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Hacking George
Playing God is a dangerous game, even if you do write the rules and think they’re pretty neat.
Following a road-rage incident in which he was the victim, middle-aged cynic George Sanderson has an epiphany. He believes he has the power to influence fate and set the world to rights.
During a meticulously-planned intervention to help his friend Angela Hayworth, the two fall in love. George’s lonely existence looks set to improve. But he’s about to discover that playing games with people’s lives is fraught with danger. And when his life starts to fall apart, he’s forced to confront the frightening truth…
Someone is manipulating him. But why?
With his freedom and sanity at stake, George must fight for everything he holds dear – especially his lawn, his meat thermometer, and Angela’s perfect teeth.
Following a road-rage incident in which he was the victim, middle-aged cynic George Sanderson has an epiphany. He believes he has the power to influence fate and set the world to rights.
During a meticulously-planned intervention to help his friend Angela Hayworth, the two fall in love. George’s lonely existence looks set to improve. But he’s about to discover that playing games with people’s lives is fraught with danger. And when his life starts to fall apart, he’s forced to confront the frightening truth…
Someone is manipulating him. But why?
With his freedom and sanity at stake, George must fight for everything he holds dear – especially his lawn, his meat thermometer, and Angela’s perfect teeth.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2022
63 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Bob Palmer
2 books6 followersBob Palmer has been, in chronological order, a construction worker, town planner, rock drummer, graphic designer, adman, entrepreneur, scriptwriter and film producer. He now writes full time.
His favourite theme is the absurdity of life – nothing on the planet is more fascinating than human behaviour. And even after decades creating ads, he still loves a great concept.
In his spare time, he's been caught in a desert flash flood, set off the sirens at Area 51, and hikes canyons in the US Southwest searching for ancient ruins and rock art. To share his passion, he created the popular hiking website Red Dirt Blue Skies. He is never bored.
Home is a creaky cottage on the fringe of London which he shares with a black and white cat, rampant woodworm, and his infinitely patient author and cover-designer wife Berni Stevens.
His favourite theme is the absurdity of life – nothing on the planet is more fascinating than human behaviour. And even after decades creating ads, he still loves a great concept.
In his spare time, he's been caught in a desert flash flood, set off the sirens at Area 51, and hikes canyons in the US Southwest searching for ancient ruins and rock art. To share his passion, he created the popular hiking website Red Dirt Blue Skies. He is never bored.
Home is a creaky cottage on the fringe of London which he shares with a black and white cat, rampant woodworm, and his infinitely patient author and cover-designer wife Berni Stevens.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 17, 2022
Hacking George is the first novel by British author, Bob Palmer. It’s a road rage incident that sets fifty-eight-year-old George Sanderson on his mission of taming chaos by his own intervention. After the fact, he learns that the incident that netted him a visit to A&E and an introduction to brave bystander, Angela Hayworth, also resulted in the death of a baby in a gridlocked ambulance and a lottery win by a motorist caught in the same gridlock.
Already a bit of a control freak, George wonders if he can do anything to affect the things that annoy or upset him. Currently jobless for the last six months, he certainly has the time. He starts with road safety in his own street, Claremont Avenue, where he conducts an uncontrolled experiment, draws dodgy conclusions and inflates his ego. Sharing his exploits with his only friend, Ray Caldwell over their weekly chess game, he begins mentally referring to himself as The Puppet Master.
George unfortunately attracts the notice of a self-described expert in extortion and manipulation, a skilled hacker calling himself Goldtooth, through his unsympathetic, even patronising, exchange with a beggar at an outdoor café table. This vindictive hacker is at a loose end, and he decides George needs an attitude change. With consummate ease, he infiltrates every aspect of the divorced accountant’s life, although his punishment does seem wildly out of proportion with George’s offence.
Buoyed by his first apparent success, George plans further interventions, with some rules, of course: it must be indirect, lawful action that does not directly or indirectly cause serious physical or mental injury or death. So when Angela shares her worries about being made redundant by her new boss, George decides this worthy of the Sanderson Intervention Technique.
But despite some research, he doesn’t have all the necessary information. And he forgets Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So George’s second success is tempered by a potential tragedy which he manages to rationalise away in his head.
Thanks to Goldtooth, however, his neat and ordered life is about to come crashing down around his ears. Poor George! But George Sanderson is not one to take this lying down because, after “why me?” comes “who?”, and despite stern police advice to leave it to the professionals, he can’t sit still and do nothing.
Palmer’s eccentric protagonist might not initially endear himself to the reader. He may be a man with the best intentions, but he’s high on practicality and low on empathy. He can be irritatingly pedantic and particular: “He’s an i-dotter, a t-crosser, a triple checker, a plan for the worst and hope for the best kind of guy.” Still, his experience does moderate him enough that the reader will be cheering him on by the closing pages. Bob Palmer’s debut novel is entertaining, enjoyable and often laugh-out-loud funny cosy crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial / Double Bluff Books.
Already a bit of a control freak, George wonders if he can do anything to affect the things that annoy or upset him. Currently jobless for the last six months, he certainly has the time. He starts with road safety in his own street, Claremont Avenue, where he conducts an uncontrolled experiment, draws dodgy conclusions and inflates his ego. Sharing his exploits with his only friend, Ray Caldwell over their weekly chess game, he begins mentally referring to himself as The Puppet Master.
George unfortunately attracts the notice of a self-described expert in extortion and manipulation, a skilled hacker calling himself Goldtooth, through his unsympathetic, even patronising, exchange with a beggar at an outdoor café table. This vindictive hacker is at a loose end, and he decides George needs an attitude change. With consummate ease, he infiltrates every aspect of the divorced accountant’s life, although his punishment does seem wildly out of proportion with George’s offence.
Buoyed by his first apparent success, George plans further interventions, with some rules, of course: it must be indirect, lawful action that does not directly or indirectly cause serious physical or mental injury or death. So when Angela shares her worries about being made redundant by her new boss, George decides this worthy of the Sanderson Intervention Technique.
But despite some research, he doesn’t have all the necessary information. And he forgets Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So George’s second success is tempered by a potential tragedy which he manages to rationalise away in his head.
Thanks to Goldtooth, however, his neat and ordered life is about to come crashing down around his ears. Poor George! But George Sanderson is not one to take this lying down because, after “why me?” comes “who?”, and despite stern police advice to leave it to the professionals, he can’t sit still and do nothing.
Palmer’s eccentric protagonist might not initially endear himself to the reader. He may be a man with the best intentions, but he’s high on practicality and low on empathy. He can be irritatingly pedantic and particular: “He’s an i-dotter, a t-crosser, a triple checker, a plan for the worst and hope for the best kind of guy.” Still, his experience does moderate him enough that the reader will be cheering him on by the closing pages. Bob Palmer’s debut novel is entertaining, enjoyable and often laugh-out-loud funny cosy crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial / Double Bluff Books.
October 7, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and to BooksGoSocial/Double Bluff for providing me an ARC of this book that I freely chose to review.
This is a very peculiar book. There was something about the description that attracted me to it, and once I started reading I kept going, although for a while I wasn’t sure I liked any of the characters very much. Although that is not a prerequisite for me to like a book, it means that the book has to make it up in other ways. My opinion changed, and although I am sure that the protagonist, the George of the title, would test my patience to the point of distraction if I were to spend any time with him in real life, I grew quite fond of him, by the end. And he wasn’t the only one to make me feel that way.
The plot of the book made me think of the movie Phone Booth, at least a big part of it. No, it is not that tense or claustrophobic, and the main character isn’t at all like the protagonist of that story. But it was the sense of somebody just deciding to play God (as the description puts it), or to take revenge on somebody and going to extremes hardly guaranteed by the actions they are intent on punishing. When I watched that movie I kept thinking that there are people who have committed horrendous crimes, and yes, I could see the logic of taking justice in one’s hand in that case, but it all seemed rather perverse and pointless in the case at hand. And, as I said, I felt there was some of that here, but the author goes beyond it, cleverly constructing characters that have a heart, feelings, and although they might be the complete opposite to us, we understand them and empathise with them. This is Palmer’s first novel (although he has been doing creative work and knows a lot about books and about writing, and so does his wife), and he shows a great talent for endearing us to George, and oddball, an accountant by trade and by mindset, an obsessive man who needs to plan everything in advance and would not take an impulsive decision to save his own life. (I suspect he might have been given a diagnosis of mild autistic spectrum disorder in real life, if he’d ever sought one, but I can’t see him doing that, as he is perfectly happy, or almost, with the way his life is). He is the hero as anti-hero (or the anti-hero as hero), and although he seems to be a total looser when we meet him, things don’t turn out as bad as one could imagine to begin with, especially considering who the baddy is. (I can’t say much more to avoid spoiling the plot and the story for other readers).
This is a bit of mixed genre novel. It has plenty of wit and humour (much of it observational humour), a certain degree of mystery (we know much more than the protagonist does from the beginning, although not everything), and at times even a touch of thriller. I have mentioned the romance, that is pretty unusual as well, but not without charm.
The story is told from the point of view of several characters, mostly the main three characters, but also some of the secondary ones, and the author is very good at putting us in their shoes and making us share their experiences, always from their point of view. We might never have done the things some of them do, but we see their thought processes and understand their doubts, their feelings, and why they eventually do what they do. As I said, even if the characters have very little to do with us, the author manages to immerse us in their worlds and that makes us appreciate their adventures and reactions all the more. And, funnily enough, we are not alone in this, as the characters themselves experience a similar phenomenon. If George and his nemesis seem the complete opposites to begin with (George living in the realm of order and law, and Goldtooth in the world of chaos and lawlessness), things are not as they seem.
Apart from the way the story and the characters are depicted, I also loved some of the fabulous secondary characters, even those we only get to hear about second or third-hand. They all have their personalities and their quirks, and that makes them more real and true.
I thought the repetitiveness of certain actions and the slow rhythm, especially at the beginning, suited the main character and the nature of the story pretty well, but some people might find it a bit frustrating, especially if they are fond of quick-paced and action filled blockbusters. This is not that kind of book. But it has a few surprises up its sleeve, and it will leave readers with a smile on their faces. And that is something we sorely need today.
I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys quirky characters and situations, oddballs and charming weirdos (or not so charming), has a sense of humour and appreciates British humour, and does not mind investing a bit of time in a seemingly random story about a nobody, but one that ends up being delightful. So, yes, I recommend it to pretty much everyone.
This is a very peculiar book. There was something about the description that attracted me to it, and once I started reading I kept going, although for a while I wasn’t sure I liked any of the characters very much. Although that is not a prerequisite for me to like a book, it means that the book has to make it up in other ways. My opinion changed, and although I am sure that the protagonist, the George of the title, would test my patience to the point of distraction if I were to spend any time with him in real life, I grew quite fond of him, by the end. And he wasn’t the only one to make me feel that way.
The plot of the book made me think of the movie Phone Booth, at least a big part of it. No, it is not that tense or claustrophobic, and the main character isn’t at all like the protagonist of that story. But it was the sense of somebody just deciding to play God (as the description puts it), or to take revenge on somebody and going to extremes hardly guaranteed by the actions they are intent on punishing. When I watched that movie I kept thinking that there are people who have committed horrendous crimes, and yes, I could see the logic of taking justice in one’s hand in that case, but it all seemed rather perverse and pointless in the case at hand. And, as I said, I felt there was some of that here, but the author goes beyond it, cleverly constructing characters that have a heart, feelings, and although they might be the complete opposite to us, we understand them and empathise with them. This is Palmer’s first novel (although he has been doing creative work and knows a lot about books and about writing, and so does his wife), and he shows a great talent for endearing us to George, and oddball, an accountant by trade and by mindset, an obsessive man who needs to plan everything in advance and would not take an impulsive decision to save his own life. (I suspect he might have been given a diagnosis of mild autistic spectrum disorder in real life, if he’d ever sought one, but I can’t see him doing that, as he is perfectly happy, or almost, with the way his life is). He is the hero as anti-hero (or the anti-hero as hero), and although he seems to be a total looser when we meet him, things don’t turn out as bad as one could imagine to begin with, especially considering who the baddy is. (I can’t say much more to avoid spoiling the plot and the story for other readers).
This is a bit of mixed genre novel. It has plenty of wit and humour (much of it observational humour), a certain degree of mystery (we know much more than the protagonist does from the beginning, although not everything), and at times even a touch of thriller. I have mentioned the romance, that is pretty unusual as well, but not without charm.
The story is told from the point of view of several characters, mostly the main three characters, but also some of the secondary ones, and the author is very good at putting us in their shoes and making us share their experiences, always from their point of view. We might never have done the things some of them do, but we see their thought processes and understand their doubts, their feelings, and why they eventually do what they do. As I said, even if the characters have very little to do with us, the author manages to immerse us in their worlds and that makes us appreciate their adventures and reactions all the more. And, funnily enough, we are not alone in this, as the characters themselves experience a similar phenomenon. If George and his nemesis seem the complete opposites to begin with (George living in the realm of order and law, and Goldtooth in the world of chaos and lawlessness), things are not as they seem.
Apart from the way the story and the characters are depicted, I also loved some of the fabulous secondary characters, even those we only get to hear about second or third-hand. They all have their personalities and their quirks, and that makes them more real and true.
I thought the repetitiveness of certain actions and the slow rhythm, especially at the beginning, suited the main character and the nature of the story pretty well, but some people might find it a bit frustrating, especially if they are fond of quick-paced and action filled blockbusters. This is not that kind of book. But it has a few surprises up its sleeve, and it will leave readers with a smile on their faces. And that is something we sorely need today.
I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys quirky characters and situations, oddballs and charming weirdos (or not so charming), has a sense of humour and appreciates British humour, and does not mind investing a bit of time in a seemingly random story about a nobody, but one that ends up being delightful. So, yes, I recommend it to pretty much everyone.
August 19, 2022
Surprisingly I really like it! It was actually an easy read, the dialogue is so fun and engaged us.
For the plot I found it unusual and I kind of struggle but after a few pages then I got where the narrative going. the characters here especially the MC George I found his character is very real that I could totally relate. it has a nice setting as well very well written.
Overall this book rather than thriller, it's more quirky odd but in a humor way. I totally recommend this book for those looking for suspense genre but you don't want to get over thinking, this is for you.
For the plot I found it unusual and I kind of struggle but after a few pages then I got where the narrative going. the characters here especially the MC George I found his character is very real that I could totally relate. it has a nice setting as well very well written.
Overall this book rather than thriller, it's more quirky odd but in a humor way. I totally recommend this book for those looking for suspense genre but you don't want to get over thinking, this is for you.
August 7, 2022
This is a cracking, easy to read adventure about George, a middle aged, lonely divorcee who finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy.
It's really well written, although, I did find it meandered a little about 50% in. Having said that, overall, it's a delight and I highly recommend to those who enjoy Richard Osman and other interesting, gentle, escapism reads.
Congratulations to the author and thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to preview. I so enjoyed it and will be looking out for the author's next book 'Last Boy in America'.
It's really well written, although, I did find it meandered a little about 50% in. Having said that, overall, it's a delight and I highly recommend to those who enjoy Richard Osman and other interesting, gentle, escapism reads.
Congratulations to the author and thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to preview. I so enjoyed it and will be looking out for the author's next book 'Last Boy in America'.
August 29, 2022
George is a single unemployed accountant and he was just made redundant by the company he worked for for many years. One day while having tea out of tea shop a homeless man asks George for a handout when George tells him you have to give something to get something the man at the next table over here’s the conversation and gives him a couple of pounds and then makes friends with George. Later on that day George is in the traffic jam George bing George does his best to follow the traffic laws but unfortunately still gets in an accident not only was he rear ended but the driver got angry at George and decided to take it out on poor George. In the car right behind them was Angela a kind lady who not only brings George to the hospital but they tentatively start a friendship that is blossoming into more but unbeknownst to George he has made someone angry and someone he made angry knows how to hack into peoples computers. Little does this person know that George is a rule follower, but he’s also good at revenge. This man has done his best to ruin poor George’s life he put porn on his computer and tried his best to break up him and Angela; Who are now going hot and heavy. When George find out about his stalker and who he thinks his stalker is he starts his revenge in chaos operation. I will not say anymore because the book was so good and George‘s taciturn nature rule following complaint lodging persona was still so likable. This book was funny on so many different levels and you can’t help but to root for George and Angela and feel sorry when they have a falling out. I highly recommend this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I received this book from the Gally and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.
August 23, 2022
What a pleasant surprise! Hacking George by Bob Palmer was a perfect balance of genres, from comedy to espionage, with even a touch of romance. There was honestly so very little about this novel that I did not enjoy. The characters were so wonderfully written that even the grouchiest curmudgeon since Ove shown so brightly through their flaws,
George is a very particular type of person. Having been laid off from his accounting job, the divorced bachelor has resigned himself to a life of routine. Having only one real friend, a man named Ray with whom he plays chess with every Saturday, George’s social life is incredibly lacking.
When a car accident leads to a road rage incident, George crosses paths with a woman named Angela, who shockingly finds his overly detail oriented mind endearing rather than an annoyance. This gets George thinking, since he can piece together every bit of fate leading up to this seemingly random event, then clearly he should also be able to influence the rest of the world around him.
What starts as a side project slowly takes over his life as George tests his new process to influence events in Angela’s life, causing the two to grow a deeper bond. But little does George know that there is someone else in the background trying their best to influence George’s life in very negative ways.
While this summary may not come across as light hearted, and not everything in this book is laughter and roses, Hacking George by Bob Palmer is one of the best novels I have read in a very long time. Very reminiscent of the work of Fredrik Backman, these deeply flawed characters we meet find a way into your heart before you know it.
A very solid 4.336/5
Thank you so very much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title in exchange of my honest review.
George is a very particular type of person. Having been laid off from his accounting job, the divorced bachelor has resigned himself to a life of routine. Having only one real friend, a man named Ray with whom he plays chess with every Saturday, George’s social life is incredibly lacking.
When a car accident leads to a road rage incident, George crosses paths with a woman named Angela, who shockingly finds his overly detail oriented mind endearing rather than an annoyance. This gets George thinking, since he can piece together every bit of fate leading up to this seemingly random event, then clearly he should also be able to influence the rest of the world around him.
What starts as a side project slowly takes over his life as George tests his new process to influence events in Angela’s life, causing the two to grow a deeper bond. But little does George know that there is someone else in the background trying their best to influence George’s life in very negative ways.
While this summary may not come across as light hearted, and not everything in this book is laughter and roses, Hacking George by Bob Palmer is one of the best novels I have read in a very long time. Very reminiscent of the work of Fredrik Backman, these deeply flawed characters we meet find a way into your heart before you know it.
A very solid 4.336/5
Thank you so very much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title in exchange of my honest review.
August 14, 2022
This was such a bizarre book! I did struggle to get into this to be honest, I couldn’t quite work out why every detail of the central character’s life was recorded, even (or perhaps especially) the more mundane aspects. But actually the further I read the more I started to enjoy it, George is actually such a great character!
This is a loooong novel, it felt like I was reading for hours only to find I’d covered about 10%. But it did mean that I really felt like I knew George by the end, and his relationship with DS Tyler had me laughing out loud at several points.
The overall story is kind of daft, but I think that - coupled with the very odd portrayal of George - is part of its charm.
I’m glad I persevered with this, and I’d recommend it for a light (albeit long!) read.
This is a loooong novel, it felt like I was reading for hours only to find I’d covered about 10%. But it did mean that I really felt like I knew George by the end, and his relationship with DS Tyler had me laughing out loud at several points.
The overall story is kind of daft, but I think that - coupled with the very odd portrayal of George - is part of its charm.
I’m glad I persevered with this, and I’d recommend it for a light (albeit long!) read.
September 10, 2022
Another new book to read and a new author too and all I can say is this one wa really amazing to read and I loved it from start to finish, couldn't put it down once a started to read it and just wow I really did enjoy everything about it.
The plot was amazing throughout, it did have me guessing from the first whole outcome happened but when I did find out everything in the end I was really shocked I didn't expect it at all,a mean I just don't understand why some people would go to the lengths to do something like that.
George and Angela were really amazing throughout this book too these two were my favourite characters and along with the scooter boy as well.
I would for one read more from this author as this book was really really good and I will for one reread it again in the future.
The plot was amazing throughout, it did have me guessing from the first whole outcome happened but when I did find out everything in the end I was really shocked I didn't expect it at all,a mean I just don't understand why some people would go to the lengths to do something like that.
George and Angela were really amazing throughout this book too these two were my favourite characters and along with the scooter boy as well.
I would for one read more from this author as this book was really really good and I will for one reread it again in the future.
June 18, 2023
George is a spreadsheet kind of guy. He has spreadsheets for EVERY situation in his life. Grocery consumption. Spreadsheet. Heat bill usage and bill expectancy. Spreadsheet.
For. Everything.
Then he gets punched in the face and dragged through his broken car window during a gridlock on the highway
After being “laid off” from his accountant position he lacks any correspondence with humans.
Unto he meets an older gentleman who suggests they play chess.
And at the market, he meets a lady friend and the two spark up a relationship.
But he lent take risks, or put himself in any sort of danger.
Read what happens when this control freak loses control of his world.
And learn how to safeguard yourself from being hacked from a needful asset.
For. Everything.
Then he gets punched in the face and dragged through his broken car window during a gridlock on the highway
After being “laid off” from his accountant position he lacks any correspondence with humans.
Unto he meets an older gentleman who suggests they play chess.
And at the market, he meets a lady friend and the two spark up a relationship.
But he lent take risks, or put himself in any sort of danger.
Read what happens when this control freak loses control of his world.
And learn how to safeguard yourself from being hacked from a needful asset.
August 20, 2022
After overhearing a conversation in public, a computer hacker holds a grudge. After becoming the victim of a road rage incident has unforeseen consequences, George believes he can indirectly manipulate the world around him to his liking. What happens when the hacker decides to make an attempt at destroying George’s life?
This book has such a unique plot and is unlike anything else I’ve read. The writing style is nice and easy to read. I couldn’t wait to see what George was going to do next!
This book has such a unique plot and is unlike anything else I’ve read. The writing style is nice and easy to read. I couldn’t wait to see what George was going to do next!
February 13, 2025
Another absolute smash from Bob Palmer - I really enjoyed this book. I totally understood the motivation for hacking George, but also felt like George came across as a relatable autistic character. (This is not mentioned in the book; just my perspective.) The reveal, the antics, Scooterboy - I loved it all.
November 13, 2022
It's an entertaining story about meddling in other's lives, playing God and the consequences, but it was told a bit lengthy an verbose. That of course matches Georges character, that's how he is.
For me it could have been a little bit more concise and more suspenseful.
For me it could have been a little bit more concise and more suspenseful.
October 18, 2022
I really thought I would like it more. I mean it is a brilliant book and a brilliant story. Some descriptions and parts of the story were too long for me, so I somethimes lost the focus of the book. I liked the characters, I think they are well developed and real. The plot is good! I would say that it is a fun and light read and it is for everyone who likes mixed genres.
December 25, 2022
I can sure pick Good Reads!
A very enjoyable book. Twists and turns on about every page. I didn't expect the end game until it hit me in the face at almost the last few pages. Well done, Mr Palmer!
A very enjoyable book. Twists and turns on about every page. I didn't expect the end game until it hit me in the face at almost the last few pages. Well done, Mr Palmer!
January 20, 2023
Unexpected gem
Wasn't sure what to expect but couldn't put this book down once started, I love George & can't wait to see what he does next!
Wasn't sure what to expect but couldn't put this book down once started, I love George & can't wait to see what he does next!
March 9, 2023
Really enjoyed this book, not my usual genre but so glad I branched out! George became more loveable as the book went on and I was really invested in what was going to happen to him. Great read!
March 13, 2025
absolutely brilliant
How I grew to love George and this wonderfully engaging story. It was gripping and clever and quite different. I eagerly await more by this author
How I grew to love George and this wonderfully engaging story. It was gripping and clever and quite different. I eagerly await more by this author
July 29, 2022
This was a lot of fun to read with an amazing, unusual plot. I totally enjoyed it.
June 4, 2024
Really??!!
I spent the whole of this book waiting for it to take off into something exciting, but it never happened. Don’t waste your time on this.
I spent the whole of this book waiting for it to take off into something exciting, but it never happened. Don’t waste your time on this.
December 22, 2022
Hats off to Bob Palmer for a cracking debut novel. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the protagonist, George, at the start of the story. In fact, if truth be told, I found him rather irritating. As the plot progressed, however, my sympathies for George did a complete 180-degree turn and, although I didn’t understand why he'd become the target of such a malicious and comprehensive cyber-attack, I gradually warmed towards this socially gauche character and soon found myself rooting for him.
This book is quirky, funny and hugely enjoyable. I look forward to reading more by this talented new author.
This book is quirky, funny and hugely enjoyable. I look forward to reading more by this talented new author.
January 2, 2023
Unlike some stories, with this one I was never sure where it was going to take me. Does George really have the power he thinks he does and is this book, therefore, actually Science Fiction? Or maybe George is a touch deluded (okay, make that crazy) and things aren’t actually happening the way he perceives them. As the story progresses and the reader finds out more, my best guess as to where things were headed kept evolving, but was never quite correct until we hit the end. I thought this book had a story more unique than most with fun and interesting characters.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
September 18, 2022
I made it to my requisite 50% point, but I couldn't take all the talk of masturbation, orgasms, etc. Then there was all of the profanity. There may be some readers who can accept this without feeling that it dirties them, but I'm not one of those. If it's not a book I would be willing to have a grandchild read, I'm not interested, either. Since we each have our own interests, likes and dislikes, I wish they would label all books like a few authors do. Then NetGalley wouldn't get so many bad reviews.
October 17, 2025
Really interesting premise. It seemed to start off fairly strong but then fizzled out rather quickly. I had thought this book would be fun and action packed, with the MC being manipulated into doing even the smallest of things every day - but this wasn't what I'd hoped for unfortunately.
March 13, 2023
What a good read! Thoroughly enjoyed 'meeting' George and seeing how he coped with being hacked. Some lovely laugh out loud moments. Think this would make a great mini-series on TV
January 7, 2024
A surprisingly good read.
November 2, 2022
This novel was a page turner which I thoroughly enjoyed, and suspect I'll re-read occasionally because of the gentle kindness it portrays through the character George.
George is an ordinary man who lost his job, having been made redundant. He's an accountant, a bit obsessed with numbers, somewhat boring, lonely, but he's a good likable soul. After experiencing a frightening road rage incident, he sets out to make the world a better place in small ways by what he calls "interventions". His intricate actions lend some humor and I found affection for George, a kindly man wanting to do good.
In contrast there is the hacker. Like George, he is lonely. He also practises interventions, however he aims to make life worse and more difficult through hacking, while being richly paid.
The conflict of good v. evil in this modern context leads to interesting, worthwhile questions about life and human nature. The unravelling of the mystery as George struggles to cope with the damage to his life caused by the hacker had me reading late into the night.
George is an ordinary man who lost his job, having been made redundant. He's an accountant, a bit obsessed with numbers, somewhat boring, lonely, but he's a good likable soul. After experiencing a frightening road rage incident, he sets out to make the world a better place in small ways by what he calls "interventions". His intricate actions lend some humor and I found affection for George, a kindly man wanting to do good.
In contrast there is the hacker. Like George, he is lonely. He also practises interventions, however he aims to make life worse and more difficult through hacking, while being richly paid.
The conflict of good v. evil in this modern context leads to interesting, worthwhile questions about life and human nature. The unravelling of the mystery as George struggles to cope with the damage to his life caused by the hacker had me reading late into the night.
November 14, 2022
George Sanderson embarks on a mission to help the woman he met when he was on the receiving end of a vicious assault following a minor traffic collision. What George doesn’t realise is that while he is manipulating Angela’s boss, someone else is hacking into his own life and is about to turn George’s sedate existence right on its head.
Filled with delightfully quirky characters and witty situations, the author takes a completely ordinary man, an accountant no less, and turns him into the unlikely hero of this highly entertaining story.
George is a pedant, a perfectionist and borderline sufferer of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He has to plan every decision or action in minute detail and has to correct everyone given the chance, but you just can’t help but love him. I wish I had a friend like George.
The situations George finds himself in are in part ridiculous and in equal measure genius. I fear for anyone who makes an enemy of the author as he has a devious mind and a flair for intrigue that wouldn’t be out of place in a secret agent.
I found that the story flowed well and maintained my interest throughout. I like a book that reads fluently and minimises the number of times that the suspension of disbelief is dispelled, this book ticks both boxes.
If ever proof were needed that a good book doesn’t need a tortuously complicated plot, a high body count and gratuitous sex and violence then this is it.
I loved the supporting cast, from the love interest Angela to the nefarious villain of the piece Reg. I’d like to see George in a sequel as I feel that he still has more to give and a crime fighting team up with his beau is not beyond the realms of reasonability. The world is more than ready for a pedantic OCD private detective.
The final resolution of the lottery ticket plot needs credit as it would have been far too easy to finish it in a less satisfactory manner given George’s personality.
The character of Ray is a complicated one that has you changing your opinion of him a number of times throughout the book and his final act is suitably in character given the man we come to know as the drama unfolds.
In summary, this is a delightful read that delivers great characters, an interesting plot and a satisfaction that at the end you’ve not been short changed
Filled with delightfully quirky characters and witty situations, the author takes a completely ordinary man, an accountant no less, and turns him into the unlikely hero of this highly entertaining story.
George is a pedant, a perfectionist and borderline sufferer of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He has to plan every decision or action in minute detail and has to correct everyone given the chance, but you just can’t help but love him. I wish I had a friend like George.
The situations George finds himself in are in part ridiculous and in equal measure genius. I fear for anyone who makes an enemy of the author as he has a devious mind and a flair for intrigue that wouldn’t be out of place in a secret agent.
I found that the story flowed well and maintained my interest throughout. I like a book that reads fluently and minimises the number of times that the suspension of disbelief is dispelled, this book ticks both boxes.
If ever proof were needed that a good book doesn’t need a tortuously complicated plot, a high body count and gratuitous sex and violence then this is it.
I loved the supporting cast, from the love interest Angela to the nefarious villain of the piece Reg. I’d like to see George in a sequel as I feel that he still has more to give and a crime fighting team up with his beau is not beyond the realms of reasonability. The world is more than ready for a pedantic OCD private detective.
The final resolution of the lottery ticket plot needs credit as it would have been far too easy to finish it in a less satisfactory manner given George’s personality.
The character of Ray is a complicated one that has you changing your opinion of him a number of times throughout the book and his final act is suitably in character given the man we come to know as the drama unfolds.
In summary, this is a delightful read that delivers great characters, an interesting plot and a satisfaction that at the end you’ve not been short changed
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