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The Man on the Street (Jimmy Mullen Newcastle Crime Thriller) Paperback – International Edition, August 17, 2021
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GRITTY, NEWCASTLE-SET CRIME FOR FANS OF IAN RANKIN AND ROBERT GALBRAITH.
WINNER OF THE CWA JOHN CREASEY DAGGER AND A THEAKSTON'S NEW BLOOD AUTHOR FOR 2020. SHORTLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTON'S OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD AND FOR THE SPECSAVERS DEBUT CRIME NOVEL AWARD.
'Fresh, original, authentic and gritty - should be an instant classic' LEE CHILD
'Intricate, expertly paced with a shocking conclusion ... Jimmy is a character you root for from page one ... Simply supberb' M. W. CRAVEN, author of THE PUPPET SHOW
It started with a splash. Jimmy, a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD, did his best to pretend he hadn't heard it - the sound of something heavy falling into the Tyne at the height of an argument between two men on the riverbank. Not his fight.
Then he sees the headline: GIRL IN MISSING DAD PLEA. The girl, Carrie, reminds him of someone he lost, and this makes his mind up: it's time to stop hiding from his past. But telling Carrie, what he heard - or thought he heard - turns out to be just the beginning of the story.
The police don't believe him, but Carrie is adamant that something awful has happened to her dad and Jimmy agrees to help her, putting himself at risk from enemies old and new.
But Jimmy has one big advantage: when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherQuercus Publishing
- Publication dateAugust 17, 2021
- Dimensions5 x 1 x 7.75 inches
- ISBN-101787478378
- ISBN-13978-1787478374
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Editorial Reviews
Review
What more do you want from a debut than a unique protagonist and a cracking plotline? A smart, thought-provoking crime read with bags of heart and humanity―Mari Hannah
The story races along at a cracking pace, lots of tension in the twists and turns, and Jimmy is hugely engaging and complex. It's a rare skill to develop a sympathetic character with such a chequered history for whom one so wants a happy ending. A deeply satisfying read―Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange
Intricate, expertly paced with a shocking conclusion. The dialogue is on-point, the narrative is flawless and Jimmy is a character you root for from page one. Believe me when I say this, Trevor Wood has a bright future in the world of crime fiction. Simply superb―M W Craven, author of The Puppet Show
I can safely say it will be huge . . . Flying through it. It's a brilliant read and I love Jimmy―Patricia Gibney
A superbly written trip through the shadows of my hometown with a unique protagonist as a tour guide―Robert Scragg
Superb and going to make serious waves. Love it―Rob Parker
Brings a fresh voice and a totally original perspective to the 'detective as outsider'. A homeless man, traumatised and violent, makes an unusual hero, but a hero with wit and courage who will win readers' hearts―Isabelle Grey
I've just finished The Man on the Street, and I hugely enjoyed it. Wood is the real thing. I recently read the last Rebus, and it absolutely stands up to that level. It's smart, witty, compassionate and real, and the dialogue is brilliant. It's a fine thriller with something to say - and it feels like a blast of fresh air in the genre―Stef Penney, author of The Tenderness of Wolves
Wood's vivid evocation of Newcastle takes us into the depths of the city, and through Jimmy - our unlikely investigator - delivers an unsparing examination of life on the streets―Val McDermid
Jimmy is an original and convincing character... Wood not only weaves an enjoyable crime novel, but also explores the real world plight of many ex-servicemen and women―Spectator
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Quercus Publishing (August 17, 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1787478378
- ISBN-13 : 978-1787478374
- Item Weight : 10.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 1 x 7.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,637,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #51,959 in Crime Thrillers (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Trevor Wood has lived in Newcastle for 30 years and considers himself an adopted Geordie, though he still can’t speak the language. He's a successful playwright who has also worked as a journalist and spin-doctor for the City Council. Prior to that he served in the Royal Navy for 16 years joining, presciently, as a Writer. Trevor holds an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from UEA. His first novel, The Man on the Street, won the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, the Crimefest Specsavers Best Crime Debut Award and was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. He is represented by Oli Munson at AM Heath. Trevor is a founder member of the Northern Crime Syndicate and a volunteer cook at the People's Kitchen in Newcastle, which feeds more than 200 members of the homeless community every day.
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The book itself is a quick read because the plot moves quickly... almost too quickly. The story jumps back and forth through time to introduce the main character, Jimmy, and his backstory. The back and forth is choppy throughout the book making the plot lines a tad too complex.
Jimmy looked over and saw Gadge staring at him, seemingly oblivious to the food he had dropped over his feet and the floor.
'F*** me,' Gadge said. 'You can't be here.'
'Why not?' Jimmy said.
'You're dead.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It started with a splash. Jimmy, a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD, did his best to pretend he hadn't heard it - the sound of something heavy falling into the Tyne at the height of an argument between two men on the riverbank. Not his fight.
Then he sees the headline: GIRL IN MISSING DAD PLEA. The girl, Carrie, reminds him of someone he lost, and this makes his mind up: it's time to stop hiding from his past. But telling Carrie, what he heard - or thought he heard - turns out to be just the beginning of the story.
The police don't believe him, but Carrie is adamant that something awful has happened to her dad and Jimmy agrees to help her, putting himself at risk from enemies old and new.
But Jimmy has one big advantage: when you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.
MY THOUGHTS: Everyone has a story, which is something we tend to forget. And the people we tend to dismiss most easily, the 'invisible' people, the homeless, often have the most interesting stories. This is certainly the case with Jimmy who, for many years, has lived by the mantra of 'not my fight', and 'keep your head down and stay out of sight.' Life hasn't exactly been fair to him. He has lost everything that was precious to him...his wife, his daughter, his self-respect.
All Carrie wants is her dad. He is missing, but no one is taking her seriously. But her plight strikes a chord with Jimmy who would love to be wanted by his daughter. And he thinks he saw something the night Carrie's dad went missing. But he's not entirely sure. It could have been a hallucination. But then, maybe not....
We hear so much about war vets winding up on the streets, homeless victims of the horrors they have lived through. Jimmy's plight has brought home to me the absolute reality and the terrible injustice of this problem.
Trevor Wood has created some very interesting characters. Not only Jimmy who suffers from PTSD, but Gadge, bordering on genius, and the young Deano, a child really, substance and drug abuser. But all people with good hearts. Their methods of getting to the truth may be somewhat unorthodox, but they make for an extremely good read. Even the skeptical policeman, Murphy, is an interesting character.
Compelling and complex, I really had no idea who was behind the disappearance of Carries dad, or why, until all was revealed. Highly recommended.
****
THE AUTHOR: I can find no information on this author, but I believe will be hearing more from him. Hopefully soon.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Man on the Street by Trevor Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
There's a batch of drugs, Spice, that is killing homeless youth and Jimmy is determined to find the distributors. He's befriended a young homeless man, Deano, who's had a terrible life and is looking for his brother and mother. He's high most of the time, the only way he can cope with life. Along with his friend Gudge, he tries to help Deano find his brother, as well as trying to find Ginger, a girl who is a stone cold psychopath and a distributor of Spice.
This is a nailbiter with many twists and turns which had me turning the pages well into the night. I really liked Jimmy who is driven and wants to do right after his many mistakes. I also loved Dog, his constant canine companion; hope he continues to be featured in upcoming books and finds many more comfy couches to sleep on!
Definitely recommended.
Top reviews from other countries

I must admit that I took to the character of Jimmy from the start. He is a homeless veteran with mental health problems. He served in the Falklands War and he went through some truly horrific experiences, which he has never truly come to terms with. Jimmy suffers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which I could certainly empathise with. No I am not a Falklands veteran but I suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder myself so I know how it impacts on daily life, how you can be tormented by flashbacks and nightmares and so on. Jimmy was married and he is a father but he has become estranged from both over the years. Jimmy might be homeless but he has a regimented sort of life and maintains standards as and when he can. Jimmy hears what he thinks is the sound of somebody having a disagreement with somebody else and the sound of somebody entering the River Tyne. Despite everything that has happened to him, Jimmy is still a decent human being and when he meets with the daughter of a missing man, he endeavours to do what he can to help her find her Dad. Does Jimmy manage to solve the mystery of what happened? Well for the answer to that question and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh. My. Word. I was simply blown away by how flipping fantastic 'The Man On The Street' is. In fact I had trouble believing that it was a debut novel as the story is so well thought out, so well described and the author's writing style seems to speak of a more experienced author. I hope that makes sense. I made the fatal mistake of picking this book up shortly before I went to bed. Well let's just say that my bedtime was severely delayed and I had a distinct 'lack-of-sleep' hangover the following morning. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would still be sat there reading over half a dozen chapters later. I tried to pace myself as to how much I read in one go so that I could prolong my enjoyment of the book but that attempt at rationing was soon thrown out of the window because I was enjoying the book so much that I literally could not stop reading. I seemed to race through the book and the page numbers flew past in a blur.
There were a few things I loved about 'The Man On The Street'. Firstly I loved the fact that the book is set in Newcastle and the wider North East region. Of course I am biased because that's where I live- I just think that it is so refreshing to read about an area with which you are familiar and know exactly where everything is. Secondly, I loved the character of Jimmy and I liked the way in which the author describes how Jimmy's mental health problems affect him on a daily basis and how mental health problems can be really debilitating. The PTSD is described warts and all and not sanitised. Thirdly, I loved the fact that the book took me on a bit of a nostalgia trip with the mention of a supermarket, which has long since disappeared from the high street but it was where we used to do our shopping when I was a kid *whispers* over 30 years ago.
'The Man On The Street' is superbly written. The author grabs your attention and takes you on one hell of an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride through the investigation of the disappearance of a man. The author uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt like I was pounding the streets with Jimmy and helping him with his investigation. This was one of those books that gripped me throughout the story and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In case you hadn't already guessed, I absolutely ADORED 'The Man On The Street' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I look forward to reading much more of Trevor's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Like a down and out Jackson Brodie, Jimmy can't resist a cry for help even though the slightest stress is likely to trigger his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He's every chance of making the situation more dangerous and landing himself in serious trouble.
Jimmy has bedded down for the night near the river when he hears an argument and then a splash. Based on his experience of past disasters, he tells himself to keep out, "not my fight", but when the photograph of a distraught young woman appears in the newspaper, begging for information about her missing father, he gets in touch. The young woman reminds him too much of the daughter he hasn't seen for years to ignore. But doing his civic duty and reporting what he witnessed is never going to be a quick in and out for Jimmy; he and the police have previous.
Interspersed with flashbacks of Jimmy's Falklands Campaign service in the Royal Navy and of the countless PTSD triggers he's endured in the years since, this is a fast-paced novel that is gritty - and stomach-turningly graphic in places - but populated by characters with real heart. As well as our hero Jimmy, we meet his trusty four-legged companion Dog and best pals the raging alcoholic, conspiracy-theory-loving, IT-savvy Gadge and daft young junkie Deano. The ladies too made their mark. Carrie, the young woman searching for her father, is far from a damsel in distress and acts with determination. We are also introduced to Aoife, the kindly library assistant, and Sandra, Jimmy's cynical and wise-cracking probation officer. And then there's the flirty Big Issue seller with her eye on Jimmy. I can't remember her name but no doubt I'll get to know it in book two which I hope isn't too far round the next Tyneside corner.

Initially reluctant to get involved, Jimmy’s conscience gets the better of him and in no time at all, he’s running for his life. As we come to learn though; Jimmy is no quitter. The banter between Jimmy and his mates is seamless and I suspect the author had a good chuckle coming up with some of the ripostes.
Throughout the book, Jimmy struggles with his PTSD. More and more crime fiction novels are covering PTSD now through their protagonists and this can only help to raise awareness and understanding of a condition that still fails to hit the headlines.
Showcasing Newcastle after the lights go out dovetails with the world that Jimmy and his mates inhabit. Although the homeless often feature in crime novels, they are rarely afforded such generous and gritty coverage.
I hope to see Jimmy back between the covers soon. He’s more than earned our attention and admiration.

Trevor Wood’s first novel after a successful career in other writing medium is a success and offers something quite different from most stuff out there. No less than Lee Child has praised the book and its easy to see why: imagine if Jack Reacher’s post military career hadn’t been a free wandering nomad wandering into crime around America but instead was a non-action man who had suffered PTSD and was living on the streets of Newcastle homeless, traumatised by memories of his past and not sure if the possible murder he witnesses is real or not. That is to say: this is a book centred on realism: at the same time an interesting crime story, but also a very relevant and non sensationalised account of the homeless problem and problems FOR the homeless in Britain today. The characters are well drawn, and the locations are described accurately and well- both benefitting from the author’s first hand experiences. It’s been optioned already by the makers of popular drama like Line of Duty and, if done properly, it could make for a gritty and compelling tv series.
While many series novels quickly become either ‘how do so many coincidences happen to one person’ or, yet another murder in that location, this suggests the start of a series that could see realistic changes for its main characters: whether for better or worse to be confirmed. Recommended.

Wow! I loved this book! It is a fast paced, well worked out gritty crime novel but it is so much more than that. The main character, Jimmy, is a homeless veteran grappling with PTSD and the story opens when he hears the splash of something - or rather someone - falling into the river. When he later discovers that a young woman is looking for her father, Jimmy goes to the police to report what he thought he saw. But nobody believes him.
But as I said there is so much more about this book than the unravelling of a very twisty crime. It's the story of Jimmy and the other characters living rough on the streets of Newcastle, written with compassion and empathy whilst at the same time never patronising nor sentimental. I had several 'pause for thought' moments as I followed Jimmy's journey.
What's more, I am delighted to see that there is a second book in the series, One Way Street, and I can't wait to read it. It is already waiting right at the top of my To Be Read pile. I can't wait for more of Jimmy's journey. This is one of my Best Reads of 2020.