Strange Affairs, Ginger Hairs

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 28 Jul 2019 | Archive Date 30 Dec 2019

Talking about this book? Use #StrangeAffairsGingerHairs #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Hull, 1998. Unemployed, single and broke. These chains are what eighteen-year-old Ginger is determined to break free from, away from his indifferent parents and toward the ever-elusive achievement of a girlfriend. Life is monotonous to the point of tears – until the chance acquisition of a gold ring unbalances Ginger’s whole world.

Suddenly Ginger finds himself caught up with violence and tinpot crime, betrayed by his best friend and escaping from local villains desperate to reclaim their property. An encounter with a middle class ‘daddy’s girl’, hitching a ride for a little excitement, holds promise – but when her own questionable past is thrown into the light, their situation worsens and the frying pan erupts into the fire. With their lives at risk, they must hatch a plan to turn the tables on their enemies and dare to play the criminals at their own game. A hilarious tale of kidnapping, bad sex and self-discovery.
Hull, 1998. Unemployed, single and broke. These chains are what eighteen-year-old Ginger is determined to break free from, away from his indifferent parents and toward the ever-elusive achievement of...

A Note From the Publisher

Arthur Grimestead was born in Hull, but doesn’t blame anyone. He lives with a woman, a dog, and a cat (no order of preference). This is his debut.

Arthur Grimestead was born in Hull, but doesn’t blame anyone. He lives with a woman, a dog, and a cat (no order of preference). This is his debut.


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781838598709
PRICE US$5.99 (USD)
PAGES 200

Average rating from 23 members


Featured Reviews

This was a funny and unique quick read! I cannot wait to read more from this author, as the writing was excellent!

Was this review helpful?

Typical English humour and tasteful musical touches that set the atmosphere; "Strange Affairs, Ginger Hairs" is an engaging and fast-paced novel with endearing characters, that involves laughs, twists and turns whilst never being boring or difficult to follow.

Was this review helpful?

A strong literary voice guides this work. Arthur Grimestead arranges a world of dialogue and situations masterfully.

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable and rollicking story of a hapless young lad from Hull stumbling from one shady escapade to the next. Surrounded by ne'er-do-wells and blessed with mediocre parentage he attempts to make his way into the adult world but suddenly and accidentally gets into more trouble than he needs when a valuable ring appears in his dinner. The writing starts out parochially but quickly gets more understandable, for the non-British reader, while still remaining appropriately crass. If the story kept on the way it started it would be quite the yarn, but it slows down and gets a little maudlin in the end as the protagonist learns his lessons. All in all a good read and a solid 3 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Strange Affairs, Ginger Hairs - brilliant!! Bleak, dry and darkly humourous - and so cleverly written. Ginger Jones happens across a ruby ring in his fish and chips. There begins a series of misadventures, none of his own making, which find him wanted by the police and being hunted down by the local gangland boss. Along the way we meet Brian, his gay, line-dancing work colleague, Ms Fish, the boss's daughter who drags him into robbery and arson, and Ginger's hapless and deeply depressing excuses for parents. Never a dull moment in this wonderful book, full of curse words and inappropriateness - and all the better for it. This book, I suspect, will be like Marmite, but I really loved it and for anyone with an irreverent sense of humour - you will too.

Was this review helpful?

A pretty solid collection of stories. "Scary" is a pretty apt description; weird as well. Pretty short (9 stories) but enough good tales to recommend it.

I really appreciate the copy for review!!

Was this review helpful?

Books like this are not that common. And by ‘books like this’ I’m referring to books filled with criminals, scallywags and plenty of other types you might tend to shy away from, should you meet them in real life. Handy then, really, that you don’t have to - it’s a book so you can just enjoy the naughtiness within the safe confines of the pages. I won’t give anything away, but if you like crime capers that seem real, with authentic, colourful characters, you really owe it to yourself to check this out. I hope the author decides to do a sequel because I could happily get lost in this world again and again. A five star read.

Was this review helpful?

Okay! So I requested this book after reading it's blurb. I was expecting it to be a humorous and easy read. And this book haven't disappointed me at all. Not only it's humorous, but also fast paced and interesting. All the characters are developed well and I loved the dry humour of this book. To be honest, I have never read such a hilarious book. It captivated my attention right from the first page and it haven't wave red at all. And I loved reading about Ginger Jones. This is a five star read for me.

Was this review helpful?

This held my attention from the first page and it was filled with funny and eye rolling moments, I really enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

I just loved this book. Great British humour in the vein of in Bruges and lock stock and two smoking barrels. It’s all about a ring and being on the wrong place at the wrong time. How things get twisted out of all proportion and circumstances get worse and worse. Just fabulous. Made me smile throughout. Just could not stop reading. Characters were as large as life — you can almost touch and see them. Highly recommend if you like this type of humour

Was this review helpful?

Not really my thing. But Ginger is an interesting character and the story takes many twists and turns. Despite everything, I was pulled in enough to want to know how it all wrapped up.

Was this review helpful?

What a rollercoaster. The best book I read this year (2019). I can see Guy Richi making this into a movie. It was just like watching Lock, stock and two smoking barrels. Very British. The plot kept getting thicker and thicker. Very fast base black thriller. Very funny. Highly recommended. Unfortunately it's the only book written by Arthur.

Was this review helpful?

I’m from Hull so this book resonated with me. Recommended - a lacy authentic read that I found highly enjoyable. The author has a style all of his own, and I’ll definitely be seeking more of his work.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: