King of the Ants [Paperback]

Charles Higson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2009

Sean is a drifter who is working as a building laborer and waiting for something to happen in his life.  When he is offered easy money to tail someone and even more easy money to dispose of him, the prospect of some adventure and fast cash is extremely tempting.  Sean doesn't even know the man, and there's no chance of being caught.  Soon, however, it becomes apparent that he is caught in an intricate plot, and there doesn’t seem to be any easy means of escape.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Funny, very tough and full of action' Patricia Highsmith 'A brave, abrasive, alarmingly realistic debut ' DAILY MAIL 'Uncoils with wit and imagination' TIME OUT

About the Author

Charlie Higson is a professional comic and the author of Happy Now and the Young Bond series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (February 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034912180X
• ISBN-13: 978-0349121802
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,009,243 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

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A story of brutality, revenge, and ultimately human affairs, November 7, 2004

By 

Takis Tz. (InYourHead) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King of the Ants (Paperback)

Actually, Charles Higson narrates a simple story. A seemingly ordinary person working mostly in construction sites, is given a bizzare opportunity to make some fast and good money. He's offered more than he'd make working in 2-3 months to follow an accountant for several days in his everyday life and report what he discovers to a shadowy figure who obviously has some even more shadowy scores to settle.

He does so, but as it so often happens in life the situation starts taking some weird twists unforeseen by him and by his instructors. This ordinary person sudenly finds himself becoming murderer and then a fugitive as the deals he's put together have not come through.

But lo and behold because all this happens in the first half of the book. From then the story takes a turn for the surreal and brutal as the protagonist of the book gets captured and goes through what can only be described as utter hell. You'll have a pretty difficult time forgetting the latter part of the book let alone even reading it if you happen to not be gifted with a strong stomach.

This is story written in excellent pace and with nicely distributed touches of humour, cynicism and brio by an author who obviously has tremendous potential. Charles Higson has no limitations about the stretches he gives his story and you're constantly in for new surprises as you progress in the story. In a new generation of authors who are bringing forth the uglier side of human nature in a society governed by the warped ethics of the money-god and the relentless effort of people to survive regardless of what this might involve. Great stuff.