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Jimmy Mullen #1
The Man on the Street
A killer is on the streets of Newcastle. So is the man who will catch them. As Newcastle cleans up its streets for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, homeless veteran Jimmy Mullen witnesses a crime committed in the dead of night. Years of living on the streets and a long stretch in prison have taught him to keep his head down, to stay out of other peoples' fights. But when he sees an appeal made by the victim's daughter, the memories of his own shattered home life flood back. When he comes forward as a witness, the police aren't interested. As he seeks to find out the truth of that night and with his own past catching up with him, Jimmy is forced to play a deadly game of hide and seek in the city's darkest corners.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2019
157 people are currently reading
1112 people want to read
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October 7, 2019
Trevor Wood writes gritty Northern crime fiction set in Newcastle that introduces us to an unusual central protagonist in Jimmy Mullen, a Falklands veteran, suffering from PTSD, for which he has refused to seek help, whose life has gone down the pan. He is homeless on the dangerous streets, with his two friends, Gadge, who has a drink problem and the young Deano, who finds drugs hard to resist. Jimmy himself does not drink, he has nightmares, hallucinations, and flashbacks to what happened in the war, understandably finding the night a traumatising experience, often screaming in his sleep. He is divorced from his wife, she couldn't handle him on his return from war, he feels the loss of not seeing his daughter, having completely missed out on her growing up years. In a narrative that shifts from the past and the present, we learn of what happened to Jimmy through the years that preceded his life on the streets.
Jimmy wakes up in the middle of a dark night, and hears two men having an argument by the river, followed by a splash. Unsure if it is real, Jimmy's attitude, if it is real, is that it is not his fight, something he has learned the hard way, and resolves to forget the matter. That is until he sees a headline in which a young woman, Carrie, makes a plea for news of her father, Roger Carpenter. She reminds him of his lost daughter, as he feels the tug of conscience and gets in touch with her. He is not certain it was her father, but she manages to persuade him to make a statement to the police. The police are dismissive and not inclined to believe the testimony of a homeless man, so Carrie turns to the local press. When Jimmy's photograph is published in the press, he is not a happy man, and for good reason, as his troubling personal history comes back to bite whilst simultaneously, he and Carrie have to face the dangers of digging into her father's past.
Wood does an excellent job in portraying the challenges, obstacles and misfortune that have blighted a trauma and PTSD afflicted Jimmy after what he experienced in the Falklands. This is a predicament that has been the lot of many a soldier returning from war, with many ending up homeless. Jimmy is essentially a good man, who finds himself once again taking on someone else's fight, and he pursues the investigation with unwavering determination and focus, refusing to cave in to deadly threats and dangers. This is a compulsively gripping crime read, a particular highlight is depiction of what life is like being homeless, so often the target of brutal violence, not just from the public, but even on occasion from the police. The homeless are so often invisible, unfairly judged, viewed through the prism of harsh stereotypes and constantly harassed. If you enjoy gritty crime fiction, then I recommend this highly. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
Jimmy wakes up in the middle of a dark night, and hears two men having an argument by the river, followed by a splash. Unsure if it is real, Jimmy's attitude, if it is real, is that it is not his fight, something he has learned the hard way, and resolves to forget the matter. That is until he sees a headline in which a young woman, Carrie, makes a plea for news of her father, Roger Carpenter. She reminds him of his lost daughter, as he feels the tug of conscience and gets in touch with her. He is not certain it was her father, but she manages to persuade him to make a statement to the police. The police are dismissive and not inclined to believe the testimony of a homeless man, so Carrie turns to the local press. When Jimmy's photograph is published in the press, he is not a happy man, and for good reason, as his troubling personal history comes back to bite whilst simultaneously, he and Carrie have to face the dangers of digging into her father's past.
Wood does an excellent job in portraying the challenges, obstacles and misfortune that have blighted a trauma and PTSD afflicted Jimmy after what he experienced in the Falklands. This is a predicament that has been the lot of many a soldier returning from war, with many ending up homeless. Jimmy is essentially a good man, who finds himself once again taking on someone else's fight, and he pursues the investigation with unwavering determination and focus, refusing to cave in to deadly threats and dangers. This is a compulsively gripping crime read, a particular highlight is depiction of what life is like being homeless, so often the target of brutal violence, not just from the public, but even on occasion from the police. The homeless are so often invisible, unfairly judged, viewed through the prism of harsh stereotypes and constantly harassed. If you enjoy gritty crime fiction, then I recommend this highly. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
November 22, 2019
EXCERPT: As soon as he hobbled in, he knew there was something off. A strange look from a young bedraggled girl as she glanced up from her phone; a couple of others going quiet as he shuffled past them in the entrance hall. When he walked into the dining room everything went quieter still until someone in the queue dropped a tray on the floor and the loud clatter broke the silence.
Jimmy looked over and saw Gadge staring at him, seemingly oblivious to the food he had dropped over his feet and the floor.
'F**k me,' Gadge said. 'You can't be here.'
'Why not?' Jimmy said.
'You're dead.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It started with a splash. Jimmy, a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD, did his best to pretend he hadn't heard it - the sound of something heavy falling into the Tyne at the height of an argument between two men on the riverbank. Not his fight.
Then he sees the headline: GIRL IN MISSING DAD PLEA. The girl, Carrie, reminds him of someone he lost, and this makes his mind up: it's time to stop hiding from his past. But telling Carrie, what he heard - or thought he heard - turns out to be just the beginning of the story.
The police don't believe him, but Carrie is adamant that something awful has happened to her dad and Jimmy agrees to help her, putting himself at risk from enemies old and new.
But Jimmy has one big advantage: when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.
MY THOUGHTS: Everyone has a story, which is something we tend to forget. And the people we tend to dismiss most easily, the 'invisible' people, the homeless, often have the most interesting stories. This is certainly the case with Jimmy who, for many years, has lived by the mantra of 'not my fight', and 'keep your head down and stay out of sight.' Life hasn't exactly been fair to him. He has lost everything that was precious to him...his wife, his daughter, his self-respect.
All Carrie wants is her dad. He is missing, but no one is taking her seriously. But her plight strikes a chord with Jimmy who would love to be wanted by his daughter. And he thinks he saw something the night Carrie's dad went missing. But he's not entirely sure. It could have been a hallucination. But then, maybe not....
We hear so much about war vets winding up on the streets, homeless victims of the horrors they have lived through. Jimmy's plight has brought home to me the absolute reality and the terrible injustice of this problem.
Trevor Wood has created some very interesting characters. Not only Jimmy who suffers from PTSD, but Gadge, bordering on genius, and the young Deano, a child really, substance and drug abuser. But all people with good hearts. Their methods of getting to the truth may be somewhat unorthodox, but they make for a damned good read. Even the skeptical policeman, Murphy, is an interesting character.
Compelling and complex, I really had no idea who was behind the disappearance of Carries dad, or why, until all was revealed. Highly recommended.
****
THE AUTHOR: I can find no information on this author, but I believe will be hearing more from him. Hopefully soon.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Man on the Street by Trevor Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Jimmy looked over and saw Gadge staring at him, seemingly oblivious to the food he had dropped over his feet and the floor.
'F**k me,' Gadge said. 'You can't be here.'
'Why not?' Jimmy said.
'You're dead.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It started with a splash. Jimmy, a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD, did his best to pretend he hadn't heard it - the sound of something heavy falling into the Tyne at the height of an argument between two men on the riverbank. Not his fight.
Then he sees the headline: GIRL IN MISSING DAD PLEA. The girl, Carrie, reminds him of someone he lost, and this makes his mind up: it's time to stop hiding from his past. But telling Carrie, what he heard - or thought he heard - turns out to be just the beginning of the story.
The police don't believe him, but Carrie is adamant that something awful has happened to her dad and Jimmy agrees to help her, putting himself at risk from enemies old and new.
But Jimmy has one big advantage: when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.
MY THOUGHTS: Everyone has a story, which is something we tend to forget. And the people we tend to dismiss most easily, the 'invisible' people, the homeless, often have the most interesting stories. This is certainly the case with Jimmy who, for many years, has lived by the mantra of 'not my fight', and 'keep your head down and stay out of sight.' Life hasn't exactly been fair to him. He has lost everything that was precious to him...his wife, his daughter, his self-respect.
All Carrie wants is her dad. He is missing, but no one is taking her seriously. But her plight strikes a chord with Jimmy who would love to be wanted by his daughter. And he thinks he saw something the night Carrie's dad went missing. But he's not entirely sure. It could have been a hallucination. But then, maybe not....
We hear so much about war vets winding up on the streets, homeless victims of the horrors they have lived through. Jimmy's plight has brought home to me the absolute reality and the terrible injustice of this problem.
Trevor Wood has created some very interesting characters. Not only Jimmy who suffers from PTSD, but Gadge, bordering on genius, and the young Deano, a child really, substance and drug abuser. But all people with good hearts. Their methods of getting to the truth may be somewhat unorthodox, but they make for a damned good read. Even the skeptical policeman, Murphy, is an interesting character.
Compelling and complex, I really had no idea who was behind the disappearance of Carries dad, or why, until all was revealed. Highly recommended.
****
THE AUTHOR: I can find no information on this author, but I believe will be hearing more from him. Hopefully soon.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Man on the Street by Trevor Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 28, 2020
This is a wonderful debut novel with it's clever and well paced plot. It's real and gritty and highlights how PTSD can cause a good man's life to spiral out of control.
Jimmy is a naval veteran of the Falkland's war who saw many of his crew mates including his best mate killed when their ship was bombed. He has nightmares and loud noises can startle him, especially in confined spaces. Struggling with his PTSD after the war, he got involved in a fight trying to stop a man from attacking a woman. As a result of using too much force he received a prison sentence, which then led to the collapse of his marriage, loss of his home and access to his young daughter. Failing to find a job once he was paroled, he ended up living on the streets of Newcastle with a homeless dog as a companion, resolving not to get involved in any more fights that were not his business.
One night while sleeping rough in a concealed spot near the river Tyne, Jimmy woke to see two men next to the river having an argument, followed by a loud thud, a dragging sound and a loud splash. When he got up he saw only one man walking away so rushed over to look in the river but could not see anything in the water. Although he tried to forget the incident, he feels he has to come forward when he sees a poster asking for information of a missing man, who looks like the man Jimmy saw that night.
Trevor Wood has created some wonderfully original characters in this well written thriller. Jimmy is totally believable as an essentially honest man who through his PTSD triggering uncontrolled anger has unintentionally killed. His street friends Deano and Gadge provide humour and sadness to the plight of their homelessness and their loyalty to one another. Carrie, the young woman who is looking for her missing father is brave and feisty and relentless in her search for her father, and able to see and trust the honest man beneath Jimmy's shabby clothing. The sounds and sights of Newcastle and the lonely haunts of it's homeless people feel authentic, with the difficulty of life on the street, particularly uncalled for brutality, all too real. Highly recommended!
With thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for a digital ARC to read.
Jimmy is a naval veteran of the Falkland's war who saw many of his crew mates including his best mate killed when their ship was bombed. He has nightmares and loud noises can startle him, especially in confined spaces. Struggling with his PTSD after the war, he got involved in a fight trying to stop a man from attacking a woman. As a result of using too much force he received a prison sentence, which then led to the collapse of his marriage, loss of his home and access to his young daughter. Failing to find a job once he was paroled, he ended up living on the streets of Newcastle with a homeless dog as a companion, resolving not to get involved in any more fights that were not his business.
One night while sleeping rough in a concealed spot near the river Tyne, Jimmy woke to see two men next to the river having an argument, followed by a loud thud, a dragging sound and a loud splash. When he got up he saw only one man walking away so rushed over to look in the river but could not see anything in the water. Although he tried to forget the incident, he feels he has to come forward when he sees a poster asking for information of a missing man, who looks like the man Jimmy saw that night.
Trevor Wood has created some wonderfully original characters in this well written thriller. Jimmy is totally believable as an essentially honest man who through his PTSD triggering uncontrolled anger has unintentionally killed. His street friends Deano and Gadge provide humour and sadness to the plight of their homelessness and their loyalty to one another. Carrie, the young woman who is looking for her missing father is brave and feisty and relentless in her search for her father, and able to see and trust the honest man beneath Jimmy's shabby clothing. The sounds and sights of Newcastle and the lonely haunts of it's homeless people feel authentic, with the difficulty of life on the street, particularly uncalled for brutality, all too real. Highly recommended!
With thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for a digital ARC to read.
November 5, 2019
Jimmy Mullen had served in the Falklands War where he’d eventually been medically discharged. He suffered from PTSD but was unaware of it – he was “fine” according to Jimmy. Now homeless, all he needed was his faithful dog named Dog by his side, friends Gadge and Deano, and he would manage the rest. But the night he heard the argument and the following splash, he grappled with his conscience, concluding it “wasn’t his fight”.
Meeting up with Carrie after Jimmy had seen an article in the paper, he tried to explain what he’d seen and heard that night. She convinced Jimmy to go to the police with the story, but they were sceptical – looking at who Jimmy was, their minds were made up. But Jimmy was determined to help Carrie find her missing dad, not realizing he was putting himself in grave danger from both past and current enemies. As Carrie and Jimmy came closer to the truth, there were people determined that truth wouldn’t come out. What would happen to the war veteran and the young woman he was trying to help?
The Man on the Street is the debut novel of British author Trevor Wood, and it’s a gritty and fast-paced crime thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. Twists and turns throughout, red herrings, an excellent plot and great characters makes The Man on the Street one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Quercus Books UK via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Meeting up with Carrie after Jimmy had seen an article in the paper, he tried to explain what he’d seen and heard that night. She convinced Jimmy to go to the police with the story, but they were sceptical – looking at who Jimmy was, their minds were made up. But Jimmy was determined to help Carrie find her missing dad, not realizing he was putting himself in grave danger from both past and current enemies. As Carrie and Jimmy came closer to the truth, there were people determined that truth wouldn’t come out. What would happen to the war veteran and the young woman he was trying to help?
The Man on the Street is the debut novel of British author Trevor Wood, and it’s a gritty and fast-paced crime thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. Twists and turns throughout, red herrings, an excellent plot and great characters makes The Man on the Street one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Quercus Books UK via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2019
This story is set in Newcastle. Jimmy Mullen has not had an easy time. He had been in the Falklands war, his ship had taken a direct hit and he had witnessed his colleagues consumed in the ensuing fireball. With only a pittance for a pension, he takes a job stacking shelves in a supermarket. He witnesses a woman being knocked about by her boyfriend and he does what anyone decent, he goes to her rescue. It turns out the boyfriend was a copper and Jimmy ends up in prison. On his release, Jimmy is homeless. When he sees a newspaper article about a woman looking for her father, Jimmy thinks that he's seen the man. Or was it his drug addiction, alcoholism and mental health issues all plating tricks on him?
This story is told between the past and present. We get Jimmy's background story leading up to the events that we find him in today. I found myself really rooting for this war veteran who was down on his luck. I really liked Jimmy and Carrie, the two main characters who are well rounded and grounded. There's a few twists that will keep you guessing. This is a well thought out story and a great debut novel. I will be looking out for more from this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Trevor Wood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told between the past and present. We get Jimmy's background story leading up to the events that we find him in today. I found myself really rooting for this war veteran who was down on his luck. I really liked Jimmy and Carrie, the two main characters who are well rounded and grounded. There's a few twists that will keep you guessing. This is a well thought out story and a great debut novel. I will be looking out for more from this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Trevor Wood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2022
THE MAN ON THE STREET is an excellent crime/thriller entry that has been overlooked by many. A few of my Goodreads friends in the U. K. and Australia read and reviewed it two years ago but that was before they befriended me. I saw Paromjit’s review of the third entry in this series and thought it might be one I would like. I’m so glad I picked it up from Kindle (at a reasonable price). It is an outstanding entry that reminds me of the best of Tartan Noir, although it takes place in Newcastle Upon Tyne, in the northeastern part of England, close to the Scottish border. The author, Trevor Wood, lives in Newcastle and seems to have been been influenced by writers from nearby Glasgow. It has that gritty humour that I’ve come to appreciate from many Tartan Noir authors.
Jimmy Mullen is homeless, living on the streets, and his only friends are Dog (a dog), Gadge, a computer whiz with a drink problem that is slowly killing him, and young Delano, who finds drugs hard to resist. Jimmy was just released from prison. A veteran of the Falklands war, he suffers from PTSD, but is in denial about his mental condition. A fighter who won many bouts, he sometimes becomes uncontrollable, especially when trying to protect others, and this is why he ended up in prison. His new mantra is “not my fight”.
He sleeps away from others (except Dog) because of his horrifying nightmares. One night he overhears what might be a murder, or it might just have been another dream; he has many. “Not my fight”, he tells himself and so doesn’t report what he might have overheard. But when he sees an appeal for information about a missing person from Carrie, a missing man’s daughter, he tells her what he thinks he witnessed, and it becomes his fight.
There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, as Jimmy searches for an answer, assisted at times by Gadge and Delano. Sometimes, Jimmy wants to give up, but Carrie is a determined woman, and won’t let him drop his quest. So Jimmy runs into trouble again and again, as he encounters many nefarious characters, some connected to the murder, and some connected to other criminal activities that they don’t want revealed.
But this is more than a crime novel, it is an examination of what it means to be homeless, and what it means to have PTSD. I already knew the textbook definition of PTSD, but the author enables me to feel what Jimmy experiences, and so produces a deeper understanding of the condition. This is what makes it a great book.
So Heads Up, my Goodreads friends in Canada and the U.S., as well as those in Australia and New Zealand who might have missed this one. It’s definitely a winner for those who love dark humour, well-drawn characters, and complex plots — spiced with timely social commentary. It’s a must-read for fans of Stuart MacBride, Ian Rankin, and Val McDermid.
Jimmy Mullen is homeless, living on the streets, and his only friends are Dog (a dog), Gadge, a computer whiz with a drink problem that is slowly killing him, and young Delano, who finds drugs hard to resist. Jimmy was just released from prison. A veteran of the Falklands war, he suffers from PTSD, but is in denial about his mental condition. A fighter who won many bouts, he sometimes becomes uncontrollable, especially when trying to protect others, and this is why he ended up in prison. His new mantra is “not my fight”.
He sleeps away from others (except Dog) because of his horrifying nightmares. One night he overhears what might be a murder, or it might just have been another dream; he has many. “Not my fight”, he tells himself and so doesn’t report what he might have overheard. But when he sees an appeal for information about a missing person from Carrie, a missing man’s daughter, he tells her what he thinks he witnessed, and it becomes his fight.
There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, as Jimmy searches for an answer, assisted at times by Gadge and Delano. Sometimes, Jimmy wants to give up, but Carrie is a determined woman, and won’t let him drop his quest. So Jimmy runs into trouble again and again, as he encounters many nefarious characters, some connected to the murder, and some connected to other criminal activities that they don’t want revealed.
But this is more than a crime novel, it is an examination of what it means to be homeless, and what it means to have PTSD. I already knew the textbook definition of PTSD, but the author enables me to feel what Jimmy experiences, and so produces a deeper understanding of the condition. This is what makes it a great book.
So Heads Up, my Goodreads friends in Canada and the U.S., as well as those in Australia and New Zealand who might have missed this one. It’s definitely a winner for those who love dark humour, well-drawn characters, and complex plots — spiced with timely social commentary. It’s a must-read for fans of Stuart MacBride, Ian Rankin, and Val McDermid.
May 1, 2022
Decent read though I can't say I was blown away by this. I really did like Jimmy and Dog - the play on people who are "unseen" was good. The story itself seemed rather over prolonged I guess and was basically OK for me. Probably 3.5/5 but inclined to round up. I do have book 2 so will probably read that sometime.
April 3, 2020
There is little that gladdens the heart more than encountering a debut novel that absolutely strikes a chord with you as a reader, but also promises that you have discovered an author that will probably remain a firm favourite for years to come. With The Man On The Street, Trevor Wood has achieved just that, with a crime novel that is both compelling and unerringly perceptive…
Up to this point I had only read crime novels that if a homeless person appeared in them, it was always as a periphery character, either as a witness to a crime or as a snout, an occasional source of information to the main investigator. What Wood does is put the character of Jimmy front and centre, a homeless man, deeply scarred emotionally and haunted by his military service in the Falklands, as his main protagonist. Rarely, have I read such a well-formed and utterly believable character, and felt such a deep-seated compassion and empathy as a result of this. Accompanied by his constant companion Dog, Jimmy drifts through the city with a cloak of invisibility, trying to keep anonymous and to not attract the attentions of those who derive pleasure from meting out violence on the homeless community. Estranged from his wife and daughter, Jimmy is obviously suffering from PTSD, tormented by nightmares, and with events from the war being triggered by sensory factors like sound or smell. As he unwittingly becomes involved in a murder investigation, Jimmy proves that the old adage that, “a true hero is not measured by the size of his strength, but the strength of his heart.” Despite his tough past, Jimmy has a strong moral core, and when weighing up how far to get involved in events, and how this could impact on him, is drawn to doing the right thing, be it tracking a killer, or protecting those he has a personal alliance with. I also liked the way that Wood dialled down the intensity of Jimmy’s character in his interactions with a couple of his homeless pals, giving wonderful little chinks of humour and lightness to the book.
With the book being set in Newcastle Upon Tyne, this obviously struck a note with me personally having lived there for several years. There was a certain particular joy that as Jimmy circumnavigates the city, it evoked a fond remembrance in me of places I am very familiar with. However, thanks to the clarity of Wood’s description of each locale, Newcastle is vividly drawn, capturing the spirit and verve of this unique city, but also unashamedly depicting the more downtrodden and threatening aspects of it too. Psychogeography plays a real part in the book I noticed, where Jimmy’s mood and fight or flight instinct is very much influenced by the areas of the city he traverses, so there are definite spaces of calm or threat for him, and this worked incredibly well. I also found the scenes depicting Jimmy’s traumatic experience within the confines of a naval ship incredibly powerful and so vivid that you were absolutely rooted in the heat, the noise and panic in the midst of an attack. Consequently, the flashbacks that Jimmy experiences throughout the book take him, and by extension us, back to this scene of trauma in an intensely deep way, arousing empathy in the reader. On a smaller scale I grew up in a naval city during the Falklands and the sight of those damaged ships limping back to port and my school friends losing brothers or fathers in this conflict will never leave me either. This makes the emotional depiction of Jimmy’s trauma all the more affecting and poignant for me personally, and certainly for readers generally.
As I like to give nothing away about plots, guess what? I’m giving nothing away about the plot, but suffice to say as you sail along on a story that keeps you utterly gripped, there is an absolutely bobbydazzler of a reveal at the latter end of the book; unexpected, dark and beautifully done. Taking this in conjunction with the characterisation, location, and the wonderful fluidity of Wood’s writing, The Man On The Street is genuinely one of the most unusual and affecting books I have read for some time. A dead cert for my Top 10 of the Year, although it’s only April, and I will be champing at the bit so see what Wood writes next. No pressure…
Highly recommended.
Up to this point I had only read crime novels that if a homeless person appeared in them, it was always as a periphery character, either as a witness to a crime or as a snout, an occasional source of information to the main investigator. What Wood does is put the character of Jimmy front and centre, a homeless man, deeply scarred emotionally and haunted by his military service in the Falklands, as his main protagonist. Rarely, have I read such a well-formed and utterly believable character, and felt such a deep-seated compassion and empathy as a result of this. Accompanied by his constant companion Dog, Jimmy drifts through the city with a cloak of invisibility, trying to keep anonymous and to not attract the attentions of those who derive pleasure from meting out violence on the homeless community. Estranged from his wife and daughter, Jimmy is obviously suffering from PTSD, tormented by nightmares, and with events from the war being triggered by sensory factors like sound or smell. As he unwittingly becomes involved in a murder investigation, Jimmy proves that the old adage that, “a true hero is not measured by the size of his strength, but the strength of his heart.” Despite his tough past, Jimmy has a strong moral core, and when weighing up how far to get involved in events, and how this could impact on him, is drawn to doing the right thing, be it tracking a killer, or protecting those he has a personal alliance with. I also liked the way that Wood dialled down the intensity of Jimmy’s character in his interactions with a couple of his homeless pals, giving wonderful little chinks of humour and lightness to the book.
With the book being set in Newcastle Upon Tyne, this obviously struck a note with me personally having lived there for several years. There was a certain particular joy that as Jimmy circumnavigates the city, it evoked a fond remembrance in me of places I am very familiar with. However, thanks to the clarity of Wood’s description of each locale, Newcastle is vividly drawn, capturing the spirit and verve of this unique city, but also unashamedly depicting the more downtrodden and threatening aspects of it too. Psychogeography plays a real part in the book I noticed, where Jimmy’s mood and fight or flight instinct is very much influenced by the areas of the city he traverses, so there are definite spaces of calm or threat for him, and this worked incredibly well. I also found the scenes depicting Jimmy’s traumatic experience within the confines of a naval ship incredibly powerful and so vivid that you were absolutely rooted in the heat, the noise and panic in the midst of an attack. Consequently, the flashbacks that Jimmy experiences throughout the book take him, and by extension us, back to this scene of trauma in an intensely deep way, arousing empathy in the reader. On a smaller scale I grew up in a naval city during the Falklands and the sight of those damaged ships limping back to port and my school friends losing brothers or fathers in this conflict will never leave me either. This makes the emotional depiction of Jimmy’s trauma all the more affecting and poignant for me personally, and certainly for readers generally.
As I like to give nothing away about plots, guess what? I’m giving nothing away about the plot, but suffice to say as you sail along on a story that keeps you utterly gripped, there is an absolutely bobbydazzler of a reveal at the latter end of the book; unexpected, dark and beautifully done. Taking this in conjunction with the characterisation, location, and the wonderful fluidity of Wood’s writing, The Man On The Street is genuinely one of the most unusual and affecting books I have read for some time. A dead cert for my Top 10 of the Year, although it’s only April, and I will be champing at the bit so see what Wood writes next. No pressure…
Highly recommended.
March 4, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this- a lovely page turner of a thriller with characters I came to care about and a twisty plot that fully engaged throughout.
Our main protagonist is intriguing and beautifully drawn - the literal man on the street, homeless and invisible except to a raggedy group of friends. His past haunts him yet when he witnesses a possible murder, despite misgivings he is inexorably drawn in..
I loved how this was told- beautifully layered revealing character and action fluidly, keeping you immersed in the pages and rooting for all the misfits you meet there. The challenges of a life on the streets are well defined and sit easily within the narrative- at the same time this is a great mystery that isn't easily predicted.
By the time I got to the highly satisfying end I was utterly in love- with Jimmy, with Dog, with all of them. Well maybe not the ultimate villains of the piece but certainly with the eclectic group dynamic Trevor Wood has put together here. There is a promise of more here and I, for one, would embrace the idea of a series featuring these great characters.
Recommended.
Our main protagonist is intriguing and beautifully drawn - the literal man on the street, homeless and invisible except to a raggedy group of friends. His past haunts him yet when he witnesses a possible murder, despite misgivings he is inexorably drawn in..
I loved how this was told- beautifully layered revealing character and action fluidly, keeping you immersed in the pages and rooting for all the misfits you meet there. The challenges of a life on the streets are well defined and sit easily within the narrative- at the same time this is a great mystery that isn't easily predicted.
By the time I got to the highly satisfying end I was utterly in love- with Jimmy, with Dog, with all of them. Well maybe not the ultimate villains of the piece but certainly with the eclectic group dynamic Trevor Wood has put together here. There is a promise of more here and I, for one, would embrace the idea of a series featuring these great characters.
Recommended.
October 4, 2019
Featuring with one of the most engaging and unique protagonists you'll find, this outstanding debut is stylistically urgent, desperately moreish, thought-provoking in all the best ways and genuinely thrilling. Packs a whopping punch while deftly delivering a tale of exciting contemporary intrigue amid keen social commentary, imbued with lashings of human spirit and supreme heart. A complete winner with a cast of characters I now will follow anywhere. Deserves to be absolutely huge.
April 13, 2020
Brutal thriller set in NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
The Man on the Street is Trevor Wood’s’ debut thriller – and it is a cracker. I am, I confess, a tad biased. The book is very firmly set in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of the UK, on whose outskirts I have lived for over 30 years. The descriptions of the people and places of Newcastle ring very true.
But, location apart, The Man On the Street is a really good tense thriller. Jimmy, a homeless ex Forces veteran with PTSD, is sleeping rough on the Quayside in Newcastle. He half awakens to witness an argument between two men and an ominous splash as one of them disappears into the Tyne. The other runs off… Jimmy remains unseen. He can find no-one struggling in the water and decides not to involve the police. He has history with them and fears any crime will be pinned on him in an effort to secure a quick result.
A few days later he sees a message from a lady called Carrie whose father has completely vanished without trace – entirely out of character. She reminds him of his own daughter and he contacts her to explain what he fears he may have witnessed. Together, and with on-off help from a local police detective and local journalist whom they involve, they investigate.
Carrie’s father was an environmentalist who had fallen out with a fair number of powerful people. He suspected corruption in high places in the awarding of construction contracts. Had this been the cause of his death?
Jimmy and Carrie investigate this murky world until they believe they have the answer. The conclusion is then dramatic and bloody.
The Man on the Street is a very good debut thriller in its own right. Ahead of publication it has already achieved a good level of critical success. But is is also a great commentary on the lives of rough sleepers in a big city. The trials, tribulations, and dangers they face are abundant. Many are mentally as well as physically challenged – but there is a very real sense of camaraderie amongst them.
The Man on the Street is very definitely recommended. Trevor Wood is an author to watch out for in the future.
The Man on the Street is Trevor Wood’s’ debut thriller – and it is a cracker. I am, I confess, a tad biased. The book is very firmly set in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of the UK, on whose outskirts I have lived for over 30 years. The descriptions of the people and places of Newcastle ring very true.
But, location apart, The Man On the Street is a really good tense thriller. Jimmy, a homeless ex Forces veteran with PTSD, is sleeping rough on the Quayside in Newcastle. He half awakens to witness an argument between two men and an ominous splash as one of them disappears into the Tyne. The other runs off… Jimmy remains unseen. He can find no-one struggling in the water and decides not to involve the police. He has history with them and fears any crime will be pinned on him in an effort to secure a quick result.
A few days later he sees a message from a lady called Carrie whose father has completely vanished without trace – entirely out of character. She reminds him of his own daughter and he contacts her to explain what he fears he may have witnessed. Together, and with on-off help from a local police detective and local journalist whom they involve, they investigate.
Carrie’s father was an environmentalist who had fallen out with a fair number of powerful people. He suspected corruption in high places in the awarding of construction contracts. Had this been the cause of his death?
Jimmy and Carrie investigate this murky world until they believe they have the answer. The conclusion is then dramatic and bloody.
The Man on the Street is a very good debut thriller in its own right. Ahead of publication it has already achieved a good level of critical success. But is is also a great commentary on the lives of rough sleepers in a big city. The trials, tribulations, and dangers they face are abundant. Many are mentally as well as physically challenged – but there is a very real sense of camaraderie amongst them.
The Man on the Street is very definitely recommended. Trevor Wood is an author to watch out for in the future.
December 14, 2020
3.5 Stars
September 30, 2021
Jimmy, a Falkland war veteran, has PTSD and has been living rough in the streets of Newcastle, UK. One night while trying to sleep he over hears an argument followed by a murder. The police do not believe him so he decides to investigate. An innovative plot with good character development and lots of action. The structure of the novel is all over the place. There are too many things going on at the same time along with flashbacks. I wish the author would have simplified the plot.
March 12, 2023
Loved reading this book set in my city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Read
July 2, 2022I don’t know how to rate this book. But the only way I could describe rating it is by telling you to imagine you’re watching someone paint and then you watch the painting dry, and then when it’s done you realize you it’s one of the ugliest paintings you’ve ever seen but there’s something mesmerizing about the process. It’s like watching someone paint with their shit. Ok I’ll stop with the paintings.
June 4, 2020
I refuse to believe The Man On The Street is a debut novel. Every word in this book oozes confidence, accuracy, and an indisputable ability to tell a story that grips your guts and make you feel.
My first time in Newcastle is with Jimmy. Neither the city nor the man seems welcoming at first. They appeared to me as harsh and battered protagonists with no more hope for the future. Trevor Wood is the best tourist guide a crime / thriller fiction reader could hope for. I got to visit parks at night, witness the reality of the street. No, this book didn’t keep me in the gutter. In fact, it showed me there sometimes is more warmth and camaraderie outside rather than inside the houses. But it also revealed the dark parts of the city in a breathtakingly cold reality. The sleep may be rough for homeless people like Jimmy, but it’s not the only rough thing they have to face. Fortunately, our main character has a ‘family’ First is Dog, faithful companion for whom I was very worried, until Harriet Tyce assured me things had been handled so that nothing would happen to a man’s best friend. Then you have Gadge and Deano, who may not have a roof but do have a bigger heart than some. So despite the grey pavement and the rain, despite doing a wonderful job describing life on the outside, The Man on the Street holds more compassion and realism than many of the books I’ve read before. And that says a lot, because I have been reading a lot!
Jimmy is a character you root for. He wasn’t born for it, and the author doesn’t try so hard that you think ‘nah, this is too easy.’ Jimmy is complex, struggling with PTSD and life where you’ve apparently nothing to lose. However, he is not a desperate cause and I didn’t pity him. I felt for him. His is the story so many veterans can relate to. His is the story of a man who has been let down, who hasn’t let anyone in and found himself at the bottom without deserving it. Jimmy is wearing a heavy cloak of nightmares, scars from his life in the military, ghosts from the past. Triggers put him on edge. Yet, his moral code is intact and his rules remain. Jimmy is a good man and I was on his team real fast.
Every homeless character I have encountered in the past was a passing protagonist, like a shadow. Jimmy is in the light, even though he’d rather not be. Fate, bad luck, call it what you want, but when an argument on the embankment of the Tyne wakes him up, he becomes the witness of a possible crime that will lead him out of his torpor. From the violence of the street to the calm of some neighborhoods and place, a library as sanctuary and benches as safe places, Jimmy walks a fine line to do what is right. His path crosses those of new people, some good, some bad. Trevor Wood throws Jimmy in a deadly race against killers, his own past, his issues, all fed by the pulse of the city. The Man on the Street is taut, yet witty. Thought-provoking and heart-breaking. Both dark and heart-warming. Scary and dangerous. Flawless.
I haven’t touched the plot. I will not. Take a walk on Jimmy’s side and dive into a superb thriller anchored to the core of society.
Do I recommend The Man On The Street? You bet! I finished this novel last night and woke up at six knowing I had to write a review and share my feelings. This is probably not the best review you will read, but my hope is for you to understand how excellent this book is.
Jimmy and is tribe feel like family now. I got the chills of a strong plot. I got to know Newcastle in an unexpected way. This novel delivered. It gave, and gave, and kept on giving. The next time someone asks me for a unique crime read, I will be recommending Trevor Wood’s book.
My first time in Newcastle is with Jimmy. Neither the city nor the man seems welcoming at first. They appeared to me as harsh and battered protagonists with no more hope for the future. Trevor Wood is the best tourist guide a crime / thriller fiction reader could hope for. I got to visit parks at night, witness the reality of the street. No, this book didn’t keep me in the gutter. In fact, it showed me there sometimes is more warmth and camaraderie outside rather than inside the houses. But it also revealed the dark parts of the city in a breathtakingly cold reality. The sleep may be rough for homeless people like Jimmy, but it’s not the only rough thing they have to face. Fortunately, our main character has a ‘family’ First is Dog, faithful companion for whom I was very worried, until Harriet Tyce assured me things had been handled so that nothing would happen to a man’s best friend. Then you have Gadge and Deano, who may not have a roof but do have a bigger heart than some. So despite the grey pavement and the rain, despite doing a wonderful job describing life on the outside, The Man on the Street holds more compassion and realism than many of the books I’ve read before. And that says a lot, because I have been reading a lot!
Jimmy is a character you root for. He wasn’t born for it, and the author doesn’t try so hard that you think ‘nah, this is too easy.’ Jimmy is complex, struggling with PTSD and life where you’ve apparently nothing to lose. However, he is not a desperate cause and I didn’t pity him. I felt for him. His is the story so many veterans can relate to. His is the story of a man who has been let down, who hasn’t let anyone in and found himself at the bottom without deserving it. Jimmy is wearing a heavy cloak of nightmares, scars from his life in the military, ghosts from the past. Triggers put him on edge. Yet, his moral code is intact and his rules remain. Jimmy is a good man and I was on his team real fast.
Every homeless character I have encountered in the past was a passing protagonist, like a shadow. Jimmy is in the light, even though he’d rather not be. Fate, bad luck, call it what you want, but when an argument on the embankment of the Tyne wakes him up, he becomes the witness of a possible crime that will lead him out of his torpor. From the violence of the street to the calm of some neighborhoods and place, a library as sanctuary and benches as safe places, Jimmy walks a fine line to do what is right. His path crosses those of new people, some good, some bad. Trevor Wood throws Jimmy in a deadly race against killers, his own past, his issues, all fed by the pulse of the city. The Man on the Street is taut, yet witty. Thought-provoking and heart-breaking. Both dark and heart-warming. Scary and dangerous. Flawless.
I haven’t touched the plot. I will not. Take a walk on Jimmy’s side and dive into a superb thriller anchored to the core of society.
Do I recommend The Man On The Street? You bet! I finished this novel last night and woke up at six knowing I had to write a review and share my feelings. This is probably not the best review you will read, but my hope is for you to understand how excellent this book is.
Jimmy and is tribe feel like family now. I got the chills of a strong plot. I got to know Newcastle in an unexpected way. This novel delivered. It gave, and gave, and kept on giving. The next time someone asks me for a unique crime read, I will be recommending Trevor Wood’s book.
August 18, 2021
This is a fresh take on the amateur sleuth genre mainly because protagonist Jimmy is homeless. His role as an investigator is taken on rather unwillingly but he is persuaded by Carrie to help her look into the disappearance of her father Roger, an event that Jimmy possibly overheard.
The story is grim & brutal at times, just how you might imagine life on the street to be. While Jimmy is a tough guy, don’t expect him to be a Reacher style hero – he certainly gets the stuffing knocked out of him on occasions! All the characters are credible & despite their circumstances - or maybe because of it – are likeable, especially Gadge & Deano whose camaraderie comes over well. Even Dog play his part convincingly! Carrie is also a credible character, although the situation regarding her father has left her vulnerable, she’s still feisty & not one to get on the wrong side of – I liked her attitude!
Well-paced & gritty, the story is gripping & while you may work out who is behind Roger’s disappearance I’m sure the reason for it will come as much as a surprise as it did to me. A really good read & one I felt read like the beginning of a series….& I have now found that there is a sequel. That’s another book going on my TBR list :o)
The story is grim & brutal at times, just how you might imagine life on the street to be. While Jimmy is a tough guy, don’t expect him to be a Reacher style hero – he certainly gets the stuffing knocked out of him on occasions! All the characters are credible & despite their circumstances - or maybe because of it – are likeable, especially Gadge & Deano whose camaraderie comes over well. Even Dog play his part convincingly! Carrie is also a credible character, although the situation regarding her father has left her vulnerable, she’s still feisty & not one to get on the wrong side of – I liked her attitude!
Well-paced & gritty, the story is gripping & while you may work out who is behind Roger’s disappearance I’m sure the reason for it will come as much as a surprise as it did to me. A really good read & one I felt read like the beginning of a series….& I have now found that there is a sequel. That’s another book going on my TBR list :o)
July 14, 2021
Jimmy Mullen is a homeless veteran of the Falklands War, who is obviously still suffering from PTSD many years later. He thinks perhaps he saw and heard a murder but doesn't want to get involved. Until a couple weeks later, when he catches the plea of the daughter of a missing man, who hasn't been heard from since approximately the time of the incident Mullen overheard. An ex-miltary cop, he helps the woman out and tries to unravel what he overheard and who was involved.
It is a great premise for a mystery. As a homeless man, he is kind of invisible but he can also draw the ire of the local constabulary. And that makes it even tougher to get heard when it looks like one of them is part of this.
However, he refuses to deal with his obvious PTSD and bad stuff just keeps happening to him, often not his fault. It does get a bit tiring, as bad thing after bad thing keeps happening, completely independently of what he does. And I was hoping for his experience as a military cop to show up more strongly during the investigation but while it came tantalizingly close, it never really showed up.
But I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next one. For only $0.99 on the Kindle, it is definitely worth your time and money.
It is a great premise for a mystery. As a homeless man, he is kind of invisible but he can also draw the ire of the local constabulary. And that makes it even tougher to get heard when it looks like one of them is part of this.
However, he refuses to deal with his obvious PTSD and bad stuff just keeps happening to him, often not his fault. It does get a bit tiring, as bad thing after bad thing keeps happening, completely independently of what he does. And I was hoping for his experience as a military cop to show up more strongly during the investigation but while it came tantalizingly close, it never really showed up.
But I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next one. For only $0.99 on the Kindle, it is definitely worth your time and money.
May 29, 2020
4.5 stars
Excellent read.
Excellent read.
August 17, 2022
I think that I got onto this author from The CRA and as usual, I went for the first book of his series.
From quite early on I had a niggling thought "this is not my kind of book" Its violent (although dealt with without too much detail), the language used is rather 'riper' that I am used to and the subject of the underlife of Newcastle isnt exactly my go-to subject of choice. The thoughts recurred for a while and I wondered if I should just ditch it. I'm pleased that I didn't.
There was more to the book than that, lots more and that's why something keeps you reading through to the end and being pleased that you did. Its a who done it but wrapped up with other parts of Jimmy's past which keep getting in the way.
For me this is a solid 4.
A bit like the book itself, I dont know if I want to read more of the series - but I know I will and what's more, they'll be good too.
From quite early on I had a niggling thought "this is not my kind of book" Its violent (although dealt with without too much detail), the language used is rather 'riper' that I am used to and the subject of the underlife of Newcastle isnt exactly my go-to subject of choice. The thoughts recurred for a while and I wondered if I should just ditch it. I'm pleased that I didn't.
There was more to the book than that, lots more and that's why something keeps you reading through to the end and being pleased that you did. Its a who done it but wrapped up with other parts of Jimmy's past which keep getting in the way.
For me this is a solid 4.
A bit like the book itself, I dont know if I want to read more of the series - but I know I will and what's more, they'll be good too.
Read
May 30, 2024I’ve decided to DNF this book.
The plot seems interesting. But it lacked organization, there is the PTSD, the Dog, the daughter of the killed man and the investigations.
It kept going back and forth with very questionable progress.
I understand the significance of a book respecting Newcastle, the veteran issue and the human-animal connection but it felt too much of scattered storylines.
Really wanted to like this one 🙄
The plot seems interesting. But it lacked organization, there is the PTSD, the Dog, the daughter of the killed man and the investigations.
It kept going back and forth with very questionable progress.
I understand the significance of a book respecting Newcastle, the veteran issue and the human-animal connection but it felt too much of scattered storylines.
Really wanted to like this one 🙄
October 16, 2019
This is a well paced gritty novel set in Newcastle, Jimmy Mullen is a veteran from the Falklands war, struggling with PTSD which he has refused to seek help for, he is haunted by things he saw, he has hallucinations, nightmares, and sometimes wakes up screaming from the awful dreams as if it is all happening again, revisiting the trauma in his mind. He is recuperating, with a small pension and a job stacking shelves in a supermarket. Drink is his friend, it’s the only thing that gives him solace, that wipes out or dulls some of the sights he saw, numbing the pain. On his way home from the pub one evening, he sees a girl being slapped by her boyfriend, Jimmy intervenes, the only problem is the boyfriend is an off duty police officer, who is left lying on the pavement in a pool of blood. This results in Jimmy being sent to prison.
On release from his stint in prison Jimmy finds himself homeless, divorced, and with a daughter who is now a stranger to him. His ex wife is now remarried.. The streets become his home, anywhere he can find shelter from the rain, his group of friends now consists of other homeless people, all suffering from either, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental health problems or in some cases possibly all three. A local charity called The Pit Stop run by volunteers helping the homeless, providing food, clothing and showers.
Settled in his sleeping bag one night on the banks of the river Tyne, Jimmy hears two men arguing, he rolls over in his sleeping bag and takes a look, taking in the two men, he then rolls back over drifting back into sleep, he hears a splash or was he just dreaming? Jimmy decides it’s not his problem, after all the last time he stepped in to help he landed in jail.
That is until he sees a young woman making a plea for news of her father, Roger Carpenter who has gone missing. Despite not knowing whether what he heard was real or just a dream. Jimmy finds the young woman Carrie, with some help from the people at The Pit Stop. He tells Carrie what he heard. She persuades him to go to the police with her to report it. But the police aren’t interested in what a homeless man has to say. Because of the police’s lack of interest Carrie goes to the local press. However, when Jimmy’s photo appears in the newspaper he is far from happy, and he has good reason, as his past catches up with him, simultaneously, Carrie and Jimmy have to face dangers from digging into her fathers past. With lots of twists and turns this is a story that will keep you guessing, it is a thrilling read.
The story is narrated in the past and the present, showing what happened to Jimmy before he found himself living on the streets. For a debut novel this is a really well written, thought provoking, gritty crime story. With likeable characters, Jimmy puts on a tough exterior but you do get to see a softer side to him. The relationship and chemistry between Jimmy and Carrie. With twists and turns that work well, you are really rooting for Jimmy.
The writer has clearly done his research, highlighting the predicament that some ex servicemen, find themselves in, they have fought for Queen and country, but on returning they no longer have the structure that they had whilst serving, but equally they don’t fit in back home so are left in a state of anomy. With PTSD as well, and in some cases this not being addressed, not just necessarily by the person but also by the lack of funds and facilities to treat these people. The homeless are invisible people, being passed by everyday, they are more likely to be beaten up because they are easy targets, most being misjudged as lazy, worthless. But no one wonders how they have ended up so low, what has led to this. How does society allow someone to fall so low that they feel they have nothing left to lose, because they literally have nothing!
On release from his stint in prison Jimmy finds himself homeless, divorced, and with a daughter who is now a stranger to him. His ex wife is now remarried.. The streets become his home, anywhere he can find shelter from the rain, his group of friends now consists of other homeless people, all suffering from either, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental health problems or in some cases possibly all three. A local charity called The Pit Stop run by volunteers helping the homeless, providing food, clothing and showers.
Settled in his sleeping bag one night on the banks of the river Tyne, Jimmy hears two men arguing, he rolls over in his sleeping bag and takes a look, taking in the two men, he then rolls back over drifting back into sleep, he hears a splash or was he just dreaming? Jimmy decides it’s not his problem, after all the last time he stepped in to help he landed in jail.
That is until he sees a young woman making a plea for news of her father, Roger Carpenter who has gone missing. Despite not knowing whether what he heard was real or just a dream. Jimmy finds the young woman Carrie, with some help from the people at The Pit Stop. He tells Carrie what he heard. She persuades him to go to the police with her to report it. But the police aren’t interested in what a homeless man has to say. Because of the police’s lack of interest Carrie goes to the local press. However, when Jimmy’s photo appears in the newspaper he is far from happy, and he has good reason, as his past catches up with him, simultaneously, Carrie and Jimmy have to face dangers from digging into her fathers past. With lots of twists and turns this is a story that will keep you guessing, it is a thrilling read.
The story is narrated in the past and the present, showing what happened to Jimmy before he found himself living on the streets. For a debut novel this is a really well written, thought provoking, gritty crime story. With likeable characters, Jimmy puts on a tough exterior but you do get to see a softer side to him. The relationship and chemistry between Jimmy and Carrie. With twists and turns that work well, you are really rooting for Jimmy.
The writer has clearly done his research, highlighting the predicament that some ex servicemen, find themselves in, they have fought for Queen and country, but on returning they no longer have the structure that they had whilst serving, but equally they don’t fit in back home so are left in a state of anomy. With PTSD as well, and in some cases this not being addressed, not just necessarily by the person but also by the lack of funds and facilities to treat these people. The homeless are invisible people, being passed by everyday, they are more likely to be beaten up because they are easy targets, most being misjudged as lazy, worthless. But no one wonders how they have ended up so low, what has led to this. How does society allow someone to fall so low that they feel they have nothing left to lose, because they literally have nothing!
April 5, 2021
The Man on the Street (Jimmy Mullen #1) by Trevor Wood
Synopsis /
When homeless veteran Jimmy thinks he witnesses a murder in Newcastle, the police refuse to believe him. He's not quite sure he believes his own eyes. Then he sees missing persons posters matching the description of the man he saw killed, and he realises he wasn't mistaken. But how do you catch a killer when nobody believes a murder has been committed?
Together Jimmy and the dead man's daughter decide to take matters into their own hands and hunt down the murderer themselves. They soon realise it will be a far more dangerous task than they could ever imagine.
My Thoughts /
Jimmy Mullen, a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD. Trying to mind his own business, but, is in the wrong place at the wrong time…..trying to forget he had seen and heard…..not my fight. But then he sees the headline, girl pleas for any information regarding her missing dad. The girl, Carrie reminds him of his own (lost) daughter – there’s something plucky about her. He makes up his mind – it’s time to join the fight.
An expertly paced plot, with a totally shocking conclusion that I did NOT see coming! The story is told swapping between the past and present – we get to see Jimmy’s background story leading up to the events that occurred in the present time which lead to the beginning of our story. We are introduced to characters with lashings of human spirit and big hearts. Jimmy’s character is complex – we know he is struggling with PTSD and life now generally. He’s homeless – but you don’t pity him, you feel empathy for him – his story is probably similar to many of our veterans of today. Everyone you meet has a story, a background, which you will know nothing about unless they let you in, but that means you have to take notice – humans as a society are quick to judge and less quick to forgive. We tend to dismiss people like Jimmy, who we probably pass on the street on our way to work, all too easily – unfairly judged, viewed through the prism of harsh stereotypes. Take a walk on Jimmy’s side – volunteer at a shelter for a morning; serve at a coffee cart delivering breakfast and coffee to the homeless; or do a shift in a kitchen which prepares meals – I think you will get a lot out of it – there are a lot of great people doing good work with the homeless. Take a step out of your comfort zone for a morning, it’ll be worth it.
But I digress – this is a solid story with a strong plot and great characters. Hard to believe it’s a debut novel, it’s put together really well and is a truly engaging read.
I love it when books have a ‘spot on’ last sentence. I am looking forward to see what the author has in store for Jimmy.
Synopsis /
When homeless veteran Jimmy thinks he witnesses a murder in Newcastle, the police refuse to believe him. He's not quite sure he believes his own eyes. Then he sees missing persons posters matching the description of the man he saw killed, and he realises he wasn't mistaken. But how do you catch a killer when nobody believes a murder has been committed?
Together Jimmy and the dead man's daughter decide to take matters into their own hands and hunt down the murderer themselves. They soon realise it will be a far more dangerous task than they could ever imagine.
My Thoughts /
Jimmy Mullen, a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD. Trying to mind his own business, but, is in the wrong place at the wrong time…..trying to forget he had seen and heard…..not my fight. But then he sees the headline, girl pleas for any information regarding her missing dad. The girl, Carrie reminds him of his own (lost) daughter – there’s something plucky about her. He makes up his mind – it’s time to join the fight.
An expertly paced plot, with a totally shocking conclusion that I did NOT see coming! The story is told swapping between the past and present – we get to see Jimmy’s background story leading up to the events that occurred in the present time which lead to the beginning of our story. We are introduced to characters with lashings of human spirit and big hearts. Jimmy’s character is complex – we know he is struggling with PTSD and life now generally. He’s homeless – but you don’t pity him, you feel empathy for him – his story is probably similar to many of our veterans of today. Everyone you meet has a story, a background, which you will know nothing about unless they let you in, but that means you have to take notice – humans as a society are quick to judge and less quick to forgive. We tend to dismiss people like Jimmy, who we probably pass on the street on our way to work, all too easily – unfairly judged, viewed through the prism of harsh stereotypes. Take a walk on Jimmy’s side – volunteer at a shelter for a morning; serve at a coffee cart delivering breakfast and coffee to the homeless; or do a shift in a kitchen which prepares meals – I think you will get a lot out of it – there are a lot of great people doing good work with the homeless. Take a step out of your comfort zone for a morning, it’ll be worth it.
But I digress – this is a solid story with a strong plot and great characters. Hard to believe it’s a debut novel, it’s put together really well and is a truly engaging read.
I love it when books have a ‘spot on’ last sentence. I am looking forward to see what the author has in store for Jimmy.
December 18, 2019
If you like gritty crime fiction, in the vein of Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride and Ian Rankin, then you will love this Newcastle-set debut by Trevor Wood.
Jimmy Mullen is a veteran of the Falkland's War suffering with untreated PTSD and is homeless. His time in the war saw him see some of the most terrible atrocities that have haunted him ever since. Now he drinks to escape, unable to cope with his life at home, but in reality it has become a life sentence. His wife could no longer cope with his moods, concerned for her own safety and that of their little daughter. His escalating erratic behaviour saw him land in prison.
Now he's on parole and hoping to sort his life out. But life on the streets in is tough, and while suffering PTSD he is still in denial. He hooks up with some other homeless lads and together they become their own dysfunctional family of sorts, looking out for each other.
Then late one night Jimmy witnesses something untoward - raised voices in argument, followed by a splash and then silence. Not wanting to draw attention to himself being on parole, Jimmy resolves to let it go - it's not his fight. But in the weeks following, he sees an appeal for a missing person...and his conscience intervenes. But Jimmy doesn't want to get involved; it isn't his fight. But the missing man's daughter, Carrie, needs the truth. And so Jimmy steps up and resolves to stop hiding from his past in order to help Carrie. While police fail to take the word of a "vagrant", Jimmy puts himself at risk and soon finds himself swept away by dangerous events. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Narrated in the past and present, THE MAN ON THE STREET is a crime novel with a difference. It's about a crime but it is also about Jimmy and his daily struggle with PTSD, a debilitating condition resulting in nightmares, flashbacks, erratic behaviour, uncontrollable rages and more.
While somewhat implausible to think that a homeless veteran suffering severe untreated PTSD could investigate the disappearance of someone he may or may not have witnessed fall into the Tyne late one night, THE MAN ON THE STREET is a gritty addictive read none-the-less.
I would like to thank #TrevorWood, #NetGalley and #Quercus for an ARC of #TheManOnTheStreet in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Jimmy Mullen is a veteran of the Falkland's War suffering with untreated PTSD and is homeless. His time in the war saw him see some of the most terrible atrocities that have haunted him ever since. Now he drinks to escape, unable to cope with his life at home, but in reality it has become a life sentence. His wife could no longer cope with his moods, concerned for her own safety and that of their little daughter. His escalating erratic behaviour saw him land in prison.
Now he's on parole and hoping to sort his life out. But life on the streets in is tough, and while suffering PTSD he is still in denial. He hooks up with some other homeless lads and together they become their own dysfunctional family of sorts, looking out for each other.
Then late one night Jimmy witnesses something untoward - raised voices in argument, followed by a splash and then silence. Not wanting to draw attention to himself being on parole, Jimmy resolves to let it go - it's not his fight. But in the weeks following, he sees an appeal for a missing person...and his conscience intervenes. But Jimmy doesn't want to get involved; it isn't his fight. But the missing man's daughter, Carrie, needs the truth. And so Jimmy steps up and resolves to stop hiding from his past in order to help Carrie. While police fail to take the word of a "vagrant", Jimmy puts himself at risk and soon finds himself swept away by dangerous events. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Narrated in the past and present, THE MAN ON THE STREET is a crime novel with a difference. It's about a crime but it is also about Jimmy and his daily struggle with PTSD, a debilitating condition resulting in nightmares, flashbacks, erratic behaviour, uncontrollable rages and more.
While somewhat implausible to think that a homeless veteran suffering severe untreated PTSD could investigate the disappearance of someone he may or may not have witnessed fall into the Tyne late one night, THE MAN ON THE STREET is a gritty addictive read none-the-less.
I would like to thank #TrevorWood, #NetGalley and #Quercus for an ARC of #TheManOnTheStreet in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 31, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy of The Man on the Street, to feature Jimmy, a homeless veteran with PTSD, set in Newcastle.
Jimmy is sleeping rough when he thinks he sees one man push another into the river. He reports it to the police but isn’t taken seriously. When he sees a missing poster featuring the man, Roger Carpenter, he saw disappear he contacts Roger’s daughter Carrie and together they decide to investigate.
Once I learned to live with the improbability of a homeless man with PTSD having the wherewithal and mental acuity to investigate a crime I quite enjoyed The Man on the Street. It did, however, take me a few goes to settle in to this alternative reality. To be fair Mr Wood does insert several of Jimmy’s PTSD nightmares and they are quite vivid and he describes various scenarios to illustrate the precariousness of homelessness but he doesn’t drill deeply into the relentless grind and struggle to survive, the filth, squalor, degradation and sheer desperation of it. Instead he paints it as a lifestyle choice on Jimmy’s part, a longing for freedom and the stars.
The novel is narrated in the third person from Jimmy’s point of view and while his tone is not exactly upbeat it feels optimistic and enquiring, despite his circumstances. It is set in 2012 but there are plenty of flashbacks to key points in his life, all helpfully labelled, to explain how he got to where he is. On the one hand this is well done, releasing information gradually, but on the other it interrupts the flow of the present day story.
The Man on the Street asked me to accept a situation I couldn’t believe in so I will not be reading the further adventures of Jimmy, but it is a polished debut with a readable style and a well constructed plot so I would be interested to read more from Mr Wood with a different protagonist.
Jimmy is sleeping rough when he thinks he sees one man push another into the river. He reports it to the police but isn’t taken seriously. When he sees a missing poster featuring the man, Roger Carpenter, he saw disappear he contacts Roger’s daughter Carrie and together they decide to investigate.
Once I learned to live with the improbability of a homeless man with PTSD having the wherewithal and mental acuity to investigate a crime I quite enjoyed The Man on the Street. It did, however, take me a few goes to settle in to this alternative reality. To be fair Mr Wood does insert several of Jimmy’s PTSD nightmares and they are quite vivid and he describes various scenarios to illustrate the precariousness of homelessness but he doesn’t drill deeply into the relentless grind and struggle to survive, the filth, squalor, degradation and sheer desperation of it. Instead he paints it as a lifestyle choice on Jimmy’s part, a longing for freedom and the stars.
The novel is narrated in the third person from Jimmy’s point of view and while his tone is not exactly upbeat it feels optimistic and enquiring, despite his circumstances. It is set in 2012 but there are plenty of flashbacks to key points in his life, all helpfully labelled, to explain how he got to where he is. On the one hand this is well done, releasing information gradually, but on the other it interrupts the flow of the present day story.
The Man on the Street asked me to accept a situation I couldn’t believe in so I will not be reading the further adventures of Jimmy, but it is a polished debut with a readable style and a well constructed plot so I would be interested to read more from Mr Wood with a different protagonist.
November 11, 2019
Jimmy Mullen learnt the hard way to keep himself to himself and not interfere with things that didn't concern him. The last time war veteran Jimmy went to the aid of someone in trouble it ended in his PTSD taking over and a man being killed by him. A sentence in prison cost him his marriage and seeing his daughter grow up. Now Jimmy lives on the Newcastle streets, tucked out of the way of gangs that make a game of beating up the homeless in the city. His friends consist of people that have given up on themselves, finding oblivion in drink and drugs.
When he hears two men arguing on the riverbank of the Tyne, then a splash he pushes it to the back of his mind until he sees a young woman's plea, making headline news, asking for help from anyone who knows what could have happened to her father. He feels compelled to get in touch with her, but who will take notice of a vagrant with a murder conviction?
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel and loved the fresh approach that this author brought to his story. The hero of the story is Jimmy a war victim that lost the life he had and is unable to cope with society and a society that is happy for him to hideaway. When no-one believes what he saw and heard it gives him a new focus to find out who the other mysterious man was. I found his character heartbreaking to read at times, frustrating at how he was treated and so bloody frightening for him at how lost he seemed. Was Jimmy a ticking time bomb that could still have flashbacks?
This is a really powerful story with no holds barred about the growing numbers of homeless on the streets and the dangers that they constantly live in. A truly engaging read from so many directions. Quite excited to see what will come next from this author. Highly recommended.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
When he hears two men arguing on the riverbank of the Tyne, then a splash he pushes it to the back of his mind until he sees a young woman's plea, making headline news, asking for help from anyone who knows what could have happened to her father. He feels compelled to get in touch with her, but who will take notice of a vagrant with a murder conviction?
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel and loved the fresh approach that this author brought to his story. The hero of the story is Jimmy a war victim that lost the life he had and is unable to cope with society and a society that is happy for him to hideaway. When no-one believes what he saw and heard it gives him a new focus to find out who the other mysterious man was. I found his character heartbreaking to read at times, frustrating at how he was treated and so bloody frightening for him at how lost he seemed. Was Jimmy a ticking time bomb that could still have flashbacks?
This is a really powerful story with no holds barred about the growing numbers of homeless on the streets and the dangers that they constantly live in. A truly engaging read from so many directions. Quite excited to see what will come next from this author. Highly recommended.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
January 27, 2020
This is the first in what promises to be a great new crime series, featuring a homeless war veteran on the streets of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Like a down and out Jackson Brodie, Jimmy can't resist a cry for help even though the slightest stress is likely to trigger his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He's every chance of making the situation more dangerous and landing himself in serious trouble.
Jimmy has bedded down for the night near the river when he hears an argument and then a splash. Based on his experience of past disasters, he tells himself to keep out, "not my fight", but when the photograph of a distraught young woman appears in the newspaper, begging for information about her missing father, he gets in touch. The young woman reminds him too much of the daughter he hasn't seen for years to ignore. But doing his civic duty and reporting what he witnessed is never going to be a quick in and out for Jimmy; he and the police have previous.
Interspersed with flashbacks of Jimmy's Falklands Campaign service in the Royal Navy and of the countless PTSD triggers he's endured in the years since, this is a fast-paced novel that is gritty - and stomach-turningly graphic in places - but populated by characters with real heart. As well as our hero Jimmy, we meet his trusty four-legged companion Dog and best pals the raging alcoholic, conspiracy-theory-loving, IT-savvy Gadge and daft young junkie Deano. The ladies too made their mark. Carrie, the young woman searching for her father, is far from a damsel in distress and acts with determination. We were also introduced to Aoife, the kindly library assistant, and Sandra, Jimmy's cynical and wise-cracking probation officer. And we meet the flirty Big Issue seller with her eye on Jimmy. I can't remember her name but no doubt I'll get to know it in book two which I hope isn't too far round the next Tyneside corner.
Like a down and out Jackson Brodie, Jimmy can't resist a cry for help even though the slightest stress is likely to trigger his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He's every chance of making the situation more dangerous and landing himself in serious trouble.
Jimmy has bedded down for the night near the river when he hears an argument and then a splash. Based on his experience of past disasters, he tells himself to keep out, "not my fight", but when the photograph of a distraught young woman appears in the newspaper, begging for information about her missing father, he gets in touch. The young woman reminds him too much of the daughter he hasn't seen for years to ignore. But doing his civic duty and reporting what he witnessed is never going to be a quick in and out for Jimmy; he and the police have previous.
Interspersed with flashbacks of Jimmy's Falklands Campaign service in the Royal Navy and of the countless PTSD triggers he's endured in the years since, this is a fast-paced novel that is gritty - and stomach-turningly graphic in places - but populated by characters with real heart. As well as our hero Jimmy, we meet his trusty four-legged companion Dog and best pals the raging alcoholic, conspiracy-theory-loving, IT-savvy Gadge and daft young junkie Deano. The ladies too made their mark. Carrie, the young woman searching for her father, is far from a damsel in distress and acts with determination. We were also introduced to Aoife, the kindly library assistant, and Sandra, Jimmy's cynical and wise-cracking probation officer. And we meet the flirty Big Issue seller with her eye on Jimmy. I can't remember her name but no doubt I'll get to know it in book two which I hope isn't too far round the next Tyneside corner.
June 6, 2022
Very,very good.Great,original characters.
December 10, 2019
If you like gritty crime fiction, and want to read something with a different approach to the genre, you should read this book.
The story is about Jimmy, a combat vet with untreated PTSD, who is homeless. He witnesses something on the quayside one night, and gets sucked into some dangerous events. The mystery kept me guessing right to the very end, and there are some surprising twists and turns. The story is fast paced and exciting the whole way through.
The characters are all brilliant, well rounded people. They are the kind of people that get forgotten a lot of the time. People living on the streets, dealing with mental health problems and addiction, just trying to get by as society ignores them. The way the police treat Jimmy at times is heartbreaking.
Also, I love books set in Newcastle (my home town), and this is one of the best I've read. It really feels like Newcastle.
The story is about Jimmy, a combat vet with untreated PTSD, who is homeless. He witnesses something on the quayside one night, and gets sucked into some dangerous events. The mystery kept me guessing right to the very end, and there are some surprising twists and turns. The story is fast paced and exciting the whole way through.
The characters are all brilliant, well rounded people. They are the kind of people that get forgotten a lot of the time. People living on the streets, dealing with mental health problems and addiction, just trying to get by as society ignores them. The way the police treat Jimmy at times is heartbreaking.
Also, I love books set in Newcastle (my home town), and this is one of the best I've read. It really feels like Newcastle.
March 17, 2020
Author debuts his book this week but many events have been cancelled! He gave a great interview to TheBookTrail though about his hometown and the locations in the novel so enjoy!
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