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A Heart in the Right Place
All Nick wants to do is take his dying father for a perfect father-son weekend in the Scottish Highlands. It’s not much to ask, is it? A log cabin, a roaring fire, a bottle of fine whisky and two days to paper over the cracks in their relationship.
However, Nick didn’t plan on making the trip with a dead neighbour in the back of his car. Or the neighbour’s dog. He really didn’t plan on being pursued by a psychotic female assassin intent on collecting body parts. And he really, really didn’t plan on encountering a platoon of heavily armed mercenaries, or some very hungry boars, or a werewolf. A Heart in the Right Place - a horror comedy about setting out with the very best intentions and then messing everything up.
However, Nick didn’t plan on making the trip with a dead neighbour in the back of his car. Or the neighbour’s dog. He really didn’t plan on being pursued by a psychotic female assassin intent on collecting body parts. And he really, really didn’t plan on encountering a platoon of heavily armed mercenaries, or some very hungry boars, or a werewolf. A Heart in the Right Place - a horror comedy about setting out with the very best intentions and then messing everything up.
258 pages, Paperback
Published November 3, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 15, 2019
If you want me to give you all the stars in a rating the best way to do it is with a mental plot-line and a host of bizarre and instance characters and that's exactly what I got here. It starts off reasonably enough; Nick wants to take his dying father on a trip to the Scottish Highlands to give him some try and rebuild their relationship as he battles cancer. Stealing back his bottle of whiskey that was delivered to a neighbour he finds the neighbour dead. The dead body ends up in the boot of his car and what follows is one riotous black comedy horror.
It's definitely a unique tale, all the characters are off the wall and would stand out anywhere. Even the dog plays a strong part in the adventures. I really don't know how they're going to explain everything to Nick's mum! Really enjoyable if you want something a little bit different.
It's definitely a unique tale, all the characters are off the wall and would stand out anywhere. Even the dog plays a strong part in the adventures. I really don't know how they're going to explain everything to Nick's mum! Really enjoyable if you want something a little bit different.
December 11, 2018
Okay, so you might need to suspend a little belief as to how Nick got in the predicament but it's well worth it. I had at least five proper belly laughs while i was reading this, and there's a clever interesting story with werewolves which is well told!I particularly liked how they responded to the moon. Will definitely be checking out their other books.
May 17, 2019
I think the authors have invented a new genre which I can only describe as 'slapstick-horror'. This is a book for the grown ups there is extreme violence and lots of bad language.
Nick is a thirty something (Guessing here) guy who is outwardly a successful marketing and ad man, but who is actually wracked with doubt and lack of confidence. His father is dying and Nick has planned what he thinks is a perfect weekend for father son bonding. The linchpin of this plan is a bottle of whisky, the perfect 30 year old whisky, which will seal the deal as his dad's favorite. And that is where things start to go wrong, he misses the delivery and it is delivered to a neighbor's home. His decisions will bring him into the orbit of two contract killers/ torturers and a paranormal entity.
Despite all the hilarity and horror at its heart this is the story about an adult realizing that his dad was pretty awesome.
Nick is a thirty something (Guessing here) guy who is outwardly a successful marketing and ad man, but who is actually wracked with doubt and lack of confidence. His father is dying and Nick has planned what he thinks is a perfect weekend for father son bonding. The linchpin of this plan is a bottle of whisky, the perfect 30 year old whisky, which will seal the deal as his dad's favorite. And that is where things start to go wrong, he misses the delivery and it is delivered to a neighbor's home. His decisions will bring him into the orbit of two contract killers/ torturers and a paranormal entity.
Despite all the hilarity and horror at its heart this is the story about an adult realizing that his dad was pretty awesome.
March 24, 2022
Looking for a simple werewolf story? This novel is that and a whole lot more. (I guess that makes it non-simple, but you won’t mind at all.) The story purports to be about a young man and his dying father taking a father-son trip into the Scottish Highlands to try and rectify their relationship before dad dies. You quickly get the impression that neither of them really want to do this and that they are doing it for the mother/wife. This turns into an absolutely great part of the story after a fairly slow start, but it’s not, in my opinion, the heart of the tale.
That would be Finn. Finn is a totally psycho assassin who in addition to being a sociopath is also a control freak. She is fascinating from moment one to moment last. Her need to control everything never lets her quit and she is really just a delight every time she appears on a page. I feel a little bit bad liking the “bad gal” more than anyone else (and I want to be clear, I really like Nick and his Dad by the end of the book), but she is just a delightfully evil creation—not someone you would ever want to meet or even hope exists in the world, but a wonderful villain to fuel the story.
Finn has been given the not-as-simple-as-it-looks task of procuring a heart from a still living man named Oz. Nick, trying to set up his perfect weekend with his dad, has the misfortune of having the bottle of 30-year-old Scotch he purchased for the occasion misdelivered to Oz’s house by the postal service. This small misfortune will lead to some very bad decisions on Nick’s part coupled with incredibly bad luck as Finn mistakenly believes that Nick is Oz and chases him and his father into the Scottish Highlands. None of that is a spoiler, it’s just the basic scene setting for the plot.
Complicating Finn’s life is that she’s been given a minder for this “hit” and she doesn’t play well with others. The minder is a corporate type who is big on planning and is keeping one important surprise away from Finn for much of the tale. They don’t get along well, but it helps to flush out Finn’s character quite a bit.
Finally, there is the werewolf who makes an appearance early enough to inject some serious high octane into the rest of the story. Everything goes crazy once the werewolf makes an appearance and while I correctly predicted some of the consequences, I didn’t predict all of them. I love the take that Goody and Grant have on werewolves and would love to see them do more on this theme. In fact, I’m going to have to look over their other series to discover if they are as delightful as this book.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
That would be Finn. Finn is a totally psycho assassin who in addition to being a sociopath is also a control freak. She is fascinating from moment one to moment last. Her need to control everything never lets her quit and she is really just a delight every time she appears on a page. I feel a little bit bad liking the “bad gal” more than anyone else (and I want to be clear, I really like Nick and his Dad by the end of the book), but she is just a delightfully evil creation—not someone you would ever want to meet or even hope exists in the world, but a wonderful villain to fuel the story.
Finn has been given the not-as-simple-as-it-looks task of procuring a heart from a still living man named Oz. Nick, trying to set up his perfect weekend with his dad, has the misfortune of having the bottle of 30-year-old Scotch he purchased for the occasion misdelivered to Oz’s house by the postal service. This small misfortune will lead to some very bad decisions on Nick’s part coupled with incredibly bad luck as Finn mistakenly believes that Nick is Oz and chases him and his father into the Scottish Highlands. None of that is a spoiler, it’s just the basic scene setting for the plot.
Complicating Finn’s life is that she’s been given a minder for this “hit” and she doesn’t play well with others. The minder is a corporate type who is big on planning and is keeping one important surprise away from Finn for much of the tale. They don’t get along well, but it helps to flush out Finn’s character quite a bit.
Finally, there is the werewolf who makes an appearance early enough to inject some serious high octane into the rest of the story. Everything goes crazy once the werewolf makes an appearance and while I correctly predicted some of the consequences, I didn’t predict all of them. I love the take that Goody and Grant have on werewolves and would love to see them do more on this theme. In fact, I’m going to have to look over their other series to discover if they are as delightful as this book.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
November 30, 2018
Really do need to meet these two writers. Seriously, anyone who can come up with a story like this, I want to meet, - if only to learn which, if any substances they use to enhance their imaginations - or are their heads naturally full of this stuff?! Here's the story. A couple set out to remove the heart of a guy(as you do)who readily accepted payment and other benefits in return for volunteering his heart to a criminal who believes said heart will turn him into a werewolf. Crazy or what? A trail of death and destruction ensues leaving the bounty hunters broken-boned and limbless. Not to be deterred, the female of the species perseveres, and with the aid of a fold-up trowel strapped proficiently to the stump of her arm with silver duct-tape, she mercilessly continues her mission to oust that darn heart and get it to its rightful recipient. Did I mention the 'donor' had been wrongly selected and the right one already dead? Dammit how could I have not mentioned that?! On the grizzleyness scale, one being a sliced artery and ten being total disembowelment, this is a twelve. But you know what? It's bloomin brilliant! The wit and humour dripping(along with blood clearly)from the pens of these two miscreants is sensational! Utterly bonkers, but hilarious! Even got to practice my Sean Connery oh oh sheven impression over the last few pages. Crikey, talk about used to think I was a werewolf but I'm alright NOOOOOWWWW!
January 13, 2019
So, Heide Goody and Iain Grant are clearly bonkers, and I mean that in the best possible way! They must be, to come up with the stuff they do. This is the second book of theirs that I've read, and this was just as funny as the previous one, but a whole lot darker.
Poor Nick just wants to give his sick father the perfect weekend away. A weekend full of ideal father and son activities, at least in Nick's mind. But to make it absolutely perfect, he first needs to collect a missed parcel from a neighbour's house. Doing that doesn't quite go to plan and one poor decision on Nick's part leads to him and his dad spending a very different weekend from the one planned.
The characterisation is fabulous. I could really sense how desperate Nick is to impress his father. And I loved Tony, his dad, who is pragmatic and practical, and deals with everything that comes their way. The shenanigans the two of them get caught up in are crazy and inventive, and often messy and a little gory. Finn, the socially awkward psychopathic hitwoman is a delight, as she get more and more odd as the story progresses - it does become clear why though.
I loved this book. It's a bit gross in places, which didn't bother me at all, but might not suit everybody. But if you can get past that, this is a glorious, dark, funny story. And touching, as Nick and Tony discover things about themselves and each other, and improve their relationship as a result. But goodness knows what they told Nick's mother!
Poor Nick just wants to give his sick father the perfect weekend away. A weekend full of ideal father and son activities, at least in Nick's mind. But to make it absolutely perfect, he first needs to collect a missed parcel from a neighbour's house. Doing that doesn't quite go to plan and one poor decision on Nick's part leads to him and his dad spending a very different weekend from the one planned.
The characterisation is fabulous. I could really sense how desperate Nick is to impress his father. And I loved Tony, his dad, who is pragmatic and practical, and deals with everything that comes their way. The shenanigans the two of them get caught up in are crazy and inventive, and often messy and a little gory. Finn, the socially awkward psychopathic hitwoman is a delight, as she get more and more odd as the story progresses - it does become clear why though.
I loved this book. It's a bit gross in places, which didn't bother me at all, but might not suit everybody. But if you can get past that, this is a glorious, dark, funny story. And touching, as Nick and Tony discover things about themselves and each other, and improve their relationship as a result. But goodness knows what they told Nick's mother!
December 4, 2018
This is my second book by these authors, I loved the Snowflake, if you've not read it then it's a must. I wasn't disappointed by this one either.
The story is about Nick who has arranged to take his dying father away for a weekend in Scotland to spend some quality time together. As you can imagine things do not go smoothly starting with a delivery which goes to the wrong house. A comedy of errors does not describe what happens as 1 disaster after another hits Nick. The relationship between Nick and his Dad, Tony, isn't the best and I love the way they explore this during the events of the book.
If you're looking for a light hearted mix of comedy, werewolves and horror then you've found the right book.
The story is about Nick who has arranged to take his dying father away for a weekend in Scotland to spend some quality time together. As you can imagine things do not go smoothly starting with a delivery which goes to the wrong house. A comedy of errors does not describe what happens as 1 disaster after another hits Nick. The relationship between Nick and his Dad, Tony, isn't the best and I love the way they explore this during the events of the book.
If you're looking for a light hearted mix of comedy, werewolves and horror then you've found the right book.
January 21, 2019
This book is a hoot! It’s a bloody hoot! It is a rip-roaring, blood splattering, werewolf howling comedic ride. I knew after I had read Snowflake last year that I would be in for a ride and boy I was right!
These two have not failed me with this book. I was chuckling most of the way through it! I mean the crazy situations and the insane actions of Nick mainly and his dad Tony, dare I say it, a hoot! (Seems to be my favourite word).
NTony who has throat cancer has begrudgingly agreed to go away with Nick his son. Nick is trying to plan the perfect weekend in Scotland for them, and all the chaos that ensures begins with a bottle of whiskey! Nick just can’t help himself, he has no one to blame but himself, but it was bloody hilarious everything that played out in this book. This book is so easy to fall under the “just one more chapter” because each chapter is only 2 – 3 pages at most. As mentioned the story focuses on Nick and his dad. However in alternating chapters, we have Finn, a woman you do not mess with, she is on the hunt for Oz. She’s a hit woman, but mistaken identity through the calamity of Nick wearing Oz jacket leads her to stalk the pair on their road trip.
The snappy chapters encourage you to keep reading. The thrill of this book is relentless. I would have devoured (wrong choice of word here!!) this in one sitting if I could! It was so damn funny because I just could not believe it was happening!
Nick idealises a figment of what a Dad should be. Planning this “mans” trip with his dad, with clay shooting, whiskeys, log cabin. Everything his dad hates! They learn more about each other on this excursion and their teamwork was great! Definitely, both men stepping out of their comfort zone!
The scenic woods and farmland all were reminiscent of a film I quite liked called Dog Soldiers. When you read the book you will get it! I think that’s why I loved the book because I could picture it clearly as if it was the film. Plus, due to the vivid and obvious description, Finn to me is the female Terminator, I mean will anything stop this woman!
Like I said I laughed a lot at this book. It is not the sort of book that tries to be funny, because it is genuinely funny! You can imagine the dialogue actually happening because Nick is a bit hopeless so the random conversations they have at the most inopportune to me were perfect. Now I loved Snowflake and god that book has me guffawing, A Heart in the right place just took it to a new level! I would go as far to say this is a favourite of mine. The dark comedy, the thrill, the horror was amazeballs (yup I used that word in a review) I can not fault it.
I can imagine some people may think the story is a bit far fetched, you know what I disagree. I think that is in fact what adds to the magic of this book, it is tongue in cheek and it is fun and I would like to believe this is what Goody and Grant wanted to achieve. My god they did that for me!
January 23, 2019
Well, I think it's safe to say that A Heart In The Right Place is like nothing I've ever read before and I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I'm not quite sure how best to describe it though, to be honest.
It starts as a seemingly regular tale about a son making plans for a weekend away with his Dad, who has cancer. Nick is just awaiting a parcel, for which he's paid an extra £12 to ensure delivery that morning, in an effort to make their weekend perfect. However, his parcel ends up being left with a neighbour, despite him being in all morning, and the neighbour is not answering the door. Nick finds himself growing increasingly desperate as the day goes on. If he doesn't retrieve this parcel their weekend will be ruined, or so he believes. So, in a moment of madness, he decides to break in to his neighbour's house, grab his parcel, and leave a note to say he will pay for the damage to the window! He really should have just admitted defeat, but I'm so glad he didn't.
Nothing could prepare Nick for what he was to find in that house and this is where the story gets really interesting and nothing like I was expecting, although I'm not really sure what I was expecting. The scene in that house is gory, quite gross and hilarious all at the same time. I doubt I'd be laughing if I was Nick, but I certainly found his predicament quite amusing, especially with the involvement of the neighbour's dog. From this moment on, it's none stop action which is so brilliantly written it was so easy to get lost in this book. With unique characters and an even more unique storyline, I was totally gripped. I don't think I've ever laughed so much at something so gruesome! It's comedy genius!
Books for me are about pure escapism and this one certainly was. If you're looking for an entertaining read, you won't go far wrong with this one.
Many thanks to the authors and publisher for my review copy via Rachel @ Rachel's Random Resources.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
It starts as a seemingly regular tale about a son making plans for a weekend away with his Dad, who has cancer. Nick is just awaiting a parcel, for which he's paid an extra £12 to ensure delivery that morning, in an effort to make their weekend perfect. However, his parcel ends up being left with a neighbour, despite him being in all morning, and the neighbour is not answering the door. Nick finds himself growing increasingly desperate as the day goes on. If he doesn't retrieve this parcel their weekend will be ruined, or so he believes. So, in a moment of madness, he decides to break in to his neighbour's house, grab his parcel, and leave a note to say he will pay for the damage to the window! He really should have just admitted defeat, but I'm so glad he didn't.
Nothing could prepare Nick for what he was to find in that house and this is where the story gets really interesting and nothing like I was expecting, although I'm not really sure what I was expecting. The scene in that house is gory, quite gross and hilarious all at the same time. I doubt I'd be laughing if I was Nick, but I certainly found his predicament quite amusing, especially with the involvement of the neighbour's dog. From this moment on, it's none stop action which is so brilliantly written it was so easy to get lost in this book. With unique characters and an even more unique storyline, I was totally gripped. I don't think I've ever laughed so much at something so gruesome! It's comedy genius!
Books for me are about pure escapism and this one certainly was. If you're looking for an entertaining read, you won't go far wrong with this one.
Many thanks to the authors and publisher for my review copy via Rachel @ Rachel's Random Resources.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
January 25, 2019
This is one of the most unusual books I’ve read for a long time!
Nick wants his weekend in Scotland with his father to be perfect, after all it could be his last but a missed parcel leads to a case of mistaken identity and a crazy killer on his tail.
Nick is a lovable and slightly dopey character, who trying to do the right thing always ends up messing up. There is some good back and forth between him and his dad Tony, a solid and straight laced person, almost the opposite of his son.
On the other hand we have Finn. A psychopathic assassin who’s enjoys torture a little too much and is a bit offensive. She may not be all that likeable but I couldn’t help being fascinated by her.
Now the storyline is a little out there but personally I didn’t mind that. What I did mind was the use of Liverpudlian stereotypes which I haven’t heard since I was a child,.i.e. leaving your car for too long and it’ll end up on bricks *rolls eyes*
I will also warn you there’s a few gruesome and uncomfortable scenes that may not be suitable if you have a bit of a sensitive stomach.
Heart In The Right Place is a quirky read full of black humour and off-the-wall characters.
Nick wants his weekend in Scotland with his father to be perfect, after all it could be his last but a missed parcel leads to a case of mistaken identity and a crazy killer on his tail.
Nick is a lovable and slightly dopey character, who trying to do the right thing always ends up messing up. There is some good back and forth between him and his dad Tony, a solid and straight laced person, almost the opposite of his son.
On the other hand we have Finn. A psychopathic assassin who’s enjoys torture a little too much and is a bit offensive. She may not be all that likeable but I couldn’t help being fascinated by her.
Now the storyline is a little out there but personally I didn’t mind that. What I did mind was the use of Liverpudlian stereotypes which I haven’t heard since I was a child,.i.e. leaving your car for too long and it’ll end up on bricks *rolls eyes*
I will also warn you there’s a few gruesome and uncomfortable scenes that may not be suitable if you have a bit of a sensitive stomach.
Heart In The Right Place is a quirky read full of black humour and off-the-wall characters.
December 6, 2018
Heide Goody and Iain Grant have pulled it off - they have written an action thriller, they’ve made it funny, (almost) believable and endlessly entertaining; in short, they have flipping NAILED IT.
Heart in the Right Place is full of Goody/Grant’s trademark over the top comedy right from the very start. It’s unbelievably gory (and extremely sweary) but the authors carry it all off in such a skilful manner that you just have to laugh along with them and hang on for the bumpy ride. It’s a long time since a story has made me laugh at the same time as keeping me awake to see what was going to happen next.
I’m not sure if this is a stand-alone book, but I wouldn’t mind reading some more about our hero, the mild mannered millennial Nick, and his alpha-male Dad, Tony (a bloke after my own heart even though he is a King Crimson fan). I really liked their awkward father/son banter and their obvious love for each other.
All in all, heartwarming, funny, exciting and violent - what more could you possibly ask for?
Heart in the Right Place is full of Goody/Grant’s trademark over the top comedy right from the very start. It’s unbelievably gory (and extremely sweary) but the authors carry it all off in such a skilful manner that you just have to laugh along with them and hang on for the bumpy ride. It’s a long time since a story has made me laugh at the same time as keeping me awake to see what was going to happen next.
I’m not sure if this is a stand-alone book, but I wouldn’t mind reading some more about our hero, the mild mannered millennial Nick, and his alpha-male Dad, Tony (a bloke after my own heart even though he is a King Crimson fan). I really liked their awkward father/son banter and their obvious love for each other.
All in all, heartwarming, funny, exciting and violent - what more could you possibly ask for?
February 20, 2021
Was not expecting to enjoy it so much.
Great book, honestly funny (I couldn't stop laughing to myself at the shitty pants parts) and so well written you never get tired of anything.
It was a surprise with how bloody it was but a pleasant one, as it not only fitted the story it gave the action/gritty moments detail and gore which only made them more fun.
I got this book as a random to find new writers and I'm happy to say I've found a whole list of new books to read after this book.
Recommended for horror fans, film nuts, werewolf lovers, and anyone wanting a fun, enjoyable, gory read.
Great book, honestly funny (I couldn't stop laughing to myself at the shitty pants parts) and so well written you never get tired of anything.
It was a surprise with how bloody it was but a pleasant one, as it not only fitted the story it gave the action/gritty moments detail and gore which only made them more fun.
I got this book as a random to find new writers and I'm happy to say I've found a whole list of new books to read after this book.
Recommended for horror fans, film nuts, werewolf lovers, and anyone wanting a fun, enjoyable, gory read.
December 6, 2018
Weekend away.
A father and son weekend in Scotland seems like just the ticket to Nick, but it's not that simple.
Dead bodies, a playful dog, a crazy assassin, the wilds of the Scottish countryside, and sausages. This mix creates a wild ride as father and son get to know each other.
A slightly more serious book from these authors but I loved the story and the bizarre range of characters.
A father and son weekend in Scotland seems like just the ticket to Nick, but it's not that simple.
Dead bodies, a playful dog, a crazy assassin, the wilds of the Scottish countryside, and sausages. This mix creates a wild ride as father and son get to know each other.
A slightly more serious book from these authors but I loved the story and the bizarre range of characters.
December 5, 2018
How do they think these storylines up? I think alot of vino was involved!!! Grisly and hilarious!!!! Easiest five stars I have given. A riot of a read not for the feinthearted but definitely for those with a wicked sense if humour!
November 28, 2018
This is brilliant dark comedy from the hits series Clovenhoof (what do you mean you haven't read it?) which tickles the funny bones in all the right places. We learn some new and interesting uses for a toaster and corkscrew, also who knew wild boar could be so dangerous, especially to helicopter pilots.
What is disturbing is the amount of times I could associate with the story, thankfully it wasn't any of the rather gruesome parts. I will not be buying any work stations any time soon just to make sure.
That all said there are some points that I didn't like about this book. Firstly it was such a laugh and good read I forgot about the real world and secondly no Clovenhoof. I think I have a man crush on that sweet, sweet devil.
What is disturbing is the amount of times I could associate with the story, thankfully it wasn't any of the rather gruesome parts. I will not be buying any work stations any time soon just to make sure.
That all said there are some points that I didn't like about this book. Firstly it was such a laugh and good read I forgot about the real world and secondly no Clovenhoof. I think I have a man crush on that sweet, sweet devil.
November 29, 2018
A totally quirky read. I’ve never read a Heide Goody book before this one but I absolutely loved it. Even the parts your not really sure you should love
Perfect book for when you fancy a Pick me up
Perfect book for when you fancy a Pick me up
January 27, 2023
Over-the-top and gory, but entertaining.
May 16, 2022
"…the best option for body disposal was Scotland. Wide, wide, expansive Scotland. So many places to dump a corpse."
"AHitRP" is a fast-paced read that follows one poor sap - Nick (and not "Nicked" as it appears for some odd reason a few times in one chapter) - as he tries to arrange a "farewell" weekend trip to Scotland with his father who, sadly, is dying of cancer. No spoilers there as that's just me regurgitating the promo blurbs as one is allowed to do in these reviews. Ah, but what a setting to instead put our protagonists through a few hours of horror and mayhem, all because of poor delivery service, mistaken identities and the inability of the male of our species to express their emotions! Wow, if I had a nickel for everytime... right? No, I don't know what coin would be used in Great Britain for that... a farthing? Tuppence? Spotted d... no, wait, that's what passes for "food" there...
Underwear was surely the basis for civilisation.
This is - if my math(s) is/are correct - my 4th Goody/Grant team-up book and easily my favourite so far. The brief, singularly (word?) focused format seems to suit their style and sense of humour and happenstance that I found didn't work quite as well through the first 3 chapters of the "Oddjobs" series. And though this book is listed as a novel, it reads very much like an extended novella, with no traditionally good stopping points to wander off and do something like take a nap or even eat dinner. In other words, it was perfect for a lazy Sunday waiting on the baseball to start!
She looked like she was going to a fancy dress party as a Ferrero Rocher. A terminator dressed as a Ferrero Rocher.
The story maintains a mildly amusing - and even heart-warming - tone throughout and as I mentioned, reads very briskly. A lot of that is owing to the fact that 69 chapters are spread unevenly across exactly 250 pages of prose, which is never a favourite approach for me in terms of construction. But in terms of pacing, well, needs must when the Devil drives (which reminds me: I also have a copy of "Clovenhoof" to get to some day as well).
But if you like tales with a good dose of monster-y bits included, this should be right up your alley, with American fans like myself looking fondly at such cohorts as D.M.Guay and Scott Burtness for comparison. Though a LOT of the modern cultural references fall flat - namely, the repeated examination of how many sequels various franchises have made - the story does quite a respectable job with the whole werewolf thing and the consequences of messing around with ANY creature affected by said curse. Sure, I wish we would have had some more insight into origins or definitely a more satisfying and robust ending (so Dad never even ripped his clothes? Really?). But hey, this is just a weekend trip for the boys, we can't expect everything to be sussed out by the time we need to turn around and head home, can we? And it DOES leave the door open for a sequel, should the mood (or moon) ever strike just right.
The woman was back, and she looked like a cyborg. A cyborg which had been run over by a lawnmower. Run over by a lawnmower and stuffed in a gorilla costume.
My advice? If you need a break from it all (waves pointedly at the activities in the US, Russia, Ukraine and more), enjoy a quick escape by reading this book! You may not necessarily howl with laughter (oh golly, how I amuse myself) but you will enjoy this little episodic "Twilight Zone"-worthy escapade for sure!
"AHitRP" is a fast-paced read that follows one poor sap - Nick (and not "Nicked" as it appears for some odd reason a few times in one chapter) - as he tries to arrange a "farewell" weekend trip to Scotland with his father who, sadly, is dying of cancer. No spoilers there as that's just me regurgitating the promo blurbs as one is allowed to do in these reviews. Ah, but what a setting to instead put our protagonists through a few hours of horror and mayhem, all because of poor delivery service, mistaken identities and the inability of the male of our species to express their emotions! Wow, if I had a nickel for everytime... right? No, I don't know what coin would be used in Great Britain for that... a farthing? Tuppence? Spotted d... no, wait, that's what passes for "food" there...
Underwear was surely the basis for civilisation.
This is - if my math(s) is/are correct - my 4th Goody/Grant team-up book and easily my favourite so far. The brief, singularly (word?) focused format seems to suit their style and sense of humour and happenstance that I found didn't work quite as well through the first 3 chapters of the "Oddjobs" series. And though this book is listed as a novel, it reads very much like an extended novella, with no traditionally good stopping points to wander off and do something like take a nap or even eat dinner. In other words, it was perfect for a lazy Sunday waiting on the baseball to start!
She looked like she was going to a fancy dress party as a Ferrero Rocher. A terminator dressed as a Ferrero Rocher.
The story maintains a mildly amusing - and even heart-warming - tone throughout and as I mentioned, reads very briskly. A lot of that is owing to the fact that 69 chapters are spread unevenly across exactly 250 pages of prose, which is never a favourite approach for me in terms of construction. But in terms of pacing, well, needs must when the Devil drives (which reminds me: I also have a copy of "Clovenhoof" to get to some day as well).
But if you like tales with a good dose of monster-y bits included, this should be right up your alley, with American fans like myself looking fondly at such cohorts as D.M.Guay and Scott Burtness for comparison. Though a LOT of the modern cultural references fall flat - namely, the repeated examination of how many sequels various franchises have made - the story does quite a respectable job with the whole werewolf thing and the consequences of messing around with ANY creature affected by said curse. Sure, I wish we would have had some more insight into origins or definitely a more satisfying and robust ending (so Dad never even ripped his clothes? Really?). But hey, this is just a weekend trip for the boys, we can't expect everything to be sussed out by the time we need to turn around and head home, can we? And it DOES leave the door open for a sequel, should the mood (or moon) ever strike just right.
The woman was back, and she looked like a cyborg. A cyborg which had been run over by a lawnmower. Run over by a lawnmower and stuffed in a gorilla costume.
My advice? If you need a break from it all (waves pointedly at the activities in the US, Russia, Ukraine and more), enjoy a quick escape by reading this book! You may not necessarily howl with laughter (oh golly, how I amuse myself) but you will enjoy this little episodic "Twilight Zone"-worthy escapade for sure!
August 28, 2021
After university, I worked in marketing and sales for a couple of years, not because I was very fond of or particularly good at the job, but because it was the first gig to come my way. Anyway, I had some collegues who unlike me had fully bought into that stuff, marketing guys through and through. As a consequence, you could barely have a normal conversation with those people without it feeling like they were trying to sell you a shiny new product.
What does that have to do with this novel? Well, protagonist Nick is exactly that guy. He, too, is in marketing and although he doesn't seem to be exceptionally good at it, he views everything through the lense of a salesman. It makes him come across as a bit of a douche at first, but really, he has his heart in the right place. All he wants to do is have a nice roadtrip to Scotland with his estranged and terminally ill father in order to do some bonding and he is hellbent on making said trip work out perfectly, no matter the cost.
That being said, as he sees everything from a marketing perspective, meaning very superficially, almost everything he assumed about his dad, a no nonsense working class guy, seems to be varying degrees of wrong. Which of course makes it hard for them to find a meaningful connection. And then there's also a psychotic assassin after them because Nick did something very stupid right before the trip. Funnily enough though, their ordeal brings Nick and his dad closer together and what starts out as a very uncomfortable bonding exercise between two very different people ends up in an absolutely bonkers game of cat and mouse that is as bloody as it is fun.
I think A Heart in the Right Place is the perfect starting point if you want to see whether Heide Goody's and Iain Grant's humour is your cup of tea. It's quick, it's fast paced, it's fun and it has many of the ingredients I love about the Oddjobs and Clovenhoof series. Although I think the book's cover gives slightly too much away.
What does that have to do with this novel? Well, protagonist Nick is exactly that guy. He, too, is in marketing and although he doesn't seem to be exceptionally good at it, he views everything through the lense of a salesman. It makes him come across as a bit of a douche at first, but really, he has his heart in the right place. All he wants to do is have a nice roadtrip to Scotland with his estranged and terminally ill father in order to do some bonding and he is hellbent on making said trip work out perfectly, no matter the cost.
That being said, as he sees everything from a marketing perspective, meaning very superficially, almost everything he assumed about his dad, a no nonsense working class guy, seems to be varying degrees of wrong. Which of course makes it hard for them to find a meaningful connection. And then there's also a psychotic assassin after them because Nick did something very stupid right before the trip. Funnily enough though, their ordeal brings Nick and his dad closer together and what starts out as a very uncomfortable bonding exercise between two very different people ends up in an absolutely bonkers game of cat and mouse that is as bloody as it is fun.
I think A Heart in the Right Place is the perfect starting point if you want to see whether Heide Goody's and Iain Grant's humour is your cup of tea. It's quick, it's fast paced, it's fun and it has many of the ingredients I love about the Oddjobs and Clovenhoof series. Although I think the book's cover gives slightly too much away.
January 24, 2019
Nick has felt like he was a disappointment to his father, Tony, never really being hard working like him and his brother. So when his father is diagnosed with throat cancer, Nick decides to plan a man’s trip to Scottish Highlands. It’s supposed to be a man’s vacation with a cabin, booze, and the woods, everything Tony hates. The thing that would make it perfect is supposed to be delivered that morning before they leave and Nick is worried that if he doesn’t get it from his neighbor, where it was delivered to in error, it will ruin the trip.
He is in a panic and decides to break into his neighbor’s house but what he finds when he breaks into his neighbors house was a bit unexpected. Here we meet Finn, an assassin that is on the hunt for a heart and Nick gets mixed up with her victim. Away Nick and Tony go with Finn hot on their heels looking for the heart. Now if only Tony and Nick don’t kill each other before Finn does.
Where do I even begin to review this book? It’s dark and gory but you won’t even notice because you are laughing at Nick and Tony bickering back and forth or getting into very unexpected situations. You can’t even take these two seriously then you have an assassin hunting them down. She is like the terminator with a twist which makes this story even more unbelievable.
This is a hilarious story that will make you giggle from the very beginning. I mean a killer is trying to get them and Nick and Tony are talking about movies. They have no hope but you can’t turn away, you just have to see how this ends.
I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from Goody and Grant. You will not be disappointed with this read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
He is in a panic and decides to break into his neighbor’s house but what he finds when he breaks into his neighbors house was a bit unexpected. Here we meet Finn, an assassin that is on the hunt for a heart and Nick gets mixed up with her victim. Away Nick and Tony go with Finn hot on their heels looking for the heart. Now if only Tony and Nick don’t kill each other before Finn does.
Where do I even begin to review this book? It’s dark and gory but you won’t even notice because you are laughing at Nick and Tony bickering back and forth or getting into very unexpected situations. You can’t even take these two seriously then you have an assassin hunting them down. She is like the terminator with a twist which makes this story even more unbelievable.
This is a hilarious story that will make you giggle from the very beginning. I mean a killer is trying to get them and Nick and Tony are talking about movies. They have no hope but you can’t turn away, you just have to see how this ends.
I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from Goody and Grant. You will not be disappointed with this read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
January 1, 2019
Nick has ordered a special bottle of whiskey for his father who is soon to arrive and together they are taking a trip to Scotland based on Nick’s idea from an old tin. On the tin is a man with a cracked gun in his hand overlooking a loch with a dram nearby- Nick’s portrayal of his father. The trip is especially poignant as Nick’s father has throat cancer. ~When Nick misses the carrier delivering the whiskey his dread is that he will still be thought of as the second son and second best as he has all his life. However all is not lost as it has been delivered to a neighbour. Despite eighteen attempts at knocking on the neighbours door and being sure he is there as his car is in the driveway, Nick is so near and yet so far from making his dream come true. Nick decides to go around the back and spotting the parcel just the other side of the window resolves to take a chance, a chance that leads to rather more than whisky. Finn and Adam are on a mission to find a heart, not just any old heart but they have been tasked to get the heart of Oz. After a bit of too-ing and fro-ing they see oz’s distinctive coat get into a car, so they follow it. All the way to Scotland. This is a wonderful read and made me smile from the outset. Nick has a good heart but is naive to many things and I did feel for him despite being in a very sticky situation of his own doing. A highly recommended read to make you smile.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Amazon Top 1000 reviewer.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Amazon Top 1000 reviewer.
July 4, 2020
Another hilarious romp through the pages of this uniquely quirky tale of father son getaway gone bad. Poor Nick and his carefully planned escape so that he can show his Father how much he loves him hopefully proving his worth to his father. Tony, the father is slowly dying of throat cancer. When Nick suggests the trip, his Mom convinces his father to go and try to bond with Nick one last time. A misdelivered bottle of expensive scotch, breaking and entering into the neighbor's house, a skewered dead man lying on a table of power tools, a starving dog barking behind closed doors, initiate the hurried trip preparations. Nick is proud of his aged Cadillac and he ends up on a trip with his father in the front seat, the dog in the back, and a dead man in the boot, and himself in a sheepskin coat to cover all the blood on his clothes! The dead man's name is Oz, an organ donor for his boss at the appointed time which also coincides with a pair of characters which arrive to collect the donation at the same time Nick is leaving. Indeed it is a trip with Oz, boar sausages, advertising woes, werewolves, were dog, and criminally serious men. Bouncing around Scotland has never been so colorful, especially red!
January 26, 2019
This is such a funny book, poor Nick. With every stupid decision you just feel more sorry for him.
The story starts with Nick missing a delivery of something very important for his dad. This gets delivered to his neighbour instead who won’t answer the door. Nick’s life is in a downward spiral, making mistakes at work and being dumped by his girlfriend. He just wants this weekend away with dad to go well, he just needs that parcel.
His mission to try and retrieve his parcel has disastrous and hilarious consequences, not just for him but for his dad and his newly acquired dog, Pickles.
This book made me laugh so much, I love how one thing spirals into the story that follows. One of my favourite moments is when he is considering whether Finn has been send from the future to eliminate him because of his failed advertising campaign.
I highly recommend this book and will be reading the other books these authors have written.
The story starts with Nick missing a delivery of something very important for his dad. This gets delivered to his neighbour instead who won’t answer the door. Nick’s life is in a downward spiral, making mistakes at work and being dumped by his girlfriend. He just wants this weekend away with dad to go well, he just needs that parcel.
His mission to try and retrieve his parcel has disastrous and hilarious consequences, not just for him but for his dad and his newly acquired dog, Pickles.
This book made me laugh so much, I love how one thing spirals into the story that follows. One of my favourite moments is when he is considering whether Finn has been send from the future to eliminate him because of his failed advertising campaign.
I highly recommend this book and will be reading the other books these authors have written.
February 28, 2019
Brilliant.
This is another fine book by Heide Goode and Iain Grant. It is a thriller with lots of wit and some laugh out loud moments.
The pacing and the characterisation is superbly handled.
The heart of the story is that off a broken relationship between father and son that both are desperate to fix before it’s too late.
Finn, the antagonist, is cold and sinister, with hints of a horrifying past. She is definitely somebody you would not want to meet in a dark alley.
The first two part of the book deal with relationships and crime, with a dash of the supernatural. This paved the way for the third and final part which comes across as a bit of a mix between Dog Soldiers and Predator, but with a lot of jokes.
As you can tell, I really liked this book!
Gareth
This is another fine book by Heide Goode and Iain Grant. It is a thriller with lots of wit and some laugh out loud moments.
The pacing and the characterisation is superbly handled.
The heart of the story is that off a broken relationship between father and son that both are desperate to fix before it’s too late.
Finn, the antagonist, is cold and sinister, with hints of a horrifying past. She is definitely somebody you would not want to meet in a dark alley.
The first two part of the book deal with relationships and crime, with a dash of the supernatural. This paved the way for the third and final part which comes across as a bit of a mix between Dog Soldiers and Predator, but with a lot of jokes.
As you can tell, I really liked this book!
Gareth
December 12, 2018
As a self-confessed fan of Heide Goody and Iain Grant’s comedy writing style, even I was a little unsure whether they could write a comedy action thriller. But they’ve only gone and done it!
As always, this book is full of real laugh out loud, totally ridiculous moments, but it has so much more - the hilariously awkward Dad/Son relationship, a crazy assassin and her ingenious use of a fold-up trowel, loads of gratuitous violence, a touch of supernatural, and some extremely dirty underpants! Oh, and a rather good story behind it all too! What more could you ask for?
Black humour at its finest, I absolutely loved this book.
As always, this book is full of real laugh out loud, totally ridiculous moments, but it has so much more - the hilariously awkward Dad/Son relationship, a crazy assassin and her ingenious use of a fold-up trowel, loads of gratuitous violence, a touch of supernatural, and some extremely dirty underpants! Oh, and a rather good story behind it all too! What more could you ask for?
Black humour at its finest, I absolutely loved this book.
December 16, 2018
Nick plans a weekend away to bond with his father and in this black comedy he is provided with the opportunity but not quite in the way he expected.
The first few chapters give a taste of the black humour to come and if you do find some of Nick's early decisions baffling it leads to a fun romp so that 'belief suspension' is worth it. The story takes us on an adventure packed journey north to Scotland with loads of action, laughs aplenty and some surprisingly touching, warm moments.
Thanks to the authors for writing another fabulous, funny and satisfying read.
The first few chapters give a taste of the black humour to come and if you do find some of Nick's early decisions baffling it leads to a fun romp so that 'belief suspension' is worth it. The story takes us on an adventure packed journey north to Scotland with loads of action, laughs aplenty and some surprisingly touching, warm moments.
Thanks to the authors for writing another fabulous, funny and satisfying read.
December 30, 2018
I enjoyed this darker story from Heidi and Iain much fun, admittedly I do enjoy horror so it melded well to my tastes.
Nick is determined to provide a fun packed weekend for his terminally ill father Tony but first he’s got to get his missed delivery from his neighbour.
Also Finn is a hit woman on a mission and has Adam along for the ride to take away something from the current target.
A bad case of mistaken identity and gore finds Finn and Adam on Nick and Tony’s tail.
A great read for those who enjoy the paranormal
Nick is determined to provide a fun packed weekend for his terminally ill father Tony but first he’s got to get his missed delivery from his neighbour.
Also Finn is a hit woman on a mission and has Adam along for the ride to take away something from the current target.
A bad case of mistaken identity and gore finds Finn and Adam on Nick and Tony’s tail.
A great read for those who enjoy the paranormal
February 13, 2019
This really is a book of two halves. The first half is a comic masterpiece that had me laughing so loudly my fellow train passengers shifted seats. Some of the scenes (the stinky underpants!) reduced me to tears. The second half, though still entertaining, is really a genre mash-up of the films it references and it all palls after a while. Had the authors left out the supernatural elements and left the villains in a state of idiotic belief, I think the book would have been better.
But, that first half!!!!
But, that first half!!!!
February 26, 2019
A Heart in the Right Place is different than anything I've read before. I really loved the horror comedy concept. There were darker moments and then moments that had me laughing out loud.
I love the witty dialogue from the characters. There was lots of ridiculousness mixed in with realism and it made for a really fun story.
I highly recommend checking this one out if you're looking for something with some laughs, some thrills and something all around different.
*I reviewed this book through a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
I love the witty dialogue from the characters. There was lots of ridiculousness mixed in with realism and it made for a really fun story.
I highly recommend checking this one out if you're looking for something with some laughs, some thrills and something all around different.
*I reviewed this book through a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
April 9, 2022
Not quite as advertised
This wasn't as impressive as the reviews led me to believe. I was more than halfway through when I chuckled the first time.
The main character wasn't very likeable. The main villain was hard to believe; no depth just an unstoppable killer.
The dad and the dog were good characters. The out of control ending gave a satisfying close so 3 stars. Passable not great.
The cover is deceiving. They are driving a vintage sedan, not a van or SUV where they could sit on the back.
This wasn't as impressive as the reviews led me to believe. I was more than halfway through when I chuckled the first time.
The main character wasn't very likeable. The main villain was hard to believe; no depth just an unstoppable killer.
The dad and the dog were good characters. The out of control ending gave a satisfying close so 3 stars. Passable not great.
The cover is deceiving. They are driving a vintage sedan, not a van or SUV where they could sit on the back.
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