This is one loud and aggressive book full of violence, drinking and rude words…it is also a book with as many layers as an onion. Written from the point of view of multiple characters, who unknowingly cross paths and split across different time lines, it is much easier to read than you’d expect. It is one of those books where you know the outcome at the beginning, the book’s focus is guiding the reader to that outcome and finding out who was responsible for what.

A large part of the book is focused on Ade and Colbeck and the violence that surrounds them, they think of themselves as musketeers, going out at night defending the weak from boozed up thugs. They have a set of rules which they think keeps them on the side of what’s right but as the violence starts to escalate they start to forget these rules and it’s not long before it all gets out of control and this life starts to affect their mental wellbeing. Another character who has the biggest voice in the book is Duncan, in love and out of his depth with Ade and Colbeck he has a major role to play here, I really enjoyed his parts such a good voice and I really got into him saying “obvo” and “like” all the time. Finally you have Shaun, with some clever writing he gets two voices, before and after the main event, an angry young lad for different reasons in each time line.

I don’t think you can read this book without considering Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, you have your Renton, the calming influence trying to get through life and caring for others and then you have a number of Begbies and it is them that makes this such an explosive book.

One thing that I was most impressed with was how it deals with the need of men to be strong and masculine, Ade gets it spot on with the trap Colbeck was stuck in, unable to express his feelings without looking weak in front of his mates and having to deal with depression on his own. It covers the idleness you are faced with when signing on each week and having no focus in your life, once stuck in that rut it is so difficult to get out of it again.

Brilliant book, even though it is just over 400 pages long it pulls you in and becomes a quick read. A very good debut, I am always impressed when a debut is this good it just means I can’t wait to see what Hollyman comes out with next. (Currently writing this review whilst listening to Jamie T’s album Trick, great soundtrack for this book)

Blog review: felcherman.wordpress.com/2021/01/31/lairies-by-steve-hollyman/