What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lemon Man
The Lemon Man is Patrick Callen, a bicycle-riding hitman with mild O.C.D. in Dublin, Ireland whose carefully ordered life is totally upended when he becomes the accidental caretaker of a baby boy. Now he’s got to balance his daily to-do list of errands and murders-for-hire with his unexpected domesticity, which impacts him and his work in ways he never expected…and that could get him killed.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2022
121 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
Keith Bruton
2 books103 followersKeith Bruton is the author of the crime novels The Lemon Man and Murder on the Dodder. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and lives there with his partner.
Instagram: @keith.bruton.books
Instagram: @keith.bruton.books
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
January 31, 2023
First, I can say Patrick or better known as The Lemon Man (professionally speaking) is a hitman in Dublin who works for the Bronze Man, and whose life seems pretty much all worked out until his life crosses paths with the baby of one of his victims.
Could it be that Patrick has just realized that what he really wants in life (in spite of being in his 40s) is more than what his job has ever offered him? There’s also Olivia, a pretty escort who works for Nocturnal, a man to be afraid of, but Patrick seems to be wanting to do anything to save her from continuing working for such a man.
Little by little, Patrick’s life seems to be falling apart and his efficacy as a hitman is in doubt. Will he be able to overcome what’s troubling him and make a victorious comeback?
Told in the first person from Patrick’s perspective, we’ll learn more about him and the ones surrounding him.
Could it be that Patrick has just realized that what he really wants in life (in spite of being in his 40s) is more than what his job has ever offered him? There’s also Olivia, a pretty escort who works for Nocturnal, a man to be afraid of, but Patrick seems to be wanting to do anything to save her from continuing working for such a man.
Little by little, Patrick’s life seems to be falling apart and his efficacy as a hitman is in doubt. Will he be able to overcome what’s troubling him and make a victorious comeback?
Told in the first person from Patrick’s perspective, we’ll learn more about him and the ones surrounding him.
January 1, 2023
Told in the first person, humorous days in the life of a Dublin-based hitman who works for an outfit run by the ruthless Bronze Man and carries out his assignments with a nonjudgmental attitude. Then he finds himself with a baby and a dog in tow, a woman he's beginning to have more serious ideas about, all this with a serious talent for cooking a good meal. Hope there's a series beginning here.
October 18, 2022
This was a really great read with a unique plot and plenty of laugh out moments. Keith’s style of writing was easy to read, I enjoyed the short chapters and reading the book through Patrick’s point of view. I enjoyed the way his character was portrayed and I often found myself rooting for him even though he is a violent hitman. This book is also a bit of a love letter to Dublin and the way the author described the scene made me feel like I was there. If you’re after a read with a bit of violence, wit and humour or even just love the city of Dublin, then this is definitely the book for you!
April 19, 2022
Brash Books has just offered this up to their priority readers. Fresh off the digital presses of the future, so fresh, I had to create a listing for it. All to let you, dear readers, know about this fun new thriller.
The Lemon Man is a hired gun, a paid assassin, a professional killer who biked around Dublin in his slippers and takes people out. So long as they are over 18, that is, he does have his standards.
The Lemon Man has his life all worked out, from his low key living to his fancy apartment rental to his prostitute girlfriend.
And then, he gets a baby. Specifically, he kills the baby’s dad and then finds it that he can’t just leave an eleven-month-old baby behind in dirty nappies. And just like that, he’s well on the way to an instant family.
Suddenly, everyone’s his paternal instincts and his gf’s maternal instincts kick in and this proceeds to change all the preset and comfortable dynamics of his life. He’s screwing up at work and his life has never been busier or more complicated. Time to get a puppy…ok, he gets one of those two from another botched job.
Is this killer a lemon? Or can he make lemonade out of all that life’s handing him? Did I just mix and match metaphors? You bet your plump asscheeks I did.
Anyway, this book ended up being loads of fun. Very charming, and not just due to its Dublin location, though it undeniably helped. So much so that in an uncharacteristic display of generosity I'm rounding up my rating.
Brash tends to specialize in dusting off and reprinting gems of the past, but this book is pretty modern. All the technology is there, so if exactly now than at least fairly recent past.
At any rate, fun was had. The book’s plenty entertaining and might be gearing up to a sequel, too. For people who like their murders on a humorous side and their killers with a comedic bone. Recommended. Thanks Brash Books.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
The Lemon Man is a hired gun, a paid assassin, a professional killer who biked around Dublin in his slippers and takes people out. So long as they are over 18, that is, he does have his standards.
The Lemon Man has his life all worked out, from his low key living to his fancy apartment rental to his prostitute girlfriend.
And then, he gets a baby. Specifically, he kills the baby’s dad and then finds it that he can’t just leave an eleven-month-old baby behind in dirty nappies. And just like that, he’s well on the way to an instant family.
Suddenly, everyone’s his paternal instincts and his gf’s maternal instincts kick in and this proceeds to change all the preset and comfortable dynamics of his life. He’s screwing up at work and his life has never been busier or more complicated. Time to get a puppy…ok, he gets one of those two from another botched job.
Is this killer a lemon? Or can he make lemonade out of all that life’s handing him? Did I just mix and match metaphors? You bet your plump asscheeks I did.
Anyway, this book ended up being loads of fun. Very charming, and not just due to its Dublin location, though it undeniably helped. So much so that in an uncharacteristic display of generosity I'm rounding up my rating.
Brash tends to specialize in dusting off and reprinting gems of the past, but this book is pretty modern. All the technology is there, so if exactly now than at least fairly recent past.
At any rate, fun was had. The book’s plenty entertaining and might be gearing up to a sequel, too. For people who like their murders on a humorous side and their killers with a comedic bone. Recommended. Thanks Brash Books.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
October 25, 2022
What I liked👍🏻
-The humour. This book had me in stitches in almost every chapter. It was so witty and cleverly written.
-The Storyline. I liked the idea of a hitman being stuck with a baby. Such a contrast to his job.
-The short chapters
-The Irish names and places I couldn’t pronounce which led me to look them up and expand my vocabulary. For example, Aisling is pronounced A-S-H-L-I-N-G
-The writing format where each chapter had a checklist before it, which represented the thoughts of a Hitman and how they lay out their plans
-I liked that even though it had dark themes such as killing and violence, it wasn’t written in a way that made it dark and grim. Since there was so much humour mixed in with it, it was a really light-hearted read.
The only criticism I have is I wish there was more involvement of the baby somehow; I thought he’d be more of a sidekick or something. That could have been a good twist.
Regardless, I’d recommend this book as it’s a light-hearted, funny and easy read which you could easily get through in a few days.
August 30, 2022
Here’s maybe what I liked most about this book: Patrick - main character, paid assassin, and narrator - does not give us his emotions, in his wonderful narrative. Not many. Any? Whether it’s the intense descriptions of assassinations and intimidations going right or going wrong, I don’t really get a thing from Patrick about what he’s feeling, in such situations. It’s a job, sure - but he’s getting, it seems, neither pleasure nor grief from the worst things he does. Similarly, when Patrick cooks fancy meals for himself and the girlfriend he constantly lies to, the food descriptions and the care he obviously takes in the kitchen suggest love of this task…but I realized I’m just assuming a love of cooking; we never get a paragraph or more where Patrick speaks, or thinks, of joy attached to cooking. Just like we never really know how our guy feels about bashing a head in, or shooting the pleading out of someone’s mouth.
Add to that, no qualms or, conversely, congratulatory self-conceit over all the smooth lying to Olivia, about the job, or the new baby. (New baby? Congratulations, Patrick and Olivia. Even if it’s not yours, Patrick. Even if it’s not yours, Olivia. Congratulations! When life gives you lemons and a baby, drink Mexican beer with lemon slices!)
Finally, the flashes of life in Dublin, filtered to us through Patrick’s eyes and keen descriptions, show us the good and the bad, the beauty and the grime…but again, he does not editorialize or react emotionally to what’s ugly or rude on a street-corner, or lovely in a park.
I got to have the emotions. For better or worse (for me: better), Patrick never tinted my reactions with his own reactions, never clouded my feelings with any of his own angst, or rationalizations, or judgements, or remorse. Or overwrought lamenting, flirting with sinner/saint emotional hypocrisy. Perhaps his commitment, and descriptive completeness in and of itself, when it comes to cooking fancy dinners, tells me he loves it at some level, or why do it. Whereas, with the contract killings, it never quite seems more than getting paid and dealing as best as possible with the bloody unforeseen. Or, for Patrick, does life ever feel different…? (It was also nice not to get “Overly Witty Narrator”; so happy this plot, with its inherently humorous underpinnings, once the baby is borne, did not temp the writer in that direction! This is fresher, this is different, a unique and welcome vibe.)
If this is what you want - a terrific Crime story , that may give a reader some feels the narrator either is not capable of, or not capable of sharing, then this is a subtly brilliant version of that.
Add to that, no qualms or, conversely, congratulatory self-conceit over all the smooth lying to Olivia, about the job, or the new baby. (New baby? Congratulations, Patrick and Olivia. Even if it’s not yours, Patrick. Even if it’s not yours, Olivia. Congratulations! When life gives you lemons and a baby, drink Mexican beer with lemon slices!)
Finally, the flashes of life in Dublin, filtered to us through Patrick’s eyes and keen descriptions, show us the good and the bad, the beauty and the grime…but again, he does not editorialize or react emotionally to what’s ugly or rude on a street-corner, or lovely in a park.
I got to have the emotions. For better or worse (for me: better), Patrick never tinted my reactions with his own reactions, never clouded my feelings with any of his own angst, or rationalizations, or judgements, or remorse. Or overwrought lamenting, flirting with sinner/saint emotional hypocrisy. Perhaps his commitment, and descriptive completeness in and of itself, when it comes to cooking fancy dinners, tells me he loves it at some level, or why do it. Whereas, with the contract killings, it never quite seems more than getting paid and dealing as best as possible with the bloody unforeseen. Or, for Patrick, does life ever feel different…? (It was also nice not to get “Overly Witty Narrator”; so happy this plot, with its inherently humorous underpinnings, once the baby is borne, did not temp the writer in that direction! This is fresher, this is different, a unique and welcome vibe.)
If this is what you want - a terrific Crime story , that may give a reader some feels the narrator either is not capable of, or not capable of sharing, then this is a subtly brilliant version of that.
November 21, 2022
Absolutely loved,loved, loved this book I've been describing it as Dexter in Dublin and it has it all, dark humour, intrigue and kept me on my toes. The main character Patrick is a hitman for hire and works for one of the oldest gang families in Dublin. His life takes a turn when Olivia and Keano come into the picture messing up his neat perfect life. He makes decisions he wouldn't normally make, he second guesses himself and for the first time makes mistakes which have wider implications than just him. I loved Patrick's character and being a Dublin girl myself it was great getting a tour of Dublin from the hitman on the bicycle. From his to-do lists to his buildings concierge's approach to customer service I found this book hard to put down and laugh out loud funny at times mixed with tense "what happens now" moments. Thanks Keith this was a brilliant book and can't wait to see what you publish next.
August 19, 2022
This week, I received a physical copy of The Lemon Man by Keith Bruton and I started reading it right away. It was an absolute blast and that's why I finished it the same day!
It is set in Dublin, Ireland, and we follow the Lemon Man, a.k.a. Patrick Callen. He is a hitman who gets around Dublin by bike and he makes to-do lists to plan his day-to-day life around. After one particular hit he gets home with a baby boy who really impacts his life and, obviously, his job. His once so organised life gets turned upside down.
The author is really capable of delivering a great thriller with a mix of humour in it. That's what makes it a great read - you sympathize with an assassin who takes a baby from a hit and all the troubles that follow this. It's a cleverly written story with some great action scenes followed by a lovely family scene. The characters are well worked out and we really get to know them and their specific character traits.
I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone!
5/5⭐
It is set in Dublin, Ireland, and we follow the Lemon Man, a.k.a. Patrick Callen. He is a hitman who gets around Dublin by bike and he makes to-do lists to plan his day-to-day life around. After one particular hit he gets home with a baby boy who really impacts his life and, obviously, his job. His once so organised life gets turned upside down.
The author is really capable of delivering a great thriller with a mix of humour in it. That's what makes it a great read - you sympathize with an assassin who takes a baby from a hit and all the troubles that follow this. It's a cleverly written story with some great action scenes followed by a lovely family scene. The characters are well worked out and we really get to know them and their specific character traits.
I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone!
5/5⭐
September 7, 2023
What a fun book! I loved this one, a nice light-hearted read. Patrick is a hit man, when one day he wounds up having a little baby boy to look after. He follows his to-do lists throughout, and I love how he always wears his slippers everywhere!😂
I loved the main character, Patrick, and I found myself rooting for him the whole way through.
It's a bit different from what I usually read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I hope there will be a book 2, I need more of these characters!
I strongly recommend you give this book a read.
I loved the main character, Patrick, and I found myself rooting for him the whole way through.
It's a bit different from what I usually read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I hope there will be a book 2, I need more of these characters!
I strongly recommend you give this book a read.
July 7, 2022
Fantastic debut novel!
The Lemon Man is full of grit, violence and humour. Patrick Callen is a hitman who discovers a baby on one of his hits which upends his life. The story moves at a fast pace and packed with action and wild characters. Nocturnal is a madman, he gives me the chills. Fantastic debut novel!
The Lemon Man is full of grit, violence and humour. Patrick Callen is a hitman who discovers a baby on one of his hits which upends his life. The story moves at a fast pace and packed with action and wild characters. Nocturnal is a madman, he gives me the chills. Fantastic debut novel!
October 9, 2022
Not your typical review. 1 great book 2 enjoyed it 3 good writing Mr. Bruton 4 would make a great movie 5 recommend the book.
July 12, 2022
A combination of Ken Bruen and Lee Child.
Great book, 👏
Great book, 👏
August 8, 2022
How a baby changed the life of a professional hit man.
October 20, 2022
This is such a different book to anything I’ve read so I was unsure what to expect, but I really enjoyed it! The short chapters made it an easy read, and it was full of humour. The descriptions of Dublin throughout the book were great and make you feel as though you are there in the city with the main character.
Describing it in film terms, it’s a cross between Leon/ Pretty Woman/ Three Men and a baby!
I was kindly gifted this book by the author.
Describing it in film terms, it’s a cross between Leon/ Pretty Woman/ Three Men and a baby!
I was kindly gifted this book by the author.
February 5, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up for originality. A hit man on a bike. A recently acquired baby. An escort turned girlfriend. And a adopted? Dog. Put these together and you get some crazy situations. Dialog was a bit choppy at times but the overall story was very entertaining. Patrick's to do list was a great addition to this tale.
January 6, 2023
Read the Lemon Man. Crossed out 😄 Loved it.
November 22, 2023
The Lemon Man by Keith Bruton
I always feel conflicted when the protagonist is a bad guy and I like him anyway. Patrick grew up hard and became the object of nightmares for some people, and the source of redemption for others. The story is set in a very colorful Dublin, Ireland. The plot is one of chrysalis, you will be surprised by what pops out.
Bruton describes some sides of Dublin that I didn’t see when I visited that city. Patrick’s relationship with Olivia is touching and certainly seems redeeming. The day-to-day of someone in his kind of work is daunting. Each and every day necessitates a moral dilemma.
Simone’s transfer of allegiance was a bit perplexing as it seemed unrealistic.
Overall this book has complexity in abundance and a solid plot.
I enjoyed it and I recommend it.
I always feel conflicted when the protagonist is a bad guy and I like him anyway. Patrick grew up hard and became the object of nightmares for some people, and the source of redemption for others. The story is set in a very colorful Dublin, Ireland. The plot is one of chrysalis, you will be surprised by what pops out.
Bruton describes some sides of Dublin that I didn’t see when I visited that city. Patrick’s relationship with Olivia is touching and certainly seems redeeming. The day-to-day of someone in his kind of work is daunting. Each and every day necessitates a moral dilemma.
Simone’s transfer of allegiance was a bit perplexing as it seemed unrealistic.
Overall this book has complexity in abundance and a solid plot.
I enjoyed it and I recommend it.
July 5, 2023
Patrick Cullen has a nice apartment in Dublin. He’s got a beautiful girl and finds himself in the unsuspecting father role of another man’s baby. It’s safe to say he’s finally starting to realise what he wants in life.
The trouble is, his newfound domesticity is starting to come into conflict with his day job - as Dublin’s premier bicycle riding hitman, the Lemon Man 🍋
This was a darkly funny crime novel, mixing the seedy goings on of Dublin’s criminal underworld with Patrick’s expanding domestic life. Dublin isn’t a city that I know particularly well, but I found myself getting a real feel for the place as Patrick quite literally navigates his way between the shady cast of characters. Streets and squares, parks and rivers, the city really adds to the setting and Bruton does a good job of making me feel as if I’m there with Patrick as the story progresses.
On an unrelated note, Patrick seems to be quite a dab hand in the kitchen. I was slightly surprised by how often he’s at home cooking - a nod to his domestic bliss - and found my mouth watering at some of the descriptions! It’s certainly not a book to read on an empty stomach…
The trouble is, his newfound domesticity is starting to come into conflict with his day job - as Dublin’s premier bicycle riding hitman, the Lemon Man 🍋
This was a darkly funny crime novel, mixing the seedy goings on of Dublin’s criminal underworld with Patrick’s expanding domestic life. Dublin isn’t a city that I know particularly well, but I found myself getting a real feel for the place as Patrick quite literally navigates his way between the shady cast of characters. Streets and squares, parks and rivers, the city really adds to the setting and Bruton does a good job of making me feel as if I’m there with Patrick as the story progresses.
On an unrelated note, Patrick seems to be quite a dab hand in the kitchen. I was slightly surprised by how often he’s at home cooking - a nod to his domestic bliss - and found my mouth watering at some of the descriptions! It’s certainly not a book to read on an empty stomach…
December 31, 2022
nice read
Not at all sophisticated but an easy read with good plot and characters. A great book for a day by the fire and an Irish whiskey.
Not at all sophisticated but an easy read with good plot and characters. A great book for a day by the fire and an Irish whiskey.
May 9, 2023
Firstly, thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about a hitman who unexpectedly ends up with a baby. I loved this original concept and was really interested to see how it would work. I loved it! It’s such a fun and unique concept that it provided some good humour, all while managing a darker overall theme. The main character ‘The Lemon Man’ is a very likeable character and I enjoyed seeing the care giver side of him while simultaneously out on jobs as a hitman. I really enjoyed the To Do Lists throughout the book.
The pacing of this book is well done, and I thoroughly enjoyed this. I look forward to new books released by Keith Bruton.
This book is about a hitman who unexpectedly ends up with a baby. I loved this original concept and was really interested to see how it would work. I loved it! It’s such a fun and unique concept that it provided some good humour, all while managing a darker overall theme. The main character ‘The Lemon Man’ is a very likeable character and I enjoyed seeing the care giver side of him while simultaneously out on jobs as a hitman. I really enjoyed the To Do Lists throughout the book.
The pacing of this book is well done, and I thoroughly enjoyed this. I look forward to new books released by Keith Bruton.
December 15, 2022
Absolutely loved this book. Tense, exhilarating, and pulse-pounding, this is a striking debut novel from Keith Bruton and one that will be remembered for decades to come. I urge you to grab a copy. Unmissable!
September 1, 2022
Please say there will be a sequel or series from this. Just a heads up, you will get hungry while reading it.
September 5, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE LEMON MAN ABOUT?
When Dublin hitman Patrick Callen finds a baby living in the squalor-filled apartment of his latest victim, he's overcome by empathy. It's not like he can call the authorities to come help or anything, right? On an impulse, an unexpected burst of compassion, or temporary insanity—he grabs the baby (after looking up how to change a diaper on YouTube and taking care of a much-neglected task) and takes him home.
Of course, it's hard to achieve a work-home balance as a busy hitman, so Callen calls on the escort he's been seeing lately for help. This spurs some
Meanwhile, Callen's been having trouble with his work—it doesn't seem like he has the taste for it anymore and is having trouble completing a few tasks. But he's busier than ever and it seems like something's changing for the crew he's with. Maybe this is the first step toward a new phase of life for him. Assuming he can survive his current assignments (and all the life changes that taking care of an infant brings), that is.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE LEMON MAN?
Stories about hitmen turning a corner due to love or a child aren't new—and I'm a sucker for them. So this is right up my alley. The mix of humor and tension/action fits this situation well. A bicycle-riding hitman alone is a fun idea. Bruton pulls off all of this with style and confidence.
Bruton takes full advantage of the strange—ludicrous, even—situation he puts his characters into. Callen running from the police while pushing a stroller is a fantastic scene and it had me grinning and chuckling throughout. His jobs that don't go right (I'm thinking of one killing and one attempted threatening in particular) are the kinds of things we need to see more of in Crime Fiction—not necessarily played for laughs, either—but not all criminals succeed in their first attempts—targets don't always respond the way one plans on, etc.
But it's not just fun and games—sure, Callen has some doubts about his profession, he's more than a little worried about what his boss is up to, and he's not so sure he can get away with everything he's trying to do (keep the child, save his friend that he's discovering feelings for, etc.)—but this is what he does. It's all he's known. He doesn't—can't—just walk off into the sunset with his strange new family. Does he really want to?
Take out the lightness and quirks and you're left with a pretty solid novel (although the baby would be hard to explain without that part). With them, you have a really fun and rewarding read.
I'm struggling to find something more to say without getting into the nuts and bolts of the plot and how it works out—so I'll spare us all my attempts to struggle through. Here's the main takeaway: this is a good, quirky, fast read that'll leave you with putting Bruton on your radar like he is on mine.
---
I murdered a young father today. Shot him in the head. This is my job. Call me all the names you want— scumbag, snake, sneaky little lowlife, murderer. I don’t care what you think. This is what I do. I take care of (kill) people when they don’t obey the rules. The rules of the streets. The rules to life.
I do the work 99.9 percent of people don’t want to do. You hire me and I guarantee you will be happier because I’m getting rid of your problems. Sometimes it’s just a warning, you know, a slap on the wrist. But most of the time I’m here to kill.
WHAT'S THE LEMON MAN ABOUT?
When Dublin hitman Patrick Callen finds a baby living in the squalor-filled apartment of his latest victim, he's overcome by empathy. It's not like he can call the authorities to come help or anything, right? On an impulse, an unexpected burst of compassion, or temporary insanity—he grabs the baby (after looking up how to change a diaper on YouTube and taking care of a much-neglected task) and takes him home.
Of course, it's hard to achieve a work-home balance as a busy hitman, so Callen calls on the escort he's been seeing lately for help. This spurs some
Meanwhile, Callen's been having trouble with his work—it doesn't seem like he has the taste for it anymore and is having trouble completing a few tasks. But he's busier than ever and it seems like something's changing for the crew he's with. Maybe this is the first step toward a new phase of life for him. Assuming he can survive his current assignments (and all the life changes that taking care of an infant brings), that is.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE LEMON MAN?
As I’m leaving, Jack says, “It’s not the gun you’re having the problem with.”
Stories about hitmen turning a corner due to love or a child aren't new—and I'm a sucker for them. So this is right up my alley. The mix of humor and tension/action fits this situation well. A bicycle-riding hitman alone is a fun idea. Bruton pulls off all of this with style and confidence.
Bruton takes full advantage of the strange—ludicrous, even—situation he puts his characters into. Callen running from the police while pushing a stroller is a fantastic scene and it had me grinning and chuckling throughout. His jobs that don't go right (I'm thinking of one killing and one attempted threatening in particular) are the kinds of things we need to see more of in Crime Fiction—not necessarily played for laughs, either—but not all criminals succeed in their first attempts—targets don't always respond the way one plans on, etc.
But it's not just fun and games—sure, Callen has some doubts about his profession, he's more than a little worried about what his boss is up to, and he's not so sure he can get away with everything he's trying to do (keep the child, save his friend that he's discovering feelings for, etc.)—but this is what he does. It's all he's known. He doesn't—can't—just walk off into the sunset with his strange new family. Does he really want to?
Take out the lightness and quirks and you're left with a pretty solid novel (although the baby would be hard to explain without that part). With them, you have a really fun and rewarding read.
I'm struggling to find something more to say without getting into the nuts and bolts of the plot and how it works out—so I'll spare us all my attempts to struggle through. Here's the main takeaway: this is a good, quirky, fast read that'll leave you with putting Bruton on your radar like he is on mine.
November 14, 2022
Thank you so much to Keith Bruton for gifting me his wonderful debut book ‘The Lemon Man’ 🍋.
This book was was an absolute pleasure to read. Such an original story line and even though it’s about a hitman it wasn’t too heavy or dark. It had so many different elements … it had lots of humour and laugh out loud moments but equally had serious and quite touching parts as well.
I loved how the story flowed, with the short chapters and fast pace. The lists throughout the book made me smile, being a girl who loves lists herself. The descriptions of Dublin were also a great addition and meeting all the colourful characters in Patrick’s life was really entertaining.
I would 100% recommend this book. It is such a unique, lighthearted read 😁.
This book was was an absolute pleasure to read. Such an original story line and even though it’s about a hitman it wasn’t too heavy or dark. It had so many different elements … it had lots of humour and laugh out loud moments but equally had serious and quite touching parts as well.
I loved how the story flowed, with the short chapters and fast pace. The lists throughout the book made me smile, being a girl who loves lists herself. The descriptions of Dublin were also a great addition and meeting all the colourful characters in Patrick’s life was really entertaining.
I would 100% recommend this book. It is such a unique, lighthearted read 😁.
April 4, 2024
Hitman's Guide to Dublin
Single, epicurean, assassin has the opportunity to experience family life for a mad few days. Entertaining comedy thriller, just about staying the right side of surreal.
Single, epicurean, assassin has the opportunity to experience family life for a mad few days. Entertaining comedy thriller, just about staying the right side of surreal.
January 8, 2023
THE LEMON MAN - KEITH BRUTON: MY REVIEW 🗞
This is a cracker of a book! Patrick Callen aka The Lemon Man(his given name from his first job) is a hit man with a heart. After one particular hit he finds a baby in the house,but no one else to take care of him..so he decides to temporarily look after the child for lack of options. Patrick is far from your average hit man. Firstly,he cycles to work,which is best in the crazy Dublin traffic. He wears slippers to work. He has a to-do list(a man after my own heart)for each day and ticks it off accordingly....and always gets it done.
In saying that he's pretty ruthless on the job,if the person deserves the hit then he pulls no punches. He's precise,reliable and clean. But this baby who he has named 'Keano' is causing him no end of bother...don't get me wrong he's a wonderful baby,but it's affecting Patrick's job. Finding a sitter,and softening his heart on the job..leading to problems.
When he bites off more than he can chew to help a friend he has feelings for now,things go from bad to downright death defying! I absorbed this book,everything about it got the thumbs up from me. The characters are 3 dimensional,the descriptions of everything from Patrick's daily routine to the reasons for the different hits were down to a fine detail. There's humour injected into it at just the right times,and his boss " The Bronze man" is a woman! Epic.
It's fast paced,but not rushed. I can't say enough good things about it...so just read it!
Possibly a book in my top list already for 2023.
With thanks to Keith Bruton for the book to read and review. 👏
BOOKWORMS RATING: 📒📒📒📒📒
This is a cracker of a book! Patrick Callen aka The Lemon Man(his given name from his first job) is a hit man with a heart. After one particular hit he finds a baby in the house,but no one else to take care of him..so he decides to temporarily look after the child for lack of options. Patrick is far from your average hit man. Firstly,he cycles to work,which is best in the crazy Dublin traffic. He wears slippers to work. He has a to-do list(a man after my own heart)for each day and ticks it off accordingly....and always gets it done.
In saying that he's pretty ruthless on the job,if the person deserves the hit then he pulls no punches. He's precise,reliable and clean. But this baby who he has named 'Keano' is causing him no end of bother...don't get me wrong he's a wonderful baby,but it's affecting Patrick's job. Finding a sitter,and softening his heart on the job..leading to problems.
When he bites off more than he can chew to help a friend he has feelings for now,things go from bad to downright death defying! I absorbed this book,everything about it got the thumbs up from me. The characters are 3 dimensional,the descriptions of everything from Patrick's daily routine to the reasons for the different hits were down to a fine detail. There's humour injected into it at just the right times,and his boss " The Bronze man" is a woman! Epic.
It's fast paced,but not rushed. I can't say enough good things about it...so just read it!
Possibly a book in my top list already for 2023.
With thanks to Keith Bruton for the book to read and review. 👏
BOOKWORMS RATING: 📒📒📒📒📒
August 8, 2022
Entertaining Read
I think the originality of the story and the fast pace made this book an entertaining read.
I could relate to the characters as Burton made them likable and interesting. I also liked Dublin as the setting. I must go one day.
I think the originality of the story and the fast pace made this book an entertaining read.
I could relate to the characters as Burton made them likable and interesting. I also liked Dublin as the setting. I must go one day.
January 11, 2023
Didn't think I would like it. SURPRISE, I DID!!!
When I first started this book, I almost thought, Forget This. For some , I kept reading and I was hooked.
A fun read that is full of humour. I hope others will give this a chance. It's all that I'm asking !!!
When I first started this book, I almost thought, Forget This. For some , I kept reading and I was hooked.
A fun read that is full of humour. I hope others will give this a chance. It's all that I'm asking !!!
May 19, 2023
Set in Dublin, this new novel from Keith Bruton is centred around a man named Patrick Callen who’s just a regular guy who happens to be a hitman. And he cycles to his hits on a bike.
The novel is told in the first person and this gives us a great sense of Patrick’s personality. He’s humorous and observant and I was chuckling many times throughout.
Patrick’s girlfriend, Olivia, is a call girl and things take a dramatic turn when he finds an infant baby alone in the apartment of one of his victims and brings the baby home to look after it.
Things take an even further turn when Olivia’s boss threatens her and Patrick has but a couple of days to save her life.
I enjoyed exploring Dublin throughout the story. And the Irish turn of phrase is hilarious. This kind of book wouldn’t normally be my cup of tea but thanks to the author for sending me a physical copy to review. I really appreciate it and for anyone looking for a fun Irish noir, this might be right up your street.
The novel is told in the first person and this gives us a great sense of Patrick’s personality. He’s humorous and observant and I was chuckling many times throughout.
Patrick’s girlfriend, Olivia, is a call girl and things take a dramatic turn when he finds an infant baby alone in the apartment of one of his victims and brings the baby home to look after it.
Things take an even further turn when Olivia’s boss threatens her and Patrick has but a couple of days to save her life.
I enjoyed exploring Dublin throughout the story. And the Irish turn of phrase is hilarious. This kind of book wouldn’t normally be my cup of tea but thanks to the author for sending me a physical copy to review. I really appreciate it and for anyone looking for a fun Irish noir, this might be right up your street.
December 8, 2022
The premise was super original and made for such an entertaining read. Chapters each working through his daily todo list made for short, sharp chapters with a really good pacing.
The plot is pure chaos, we have violence, romance, humour - you name it. Not to mention finishing a hit job and bringing the victims baby home with you 😂 It was a real blend of all sorts and madness but it totally worked.
For our main character we have Patrick - a hired hit man, who goes to his jobs on a pushbike. Lots of other colourful side characters really built up the story, they were all very well written. Also, the scenery and everything was so vivid and stunning - it made you feel like you were there!!
It was a really funny and interesting book that had me properly chucking in parts. Definitely recommend to anyone who fancies something a bit different and a good splash of comedy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews