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Troubador Publishing Odds Sods.
Set in smoky London pubs, turf accountants and Newmarket racetrack, Odds & Sods introduces McQueen, an engaging grifter, hell-bent on making a fortune by levelling up the score on bookies for the murder of his beloved grandfather.Gabby, his con-artist partner, gets on board, along with French racehorse trainer, Françoise Toussaint. Having recently fled France after losing her husband in a suspicious shooting, then her stables and horses in an arson attack. Hoping for vengeance she joins forces with McQueen and Gabby, securing the best racehorse for their scam and helps McQueen and his dream team of Cockney rebels and Northern souls prepare a ‘race for revenge’.
Was anyone up for it? You bet they were.
But McQueen’s meticulous planning doesn’t factor in his old enemy, the underworld gang leader, Edinburgh’s Lennox Docherty.
Was Team McQueen ready for Docherty? And was Docherty ready for them? Could anyone back down once they were off?
Was anyone up for it? You bet they were.
But McQueen’s meticulous planning doesn’t factor in his old enemy, the underworld gang leader, Edinburgh’s Lennox Docherty.
Was Team McQueen ready for Docherty? And was Docherty ready for them? Could anyone back down once they were off?
344 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 8, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Troubador for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.
This novel had the right ingredients to make it right up my street – a con, dogs and retribution, The story worked well for me until the showdown at the end between the main characters and Docherty, the real villain. I felt Docherty was over the top and this made for a disappointing ending. Despite this, I enjoyed the read overall.
This novel had the right ingredients to make it right up my street – a con, dogs and retribution, The story worked well for me until the showdown at the end between the main characters and Docherty, the real villain. I felt Docherty was over the top and this made for a disappointing ending. Despite this, I enjoyed the read overall.
October 15, 2025
From the first pages, Catling throws us into the smoky pubs, dimly lit betting shops, and thunderous racetracks of London and Newmarket. McQueen, a grifter with a score to settle, and his partner Gabby, enter a world of high stakes and higher risks—yet Catling balances the rush of the con with moments of quiet reflection, letting character growth take centre stage even amid the chaos.
The heart of the story lies in the relationships and moral lines that bend but rarely break. Secondary characters like Mo and Simon provide emotional ballast: their brief but poignant subplot underscores how even small cons affect real people. Throughout, themes of loyalty, redemption, and blurred morality simmer beneath the surface, lending weight to a narrative that never loses its tension. With Lennox Docherty’s shadow always looming, the plot crackles with unease and the constant possibility of disaster.
Stylistically, Catling shines. His prose is punchy and witty, full of cinematic energy and the occasional sly turn of phrase. I especially loved the glossary that included Cockney rhyming slang—a fun tool for diving deeper into the dialogue—and Keith Gorman’s illustrative artwork, which adds another layer of atmosphere to each chapter. On top of that, Catling has got his characters down to a tee. I easily connected with Simon and Mo, the gay couple who were individually conned by McQueen and Gabby in separate cons. The climax doesn’t go the obvious route; it surprises in a way that feels earned and satisfying.
Odds & Sods is a bold, confident debut that proves Andy Catling is an author to watch. It’s a story about con men, revenge, and the unpredictable chaos of life—told with grit, humour, and a surprising dose of humanity.
Read my full review on Good Star Vibes here: https://goodstarvibes.com/andy-catlin...
The heart of the story lies in the relationships and moral lines that bend but rarely break. Secondary characters like Mo and Simon provide emotional ballast: their brief but poignant subplot underscores how even small cons affect real people. Throughout, themes of loyalty, redemption, and blurred morality simmer beneath the surface, lending weight to a narrative that never loses its tension. With Lennox Docherty’s shadow always looming, the plot crackles with unease and the constant possibility of disaster.
Stylistically, Catling shines. His prose is punchy and witty, full of cinematic energy and the occasional sly turn of phrase. I especially loved the glossary that included Cockney rhyming slang—a fun tool for diving deeper into the dialogue—and Keith Gorman’s illustrative artwork, which adds another layer of atmosphere to each chapter. On top of that, Catling has got his characters down to a tee. I easily connected with Simon and Mo, the gay couple who were individually conned by McQueen and Gabby in separate cons. The climax doesn’t go the obvious route; it surprises in a way that feels earned and satisfying.
Odds & Sods is a bold, confident debut that proves Andy Catling is an author to watch. It’s a story about con men, revenge, and the unpredictable chaos of life—told with grit, humour, and a surprising dose of humanity.
Read my full review on Good Star Vibes here: https://goodstarvibes.com/andy-catlin...
June 28, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this thrill ride of an eARC!
🐎 Andy Catling’s Odds & Sods is a whip-smart, smoky-glassed caper that gallops through the underbelly of British horse racing with the swagger of a Guy Ritchie film and the heart of a Dickensian rogue tale. It’s a debut that doesn’t just flirt with genre tropes—it cons them, races past them, and leaves them in the dust.
Set in the gritty corners of London’s pubs, betting shops, and the storied Newmarket racetrack, the novel follows McQueen, a charming grifter with a vendetta. After the murder of his grandfather—an old-school bookie—McQueen assembles a ragtag crew of Cockney schemers, including the enigmatic Gabby and the fiercely determined French trainer Françoise Toussaint.
🎭 Catling’s characters are gloriously flawed and vividly drawn. McQueen is equal parts streetwise and sentimental, while Françoise brings a tragic gravitas that balances the novel’s cheeky tone. Even the villains are magnetic in their menace. The dialogue crackles with authenticity—sharp, fast, and often darkly funny43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054.
🎲 Themes & Tone
At its core, Odds & Sods is about revenge, loyalty, and the blurred lines between justice and hustle. But it’s also a love letter to the thrill of the gamble—not just on the track, but in life.
This is a full-throttle ride through a world where every bet is personal and every con has a cost. Odds & Sods is a standout debut that blends suspense, humor, and heart with the precision of a seasoned storyteller. If you’re a fan of British crime fiction with a pulse and a punchline, this one’s worth backing! 😉
🐎 Andy Catling’s Odds & Sods is a whip-smart, smoky-glassed caper that gallops through the underbelly of British horse racing with the swagger of a Guy Ritchie film and the heart of a Dickensian rogue tale. It’s a debut that doesn’t just flirt with genre tropes—it cons them, races past them, and leaves them in the dust.
Set in the gritty corners of London’s pubs, betting shops, and the storied Newmarket racetrack, the novel follows McQueen, a charming grifter with a vendetta. After the murder of his grandfather—an old-school bookie—McQueen assembles a ragtag crew of Cockney schemers, including the enigmatic Gabby and the fiercely determined French trainer Françoise Toussaint.
🎭 Catling’s characters are gloriously flawed and vividly drawn. McQueen is equal parts streetwise and sentimental, while Françoise brings a tragic gravitas that balances the novel’s cheeky tone. Even the villains are magnetic in their menace. The dialogue crackles with authenticity—sharp, fast, and often darkly funny43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054.
🎲 Themes & Tone
At its core, Odds & Sods is about revenge, loyalty, and the blurred lines between justice and hustle. But it’s also a love letter to the thrill of the gamble—not just on the track, but in life.
This is a full-throttle ride through a world where every bet is personal and every con has a cost. Odds & Sods is a standout debut that blends suspense, humor, and heart with the precision of a seasoned storyteller. If you’re a fan of British crime fiction with a pulse and a punchline, this one’s worth backing! 😉
October 5, 2025
Excellent book. The ending is not what you’d expect and it keeps you hooked till the end. Love the way it’s written, very easy to visualise all characters and the mischief they get up too.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews