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A Good Day to Die
'Action-packed, gripping, and wildly entertaining . . . Amen Alonge is a powerful new voice in thriller writing and a talent to watch' ADAM HAMDY
'A smart, gritty, action-packed thriller that invokes the spirit of Chester Himes' WILLIAM SHAW
'A cracker of a debut' TREVOR WOOD
Meet Pretty Boy. Vengeance is on his mind. His real Unknown His code of Don't be a pawn in someone else's game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
His It's been ten years since Pretty Boy left the big city - today he's back. No one knows why, but it's clear that revenge is on his he is determined to make the person responsible for his exile from the London scene finally pay. But his plans seem derailed when he takes possession of a bracelet, unaware that its original owner has set a high price for its safe return. Suddenly, the hunter becomes the hunted and Pretty Boy will have to find out if it is indeed a 'good day to die'.
Jam-packed with action, an unforgettable cast of characters and peppered with dry humour, A Good Day to Die marks the arrival of a fresh and exciting new voice in thriller writing.
Meet Pretty Boy. Vengeance is on his mind. His real Unknown His code of Don't be a pawn in someone else's game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
His It's been ten years since Pretty Boy left the big city - today he's back. No one knows why, but it's clear that revenge is on his he is determined to make the person responsible for his exile from the London scene finally pay. But his plans seem derailed when he takes possession of a bracelet, unaware that its original owner has set a high price for its safe return. Suddenly, the hunter becomes the hunted and Pretty Boy will have to find out if it is indeed a 'good day to die'.
Jam-packed with action, an unforgettable cast of characters and peppered with dry humour, A Good Day to Die marks the arrival of a fresh and exciting new voice in thriller writing.
- GenresThriller
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 5, 2022
“A Good Day to Die”is the first in a spectacular new gangland series, by debut author Amen Alonge, a thrilling new voice in crime fiction, that has definitely excited me for future books.
- Meet Pretty Boy: Vengeance on his mind.
- His Real Name: Unknown
- His Code of Conduct: Don’t be a pawn in someone else’s game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
I certainly didn’t expect a debut book to open with such an engrossing and gritty scene, totally unexpected but a fantastic way to draw a reader in, my jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t wait to read on.
As with all decent gangland thrillers, this book was no different. There was textbook fight scenes, guns, knives, fist fights and the archetypal bad guys with over sized attitudes. Perfect movie fodder and a one that would definitely achieve a packed house!
With a perfect execution of dialogue and an uncomplicated but engrossing plot that you could easily follow, it was evident I would become addicted to ‘pretty boy’ and his brutal revenge plan in earnest.
I liked how the author included backstories or different viewpoints in various intermittent chapters, which either took you back in time, informing the reader of what went on during that particular occasion or viewing the current situation from a different angle.
This book is pacy, addictive and tense with lots of violent scenes (as to be expected) and was a very pleasant surprise overall.
A Good Day to Die? Not until I’ve seen this as a movie and hopefully read any future instalments in ‘pretty boy’s’ life!
#AGoodDayToDie - 5 stars
- Meet Pretty Boy: Vengeance on his mind.
- His Real Name: Unknown
- His Code of Conduct: Don’t be a pawn in someone else’s game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
I certainly didn’t expect a debut book to open with such an engrossing and gritty scene, totally unexpected but a fantastic way to draw a reader in, my jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t wait to read on.
As with all decent gangland thrillers, this book was no different. There was textbook fight scenes, guns, knives, fist fights and the archetypal bad guys with over sized attitudes. Perfect movie fodder and a one that would definitely achieve a packed house!
With a perfect execution of dialogue and an uncomplicated but engrossing plot that you could easily follow, it was evident I would become addicted to ‘pretty boy’ and his brutal revenge plan in earnest.
I liked how the author included backstories or different viewpoints in various intermittent chapters, which either took you back in time, informing the reader of what went on during that particular occasion or viewing the current situation from a different angle.
This book is pacy, addictive and tense with lots of violent scenes (as to be expected) and was a very pleasant surprise overall.
A Good Day to Die? Not until I’ve seen this as a movie and hopefully read any future instalments in ‘pretty boy’s’ life!
#AGoodDayToDie - 5 stars
February 24, 2022
An intriguing thriller with some good characters- I'm not a huge fan of novels featuring criminal underworlds and drug dealers if I'm honest I find it hard to connect or really care what happens to people who choose a world of violence in which to live so my 3* rating is actually more of a "hey this was unexpectedly good" one.
The main protagonist is what makes this one - layered and cleverly drawn - I might even read the next one.
The main protagonist is what makes this one - layered and cleverly drawn - I might even read the next one.
March 5, 2022
A debut that shows some promise but the flaws need ironing out. It's tough, muscular, sweary, filled with all-out action and facking geezers.
Given how much action there is, nothing really happens, which is a bit odd. It's like a prelude to this new series and doesn't really work on its own.
Given how much action there is, nothing really happens, which is a bit odd. It's like a prelude to this new series and doesn't really work on its own.
April 5, 2022
“A Good Day to Die”is the first in a spectacular new gangland series, by debut author Amen Alonge, a thrilling new voice in crime fiction, that has definitely excited me for future books.
- Meet Pretty Boy: Vengeance on his mind.
- His Real Name: Unknown
- His Code of Conduct: Don’t be a pawn in someone else’s game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
I certainly didn’t expect a debut book to open with such an engrossing and gritty scene, totally unexpected but a fantastic way to draw a reader in, my jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t wait to read on.
As with all decent gangland thrillers, this book was no different. There was textbook fight scenes, guns, knives, fist fights and the archetypal bad guys with over sized attitudes. Perfect movie fodder and a one that would definitely achieve a packed house!
With a perfect execution of dialogue and an uncomplicated but engrossing plot that you could easily follow, it was evident I would become addicted to ‘pretty boy’ and his brutal revenge plan in earnest.
I liked how the author included backstories or different viewpoints in various intermittent chapters, which either took you back in time, informing the reader of what went on during that particular occasion or viewing the current situation from a different angle.
This book is pacy, addictive and tense with lots of violent scenes (as to be expected) and was a very pleasant surprise overall.
A Good Day to Die? Not until I’ve seen this as a movie and hopefully read any future instalments in ‘pretty boy’s’ life!
#AGoodDayToDie - 5 stars
Merged review:
“A Good Day to Die”is the first in a spectacular new gangland series, by debut author Amen Alonge, a thrilling new voice in crime fiction, that has definitely excited me for future books.
- Meet Pretty Boy: Vengeance on his mind.
- His Real Name: Unknown
- His Code of Conduct: Don’t be a pawn in someone else’s game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
I certainly didn’t expect a debut book to open with such an engrossing and gritty scene, totally unexpected but a fantastic way to draw a reader in, my jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t wait to read on.
As with all decent gangland thrillers, this book was no different. There was textbook fight scenes, guns, knives, fist fights and the archetypal bad guys with over sized attitudes. Perfect movie fodder and a one that would definitely achieve a packed house!
With a perfect execution of dialogue and an uncomplicated but engrossing plot that you could easily follow, it was evident I would become addicted to ‘pretty boy’ and his brutal revenge plan in earnest.
I liked how the author included backstories or different viewpoints in various intermittent chapters, which either took you back in time, informing the reader of what went on during that particular occasion or viewing the current situation from a different angle.
This book is pacy, addictive and tense with lots of violent scenes (as to be expected) and was a very pleasant surprise overall.
A Good Day to Die? Not until I’ve seen this as a movie and hopefully read any future instalments in ‘pretty boy’s’ life!
#AGoodDayToDie - 5 stars
- Meet Pretty Boy: Vengeance on his mind.
- His Real Name: Unknown
- His Code of Conduct: Don’t be a pawn in someone else’s game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
I certainly didn’t expect a debut book to open with such an engrossing and gritty scene, totally unexpected but a fantastic way to draw a reader in, my jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t wait to read on.
As with all decent gangland thrillers, this book was no different. There was textbook fight scenes, guns, knives, fist fights and the archetypal bad guys with over sized attitudes. Perfect movie fodder and a one that would definitely achieve a packed house!
With a perfect execution of dialogue and an uncomplicated but engrossing plot that you could easily follow, it was evident I would become addicted to ‘pretty boy’ and his brutal revenge plan in earnest.
I liked how the author included backstories or different viewpoints in various intermittent chapters, which either took you back in time, informing the reader of what went on during that particular occasion or viewing the current situation from a different angle.
This book is pacy, addictive and tense with lots of violent scenes (as to be expected) and was a very pleasant surprise overall.
A Good Day to Die? Not until I’ve seen this as a movie and hopefully read any future instalments in ‘pretty boy’s’ life!
#AGoodDayToDie - 5 stars
Merged review:
“A Good Day to Die”is the first in a spectacular new gangland series, by debut author Amen Alonge, a thrilling new voice in crime fiction, that has definitely excited me for future books.
- Meet Pretty Boy: Vengeance on his mind.
- His Real Name: Unknown
- His Code of Conduct: Don’t be a pawn in someone else’s game. Never underestimate the enemy. Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.
I certainly didn’t expect a debut book to open with such an engrossing and gritty scene, totally unexpected but a fantastic way to draw a reader in, my jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t wait to read on.
As with all decent gangland thrillers, this book was no different. There was textbook fight scenes, guns, knives, fist fights and the archetypal bad guys with over sized attitudes. Perfect movie fodder and a one that would definitely achieve a packed house!
With a perfect execution of dialogue and an uncomplicated but engrossing plot that you could easily follow, it was evident I would become addicted to ‘pretty boy’ and his brutal revenge plan in earnest.
I liked how the author included backstories or different viewpoints in various intermittent chapters, which either took you back in time, informing the reader of what went on during that particular occasion or viewing the current situation from a different angle.
This book is pacy, addictive and tense with lots of violent scenes (as to be expected) and was a very pleasant surprise overall.
A Good Day to Die? Not until I’ve seen this as a movie and hopefully read any future instalments in ‘pretty boy’s’ life!
#AGoodDayToDie - 5 stars
April 9, 2022
I liked the first half a lot, but the second half lost me. The book is told part in first person and part in third person, even within the same chapter, which I thought was interesting. I see this as movie-esque -- you're sort of thrown into scenes with new characters and have to figure out what's going on as you read, which was also interesting to experience as a reader. Apparently this is first in a series? I would read the second book in hopes that it's told a little bit better.
April 20, 2022
Pretty Boy is back on the London scene after ten years in an unknown location. The time is ripe for vengeance and and he is set on a course of action to make the person who led to his exile pay for their sins.
His first move is to arrive at the drug fortress of a face from his past, who now goes by the name of 'Snowman'. Pretty Boy has a bag full of product to sell and needs the money he expects to receive in exchange to set his detailed scheme for revenge in motion. What he doesn't know is that the bracelet 'Snowman' gives him in part payment for the drugs comes with a history - and the former owner is desperate to get his hands on the person who stole it in a foolishly reckless act.
Pretty Boy has become the target from some very dangerous enemies that he did not account for and they are about to interfere with his well laid plans. Will he manage to last out the day and obtain the reckoning he seeks?
What an explosive debut thriller this is! It grabs you from the first page and takes you on a relentless thrill ride rich with vivid characters and violent gangland shenanigans!
The format of the novel is brilliantly unconventional, following the course of Pretty Boy's meticulously planned quest for revenge over the course of a single day, interspersed with vignettes from the past that reveal the whos, whys and wherefores of his story. Meanwhile, some very unpleasant characters are out to get him for his perceived part in the theft of the bracelet, using increasingly vicious means that force Pretty Boy to take a roundabout route to get his long awaited revenge - and to leave a string of bodies in his wake. The whole story takes on a back-to-front structure, brilliantly constructed to ensure all the very twisty threads collide at the very end, and it is oh so beautifully done.
There's no doubt that these pages contain as much violence as it is possible to cram into a story, but at no time does the ferocity of the wet work take away from the slick way that Alonge weaves his cleverly conceived plot lines. Alonge holds nothing back in the way of grittiness, but in many ways the piece has the feel of a gangster caper, filled with dark humour, and this drives the action along with perfectly pitched pace.
But this is not all, because beneath the first class, contemporary villainous romp Alonge touches on a stash of thought-provoking themes. I loved the way he brings in a delectable clash of cultures with the make up of his characters in terms of class and race, both on the wider societal front; and more particularly in the obvious discord between criminal fraternities, and how the changing times affect the way they operate. There is a lot to pick apart in the settings Alonge takes us to, exploring issues around lost futures, hopelessness, trauma, abuse and addiction too. The most impressive thing of all is the way Alonge makes you confront all the shades of grey behind what happens in this novel, laying bare the motivations of the characters that live out their lives in the raw underbelly of London, so they become more that caricatures.
I absolutely loved every little thing about this cracking debut. If the kind of gangster fun that Guy Ritchie produces at his very best is your bag, then you will adore this one too. I cannot wait to see where Alonge goes with the sequel to this book, because the concept is stunning!
His first move is to arrive at the drug fortress of a face from his past, who now goes by the name of 'Snowman'. Pretty Boy has a bag full of product to sell and needs the money he expects to receive in exchange to set his detailed scheme for revenge in motion. What he doesn't know is that the bracelet 'Snowman' gives him in part payment for the drugs comes with a history - and the former owner is desperate to get his hands on the person who stole it in a foolishly reckless act.
Pretty Boy has become the target from some very dangerous enemies that he did not account for and they are about to interfere with his well laid plans. Will he manage to last out the day and obtain the reckoning he seeks?
What an explosive debut thriller this is! It grabs you from the first page and takes you on a relentless thrill ride rich with vivid characters and violent gangland shenanigans!
The format of the novel is brilliantly unconventional, following the course of Pretty Boy's meticulously planned quest for revenge over the course of a single day, interspersed with vignettes from the past that reveal the whos, whys and wherefores of his story. Meanwhile, some very unpleasant characters are out to get him for his perceived part in the theft of the bracelet, using increasingly vicious means that force Pretty Boy to take a roundabout route to get his long awaited revenge - and to leave a string of bodies in his wake. The whole story takes on a back-to-front structure, brilliantly constructed to ensure all the very twisty threads collide at the very end, and it is oh so beautifully done.
There's no doubt that these pages contain as much violence as it is possible to cram into a story, but at no time does the ferocity of the wet work take away from the slick way that Alonge weaves his cleverly conceived plot lines. Alonge holds nothing back in the way of grittiness, but in many ways the piece has the feel of a gangster caper, filled with dark humour, and this drives the action along with perfectly pitched pace.
But this is not all, because beneath the first class, contemporary villainous romp Alonge touches on a stash of thought-provoking themes. I loved the way he brings in a delectable clash of cultures with the make up of his characters in terms of class and race, both on the wider societal front; and more particularly in the obvious discord between criminal fraternities, and how the changing times affect the way they operate. There is a lot to pick apart in the settings Alonge takes us to, exploring issues around lost futures, hopelessness, trauma, abuse and addiction too. The most impressive thing of all is the way Alonge makes you confront all the shades of grey behind what happens in this novel, laying bare the motivations of the characters that live out their lives in the raw underbelly of London, so they become more that caricatures.
I absolutely loved every little thing about this cracking debut. If the kind of gangster fun that Guy Ritchie produces at his very best is your bag, then you will adore this one too. I cannot wait to see where Alonge goes with the sequel to this book, because the concept is stunning!
April 5, 2024
They call him Pretty Boy – no one knows his true identity not even his name. After being driven out of London ten years previously, Pretty Boy is back for revenge. He is motivation is a mystery, but he is determined to avenge the person who chased him out all those years ago. After being gifted an expensive bracelet all hell breaks loose, and things aren’t as straightforward as he had imagined. Now the owners of this expensive piece of jewellery want it back, and revenge with it. Finding the roles are now reversed, and not in his favour will it today be a good day to die for Pretty Boy?
All I can say is WOW! I can’t believe this a debut! This story is shrouded in mystery from the get-go, which left me only wanting to read on and find out more! It’s clear that Pretty Boy has a tainted past with many enemies, and the author pieces the bits in small parts together nicely giving the reader just enough but not too much to spoil the mystery and suspense. As the story continues and we meet more of the main characters, it’s interesting to see what part each of them plays to the overall ending of the story. But, at the very end, we get a nice big hook ready for the next instalment. I enjoyed the ‘not knowing’ the whole story, this piqued my interest immediately. Colourful characters fill the pages, and each has a unique part to play in the overall plot.
I really enjoyed this book, it was excellent, really well planned out, and there were no boring or ‘quiet’ parts to it at all which I liked. I was completely absorbed in the story!
I’m SO looking forward to the next one! Amazingly brilliant and so clever!
All I can say is WOW! I can’t believe this a debut! This story is shrouded in mystery from the get-go, which left me only wanting to read on and find out more! It’s clear that Pretty Boy has a tainted past with many enemies, and the author pieces the bits in small parts together nicely giving the reader just enough but not too much to spoil the mystery and suspense. As the story continues and we meet more of the main characters, it’s interesting to see what part each of them plays to the overall ending of the story. But, at the very end, we get a nice big hook ready for the next instalment. I enjoyed the ‘not knowing’ the whole story, this piqued my interest immediately. Colourful characters fill the pages, and each has a unique part to play in the overall plot.
I really enjoyed this book, it was excellent, really well planned out, and there were no boring or ‘quiet’ parts to it at all which I liked. I was completely absorbed in the story!
I’m SO looking forward to the next one! Amazingly brilliant and so clever!
May 14, 2023
An engaging crime thriller focusing on a returning criminal and his misadventures across a 24 hour period; brutally violent and featuring some intensely graphic sequences, the real charm here comes from the nameless protagonist who remains a mystery throughout while also featuring in some fairly dense flashback sequences that give a hint towards his motivation. There is some clunkiness to these flashback sequences, however, which throw the pacing slightly, but overall this was a great read and promises good things to come from the next instalment.
June 22, 2023
Interesting premise and plot. Unfortunately the plot points and characters was too busy for me, everything was converging all at once and that’s realistic but not something I enjoy (when I rate for my enjoyment). Furthermore, I didn’t like the prose, the way it was written was not my cup of tea. A big sticking point is that the book is brilliant, my rating is so low because I didn’t enjoy it a lot from an entertainment point of view.
May 16, 2022
A quick, enjoyable, brutal pageturner that sucked me in despite the fact I didn’t know what was happening for… quite a lot of it. Some of the slow reveal of answers was satisfying, but I was overall left with more questions than I went in with.
May 8, 2024
I don’t really go for gang type crime novels and although I read it I found the writing a little stilted and it didn’t flow as well as it could have but for a debut novel it certainly hit the ground running and I’m sure this will be the beginning of a great new writer👍
April 21, 2022
Nice compact thriller which rattles a long at a fair pace - you can see the movie coming, but good action scenes and some unnecessarily violent London gang bosses make for an overall solid read
October 17, 2022
This was like a movie! Fast paced never knowing what was going to happen next. I finished it in a day as I wanted to know how it ended.
February 13, 2022
It's one of those book that push the boundary of my comfort zone as it's gritty, hard boiled, and somehow alien.
The style of writing is peculiar, the mind of The Boy is somewhat alient to me but fascinating at the same time.
It was like travelling to another planet, not being sure if you understood, and loveing it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The style of writing is peculiar, the mind of The Boy is somewhat alient to me but fascinating at the same time.
It was like travelling to another planet, not being sure if you understood, and loveing it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 26, 2022
Very much the 21st century crime novel. Sex and violence, drugs and prostitution, and more violence. Full of action but somewhat thin on plot, this is an enjoyable novel for a quick read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews