Mark Wilson (14)

What if… Trainspotting and The Wire had a sleazy one-night-stand? ‘Head Boy’ would be their illegitimate offspring. It’s a drunk and disorderly romp which wittily depicts Scotland’s decaying post-industrial urban environment and the area’s street-creeping, purse-snatching, drug-pushing lowlife inhabitants.

The central character – Diller – is snarkily smart, wickedly entertaining in his open acknowledgment that he’s a stone psycho killer with no good reason to be bad.

Diller show more maintains a squeaky-clean superficial exterior while gouging, maiming and manipulating his way past thugs and wiseguys. When he’s not snorting, stabbing or shagging, he’s keeping up appearances at school and with his parents – who couldn’t be nicer middle-class folks, a schoolteacher and a CID police officer…

A cast of credible supporting characters underpin the bitter-bleak humour and the cutting edge violence. Without lecturing or hectoring, author Mark Wilson sneaks insightful social commentary in parallel to the rasping savagery and devious dealings.

This is a raucous, rapid read which really clips along – and Wilson has the creative chutzpah to pull off a couple of utterly audacious writing stunts to boot.

The cracking dialogue has a convincing ring of north of the border authenticity. At first I was a little concerned that it’d all be written in dialect and slang, which gets old real fast, but the style soon settles into a comfortable rhythm. It never lets you forget where the action takes place but doesn’t unnecessarily interrupt the flow.

If I’ve one criticism of Head Boy, it’s that there’s a missing epilogue. The story starts with a wildly entertaining prologue, with Diller musing over his sociopathic disposition while waiting for an anger management counsellor. I’d really hoped the ending would feature Diller’s encounter with Colin the counsellor, but no such luck. And that felt a little bit like the story wasn’t quite finished.

Of course, it may well continue in another of the author’s ‘Lanarkshire Strays’ stories. There are three other separate tales, set in the same area but which break the crime-thriller boundaries to explore other genres. If you like the sound of Head Boy, then cut to the chase and grab the omnibus edition cos you'll definitely want more like this...
8/10

There's more about this and other thrillers over at
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/head-boy-tartan-noir/ show less

This story combines three different people together from across the world and from a wide range of time periods all coming together on September 11, 2001.

Robert Hamilton is a young boy who was abandoned by his parents and sister and is immediately put into foster care. It isn't soon after that he discovers he has supernatural powers and can can perform things no normal human can do. He has incredible strength, speed and the ability to fly. He even has a sense of right and wrong like any show more other great super hero they portray in the comic books. Rob eventually learns to use his greatest powers to help him live in harmony with his foster family.

The second character is Arif Ali who is a young Pakistani boy living in the United Kingdom and is constantly around radical terrorist behaviors. Arif is eventually recruited to become a terrorist.

The third character is Kim Hamilton who is a secret agent who has lost her husband and child with an eagerness for revenge against the al-Qaeda. She cannot let those who killed her family, get away with it and eventually she will learn, that it is this extreme desire that prevents her from moving on, and dealing with her grief. Kim inadvertently saves Robert Hamilton from a group of terrorists. Who would have guessed the bad-ass secret agent could end up saving an up and coming superhero?

Mark Wilson does a great job at bringing three separate lives into one coincidental event that everyone is a part of. I believe this book was categorized as a thriller, and I have to admit, that this perfectly describes this book. Sometimes, it's hard for some people, to read about events that seemed like they only happened a few years ago. I felt that this book did not disrespect 9/11, or over do the dramatics like I have found many other books to do. I felt it added great emotion and viewpoint for all varieties of readers to enjoy.

The only criticism that I have about this book would be the extreme lead up to the character Cara. She was a character that held no value to the story, but yet was written about in great lengths. I would have preferred that the use of those words go to other important parts of the story like bigger lead up to the main characters. Definitely not a big complaint, and I still gladly give it 5/5. show less

Rob Hamilton was a normal 10 year old boy in 1980's Bellshill. Along with his twin sister Cara he had the usual childhood experiences including some very strange dreams. He did though feel somewhat disconnected from other people but had learned to hide it well. Aside from his sister, Rob really only connected with his best friend Tom. It had hurt much more than he let on when Tom had to move away from Bellshill. Even worse though was waking up one morning to discover his parents had show more abandoned both he and his sister. So starts the long journey of Rob Hamiliton's adolescence and the discoveries of what can and what is possible in his life.
Arif Ali was born in Westminster West London Hospital to loving parents Mimi and Azam Ali. Arif's mother is a doctor at the same hospital where he was born and his father owns and runs a little shop in Battersea. Azam goes through life with rose colored glasses on and a serene disposition. Nothing seems to faze him. Arif wishes he could be more like his father but as he grows up he starts to feel that his father is wrong and that there are times when you must fight for what yu believe in. He begs his parents to allow him to go to Pakistan to live with family for a short time so he can get to know all his relatives. What his parents don't know is that he has begun to listen more and more to more extreme religious doctrine and that that is his true interest. Will family love or extreme religious doctrine rule Arif's life?
Kim Baker is a hunter of terrorists for the Counter Terrorist Agency (CTA). In 1974 Kim's husband Dave and their infant son Scott were lost when a terrorist bomb went off and destroyed the plane and all the people who were on the flight. When you lose the 2 people you love beyond all others to a terrorist's bomb, it is easy to push everything else aside. Its been 10 years since the bombing but catching terrorists consumes her every waking moment and invades every one of her dreams. She no longer has any interest or time in anything or anybody that doesn't have to do with her job.
When the paths of these three very diverse people cross it will change all their lives and the course of history.
Set over several years, the author weaves together three divergent stories into one cohesive climax. With some surprising situations, hair raising twists ,unexpected turns and a sprinkle of unusual powers there is a little bit of everything for everyone. At times I found that the storylines bounced a little too much and was at times a bit confusing. A solid novel if you are looking for an ordinary boy facing extraordinary choices and discovering superhero powers. Also great for all who enjoy comics and graphic novels.
I received my copy of Naebody's Hero from the author in exchange for my honest review. show less

Three different areas of the world, and three completely different individuals.

Robert, a child who was abandoned by his parents, was raised by a foster family, separate from his twin sister, Cara. As he grew, he discovered he had unique abilities and wanted to use them for the good of others.

Arif, a child born to Pakistani parents, but lived in England and was considered a foreigner and bullied as a child.

Kim, a woman who lost her husband and infant child way too soon, had a lifelong desire show more to see those who murdered her family punished and killed for what they had done.

In a strange twist of fate, Kim saves Robert from a group of terrorists. Arif is recruited to become a terrorist.

As the story progresses, Kim and Robert join forces to thwart evil all over the world, and Arif is trained to be a terrorist. Even though he had met Robert and seen the good he can do, Arif was determined to kill those who had murdered his family.

Great mix of characters to have the story seen from very different angles and viewpoints, those working for the good of mankind, and those who are not. Nice flow, chapters are written to focus on one of the three main characters at a time. Keeps you turning pages to see what evil plot has been created and if it will come to fruition. show less