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The Damage cover art

The Damage

By: Howard Linskey
Narrated by: David Nellist
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Summary

David Blake is a worried man. He should be enjoying the high life now that he's Newcastle's 'Top Boy', the man who controls everything in the city. He lives in luxury, the money keeps on rolling in, and Blake is sharing his life with the girl that he loves. But, when one of his men takes two bullets in the back, Blake struggles to stay in control.

©2012 Howard Linskey (P)2013 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"A Tyneside Dashiell Hammett to put Martina Cole firmly in her place" ( The Times)
"A brutal, hard-hitting debut which opens up Newcastle’s dark, violent underbelly like a freshly-sharpened stiletto" (Simon Kernick on The Drop)
"Writing that leaps off the page in its lacerating forcefulness" ( Crime Time)

What listeners say about The Damage

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Geordie Godfather

A wonderful narration in the dialect good pace you are transported to the shady side with the inner conflict of gangsters trying to do it the right way

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great storyline

This is a very well written book interesting, technically accurate and full of some great characters personalities very well written. I enjoyed this audiobook version well read as well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Not your standard gangster fare

This is a well crafted book that I found captivating. It will not be everyone's cup of tea but good writing and plotting made this a very enjoyable listen.

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Gripping 2nd instalment

If you like a good unsophisticated war of not only words but plots and plans this is the one
After reading first one was hooked.
Good story believable plots etc
Brilliant narration too

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Superbly authentic Geordie gangland yarn

I read the first two in this series a couple of years back. They are particularly well written with some hugely nefarious characters all basically fighting for control of being top of the tree in various criminal organisations. Mainly Newcastle, Glasgow & Edinburgh. David, the main character whilst being a ruthless guy when needs me is intelligent and has a moral code.

It could've easily been hackneyed 'geezer' fare but it's not. Not, at all.

Whilst I enjoyed the first two I read I thought the last instalment was the best of the three. This was added to further by the brilliant narration of David Nellis.

I'm from Newcastle so could be accused of a natural bias, but if it was pony I would say so. We tend to speak our minds up here!

All, highly recommended.

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dreadful

What disappointed you about The Damage?

so much wrong with this story, from the constant switching between 1st and 3rd person to the confusing point-of-view changes, to the glaring mistake with the girl who he sleeps with yet doesn't recognise from their previous meeting...hmmm. The author has used themes from Snatch and Get Carter but hasn't managed to create believable characters and there is no real plot. I would not recommend this book to anyone, not even fellow Geordies like myself.

What could Howard Linskey have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

not written it

What three words best describe David Nellist’s voice?

proppa Geordie like

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

none

Any additional comments?

if you are looking for a gritty, seedy gangster tale set in geordieland, which is well written and interesting, then look elsewhere

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