general.

There is mention of child prostitution, and it gives full details about the drug smuggling trade in Thailand and Cambodia. There is also an epic final battle, which brings everything to a close.

It is worth the read. I was tuned of by the fact it was listed as thriller, but turns out is exceeded my expectation.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off a little slow and off putting for me. But if you stick trough the build up you are awarded for it by a book you hardly can stop reading. The main character is conflicting and throughout the book having discussions to himself about his real motives. He feels like a real person, not just a fictive character.

I wish I could follow his journey towards its end, but still it is left to my imagination what happens to Huge. If his journey turns out to help or worsen him I would love to know, but as a distant friend that you lost touch with it is not for me to know what happens. It leaves me to spin up an unrealistic version of how I would have handled it, and from this I know that I can never imagine how his life was. It puts light to the fact that I will never know what it is like to be a solider, or know how to live with the actions taken in combat. I imagine that it is a difficult life, and I would like to learn more about. This book is of the type that wants me to read more, and learn more, of the people surviving war.

*Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Graceish ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read some pretty bad books this year, but this stinker takes the cake. There isn't a single thrilling moment in this book, despite being shelved as a thriller. While replete with drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, and prostitution, it STILL manages to be boring. It's an accomplishment, really.

So what is it, if not a thriller? I'll tell you.

It was a sloppily-written, typo-filled story of an asshole drunk who miraculously completed the task he was paid for (finding Jack Kerr). There's no way on G*d's Green Earth that Hugh would have actually found Jack while being so constantly drunk and high. But let's give the book some leeway and say that it was, in fact, possible for Hugh to manage. At that point, the onus is on the author to show us how exactly Hugh followed the path to find Jack. Because, as it is, it's utter luck that he did. Hugh just happened to talk to Sanjay who referred him to Elvis who took him to Tommy who had kidnapped Jack? Hard no. Big boring.

How contrived the story was pales in comparison to how offensive it often is. Rampant racist micro-aggressions and sweeping generalizations of entire continents' of people pervade from beginning to end. And it drips of misogyny and 'barely-legal' tropes. yikes

Bottom line? The totality of this book is that it is both boring and offensive.
==================================
pre-review: well, this book was a ride… the kind of ride that you wait in line for an hour for, only to get to the front of the line as it breaks down.
(That is to say, this book was bad.)
More to come.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The backpackers Heart of Darkness.

Good read. A journey into backpackers hell and a look into the damage caused by hedonism running wild.
I look forward to the next outing of High Fitzgerald.

[Your favourite student · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is cool

[David Valsorda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic debut. Intriguing characters and very believable story. So much more depth than your standard action/thriller. Very immersive setting as well, Thailand demands a life and say in proceedings as much as the protagonist Hugh Fitzgerald himself.
Congratulations Chris.