Hit and Run [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Cath Staincliffe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2006

Before the days of the National Health Service and modern psychiatry, common wisdom called for brain paste - a mash of the pituitary glands of cow - as a remedy for mental illness. Doctors have forgotten; the general public has forgotten; but Bartholomew Garrod, of East London's Garrod's Family Butchers has not forgotten, and he is using more than just animals to treat his brother . . . he is murdering people. When a body is found, ripped apart and torn, although the slashings appear random, Detective Inspector Alison Dexter recognizes that the marks are actually butchers' cuts of meats: the primal cuts. Meanwhile, in Cambridgeshire, a vicious bare-knuckle fight, results in a dead body, complete with bite wounds. Are the cases linked? As Alison Dexter investigates, she starts receiving threatening letters and body parts - human body parts. Time is running short and Dexter desperately needs to find the murderer . . . before he finds her.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'O'Connor writes with stylish, clipped prose and an assured pace' - Publishers Weekly 'Intelligent, well-written and with the can't-put-down quality that marks out a potential winner' Manchester Evening News --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Ed O'Connor worked in London and New York as a merchant banker after university but left to concentrate on his writing. He lives in Hertfordshire, England. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Soundings Ltd; Unabridged edition (October 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845593898
• ISBN-13: 978-1845593896
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling!, February 25, 2009

By 

Helen Simpson (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Primal Cut (Paperback)

Another brilliant page turner featuring DS Alison Dexter & DI John Underwood. The story begins with a flashback to the east end of London in 1995 where we discover the grim and disturbing Garrad brothers...'family butchers'. They featured in an earlier case of Dexter's and back in the present (2002) she finds something to suggest there is a link between one of the brothers and a body that has turned up on a railway track. Meanwhile, DI Bevan is trying to collect evidence of an illegal dog fighting ring who meet secretly on local farm premises.

Dexter's personal life moves up a notch as she meets someone she'd like to start a relationship with...but is unaware she's being watched!

This is good from start to finish, and the various storylines tie up well and plausibly. Looking forward to his next book.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars He wants his pound of flesh - Literally!!, February 26, 2008

By 

Sunnie Gill "Sunniefromoz" (Tasmania, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Primal Cut (Paperback)

PRIMAL CUT is violent.There are themes in the book that many probably couldn't stomach; dog fighting, and bare-knuckle fighting two name just two. It's a very dark world Alison Dexter inhabits.

The character of Bartholomew has shades of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber about him. Only Bartholomew is the Demon Master Butcher who enjoys butchering and cooking meat. In fact, you could say he is something of a gourmet.

Ed O'Connor's real strength is being able to ratchet up the tension. This is what kept me turning the pages. I found O'Connor's habit of referring to Alison Dexter by her surname a little disconcerting for some reason. Perhaps it is because I usually associate that with males.

Despite the suspense, I found some of the plot elements to be predictable. I can't say "enjoy" is a word I'd use to describe PRIMAL CUT, but if you do fancy a walk on the dark side then this book will well and truly satisfy that desire.