No More Heroes

by Stephen Thompson

Simon Weekes becomes an overnight celebrity after his heroics during the 7/7 Bombings. But Simon can't afford the newfound fame and attention ― he has too much to lose. July 7, 2005. Simon Weekes is travelling on the London Underground when his tube carriage is wrecked by a bomb blast. Virtually everyone is killed and almost all the survivors are severely injured. Except for Simon. Having quickly and calmly organised the small band of survivors out of the wreckage and to safety, word of Simon's heroics get out in the days following the bombing. Now under the full glare of the media spotlight, he becomes an overnight celebrity, hounded for interviews and regularly approached in the street by autograph hunters. The only thing is, he doesn’t want all the attention. He can’t afford it. He has too much to lose.

Genres: Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2022

About the author

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Reviews

[Jacquie Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book , couldn't put it down

I read this book in two sitting over 12 hours , it was superb
Not at all my usual type of book
I loved the way the concept of instant "celebrity" was explored it was an angle I had never before considered and was very cleverly done
The characters were well defined and you really felt as though you were living Simon's life
Highly recommended

[Alina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t like how this book put me in a bit of a reading slump. I was a little disappointed. The prologue was so intriguing but once the book started I felt like it didn't go anywhere. I didn't feel like there was a story there. The abrupt changes from part one to part two and then part two to the epilogue was just strange. Not my thing.

[Gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the type of book I normally read so don't think I would recommend it. Sorry

[Olivia Wheelwright · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the start it sounded like it would be way more interesting than it actually was. Bit of a disappointment and there were several grammatical errors throughout

[Desmond Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

On July 7th, 2005 Simon Weekes was just a typical ordinary bloke heading home on the Underground during rush hour. Until his carriage is blown about by a suicide bomber right next to him.

Yet, among the death and destruction Weekes somehow survives. Before he escapes, he somehow manages to save the lives of two fellow passengers.

He is truly an everyday hero that stepped up to help others in terrible times.

Yet, Weekes is now caught in a dilemma. Will he able to remain anonymous as fame beckons, or will the dark secrets of the past overturn this more positive stage of his life?

What would we do, if we were caught in the very circumstances we fear? Events so terrible we would have to make drastic decisions, very suddenly to save ourselves and possibly others. For most of us, we would like to think we would act like Simon Weekes, with selfless courage to save strangers before ourselves.

Weekes does this and then has to decide what to do next. Yet, when events reveal a former past, it is us who have to question the man and how we now react to him with this added information.

'No More Heroes' will test and explore your own boundaries of compassion as we wrestle with the fortune versus choice dilemma facing Weekes.

Thompson cleverly leads us on a journey which ends with a sudden twist after part one. Part two is a layered exploration of Weekes past which puts his courage during the bombing into new light.

Should someones's past negative events cloud our perception of someone when they later act so courageously for others?

This gritty very British story, portrays the limited choices of life being young, black and English in the 90's. One that will keep you thinking throughout. 7/10

[Sian Wadey · Rating 4 out of 5]

No More Heroes by Stephen Thompson is not the kind of book I would normally pick up. Having been 13 years old when the 7/7 attacks occurred, it's an event that will always be cemented in my memory. Reading Simon Weekes' account of what happened to him on that day was interesting and harrowing. But really, these moments are only the start of Simon's story and his past has much deeper secrets.
This is by no means an easy read, but the pace is thick and fast and keeps you turning the pages to find out what happened to Simon. Simon himself is a complex character and the author does not paint him in an honourable light. Despite this, he is still likeable and you sympathise with the route his life has taken.
I would definitely read more of Stephen Thompson in the future.

[David Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's definitely not a novel. At best it's 2 short stories stuck together. The first part way more interesting than the second. But tbh I don't recommend it