Good gangster tail

Yeah I liked this kept ya guessing if you don’t try to hard but great characters likeable and dislike Abel well worth a listen

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Poor Story, Well Read

A story littered with gangster clichés, both in character and dialogue. Unrealistic, shorthand and borderline offensive descriptions of descents in to and ascents out of mental illness.

Simply nothing about this story rings true and its literary mediocrity is only highlighted more by the author's occasional attempt at literary flair.

The whole thing is saved somewhat by the brilliant narration of Paul Thornley. Had it not been for his excellent portrayal and fleshing out of the thinly sketched characters, and his excellent story telling abilities, I would not have persited beyond a few chapters with this book.

I need to listen to more of Mr. Thornley's work.

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Narrator best I’ve heard to date.

Paul Thornley has a gift for London accents, his ability to slightly differentiate each character made this listen a real joy ! Thank you !!!!

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superb

Great read definitely will read another by this author.
Excellent, superb etc etc etc

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It was free!

Over detailed and trivial pastiche of a gangland ‘boss’
Slow and poorly written but free!

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Excellent

A very absorbing story. An Interesting and unusual story. It was tempting to listen to the story in one sitting.

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1 person found this helpful

A good book made better by the narrator.

Didn’t think I would go to the end but stuck with it a hd pleased I did.

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Good story, excellent narration.

Thoroughly enjoyed the story, but it was the narration that made it for me. The characters were really brought to life by the excellent narration of Paul Thornley.

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An intriguing slice of British seaside noir

Scorpian Rising (2001) is a classic pared down gangster noir novel. If you enjoy Ted Lewis and Derek Raymond then you should like this too. I certainly did. Paul Thornley narrates it all perfectly.

I’m a big fan of books set in either London or seaside towns. Double bubble here given all the action takes place in London and on the Isle of Thanet (Margate and Ramsgate).

When London crime boss Sidney Blattner learns his innocent brother has been executed in Margate, he sets out to find out why he was killed. Is someone sending him a message? Various emissaries get killed so he sends down his main man Vince, and most of the novel is narrated from Vince’s point of view. When this move doesn’t go to plan Sid becomes ever more anxious and disconcerted.

So far so familiar, right? There are echoes of Get Carter and other novels, but what elevates this one is the storytelling, and the depiction of the crime milieu. Best of all, the Isle of Thanet is powerfully portrayed. The bleak and down at heel Kent coast making a wonderfully disconcerting backdrop for the unsettling storyline.

It may all be fairly predictable but, when it done this well, I’m all in. An intriguing slice of British seaside noir that is well worth a listen.

Anthony Frewin, in addition to having written three novels, was assistant film director to Stanley Kubrick for over 20 years. I will be listening to his other two novels ASAP. All three are currently included in your Audible membership.

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Bog standard

The narration is excellent, it’s just a bog standard gangster story clumsily written, it doesn’t seem to flow at times

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