Full Whack [Paperback]

Charles Higson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Piercing wit and accelerated action in finely paced style.' TIME OUT 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Bret Easton Ellis.' VOX 'Lively narration, a superabundance of action...gruesome and hilarious.' EVENING STANDARD 'Higson has the kind of ear for middle-England angst that more established writers should be jealous of.' GQ

About the Author

Charles Higson is a writer, performer and prodcuer on the BBC hit comedy The Fast Show. He has also worked as a writer for Harry Enfield and producer for Reeves and Mortimer and sang in a band, The Higsons, in the early 80s. This is his fourth novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0349108110
• ISBN-13: 978-0349108117
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,821,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charlie Higson is an acclaimed comedy writer, producer, actor, and genuine James Bond aficionado. He is the author of the adult thrillers, Full Whack and King of the Ants; the internationally best-selling Young Bond series: SilverFin, Blood Fever, Double or Die, Hurricane Gold, and By Royal Command; and the YA apocalyptic thriller: The Enemy, which he wrote to frighten his ten-year-old son. He lives in London. Follow him on Twitter at: twitter.com/monstroso

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smart Brit, keen wit, take a hit, December 26, 2002

By 

LGwriter "SharpWitGuy" (Astoria, N.Y. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Whack (Hardcover)

This is a crime novel by a British guy who's also a stand up comic and a musician. No, none of that detective stuff, but like all good modern noir fiction, crime based on the man in the street. Dennis Pike, 34 and already going gray, is called on by two of his former cronies in crime, the Bishop brothers, for a new heist--of their former gangmate who's now made it big. Dennis is not too keen on this--as they say--'cause now he's gone straight. But a mysterious disappearance of his bank account forces him to go along with the plan.

The three of them do not count on Terry Nugent, resident nutjob who's about as violent as they come, gumming up the works. There's also Marti, Dennis' former girlfriend who's taken up with Patterson, another former gangmate, and Herman the German, the computer whiz. And of course the amazingly disgusting Mr. Bishop, father to the two brothers.

The slang comes fast and furious here but even for those of us Yanks who're not familiar with it, the context is there to help us out. The writing here is sharp and the story is a good one. This is a well done crime novel for those of you who like noir fiction with bite and flavor (or flavour, as they would say across the pond).

Recommended.