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Beast
'A gritty, clever and gripping tale about grief, courage and determination to thrive against the odds.'
Like his dad used to, Tony fights out of the City of Hull Boxing Club.
Now the old man is dead, everyone says they’re here for him. Everyone. Emma from next door. Jacko at the boxing club. The Congolese woman from the flats. The Scouser who’s taken over the gym, but it’s all talk. Tony knows he’s on his own. That’s just how it is.
There’s something dark in the forest behind the North Hull Estate and along the banks of the city drain. Something big. A beast. It’s drawn to him. He’s drawn to it.
Just like everything else, Tony will face it alone.
188 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2020
14 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
Chris Speck
26 books68 followersChris Speck is a writer and musician from East Yorkshire, UK.
He writes crime thrillers set in Hull, historical novels set in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and seafaring tales set out in the North Sea.
His latest book, Queen of Queens, is a murder mystery set in the legendary Hull pub, The Queens. Young Billie Jackson must find a killer before they find her.
The Witch at the End of the Lane is a historical thriller set in Beverley, 1794. Expect ghosts (four of them), a kidnap, and at least one murder.
Chris spent his twenties travelling the world — first as a guitar teacher, then teaching English in countries as diverse as Hungary, Spain, and Papua New Guinea — before returning to the flatlands of East Yorkshire.
He also plays washboard in the legendary skiffle group, Black Kes.
He writes crime thrillers set in Hull, historical novels set in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and seafaring tales set out in the North Sea.
His latest book, Queen of Queens, is a murder mystery set in the legendary Hull pub, The Queens. Young Billie Jackson must find a killer before they find her.
The Witch at the End of the Lane is a historical thriller set in Beverley, 1794. Expect ghosts (four of them), a kidnap, and at least one murder.
Chris spent his twenties travelling the world — first as a guitar teacher, then teaching English in countries as diverse as Hungary, Spain, and Papua New Guinea — before returning to the flatlands of East Yorkshire.
He also plays washboard in the legendary skiffle group, Black Kes.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 30, 2019
I won this book on Goodreads (Kindle version) for an honest review.
I really hope this author continues on with this line of story telling. This book is very well written and an absolute pleasure to read. The characters are rich and wonderfully described, the scenery beautifully detailed. I love these type of stories and this one did not disappoint.
I really hope this author continues on with this line of story telling. This book is very well written and an absolute pleasure to read. The characters are rich and wonderfully described, the scenery beautifully detailed. I love these type of stories and this one did not disappoint.
November 9, 2019
I won this book some time ago and put off reading it because the cover kind of turned me off. But when I started it I was hooked. Loved the characters, the dialogue and the message. What can I say about Tony, his dad and the beast? This is a read that touched me deeply. (I even liked the fight scenes and I never thought I would say that.)
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
March 1, 2020
I won this on a giveaway and wasn't sure what to expect. I've never read this author. I found the book very engaging and the main character, Tony, to be well written. The climax seemed a little bit rushed, but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend.
April 18, 2020
Great young adult style novel on a par with David Almond. Deserves to be more well known, could envision a BBC adaptation etc!
Well drawn characters , a gripping , well paced story with deep themes. And above all, it's set in Hull!
Well drawn characters , a gripping , well paced story with deep themes. And above all, it's set in Hull!
December 24, 2019
Great read. It went from the loss of his dad, to this beast, to lessons learned, to his tenacity in fighting, and it all came together in the end.
March 30, 2020
This is an excellent well written book. The author displays a good background knowledge of the life in a rundown part of Hull, where life is hard and everyone has to be tough to get through. It is a compelling story of a teenage boy whose father has recently died in hospital, having left videos to help his son survive alone and not be taken into care. The story combines the boys interest in the local boxing club with the legend of The Beast of Barmston Drain. A legend which many people living in Hull will have heard. This book is certainly a page turner which will hold your interest to the last word. There is a bit of fantasy in the story which greatly adds to ambience and atmosphere of the writing. I feel a sequel to this story would be most welcome by most readers.
March 3, 2020
I received this book from a goodreads giveaway, the story reminds me of children that do not have an Atypical upbringing. His father raised him to be independent to survive, it is impactful since we hear so many stories of adults lacking everyday skills. I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the fight scenes, but I found them awesome really displaying how sometimes words aren’t enough. The grief process is not something that happens quickly, and I really enjoy the way the story was written to represent the character reality.
May 2, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
An orphan kid trying to make a go of it on his own. His family has a history with a phantasmal black dog, like the one in Hound of the Baskervilles. He's a boxer with promise, and there's the usual mobster in the background.
Not bad. Better than a lot of similar books.
An orphan kid trying to make a go of it on his own. His family has a history with a phantasmal black dog, like the one in Hound of the Baskervilles. He's a boxer with promise, and there's the usual mobster in the background.
Not bad. Better than a lot of similar books.
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I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways
October 22, 2019
Loss, Pain and Choices
I really enjoyed this read, it drew me in and created a world I could envision. I could feel the reality of the protagonist, his loss and how he survives it. It is a tale of loss, pain, and Choices, how they weave together to make the person who emerges at the end, shapes their identity. The story is simple but not simplistic, you don't know what the final outcome will be, but you care about how it will end!
I really enjoyed this read, it drew me in and created a world I could envision. I could feel the reality of the protagonist, his loss and how he survives it. It is a tale of loss, pain, and Choices, how they weave together to make the person who emerges at the end, shapes their identity. The story is simple but not simplistic, you don't know what the final outcome will be, but you care about how it will end!
October 7, 2019
I have been following this author for a little while now and was excited when I found out he was publishing a new book. Let me tell you - He knocked this one out of the park. It was a great read. I loved the characters and the hint of supernatural. I hope there are more books like this one to come!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews