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Man Down
ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS STEP UP
Matt Spiller drives a souped-up taxi, suffers from SAD, and has a troublesome past. It's Christmas Eve, and one of his fares is about to become extremely problematic. Helen Spiller still loves her husband, but can no longer live with his moods. She's a wonderful mum, with a screw quietly working loose in her head. Now, their eldest daughter has hooked up with a very bad boyfriend. Spiller thinks he has the skillset to handle all these problems. He's dead wrong.
Matt Spiller drives a souped-up taxi, suffers from SAD, and has a troublesome past. It's Christmas Eve, and one of his fares is about to become extremely problematic. Helen Spiller still loves her husband, but can no longer live with his moods. She's a wonderful mum, with a screw quietly working loose in her head. Now, their eldest daughter has hooked up with a very bad boyfriend. Spiller thinks he has the skillset to handle all these problems. He's dead wrong.
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Published February 22, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 28, 2022
I have been reading Mark Pepper’s books now for many years. After reading the explosive “Veteran Avenue” I bought “Man on a Murder Cycle” and “The Short Cut” and spent some fantastic hours lost in the exceptionally talented (but very twisted) mind of Mark’s imagination.
MAN DOWN is his latest novel and features a forty three year old night-time taxi driver, who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and is a depressive insomniac. Don’t be tempted into thinking this will be a gloomy and dour read, it’s far from it….it’s fast paced, action packed and quite amusing in places and will definitely have you running into some unexpected rabbit holes.
- “ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS STEP UP…….Matt Spiller drives a souped-up taxi, suffers from SAD and has a troublesome past. It's Christmas Eve, and one of his fares is about to become extremely problematic. Helen Spiller still loves her husband but can no longer live with his moods. She's a wonderful mum, with a screw quietly working loose in her head. Now, their eldest daughter has hooked up with a very bad boyfriend. Spiller thinks he has the skillset to handle all these problems. He's dead wrong!” —
Man Down is a very well executed story, with some real funny lines despite it being dark and quite wacky at times. The characters are so unique that I doubt you’d meet any of them in real life….or even want to! Spiller has such a dry humour and together with the ‘scrapes’ he gets himself embroiled in, provides a highly entertaining reading experience and I guarantee, not a plot you can foretell.
Actor now turned author, Mark Pepper is a writer that deserves high praise for his incredibly defined, detailed and descriptive novels and I do hope he continues to use his talent in writing more books, it would be such a waste not to meet more of Mark’s crazy but likeable characters and plot ideas.
#ManDown - 5 stars
MAN DOWN is his latest novel and features a forty three year old night-time taxi driver, who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and is a depressive insomniac. Don’t be tempted into thinking this will be a gloomy and dour read, it’s far from it….it’s fast paced, action packed and quite amusing in places and will definitely have you running into some unexpected rabbit holes.
- “ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS STEP UP…….Matt Spiller drives a souped-up taxi, suffers from SAD and has a troublesome past. It's Christmas Eve, and one of his fares is about to become extremely problematic. Helen Spiller still loves her husband but can no longer live with his moods. She's a wonderful mum, with a screw quietly working loose in her head. Now, their eldest daughter has hooked up with a very bad boyfriend. Spiller thinks he has the skillset to handle all these problems. He's dead wrong!” —
Man Down is a very well executed story, with some real funny lines despite it being dark and quite wacky at times. The characters are so unique that I doubt you’d meet any of them in real life….or even want to! Spiller has such a dry humour and together with the ‘scrapes’ he gets himself embroiled in, provides a highly entertaining reading experience and I guarantee, not a plot you can foretell.
Actor now turned author, Mark Pepper is a writer that deserves high praise for his incredibly defined, detailed and descriptive novels and I do hope he continues to use his talent in writing more books, it would be such a waste not to meet more of Mark’s crazy but likeable characters and plot ideas.
#ManDown - 5 stars
February 24, 2022
GUYS!!! What a bloody book!! This was one hell of a ride.
Matt Spiller is a character and then some. He endures it all in this book. He is certainly no stranger to a spot of bad luck!!
Why seemed like a simple act of violence to protect your daughter turned into a spiral that went way, way, way out of control and I honestly feared there would be no end too it.
Although Mr Spiller has ended up in a bad boy rut I still couldn’t help but love him. He may have done some BAD and STUPID things but he knows right from wrong and his heart is always in the right place.
I definitely think I have a new book boyfriend.
Matt Spiller is a character and then some. He endures it all in this book. He is certainly no stranger to a spot of bad luck!!
Why seemed like a simple act of violence to protect your daughter turned into a spiral that went way, way, way out of control and I honestly feared there would be no end too it.
Although Mr Spiller has ended up in a bad boy rut I still couldn’t help but love him. He may have done some BAD and STUPID things but he knows right from wrong and his heart is always in the right place.
I definitely think I have a new book boyfriend.
February 26, 2022
Man Down tells the story of 43-year-old taxi driver, Matt Spiller, who is rather struggling in life. He’s estranged from his wife, Helen, and misses his children, Samantha (17) and Sophie (6). He’s depressed, suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and is an insomniac.
It’s a snowy Christmas eve and Spiller picks up a fare who he later finds out is called Emma. He has a rather unconventional car as his taxi – an Audi S5 Sportback! He drops Emma off at a local park just before midnight and then has to intervene when she is approached by two youths wearing dark clothes, with their hoods up. He ends up teaching them a lesson!
The following morning, after a bad night’s sleep, as usual, Spiller heads to the former family home to see his children for a few hours on Christmas Day. He’s late and his wife isn’t amused, especially as their daughter, Sammy, is missing. She has a new, older boyfriend (of two weeks!) and hasn’t been home since the previous day.
When a tearful Sammy finally turns up a few days later, the police have already been informed and they tell Spiller that his daughter’s 28-year-old boyfriend, Callum Ward, is well known to them and big trouble.
And that’s all I’m going to say about the plot because you really need to read the book yourself to experience this action-packed story, which doesn’t let up! There are certainly some weird and wonderful moments, as well as some rather gory scenes!
I loved the main character, Matt Spiller, who has a great wry sense of humour and, despite the grittiness and violence, the book contains some very funny lines and comments! His wife, Helen, is an intriguing character with ‘a screw quietly working loose in her head’ and Sammy is brave and resilient despite experiencing a torrid time at the hands of her boyfriend.
Overall, I really enjoyed Man Down – it was entertaining, gripping and crazy, in a good way! The story was well written and cleverly plotted with some brilliant twists and turns and a few red herrings. It was unpredictable and fast paced, with lots of action and tension, and I never knew what was going to happen next! I was holding my breath at certain points, willing Spiller and his family to be safe!
When I began reading the book, I had no idea how it was all going to pan out and I could never have guessed the chain of events that would occur! There were a few strands to the story and it was interesting how they all intertwined, with Matt flitting between several groups of menacing and disturbing characters, trying to avoid getting harmed! Little does he know exactly what he’s involved in – there were definitely some startling revelations throughout the book!
Man Down was an excellent read and I’ve already purchased the author’s other novel, Veteran Avenue, which was republished by Red Dog Press in September 2021.
It’s a snowy Christmas eve and Spiller picks up a fare who he later finds out is called Emma. He has a rather unconventional car as his taxi – an Audi S5 Sportback! He drops Emma off at a local park just before midnight and then has to intervene when she is approached by two youths wearing dark clothes, with their hoods up. He ends up teaching them a lesson!
The following morning, after a bad night’s sleep, as usual, Spiller heads to the former family home to see his children for a few hours on Christmas Day. He’s late and his wife isn’t amused, especially as their daughter, Sammy, is missing. She has a new, older boyfriend (of two weeks!) and hasn’t been home since the previous day.
When a tearful Sammy finally turns up a few days later, the police have already been informed and they tell Spiller that his daughter’s 28-year-old boyfriend, Callum Ward, is well known to them and big trouble.
And that’s all I’m going to say about the plot because you really need to read the book yourself to experience this action-packed story, which doesn’t let up! There are certainly some weird and wonderful moments, as well as some rather gory scenes!
I loved the main character, Matt Spiller, who has a great wry sense of humour and, despite the grittiness and violence, the book contains some very funny lines and comments! His wife, Helen, is an intriguing character with ‘a screw quietly working loose in her head’ and Sammy is brave and resilient despite experiencing a torrid time at the hands of her boyfriend.
Overall, I really enjoyed Man Down – it was entertaining, gripping and crazy, in a good way! The story was well written and cleverly plotted with some brilliant twists and turns and a few red herrings. It was unpredictable and fast paced, with lots of action and tension, and I never knew what was going to happen next! I was holding my breath at certain points, willing Spiller and his family to be safe!
When I began reading the book, I had no idea how it was all going to pan out and I could never have guessed the chain of events that would occur! There were a few strands to the story and it was interesting how they all intertwined, with Matt flitting between several groups of menacing and disturbing characters, trying to avoid getting harmed! Little does he know exactly what he’s involved in – there were definitely some startling revelations throughout the book!
Man Down was an excellent read and I’ve already purchased the author’s other novel, Veteran Avenue, which was republished by Red Dog Press in September 2021.
February 25, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
THE PROPER MINDSET
Do you like movies (or shows) like Fargo,* where regular, everyday folks find themselves in the middle of some sort of large criminal activity? Things go quickly out of control and before they know it, this regular guy is kidnapping people, covering up killings, disposing of bodies, planning heists, and whatnot. If that's your kind of thing, buckle up, because you're in for a ride.
*I had a handful of other titles I was going to invoke, but as soon as I started the sentence, they vanished.
If Fargo ain't your thing, if Elmore Leonard or Eoin Colfer's Crime Novels don't work for you, well, you might want to skip Man Down, unless you're looking for someone to change your mind about this type of thing.
WHAT'S MAN DOWN ABOUT?
Matt Spiller is our Everyman—he's a taxi driver, he's a devoted dad, he's separated from his wife, and his life is about to be turned upside down. And then shaken up, bounced around, chewed up, and spit out.
One Christmas Eve night, after dropping off a fare, he sees a couple of men who look like they're about to attack her. Without thinking about it, Matt steps in and prevents that—they won't be harming anyone for a while. This isn't something he typically does, but the woman he rescued doesn't know that. Which leads to an interesting business proposition...
Meanwhile, his 16-year-old daughter doesn't make it home for Christmas—she's off with her new (older) boyfriend. When she eventually gets home, Matt and his wife are told that she'd been prevented from leaving or calling them. Also, a police officer warns Matt about the boyfriend—his criminal C.V. is truly impressive if you're the sort who's impressed by that sort of thing. Matt and his wife are going to have to do something drastic to keep this creep away from their girl. But maybe they go too far...
That's a thumbnail of the first 12% of the book. There's no way to summarize the next 88%, even if I was the kind of guy who'd do that. Where those two storylines take Matt and his family can only be read to be believed.
HELEN
It'd be easy to give all of your attention to Matt and his antics while reading/talking about this book, but that'd be a mistake. The women in his life really deserve a lot of attention.
His daughter Sophie, a Minions addict, is one of the cutest kids you'll encounter in print this year. Sammy, the girl with lousy taste in men, is strong, determined, and would probably have found a way out of her trouble on her own, thank you very much. Emma, the fateful fare...okay, I don't know how to describe her—but man, she's intriguing (and then some).
But Helen, Matt's wife (at least for now), is something else. She's had it up to here with his Depression, his dead-end job, and any number of other failings he has. She still loves him, but she has to do what she can for herself and their daughters. This spills over to how she approaches a boss who's been harassing her constantly, Sammy's boyfriend, the repercussions of what happens after Christmas, and everything else to do with Matt. Helen's the kind of character you'd like to meet in real life, just to hang out and get to know a little bit.
THAT REVEAL
There's a reveal that's so big that I want to spend a few paragraphs talking about it. I won't, don't worry, but I want to. When you get to it, you'll know exactly what I mean.
If you're anything like me, you'll cackle a bit. Then you'll have to flip through the pages to check a few things to see how Pepper played you. Then you'll chuckle some more and dive back in to see how this new understanding of everything plays out—and you'll be eager to do so, because this book that had been a compelling read has become something new, something richer, something more twisted and fun. What you won't know is that there's another reveal or two coming, and that you shouldn't get comfortable.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT MAN DOWN?
This was a bonkers read—that's a compliment, in case that wasn't clear. On the one hand, it's impossible to predict how Pepper is going to start at Point A and end up anywhere near Point Z, but he does, and when you look back at it, the logic is clear and sound.
I can't tell you how many times he pulled the rug out from under me (he does the same to Matt almost as often)—sometimes eliciting a laugh, sometimes shock and dismay, sometimes I was so dumbfounded as not to know how to react. But there's a lot more going on than just unpredictability—Matt keeps coming across as a poor guy just trying to do the best he can—and failing with horrible results. But you never stop pulling for him.
The humor is dark, the action is frequent and dynamic, with characters that you want to get to know better and see more of. I'm not sure what else to say at this point without giving away everything, so let's just go with if you're in the mood for a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of a thriller, get your mitts on this one pronto.
---
THE PROPER MINDSET
Do you like movies (or shows) like Fargo,* where regular, everyday folks find themselves in the middle of some sort of large criminal activity? Things go quickly out of control and before they know it, this regular guy is kidnapping people, covering up killings, disposing of bodies, planning heists, and whatnot. If that's your kind of thing, buckle up, because you're in for a ride.
*I had a handful of other titles I was going to invoke, but as soon as I started the sentence, they vanished.
If Fargo ain't your thing, if Elmore Leonard or Eoin Colfer's Crime Novels don't work for you, well, you might want to skip Man Down, unless you're looking for someone to change your mind about this type of thing.
WHAT'S MAN DOWN ABOUT?
Matt Spiller is our Everyman—he's a taxi driver, he's a devoted dad, he's separated from his wife, and his life is about to be turned upside down. And then shaken up, bounced around, chewed up, and spit out.
One Christmas Eve night, after dropping off a fare, he sees a couple of men who look like they're about to attack her. Without thinking about it, Matt steps in and prevents that—they won't be harming anyone for a while. This isn't something he typically does, but the woman he rescued doesn't know that. Which leads to an interesting business proposition...
Meanwhile, his 16-year-old daughter doesn't make it home for Christmas—she's off with her new (older) boyfriend. When she eventually gets home, Matt and his wife are told that she'd been prevented from leaving or calling them. Also, a police officer warns Matt about the boyfriend—his criminal C.V. is truly impressive if you're the sort who's impressed by that sort of thing. Matt and his wife are going to have to do something drastic to keep this creep away from their girl. But maybe they go too far...
That's a thumbnail of the first 12% of the book. There's no way to summarize the next 88%, even if I was the kind of guy who'd do that. Where those two storylines take Matt and his family can only be read to be believed.
HELEN
It'd be easy to give all of your attention to Matt and his antics while reading/talking about this book, but that'd be a mistake. The women in his life really deserve a lot of attention.
His daughter Sophie, a Minions addict, is one of the cutest kids you'll encounter in print this year. Sammy, the girl with lousy taste in men, is strong, determined, and would probably have found a way out of her trouble on her own, thank you very much. Emma, the fateful fare...okay, I don't know how to describe her—but man, she's intriguing (and then some).
But Helen, Matt's wife (at least for now), is something else. She's had it up to here with his Depression, his dead-end job, and any number of other failings he has. She still loves him, but she has to do what she can for herself and their daughters. This spills over to how she approaches a boss who's been harassing her constantly, Sammy's boyfriend, the repercussions of what happens after Christmas, and everything else to do with Matt. Helen's the kind of character you'd like to meet in real life, just to hang out and get to know a little bit.
THAT REVEAL
There's a reveal that's so big that I want to spend a few paragraphs talking about it. I won't, don't worry, but I want to. When you get to it, you'll know exactly what I mean.
If you're anything like me, you'll cackle a bit. Then you'll have to flip through the pages to check a few things to see how Pepper played you. Then you'll chuckle some more and dive back in to see how this new understanding of everything plays out—and you'll be eager to do so, because this book that had been a compelling read has become something new, something richer, something more twisted and fun. What you won't know is that there's another reveal or two coming, and that you shouldn't get comfortable.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT MAN DOWN?
This was a bonkers read—that's a compliment, in case that wasn't clear. On the one hand, it's impossible to predict how Pepper is going to start at Point A and end up anywhere near Point Z, but he does, and when you look back at it, the logic is clear and sound.
I can't tell you how many times he pulled the rug out from under me (he does the same to Matt almost as often)—sometimes eliciting a laugh, sometimes shock and dismay, sometimes I was so dumbfounded as not to know how to react. But there's a lot more going on than just unpredictability—Matt keeps coming across as a poor guy just trying to do the best he can—and failing with horrible results. But you never stop pulling for him.
The humor is dark, the action is frequent and dynamic, with characters that you want to get to know better and see more of. I'm not sure what else to say at this point without giving away everything, so let's just go with if you're in the mood for a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of a thriller, get your mitts on this one pronto.
March 9, 2022
Mark Pepper stole my weekend; I simply couldn't put his new book down! Man Down is just brilliant: gripping, gritty, funny and totally addictive. I already know that Mark Pepper is an outstanding writer as I absolutely loved his previous novel, Veteran Avenue, and I'm delighted to report that Man Down is every bit as good.
Main character Matt Spiller makes one heck of a first impression; this is one man I won't forget in a hurry - he makes Die Hard's John McClane look sane. The same could be said for his wife Helen; the blurb mentions a 'screw quietly working loose in her head' and just you wait to see what happens when that screw finally comes loose. It's unforgettable!
Take a bow, Mr Pepper! Man Down is outstanding. I gave it so many virtual rounds of applause as the scintillating plot played out. It's so full of thrills and spills that it had my heart beating 19 to the dozen and I had a few gasp out loud moments too. I also loved the humour written into the book through the characters' speech - they sure don't hold anything back.
With an ingenious and highly original plot, Man Down is an unforgettable fast-paced thriller. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Main character Matt Spiller makes one heck of a first impression; this is one man I won't forget in a hurry - he makes Die Hard's John McClane look sane. The same could be said for his wife Helen; the blurb mentions a 'screw quietly working loose in her head' and just you wait to see what happens when that screw finally comes loose. It's unforgettable!
Take a bow, Mr Pepper! Man Down is outstanding. I gave it so many virtual rounds of applause as the scintillating plot played out. It's so full of thrills and spills that it had my heart beating 19 to the dozen and I had a few gasp out loud moments too. I also loved the humour written into the book through the characters' speech - they sure don't hold anything back.
With an ingenious and highly original plot, Man Down is an unforgettable fast-paced thriller. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 11, 2022
I haven't read Mark Pepper's books before, I chose to read this from the blurb and cover alone. I had no idea what to expect, so went in with an open mind.
Matt Spiller is not the run of the mill hero. He is a taxi driver with a car that isn't a normal taxi. One night a drunk young woman gets into his taxi and from there starts a ride that there is no stopping.
A darkly comic chain of events that are full of action and craziness. I was almost addicted to reading this book. With a highly original plot with characters that are equally as original and well written.
This is a story that just carries the reader along until it the last page, which comes along way too soon.
Thanks to Bloodhound for the ARC.
Matt Spiller is not the run of the mill hero. He is a taxi driver with a car that isn't a normal taxi. One night a drunk young woman gets into his taxi and from there starts a ride that there is no stopping.
A darkly comic chain of events that are full of action and craziness. I was almost addicted to reading this book. With a highly original plot with characters that are equally as original and well written.
This is a story that just carries the reader along until it the last page, which comes along way too soon.
Thanks to Bloodhound for the ARC.
September 26, 2022
I’ve never read Mark Pepper before so I went in blind. An insomniac taxi driver doesn’t seem the usual choice for an action hero. A broken family and a teen daughter with a ‘Bad Guy’ boyfriend sound real-life ordinary too. But from the moment an intoxicated young woman clambers into Matt Spiller’s sporty taxi, it’s clear that things are far from ordinary. A fast-paced plot unfolds, full of ‘what will he do now?’ moments. The characters are likeable, relatable, even if you can’t quite believe them. What would you do if you discovered your firstborn’s boyfriend had beaten her badly? Then read how Helen Spiller tackles that issue. There are some grim moments, but they’re tackled with an off-kilter humour that might make you question your own moral boundaries. Man Down is an engaging read that will keep you entertained and guessing. Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the advanced reader copy.
September 23, 2022
This book comes out September 23, 2022. Paperback is available. This an action- packed suspense thriller of a man of ex-military, now a taxi driver in a S5 Sportback. Matthew (Matt) Spiller is also a husband and father. His wife's name is Helen, and his children are daughters Samantha (Sammy) 17 and the youngest Sophie. Oh, and Helen Spiller is a great character you have to read to find out why. Matt Spiller You will want to read this book, for all the goodness of entertainment inside. The action is off the charts. This novel is truly good from start to finish. The beginning gripping you with Matt meets Emma in his taxi. His fight to protect her. She calls him again and offers him a job that is of high priority, for the payments is highly offers of money in five figures. This story is actually very enjoyable to me as a reader. I hope more with Matt and Helen Spiller. I really enjoyed Helen character as well as Matt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2022
What happens when you have anger problems, SAD and you see something you think is going wrong in the street?
If you’re Matt Spiller you will jump in there and then and unleash the strangest, darkest, but strangely comedic set of events that are humanly possible.
All Spiller wants is to live with his family again. Sounds easy. But Matt isn’t easy. Neither is Helen. They love one another. But he’s depressed and she’s more than a little crazy.
This is great book which I read in one sitting because it hooked me from the off. I loved where the tale led, who was involved and who wasn’t. And the question of what exactly would you do m? lies there within it’s pages.
With thanks to Red Dog Press and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
If you’re Matt Spiller you will jump in there and then and unleash the strangest, darkest, but strangely comedic set of events that are humanly possible.
All Spiller wants is to live with his family again. Sounds easy. But Matt isn’t easy. Neither is Helen. They love one another. But he’s depressed and she’s more than a little crazy.
This is great book which I read in one sitting because it hooked me from the off. I loved where the tale led, who was involved and who wasn’t. And the question of what exactly would you do m? lies there within it’s pages.
With thanks to Red Dog Press and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
September 23, 2022
Man down by Mark pepper.
Matt Spiller, a troubled taxi driver, suffers from seasonal affective disorder and is struggling with his difficult past. To make matters worse, one of his fares is about to become extremely troublesome . . .
Helen Spiller still loves her husband but can no longer live with his moods. She’s a wonderful mum, with a screw quietly working loose in her head. Now, their eldest daughter has hooked up with a very bad boyfriend. Matt thinks he has the skillset to handle all these problems. The problem is, he’s dead wrong . . .
A really good read with good characters. Full of Action. Had me hooked. 4*.
Matt Spiller, a troubled taxi driver, suffers from seasonal affective disorder and is struggling with his difficult past. To make matters worse, one of his fares is about to become extremely troublesome . . .
Helen Spiller still loves her husband but can no longer live with his moods. She’s a wonderful mum, with a screw quietly working loose in her head. Now, their eldest daughter has hooked up with a very bad boyfriend. Matt thinks he has the skillset to handle all these problems. The problem is, he’s dead wrong . . .
A really good read with good characters. Full of Action. Had me hooked. 4*.
June 29, 2023
What an absolute belter Man Down is. One of those rollercoaster thrillers you want to race through yet, at the same time, keep the enjoyment going as long as possible. I'm not rehashing the synopsis (see above for that) , suffice to say that in hero/antihero(?) Matt Spiller, Mark Pepper has created the perfect lead character to root for - I query antihero as, let's face it, he doesn't exactly smell of roses, but he's definitely the guy you want living next door when the muck hits the fan. The pace is relentless, and dull moments do not feature here. I love this book - having recently read Veteran Avenue, I'm hoping Mark Pepper's backlist makes an imminent reappearance!
September 23, 2022
I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed his writing style as well as his attention to details that made the story realistic. This is a well written story that has twists and turns that you don't want to miss. A story where the chracters are connectable and made the story for me. They not only pulled me into their story but they also brought it to life. This is a fast paced story that is full of action and hard to put down. I highly recommend this book.
September 23, 2022
This book is insane. When I started reading, Pepper's book amused because it gently subverted expectations, and took directions I wasn't expecting, while remaining solidly within my comfort zone as a reader. But before long things escalated far beyond 'sitting comfortably' as the OMG moments kept coming without any loss of credulity. We are warned from the start about Matt Spiller. You won't like him, but you will. It's complicated, and very entertaining. How to make the ordinary extraordinary!
September 24, 2022
Spiller is just a taxi driver going about his day when a random fare changes his life. His daughter disappears over the Xmas period and his life gets even more complicated. I wasn't quite sure whether to laugh in parts of this novel, confused as to which genre it actually fitted. A good story if not a tad puzzling.
December 29, 2025
Absolutely amazing!!
This is the 4th book by Mark Pepper I have read. They just get better. Believable characters that you can't help but love, with amusing, if quite dark, humour. Nothing was predictable, many shocks and surprises along the way.
Extremely well written. I'm looking forward to reading more from this amazing author.
This is the 4th book by Mark Pepper I have read. They just get better. Believable characters that you can't help but love, with amusing, if quite dark, humour. Nothing was predictable, many shocks and surprises along the way.
Extremely well written. I'm looking forward to reading more from this amazing author.
November 13, 2022
A very surprising book. It started out as one thing that felt recognisable, and then veered a bit erratically into a different and slightly absurd direction. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I didn't really feel much connection to the main character.
September 13, 2022
I received this book for free from Bloodhound Books.
What an adrenaline rush!
It was full of twists.
Action packed from beginning to end.
I hope this becomes a series.
What an adrenaline rush!
It was full of twists.
Action packed from beginning to end.
I hope this becomes a series.
September 15, 2022
4 1/2 stars
January 12, 2023
Man Down by Mark Pepper was an excellent read and a great holiday read as well. It was fast paced with great twists and turns throughout with a little humour which also made it a fun read. Once I started to read Man down everything I had planned for that day, went out the window! So glad I had a frozen Pizza in the freezer!!! The ending to Man Down was excellent and a perfect ending! I loved it!
I highly recommend Man Down by Mark Pepper.
Big Thank you to Bloodhound Books and Heather Fitt for my ARC.
I highly recommend Man Down by Mark Pepper.
Big Thank you to Bloodhound Books and Heather Fitt for my ARC.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews