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Whatever Gets You Through the Night
, Most people travel to Corfu to escape the real world for a couple of weeks and embrace the fantasy of olive trees, sandy beaches, and little fishing boats bobbing on sparkling blue water under a warm sun.
But not McIntyre. McIntyre's a fixer, specialising in getting people out of places they don't want to be with the minimum of fuss, publicity and violence. The job in Corfu should be easy - spring, Lauren, a 15-year-old schoolgirl, from the luxury compound of the tech billionaire, Julian Hepworth. Hepworth's young, handsome and charismatic - he's also a suspected paedophile, who, under the guise of training a girls' tennis team, has set up an abusive cult.
But as McIntyre sets up his operation in the exclusive north eastern corner of the island, things quickly start to slip out of his control. First, Lauren's father turns up, threatening to give the game away, and soon, McIntyre's having to contend with Albanian gangsters, Greek drug dealers, psychotic bodyguards, flat earthers and spoilt, wealthy teenagers looking for dangerous kicks. To further complicate things, Lauren's planning her own 'jailbreak'. It looks like things are going to be a lot harder than McIntyre's used to. Luckily, he has his team around him, a motley and colourful bunch, each with their own speciality.
The intertwined stories come together as the various characters all converge on a glamorous summer party at Hepworth's spectacular villa. Can McIntyre play the different factions off against each other and get Lauren to safety without things going horribly wrong?
Whatever Gets You Through The Night is a crime novel with a thrillingly dark heart about the truths that lurk beneath the picture post card surface of a sunny Mediterranean idyll.,
But not McIntyre. McIntyre's a fixer, specialising in getting people out of places they don't want to be with the minimum of fuss, publicity and violence. The job in Corfu should be easy - spring, Lauren, a 15-year-old schoolgirl, from the luxury compound of the tech billionaire, Julian Hepworth. Hepworth's young, handsome and charismatic - he's also a suspected paedophile, who, under the guise of training a girls' tennis team, has set up an abusive cult.
But as McIntyre sets up his operation in the exclusive north eastern corner of the island, things quickly start to slip out of his control. First, Lauren's father turns up, threatening to give the game away, and soon, McIntyre's having to contend with Albanian gangsters, Greek drug dealers, psychotic bodyguards, flat earthers and spoilt, wealthy teenagers looking for dangerous kicks. To further complicate things, Lauren's planning her own 'jailbreak'. It looks like things are going to be a lot harder than McIntyre's used to. Luckily, he has his team around him, a motley and colourful bunch, each with their own speciality.
The intertwined stories come together as the various characters all converge on a glamorous summer party at Hepworth's spectacular villa. Can McIntyre play the different factions off against each other and get Lauren to safety without things going horribly wrong?
Whatever Gets You Through The Night is a crime novel with a thrillingly dark heart about the truths that lurk beneath the picture post card surface of a sunny Mediterranean idyll.,
400 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2023
16 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Higson
86 books1,511 followersHigson was educated at Sevenoaks School and at the University of East Anglia (where his brother has taught since 1986 and is now a professor of film studies) where he met Paul Whitehouse, David Cummings and Terry Edwards. Higson, Cummings and Edwards formed the band The Higsons of which Higson was the lead singer from 1980 to 1986. They released two singles on the Specials' 2-Tone label. Higson then became a plasterer before he turned to writing for Harry Enfield with Paul Whitehouse and performing comedy. He came to public attention as one of the main writers and performers of the BBC Two sketch show The Fast Show (1994-2000). He worked with Whitehouse on the radio comedy Down the Line and is to work with him again on a television project, designed to be a spoof of celebrity travel programmes.[1:]
He worked as producer, writer, director and occasional guest star on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000 to 2001. Subsequent television work has included writing and starring in BBC Three's Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He is currently starring in Tittybangbang series 3 on BBC Three and has appeared as a panellist on QI.
He published four novels through the early to mid 1990s which take a slightly dystopian look at everyday life and have a considerably more adult tone than his other work, with characters on the margins of society finding themselves spiraling out of control, leading him to be described by Time Out as 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis' [2:]
In 2004, it was announced that Higson would pen a series of James Bond novels, aimed at younger readers and concentrating on the character's school-days at Eton. Higson was himself educated at Sevenoaks School where he was a contemporary of Jonathan Evans, current Director General of MI5. The first novel, SilverFin, was released on 3 March 2005 in the UK and on 27 April 2005 in the U.S. A second novel, Blood Fever, was released on 5 January 2006 in the UK and 1 June in the U.S. The third novel, Double or Die, was published on 4 January 2007 having had its title announced the day before. The next, Hurricane Gold, came out in hardcover in the UK in September 2007.[3:]In this year he also made a debut performance on the panel show QI. His final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in hardcover in the UK on the 3 September 2008.[4:]
Charlie has signed a deal to pen a new series of children's books for Puffin. According to the author, "They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle
He worked as producer, writer, director and occasional guest star on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000 to 2001. Subsequent television work has included writing and starring in BBC Three's Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He is currently starring in Tittybangbang series 3 on BBC Three and has appeared as a panellist on QI.
He published four novels through the early to mid 1990s which take a slightly dystopian look at everyday life and have a considerably more adult tone than his other work, with characters on the margins of society finding themselves spiraling out of control, leading him to be described by Time Out as 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis' [2:]
In 2004, it was announced that Higson would pen a series of James Bond novels, aimed at younger readers and concentrating on the character's school-days at Eton. Higson was himself educated at Sevenoaks School where he was a contemporary of Jonathan Evans, current Director General of MI5. The first novel, SilverFin, was released on 3 March 2005 in the UK and on 27 April 2005 in the U.S. A second novel, Blood Fever, was released on 5 January 2006 in the UK and 1 June in the U.S. The third novel, Double or Die, was published on 4 January 2007 having had its title announced the day before. The next, Hurricane Gold, came out in hardcover in the UK in September 2007.[3:]In this year he also made a debut performance on the panel show QI. His final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in hardcover in the UK on the 3 September 2008.[4:]
Charlie has signed a deal to pen a new series of children's books for Puffin. According to the author, "They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 9, 2024
I read a number of Higson's books a while back and really enjoyed them - funny, thrilling and topical. Higson then went off to write YA fiction and dropped off my radar - so when I saw this newish book in the bookshop I was very interested to read it.
McIntyre (not his real name) is a fixer who sorts out problems. His methods are not always strictly legal, but he gets results and is handsomely paid as a result. His current task is to rescue a teenage girl from a fortress like "tennis academy" in Corfu run by a secretive billionaire who is very much into young girls - shades of Jeffrey Epstein. No sign of royalty though.
Drugs and Albanian and Greek gangsters are sprinkled into the mix in a fast paced thriller that just about does the job. It doesn't quite live up to my memory of the earlier books - go look up "Happy now", "Full whack", "King of the ants" or " Getting rid of Mr Kitchen".
That may just be me - I guess I have changed in the 30 years since they came out.
McIntyre (not his real name) is a fixer who sorts out problems. His methods are not always strictly legal, but he gets results and is handsomely paid as a result. His current task is to rescue a teenage girl from a fortress like "tennis academy" in Corfu run by a secretive billionaire who is very much into young girls - shades of Jeffrey Epstein. No sign of royalty though.
Drugs and Albanian and Greek gangsters are sprinkled into the mix in a fast paced thriller that just about does the job. It doesn't quite live up to my memory of the earlier books - go look up "Happy now", "Full whack", "King of the ants" or " Getting rid of Mr Kitchen".
That may just be me - I guess I have changed in the 30 years since they came out.
May 5, 2022
I won’t lie, at the beginning I was hooked on this book. Then I got lost towards the middle, and at the end felt that a lot of side-stories were unfinished or unnecessary.
The plot at the heart of this book is unnerving and seems heavily influenced by the likes of Epstein when it comes to money and young girls. The protagonist, if you can call him that, is hired by the father of one of the young girls to rescue her from “Hepworth’s” compound in Corfu. At the start this seems like an exciting plot, but we basically lose track of the protagonist once we hit the second third of the book.
SO MANY characters are introduced. With entire chapters even being dedicated to their perspectives on the plot. This happens largely in the middle of the book, but you figure their perspectives will lead somewhere right? A few do, but their stories still had too much context than was necessary.
In general, the story was good, I enjoyed reading it at points. I just wish a couple of chapters had been cut or a few of the surplus characters removed. This may have allowed for a neater close to the story, giving everyone the satisfying ending they deserved.
The plot at the heart of this book is unnerving and seems heavily influenced by the likes of Epstein when it comes to money and young girls. The protagonist, if you can call him that, is hired by the father of one of the young girls to rescue her from “Hepworth’s” compound in Corfu. At the start this seems like an exciting plot, but we basically lose track of the protagonist once we hit the second third of the book.
SO MANY characters are introduced. With entire chapters even being dedicated to their perspectives on the plot. This happens largely in the middle of the book, but you figure their perspectives will lead somewhere right? A few do, but their stories still had too much context than was necessary.
In general, the story was good, I enjoyed reading it at points. I just wish a couple of chapters had been cut or a few of the surplus characters removed. This may have allowed for a neater close to the story, giving everyone the satisfying ending they deserved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2022
I was so disappointed by this book, because I loved the Silverfin series and really do believe CH is a talented writer. What happened here!
The female characters were completely one-dimensional, which was disappointing given the plot (cults, grooming, sexual abuse.) The inner monologues of the male characters varied between juvenile and bizarre, so that none of them felt remotely realistic and NONE of them were likeable.
The entire final act felt rushed, and whilst the story had bags of potential, I was so cross by the end - especially about that ridiculous final paragraph - that I left my copy on the plane.
I am giving two stars as I appreciate perhaps I am not the target audience for this book, and if they made it into a pulpy ITV drama I would probably still watch.
The female characters were completely one-dimensional, which was disappointing given the plot (cults, grooming, sexual abuse.) The inner monologues of the male characters varied between juvenile and bizarre, so that none of them felt remotely realistic and NONE of them were likeable.
The entire final act felt rushed, and whilst the story had bags of potential, I was so cross by the end - especially about that ridiculous final paragraph - that I left my copy on the plane.
I am giving two stars as I appreciate perhaps I am not the target audience for this book, and if they made it into a pulpy ITV drama I would probably still watch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2022
I've been waiting for Charlie Higson to come back to writing crime for a looooong time and it was 100% worth the wait. A book of twists and turns that will have you squirming one minute and laughing out loud the next. Absolutely bloody brilliant.
March 19, 2022
Charlie Higson is probably best known for his TV roles in The Fast Show, or in writing terms for his YA young Bond series. This venture into adult fiction is set on the island of Corfu where a tennis academy run by a tech billionaire is a front for an abusive cult. The father of one of the girls held there hires professional ‘fixer’ Macintyre to free her. After that it all gets a bit complicated.
There are a lot of characters – the chapters alternate between different viewpoints – and most of them are plotting against at least some of the others. This makes it a bit hard to keep track of who’s who and who wants to do what to who.
It all comes together in a fast-paced penultimate chapter, though if you’ve been paying attention there will be few surprises in the way things pan out.
The pace slows a little in places and there are one or two minor flaws in plot logic, but overall this is an enjoyable and entertaining read.
There are a lot of characters – the chapters alternate between different viewpoints – and most of them are plotting against at least some of the others. This makes it a bit hard to keep track of who’s who and who wants to do what to who.
It all comes together in a fast-paced penultimate chapter, though if you’ve been paying attention there will be few surprises in the way things pan out.
The pace slows a little in places and there are one or two minor flaws in plot logic, but overall this is an enjoyable and entertaining read.
January 18, 2025
I think 2 stars was over generous. Rubbish.
August 7, 2025
I adored Higson's Young Bond series as a kid, so I went for this, even though it's not the sort of thing I usually pick up. It's a fun, smart beach read with a dark edge.
I appreciate what other reviewers have said about too many characters, and they're probably right that Higson overcooked it a bit. But I'm a sucker for a book with an ensemble cast. I liked the fact that most of the players got some 'character exposition', and felt like they were acting in their own interests rather than (or as well as) the designs of the plot. The denouement felt a bit rushed, though. Could have done with an extra 30-odd pages to wrap things up properly. I also wanted to see a lot more of Macintyre! I feel like Higson ended up falling in love with Aimee and Dennis Pike and kind of used them as the action heroes rather than Mac, who disappears into the narrative for much of the book.
I liked that Higson works in a ton of pop-culture references from a variety of sources. We've got Chekhov, Larkin, Groove Armada, Zorba the Greek, Ken Loach and contemporary conspiracy culture. It makes the novel feel a bit more involved and 'real' than a typical thriller. You still get the thriller prose though—'He went to the cabinet. Found the gun. Felt the weight of it in his hands. Soon it would be time to use it' &c. &c.
It tries a little too hard to be topical at times. That's the trouble with writing a story set in the social media age, though, isn't it?
I appreciate what other reviewers have said about too many characters, and they're probably right that Higson overcooked it a bit. But I'm a sucker for a book with an ensemble cast. I liked the fact that most of the players got some 'character exposition', and felt like they were acting in their own interests rather than (or as well as) the designs of the plot. The denouement felt a bit rushed, though. Could have done with an extra 30-odd pages to wrap things up properly. I also wanted to see a lot more of Macintyre! I feel like Higson ended up falling in love with Aimee and Dennis Pike and kind of used them as the action heroes rather than Mac, who disappears into the narrative for much of the book.
I liked that Higson works in a ton of pop-culture references from a variety of sources. We've got Chekhov, Larkin, Groove Armada, Zorba the Greek, Ken Loach and contemporary conspiracy culture. It makes the novel feel a bit more involved and 'real' than a typical thriller. You still get the thriller prose though—'He went to the cabinet. Found the gun. Felt the weight of it in his hands. Soon it would be time to use it' &c. &c.
It tries a little too hard to be topical at times. That's the trouble with writing a story set in the social media age, though, isn't it?
March 12, 2022
The stunning island of Corfu is the setting for this madcap thriller.
This book has it all.... cults, the lifestyle of the rich and famous, evil billionaires, drug dealers, flat earthers, gangsters, psychotic bodyguards and Macintyre, who is just trying to fulful his mission with the minumum of fuss.
Julian Hepworth is a tech billionaire who houses a team of elite tennis players at his luxury compound on Corfu. To the outside world he is training a team of future superstars of the sport, but in reality he is running an absusive cult where the girls live in fear of punishment.
Macintyre is a master of getting people out of places they don't want to be and he has been given the mission of rescuing young tennis player Lauren and re-uniting her with her family. But Lauren isn't waiting around to be rescues and has plans of her own.
That is the core of this sometimes dangerous, sometimes funny thriller. Add in lavish parties, outrageous characters and a setting as beautiful as it is crazy, and this is a story that will regularly shock you and leave you guessing.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the review copy of this book.
This book has it all.... cults, the lifestyle of the rich and famous, evil billionaires, drug dealers, flat earthers, gangsters, psychotic bodyguards and Macintyre, who is just trying to fulful his mission with the minumum of fuss.
Julian Hepworth is a tech billionaire who houses a team of elite tennis players at his luxury compound on Corfu. To the outside world he is training a team of future superstars of the sport, but in reality he is running an absusive cult where the girls live in fear of punishment.
Macintyre is a master of getting people out of places they don't want to be and he has been given the mission of rescuing young tennis player Lauren and re-uniting her with her family. But Lauren isn't waiting around to be rescues and has plans of her own.
That is the core of this sometimes dangerous, sometimes funny thriller. Add in lavish parties, outrageous characters and a setting as beautiful as it is crazy, and this is a story that will regularly shock you and leave you guessing.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the review copy of this book.
December 27, 2025
I picked this up on a whim after reading the blurb in the bookshop. The plot sounded compelling and had all the makings of a good holiday read. I thought it would have the same atmosphere as The Jealousy Man by Jo Nesbø (or rather the Killer Heat movie). It was, however, difficult to get through as the book structure told the story through various character perspectives, which I found distracting. It felt more like it should be a Guy Ritchie movie. It would have worked if it only told the story of the "team" instead (and if it had a thicker plot).
The story overall fell short of a good read. Maybe I should just reread the young Bond novels instead as it felt like the writer had a good thing going with them.
One star for the setting, one star for the last couple of chapters.
The story overall fell short of a good read. Maybe I should just reread the young Bond novels instead as it felt like the writer had a good thing going with them.
One star for the setting, one star for the last couple of chapters.
April 5, 2022
Corfu. Crime. Multiple tales woven together. Sounds like an intriguing idea but also the potential for confusion. This Higson novel delivers on both.
There’s a little bit too much happening and it makes for a bloated feel, especially as the pace feels a bit off and the way it’s wrapped up just a bit convenient. As you’d expect from Higson there is humour throughout and there is a certain charm to it, it just could have been more than it was.
There’s a little bit too much happening and it makes for a bloated feel, especially as the pace feels a bit off and the way it’s wrapped up just a bit convenient. As you’d expect from Higson there is humour throughout and there is a certain charm to it, it just could have been more than it was.
March 13, 2023
Disappointing when compared with his YA fiction that I enjoyed so much, but not objectively bad. A good and original story told in a complicated, bitty way that's very hard to follow at times. You don't get to know any of the characters well enough to form a bond with them - you are only encouraged to hate the antagonist. Lots of build up to a fairly average, incomplete ending. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't up to usual standard IMO. Over-use of the C-word is a little jarring in places too.
July 8, 2023
This book did not quite work for me as it consists of lots of short chapters featuring different characters which I found irritating. Basically the plot deals with an attempt to free a teenage girl from a rich man's compound where although part of a tennis team she is effectively a prisoner. The story is told with much dark humour and is not a bad read but I doubt I will try any of the author's other books.
August 12, 2024
I bought this book as a holiday read as it’s set in Corfu where I was heading . I’d not read Charlie Higson before but knew of him because of the Fast Show .
As expected the book is very funny , but at its heart is an Epstein type dark character which brings on the thriller feel .
It has a very hard edge of satire while making you think about the less glamorous edge of drugs ,sex trafficking and megalomaniacs.
A quick ,bright,slick read ,perfect holiday reading ) especially if in Corfu)
As expected the book is very funny , but at its heart is an Epstein type dark character which brings on the thriller feel .
It has a very hard edge of satire while making you think about the less glamorous edge of drugs ,sex trafficking and megalomaniacs.
A quick ,bright,slick read ,perfect holiday reading ) especially if in Corfu)
April 26, 2022
A dark and satirical tale of devious and deviant billionaire and paedophile and his use and abuse of people generally, as well as his team of adolescent girls who he is 'mentoring'.Higson is a brilliant writer of plots as well as an acerbic chronicler of modern mores such as the use of social media and celebrity.It is in the vein of Black Mirror , a dystopian tale of caution.
May 30, 2023
The plot was intriguing and the perspective formatting certainly a good idea.
Nontheless it could confuse you sometimes with all the dealers which were easily forgotten, they had no big relevance in the story, but were given some cheapters. On account of those the suspense was usually interrupted; causing peroids of boredom.
Nontheless it could confuse you sometimes with all the dealers which were easily forgotten, they had no big relevance in the story, but were given some cheapters. On account of those the suspense was usually interrupted; causing peroids of boredom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2024
Excellent ending, but it took a long time to get there.
Set in Corfu this was the story of about 20 people. A guy who was employed to rescue a girl, the girl, her mentor and jailor, and the various people around the three of them.
Very funny in places it was entertaining seeing how all the stories were merging to the conclusion, but my abiding thought was a bit slow-moving.
Set in Corfu this was the story of about 20 people. A guy who was employed to rescue a girl, the girl, her mentor and jailor, and the various people around the three of them.
Very funny in places it was entertaining seeing how all the stories were merging to the conclusion, but my abiding thought was a bit slow-moving.
May 30, 2022
Liam Neeson goes after Jeffrey Epstein. A somewhat woker than usual spin on ‘man with a gun saves girl in distress’. Some clever moments, some cringey dialogue, not exactly character driven but altogether an OK beach read
June 22, 2022
I picked this up because I quite enjoyed Higson's 'Young Bond' novels. This made a fairly enjoyable holiday read but, in the end, not particularly memorable. He does however know how to write a compelling story, with drugs, gangsters, unseemly characters etc.
June 6, 2023
Loved it even though the plot felt a bit loose, felt a bit like a mash up of the TV show Benidorm and an Elmore Leonard novella (but in a good way), also great to see where Pike from the novel Full Whack ended up after his wasted decade.
February 10, 2025
A tech billionaires grooming paradise in Corfu. There were plenty of amusing moments and scenes as well as some pretty dark ones too. The storyline is well fleshed out but just not likeable for me to really enjoy it
June 14, 2025
Personally I think Higson should stick to YA novels. I have read loads of the Young Bond series and LOVE them I don’t think you have to be a YA to enjoy them but this book really missed the mark for me
March 6, 2022
Brilliant.
March 13, 2022
Didn't really get into the characters, the protagonist didn't really shine through, plot rather implausible.
March 29, 2022
The multiple points of view help propel the narrative and create tension. Enjoyable.
April 18, 2022
Clever and funny - multi-faceted with a plethora of narrative voices, but the disparate elements came together nicely at the end.
January 8, 2023
Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars - fun, madcap, read it in just 1-2 days, but there were too many strands that didn't necessarily go anywhere.
March 16, 2023
Page turning but a little on the nose for certain characters.
April 5, 2023
It had some amusing moments and I liked the satirical aspects particularly about celeb culture, social media and rich playboys. But it all seemed a bit too crazy!!
May 23, 2023
Quite a page-turner.
August 8, 2023
Not my usual choice of genre but I enjoyed the change well enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews