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Daniel Dayton thriller series #1
Woodcutter
Some family trees are meant to fall...
On the run from his criminal family, Daniel Dayton returns home to Newcastle Upon Tyne when his abandoned daughter is attacked.
But his family have problems of their own. Targeted by a brutal mercenary, their empire is destined to be destroyed should Daniel refuse to help.
Betrayed by his parents. Despised by his brother. In love with his sister-in-law. Home has become a dangerous place to be.
Daniel wants his daughter safe. And he wants his revenge, but in the shadowy streets of Newcastle, things are never what they seem.
On the run from his criminal family, Daniel Dayton returns home to Newcastle Upon Tyne when his abandoned daughter is attacked.
But his family have problems of their own. Targeted by a brutal mercenary, their empire is destined to be destroyed should Daniel refuse to help.
Betrayed by his parents. Despised by his brother. In love with his sister-in-law. Home has become a dangerous place to be.
Daniel wants his daughter safe. And he wants his revenge, but in the shadowy streets of Newcastle, things are never what they seem.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2018
44 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 19, 2019
Distrust
The Woodcutter is a brutal and unforgiving story that leaves you in a cold sweat as you try to navigate the deception, threats and continuous revelations around the Dayton criminal empire.
Daniel Dayton is hiding out in Scotland from his father and his brother when he is eventually tracked down and presented with a compelling reason to return to Newcastle Upon Tyne and help his family. A killer (Fairbanks) is systematically dismantling the Dayton Empire by killing off main figures and cutting off protection and extortion routes. Most importantly Daniel’s daughter Eisha has been left in a coma following an attack. All 6ft 8in of Daniel is back for revenge and he has no compunction in wreaking havoc.
The plot delivers a stereotypical ruthless demanding father (Ed) that drives his sons to rule someday by fear, and he creates a son (Scott) that embraces his methods and the other (Daniel) that rebels and runs away. All the characters are interesting and well developed, including the minor ones. Family secrets and relationships are intriguing especially between the wives – current and ex. Daniel, who is an engaging and strangely likeable character, is described by his father as,
The story is really gripping with an unrelenting edgy and dark threat where there are surprises at every turn.
Many thanks to Thistle Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
The Woodcutter is a brutal and unforgiving story that leaves you in a cold sweat as you try to navigate the deception, threats and continuous revelations around the Dayton criminal empire.
Daniel Dayton is hiding out in Scotland from his father and his brother when he is eventually tracked down and presented with a compelling reason to return to Newcastle Upon Tyne and help his family. A killer (Fairbanks) is systematically dismantling the Dayton Empire by killing off main figures and cutting off protection and extortion routes. Most importantly Daniel’s daughter Eisha has been left in a coma following an attack. All 6ft 8in of Daniel is back for revenge and he has no compunction in wreaking havoc.
The plot delivers a stereotypical ruthless demanding father (Ed) that drives his sons to rule someday by fear, and he creates a son (Scott) that embraces his methods and the other (Daniel) that rebels and runs away. All the characters are interesting and well developed, including the minor ones. Family secrets and relationships are intriguing especially between the wives – current and ex. Daniel, who is an engaging and strangely likeable character, is described by his father as,
“You’re gifted, but you’re also dumb, you can’t see what’s right in front of your eyes.”The gift is that he can tell when people are lying, the reason he’s dumb is that he doesn’t understand the game being played behind it. The characters and their personal motives and duplicity all reinforce the sense of menace and a previously feared and violent empire being defeated by a motivated, intelligent and skilful killer.
The story is really gripping with an unrelenting edgy and dark threat where there are surprises at every turn.
Many thanks to Thistle Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
April 17, 2018
Woodcutter is a dark, mean, drama involving some of the most despicable people you ever will come across in a book and, yet, it also was one of the most gripping novels I have read in a long time.
This is the debut novel of Shaun Baines, a writer from Scotland, who focuses on noir story-telling about the underbelly of Scotland; the dark, Scottish streets. Woodcutter is primarily the story of Daniel Dayton, son of one the most powerful mob bosses in Scotland. Daniel left home to escape the killing, the family and the darkness, leaving behind his daughter in the care of her aunt. But the family business wasn't finished with Daniel and, when he learns that his daughter is in a coma as a result, he returns to seek his revenge.
Woodcutter is a slow simmering tale that allows Baines to fully develop his characters. While I've read others suggest that the characters are stereotypes, I think there is a reason for those stereotypes and Baines uses them well and to his advantage. He also exposes these characters' inner conflicts: fathers who hate and love their sons, wives and ex-wives who are loyal yet still betray the family, love and hate are presented as two sides of the same coin and the writer presents it in a unique and carefully crafted manner. I found myself in conflict as I was "rooting" for the worst of people who were doing horrific deeds. In the end, I re-read the first and last chapters twice because the ending was so apropos that I thought I was imagining its perfection.
While I don't consider this a "thriller," it is suspenseful. I simply would consider it Scottish Noir and read it because it is a great example of this type of literature. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
This is the debut novel of Shaun Baines, a writer from Scotland, who focuses on noir story-telling about the underbelly of Scotland; the dark, Scottish streets. Woodcutter is primarily the story of Daniel Dayton, son of one the most powerful mob bosses in Scotland. Daniel left home to escape the killing, the family and the darkness, leaving behind his daughter in the care of her aunt. But the family business wasn't finished with Daniel and, when he learns that his daughter is in a coma as a result, he returns to seek his revenge.
Woodcutter is a slow simmering tale that allows Baines to fully develop his characters. While I've read others suggest that the characters are stereotypes, I think there is a reason for those stereotypes and Baines uses them well and to his advantage. He also exposes these characters' inner conflicts: fathers who hate and love their sons, wives and ex-wives who are loyal yet still betray the family, love and hate are presented as two sides of the same coin and the writer presents it in a unique and carefully crafted manner. I found myself in conflict as I was "rooting" for the worst of people who were doing horrific deeds. In the end, I re-read the first and last chapters twice because the ending was so apropos that I thought I was imagining its perfection.
While I don't consider this a "thriller," it is suspenseful. I simply would consider it Scottish Noir and read it because it is a great example of this type of literature. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
April 13, 2018
This book starts out violent and stays that way. I honestly didn't like any of the characters. Their ruthless killers so I guess I'm not supposed to.This is the debut novel by this author and it just wasn't for me. The plot was too unrealistic for me with too much action going on. I mean if the characters were in real life and acted this way they would have been caught or dead before all this happened.
Pub Date 07 Jun 2018
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Thistle Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Pub Date 07 Jun 2018
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Thistle Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 30, 2018
There is only one problem about being at the top of any business and that is there is only one way that is left to go. The Daytons have ruled the roost, as far as being top dogs round Newcastle upon Tyne clubs and drug running goes, for more years than people want to remember. The only way that they have done that is through people’s fear of them but there is a new contender and he is running circles round them. Fairbanks isn’t impulsive, he plans and adapts.
Now I am in a reading situation that is totally confusing my morals. Who do I cheer on and get behind because lets face it these are both seriously disturbed sons of seriously damaged parents. The story bounces a little into the past and how life put them on the paths that has led them to present day and a face off. As the story unfolds I found that I swapped and changed who I wanted to come out on top.
Daniel Dayton had left this side of his life behind and taken off to Scotland where he was a woodcutter, hence the title. A massive man who had been forced to return when the whole top dog Newcastle situation became personal when his daughter ended up in a coma. Things were hot before but whoa Daniel had a lot of violence stored in his 6ft 8in tall frame and he wasn’t squeamish about using it. Yikes I was heading into some pretty hefty territory, with family feuds between brothers, mothers and ex and current wives but mostly a father that could still make any man tremble. Ed Dayton.
This is a cracking story that threw me at times but there again they are all on the wrong side of the law to begin with. Not everything is as it seems, bloody hell it is much worse! This story totally entertained me from the first page to the last. Super debut!
Now I am in a reading situation that is totally confusing my morals. Who do I cheer on and get behind because lets face it these are both seriously disturbed sons of seriously damaged parents. The story bounces a little into the past and how life put them on the paths that has led them to present day and a face off. As the story unfolds I found that I swapped and changed who I wanted to come out on top.
Daniel Dayton had left this side of his life behind and taken off to Scotland where he was a woodcutter, hence the title. A massive man who had been forced to return when the whole top dog Newcastle situation became personal when his daughter ended up in a coma. Things were hot before but whoa Daniel had a lot of violence stored in his 6ft 8in tall frame and he wasn’t squeamish about using it. Yikes I was heading into some pretty hefty territory, with family feuds between brothers, mothers and ex and current wives but mostly a father that could still make any man tremble. Ed Dayton.
This is a cracking story that threw me at times but there again they are all on the wrong side of the law to begin with. Not everything is as it seems, bloody hell it is much worse! This story totally entertained me from the first page to the last. Super debut!
June 5, 2018
GA Shaun Baines brings us an excellent demonstration of the concept of nature or nurture in this his debut novel. Woodcutter follows two gangs in an English town, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Scott and Daniel are the sons of Ed Dayton and his first wife, Liz. Ed has raised the boys in his 'business' from an early age, has an extensive crew and controls most of the drug trade on the East End of Newcastle. In his twenties, son Daniel rebels and leaves England for a job is Scotland as a timber man, a woodcutter. His brother Scott and wife Lily have basically co-raised ten year old Eisha, Daniels' daughter, from birth, and Daniel trusts them to continue to care for his girl. And they do - until she becomes a tool of revenge carried out by the gangs from the West End, The Maguire's and Curly's Crew. Eisha is in the hospital in a coma, and Daniel has come home to even the playing field. The Maguire's had no notion of what revenge really looked like.
Baines is an excellent teller of tales. I will look for more from this author.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Shaun Baines and David Haviland of Thistle Publishing. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Pub date May 24, 2018
Baines is an excellent teller of tales. I will look for more from this author.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Shaun Baines and David Haviland of Thistle Publishing. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Pub date May 24, 2018
April 7, 2018
The name Daytons when mention sends shivers of fear through the recipients,
this English mafia style syndicate empire is falling and it was falling very fast, with a lot of death and chaos. Using a little girl to get her father back was a devious thing to do, money gives one a lot of bravadoes especially if they are involved in the criminal fiber of the society. To the king on the throne, Ed, the only one that could save them and help give them back their fearful countenance, was the one bird that flew the coup. Daniel the one who seeks change and walked away from a life of crime came for one thing and that's revenge. now they have brought him back and the one who did such a dastardly evil to his daughter would pay the price dearly for hurting her. It's a real man's world with this book, but you know what I enjoyed it, it was gripping and nail-biting from beginning to end very intriguing indeed.
this English mafia style syndicate empire is falling and it was falling very fast, with a lot of death and chaos. Using a little girl to get her father back was a devious thing to do, money gives one a lot of bravadoes especially if they are involved in the criminal fiber of the society. To the king on the throne, Ed, the only one that could save them and help give them back their fearful countenance, was the one bird that flew the coup. Daniel the one who seeks change and walked away from a life of crime came for one thing and that's revenge. now they have brought him back and the one who did such a dastardly evil to his daughter would pay the price dearly for hurting her. It's a real man's world with this book, but you know what I enjoyed it, it was gripping and nail-biting from beginning to end very intriguing indeed.
February 22, 2022
A quiet life in Scotland away from his dysfunctional family parts Daniel from his young daughter. When she is attacked, he returns to his old life to help those he left behind fend off a massive assault on their business.
The book I'm reviewing is actually The Wrong Lie which is, I believe, an updated version of Woodcutter.
Normally, this type of story would be far away from my preferred genre, but I noticed the file had an ARC tag on it so I pushed it to the forefront of my TBR, knocking aside my current read. I'm glad I did. While practically everything about this book screams "Not for me!", I couldn't get enough of the characters. It's not an exaggeration to say that I had a reader's need to discover the outcome of the tale.
My caution: this is a bloody and violent story and not a read for the younger ones. If, however, you don't mind grit in your readings and do like a character-driven story, then you've come to the right place.
The book I'm reviewing is actually The Wrong Lie which is, I believe, an updated version of Woodcutter.
Normally, this type of story would be far away from my preferred genre, but I noticed the file had an ARC tag on it so I pushed it to the forefront of my TBR, knocking aside my current read. I'm glad I did. While practically everything about this book screams "Not for me!", I couldn't get enough of the characters. It's not an exaggeration to say that I had a reader's need to discover the outcome of the tale.
My caution: this is a bloody and violent story and not a read for the younger ones. If, however, you don't mind grit in your readings and do like a character-driven story, then you've come to the right place.
April 8, 2018
3 and 1 / 2 stars
This is an interesting debut novel by a new author to me. While it was not a bad read, it leaves this reader wanting a little more oomph to the story. The bad guys were caricatures of wanna-be gangsters. This must be due to the author’s newness at the writing game. He can only get better, right? They were supposed to be a frightening bunch of bad guys, but I found myself smiling at times because of their incompetent antics.
The basic story was a good one. Man who leaves a life of crime behind him and wants to go straight gets drawn back in due to the danger his daughter is in. He wants revenge, and he wants it now. I sympathized with the protagonist and was rooting for him to get justice.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this book so that I may give my honest review.
This is an interesting debut novel by a new author to me. While it was not a bad read, it leaves this reader wanting a little more oomph to the story. The bad guys were caricatures of wanna-be gangsters. This must be due to the author’s newness at the writing game. He can only get better, right? They were supposed to be a frightening bunch of bad guys, but I found myself smiling at times because of their incompetent antics.
The basic story was a good one. Man who leaves a life of crime behind him and wants to go straight gets drawn back in due to the danger his daughter is in. He wants revenge, and he wants it now. I sympathized with the protagonist and was rooting for him to get justice.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this book so that I may give my honest review.
April 19, 2019
Too much suspension of disbelief required!
A great set-up and idea. However, as more bodies than The Godfather and Goodfellas mounted with cliches like cleaning up murders before the police arrived in the middle of a council estate and cleaning up fingerprints with a handkerchief - my belief wavered, as this crime family would have been under scrutiny, as suggested in the great opening chapters. The antagonist had Lucifer qualities , which made his power unbelievable and became a joke - how could he have the power to free someone from prison who'd been caught in the most precarious of circumstances? This book has received excellent reviews and personal recommendations from respected critiques and friends who know this genre but over a dozen times I said, 'Oh come on.'. Not for me.
A great set-up and idea. However, as more bodies than The Godfather and Goodfellas mounted with cliches like cleaning up murders before the police arrived in the middle of a council estate and cleaning up fingerprints with a handkerchief - my belief wavered, as this crime family would have been under scrutiny, as suggested in the great opening chapters. The antagonist had Lucifer qualities , which made his power unbelievable and became a joke - how could he have the power to free someone from prison who'd been caught in the most precarious of circumstances? This book has received excellent reviews and personal recommendations from respected critiques and friends who know this genre but over a dozen times I said, 'Oh come on.'. Not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2018
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Summary:
A dark thriller, set in a grim version of Newcastle, England. A Family is under attack, and as its once all-powerful aura begins to slip and smash, old wounds re-open, and secrets are brought into the light.
Main Characters:
Daniel Dayton: Prodigal son of the powerful Dayton crime family, he is sucked back into that world when he hears his daughter, whom he left behind, has become collateral damage in this new war.
Fairbanks: Clever, patient, and relentless, he is the nemesis of the Dayton family, and the mastermind behind the attacks on the family.
Ed Dayton: The patriarch of this murderous crime family, ruthless, and your stereotypical family boss.
Minor Characters:
Scott Dayton: Cold and calculating, son of Ed, he seems to have all the attributes to be the heir-in-waiting.
Lily: Scott's long-suffering wife, she took care of Daniel’s daughter when he disappeared.
Mosely: A low-level operative for the Daytons, he is your typical bully who is essentially weak.
Plot:
This is a grim tale. There is a lot of violence, beginning from the opening sequence and carrying right through. However, this is the world these people live in.
Who are these people? The Dayton crime family and their associates. Drugs, robberies, prostitution, extortion – you name it, they have it all going on. However, as the initial scenes indicate, all is not well in their empire, as someone is taking on and beating the Daytons, causing them to lose a lot of face and power.
This is the central thread in the book, about what happens when the foot comes off the throat, and the all-powerful becomes vulnerable. The mysterious Fairchild is waging a war against them, and a lot of Dayton money and energy is going into finding and killing him. Scott, the heir-in-waiting, is leaving no stone unturned, or source un-tortured, in order to get to Fairchild.
A separate thread is the return of the prodigal son. Daniel, being like his brother Scott a giant of a man, ran away from the family, for reasons slowly made clear during the book, and has no love for his father. However, he receives news that his daughter Eisha has been hospitalised, and makes the hard choice to return south from Scotland to Newcastle in order to see her. This means, inevitably, coming again within the orbit of his family. Daniel is hot-tempered, and does not come back only to attend to his daughter, but to literally get his hands on the people who put her in there. He also becomes aware of the threats facing his family, but is really indifferent, as he wants to leave all that behind him.
The book slowly unfolds, with several flashback scenes, but always against a backdrop of threatening violence. There is a serious undercurrent of betrayal as well – wives against husbands, associates against associates, family against family.
We discover a network of old feuds and forbidden attractions, decision made from avarice and stupidity, a litany of trust and betrayal. As the tension in the novel builds, the stakes getting higher, the characters are pared back to the bone of what and who they really are.
What I Liked:
- The tension building was excellent. It read like a TV series, all that was missing was the music!
- Daniel is a deeply-flawed person, as well as having some redeeming features. He is complex, and I was left unsure as to whether to cheer him on, or call the cops!
- The pace, while initially slow, picks up along with the tension, and delivers a great finale.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Some of the scenes didn’t seem to make sense. For example, Scott in prison was not how I would have expected him to be, as a leading member of one of the most feared crime families – the scenes with Queenie and Spicer just didn’t ring true.
- Some of the characters were too stereo-typed or one-dimensional.
- None of these characters excite any empathy, or are really likeable, but this is a natural result of their brutal upbringing and lives.
Overall:
It is a good, gritty read. No holds are barred as the story develops, and definitely will keep you interested right to the end. The plot twists and turns, some unexpected developments, and an ending that does justice to the Dayton family! If you like the crime thriller, you will really like this book!
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Thistle Publishing and the author for sending me a .pdf of the book, in return for an honest and objective review.
Summary:
A dark thriller, set in a grim version of Newcastle, England. A Family is under attack, and as its once all-powerful aura begins to slip and smash, old wounds re-open, and secrets are brought into the light.
Main Characters:
Daniel Dayton: Prodigal son of the powerful Dayton crime family, he is sucked back into that world when he hears his daughter, whom he left behind, has become collateral damage in this new war.
Fairbanks: Clever, patient, and relentless, he is the nemesis of the Dayton family, and the mastermind behind the attacks on the family.
Ed Dayton: The patriarch of this murderous crime family, ruthless, and your stereotypical family boss.
Minor Characters:
Scott Dayton: Cold and calculating, son of Ed, he seems to have all the attributes to be the heir-in-waiting.
Lily: Scott's long-suffering wife, she took care of Daniel’s daughter when he disappeared.
Mosely: A low-level operative for the Daytons, he is your typical bully who is essentially weak.
Plot:
This is a grim tale. There is a lot of violence, beginning from the opening sequence and carrying right through. However, this is the world these people live in.
Who are these people? The Dayton crime family and their associates. Drugs, robberies, prostitution, extortion – you name it, they have it all going on. However, as the initial scenes indicate, all is not well in their empire, as someone is taking on and beating the Daytons, causing them to lose a lot of face and power.
This is the central thread in the book, about what happens when the foot comes off the throat, and the all-powerful becomes vulnerable. The mysterious Fairchild is waging a war against them, and a lot of Dayton money and energy is going into finding and killing him. Scott, the heir-in-waiting, is leaving no stone unturned, or source un-tortured, in order to get to Fairchild.
A separate thread is the return of the prodigal son. Daniel, being like his brother Scott a giant of a man, ran away from the family, for reasons slowly made clear during the book, and has no love for his father. However, he receives news that his daughter Eisha has been hospitalised, and makes the hard choice to return south from Scotland to Newcastle in order to see her. This means, inevitably, coming again within the orbit of his family. Daniel is hot-tempered, and does not come back only to attend to his daughter, but to literally get his hands on the people who put her in there. He also becomes aware of the threats facing his family, but is really indifferent, as he wants to leave all that behind him.
The book slowly unfolds, with several flashback scenes, but always against a backdrop of threatening violence. There is a serious undercurrent of betrayal as well – wives against husbands, associates against associates, family against family.
We discover a network of old feuds and forbidden attractions, decision made from avarice and stupidity, a litany of trust and betrayal. As the tension in the novel builds, the stakes getting higher, the characters are pared back to the bone of what and who they really are.
What I Liked:
- The tension building was excellent. It read like a TV series, all that was missing was the music!
- Daniel is a deeply-flawed person, as well as having some redeeming features. He is complex, and I was left unsure as to whether to cheer him on, or call the cops!
- The pace, while initially slow, picks up along with the tension, and delivers a great finale.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Some of the scenes didn’t seem to make sense. For example, Scott in prison was not how I would have expected him to be, as a leading member of one of the most feared crime families – the scenes with Queenie and Spicer just didn’t ring true.
- Some of the characters were too stereo-typed or one-dimensional.
- None of these characters excite any empathy, or are really likeable, but this is a natural result of their brutal upbringing and lives.
Overall:
It is a good, gritty read. No holds are barred as the story develops, and definitely will keep you interested right to the end. The plot twists and turns, some unexpected developments, and an ending that does justice to the Dayton family! If you like the crime thriller, you will really like this book!
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Thistle Publishing and the author for sending me a .pdf of the book, in return for an honest and objective review.
June 15, 2018
I received an e-copy of Woodcutter by Shaun Baines for review.
A dark, grisly, intricate tale of a mafia-type family. Full of action, violence, brutality, familial intrigue and peripheral sex. Pretty much what a reader expects from this genre. Not to say it is predictable or mundane. It is able to still be full of surprising twists and turns.
The problem for me? No body was sympathetic! The main character Daniel tries but just can't pull off likability. Every character had such unforgivable flaws that it was difficult to root for any. Just when you are ready to sympathize with a character, they participate in something that destroys their humanity and connect-ability. After finishing Woodcutter I decided, "I don't like any of these people". But that is okay because the story is interesting and engaging and well written. It held my interest and kept me guessing (wrongly as usual).
If you like good ol' shoot'em up violence, extreme brutality, mafia-esque honor and loyalty, all inflicted by unlikable characters, Woodcutter is the ticket. It wasn't a problem that it was set in England rather than a more mafia style location like New York or Chicago. A good read all around by Shaun Baines. Enjoy!
A dark, grisly, intricate tale of a mafia-type family. Full of action, violence, brutality, familial intrigue and peripheral sex. Pretty much what a reader expects from this genre. Not to say it is predictable or mundane. It is able to still be full of surprising twists and turns.
The problem for me? No body was sympathetic! The main character Daniel tries but just can't pull off likability. Every character had such unforgivable flaws that it was difficult to root for any. Just when you are ready to sympathize with a character, they participate in something that destroys their humanity and connect-ability. After finishing Woodcutter I decided, "I don't like any of these people". But that is okay because the story is interesting and engaging and well written. It held my interest and kept me guessing (wrongly as usual).
If you like good ol' shoot'em up violence, extreme brutality, mafia-esque honor and loyalty, all inflicted by unlikable characters, Woodcutter is the ticket. It wasn't a problem that it was set in England rather than a more mafia style location like New York or Chicago. A good read all around by Shaun Baines. Enjoy!
May 19, 2018
I received Woodcutter by Shaun Baines in exchange for an honest review. I have given this book five out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark, malicious and full of drama, Woodcutter was just the raw, brutal book I needed to get my hands on.
Baines created such a brilliant descriptive story, which really helped my imagination kick in, so I managed to conjure up what the characters looked like and set the scene well. This is a slow paced story which Baines used to the best of his advantage as all of his characters are well-developed and the story itself has been told in such an intriguing and compelling way that I found it very difficult to try and put the book down.
The Dayton's are definitely a family I wouldn't like to get on the wrong side of.
This story was very gripping and had a lot of surprises throughout which I did not see coming. I thought the choice of name for the title of this book was very clever as without reading the blurb you would initially think that this story is about a Woodcutter. Wrong.
I hope to read more by Baines soon! I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the dark thriller, violence and suspense genres.
April 9, 2018
Every family has issues and as far as they go, the Daytons are messed up! I received an ear from the Publisher in exchange for my honest take on the story and so here it goes.
This book has a slow pace and serves characters who are both well developed and those who just don't cut it.
When a major opponent threatens their cartel, Daniel, finds himself looped into the family business that he'd left behind nine months ago. His daughter is in a coma and he seeks revenge. When he arrives home he realizes that he's been thrust into a deeper black hole of lies, scandals and the question remains whom can he trust to stay alive?
The storyline is very interesting. The pace, on the other hand, not so great in the first half of the book. There were some characters that I found to be unnecessary in advancing the plot but who knows, the author knew who played what role, guess I was impatient and needed to get to the bottom of things fast.
I'd say 3.5 stars for this book. Avid readers of crime novels and thrillers would love the second half of this book.
This book has a slow pace and serves characters who are both well developed and those who just don't cut it.
When a major opponent threatens their cartel, Daniel, finds himself looped into the family business that he'd left behind nine months ago. His daughter is in a coma and he seeks revenge. When he arrives home he realizes that he's been thrust into a deeper black hole of lies, scandals and the question remains whom can he trust to stay alive?
The storyline is very interesting. The pace, on the other hand, not so great in the first half of the book. There were some characters that I found to be unnecessary in advancing the plot but who knows, the author knew who played what role, guess I was impatient and needed to get to the bottom of things fast.
I'd say 3.5 stars for this book. Avid readers of crime novels and thrillers would love the second half of this book.
May 8, 2018
CRIME FAMILY OPUS
Fans of gritty British noir will love this big cast with messy pasts that work at cross purposes to come out on top. I loved it. From thug-trying-to-go-straight Daniel to mendacious snake-in-the-grass brother Scott to aging lothario and patriarch Ed, WOODCUTTER is ripe with choice euphemisms only guys from this world could pull off. It was like heading through the looking glass and coming out in a place so morally ambiguous that everything makes sense after a round at the pub and the stakes are taken into account. Poor Enoch! (I’ll say no more.) Fast-paced and fast-talking, author Shaun Baines puts it out there with a take-as-is ease that screams “supersonic”. No “tells” are wasted; indeed, few are required. The characters deliver the punches with memorable dialogue and acts so unusual that backstory is apparent without further explanation. A fabulous effort. More, please. 5 Stars
Fans of gritty British noir will love this big cast with messy pasts that work at cross purposes to come out on top. I loved it. From thug-trying-to-go-straight Daniel to mendacious snake-in-the-grass brother Scott to aging lothario and patriarch Ed, WOODCUTTER is ripe with choice euphemisms only guys from this world could pull off. It was like heading through the looking glass and coming out in a place so morally ambiguous that everything makes sense after a round at the pub and the stakes are taken into account. Poor Enoch! (I’ll say no more.) Fast-paced and fast-talking, author Shaun Baines puts it out there with a take-as-is ease that screams “supersonic”. No “tells” are wasted; indeed, few are required. The characters deliver the punches with memorable dialogue and acts so unusual that backstory is apparent without further explanation. A fabulous effort. More, please. 5 Stars
May 27, 2018
a fantastic, thrilling, gripping and exciting debut novel by Shaun Baines. I found it to be well-written and went along at a good pace. It is filled with violence, secrets and kept me guessing right until the end. A very intriguing story, it was very hard to put down.
A story of a brutal gangland family that use fear and violence to control their empire but when put at risk by an unknown rival it soon exposes the fractures within their family and organisation.
It has some great characters, very violent, despicable and dangerous. It is dark and gritty and thoroughly exciting.
If you want a great gritty thriller this summer that will keep you absorbed, then I can highly recommend Woodcutter. The only problem will be is that you won’t want to put it down or for it end!
A fantastic action-packed, brutal and gritty thriller! A fantastic debut novel and I will be keeping an eye for further novels by Shaun Baines.
A story of a brutal gangland family that use fear and violence to control their empire but when put at risk by an unknown rival it soon exposes the fractures within their family and organisation.
It has some great characters, very violent, despicable and dangerous. It is dark and gritty and thoroughly exciting.
If you want a great gritty thriller this summer that will keep you absorbed, then I can highly recommend Woodcutter. The only problem will be is that you won’t want to put it down or for it end!
A fantastic action-packed, brutal and gritty thriller! A fantastic debut novel and I will be keeping an eye for further novels by Shaun Baines.
April 22, 2018
So I do not usually read crime thrillers, as in I never read crime thrillers. However, I adored this book. Just a forewarning, almost no one in this book is a good person, however, I found myself rooting for the main character, Daniel, more often than not. With that being said, just the entire feel of the novel is amazing and I found myself drawn in from the very first page. What is even better is that this is a debut author. I had the pleasure to email him and give a quick little Q&A and he’s awesome. Okay, more about the book. So this will be the first in a series (Not sure how many), and honestly, I’m really really excited! Sorry, I really liked this book. But the plot grips you from the start, and never lets you go, throwing plot twists at every corner.
**I received this book for free vie Thistle Publishing to give my honest review.
**I received this book for free vie Thistle Publishing to give my honest review.
July 2, 2018
20/52 books read in 2018.
Provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Daniel Dayton. Being the runaway son of an English crime family, he is forced to return to avenge his daughter who is hurt and in a coma. Upon his return he finds out that his family's empire is under attack and his family members have a lot of secrets. Leaving him no choice but to act and thus threaten his plans to leave the criminal life for good.
I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm normally not a big fan of thrillers or crime stories, but this story gave me the opportunity to examine the psychology of the bad guys. Throughout this story I got really attached to Daniel and Lily, hoping I wouldn't hate it all at the end. I didn't.
There are some major plot twists that keep the story interesting from beginning to end. The pace of the story is also great. It kept my brain engaged for a long time. To be honest, if I would have had a couple of hours of uninterrupted reading time, I would have probably finished this in 2 days.
Provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Daniel Dayton. Being the runaway son of an English crime family, he is forced to return to avenge his daughter who is hurt and in a coma. Upon his return he finds out that his family's empire is under attack and his family members have a lot of secrets. Leaving him no choice but to act and thus threaten his plans to leave the criminal life for good.
I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm normally not a big fan of thrillers or crime stories, but this story gave me the opportunity to examine the psychology of the bad guys. Throughout this story I got really attached to Daniel and Lily, hoping I wouldn't hate it all at the end. I didn't.
There are some major plot twists that keep the story interesting from beginning to end. The pace of the story is also great. It kept my brain engaged for a long time. To be honest, if I would have had a couple of hours of uninterrupted reading time, I would have probably finished this in 2 days.
September 21, 2018
True British crime, is what this is. We follow Daniel Dayton, younger brother of Scott, and son of Ed, head of the Dayton crime empire. Daniel has since left that life behind, wanting no part of it, but external forces and threats to the Dayton name forces Daniel back into the fold.
Shaun is the kind of writer that makes you feel, and you feel a lot. There's action, grit, suspense, but what grips me the most is the evil. Not an otherworldly, supernatural evil, but a pure, basic, human evil. There's a rawness to it, making it so very dark. But at the same time it's also emotional, both happy emotional and... other.
I kept being surprised, being thrown off time and time again, just when I thought I'd cracked it. (This is a mobster crime story first, but also very much a mystery, so naturally I'm constantly working on trying to foresee how it ends. I couldn't.)
Shaun is the kind of writer that makes you feel, and you feel a lot. There's action, grit, suspense, but what grips me the most is the evil. Not an otherworldly, supernatural evil, but a pure, basic, human evil. There's a rawness to it, making it so very dark. But at the same time it's also emotional, both happy emotional and... other.
I kept being surprised, being thrown off time and time again, just when I thought I'd cracked it. (This is a mobster crime story first, but also very much a mystery, so naturally I'm constantly working on trying to foresee how it ends. I couldn't.)
October 23, 2018
This is an interesting book that has potential. The story it selv was nice, but there are some holes. When I read I missed the rounding up of the story. Why was this happening, what was the motive for the different characters, and why did they behave as they did. Some of the characters was put in to fill the page, they were such a small part of the book, that they could easily have given their part to a main character in stead. But I am sorry to say that then the book would just have 3 female characters left in a world of men. The female characters need a lot of work to stand out in the story. The mom and the brothers wife does not have any significant roles, and just makes me confused over who they are.
Still the story is interesting, and I read through the book with joy. It is a good debut book!
*Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Still the story is interesting, and I read through the book with joy. It is a good debut book!
*Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
April 21, 2018
Rating: 3.5
This quite gritty crime novel set in the criminal world of Newcastle is a first book from Shaun Baines. It is reasonably paced and tells of a criminal family being targeted and destroyed by the enigmatic Fairbanks. It’s a good read which would benefit from a bit of tightening up to give it more pace, stop the (assumed) unintentional humour and perhaps loose bits that did not enhance the story (eg HMP Frankland). Nevertheless, these bits were mere distractions. It’s an interesting story and a good concept. It is gritty, quite dark, has some good characters with many twists and turns and overall is an entertaining read.
With thanks to Thistle Publishing for an e-ARC in return for an honest opinion.
This quite gritty crime novel set in the criminal world of Newcastle is a first book from Shaun Baines. It is reasonably paced and tells of a criminal family being targeted and destroyed by the enigmatic Fairbanks. It’s a good read which would benefit from a bit of tightening up to give it more pace, stop the (assumed) unintentional humour and perhaps loose bits that did not enhance the story (eg HMP Frankland). Nevertheless, these bits were mere distractions. It’s an interesting story and a good concept. It is gritty, quite dark, has some good characters with many twists and turns and overall is an entertaining read.
With thanks to Thistle Publishing for an e-ARC in return for an honest opinion.
June 7, 2018
Woodcutter by Shaun Baines is a dark and incredibly twisted drama that details the workings of the Newcastle based Dayton criminal empire. The protagonist of the story is Daniel Dayton, the quintessential black sheep of the family, who tried to leave the life of crime behind and start afresh in the relative wilderness of Scotland as a 'Tree Surgeon'. But something happens, as it so often and inevitably does and Daniel is forced to return to Newcastle to settle scores with someone who has been haunting (and hunting) his family.
A more detailed review is posted on my blog, https://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.c....
A more detailed review is posted on my blog, https://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.c....
April 11, 2018
This is an excellent first book from the author. I read it over a 48 hour period as I just got so engrossed in the story. It is fast paced with great characters. At times, I laughed out loud, although I don't think I was supposed to find some parts amusing. The nicknames of the characters were spot on, especially Colon! The plot centres around the notorious Dayton family and Daniel finds himself drawn back into the business he tried to leave behind. The ending leaves it open for a follow up.I would recommend this book and give it 3.5 stars. My thanks to Thistle Publishing for my copy.
April 10, 2018
Woodcutter is dark and action-packed northern noir featuring a broad cast of well-thought through characters and antagonists. Warring gangs, new rivals and uncompromising actions take place against a Newcastle backdrop. The thrilling pace and numerous plot twists make this is a must-read, highly entertaining, and with scope for more to come, i'll definitely be looking out for more from Shaun Baines.
April 28, 2018
This was an unexpected book...not the usual thing found in my booklist. But I really liked it. It's a little gruesome in the violence and an interesting take on the fall of a mafia family. I can almost see it as a movie. I wish Daniel was more intelligent though. And though it was a little difficult to understand the motives of Fairbanks, he was interesting.
I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion.
April 11, 2018
A darkly compelling story with many twists. Unfortunately, I didn't like any of the characters (although Daniel had more saving graces than others) but they're gangsters, so I'm not supposed to, right?
I look forward to seeing more from this writer!
I look forward to seeing more from this writer!
April 15, 2018
A gritty well written fast paced thriller
The black sheep returns to try and work out what’s really being going in the Dayton empire in his absence
Read it over 2 days as I didn’t want to put it down
Look forward to Shaun’s next book
The black sheep returns to try and work out what’s really being going in the Dayton empire in his absence
Read it over 2 days as I didn’t want to put it down
Look forward to Shaun’s next book
April 15, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for the eARC.
I read about a quarter of the book and decided it wasn't for me. I'm sorry.
I read about a quarter of the book and decided it wasn't for me. I'm sorry.
December 27, 2018
Dark and violent revenge story. Lots of gory scenes/plot.
May 21, 2019
An exciting and thrilling first novel by Shaun Baines. Enough violence and twists to keep you guessing. Proper British noir with plenty flawed and unwholesome characters. An excellent read.
May 12, 2020
Seems these gangsters like crying, some bits ok, some too unbelievable. I may read the next one...
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