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The Third Wheel
English teacher Dexter feels like he's being taunted by the universe. Everywhere he turns he's accosted by wedding invitations, housewarming parties and tables for two. Every last one of his friends is settling down with their other halves, while Dexter spends his evenings marking schoolbooks with his ginger cat for company. The thing is, he doesn't even mind being single; he just wishes his friends were too. After another wedding ends in a drunken disaster, Dexter is musing on the situation and wondering what he's going to screw up next, when he gets the shocking reminder that he's not the centre of the universe. An alien spaceship has landed on the continent and when first contact is made, it's anything but friendly. Humanity's numbers dwindle immediately, and the survivors are left to do exactly that - survive. Dexter gathers his friends and they all set off on a mission across the country, each with the goal of preserving their own lives in this new world. But these aliens are two-headed, tenacious and have technology beyond anything seen on Earth, so saving the day looks more and more unlikely as they track down Dexter's motley crew. In the end, perhaps it is the one thing Dexter dislikes most that will help him survive, if he can just stop thinking about himself for one minute.
- GenresFiction
226 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2019
3 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Michael J. Ritchie
4 books27 followersMichael has a degree in Creative Writing, and a library of about 1000 books. He is very fond of wine, shoes and funny podcasts. He enjoys learning things and is a valuable member of your pub quiz team.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 10, 2019
The Third Wheel is a refreshingly original, wickedly delicious apocalyptic novel. Through a unique combination of parody, satire and wit, author Michael J. Ritchie takes a swipe at the myriad tropes of the genre; first world millennial issues; and the basic human need for companionship and social interaction.
When this story begins, we learn that the narrator is a prisoner, recently abducted by aliens. The timeline then suddenly rewinds to one week prior. The speaker is revealed to be twenty-something Dexter, a British single English teacher coming to grips with being the lone “singleton” in his social circle. Through an episodic retelling of his past, Dexter introduces each of his friends and their partners. Once the group is presented and the dynamics are established, the action begins and aliens invade. Suddenly being single turns into a situational asset that almost ensures Dexter’s short-term survival.
Wielding his sharp sarcasm as a deadly weapon, nothing is safe from Ritchie. He manages to skewer the cliches of apocalyptic literature by making the obligatory love interest a death wish; giving the bad guys the upper hand: and saving everyone but those who are traditionally spared (farmers, preppers and doctors). Whilst bringing the entire genre to its knees, Ritchie takes a few moments to nod, wave then grill-on-an-open-flame organized religion, television journalism, British policy and contemporary pop culture. He pokes fun at Americans, whacks at social media, challenges gender roles and addresses sexual preference. Incredibly, even as he is biting the ankles of readers with teeth cut on humor, Ritchie manages to sneak in a story that at its core reveals the fears and weaknesses inherent to being human.
The myriad quips are at times juvenile and sophomoric, then suddenly introspective and philosophical, all well written and direct. One liners worthy of being followed by rim-shots are tucked between images of blood, guts and gore; and hilarious dialogue is scattered liberally onto the pages. The masterful juxtaposition of competing elements is nothing shy of genius. The Third Wheel is a must read for anyone who has grown weary of somber accounts of the apocalypse. There is just no way to read this without laughing out loud. Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
When this story begins, we learn that the narrator is a prisoner, recently abducted by aliens. The timeline then suddenly rewinds to one week prior. The speaker is revealed to be twenty-something Dexter, a British single English teacher coming to grips with being the lone “singleton” in his social circle. Through an episodic retelling of his past, Dexter introduces each of his friends and their partners. Once the group is presented and the dynamics are established, the action begins and aliens invade. Suddenly being single turns into a situational asset that almost ensures Dexter’s short-term survival.
Wielding his sharp sarcasm as a deadly weapon, nothing is safe from Ritchie. He manages to skewer the cliches of apocalyptic literature by making the obligatory love interest a death wish; giving the bad guys the upper hand: and saving everyone but those who are traditionally spared (farmers, preppers and doctors). Whilst bringing the entire genre to its knees, Ritchie takes a few moments to nod, wave then grill-on-an-open-flame organized religion, television journalism, British policy and contemporary pop culture. He pokes fun at Americans, whacks at social media, challenges gender roles and addresses sexual preference. Incredibly, even as he is biting the ankles of readers with teeth cut on humor, Ritchie manages to sneak in a story that at its core reveals the fears and weaknesses inherent to being human.
The myriad quips are at times juvenile and sophomoric, then suddenly introspective and philosophical, all well written and direct. One liners worthy of being followed by rim-shots are tucked between images of blood, guts and gore; and hilarious dialogue is scattered liberally onto the pages. The masterful juxtaposition of competing elements is nothing shy of genius. The Third Wheel is a must read for anyone who has grown weary of somber accounts of the apocalypse. There is just no way to read this without laughing out loud. Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
December 16, 2018
Third Wheel at first glance is an apocalyptic romcom. The protagonist is a single young man who has become a perpetual third wheel to all his happily coupled up friends. But now aliens have landed and their ideas of coupledom are significantly different, not too mention dangerous. It no longer pays to be part of a couple and survival is at a premium. Sounds cute, right? But the great thing about this book is that it isn’t or more like it manages to put its cuteness aside and get down to some seriously brutal apocalyptic reality. All the time spent describing various friends and their significant others and how they got together (frankly almost overwhelmingly so, at times it’s difficult to remember who’s who), so naturally you’ll end up carrying for them, they are, after all, a likeable bunch. And then the author does away with them, savagely. And, to his credit, very creatively. I enjoy apocalyptic fiction in general and it’s always nice to find a new twist on the genre. This story doesn’t offer any sort of warm and fuzzy resolution as you well know from chapter one narrated from some form of alien enclosure. Maybe there’s a sequel in the works. Though it works very well as a standalone survival story…and as a social commentary on the importance of pairing up too, I suppose. Plus it’s charming and charmingly British to boot, so there’s much to like here. It’s my second read by Unbound Press, winners both, and what an interesting concept, these books’ fates are decided by the public and are sponsored into being. Mind you, both very absolutely good enough to be released via more traditional methods and more well known publishers, but either way…I’m glad they came into the world. This one was tons of fun and a very enjoyable read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
January 10, 2019
There will be laughter, tears, twisted faces of disgust from gore--and you'll love it all.
Ritchie is at the top of his game with this novel. Bitingly clever dialogue, a cast of characters that you'll want to pull from the page and insert into your current circle of friends, and a story that will have you turning pages so quickly your wrist might start to hurt.
Order this book, SERIOUSLY, order it.
Ritchie is at the top of his game with this novel. Bitingly clever dialogue, a cast of characters that you'll want to pull from the page and insert into your current circle of friends, and a story that will have you turning pages so quickly your wrist might start to hurt.
Order this book, SERIOUSLY, order it.
March 9, 2019
This book was plenty weird. I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what Dexter and his all paired up friends were going to do during the worldwide alien invasion. Things got scary, random, and pretty human. What would I do if faced with a similar situation? Maybe one day I'll know the answer to that question.
December 26, 2018
An engaging and entertaining apocalyptic book!
I liked the style of writing and the plot, well written and humorous.
The characters were well written and likeable.
I look forward to reading other books by this writer.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Unbound and Netgalley for this ARC
I liked the style of writing and the plot, well written and humorous.
The characters were well written and likeable.
I look forward to reading other books by this writer.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Unbound and Netgalley for this ARC
December 17, 2018
I didn't actually read the paperback, but the ebook, as I supported this book on Unbound.
A nicely realised bit of apocalyptic fiction. I enjoyed the premise - that the protagonist is the only single person in his extended friendship group, which when things go pear-shaped at first seems a disadvantage but then seems as though it might not be.
As someone who has always found friends to be as important as family I liked the way Dexter's mates are introduced and given strong personalities before being - well, no spoilers.
There are two bonus chapters in the ebook which I guess were cut from the main text.
A nicely realised bit of apocalyptic fiction. I enjoyed the premise - that the protagonist is the only single person in his extended friendship group, which when things go pear-shaped at first seems a disadvantage but then seems as though it might not be.
As someone who has always found friends to be as important as family I liked the way Dexter's mates are introduced and given strong personalities before being - well, no spoilers.
There are two bonus chapters in the ebook which I guess were cut from the main text.
March 12, 2019
Humorous & attention grabbing. I enjoyed getting away from the serious and darker apocalyptic books for a while and reading one that keeps things light and fun. I would recommend this to friends! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 21, 2019
This book has nothing to do about aliens, and everything to do about relationships - although I liked Michael's take on the aliens. It's funny, unpredictable and, despite a few not-so-funny moments, very light-hearted. Yet it's also an insightful look at relationships, particularly the difference between romantic relationships vs a friend relationship, and highlights the importance of friends in our lives.
I love the easy style of the book, where, with a few well-crafted words, all the characters are brought to life, and are totally believable. There are no caricatures in this book, as so often happens with humorous books, and all the action is pretty realistic (alien invasion, notwithstanding). I love Michael J Ritchie's turn of phrase, and enjoyed his many wonderful analogies and descriptions. I found myself chuckling throughout the book.
I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a while, and my thanks to The Pigeonhole for giving me the opportunity to read it.
I love the easy style of the book, where, with a few well-crafted words, all the characters are brought to life, and are totally believable. There are no caricatures in this book, as so often happens with humorous books, and all the action is pretty realistic (alien invasion, notwithstanding). I love Michael J Ritchie's turn of phrase, and enjoyed his many wonderful analogies and descriptions. I found myself chuckling throughout the book.
I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a while, and my thanks to The Pigeonhole for giving me the opportunity to read it.
June 29, 2020
Polished this one off quite quickly, it’s written in a very conversational style, with those little humourous asides you’d expect if you were listening to Dexter over a cup, or three, of coffee. But: you wouldn’t be, because human-merging (for want of a better term) aliens have invaded, and our hero, along with an increasingly diminished (it’s late!) group of his partnered up friends survived the initial invasion, and are on the run. Mild-mannered singleton English teacher turned resistance fighter isn’t a genre I’d usually read, but the blurb amused me, and I’m glad I took the chance and read it. Props to the author for providing a couple of extra chapters after the finish proper to allay those ‘...but what happened to...?’ questions.
December 31, 2018
Independence Day from the 'little people's' point of view... with some surprising traits.
Aliens have landed. Dexter has been taken. This is just the first page, where Dexter is "overwhelmed by the notion of leaving everything I knew behind on that tiny blue dot that wasn't prepared for its sudden demise." We know immediately that this is no Happy Ever After. He tells us the story of a week ago, but also of his life and friends. Part of a large group of buddies, he's the only one not partnered up. Which seems to be significant.
One by one, he tells us how his friends all found partners, giving each personality and backstory (though I couldn't help but mix them up subsequently), making us see them all as noteworthy characters. The references of self-awareness are funny: "Enough back story, there's an alien invasion in progress" - I liked Dexter's narration from the present/future.
Dexter himself is single and lonely with it, despite loving his smart little cat (The Great Catsby) and having a career as an English teacher. When the world begins to fall apart, he bands together with his group and attempts to get them all to a place of safety, while watching the aliens and how they treat their victims.
I loved how Dexter described his friends as pairs: "Priti-and-Art". Very funny considering what happens to his friends.
Now, you'd expect this to be a horror story, as these are hostile aliens and they decimate the planet (again, this isn't a spoiler, this is told to us on the first page). But the horrors that are described are, almost universally, not dwelt on, mourned over, even though some description is fairly detailed. Dexter does at one point refer to grief, he empties his "body of its salt water", but it's removed from emotion somewhat.
The elements of an alien invasion you'd expect to read about are here - chases, deaths, protecting provisions, characters unexpectedly stepping up and showing unseen traits. But it's just as unusual in other elements.
Entertaining story, slightly unexpected, funny. The few chapters of bonus chapters after the book finishes add some little details of a few characters that I enjoyed for the alternative viewpoint they provided.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
Aliens have landed. Dexter has been taken. This is just the first page, where Dexter is "overwhelmed by the notion of leaving everything I knew behind on that tiny blue dot that wasn't prepared for its sudden demise." We know immediately that this is no Happy Ever After. He tells us the story of a week ago, but also of his life and friends. Part of a large group of buddies, he's the only one not partnered up. Which seems to be significant.
One by one, he tells us how his friends all found partners, giving each personality and backstory (though I couldn't help but mix them up subsequently), making us see them all as noteworthy characters. The references of self-awareness are funny: "Enough back story, there's an alien invasion in progress" - I liked Dexter's narration from the present/future.
Dexter himself is single and lonely with it, despite loving his smart little cat (The Great Catsby) and having a career as an English teacher. When the world begins to fall apart, he bands together with his group and attempts to get them all to a place of safety, while watching the aliens and how they treat their victims.
I loved how Dexter described his friends as pairs: "Priti-and-Art". Very funny considering what happens to his friends.
Now, you'd expect this to be a horror story, as these are hostile aliens and they decimate the planet (again, this isn't a spoiler, this is told to us on the first page). But the horrors that are described are, almost universally, not dwelt on, mourned over, even though some description is fairly detailed. Dexter does at one point refer to grief, he empties his "body of its salt water", but it's removed from emotion somewhat.
The elements of an alien invasion you'd expect to read about are here - chases, deaths, protecting provisions, characters unexpectedly stepping up and showing unseen traits. But it's just as unusual in other elements.
Entertaining story, slightly unexpected, funny. The few chapters of bonus chapters after the book finishes add some little details of a few characters that I enjoyed for the alternative viewpoint they provided.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
February 18, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for a Kindle ARC of
The Third Wheel.
To be honest, I wanted to read The Third Wheel because of the aliens. I like alien stories.
But the aliens are just the backdrop to this almost charming, rom-com type of novel.
Dexter is a teacher and the only single guy in his coterie of coupled up friends. It doesn't bother him that much. Sometimes.
As the world is invaded by nanobot wielding aliens, Dexter reflects on how he met each of his friends, how they found their mate and what it's like to be 'the third wheel' in a society that favors coupledom.
Dexter is a good guy. That's the simple fact. He is funny, relatable and self deprecating.
He is honest and loyal and he loves his cat, Catsby.
His circle of friends are diverse and unique; one he met in grammar school, another at a party, at work, and it was refreshing to hear a pretty optimistic guy like most of the mates his friends have chosen.
It was also nice to get a perspective from a single male on what its like to be single; society is always harsh on women, especially single women.
Dexter doesn't deny he prefers to be single; he admits he gets lonely sometimes and it would be nice to share life with someone else.
Minus the alien invasion, he has a decent outlook on life and love. He is grateful his friends have found someone to love.
But I wished the author had delved more into Dexter's view about love and relationships.
Why does he think he hasn't found 'the one?' Does he believe there is a special person for each of us out there? What kinds of relationships has he had before?
His last relationship ended with a slightly unhinged woman, and who appears briefly in the story.
I understood she was mostly used as a plot device but I felt her character was a bit stereotypical; a clingy, desperate woman who can't take a hint.
The alien scenes were scary and gross, just how I like them.
The irony that the aliens have two heads and appear to target couples was not lost on me; its kinda hilarious in a Family Guy kind of way.
The ending was satisfactory; open ended and suspenseful, and it didn't end with Dexter finding love or anything rom-com-like.
I enjoyed The Third Wheel but would have liked to know more about Dexter's viewpoint on love and his own search for it.
To be honest, I wanted to read The Third Wheel because of the aliens. I like alien stories.
But the aliens are just the backdrop to this almost charming, rom-com type of novel.
Dexter is a teacher and the only single guy in his coterie of coupled up friends. It doesn't bother him that much. Sometimes.
As the world is invaded by nanobot wielding aliens, Dexter reflects on how he met each of his friends, how they found their mate and what it's like to be 'the third wheel' in a society that favors coupledom.
Dexter is a good guy. That's the simple fact. He is funny, relatable and self deprecating.
He is honest and loyal and he loves his cat, Catsby.
His circle of friends are diverse and unique; one he met in grammar school, another at a party, at work, and it was refreshing to hear a pretty optimistic guy like most of the mates his friends have chosen.
It was also nice to get a perspective from a single male on what its like to be single; society is always harsh on women, especially single women.
Dexter doesn't deny he prefers to be single; he admits he gets lonely sometimes and it would be nice to share life with someone else.
Minus the alien invasion, he has a decent outlook on life and love. He is grateful his friends have found someone to love.
But I wished the author had delved more into Dexter's view about love and relationships.
Why does he think he hasn't found 'the one?' Does he believe there is a special person for each of us out there? What kinds of relationships has he had before?
His last relationship ended with a slightly unhinged woman, and who appears briefly in the story.
I understood she was mostly used as a plot device but I felt her character was a bit stereotypical; a clingy, desperate woman who can't take a hint.
The alien scenes were scary and gross, just how I like them.
The irony that the aliens have two heads and appear to target couples was not lost on me; its kinda hilarious in a Family Guy kind of way.
The ending was satisfactory; open ended and suspenseful, and it didn't end with Dexter finding love or anything rom-com-like.
I enjoyed The Third Wheel but would have liked to know more about Dexter's viewpoint on love and his own search for it.
February 18, 2019
And then there's me, Dexter, the third wheel.
For some reason, I came into this novel thinking it would be quite like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - aliens and humor and the unlikeliest lone human survivor. But it very quickly took me by the nose and jerked me through a ride that's both pleasant and horrifying, new and familiar in ways that tugged at my heartstrings until I was crying real tears and aching to reach into the pages to hug everyone. Punch an alien face or two while I'm at it, too.
One moment I was laughing. The next it was taking everything I had not to scream, "WTF!" out loud. Granted, I may have laughed in the most inappropriate places, but I quickly paid for those with a broken heart. The relationship Dexter had with his friends was enviable. The way they all turned to him when shit started hitting the fan, even more so. This made things that much harder to take in when the invasion began pulling them apart - in all sense of the word.
One particular scene got a bit too much that I had to take a pause to catch my breath. Ironically, this same scene was also my most favorite - a tragic but also darkly beautiful image of what I believe to be the strongest human bond. T.T<3
That final revelation of the aliens' true intentions was devastating, crashing whatever bit of twisted respect I had for what I was initially made to believe was their vision. I guess, for all of their advancements in technology, aliens really are just two-headed dumbasses from space. ^^
Thank you, The Pigeonhole and Mr. Michael J. Ritchie for this weirdly entertaining read. The entire experience isn't one that I can soon forget (or ever). And Dexter's unwavering love and loyalty for his diverse set of friends has inspired me to be a better companion to my own set of would-be Alien Resistance Army - or just be a better friend, period. <3
January 9, 2019
Thank you to Unbound and NetGalley for an ARC of the e-book version. Full review to be published in Style magazine's February issue.
This humorous book is great for a more casual read. While marketed as a science-fiction novel, The Third Wheel is more of a relatable comedy. I enjoyed this book because even when things got intense and even gruesome, it never took itself seriously. And the portrayal of Dexter as the only single friend was so on-point that I loved his character immediately and found myself laughing continuously.
The reader is introduced to main character and narrator Dexter while he is sitting in a cell on an alien spaceship, but aside from this prologue the reader does not see any sci-fi action until about six to seven chapters into the book.
For the majority of the first third of the story, the reader is introduced to Dexter’s friends — all happily coupled while he is the only single one... excluding his feline pet The Great Catsby. Unusually, this extensive character introduction is not dull or tedious, as Dexter is comically self-aware and relatable as a single person or third wheel. One particularly nice touch is how he refers to couples as one hyphenated entity instead of two people, such as Shell-and-Terry, and the ironic way this relates later on in the story.
You may like to not be in a public space when reading The Third Wheel, as some parts have you laughing aloud. Even when things get serious with alien invasions and gruesome deaths, the gory details are presented factually and without mulling over, as the comedic undertones remain and the book never once takes itself too seriously.
Once the humorous-looking and stereotypical aliens have landed, the pacing of the story hits full speed with no slowing down. It’s here where, if you get queasy at gore, you may wish to skim over as many of the descriptions are not for the faint-hearted.
This humorous book is great for a more casual read. While marketed as a science-fiction novel, The Third Wheel is more of a relatable comedy. I enjoyed this book because even when things got intense and even gruesome, it never took itself seriously. And the portrayal of Dexter as the only single friend was so on-point that I loved his character immediately and found myself laughing continuously.
The reader is introduced to main character and narrator Dexter while he is sitting in a cell on an alien spaceship, but aside from this prologue the reader does not see any sci-fi action until about six to seven chapters into the book.
For the majority of the first third of the story, the reader is introduced to Dexter’s friends — all happily coupled while he is the only single one... excluding his feline pet The Great Catsby. Unusually, this extensive character introduction is not dull or tedious, as Dexter is comically self-aware and relatable as a single person or third wheel. One particularly nice touch is how he refers to couples as one hyphenated entity instead of two people, such as Shell-and-Terry, and the ironic way this relates later on in the story.
You may like to not be in a public space when reading The Third Wheel, as some parts have you laughing aloud. Even when things get serious with alien invasions and gruesome deaths, the gory details are presented factually and without mulling over, as the comedic undertones remain and the book never once takes itself too seriously.
Once the humorous-looking and stereotypical aliens have landed, the pacing of the story hits full speed with no slowing down. It’s here where, if you get queasy at gore, you may wish to skim over as many of the descriptions are not for the faint-hearted.
April 25, 2019
3.5 Stars
”People always assume they know what they’ll do if a film scenario happened to them, such as finding a dinosaur walking towards them down a street or developing the ability to fly, but the truth is you can’t know how you’re going to react.”
This. Was. An. Odd. Book. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it though, I really enjoyed the book but hated the ending.
Dexter considers himself alone in the universe. All his friends have one by one become couples, either courting or married off. They’re all still his friends but he finds himself always being The Third Wheel. Suddenly their lives are all turned upside down when an alien race makes contact on Earth and is hostile in nature.
The Third Wheel is an interesting book when considering how humanity and the world can descend so quickly into chaos when an apocalypse is near. It doesn’t take long for society to break down, for people to turn on each other, themselves even and for the animals to start to claim back their home.
”‘I thought that if there ever was a dystopian future it would take people a lot longer to fall to anarchy - But now we know it takes a matter of days.”
Dexter has ALOT of friends that come in pairs and as a result it’s very hard to remember who exactly is who. All the names just start to blur into one so it’s very difficult to connect with any of the other characters aside from Dexter. Luckily Dexter is very funny. He’s dry and sarcastic and I like that sort of humour, especially in this apocalyptic setting, it works well.
This book is only a short read but an interesting Contemporary/Sci-Fi novel. I’d still like to know more so maybe a sequel is in order?!
“I realise that the whole planet is now a museum of a sort, as nothing is going to be improved on ever again."
I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
”People always assume they know what they’ll do if a film scenario happened to them, such as finding a dinosaur walking towards them down a street or developing the ability to fly, but the truth is you can’t know how you’re going to react.”
This. Was. An. Odd. Book. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it though, I really enjoyed the book but hated the ending.
Dexter considers himself alone in the universe. All his friends have one by one become couples, either courting or married off. They’re all still his friends but he finds himself always being The Third Wheel. Suddenly their lives are all turned upside down when an alien race makes contact on Earth and is hostile in nature.
The Third Wheel is an interesting book when considering how humanity and the world can descend so quickly into chaos when an apocalypse is near. It doesn’t take long for society to break down, for people to turn on each other, themselves even and for the animals to start to claim back their home.
”‘I thought that if there ever was a dystopian future it would take people a lot longer to fall to anarchy - But now we know it takes a matter of days.”
Dexter has ALOT of friends that come in pairs and as a result it’s very hard to remember who exactly is who. All the names just start to blur into one so it’s very difficult to connect with any of the other characters aside from Dexter. Luckily Dexter is very funny. He’s dry and sarcastic and I like that sort of humour, especially in this apocalyptic setting, it works well.
This book is only a short read but an interesting Contemporary/Sci-Fi novel. I’d still like to know more so maybe a sequel is in order?!
“I realise that the whole planet is now a museum of a sort, as nothing is going to be improved on ever again."
I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2019
The Third Wheel begins in such a way that you are hooked from the off. Then it totally changes scene and ditches you right back in the centre of normality! - at least for a while...
I started to read this one with a serious head on but then the humour in the text came oozing out. In the beginning I found that I was chuckling out loud due to the descriptions of everyday life and relationships. Very relatable in parts!.
But the storyline starts to flip between the humour of past events and the seriousness of the situation the characters find themselves in now.
Without giving anything away - the author takes us on a journey with Dexter and recounts his life and experiences with his groups of friends, but with a twist.
Not my usual genre - and to be honest, I don't think I'd have picked this one up normally, but have to say that I found the style of writing quite refreshing. It was a pretty quick and easy read - as long as you don't get bogged down with the gruesome parts. It does get pretty graphic, but try and see the humour even in those sections and you'll really enjoy this.
Another "would recommend" from me.
I started to read this one with a serious head on but then the humour in the text came oozing out. In the beginning I found that I was chuckling out loud due to the descriptions of everyday life and relationships. Very relatable in parts!.
But the storyline starts to flip between the humour of past events and the seriousness of the situation the characters find themselves in now.
Without giving anything away - the author takes us on a journey with Dexter and recounts his life and experiences with his groups of friends, but with a twist.
Not my usual genre - and to be honest, I don't think I'd have picked this one up normally, but have to say that I found the style of writing quite refreshing. It was a pretty quick and easy read - as long as you don't get bogged down with the gruesome parts. It does get pretty graphic, but try and see the humour even in those sections and you'll really enjoy this.
Another "would recommend" from me.
March 7, 2019
Dexter is a likeable 30-something English teacher and in many ways is your classic rom-com hero, seeing all his friends settling down while he hangs out with his cat, the great Catsby. But also, he's not a sad sack and he doesn't secretly pine for one or more of his female friends -- he actually likes them as people & gets along with their boyfriends. I loved that, and I loved the realism of his relationships with his friends & their relationships with each other.
But! This isn't just a rom-com, as much as it may seem like one at the beginning (and as nice as it is to hear the cute/silly stories of how Dexter's friends got paired up). As a huge fan of movies like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Zombieland" I was delighted by the alien invasion & by the black humour. Certainly felt like I could see a young Simon Pegg in the role of the bewildered Dexter watching the world go crazy. I liked that the different aspects of the invasion were explored & the author didn't hesitate to take certain concepts to their ridiculous extreme.
Loved the book -- I flew through it in a couple of days and would have gladly spent another book or two in the same world with the (remaining) characters. The bonus chapters at the end were a welcome surprise. Highly recommend, especially if you're a fan of black comedies.
But! This isn't just a rom-com, as much as it may seem like one at the beginning (and as nice as it is to hear the cute/silly stories of how Dexter's friends got paired up). As a huge fan of movies like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Zombieland" I was delighted by the alien invasion & by the black humour. Certainly felt like I could see a young Simon Pegg in the role of the bewildered Dexter watching the world go crazy. I liked that the different aspects of the invasion were explored & the author didn't hesitate to take certain concepts to their ridiculous extreme.
Loved the book -- I flew through it in a couple of days and would have gladly spent another book or two in the same world with the (remaining) characters. The bonus chapters at the end were a welcome surprise. Highly recommend, especially if you're a fan of black comedies.
May 31, 2019
Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.
The beginning drags on in detail a little bit. There is an alien invasion and while he’s in a prison cell his focus is on internally documenting his friendships, which isn’t something I particularly care about. The first few chapters describe extensively how the MC met each one of his friends and how they met their significant others. The actual alien invasion of earth picks up at chapter ten. From there, I get a “Shaun of the Dead” and “Doctor Who” vibe as the group of friends try to escape the aliens.
After getting past all the background info, the story is actually pretty good.
The beginning drags on in detail a little bit. There is an alien invasion and while he’s in a prison cell his focus is on internally documenting his friendships, which isn’t something I particularly care about. The first few chapters describe extensively how the MC met each one of his friends and how they met their significant others. The actual alien invasion of earth picks up at chapter ten. From there, I get a “Shaun of the Dead” and “Doctor Who” vibe as the group of friends try to escape the aliens.
After getting past all the background info, the story is actually pretty good.
January 20, 2019
A very unusual story. You keep waiting to find out that it is all a dream or a virtual reality game, but no. Dexter is the main character. You are introduced to Dexter’s friends, couple by couple. Dexter is one of those ‘gem of a friend’ that everyone should have. Not to give too much away, the world is invaded by aliens and Dexter narrates their flight to what they hope will be safety. I read this book via The Pigeonhole.
November 3, 2019
Well, this is great fun. In fact, in some respects, THE THIRD WHEEL strikes me as a tale straight out of Hollywood – think INDEPENDENCE DAY meets some High School rom com. Yet even so, there’s something quintessentially British about this alien invasion in the best tradition of HG Wells or John Wyndham. Just loved it.
May 11, 2019
I was involved in crowd funding this book on Unbound and was impressed by the way it entertained without shying away from the painful side of singledom when surrounded by coupling friends. Great concept and humorous. Reminded me very much of the bizarro genre and Jeff Burke's "Shatnerquest", so if you found this funny, try some Bizarro.
May 29, 2019
Great concept, very “human0story
An original and well written story. Great premise and likeable characters. Enjoy Ed the silly bits and the portrayal of kindness and love and n various forms in between much grossness! Wanted more in the end though.
An original and well written story. Great premise and likeable characters. Enjoy Ed the silly bits and the portrayal of kindness and love and n various forms in between much grossness! Wanted more in the end though.
February 29, 2020
What a rollercoaster. It starts lightly and then lurches down and down. Dragging you along willingly. A blaze of vivid colours smeared with dread and blood.
I should’ve taken more note of what to expect but then that would’ve distracted from the surprise that this story and it’s format unfurled.
I should’ve taken more note of what to expect but then that would’ve distracted from the surprise that this story and it’s format unfurled.
August 27, 2020
An absolutely wild ride, but rather an enjoyable one
February 6, 2019
Well certainly an interesting read
A very mixed up story full of quick turns and unusual nternal storylines.
Thought-provoking if you believe in aliens .
A very mixed up story full of quick turns and unusual nternal storylines.
Thought-provoking if you believe in aliens .
January 22, 2019
The Third Wheel is an apocalyptic disaster novel which is cleverly written to avoid the stereotypical plot lines.
Written from his cell on an alien spaceship, narrator Dexter recounts the week prior to his incarceration during which the singleton and his paired-up friends are terror stricken as they try to plot their way to safety utilising intimate knowledge of some of London’s landmark buildings for shelter.
Heartfelt explanations of how Dexter, met his circle of friends are warming and intersperse the developing plot. How those friendships hold up under an alien invasion is told with chilling results. The graphic text leaves little to the imagination as the story unfolds into a fight for survival against seemingly impossible odds.
Michael J Ritchie has managed to weave some ironic humour into the story causing some chuckles to lighten the darkening plot. He successfully achieves his desire produce a novel which, and I quote, subverts any story that insists on including a romance subplot, as well as any science fiction story where untrained amateurs inexplicably have the right skills to save the day.
A genuinely gripping read and thoroughly recommended to anyone seeking a new perspective on a tried and tested theme.
Written from his cell on an alien spaceship, narrator Dexter recounts the week prior to his incarceration during which the singleton and his paired-up friends are terror stricken as they try to plot their way to safety utilising intimate knowledge of some of London’s landmark buildings for shelter.
Heartfelt explanations of how Dexter, met his circle of friends are warming and intersperse the developing plot. How those friendships hold up under an alien invasion is told with chilling results. The graphic text leaves little to the imagination as the story unfolds into a fight for survival against seemingly impossible odds.
Michael J Ritchie has managed to weave some ironic humour into the story causing some chuckles to lighten the darkening plot. He successfully achieves his desire produce a novel which, and I quote, subverts any story that insists on including a romance subplot, as well as any science fiction story where untrained amateurs inexplicably have the right skills to save the day.
A genuinely gripping read and thoroughly recommended to anyone seeking a new perspective on a tried and tested theme.
October 6, 2019
The Third Wheel was a different type of read for me and nothing that I expected. The first half had me rolling on the floor laughing and the second half, deadly serious. The book is the apocalyptic tale of Dexter a single man with his pet cat, Catsby, and his relationship with several of his friends, all of whom are in relationships.
He is therefore the third world and the tale unravels with aliens landing on the earth and taking over, with their view of couples, pivotal to what happens (no spoilers). My favourite parts of the book were the descriptions of how each couple met but I did not enjoy the ending.
Initially being single in the scenario raises the thought process of loneliness and then when things go belly up, what first seems a handicap, might in fact not be. Two things this author has in abundance are a sense of humour and vivid imagination.
He is therefore the third world and the tale unravels with aliens landing on the earth and taking over, with their view of couples, pivotal to what happens (no spoilers). My favourite parts of the book were the descriptions of how each couple met but I did not enjoy the ending.
Initially being single in the scenario raises the thought process of loneliness and then when things go belly up, what first seems a handicap, might in fact not be. Two things this author has in abundance are a sense of humour and vivid imagination.
March 7, 2020
Four Weddings and an Alien Invasion
This book opens with our narrator sitting on the floor of a cell in an alien spaceship. Since our narrator is depressed and hopeless we know that first contact did not go well. This feels more like the zombie apocalypse than a larky sci-fi adventure.
But as the tale begins we start at a happier time. Dexter is a single surrounded by friends who are all couples. Dexter is happy enough with his status, but has his lonely moments. He recounts his situation with a wry and rueful playfulness, punctuated by the occasional vinegary observation. This begins to feel like a contemporary comedy of social manners. Dexter introduces us to his circle of close friends, and their significant others, and gives us charming, perceptive, and honestly observed and remembered stories about the hows, wheres and whens of his meeting each character. By chapter eight we are all at a wedding, and Dexter's descriptions of the goings on bring the circle tightly together. The tale is amusing and peppered with funny and/or bracing observations about all of the friends and the dynamic that binds. You forget about that whole spaceship thing and just enjoy the good writing and the casually tossed off lighter observations.
And then the aliens arrive. The description of the world's reaction, and of the friends' reactions, is dry and understated, and it feels like this may turn out to be the most vaguely bemusing invasion ever. But the aliens are not friendly; they are unstoppable; they are casually violent; and they find humans to be an annoying inconvenience that needs to be exterminated. From this point on the tale is dark, disturbing, and unrelentingly bleak. We are back to apocalypse.
What you end up with is a romcomedy of manners that transitions into a dystopian gorefest. The (SPOILER) hook is that the aliens go after couples rather than singles. That rather puts the metaphorical point on the proceedings, and by the end it's all a bit belabored. (We do have many couples to dispose of.) That said, it's still an entertaining trip, and may help you feel a little better about spending Saturday nights alone.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book opens with our narrator sitting on the floor of a cell in an alien spaceship. Since our narrator is depressed and hopeless we know that first contact did not go well. This feels more like the zombie apocalypse than a larky sci-fi adventure.
But as the tale begins we start at a happier time. Dexter is a single surrounded by friends who are all couples. Dexter is happy enough with his status, but has his lonely moments. He recounts his situation with a wry and rueful playfulness, punctuated by the occasional vinegary observation. This begins to feel like a contemporary comedy of social manners. Dexter introduces us to his circle of close friends, and their significant others, and gives us charming, perceptive, and honestly observed and remembered stories about the hows, wheres and whens of his meeting each character. By chapter eight we are all at a wedding, and Dexter's descriptions of the goings on bring the circle tightly together. The tale is amusing and peppered with funny and/or bracing observations about all of the friends and the dynamic that binds. You forget about that whole spaceship thing and just enjoy the good writing and the casually tossed off lighter observations.
And then the aliens arrive. The description of the world's reaction, and of the friends' reactions, is dry and understated, and it feels like this may turn out to be the most vaguely bemusing invasion ever. But the aliens are not friendly; they are unstoppable; they are casually violent; and they find humans to be an annoying inconvenience that needs to be exterminated. From this point on the tale is dark, disturbing, and unrelentingly bleak. We are back to apocalypse.
What you end up with is a romcomedy of manners that transitions into a dystopian gorefest. The (SPOILER) hook is that the aliens go after couples rather than singles. That rather puts the metaphorical point on the proceedings, and by the end it's all a bit belabored. (We do have many couples to dispose of.) That said, it's still an entertaining trip, and may help you feel a little better about spending Saturday nights alone.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
October 19, 2019
Unbound are known for taking daring choices of titles, and with The Third Wheel, they definitely have done so. An alien invasion as told by a twentysomething named Dexter, along with his large group of coupled off friends, as they try to survive and he tells us the history between them all.
I will confess, when I started reading, I wasn't quite taken. But eventually, after getting into the vibe of the tale, I found myself devouring it and flowing through the story at a fast pace. It definitely isn't the kind of book you'd expect from the cover, but manages itself in a way that engages the reader. One may pick up on a few narrative tropes that could cause groans, but Ritchie uses them well and makes them feel necessary rather than cliched.
My only real criticism is that the idea of singledom vs coupledom comes across a bit harsh at times, and one particular plot point feels a bit too on the nose. However, as stated above, this is used in such a way that it doesn't fully hinder the tale.
As for the end? Well, it hit me out of nowhere, and I now find myself wanting a sequel. Despite some loose ends being wrapped up.
I would definitely recommend The Third Wheel, especially to those with an awareness of London and its Museums (which the author shows his love of quite well). It reminded me very much of the likes of Shaun of the Dead, and another indie book I read - Apocalypse Barnes by Andrew Lawston. Stick with it, expect the unexpected, and enjoy the escalation and immersion.
I will confess, when I started reading, I wasn't quite taken. But eventually, after getting into the vibe of the tale, I found myself devouring it and flowing through the story at a fast pace. It definitely isn't the kind of book you'd expect from the cover, but manages itself in a way that engages the reader. One may pick up on a few narrative tropes that could cause groans, but Ritchie uses them well and makes them feel necessary rather than cliched.
My only real criticism is that the idea of singledom vs coupledom comes across a bit harsh at times, and one particular plot point feels a bit too on the nose. However, as stated above, this is used in such a way that it doesn't fully hinder the tale.
As for the end? Well, it hit me out of nowhere, and I now find myself wanting a sequel. Despite some loose ends being wrapped up.
I would definitely recommend The Third Wheel, especially to those with an awareness of London and its Museums (which the author shows his love of quite well). It reminded me very much of the likes of Shaun of the Dead, and another indie book I read - Apocalypse Barnes by Andrew Lawston. Stick with it, expect the unexpected, and enjoy the escalation and immersion.
January 20, 2019
Aliens invade the earth, and naturally, mayhem ensues.
But surely there needs to be something more to this plot for an entire novel to be written on this?
Maybe I'm missing something really obvious, going by how many readers seem to have loved this book. But I feel like I wasted a LOT of my time reading something so meaningless.
Maybe it's time I decided to just keep away from all apocalyptic / dystopian themed books, judging from the fact that I decidedly have not enjoyed the few such books I've read in the past.
Despite my own hypothetical lack of appreciation for this genre, I still cannot help but wonder what someone could possibly like in this book.
The only thing I can say in its favour is that it's eminently readable. It doesn't bore the reader, even though I would recommend not combining meal-times with reading time, given the amount of gore.
Apart from that, there is nothing else that I enjoyed. There was no complete plot. No story, nothing to hold on to after finishing the book.
**Spoiler Alert**
The entire "story" is the back story of Dexter's (the protagonist's) life and friendships *before* the alien invasion. The book ends where it began, with Dexter still stuck as prisoner in the same alien spaceship.
Where is the fun in that?
**End of Spoiler**
Overall, I would not be inclined to pick up another book either by the same author, or with a similar theme.
Two headed aliens were best handled by Douglas Adams, and nobody can convince me otherwise.
~Fin~
But surely there needs to be something more to this plot for an entire novel to be written on this?
Maybe I'm missing something really obvious, going by how many readers seem to have loved this book. But I feel like I wasted a LOT of my time reading something so meaningless.
Maybe it's time I decided to just keep away from all apocalyptic / dystopian themed books, judging from the fact that I decidedly have not enjoyed the few such books I've read in the past.
Despite my own hypothetical lack of appreciation for this genre, I still cannot help but wonder what someone could possibly like in this book.
The only thing I can say in its favour is that it's eminently readable. It doesn't bore the reader, even though I would recommend not combining meal-times with reading time, given the amount of gore.
Apart from that, there is nothing else that I enjoyed. There was no complete plot. No story, nothing to hold on to after finishing the book.
**Spoiler Alert**
The entire "story" is the back story of Dexter's (the protagonist's) life and friendships *before* the alien invasion. The book ends where it began, with Dexter still stuck as prisoner in the same alien spaceship.
Where is the fun in that?
**End of Spoiler**
Overall, I would not be inclined to pick up another book either by the same author, or with a similar theme.
Two headed aliens were best handled by Douglas Adams, and nobody can convince me otherwise.
~Fin~
August 14, 2019
I wish I could have that time back!!!
What a terrible book
SPOILERS
There is in-depth analysis of each character which is mildly interesting. The aliens arrive, they may have two heads but they are no more intelligent.
The main character is on his own, except for his cat, which he deliberately lets go into the wild, which is a bad move. He constantly moans that he’s on his own and then hooks up with an ex for sex. They find a weird cult in a church where they all start killing themselves and him and his friends to join them.
And eventually he is captured.
Very disjointed, not really much of a story line.
End of story, waste of time. Incredibly disappointing when it could’ve been much better.
What a terrible book
SPOILERS
There is in-depth analysis of each character which is mildly interesting. The aliens arrive, they may have two heads but they are no more intelligent.
The main character is on his own, except for his cat, which he deliberately lets go into the wild, which is a bad move. He constantly moans that he’s on his own and then hooks up with an ex for sex. They find a weird cult in a church where they all start killing themselves and him and his friends to join them.
And eventually he is captured.
Very disjointed, not really much of a story line.
End of story, waste of time. Incredibly disappointing when it could’ve been much better.
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