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The Winker
'A highly enjoyable game of cat-and-mouse with perfect period texture and some nicely wry humour' The Guardian
'This playful caper is equally successful as a detailed, culture-rich evocation of its period and an English reworking of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley' The Sunday Times
London, 1976.
In Belgravia in the heat of summer, Lee Jones, a faded and embittered rock star, is checking out a group of women through the heavy cigarette smoke in a crowded pub. He makes eye contact with one, and winks. After allowing glances to linger for a while longer, he finally moves towards her.
In that moment, his programme of terror - years in the making - has begun.
Months later, the first of the many chilling headlines to come appears: 'Police hunting winking killer.'
Meanwhile in France.
Charles Underhill, a wealthy Englishman living in Paris, has good reason to be interested in the activities of the so-called Winking Killer. With a past to hide and his future precarious, Charles is determined to discover the Winker's identity.
In the overheating cities of London, Oxford, Paris and Nice, a game of cat and mouse develops, and catching someone's eye becomes increasingly perilous. But if no one dares look, a killer can hide in plain sight . . .
From 'a master of historical crime fiction' (The Guardian), The Winker is a gripping thriller that won't let you look away.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2019
10 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Martin
191 books105 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Andrew Martin (born 6 July 1962) is an English novelist and journalist.
Martin was brought up in Yorkshire, studied at the University of Oxford and qualified as a barrister. He has since worked as a freelance journalist for a number of publications while writing novels, starting with Bilton, a comic novel about journalists, and The Bobby Dazzlers, a comic novel set in the North of England, for which he was named Spectator Young Writer of the Year. His series of detective novels about Jim Stringer, a railwayman reassigned to the North Eastern Railway Police in Edwardian England, includes The Necropolis Railway, The Blackpool Highflyer, The Lost Luggage Porter, Murder at Deviation Junction and Death on a Branch Line. He has also written the non-fiction book; How to Get Things Really Flat: A Man's Guide to Ironing, Dusting and Other Household Arts.
Andrew Martin (born 6 July 1962) is an English novelist and journalist.
Martin was brought up in Yorkshire, studied at the University of Oxford and qualified as a barrister. He has since worked as a freelance journalist for a number of publications while writing novels, starting with Bilton, a comic novel about journalists, and The Bobby Dazzlers, a comic novel set in the North of England, for which he was named Spectator Young Writer of the Year. His series of detective novels about Jim Stringer, a railwayman reassigned to the North Eastern Railway Police in Edwardian England, includes The Necropolis Railway, The Blackpool Highflyer, The Lost Luggage Porter, Murder at Deviation Junction and Death on a Branch Line. He has also written the non-fiction book; How to Get Things Really Flat: A Man's Guide to Ironing, Dusting and Other Household Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 20, 2019
Andrew Martin's 1970s set historical crime fiction immerses the reader in the music and culture of the time, capturing the period with panache, with the heavy smoky London pubs and the unforgettable fashion that defines the era. It is 1976, and minor rock band, Picture Show, consisting of principle songwriter and vocalist, Lee Jones, and band members, Geoff Hudson, Crispin Philips, Bob Barton, are vaguely known for their biggest hit, Perplexity Jane. Jones, an ex-public school boy, arrogant, narcissistic, flamboyant dresser, is bitter and frustrated that he is not more famous, and receiving the adulation that he is so deserving of. He has plans to address this, becoming famous, by defying the obligations of morality and conventionality. Dressing in a ostentatious green suit that brings out the striking bright green of his eyes, and flashy sunglasses, he winks at a woman, and so begins his path towards notoriety, as the wink becomes his trademark. He is to forge a path, performing his star turn, that will ensure he is front page news. The novel shifts locations, from London, Paris, Nice and to Oxford.
In Paris, wealthy Englishman, Charles Underhill, lives with mother, Syl, receiving some unsettling postcards depicting scenes from Oxford. In the 1950s, Charles had been at Oxford University, joining in the party games, he is a man of secrets that led to him departing from the university early, as he and Syl left for Paris. He thinks he knows who is behind the postcards, the postcards that hint of a past coming back to haunt him. He leaves Paris for a stay in Nice, where he meets Howard Miller, financially cash strapped, staying rent free at an apartment owned by his publisher, whilst ostensibly writing his second crime novel. Miller's crime debut, Marsh, has made little impact when it comes to sales. After meeting little known film director, Fabien, Miller agrees to take a tiny film role as an Englishman with car, despite the cliche ridden script, for a small fee. He is drawn into doing a job for Charles that has him travelling to London and Oxford. There is no way Charles is going to allow his past to be revealed, he is going to protect his future, whatever it takes.
Martin is not a fast paced writer of historical crime fiction, he favours the capturing of a historical era and the creation of characters that catch your interest, their foibles, their complex interior lives, their behaviour and the acts that define them. Lee is a larger than life creation, warped and slightly unhinged, for whom reality is rather blurred. This is underlined with the constant appearances of Abi, who interviews Lee as his infamy begins to unfold. There is a certain glee expressed by Charles as he at long last frees himself of the constraints that have hidden for so long who he really is. Martin's depiction of the moves and interactions between Charles and Lee, along with the crime writer, Miller, that is the highlight of this novel. This is a fabulously compulsive read, I loved the portrayal of the 1970s, the music scene, the sexual fluidity, and the creation of characters that feel instrinsically part of that particular time period. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
In Paris, wealthy Englishman, Charles Underhill, lives with mother, Syl, receiving some unsettling postcards depicting scenes from Oxford. In the 1950s, Charles had been at Oxford University, joining in the party games, he is a man of secrets that led to him departing from the university early, as he and Syl left for Paris. He thinks he knows who is behind the postcards, the postcards that hint of a past coming back to haunt him. He leaves Paris for a stay in Nice, where he meets Howard Miller, financially cash strapped, staying rent free at an apartment owned by his publisher, whilst ostensibly writing his second crime novel. Miller's crime debut, Marsh, has made little impact when it comes to sales. After meeting little known film director, Fabien, Miller agrees to take a tiny film role as an Englishman with car, despite the cliche ridden script, for a small fee. He is drawn into doing a job for Charles that has him travelling to London and Oxford. There is no way Charles is going to allow his past to be revealed, he is going to protect his future, whatever it takes.
Martin is not a fast paced writer of historical crime fiction, he favours the capturing of a historical era and the creation of characters that catch your interest, their foibles, their complex interior lives, their behaviour and the acts that define them. Lee is a larger than life creation, warped and slightly unhinged, for whom reality is rather blurred. This is underlined with the constant appearances of Abi, who interviews Lee as his infamy begins to unfold. There is a certain glee expressed by Charles as he at long last frees himself of the constraints that have hidden for so long who he really is. Martin's depiction of the moves and interactions between Charles and Lee, along with the crime writer, Miller, that is the highlight of this novel. This is a fabulously compulsive read, I loved the portrayal of the 1970s, the music scene, the sexual fluidity, and the creation of characters that feel instrinsically part of that particular time period. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
June 7, 2019
I usually don't comment on the artwork of a book, but I find this incredibly creepy for some reason, and this feeds into the increasingly ominous atmosphere in this exquisite piece of historical crime fiction. I guess the cover is befitting of the period in which the story is set — Circa 1976 — it follows the exploits of three particular men — Lee Jones and Charles Underhill, one with evil intentions and the other with a dark, dirty past to hide, and a third, Howard Miller, who exists more on the periphery. We journey with Lee as he continues to rack up kills without barely blinking an eye or thinking about the innocent lives he's snuffed out and follow Charles as we learn about the incident which led to his self-imposed exile from UK shores. As their paths cross a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.
The Winking Killer is an absorbing and refreshingly original thriller and the richly-imagined 70s decade is vivid and a joy to behold. Martin's narrative immerses you in the music, food, fashion and culture of the time and from that point onwards I was completely consumed and continued to read it all in a single sitting. It is a slow burn novel and builds tension beautifully until it's almost stifling. Martin is also to be lauded for complex characters who inhabit his world superbly and are both flawed and human. It is a compulsive and gripping read with many interconnected layers to the plot and it's easy to blast through a considerable number of pages without even noticing and would be for anyone interested in unique crime fiction. Many thanks to Corsair for an ARC.
The Winking Killer is an absorbing and refreshingly original thriller and the richly-imagined 70s decade is vivid and a joy to behold. Martin's narrative immerses you in the music, food, fashion and culture of the time and from that point onwards I was completely consumed and continued to read it all in a single sitting. It is a slow burn novel and builds tension beautifully until it's almost stifling. Martin is also to be lauded for complex characters who inhabit his world superbly and are both flawed and human. It is a compulsive and gripping read with many interconnected layers to the plot and it's easy to blast through a considerable number of pages without even noticing and would be for anyone interested in unique crime fiction. Many thanks to Corsair for an ARC.
May 31, 2019
This is a literary crime novel, with a real sense of place and time. It centres around three characters, moving mainly between 1976 London and Nice, with trips to Oxford and Paris. Firstly, we have Lee Jones, past member of group, Picture Show, who recorded one album, in 1971, as well as two singles but had no hits... With success having eluded him, Lee lives a life of imaginary delusion, keeping in touch with only one former member of the band, who now works as a music journalist. Now, Lee has a new project, which will take him out onto the streets of Seventies London, looking for a different type of fame.
In Paris, we have Englishman, Charles Underhill; living in self-exile in France, after an event which took place while he was a student at Oxford. On holiday in Nice, Underhill comes across Howard Miller, who is trying to write his second novel. Needing money, he agrees to do a task for Charles, relating to his past. We follow Howard as he travels back to England and becomes involved with Lee Jones.
This is a really interesting novel. All three characters are defined by their failure. Lee Jones is, perhaps, the most obvious, but Charles is always aware that his past may come back to haunt him, while Howard also feels that his career is not going the way he wants. Trying to convince his father he is actually achieving something, while bashing away on a typewriter, makes him feel something of a fraud. In a sense, the crime aspect of the novel is less important than the interactions of the characters, which is what makes you read on. I also loved the imaginary journalist, who follows Lee Jones on his adventures around London. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
In Paris, we have Englishman, Charles Underhill; living in self-exile in France, after an event which took place while he was a student at Oxford. On holiday in Nice, Underhill comes across Howard Miller, who is trying to write his second novel. Needing money, he agrees to do a task for Charles, relating to his past. We follow Howard as he travels back to England and becomes involved with Lee Jones.
This is a really interesting novel. All three characters are defined by their failure. Lee Jones is, perhaps, the most obvious, but Charles is always aware that his past may come back to haunt him, while Howard also feels that his career is not going the way he wants. Trying to convince his father he is actually achieving something, while bashing away on a typewriter, makes him feel something of a fraud. In a sense, the crime aspect of the novel is less important than the interactions of the characters, which is what makes you read on. I also loved the imaginary journalist, who follows Lee Jones on his adventures around London. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
January 31, 2020
I spotted The Winker in the library and decided to borrow it. How could I not, with that absurd, arresting cover, showing The Most Seventies Man Alive in a green leisure suit giving us the most leering wink possible?
I showed the book to my Dad
Dad: Looks like they made a typo in that title.
I then showed the book to my girlfriend, who said it looked absolutely disgusting and that nobody should ever read anything that looked that heinous.
Reader, I read it! And if you're wondering whether in the book itself there's any reference to my Dad's observation that winker is just one letter away from wanker, there's several!
This is a decent crime novel. It's not too gory or disgusting, and it's interesting to spend time in this world with these weird 70s dudes in heatwave London and France. Also, it's a queer crime novel! Granted, both of the main queer characters are reprehensible (one of them's the titular winker/wanker) but that aspect of the book doesn't feel offensive or homophobic, rather that it's the author's decision that of course they'd be queer because everyone's queer (the right call.) I don't think the author is queer based on what I can find out with a brief google search, but when reading the book I wouldn't have been surprised if he was. The queerness felt very naturalistic and chill, and not written to shock us or to make the murderer look worse or anything. He's just an equal opportunity serial killer! Of course there should be more books with bi men who aren't serial killers but that's a whole other issue.
Anyway, if you'd like an easy read that's 70s and crime-y, I'd recommend this. It's the sort of book where you'd know from the description whether you're going to like it or not.
I showed the book to my Dad
Dad: Looks like they made a typo in that title.
I then showed the book to my girlfriend, who said it looked absolutely disgusting and that nobody should ever read anything that looked that heinous.
Reader, I read it! And if you're wondering whether in the book itself there's any reference to my Dad's observation that winker is just one letter away from wanker, there's several!
This is a decent crime novel. It's not too gory or disgusting, and it's interesting to spend time in this world with these weird 70s dudes in heatwave London and France. Also, it's a queer crime novel! Granted, both of the main queer characters are reprehensible (one of them's the titular winker/wanker) but that aspect of the book doesn't feel offensive or homophobic, rather that it's the author's decision that of course they'd be queer because everyone's queer (the right call.) I don't think the author is queer based on what I can find out with a brief google search, but when reading the book I wouldn't have been surprised if he was. The queerness felt very naturalistic and chill, and not written to shock us or to make the murderer look worse or anything. He's just an equal opportunity serial killer! Of course there should be more books with bi men who aren't serial killers but that's a whole other issue.
Anyway, if you'd like an easy read that's 70s and crime-y, I'd recommend this. It's the sort of book where you'd know from the description whether you're going to like it or not.
November 21, 2020
Psychotic failed pop star makes a grisly bid for fame. It’s ok, fun in parts but the casual cruelty fails to Menander convincingly.
January 26, 2020
Fortunately, not as creepy as the title suggests. Unfortunately, not a particularly convincing story.
June 29, 2025
I FCUKING LOVE HISTORICAL CRIME FICTION. and this book catlayzed my love for them.
February 9, 2020
I haven’t read anything by Andrew Martin before and as I began reading The Winker I found it decidedly odd and a bit creepy. I don’t like the cover at all and the title didn’t appeal to me either. But the description interested me.
I like the structure of this book. It is set in 1976 with flashbacks to 1951, in several locations, mainly London and Nice and sometimes in Paris and Oxford. Each time and place is clearly highlighted. The book is largely character-led. Lee Jones, a failed pop singer and psychopath is working on a ‘project’, nothing to do with music, aiming to achieve world-wide fame. He calls it a ‘programme’ and involves something he calls a ‘folder’ and his ‘trademark’. He is living in a fantasy world, accompanied by Abigail a journalist who intermittently interviews Lee. It was all a bit ambiguous at first and it took me a few pages to decide what I thought about Abigail and her role in the book.
Then there is Charles Underhill, a man of about fifty, living a self-imposed exile in France, because of an event in Oxford whilst he was a student there. He lives a very routine life in Paris with his mother Syl, except for his annual holiday in Nice. His routine is upset when he receives a postcard with a picture of the river at Oxford showing a boat full of university rowers, but no message on the back. When more unsigned postcards arrive he is worried that they are from Pat Price who was at the university with him in 1951.
In Nice Charles meets Howard Miller, a crime fiction writer. His first novel wasn’t a great success and he is looking for inspiration for his next novel, to prove to his father he wasn’t wasting his time. These three men are now set on a collision course as Charles offers to pay Howard for a couple of days work in Oxford to find out who had sent him the anonymous postcards. From that point onwards everything fell into place for me and I was hooked.
This is psychological crime fiction, you know right from the beginning who the ‘Winker’ is, but the precise method of the murders is not clear (at least not to me) until later in the book. And Charles’ secret is revealed quite early in the book. Neither Lee nor Charles are pleasant characters and this is decidedly a creepy tale, but it’s also a compelling one. Howard, on the other hand, is rather a naive character, who nevertheless gets to the bottom of the mystery. I loved the settings – they are so vivid and evocative of the 1970s; the places, the intense heat of the summer of 1976, the people, their clothes, the hairstyles, sunglasses, cars, exotic cigarettes, and especially the music of the 70s, bring it all to life in technicolour. I think this is ripe for being made into a film.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
I like the structure of this book. It is set in 1976 with flashbacks to 1951, in several locations, mainly London and Nice and sometimes in Paris and Oxford. Each time and place is clearly highlighted. The book is largely character-led. Lee Jones, a failed pop singer and psychopath is working on a ‘project’, nothing to do with music, aiming to achieve world-wide fame. He calls it a ‘programme’ and involves something he calls a ‘folder’ and his ‘trademark’. He is living in a fantasy world, accompanied by Abigail a journalist who intermittently interviews Lee. It was all a bit ambiguous at first and it took me a few pages to decide what I thought about Abigail and her role in the book.
Then there is Charles Underhill, a man of about fifty, living a self-imposed exile in France, because of an event in Oxford whilst he was a student there. He lives a very routine life in Paris with his mother Syl, except for his annual holiday in Nice. His routine is upset when he receives a postcard with a picture of the river at Oxford showing a boat full of university rowers, but no message on the back. When more unsigned postcards arrive he is worried that they are from Pat Price who was at the university with him in 1951.
In Nice Charles meets Howard Miller, a crime fiction writer. His first novel wasn’t a great success and he is looking for inspiration for his next novel, to prove to his father he wasn’t wasting his time. These three men are now set on a collision course as Charles offers to pay Howard for a couple of days work in Oxford to find out who had sent him the anonymous postcards. From that point onwards everything fell into place for me and I was hooked.
This is psychological crime fiction, you know right from the beginning who the ‘Winker’ is, but the precise method of the murders is not clear (at least not to me) until later in the book. And Charles’ secret is revealed quite early in the book. Neither Lee nor Charles are pleasant characters and this is decidedly a creepy tale, but it’s also a compelling one. Howard, on the other hand, is rather a naive character, who nevertheless gets to the bottom of the mystery. I loved the settings – they are so vivid and evocative of the 1970s; the places, the intense heat of the summer of 1976, the people, their clothes, the hairstyles, sunglasses, cars, exotic cigarettes, and especially the music of the 70s, bring it all to life in technicolour. I think this is ripe for being made into a film.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
August 21, 2019
Oxford in the 1950s and Charles Underhill commits murder, he appears to have got away with it until 1976 when he starts to receive anonymous postcards from Oxford. He engages the help of a naive young writer to help him track the sender. Meanwhile in London Lee Jones, flamboyant failed rock star and handsome dandy, gives his trademark wink to a girl in a pub.
Andrew Martin is a brilliant writer and the reader doesn't realise how wedded they are to his books until they are finished. On the surface this is a lightweight crime caper involving an academic, a young writer, a narcissist and various stereotypical French people but dig a little deeper and it becomes a clever 'cat and mouse' thriller. The period detail is excellent both in terms of fashion and setting and also the zeitgeist, London is on the cusp of the punk revolution and anarchy is just below the surface. The characters reflect this with the staid society man, the rebellious moneyed man, the northerner, the free spirited young woman etc. It should be a group of cliches but it isn't.
Andrew Martin is a brilliant writer and the reader doesn't realise how wedded they are to his books until they are finished. On the surface this is a lightweight crime caper involving an academic, a young writer, a narcissist and various stereotypical French people but dig a little deeper and it becomes a clever 'cat and mouse' thriller. The period detail is excellent both in terms of fashion and setting and also the zeitgeist, London is on the cusp of the punk revolution and anarchy is just below the surface. The characters reflect this with the staid society man, the rebellious moneyed man, the northerner, the free spirited young woman etc. It should be a group of cliches but it isn't.
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May 8, 2022I think Andrew Martin is a top class writer. I've read many of his novels and his range is diverse. I wasn't sure whether this was intentionally written as an homage to Patricia Highsmith or even Graham Greene but it worked for me. I found it to be very dark, at times frightening but always compelling. I was a student in the 1970s so most of the cultural references resonated with for me. I wonder how younger readers would react, but I guess if a reference goes over your head you can just ignore it. I agree with other reviewers that the cover is creepy. I loved the small hardback book it was physically good to handle. I didn't like the art work on the cover though; not because it was creepy but it just didn't look good enough for the book.
June 5, 2019
I loved this book: the engrossing and gripping plot, the vivid description of the 70s and the amazing character development were the element that made me love it and kept me hooked till the last page.
This is not a fast paced book, it takes time but it never bores as you get involved in the character life and their actions.
This is one the best book I read this year and I'm happy I requested it because I discovered a very good writer.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
This is not a fast paced book, it takes time but it never bores as you get involved in the character life and their actions.
This is one the best book I read this year and I'm happy I requested it because I discovered a very good writer.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
July 23, 2019
It's the hot summer of 1976 in London and failed pop star Lee Jones is embarking on a new career as a serial killer. It's part of his programme to get his name in the papers again and to make himself a known figure to all. Meanwhile, Charles Underhill is in a self-imposed exile in France after something that happened to him at Oxford Uni in 1951. Thanks to a young writer, the paths of Charles and Lee eventually cross. This was a fun read and Jones was a cringeworthy leading man with his narcissism.
September 18, 2019
A really different thriller. You think you know where the plot is heading but then it takes some unusual twists and turns. Very enjoyable.
July 16, 2020
Bit weird.
August 18, 2020
Another great Andrew Martin novel, fast moving and very atmospheric set in the the heatwave summer of the 1970s.
February 11, 2021
Hard to know what to make of this slight book. Easy to read, odd but strangely fun, didn't ever feel that characters were in jeopardy exactly but also didn't know where it would end up.
February 1, 2022
Just didn’t grab me.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews