Full Whack

by Charlie Higson

Dennis Pike, former wild man of Tottenham, is getting old and going straight. But when two faces from his old gang turn up, he finds himself getting involved in a new scam, and soon he is embroiled in a world he wants to escape and is forced to confront a man who is dangerously unhinged.

Genres: Fiction, Crime

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Higson 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

Reviews

[Michael Sterckx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a smart, very 90s gruesome comedy thriller with crackling dialogue, eye watering biro violence and a pleasantly old fashioned plot.

[John Dolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dennis Pike is a former thug who has spent the last ten years trying to forget his past. Then, one day, his past comes knocking …
‘Full Whack’ is an artfully-constructed tale of gangsters and chancers, and with a carefully-orchestrated pace about it. Author Charlie Higson successfully walks the tightrope between tension and comedy, and the book’s dialogue has a ring of authenticity to it. It’s a mixture of Quentin Tarantino violence and Evelyn Waugh wit, all blended together in an accessible style – both populist and thought-provoking at the same time. Downside: it’s a bit of a boy’s book.
However, as I’m a bit of a boy, I shall be reading more of his novels.

[Joel Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some scenes were a tad violent for my taste but the characters are well brought to life and you empathise with the wild youths that have hit middle age

[Mark Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.

[Dave Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting anti-hero protagonist, good laugh

[Jeremy Hornik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid little thriller in the British gangster genre. Small in scope, comic and petty and violent and kinda gross. Not deep but I’d read another.

On contemplation: cut one star, for being too mechanical and borderline unbelievable with its characters. Still fun, I’d still read another.

[Cathal Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shelve it as 'Christmassy', but you don't really notice that it's set at Christmas-time.
Anyhoo, this was the easiest read of Charlie's adult books by far, and possibly my favourite of the three I've read. There are several glaring similarities between this, Happy Now and King of the Ants, so I wouldn't advise marathoning them. Also because they're heavy as fuck and they would probably make you feel dirty and hateful of the human race. Your choice, though.

[Godzilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect from Charlie Higson as a writer.

I got dark humour and an interesting enough thriller, which was fast paced and kept me turning the pages.

I felt the characters were a little threadbare though which stopped me from really caring what happened to them.

Some parts drew me in, others didn't.

[Ian Fiddes · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10. Not bad but a bit disappointing after Happy Now.

[Stuart Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this, its great dialogue, gruesome, violent, believable and page turning !!!