Welcome to the Game

by Craig Henderson

From a brilliant new voice, Welcome to the Game is a gripping thriller that races through Motor City at heart-stopping pace as its protagonists swerve to avoid danger at every turn Craig Henderson screeches onto the scene with this fast-paced debut starring ex-rally driver Spencer Burnham. Having moved his family from England to Detroit and opened a foreign car dealership, Spencer’s life was derailed by the death of his beloved wife. Now disconnected from his young daughter and losing control of the cocktail of drugs and alcohol that gets him through the day, he only just keeps Child Protective Services at bay while his business teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. Then he has a seemingly chance encounter with a charismatic but lethal gangster, Dominic McGrath. Feeling the squeeze from informants, the rise of tech surveillance, and a hotshot detective who’s made busting him a personal crusade, McGrath’s been planning a last heist that would allow a comfortable retirement, provided he can find a very special type of driver—one who’s capable, trustworthy . . . and naïve.  Spencer quickly proves himself behind the wheel, with his innate sense of timing and precise, high-speed maneuvers. And McGrath even pays cash, lots of it. But it comes at a price; Spencer finds himself playing in an arena where rookies don’t last long. Wising up to the ruthlessness behind McGrath’s charming façade, he tries to break free, but McGrath has too much invested to allow him to leave. As the city swelters in a heat wave, the two men apply their considerable talents to besting each other, while mistakenly assuming they have only each other to beat.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Crime

384 pages, Hardcover

Published November 15, 2022

About the author

Craig Henderson is a British writer and a presenter of the BBC’s “Books That Made Britain” series. Scottish by birth, he gained an MA in Latin and Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh where he also won two scholarships. Welcome to the Game is his first novel.

Reviews

[Martin Maenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to the Game, the debut novel of Craig Henderson, comes out on November 15, 2022. Grove Atlantic provided an early galley for review.

As a Michigan resident since 2014, I am always eager to check out novels set in my new home state and in Detroit in particular. That was the initial draw for me to check this one out. For folks who are into cars, racing, and The Fast and the Furious types of films (I am not any of these), that is another entry level draw to this story.

Henderson is Scottish by birth and has been a presenter on the BBC's "Books That Made Britain" series. He has Master's degrees from the University of Edinburgh. So, he has the credentials. But does he know Detroit? Turns out, he has done his research. Not only does he get locations right, he also has mastered the many streets of downtown Motown (very important for a book that involves fast driving). This is fiction though, and I have to say he gives much more credit to the Detroit Lions capabilities than what we residents see week in and week out. For that optimism, I have to appreciate him.

I found the story to be very engaging, and Henderson's writing to be just the right balance for a story such as this. Some characters garnered more of my interest than others. Many walk the very gray area as far as professionalism and morality are concerned. Like a very high-speed chase, the story zigs and zags quite a bit in the last half dozen chapters or so - at times to the point where I found myself a bit disoriented as well. The violence is appropriate for a story dealing with seamy criminal elements.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I began reading hoping for something slick and pacey and fun. And it delivered on all those counts. The writing is smart and sometimes humorous and the bits about rally driving vividly convey the exhilaration of the art of driving stick (or manual as we Brits call it). But I was surprised to be so drawn into the lives of the central characters. I found myself fearing and feeling for the flawed hero of this story, Spencer, even before I started liking him much. He’s a grieving addict-alcoholic and can come across as something of an A-hole at first – actually make that for a little while. Pain isn’t always pretty. But you get these snippets of insight into his thoughts and memories that give you something to hang onto empathy-wise while you watch him coming increasingly unstuck. Meanwhile, his adversaries are downright nasty and seem sinisterly to have the Game all sewn up, so disliking them is satisfyingly straightforward. Then Spencer’s arc develops, he discovers something worth fighting for (of the ‘something-that’s-been-right-in-front-of-his-eyes-all-along’ variety) and by the time he’s got buried deep in the sh**, you care – you really want his fight to pay off. Once this shift had happened, I read the rest of the book in one sitting. And trust me, you’re going to want to stick around for the end…

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn't my typical genre, but since it is based in my hometown I had to read it. It was really cool to hear about the characters driving around the same streets I've driven down myself, but I hated most of the characters and didn't care about them much by the end of the book.

[Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

"stupid"

[Hannah F · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a bloody moron is Spencer.. I had to quit halfway through (though i checked the end ..still a moron)
Not one redeemable quality and hideous personality. After four years to still be such a disaster no excuses especially his indifference to his kid and not try to fix his act up

As for the writing its gobbly gook..as if someone on a coke bender is babbling . I think he uses every gang slang from different nationalities smashed together on one page so its incomprehensible and horrible.

Its one confusing jumble with the barest fragment of a plot.. Oh and having a different character act/think every other page in fragmented bits makes trying to read without my brain bleeding eve worse .

Its not witty its not a "gripping thriller"and its not exciting but more tiring ..and def. not an "exciting new voice".

PS "thriller writers" really need to quit with the hideous attempts at detailing sex scenes .. its horrible and useless to the plot...and he does it even worse than others.

So not deserving of a second book though my brain hurts knowing it might be based on the disjointed ending

I for one never want to know or read about Spencer fhe ijiot again .

[Richard Stock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Got really caught up in it. It was fast and at times shocking, but not relentlessly so. This writer's voice really worked for me: style and substance!

[Heather L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, though some of the characters, the detectives in particular, felt a little under developed. Spencer Burnham, an former rally car driver from Britain, runs a used car dealership in Detroit, which is on the brink of going under. In walks Dominic McGrath a gangster who is looking for a guy that can drive really well. After Spencer's business fails, he agrees to work for Dominic, mostly picking up dirty money from one person and handing it off to another to make 'clean'. It's a dangerous job since he's dealing mostly with people in the drug trade. A police detective has made it his mission in life to put Dominic and his gang away, blaming them for the majority of gang violence in the city, Dominic manages to stay one step ahead of the police. There is a lot of violence in this book, some of it is a tad on the graphic side but it did not go overboard, these are all people that use violence to solve problems. Dominic decides that one job will be his last, he's planned the robbery of a bank with the help of an inside source and Spencer is the man tagged to do the driving. Spencer had tried to leave the job taking his young daughter and moving out to take a job in another city, Dominic tracks him down and kidnaps his daughter to force him to do the last job. The driving parts of this book are well described and Spencer is a fully fleshed out character, I just wish there was a bit more backstory on the detectives, I would still say it's worth the read. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atlantic Monthly Press for the ARC.

[Annabelle R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic thriller that storms out the gates with an epic story arc and a cast of richly layered characters that you quickly find yourself knowing well and still thinking about long after you've read the last page. The hero, a former British rally car driver, is wonderfully desperate and flawed and utterly believable in his scrabble to survive the straights he finds himself in with a bunch of villains who all approach their craft differently but are all at times shockingly violent and ruthless. The author has a great, engaging writing style that is both crisp and precise but also lyrical. Scenes are so well written, strongly visual with sharply observed moments and a sly dark wit, woven in with elevated and classical references. An absolute banger of a story that builds to a perfect crescendo of plot twists and turns and an ending that I didn't see coming. Loved it. Looking forward to reading many more from this exciting new author.

[Martin Belcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spencer Burnham, a British ex rally car driver and his American wife and daughter, move from England to one of America’s toughest cities - Detroit.

After sadly losing his wife in a freak accident, Spencer achieves a life goal in running his own car dealership in the city. The venture doesn’t go well and the business folds in a dramatic way. An accidental meeting with a formidable local gangster, Dom McGrath throws Spencer into a very dark path, where his rally driving skills are utilised for fast driving around the city helping to launder dirty money.

Addicted to alcohol and drugs, Spencer’s life is spiralling out of control and when social services threaten to take his young daughter away from him, he decides to try and leave the gangster outfit. However he doesn’t realise, they won’t let him leave without taking on the most dangerous driving job of his life, it could end in prison or death.

A fast paced, brutal thriller with a human touch. I enjoyed it.

[James M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, especially for those who like stories in which cars (and car chases) are an important plot element. Spencer Burnham, the protagonist, is British and a former rally driver who gave up the sport and moved to Detroit after marrying a woman from that city. Her death in an accident upends his life there, and the subsequent failure of the car dealership he started leaves him in an even worse situation. So, he is sorely tempted when a local gang leader tries to recruit him to use his rally skills in a daring (and extremely lucrative) criminal enterprise. This is a crime novel, so we know he is going to say "Yes" to this offer. And we also know that not everything will go according to plan, presenting Spencer with some hair-raising moments.

The car chases are very well done. The rest of the story isn't bad but lacks the same excitement. Certainly a fun book for "gearheads."

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Welcome to the Game' is a seriously good debut crime thriller from author Craig Henderson. It's the story of down-on-his-luck former Rally race car driver Spencer Burnham. His wife has recently passed, he's lost his high-end auto dealership, and he's rapidly losing touch with his young daughter.

Enter Detroit mobster Dominic McGrath. He's charismatic, a bit dangerous, and offers Spencer a chance to fix everything. It's an offer that's too good to be true and, turns out, it is. Now he's caught up in a fast-moving plan that could get him killed and he's only got one chance of getting out alive.

'Welcome to the Game' zips along with cinematic pace. Henderson excels at character and dialogue and his unique voice drives the narrative along. Once you start this book you won't want to stop. It's a fantastic debut and I'm looking forward to what he's going to do next.

[Rebecca Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of violent thrillers but this book really engaged me. The hero, an ex-rally driver whose car dealership is going under, desperately needs cash.
Grieving for his dead wife and needing to provide for their young daughter, he becomes ensnared by a gang of ruthless criminals who use his phenomenal driving skills to carry out a series of vicious raids. Sickened by the casual savagery he tries to bail out, but by then not only is his own life threatened, his little daughter also becomes a target.
The writing is fast-paced, dialogue crackles, while the plot is driven forward at a speed to match the terrifying car rides with the reader tightly strapped into the passenger seat.
At times I wanted to put the book down but I honestly couldn’t.
Thoroughly recommend.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent debut from Craig Henderson. Former rally driver Spencer Burnham moves to Detroit from his home in England, but the unexpected death of his wife has devastated his life which then had disastrous ramifications for his daughter. As his life has been tipped upside down he meets up with a gangster named Dominic who recruits him to do one more job. Spencer thinks it will be easy... but he does not understand what he has gotten himself into.

I enjoyed this debut. Craig keeps you on the edge of your seat and keeps the pedal to the metal until the thrilling conclusion.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Agnes Muscoreil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, fun read! Ex-rally driver Spencer Burnham moves to Detroit from his home in England, but the unexpected death of his wife has him unable to function, and he is not there for their daughter, bringing Child Protective Services into his life. Then he meets gangster Dominic McGrath who is looking to make one last big score so he can retire comfortably, but he needs an outstanding driver to pull off the job, and the promise of big money is too tempting to resist for Spencer. But he doesn't really know what he has signed up for. Fast-paced with great characters! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this novel.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an action packed, debut that does not disappoint. Spencer Burnham, a rally driver, moved his family from the US to Detroit. His life is destroyed by the passing of his wife. We find him estranged from his daughter, and drinking his life away as his life falls apart all around him. I was drawn in by the racing aspect. I was pleasantly surprised by the character development and the story telling. A flawed hero with personal growth and development is always a recipe for success. I enjoyed this read, and look forward to more from Henderson.

[Anonymouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow what a disappointment. This novel has everything I might want - cars, rally driving, Detroit, crime. It could have been a winner but Crag Henderson has made rally driver Spencer Burnham such an unlikable jerk. If they make a movie out of this book they will have to rewrite him. Yuck.

I received a review copy of "Welcome to the Game" by Craig Henderson from Grove Atlantic through NetGalley.com

[Alexandria Brown]

This book is a little out of my normal genre reads but I am glad I dove in. I think there's a bit more needed to develop this book with the characters that would really bring the reader into the plot. Craig Henderson's writing style though is really quite wonderful and it made me want to continue reading despite some lack of development.

Would definitely read the author's next novel!

3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC!

[Helen Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was so obvious that this was not written by a Detroit native. Possibly by someone who hasn’t even spent much time in Detroit. Henderson talks about having trouble getting DPD to talk to him while writing the book, but he could have asked a local to edit it for him. All the things that were just a bit off distracted me from the story. It could have been a good novel, too, even though too gory for my tastes.

[Shawna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. This book hasn't been made into a movie, but suffice to say, I've already watched the movie. Multiple times. And read this same story. Multiple times.
I didn't enjoy the writing style at all. Too many scenes and scenarios left me confused as to who owned the dialogue or the actions. Rereading the paragraphs didn't help, as they weren't my errors.
This is the first book by this author--I hope his next is his own original plot. I won't know, I won't be reading.

[Bruce Raterink · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this one. The pacing was off with bursts of excitement followed by long convoluted sections where the main character ruminates about his self inflicted situation. The point of views changed so often and abruptly that I thought I might get whiplash. Very violent and not quite believable. Not recommended

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henderson is a British crime novelist who is, here, trying to write an Elmore Leonard type Detroit crime novel. And in this reader’s opinion , it just doesn’t work. The book is not bad-there are the requisite thrills and fun racing./getaway scenes. But nothing original or unique. It’s. A quick read and you could give it a try but go for Leonard instead.

[Jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up based on the many positive reviews I read. I thought I was getting a caper about a former rally driver turned wheel man. That would have been great. This novel is about a weenie who can't take care of his daughter, can't make good decisions and gets in over his head. It's more a soap opera than a crime story. Major disappointment for me.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent thriller driven by a flawed yet interesting protagonist who finds himself in dire straits so he must hook up with a criminal gang. Very well written and original. Held my interest throughout.

[Emily Packer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my Dad, he loved it! So I read it on his recommendation and I really enjoyed it. Considering I’m not usually a crime reader however this says quite a lot. Particularly liked the author’s writing style which is distinctive and fun.

[Natalie Smeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely great thriller...especially from a new author. Couldn't put it down till I turned the very last page. Not giving away any spoilers but really hoping he'll be writing another book soon as my Summer reading list is looking a bit bare at the moment!

[Rebecca Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for the fast paced plot and flawed but likeable main character. I began to really care about his predicament and want to know what the next page was going to show me. Highly recommend.

[David Court · Rating 4 out of 5]

So man twists and turns it is almost like driving a rally car. Seriously, Spencer is a retired rally driver in Detroit. I enjoyed the book but there were so many characters with whom I couldn't connect.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book confused me. Why were some chapters so out of nowhere? Why did some have epigraphs but others didn’t? What was the point of this whole escapade? This book is a wild engaging romp , but dig a little deeper and I’m sure you’ll have questions too.

[TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended.

Review posted at Tzer Island book blog:

https://www.tzerisland.com/bookblog/2...

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and a exhilarating read is what I thought about this book. I liked that it kept you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend. Thanks for the advanced copy.