Twelve-Step Fandango (Paperback)

by Chris Haslam (Author) "Luisa was scratching mad, bouncing around the flaking kitchen like a tarnished pinball, lifting lids, sweeping stuff from shelves and scoping every surface for the..." (more)
Key Phrases: wing mirror, Bloody Mary, Dieter's Place, Sad Tony (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Haslam's perpetually stoned protagonist, Martin Brock, a throwback to the seventies, would give the venerable Hunter Thompson a run for his money in the staggering amount of pharmaceuticals he ingests on a daily basis. Englishman Martin is on a serious downward spiral, living in a ruined castle on the Spanish coast; dealing overpriced, stepped-on drugs to the tourists; being henpecked by a coke-addicted harridan; and consorting with an overly paranoid motley crew of expatriates. Droll and self-deprecating, Martin is all too aware of the rut he is in. Then an old friend appears and promptly dies, leaving Martin five kilos of cocaine so pure he gets brain freeze just looking at it. But the drugs bring in their wake a set of ruthless gangsters. Showing more ambition than he has in years, Martin refuses to tell them where he has stashed the coke, leading them on a merry chase through the foothills, wheezing all the way. A memorable debut novel full of high energy and dark wit. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
'As vivid and convincing as I've read. No-one can be trusted..the only certainty is betrayal' - CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE 'As vivid and convincing as I've read ... No one can be trusted. The only certainty is betrayal' Christopher Brookmyre --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (March 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060585390
• ISBN-13: 978-0060585396
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,363,012 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome, intelligent thriller, May 18, 2004

By	Douglas Cox "retired programmer" (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of the best books I've ever read, and I'm very jaded as far as good writing goes. Chris Haslam is an amazingly good writer if this is indeed his first novel. His use of the English language is a joy. He may go a little too far in his use of similies, but he is definitely a master of them. As for the plot, the pace, and the characterizations, they're also just about as good as I've ever encountered. I don't know who to compare him to, because he's written an intelligent thriller with a mix of excitement and literary skills I've never seen before. But the book IS about a drug dealer/user (cocaine) in the south of Spain who gets into some serious drug-related trouble, so it won't appeal to everyone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read, July 10, 2005

By	J. Miller "AJM" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While waiting for an airplane I happened open this book. It was a great read! Two thirds of the way through I was still waiting for the hero to appear, but couldn't put it down! This book will draw you in and also make you realize how bad drug addiction can be. This author must have done his or her share of drugs.

Nonetheless, if you want to get lost in a great story that you can't put down, read this book.

3.0 out of 5 stars clever title: should have used some of that on the plot., November 26, 2006

By	Terry Oreilly (San Mateo, Ca.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A druggies trip through Spain with a weak crime plot which is unconvincing even for the stoned. The writer has talent but not much of a plot. if he wants to find out how to write an addict's mystery story with conviction, i suggest Ken Bruen or Ian Rankin.
A cult book, probably because druggies don't write as well as alcoholics.