Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

It took me a little while to get into this book but once I did, I really enjoyed it and was very intrigued to see how it unfolded.

Sorry I took so long to read this and I wish I had read it sooner. A great debut novel, good characters, well written and a new author for me to read more from

A gripping crime thriller debut. Homeless Falklands veteran Jimmy Mullen suffers with PTSD and often has vivid nightmares. One night, whilst sleeping rough Jimmy thinks he may have witnessed a fatal attack but can he believe what he saw. With a motley crew of questionable characters and full of Geordie humour, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

Had this title to read for a while, based on the promotional information. I have worked with this client group - the street homeless for some 20 years. Then this book was chosen by "Books + Beer" the monthly subscription service combining my love of crime fiction with an interest in craft ale.
The Man on the Street is a perfect title for this debut novel by Trevor Wood. - It is pleasing to see that a second in this series is due out at the end of October 2020.
Jimmy Mullen is a rough sleeper on the unforgiving streets of Newcastle; he is no a stereo-typical homeless man, but the author reveals, from well-reasoned and researched background work, that he is treated as such by others in this story. His distrust of the police and authority in general is well detailed; as his personal story is revealed this antipathy for the legal system is better understood. This is sadly the experience of those who sleep rough; rely of night shelters and voluntary groups offering support and understanding.
For the general population, busy about their lives, the homeless are invisible people; Jimmy relies on this and the story revolves around his observation of a possible crime and being drawn into a wider conspiracy. In speaking up he sets himself up as a witness and revealing his identity to those seeking him to avenge his more violent past.
As stated, Jimmy is a well-drawn character, full of contractions and a past that threatens to catch up with him. A Falklands veteran his mental health is shot, and PTSD has led to his previous relationship breakdown and time spent in prison. He would rather sleep outside than within a hostel as his sleep is accompanied with flashbacks and nightmares.
I was so pleased to see he had two mates within the homeless community as faithful as they could be given their own issues. It is the best book I have read that captures this world of drop-in centres, big issue sellers and the homeless underclass.
Jimmy has the potential to be a hero but isn't written in this way. Yet the book does show that he must protect himself, delve further into the confrontation and assault he observed. This journey into investigation is not always a success, he is more vigilante than grey cells. While he has a few helpers along the way he recognises he is slow to join the dots and while others call him Sherlock Homeless, he is frustrated by his lack of progress.
There is a tension throughout the piece and the author has great skill in developing the story while revealing Jimmy's more troubled past - quickly catching up with him.
I cannot recommend the book enough; a times I felt more like hunkering down in a sleeping bag drinking strong lager or cheap cider. But then I realised I was enjoying the book and my beer to hand. The uncredited star of the book is Dog; what's the name of your dog mister? - "Dog". I also like the theme of his breakdown, not only filling his dreams but to spreading out of control in all his daily encounters making his PTSD immediate and a living nightmare.

This is a crime novel set in Newcastle. The main character is a war veteran who is suffering from PTSD.

This book is gripping and a complete page turner.
A highly recommended book

Firstly my apologies to the publisher and author for getting to this so late. I have MS and my illness has put me very behind with my reading and reviewing, I will add this to Goodreads and Amazon so there is some benefit to the feedback.

I really enjoyed being introduced to this character for the first time and it was a refreshingly different take to the usual crime fiction I read. Jimmy is used to pretending he hasn’t heard anything, staying low and not getting involved. As a Falklands veteran he has struggled with PTSD, but hasn’t had support, so it has had a negative impact on his life. His nightmares and flashbacks have contributed to the breakdown of his marriage, and the loss of a relationship with his daughter. There are time shifts to the past so we can experience and understand what has happened to bring Jimmy to this place in his life. Living on the streets is dangerous and Jimmy has two friends, Gadge and Deano, who he trusts but they do have problems with substance abuse.

When Jimmy hears two men having an argument in the middle of the night, he isn’t sure whether it’s one of his dreams, When he hears a splash he knows he’s awake but keeps his head down, not wanting to get involved. Then he hears an appeal from a young girl looking for her father, he is reminded of his own daughter and decides to help, Jimmy isn’t sure, but it could have been connected to what he’s heard, so he contacts Carrie Carpenter and she convinces him to go make a statement to the police. They’re vey dismissive, because the splash could have been anything and they don’t seem to think a homeless plan makes a trustworthy witness. However, this problem of appearances is what makes him able to investigate; people will always underestimate and dismiss him, and he has absolutely nothing to lose.

This is a great, gripping, read that’s really gritty and realistic in its portrayal of being a veteran and of someone struggling with PTSD. My partner has PTSD and is ex military, so I passed the book to him and he really enjoyed it too. In these times when so many people have become homeless I really appreciated a proper depiction of how brutal life can be. It’s not just being ignored, sometimes it’s worse when people do notice you, whether it’s drunks wanting a fight or in Jimmy’s case, the local press getting hold of his story. Fed up with the police response, Carrie turns to the press and discloses Jimmy’s information. As his past is raked over by everyone, he has to face some of his demons, Carrie is going through the same thing raking through her father Roger’s past to find out what happened to him.

I liked the portrayal of all those obstacles a veteran faces when he leaves the forces and I felt that Jimmy’s spirit returns as he takes on Carrie’s fight, using his skills, dogged determination and focus. I would be very interested in reading more about Jimmy and see him taking on other cases. A good, gritty, Northern crime novel that brings up many current social and political issues.

To begin the review, let me just say that I loved this book. Trevor Wood's gritty Newcastle-Upon-Tyne crime fiction has an unusual protagonist. Jimmy Mullen, a Falklands veteran, now homeless and suffering from PTSD, for which he has refused to seek help. He lost his wife and daughter as a result of the PTSD. All he has are his two friends Gadge and Deano. Jimmy himself does not drink, he has nightmares, hallucinations, and flashbacks to what happened in the war. The book jumps from the past to the present often giving us quite a detailed backstory of Jimmy. Even though he keeps on saying 'It's not my fight' he gets involved and quite deep into the search for a missing person. Overall a brilliant story and wonderfully written. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller. And a big thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving me this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I did not get a chance to read this book. Befor it was archived very disappointed as I wanted to read this book

If you like gritty crime fiction, in the vein of Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride and Ian Rankin, then you will love this Newcastle-set debut by Trevor Wood.

Jimmy Mullen is a veteran of the Falkland's War suffering with untreated PTSD and is homeless. His time in the war saw him see some of the most terrible atrocities that have haunted him ever since. Now he drinks to escape, unable to cope with his life at home, but in reality it has become a life sentence. His wife could no longer cope with his moods, concerned for her own safety and that of their little daughter. His escalating erratic behaviour saw him land in prison.

Now he's on parole and hoping to sort his life out. But life on the streets in is tough, and while suffering PTSD he is still in denial. He hooks up with some other homeless lads and together they become their own dysfunctional family of sorts, looking out for each other.

Then late one night Jimmy witnesses something untoward - raised voices in argument, followed by a splash and then silence. Not wanting to draw attention to himself being on parole, Jimmy resolves to let it go - it's not his fight. But in the weeks following, he sees an appeal for a missing person...and his conscience intervenes. But Jimmy doesn't want to get involved; it isn't his fight. But the missing man's daughter, Carrie, needs the truth. And so Jimmy steps up and resolves to stop hiding from his past in order to help Carrie. While police fail to take the word of a "vagrant", Jimmy puts himself at risk and soon finds himself swept away by dangerous events. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?

Narrated in the past and present, THE MAN ON THE STREET is a crime novel with a difference. It's about a crime but it is also about Jimmy and his daily struggle with PTSD, a debilitating condition resulting in nightmares, flashbacks, erratic behaviour, uncontrollable rages and more.

While somewhat implausible to think that a homeless veteran suffering severe untreated PTSD could investigate the disappearance of someone he may or may not have witnessed fall into the Tyne late one night, THE MAN ON THE STREET is a gritty addictive read none-the-less.

I would like to thank #TrevorWood, #NetGalley and #Quercus for an ARC of #TheManOnTheStreet in exchange for an honest review.

Jimmy sleeps rough in Newcastle, just him and his dog, Dog. One night he wakes from a nightmare to witness what he thinks is a man being attacked and thrown into the river, but is he just dreaming. This haunts him like all his other demons but this is something he can do something about. Jimmy wants to atone for his past but his past is also catching up with him.
I didn't click with this book at first, I found it slow and not very gripping. However towards the middle it really picked up pace and I even feel as though I can forgive a rather contrived plot ending. Wood definitely knows Newcastle and its people, there is a love of the city pervading through.

A thriller set in and around Newcastle,featuring a crew of homeless people who solve the mystery of a missing father. Lots of twists and turns. Interesting characters.

EXCERPT: As soon as he hobbled in, he knew there was something off. A strange look from a young bedraggled girl as she glanced up from her phone; a couple of others going quiet as he shuffled past them in the entrance hall. When he walked into the dining room everything went quieter still until someone in the queue dropped a tray on the floor and the loud clatter broke the silence.

Jimmy looked over and saw Gadge staring at him, seemingly oblivious to the food he had dropped over his feet and the floor.

'Fuck 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 a damned 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.

#TheManOnTheStreet #NetGalley

😍😍😍😍

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.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

Absolutely gripping first novel that had me hooked from the first chapter until the last. Don’t remember the last time I read an entire book in less than a day.

Set in Newcastle, a homeless man overheard an argument one night, then a splash. Has a crime been committed or has he imagined it? Will anyone believe him and what will the cost be of coming forward, This story takes many twists and turns as various deceits and hidden truths are uncovered. Trevor Wood has done an excellent job of not only giving us a fantastic crime thriller but also some lovely characters. I really hope we will get to meet Jimmy, Deano and Gadge again!

This is an excellent debut novel from Trevor Wood, perfect for fans of gritty thrillers. Set in Newcastle and featuring the central character of Jimmy Mullen, a veteran of the Falklands conflict. Jimmy suffers from PTSD and his wife divorced him, taking his daughter away from him. While sleeping rough, Jimmy witnesses a murder but the police refuse to believe him. This book is fast paced with a good plot, plenty twists and excellent characterisation. I would recommend it to lovers of the genre.Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Jimmy Mullen learnt the hard way to keep himself to himself and not interfere with things that didn't concern him. The last time war veteran Jimmy went to the aid of someone in trouble it ended in his PTSD taking over and a man being killed by him. A sentence in prison cost him his marriage and seeing his daughter grow up. Now Jimmy lives on the Newcastle streets, tucked out of the way of gangs that make a game of beating up the homeless in the city. His friends consist of people that have given up on themselves, finding oblivion in drink and drugs.
When he hears two men arguing on the riverbank of the Tyne, then a splash he pushes it to the back of his mind until he sees a young woman's plea, making headline news, asking for help from anyone who knows what could have happened to her father. He feels compelled to get in touch with her, but who will take notice of a vagrant with a murder conviction?
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel and loved the fresh approach that this author brought to his story. The hero of the story is Jimmy a war victim that lost the life he had and is unable to cope with society and a society that is happy for him to hideaway. When no-one believes what he saw and heard it gives him a new focus to find out who the other mysterious man was. I found his character heartbreaking to read at times, frustrating at how he was treated and so bloody frightening for him at how lost he seemed. Was Jimmy a ticking time bomb that could still have flashbacks?
This is a really powerful story with no holds barred about the growing numbers of homeless on the streets and the dangers that they constantly live in. A truly engaging read from so many directions. Quite excited to see what will come next from this author. Highly recommended.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

My Rating 3.5*

The Man on the Street is the debut novel from Trevor Wood. Just published in digital and audio format on Oct 31st with Quercus Books it is described as ‘the most gripping crime debut of 2019, introducing the most unforgettable investigator of the year'.

Jimmy is a veteran of the Falkland’s war, a man who has witnessed some terrible atrocities and has been incapable of returning to the life he once had. It’s now 2012, and Jimmy’s life is shattered. Not able to cope with his daily life back home, his drinking became his escape but in reality it became a life sentence. His wife refused to put up with his moods any longer. She was concerned for her own safety and for that of their little baby girl, Kate. Jimmy’s erratic behaviour escalated, with an eventual prison sentence awarded. Now on parole, Jimmy is back on the streets, hoping to sort his life out. But Jimmy is in denial. Jimmy suffers from PTSD, a condition known to have serious debilitating effects on individuals and their families. But Jimmy now flies solo and wants no assistance from any quarter. He links up with a few other homeless lads and they create their own dysfunctional family.

One late evening Jimmy hears two men having an argument near where he has chosen to sleep for the night. Jimmy can no longer sleep in the company of others as he has horrifying nightmares, sweats and resurfacing memories. On this particular night he hears two raised voices, a splash and silence. In the moment, Jimmy makes the decision to let it go, this is not his fight. His parole is very tentative and Jimmy does not want to draw any attention on himself. Returning to prison is just not an option for him.

In the weeks that follow Jimmy attempts to put the events of that night behind him but when he sees an appeal for a missing person, his conscience intervenes and Jimmy makes a life-changing decision. Carrie, the daughter of the man that is missing, believes that her father is in trouble. Unfortunately, he has a less-than-perfect reputation, so Carrie is finding it extremely difficult to get the police to take her seriously. Jimmy steps forward and events take a rather sinister turn.

Jimmy is a fighter, in every sense. He will always stand up for the underdog but over the years this has got him into some serious trouble. Now Jimmy finds himself in trouble again. His life is in danger but Jimmy faces down this new foe, discovering more about himself along the way. There are many dirty characters in this story. From dodgy property developers to jealous partners, from the halls of the university to the corridors of the police station, there really is something rotten in this tale. Unwittingly Jimmy and Carrie have walked into a quagmire, one that will require all their wit to survive. Carrie is a determined and sassy individual. She sees beyond Jimmy’s homelessness and gets a glimpse of the man beneath. He is her only hope to help her discover the truth behind her father’s disappearance and as a team they make a very formidable duo.

The Man on the Street provides a good introduction to this new hero, this man who has no fear, this man who has nothing to lose. The start of a new series I expect!!! Think Jack Reacher in Newcastle…….

Although a crime novel, The Man on the Street raises the very important issue of our veterans and how society treats them on their return home. Many have suffered terrible traumas, their lives now destroyed and their future dark, either through physical or mental injury. Many are thrown to the scrap heap, discarded now that we no longer need their protection.

Obviously a subject very close to the author’s heart, the message in this book is very clear….WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

A solid debut, I am intrigued to see where Trevor Wood takes Jimmy next.

I really enjoyed this wonderful debut novel with it's clever and well paced plot. It's real and gritty and highlights how PTSD can cause a good man's life to spiral out of control.

Jimmy is a naval veteran of the Falkland's war who saw many of his crew mates including his best mate killed when their ship was bombed. He has nightmares and loud noises can startle him, especially in confined spaces. Struggling with his PTSD after the war, he gets involved in a fight trying to stop a man from attacking a woman. As a result of using too much force he received a prison sentence, which then to the collapse of his marriage, loss of his home and access to his young daughter. Failing to find a job once he was paroled, he ended up living on the streets of Newcastle with a homeless dog as a companion, resolving not to get involved in any more fights that were not his business.

One night while sleeping rough in a concealed spot near the river Tyne, Jimmy woke to see two men next to the river having an argument, followed by a loud thud, a dragging sound and a loud splash. When he got up he saw only one man walking away so rushed over to look in the river but could not see anything in the water. Although he tried to forget the incident, he feels he has to come forward when he sees a poster asking for information of a missing man, who looks like the man Jimmy saw that night.

Trevor Wood has created some wonderfully original characters in this well written thriller. Jimmy is totally believable as an essentially honest man who through his PTSD triggering uncontrolled anger has unintentionally killed. His street friends Deano and Gadge provide humour and sadness to the plight of their homelessness and their loyalty to one another. Carrie, the young woman who is looking for her missing father is brave and feisty and relentless in her search for her father, and able to see and trust the honest man beneath Jimmy's shabby clothing. The sounds and sights of Newcastle and the lonely haunts of it's homeless people feel authentic, with the difficulty of life on the street, particularly uncalled for brutality, all too real. Highly recommended!

Jimmy Mullen had served in the Falklands War where he’d eventually been medically discharged. He suffered from PTSD but was unaware of it – he was “fine” according to Jimmy. Now homeless, all he needed was his faithful dog named Dog by his side, friends Gadge and Deano, and he would manage the rest. But the night he heard the argument and the following splash, he grappled with his conscience, concluding it “wasn’t his fight”.

Meeting up with Carrie after Jimmy had seen an article in the paper, he tried to explain what he’d seen and heard that night. She convinced Jimmy to go to the police with the story, but they were sceptical – looking at who Jimmy was, their minds were made up. But Jimmy was determined to help Carrie find her missing dad, not realizing he was putting himself in grave danger from both past and current enemies. As Carrie and Jimmy came closer to the truth, there were people determined that truth wouldn’t come out. What would happen to the war veteran and the young woman he was trying to help?

The Man on the Street is the debut novel of British author Trevor Wood, and it’s a gritty and fast-paced crime thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. Twists and turns throughout, red herrings, an excellent plot and great characters makes The Man on the Street one I highly recommend.

With thanks to Quercus Books UK via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I hope this is the start of a new series because I loved Jimmy and would be more than happy to read about him again.
This is an amazing debut, well written and gripping.
The well crafted plot keeps you hooked and guessing till the end, the cast of characters is realistic and interesting, the setting unusual and interesting.
I found this book excellent and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.