Description
The Nobody Man by Steven Jenkins
“The Nobody Man is a fast-paced read that unfurls in a filmic way with a protagonist I felt sympathy for. I was fascinated by the clinical descriptions of injuries and the ominous sense of place developed in the novel. Brace yourself to read this – it is a novel fuelled by gang violence, vengeance, racism and drugs but this should be of no surprise to anyone who reads the blurb: it’s a novel that does what it says on the tin.” – Gail Aldwin, author of The String Games.
In the moment of truth, what would you do? What if your loved ones had been taken in a sudden act of senseless violence?
Britain’s inner cities in the 21st century are cursed by violence and lawlessness. The authorities have lost control. Social media worships wrong-doers and turns them into anarchistic modern-day heroes. Everyday people, trapped in inner city sink estates, are terrorised into not speaking out, not reporting crimes.
Hoodlums rule the roost.
When Dan’s family are taken from him by violence, he fights back.
Vigilante? Hero? Violent criminal? Which is he? Which would you become, in his place?
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Sylvia Bailey –
If the First chapter is anything to go by I can’t wait to read the rest, its a thrilling read and it certainly captures the imagination.
Sophie Lloyd-Owen –
Thank you for your kind words, Sylvia. The book is available on pre-order. This means we will ship your book a week before the official launch date!
Tia Jenkins –
From how my grandad described this book to me. Looks like I’ll get stuck in with it when I get it
Sophie Lloyd-Owen –
Excellent! I’m sure you will enjoy it, please let us know what you think once you’ve finished it, we’d love to hear!
Gary Pardy –
It dosent take long to be gripped by this book , i have read many books in my life but this one stands out with the best .
It’s well worth the time and money.
Gary Pardy –
The nobody man , There are some books you read and after a few paragraphs it fades. This book really is gripping I put it up there with the best .
What an absolutely fantastic read.
Alastair Pack (author of Legends of the Deft) –
“Serving in the armed forces was mostly about upholding peace and human rights, wasn’t it? So what was so different about what he was doing now?”
Dan is a paramedic with a military background. When his wife and dog are killed, he wastes no time in going after the drugged-up youths responsible.
This is a vigilante novel that doesn’t hold back. It speaks with an authentic voice, delving into the sordid existence of British lowlifes. It’s a gritty story with everyday reality at its heart. Moreover, it’s a real page-turner, and you’ll be rooting for Dan right through to the violent conclusion.
Neil Shiels –
I don’t normally read ‘vigilante’ stories. Invariably they are over-exaggerated, with the aggrieved hero morphing into some superhuman capable of defying the laws of physics and biology. Not for me really.
But having been lucky enough to read the prologue online I was immediately drawn into wanting to try the full book. And I’m just so pleased I got to do so. From the first sentence to the last this book had me absorbed and engaged; in fact, the only disappointment was that it came to the end way too soon!!
This is an excellent, skilfully written book. Every part of this almost dystopian story oozes knowledge and realism. The characters are believable and easy to visualise; the geography likewise. Where the writer expands into detail he does so in a relevant and almost instructional way, with the effect that you have no desire to skirt over what in so many other stories would be ‘padding’.
As a debut, this is remarkably good. The writing is strong and seemed to grow stronger as the story developed.
For me probably the most enjoyable read that I have had for a very long time. It cries out for a follow-up and I really can’t wait for it.
Clare Watkins –
The Nobody Man captures the reader’s attention from page one and makes it impossible not to carry on to the end to find out how the story plays out. I was wholly engaged with the protagonist and was eager to see how he would navigate the challenges he faced throughout the story. The author creates a mental picture through writing that is both descriptive and gritty, without being overly sensationalist. I have passed quickly through housing estates like the one featured in this book, but the author evokes a sense of what it must be like to live in this environment, day in, day out. The supporting characters are presented in such a way that you are challenged to feel a level of empathy that is surprising. An almost clinical portrayal of the violence gives the story believability and speaks to me of the protagonist’s frame of mind as he traverses a world he had left behind, drawing on his prior military training and skills meant for an entirely different life. The conclusion of this tale had me on the edge of my seat, trying to second guess the outcome. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
Chris –
Gritty, fast paced and sinister. If you turn to authors like Andy McNab, James Patterson or Lee Child for a compelling read, then you’re likely to enjoy The Nobody Man. Author Steven Jenkins weaves a fascinating story that kept me turning the pages into the early hours. This isn’t a book for the faint-hearted. There is strong language and violence from the outset. At times, I found myself questioning whether the protagonist was acting like a hero or a criminal. In the end, I decided that the Nobody Man is a little bit of both. See if you agree.
Anne Mayor –
I grew up in Coalpool and Pelsall and would like to buy the book, can I have it sent to Australia?
Steve Jenkins –
Hi Anne. I think that your book has now been posted. Thank you so much for buying it and I hope that you enjoy it.
Katina –
Just finished reading The Nobody Man and wow! What a story !
This book had me hooked from page one, right up to the end. If you want a book that you can’t put down, this is the one! Step into Dan’s shoes and ride a roller coaster of emotions.
Highly recommended!
Ben Coates –
What a book, so in depth and gripping. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. It must become a film, you actually picture it whilst reading the novel.
Steven Jenkins –
Thanks Ben. It would be great to see it as a gritty British movie wouldn’t it? If you know of any promoters who might like to push it towards a small movie company, please let me know! Thanks for the kind review.
Lee Carter –
Wow. A real page turner and a great read. I’m not a prolific reader often taking an age to get through a book. I am however a fan of James Sallis and have read all of his Lew Griffin series and Nobody Man is at least on a par with those in terms of its ability to grip you and leaving you not wanting to put the book down until you’ve read the next chapter. Great stuff.
Paul Mobberley (verified owner) –
Saw this book advertised in a local newspaper before Christmas and thought it sounded good. It’s taken lockdown for me to start working through my ‘to read’ pile and have just spent two most enjoyable afternoons reading this from start to finish. A brilliant read – very realistic, I could really relate to all the characters and situations in there and as I know the area it was set in this added even more (and to be fair was one of the main reasons I bought it) but as it turned out you need no knowledge of Walsall to enjoy. Thanks Steven a great book.
Steven Jenkins –
Thanks Paul, I’m really thrilled that you enjoyed it. It’s always good to hear that someone from Walsall has read it and enjoyed it, although as you rightly point out, it’s not necessary to know the town. Thanks so much for taking the time to write a review. Check @thenobodymanSJ Facebook page for some further reading about the characters and info about the sequel
Innes Jameson –
Excitement built thought the story as it was more of a will he do it? Or a who will do it? Than a who done it? The vast medical knowledge adds to the sometimes graphic detail that is crucial in bringing this story alive, added to the carefully described description of the environment. The contrast between the past and present life of the main character worked well – being Shropshire born and bred it is always great to find it as a setting. I found myself becoming attached to the fate of a minor character and enjoyed the way he was subtly developed throughout the story. This was a thrilling read, I look forward to more by this author.
Hamish Armytage –
If you’ve ever seen or heard about something so unjust that it made you imagine what you’d do if you could take the law into your own hands and mete out the retribution you thought was deserved, then this book will connect with you. The shocking opening scene is not bedtime reading unless you like nightmares and it may make you wonder if you could have chosen something less brutal. It is a book which takes no prisoners. Nevertheless, you will come to understand why Dan, the central character, a decent well-meaning man of great courage, has morphed into the merciless retribution machine that the author describes.
They say that all first novels are autobiographical! The first responder detail is, at the same time, gruesome and fascinating, and given the author’s background, I assume it is accurate. In fact I would have liked to have had more, but I suspect Steve Jenkins might not have wanted to pour too much of his own expertise onto the page – I think he should have done because it is both compelling and informative. There is an outstanding military scene in the book – one of the most touching I have ever read, but I won’t spoil it by giving anything away – suffice to say that the author served in the British Army. A fast-moving and enjoyable, if rather disturbing read!