Absolutely bloody brilliant! 10 stars if I could,
So well written and I can’t recommend highly enough, I need more by this author now - why did I take so long to read?

Dear god if I could give it ten stars I would!

What a seriously good book this was, such a dark tale and not one for the faint hearted. Shows you all sides of the drugs industry, addicts and drugs world, & the life they live; and I felt so much for the main character, such a thought provoking book it had me questioning and thinking about her even after the book was over, dark and twisted and just bloody brilliant, I wish there was more like this out there, i adored it....could read it time and time again!

One of my favourite books of all time!

Exciting and heartbreaking. The characters try to get out of the mess they are in but can never quite make it.
Recommended read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

A first person narrative, a narrator with no name, but a voice that was loud and powerful, Brandi gave us a young girl, tough, drug addicted and living on the streets. Her only friend appeared to be fellow addict, Anton and her beloved dog Sunny.

Their chance meeting with Anton’s old friend Steve acted as a catalyst for events that led Brandi to write a story that was unflinching and realistic. At times you wanted to hide behind your hand as you waited with baited breath to see what would happen next.

You knew Steve was not someone they could trust, the smell in the flat, the road he appeared to be taking Antonio on all spelled danger, yet she had unwavering loyalty, despite the promise of the next drug hit.

And that was what Brandi did so well, the portrayal of the addict, the need to feed the addiction, as common sense, safety and well-being were thrown out of the window. The beginnings of withdrawal, the sheer utter bliss as the drug coursed through her veins left you in no doubt of the power it held over her. When events spiralled out of control, you wanted her to find that inner resolve to fight her way out, to be the person you knew she could be.

Brandi’s narrative was punchy, almost abrupt in places, as it perfectly mirrored the harsh and brutal nature of his narrators life. A life on the streets where danger lurked, but also where friendships were made, where the fellow homeless looked after one another. It gave the novel balance, that prevented it from slipping into the stereotypical, that showed life on the streets may be tough but for some it’s where they want to be, where they are happy.

The Rip was one of those novels that doesn’t come along very often, it’s unflinching betrayal of a life we would never want for ourselves was superb. For all it’s darkness, it had light and hopefulness, a character that liked and admired, an author that proved once again how talented they were.

After delivering an exquisite countryside story with his first novel, Mark Brandi takes us into the dingy parts of the inner city with THE RIP. A short but powerful novel where the narrator is scratching out survival on the streets. Brandi lures readers in with a deceptively simple storyline and lovely writing with a light touch, even as we witness harrowing lives and events. An unflinching look at those who often go unseen.

Dani is a young woman who struggles to survive in the streets of Melbourne, Australia. She meets Anton, a fellow homeless addict who she builds a safe brother-sister relationship with, and who helps her look after her dog, Sunny.

That’s until Steve, a friend of Anton’s, comes along, armed with a flat they can sleep in.

But the flat smells weird, and that smell comes from Steve’s room. Steve’s room is locked, and his flatmate Mary is nowhere to be found.

Not for the faint-hearted, this book is incredibly intense and gripping. I read it in one sittings as I kept wanting to know what would happen next.

The story is told from the point of view of Dani, a homeless addict who speaks of the lengths she must take to survive on the streets and fight her demons.

This is told in a very matter-of-fact fashion, which is refreshing, and her character is well rounded; you learn about her past and how she became the person she is -you will find yourself rooting for her.

Full of twists and very dark themes, The Rip A Cracking Head by Val McDermid will stay with you for a long time.

Disclosure: I would like to thank Legend Press for a copy of The Rip by Mark Brandi. This is my honest review.

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A fascinating and quick read, ‘The Rip’ by
Mark Brandi tells the story of a young drug addict and her life on the streets in a nameless Australian town. We eventually learn the young woman’s name, Dani, at the end of the story after she tells us about a particular timeframe when her life was turned upside down by the arrival of an individual named Steve. Dani survives on the streets with her dog, and a friend called Anton. It is through Anton that this new character arrives on their lives and from a initial positive start, the situation quickly changes.
The story is fast-paced and a gritty account of life as a homeless person and drug addict. Brandi does not shy away from the dangers faced by Dani on a daily basis. And the steps that she takes, not just to stay alive but also to fund her habit. Nor does he attempt to glamorise the world of drugs in any way – thankfully. As Dani’s sense of fear grows throughout the novel, so does the fear of the reader – we have come to sympathise with the protagonist and are concerned for her welfare. While, I found this a quick story to read through at around 260 pages, it is certainly one that will stay in my mind for some time to come.
Thank you to Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this novel.

Gritty but absolutely compelling.
Written as a first person narrative about a teenage drug addict, her friend Anton and her dog Sunny. Although I have no first hand knowledge of any of the experiences described, the main character, whose name isn't revealed until the end of the novel, has a voice which appears authentic and self aware.
I'd give it three and a half stars rounded down to three.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free download of this book.

The RIP by Marc Brandi.
A young woman, living on the street has to keep her wits about her. Or her friends. But when the drugs kick in that can be hard.
Anton has been looking out for her. She was safe with him. But then Steve came along.
He had something over Anton. Must have. But he had a flat they could crash in. And gear in his pocket. And she can't stop thinking about it. A good hit makes everything all right.
But the flat smells weird.
There's a lock on Steve's bedroom door.
And the guy is intense.
The problem is, sometimes you just don't know you are in too deep, until you are drowning.
An ok read. The story was slow. I read it but I couldn't get into it. 3*.

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and Netgalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for a unbiased review of these works.

Review will be on my blog as part of the #BlogTour

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This was a hard hitting, character driven, intense journey around homelessness and drugs.

what will an addict do for that next hit? and how quickly until you are pulled so deep you are out of control?


The title of this book works so well The Rip, meaning the rip tide when swimmers get caught they can be deadly the authors comparisons to addiction were inspired.


No one takes drugs for the first time thinking they will become an addict but when it has you your caught already falling, your far from the shore, you drowning and out of control.

This story was beautifully done, It flawlessly covered sensitive issues around drug use and prostitution, to desperateness, violence and families falling apart.


Short and simply written but gritty and ultimately raw in its tone we are taken on this journey with a young female homeless drug addict, a character so wonderfully narrated and crafted that you are taken with her and her life without even till the end knowing her name.


Incredibly sad and heartbreaking yet powerful and masterfully crafted story, this is a read not to miss out on.

An eye opening read about homelessness and drug addiction. This is a raw account of what life is like. I would have liked some more depth to the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

3.5☆ An Intense, Poignant and Gritty Read!

The Rip is an intense, poignant and gritty
account of a young girl called Dani who is homeless with her adorable Fur Baby Sunny. She quickly Befriends Anton who looks out for her and becomes like family to her.

But everything is about to change now Steve has rocked his way into the picture!
Steve is an acquaintance of Anton and he is a nasty bit of goods!
He gets Dani and Anton deeper into drugs meaning more begging and burglary to pay for the drugs and food.

But all is not what it seems with Steve and he's dangerous, but can Dani and Anton get out before something bad happens, or are they in to deep!

This book is not for the feint hearted, it features heavy drug use, reference to prostitution but it's a harsh reality into what it's like surviving on the streets.

I really enjoyed the story and the gritty and intense themes, however the ending I felt was rushed. After everything Dani endures I wanted to see the ending play out a bit better. Don't get me wrong it was a fitting ending but I felt it ended abruptly.

The Rip is a quick read, it's pacy, at times intense, but I really liked the characters especially Sunny who actually melted my heart, and thank you for not going into detail about his story ending. It was a stark reality into what drugs can do to you and the lengths you can go to get the next hit.
I really liked that the story was told from Dani's point of view, she had an air of innocence about her, a trusting nature which made me champion her even more to get well.
People find themselves living homeless for so many reasons and this book delves into some of them.
The Rip is a book that will have you Gripped to the end.

Thank you to Legend Press for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Brandi portrays the desperation and vulnerability inherent in addiction with an honest clarity. I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. I admire Mark Brandi's writing and choice of subject matter and hope to read his other work soon.

I downloaded this book from NetGalley and read it in a day. I had no expectations of it but it drew me in and kept me there.

I totally agree with the praise for it in the description above

It’s a breathtaking read. I haven’t heard of the author before.

Absolutely gobsmacking read and will be one of my favourites for this year.

Basically, it’s about a couple who have chosen to live a homeless life. Theirs is not a life to aspire to but it’s their own choice. They’re not partners in any respect but they choose to live their lives together on the streets of Melbourne. Their ‘home’ is actually in a park where they both feel a certain amount of safety in familiarity and have friends around them. Both are drug users. One a heroin addict. One is addicted to other types of addictive medication. Both have difficult pasts. They get on really well and have adopted a dog inherited from a previous, now deceased, park resident. They both rely on each other and co-exist in their own way

They survive how they can, helped along by The Salvation Army and other homeless support groups and a friendly police officer.

It all changes one day when they encounter a character from Anton’s past

No more spoilers.

Well worth a read. This author deserves more recognition – if he wants it that is.

I can see this being a film, TV series and bestseller.

One day…maybe

spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars

An interesting read about a homeless woman on the streets of Australia... living in the park and doing drugs every few days.
Then, meeting with someone,and the story takes a darker turn.
I won't say Brandi glamourises drug use,but he explains how it works for this character without the aches,pains and constant withdrawals.
But the darker turn really notches up the tension and the violence,and I was sure from very early on something awful was coming.
The affection felt for both the dog and friend Sunny really made this book.
A few unanswered questions,that I was fairly sure what happened, but it's good to know.
I'd definitely pick up Brandi books again.

As with any story that tackles addiction The RIP is emotional and full of despair. This story provides a view into this sort of life that most “normal” people never stop and think about.

I loved the relationship between Dani and Sunny. The love for a pet was described perfectly. There’s some great quotes in here as well. What I didn’t like was the open ending. I was assuming there would be more of a plot within this story as well. It was enjoyable yet I was left wanting a lot more,

Well the hype is real with this book. It was amazing and very well written. Dark and real it really hit a nerve. Brilliant