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Brethren Trilogy #1
Heavy Duty People
Damage’s club has had an offer it can’t refuse, to patch over to join The Brethren.
But what does this mean for Damage and his brothers?
What choices will they have to make?
What history might it reawaken?
And why is The Brethren making this offer?
Loyalty to his club and his brothers has been Damage’s life and route to wealth, but what happens when business becomes serious and brother starts killing brother?
Told from a club member’s viewpoint it looks at what happens when ‘business’ runs up against friendship. When your club and your ‘brothers’ are your life, how far will you go for your brothers? And when does loyalty and freedom become exploitation?
But what does this mean for Damage and his brothers?
What choices will they have to make?
What history might it reawaken?
And why is The Brethren making this offer?
Loyalty to his club and his brothers has been Damage’s life and route to wealth, but what happens when business becomes serious and brother starts killing brother?
Told from a club member’s viewpoint it looks at what happens when ‘business’ runs up against friendship. When your club and your ‘brothers’ are your life, how far will you go for your brothers? And when does loyalty and freedom become exploitation?
232 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2010
45 people are currently reading
1120 people want to read
About the author
Iain Parke
27 books118 followersI import industrial quantities of class A drugs, kill people, and lie (a lot) - see my website for details.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 1, 2014
Review also on: http://jolasbookshelf.wordpress.com/2...
I don't usually read this kind of stories. It's fiction but feels like some biography.
It was interesting to read about motorcycle gang and learning about their right of passage and hierarchy, structure. It was kind like a Sons of Anarchy novel ;).
The ending was gripping enough to make me want to continue with the story in book 2.
*I was given this book free through Story Cartel in exchange for a review.
I don't usually read this kind of stories. It's fiction but feels like some biography.
It was interesting to read about motorcycle gang and learning about their right of passage and hierarchy, structure. It was kind like a Sons of Anarchy novel ;).
The ending was gripping enough to make me want to continue with the story in book 2.
*I was given this book free through Story Cartel in exchange for a review.
May 3, 2013
This is a novel that reads like a biography--the story of a British biker and the inside world of outlaw Motorcycle Clubs--think UK Sons of Anarchy--without any romance
November 11, 2011
I've just finished reading a totally different type of book that I'm used to reading.
And I must say that I enjoyed it.
This is a fiction-mystery genre book.
When loyalty to his bike club and his brothers has been Damage's life and route to wealth, what happens when business becomes serious and brother starts killing brother?
Heavy Duty People is the story of a biker which is quite well written by author/journalist Iain Park and Martin Robertson who's nickname in the book is Damage.
The story takes place in the UK. It's the story of Damage's journey, from when he was a teenager, joining a charter, known to us here as a chapter and growing with them as a biker. This club is an independent one known as The Legion. This club is all about brothers being loyal to one another. Across the rest of the world, the biker's gang wars are raging and it starts to echo into the UK. And so one day the president of the The Brethren called Dazza, the top charter of the UK, makes an offer to The Legion to join them. Because smaller charters across the UK are joining bigger ones if not there are wars. And so The Legion guys are fused into The Brethren except for those who don't want to , those have their patches removed.
But Dazza is driven by power and money more then loyalty. Nothing will stand in his way to get it, not even murder. So when her gets Damage's 3 best buddies killed, Damage swears he will get revenge. He then plans his revenge with some of his brothers that had their patches removed.
SO when the time comes, Damage and his brothers take over Dazza and his goons and he becomes the new President of The Brethren.
From what I understand and what I read, the writer must rider a bike also. Because, the way he describes the bikes and the way they ride in the book gave me the impression of actually being on a bike.
It was awesome. I could almost sense the wind in my hair.
Riding must be a passion for him.
I give this book 4 stars.
And I must say that I enjoyed it.
This is a fiction-mystery genre book.
When loyalty to his bike club and his brothers has been Damage's life and route to wealth, what happens when business becomes serious and brother starts killing brother?
Heavy Duty People is the story of a biker which is quite well written by author/journalist Iain Park and Martin Robertson who's nickname in the book is Damage.
The story takes place in the UK. It's the story of Damage's journey, from when he was a teenager, joining a charter, known to us here as a chapter and growing with them as a biker. This club is an independent one known as The Legion. This club is all about brothers being loyal to one another. Across the rest of the world, the biker's gang wars are raging and it starts to echo into the UK. And so one day the president of the The Brethren called Dazza, the top charter of the UK, makes an offer to The Legion to join them. Because smaller charters across the UK are joining bigger ones if not there are wars. And so The Legion guys are fused into The Brethren except for those who don't want to , those have their patches removed.
But Dazza is driven by power and money more then loyalty. Nothing will stand in his way to get it, not even murder. So when her gets Damage's 3 best buddies killed, Damage swears he will get revenge. He then plans his revenge with some of his brothers that had their patches removed.
SO when the time comes, Damage and his brothers take over Dazza and his goons and he becomes the new President of The Brethren.
From what I understand and what I read, the writer must rider a bike also. Because, the way he describes the bikes and the way they ride in the book gave me the impression of actually being on a bike.
It was awesome. I could almost sense the wind in my hair.
Riding must be a passion for him.
I give this book 4 stars.
November 21, 2012
Taking as its backdrop the life of a normal bloke in a fictitious back patch club based in the North East of England, Heavy Duty People is a natural successor to those New English Library books that provided the inspiration to many a British biker and possibly the perfect book for those who – like myself – can only speculate as to what goes on behind closed doors at clubhouses across the country. I considered passing it to one who’d know but Amanda has started reading it now, so it won’t be going anywhere for a while.
Nicely written, I desperately tried to pick holes in the research, which is so often the downfall of books written outside an author’s personal experience, but Parke describes himself as a biker and that comes across in the way he deals with the riding elements.
I took it as read that the shared writing credit given to Martin Robertson reflected the assistance of an insider to keep the club business real, which proved to be the case after a fashion, and the blurring of the lines between fact and fiction works very well, but there’s a part of you that wonders how the first person perspective works out ... but all becomes clear in the end.
I couldn’t help but wonder how a member of a real patch club would see it, but then I thought back to the episodes of ‘The Sons of Anarchy’ that I forced myself to sit through, just so’s I’d know why I didn’t want to sit through it again, and the responses of club members – varying from enthusiasm to apathy, but no outright hostility – and that reduced this tale to a good story, well told, bringing out a real empathy for the central character, the oft-quoted Damage, and the dilemmas he faces.
A real page turner as it reaches its climax, with an unexpected twist that’s worth the wait.
As published in American-V #41
Nicely written, I desperately tried to pick holes in the research, which is so often the downfall of books written outside an author’s personal experience, but Parke describes himself as a biker and that comes across in the way he deals with the riding elements.
I took it as read that the shared writing credit given to Martin Robertson reflected the assistance of an insider to keep the club business real, which proved to be the case after a fashion, and the blurring of the lines between fact and fiction works very well, but there’s a part of you that wonders how the first person perspective works out ... but all becomes clear in the end.
I couldn’t help but wonder how a member of a real patch club would see it, but then I thought back to the episodes of ‘The Sons of Anarchy’ that I forced myself to sit through, just so’s I’d know why I didn’t want to sit through it again, and the responses of club members – varying from enthusiasm to apathy, but no outright hostility – and that reduced this tale to a good story, well told, bringing out a real empathy for the central character, the oft-quoted Damage, and the dilemmas he faces.
A real page turner as it reaches its climax, with an unexpected twist that’s worth the wait.
As published in American-V #41
September 13, 2012
Heavy Duty Indeed
You can tell from reading the first couple of pages this is a biker who knows his way around motorcycles and the clubs of the UK. He brings you into a world where loyalty is number one, give you a crash course on what you have to do to be accepted as a full-fledged member of The Legions. Damage the main character of the story gives you detail descriptions of what a Striker had to go through to become a full Patch.
It’s an entirely different world that I had never seen. Riding your wheels with the wind blowing in your face, the smell of the engine as it heats under you. Damage tells you his experience as a loyal Road Captain to being betrayed by the ones he counted on the most. Chaos starting because his group was given a choice they couldn’t refuse and the politics of their world.
You can tell from reading the first couple of pages this is a biker who knows his way around motorcycles and the clubs of the UK. He brings you into a world where loyalty is number one, give you a crash course on what you have to do to be accepted as a full-fledged member of The Legions. Damage the main character of the story gives you detail descriptions of what a Striker had to go through to become a full Patch.
It’s an entirely different world that I had never seen. Riding your wheels with the wind blowing in your face, the smell of the engine as it heats under you. Damage tells you his experience as a loyal Road Captain to being betrayed by the ones he counted on the most. Chaos starting because his group was given a choice they couldn’t refuse and the politics of their world.
February 10, 2013
This is a great read. I found I couldn't put it down and finished it under 24 hours. It gripped me.
Written in the first person, outlaw biker gang member Martin "Damage" Robertson takes us into the fascinating and secretive world of the biker gangs. His story takes us from his early beginnings as a young biker taken under the wing of the local bike gang, The Reivers, through The Legion and onto one of the big 6 world renowned outlaw biker gangs, The Brethren.
We learn of the rights of passage, gang member structure and brotherhood. How loyalty and honour are the tools of survival. And how by managing your reputation, your reputation will manage your business for you.
Iain Parkes is a great story teller, and through Damage, he takes us on a journey of twists and turns, excitement and fear. Just like riding pillion on the back Damage's bike.
Written in the first person, outlaw biker gang member Martin "Damage" Robertson takes us into the fascinating and secretive world of the biker gangs. His story takes us from his early beginnings as a young biker taken under the wing of the local bike gang, The Reivers, through The Legion and onto one of the big 6 world renowned outlaw biker gangs, The Brethren.
We learn of the rights of passage, gang member structure and brotherhood. How loyalty and honour are the tools of survival. And how by managing your reputation, your reputation will manage your business for you.
Iain Parkes is a great story teller, and through Damage, he takes us on a journey of twists and turns, excitement and fear. Just like riding pillion on the back Damage's bike.
March 15, 2021
“This coke and shit doesn’t smuggle itself in y’know? It takes a bit of good old entrepreneurial risk-taking and effort on somebody’s part so’s you can get off your face. There’s demand, we take the risk and supply, and we get the rewards. Ain’t that how it’s supposed to work? Anyway, big tobacco sells stuff that kills you and if you’ve got a pension I bet you own some of it.”
Heavy Duty People is a hard-nosed crime thriller set in the world of outlaw bikers. His club and his brothers have been Damage’s life, but when the gang starts to become gangsters and brother starts killing brother, Damage has to choose which side he’s on and what he’s prepared to do.
A hit with both bikers and non bikers alike with one reviewer describing Damage as “a fantastic anti-hero…positively Shakespearian in his moral complexity.”
http://bad-press.co.uk/the-brethren-t...
Heavy Duty People is a hard-nosed crime thriller set in the world of outlaw bikers. His club and his brothers have been Damage’s life, but when the gang starts to become gangsters and brother starts killing brother, Damage has to choose which side he’s on and what he’s prepared to do.
A hit with both bikers and non bikers alike with one reviewer describing Damage as “a fantastic anti-hero…positively Shakespearian in his moral complexity.”
http://bad-press.co.uk/the-brethren-t...
September 3, 2012
Superb writing from Iain Parke, and I knew it would be after reading THE LIQUIDATOR. The author knows his history and can predict what might fall along the trail of The Bretheren. Damage owes them for the wealth he gained, but what will he do when they turn on each other? When friendship collides with business, Martin "Damage" makes hard choices. I recommend HEAVY DUTY PEOPLE to all who love adventure.
September 23, 2021
This book was such a good read , it is a fiction book but at times it doesn't feel like that at all !
The main focus of the book is the motorcycle club and also the loyalty of it , its a great insight into that world that I know nothing about but now feel like I know a bit more abouy it and how close the friendship and loyalty is between bikers.
The book was very well written , great characters and everything was beautifully described to paint pictures in your mind.
The main focus of the book is the motorcycle club and also the loyalty of it , its a great insight into that world that I know nothing about but now feel like I know a bit more abouy it and how close the friendship and loyalty is between bikers.
The book was very well written , great characters and everything was beautifully described to paint pictures in your mind.
September 24, 2021
This is my first but definitely not my last read by this author. A well written crime thriller in the Mc world.
Set in the uk this is Damages story. He will do whatever it takes to protect his brothers and his club.
Great read with plenty of twists and turns. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
Set in the uk this is Damages story. He will do whatever it takes to protect his brothers and his club.
Great read with plenty of twists and turns. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
February 14, 2015
If your going to read this book, "Pack a teddy. A fucking big one. you know. like the ones they have at the fair. Hold on fucking tight.....It gonna be a ride alright.
This book was the real deal and I liked it. No it was not filled with love and sex and all the girlish fantasy's that most MC books have come down to recently. This book was more true to the real life MC. A scary world filled with violence, drugs, betrayal, power, respect and choices.
At first I was not getting into this book it until, I started getting into Damage the main character's head. He was kind of a poet a philosopher a thinker,
"with pride in the colors came an addiction to respect. It was all about belonging". All these MC's wanted respect and to belong to something bigger than themselves.
Don't we all want to belong to something bigger than ourselves? That is what Damage wanted.
You know people like to think they're so clean. But really they're all dirty in some way or other. I suppose part of the difference is just that the MC's don't try and pretend otherwise.
So, Im sure to most people this is more like a man's book. But I ended up really liking it a lot. Not to say that a little more about the wife and the things a girl wants to read about may have gave it a larger audience with the girls. I ended up really enjoying Damage and his thoughts and quotes....
This book was the real deal and I liked it. No it was not filled with love and sex and all the girlish fantasy's that most MC books have come down to recently. This book was more true to the real life MC. A scary world filled with violence, drugs, betrayal, power, respect and choices.
At first I was not getting into this book it until, I started getting into Damage the main character's head. He was kind of a poet a philosopher a thinker,
"with pride in the colors came an addiction to respect. It was all about belonging". All these MC's wanted respect and to belong to something bigger than themselves.
Don't we all want to belong to something bigger than ourselves? That is what Damage wanted.
You know people like to think they're so clean. But really they're all dirty in some way or other. I suppose part of the difference is just that the MC's don't try and pretend otherwise.
So, Im sure to most people this is more like a man's book. But I ended up really liking it a lot. Not to say that a little more about the wife and the things a girl wants to read about may have gave it a larger audience with the girls. I ended up really enjoying Damage and his thoughts and quotes....
September 30, 2021
#bookreview #booktours
#heavydutypeople
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Genre: Biker/ Crime
I have always been fascinated with biker gangs and the fear of them, wondering why a group of guys on motorbikes can cause so much unrest.
This book gives an insight into the lives of a biker club, the people in it, their rules, and the kind of stuff they get involved in.
The loyalty between the characters are well portrayed and the story escalates as their business dealings become more shady, testing that loyalty to the limit!
All in all an interesting read. This is the first instalment in a trilogy so there will be more biker excitement and drama from Damage and his crew to come.
Fans of the television programme Sons of Anarchy will most certainly love this book.
#bookworthreading #bookcommunity #freebookreviews #readerssupportingauthors #nurseswhoread #fortheloveofliterature #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookworm #bibliophile #scotttishreader #somanybookssolittletime #scottishbookstagrammer #bookobsessed #allthegenres #honestreviews #paperbackbooks #alwaysreading #bookinhandatalltimes
#I❤️reading #womenwhoread #coffeeandabook #bikers #bikergangbooks #thebrethren
#heavydutypeople
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Genre: Biker/ Crime
I have always been fascinated with biker gangs and the fear of them, wondering why a group of guys on motorbikes can cause so much unrest.
This book gives an insight into the lives of a biker club, the people in it, their rules, and the kind of stuff they get involved in.
The loyalty between the characters are well portrayed and the story escalates as their business dealings become more shady, testing that loyalty to the limit!
All in all an interesting read. This is the first instalment in a trilogy so there will be more biker excitement and drama from Damage and his crew to come.
Fans of the television programme Sons of Anarchy will most certainly love this book.
#bookworthreading #bookcommunity #freebookreviews #readerssupportingauthors #nurseswhoread #fortheloveofliterature #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookworm #bibliophile #scotttishreader #somanybookssolittletime #scottishbookstagrammer #bookobsessed #allthegenres #honestreviews #paperbackbooks #alwaysreading #bookinhandatalltimes
#I❤️reading #womenwhoread #coffeeandabook #bikers #bikergangbooks #thebrethren
May 16, 2020
I really enjoyed this read - a memoir style account told from the perspective of 'Damage', a man who when unsure where he was going with his life, became a member of a motorcycle clube and found it gave him a sense of purpose and belonging which had previously been missing.
Damage tells us how the small independent and democratic club he belonged to, changes direction after a takeover by a larger club - The Brethren, which had a different way of working.
Superbly written, Damage tells us of the crime, violence and dealings that went on and how he managed to cleverly manipulate people and situations to reverse things to work out more in his favour.
I initially thought this was a biography rather than fiction and, without spoiling the twist at the end which put a different slant on things, I am still not entirely sure. This book is very interesting, well-written, refreshing and an original, enjoyable read - a wonderful inside glimpse into the closed world of the motorbike groups.
I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
Damage tells us how the small independent and democratic club he belonged to, changes direction after a takeover by a larger club - The Brethren, which had a different way of working.
Superbly written, Damage tells us of the crime, violence and dealings that went on and how he managed to cleverly manipulate people and situations to reverse things to work out more in his favour.
I initially thought this was a biography rather than fiction and, without spoiling the twist at the end which put a different slant on things, I am still not entirely sure. This book is very interesting, well-written, refreshing and an original, enjoyable read - a wonderful inside glimpse into the closed world of the motorbike groups.
I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
November 28, 2016
Wow, um ok so at the beginning of this book I was a bit overwhelmed. There is a lot of Motorcycle clubs mentioned, merging and joining, plus their territories and the boundaries for each that are located in a part of the world I know nothing about, so needless to say it was confusing. But I did my best and pushed through because hey I’m a sucker for an MC story. This was unlike any MC story I have read. It is not sexy or romantic, its raw and gritty. This story reads like a diary. In the back of the book, the author says it is the story of the man as told to the author, but then the last paragraph states that it is a work of fiction, so that leaves me, again, confused. Regardless if it is work of fiction or based on a true story, it is a very intriguing story. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to reading more work by this author. I give this book 4 stars.
October 25, 2020
This book, the novel takes place inside a fictional British motorcycle gang. From the very beginning just the feel of the book from the description of the characters, the countryside, and the narrator of the story you have the sense of being told the story as someone who is in the gang or club as an informant not as a member. The dark way it is told adds to the story and really shows how the club and Damage the person telling the story will go through in the choices that need to be made. Will it be worth it all of the club decisions? Does Damage follow the club because he has to or does he find the strength to leave and be with his love? There also will be another book this one though is a very good story, with good characters and makes you feel like you are there with them. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
April 7, 2013
Great read, a real page turner. I am the same age as 'damage' and was a biker in Scotland during the same period. Pretty much captures the times, the bikes, the bikers etc.
Great fast paced story too. Would make a great uk version of "sons of anarchy"
Any book that motivates me to read it in one day deserves 5 stars IMO.
Great fast paced story too. Would make a great uk version of "sons of anarchy"
Any book that motivates me to read it in one day deserves 5 stars IMO.
December 3, 2016
Wow, oh my god. I do not know what to say this book shocked me a lot.
This was not like any other MC book out there, that I have seen.
I liked Damage he was a no nonsense kind of guy. He believed in his brothers, and there code.
I really enjoyed this even when it kept me on my toes trying to guess what will happen. WTMO
This was not like any other MC book out there, that I have seen.
I liked Damage he was a no nonsense kind of guy. He believed in his brothers, and there code.
I really enjoyed this even when it kept me on my toes trying to guess what will happen. WTMO
October 2, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's fiction that reads like faction, and you have no doubt that there's a lot of truth in the pages.
Even if you're not an avid motorcyclist, you'll enjoy this book. It's like the mob, with bikes :)
Even if you're not an avid motorcyclist, you'll enjoy this book. It's like the mob, with bikes :)
August 20, 2015
True biker noir. The author knows this world, and brings it into the readers world with no apologies needed nor accepted. Smashmouth writing with a strong storyline and characters who jump off the page and drag you along for the ride!
August 1, 2020
Game of Thrones meets The Godfather - on bikes
Everything you ever wanted to know about bikers, drug dealing and money laundering. This is at first a handbook and guide then a brutal and gripping story of power struggles and their consequences. Recommend.
Everything you ever wanted to know about bikers, drug dealing and money laundering. This is at first a handbook and guide then a brutal and gripping story of power struggles and their consequences. Recommend.
March 10, 2019
Machiavellian intrigue and Hells Angels in the North of England. What’s not to like?
July 31, 2020
Heavy duty people by Iain parke.
The brethren outlaw motorcycle club book 1 of the series.
Really good read. Great story. 4*.
The brethren outlaw motorcycle club book 1 of the series.
Really good read. Great story. 4*.
October 6, 2021
'Heavy Duty People' by Iain Parke & Martin Robinson was a fab read for me. A fiction story about a Motorcyle club (MC) set in the U.K. as soon as I saw my invite to the tour and read the synopsis I was there, wanting to read this fascinating book.
I must say as someone who has watched every season of Sons Of Anarchy and even some of the spin off. I had a bit of a clue how this book would be. The obvious differences are there, the TV programme is in America this is here not even too far from me being a Northwestern lass. Saying that I really could picture these people in my head.
Heavy Duty People is about an MC and its members. The author clearly knows his stuff as we meet Damage, who gives us the lowdown on how the members get from being a Striker to becoming a full patch.
The fact that loyalty to your club is numero uno before anything or anyone else in your life. This shows you the inner workings of an MC in the UK especially when it has been made an offer to patch over to join the Brethrens MC, and it would be downright stupid to refuse (seeing as it's not really a choice). The fallout from this shows the more serious and darker sides to MC's.
It makes for a seriously addictive read and one I could see on the TV as a British series!
Damage is a character that even when he begins to cross the lines you can't help but be behind him still!
Such a well written book, told in a way that immerses you in the MC and the members. Although there is a dark side to this book it is balanced out with some humour, which I appreciated and could really see that would be the way of the club.
I was even more interested in this book because my father in law had a Harley and he was in some sort of MC in Holland. Nothing like this one and I don't see my father in law at one like this either.
A series I will be keeping up with as time goes on, interesting and addictive for me.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Bad-Press.co.uk for the copy of Heavy Duty People.
I must say as someone who has watched every season of Sons Of Anarchy and even some of the spin off. I had a bit of a clue how this book would be. The obvious differences are there, the TV programme is in America this is here not even too far from me being a Northwestern lass. Saying that I really could picture these people in my head.
Heavy Duty People is about an MC and its members. The author clearly knows his stuff as we meet Damage, who gives us the lowdown on how the members get from being a Striker to becoming a full patch.
The fact that loyalty to your club is numero uno before anything or anyone else in your life. This shows you the inner workings of an MC in the UK especially when it has been made an offer to patch over to join the Brethrens MC, and it would be downright stupid to refuse (seeing as it's not really a choice). The fallout from this shows the more serious and darker sides to MC's.
It makes for a seriously addictive read and one I could see on the TV as a British series!
Damage is a character that even when he begins to cross the lines you can't help but be behind him still!
Such a well written book, told in a way that immerses you in the MC and the members. Although there is a dark side to this book it is balanced out with some humour, which I appreciated and could really see that would be the way of the club.
I was even more interested in this book because my father in law had a Harley and he was in some sort of MC in Holland. Nothing like this one and I don't see my father in law at one like this either.
A series I will be keeping up with as time goes on, interesting and addictive for me.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Bad-Press.co.uk for the copy of Heavy Duty People.
December 31, 2021
What happens when the close brotherhood of an outlaw biker gang starts to crumble in the sight of greed and power. Loyalty suddenly falls to the wayside and the bodies start piling up. Priorities shift as the essence of the Brethren engages in it's own metamorphosis - brotherhood defined by motorised masculinity fuels a mafia-like organisation. I wonder how many recognise the manipulation of this specific type of band of brothers.
Sons of Anarchy is an excellent way to demonstrate what separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to understanding why people tend to romanticize outlaw biker gangs instead of recognising them for the well organised criminal organisations they actually are. The Brethren series does the same, but with two differences - it's on home turf in the UK and of course how deeply the author goes into the mindset of Damage's life.
In the afterword the reader gets a twofold experience - the character of Damage in comparison with the actual person, which gives a slightly different perspective on things. The adherence to the way of life, the code of honour, which is a direct contradiction to the criminal element of their actions and organisation, but it cements the idea of brotherhood and idea of us vs them.
That interview though, it speaks volumes about the man. When you take away the idea of honour and you never betray the Brethren, what remains when you take a closer look? Lack of empathy, no indication of guilt or conscience, and certainly no accountability. Even a romanticized criminal organisation will have a number of individuals with one psychopathy or the other.
This is urban crime embedded in fact, the beginning of a trilogy that packs a punch. The author infuses it with authenticity and draws upon real life interactions and characters to create a cracking read.
Sons of Anarchy is an excellent way to demonstrate what separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to understanding why people tend to romanticize outlaw biker gangs instead of recognising them for the well organised criminal organisations they actually are. The Brethren series does the same, but with two differences - it's on home turf in the UK and of course how deeply the author goes into the mindset of Damage's life.
In the afterword the reader gets a twofold experience - the character of Damage in comparison with the actual person, which gives a slightly different perspective on things. The adherence to the way of life, the code of honour, which is a direct contradiction to the criminal element of their actions and organisation, but it cements the idea of brotherhood and idea of us vs them.
That interview though, it speaks volumes about the man. When you take away the idea of honour and you never betray the Brethren, what remains when you take a closer look? Lack of empathy, no indication of guilt or conscience, and certainly no accountability. Even a romanticized criminal organisation will have a number of individuals with one psychopathy or the other.
This is urban crime embedded in fact, the beginning of a trilogy that packs a punch. The author infuses it with authenticity and draws upon real life interactions and characters to create a cracking read.
February 3, 2019
Just 20% into the book and I was already skimming the pages. The main character is so dull and righteous. All he does is tell us what he is doing, over and over. No action, just his incessant thoughts of how the world effects him. Like a self obsessed teenage girl with a motorbike.
I will admit I read this because I watched and loved Sons of Anarchy and was hoping this was something similar, but the depths of the characters were non existent and the reason for their actions sometimes laughable.
I just kept thinking their mum should come in, clip them around the ear and tell them to grow up and stop playing Hell’s Angels dress up.
I will admit I read this because I watched and loved Sons of Anarchy and was hoping this was something similar, but the depths of the characters were non existent and the reason for their actions sometimes laughable.
I just kept thinking their mum should come in, clip them around the ear and tell them to grow up and stop playing Hell’s Angels dress up.
October 3, 2021
This book really isn't my usual genre but I've got to be honest I really enjoyed it. I thought it was really eye-opening to see into a different type of world or lifestyle.
It was written in such an easy way that, even if you're like me, who has no understanding of that world, it was so easy to follow the story and to completely understand it as well.
I can fully see this book being on the telly, like I could invision it! I could see it would make such a good TV or film and it would be really interesting actually to see where it goes from here.
Like I said even if it is not my usual type of book but I really enjoyed it and it was really insightful.
It was written in such an easy way that, even if you're like me, who has no understanding of that world, it was so easy to follow the story and to completely understand it as well.
I can fully see this book being on the telly, like I could invision it! I could see it would make such a good TV or film and it would be really interesting actually to see where it goes from here.
Like I said even if it is not my usual type of book but I really enjoyed it and it was really insightful.
April 4, 2020
What happens in the biker world stays in the biker world......or that's how it should be. Brethren forever, forever brethren. When brothers start to kill brothers for gain. Damage from his incarceration tells his story of the biker world which inevitably sees him dead. Was it natural causes or was he killed?
This book started of kinda slow. About half way through it started to pick up. Stuff really started to hit the fan. Drugs, killings and back stabbings. Written in first person told to a journalist.
This book started of kinda slow. About half way through it started to pick up. Stuff really started to hit the fan. Drugs, killings and back stabbings. Written in first person told to a journalist.
October 5, 2021
I really enjoy a good anti-hero story. I also really enjoy motorcycles, so Heavy Duty People was a good combo for me!
Biker gangs are really interesting. Often morally gray, this story shares an intriguing story of how someone gets involved in this type of setting.
The characters are what really make this novel so great. Such interesting, well developed characters that drive the story forward.
Loved this one. Don’t miss out.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Biker gangs are really interesting. Often morally gray, this story shares an intriguing story of how someone gets involved in this type of setting.
The characters are what really make this novel so great. Such interesting, well developed characters that drive the story forward.
Loved this one. Don’t miss out.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
August 14, 2023
Loved the story written as a biography by a biker called Damage. Descriptions felt very realistic of the enjoyment of actually riding a bike and belonging to a chapter with all its goings on. For me it got a little bogged down in reiterating the notion of how important respect is for bikers and their groupings particularly as the story went on to show how little respect and loyalty there was in the chapters. The story got stronger as it unfolded but needs some more editing in my opinion .
Thanks for the opportunity @Pigeonhole.
Thanks for the opportunity @Pigeonhole.
September 24, 2021
This is not my usual genre but I have to admit I really enjoyed reading this story about a British biker and the world of outlaw Motorcycle Clubs. This story is about the early beginnings of a biker, Martin 'Damage' Robertson. Its about loyalty amongst the bikers.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the language used fits perfectly well with the story. I think this is a story that can be enjoyed by everyone.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the language used fits perfectly well with the story. I think this is a story that can be enjoyed by everyone.
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