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I Love My Smith and Wesson
Manchester, England. Death stalks these streets in the form of a hired killer named Rawhead--a shadowy yet powerful figure desperate to control a ruthless mob family called The Priesthood. He will stop at nothing to invade their inner sanctum.
Author Billy Dye has finally found success after years of struggle. But now Rawhead, his childhood friend turned maniacal assassin, has reentered his life and involved him in a plot to take over The Priesthood and wrest control of the Manchester underworld. Nobody is safe in this action-packed, violent, and often hilarious crime novel.
David Bowker is the new voice of British crime and the most original author to burst on the scene in years.
Author Billy Dye has finally found success after years of struggle. But now Rawhead, his childhood friend turned maniacal assassin, has reentered his life and involved him in a plot to take over The Priesthood and wrest control of the Manchester underworld. Nobody is safe in this action-packed, violent, and often hilarious crime novel.
David Bowker is the new voice of British crime and the most original author to burst on the scene in years.
- GenresCrime
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
30 people want to read
About the author
David Bowker
13 books9 followersBorn in Manchester but now living in Cambridge, David Bowker is author of six novels, including The Secret Sexist, From Stockport with Love and, most recently, Rawhead and Rawhead in Love. He was voted 'Manchester Writer of the Year' by City Life magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 23, 2013
I loved I LOVE MY SMITH AND WESSON by David Bowker. It's a seriously deranged dark comic gothic romp that had me laughing and cringing all at the same time. It's only been a few days since I finished reading the book, but I'm already experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
The book opens in Manchester, England, with Billy Dye about to marry Nikki, mother of his daughter, Maddy. He is scared to death when he gets a card from (he assumes) his childhood friend, Steve Ellis, aka "Rawhead" which implies that the honeymoon might be very abbreviated, being as they will be very busy at their own funeral services. As it turns out, Billy has misunderstood the message, but the fact that Rawhead is back in his life means that bad things are bound to happen. Billy has just experienced some unexpected success with the publication of a book that is based on Rawhead and about to be turned into a TV series. One of the funniest scenes is when Billy meets with the producers who want to change the lead character, Bonehead, from an assassin into a more sympathetic lead by making him into a conjurer who juggles oranges.
Meanwhile, Rawhead is on a mission of his own. In Manchester, there was a gang formed by Malcolm Priest, known as the "Priesthood". A nasty piece of work by the name of Chef is its leader, and he has a contract out on Rawhead, who he says murdered Priest. Priest's son, Little Malc, has been placed in a secondary position running one of the nightclubs that the gang controls but is not really part of the overall operation. Rawhead makes it his business to take over the Priesthood and reap the rewards that follow with leadership of a bunch of drug dealers, intimidators and thieves, with Little Malc serving as the CEO, if you will. Serving as Little Malc's bouncer and going by the name "Abraham Stoker", Rawhead really tears the Priesthood apart.
Rawhead is one of the most interesting characters I've come across in a long time. He is essentially an emotionless assassin. But on the other hand, he really cares about Billy and has a touching sense of loyalty to him, even helping Billy cover up a murder of his own. What more could one ask of a friend?
I don't know how Bowker does it, but he manages to put a humorous spin on the most gruesome events you can imagine. There's a completely over-the-top scene at the end of the book involving piles of rotting corpses and lovemaking that absolutely works. The man is a genius! I sure hope that he is a quick writer, because based on this book, he's become a must read for me.
The book opens in Manchester, England, with Billy Dye about to marry Nikki, mother of his daughter, Maddy. He is scared to death when he gets a card from (he assumes) his childhood friend, Steve Ellis, aka "Rawhead" which implies that the honeymoon might be very abbreviated, being as they will be very busy at their own funeral services. As it turns out, Billy has misunderstood the message, but the fact that Rawhead is back in his life means that bad things are bound to happen. Billy has just experienced some unexpected success with the publication of a book that is based on Rawhead and about to be turned into a TV series. One of the funniest scenes is when Billy meets with the producers who want to change the lead character, Bonehead, from an assassin into a more sympathetic lead by making him into a conjurer who juggles oranges.
Meanwhile, Rawhead is on a mission of his own. In Manchester, there was a gang formed by Malcolm Priest, known as the "Priesthood". A nasty piece of work by the name of Chef is its leader, and he has a contract out on Rawhead, who he says murdered Priest. Priest's son, Little Malc, has been placed in a secondary position running one of the nightclubs that the gang controls but is not really part of the overall operation. Rawhead makes it his business to take over the Priesthood and reap the rewards that follow with leadership of a bunch of drug dealers, intimidators and thieves, with Little Malc serving as the CEO, if you will. Serving as Little Malc's bouncer and going by the name "Abraham Stoker", Rawhead really tears the Priesthood apart.
Rawhead is one of the most interesting characters I've come across in a long time. He is essentially an emotionless assassin. But on the other hand, he really cares about Billy and has a touching sense of loyalty to him, even helping Billy cover up a murder of his own. What more could one ask of a friend?
I don't know how Bowker does it, but he manages to put a humorous spin on the most gruesome events you can imagine. There's a completely over-the-top scene at the end of the book involving piles of rotting corpses and lovemaking that absolutely works. The man is a genius! I sure hope that he is a quick writer, because based on this book, he's become a must read for me.
March 7, 2014
Speaking of Terror, here's an underworld Thriller featuring an aptly named RAWHEAD (I wondered when BLOODY BONES would make an appearance...since they are sort of gruesome twins, in Appalachian Folklore)
This tale is gruesome, violent and very Goth-ic....with a touch of Rancid Victorian Romance....and some shit about a demonic "Elemental Power"...a Spirit of Darkness..
This book has all the elements of basic LA Noir, transplanted to the squalor of Manchester, UK.....Pithy, deadpan prose, with streaks of "purple"....a parade of piquant scumbags...and cringe-inducing violence......
In 2005, i couldn't wait for his next book
4 Stars...and then some
This tale is gruesome, violent and very Goth-ic....with a touch of Rancid Victorian Romance....and some shit about a demonic "Elemental Power"...a Spirit of Darkness..
This book has all the elements of basic LA Noir, transplanted to the squalor of Manchester, UK.....Pithy, deadpan prose, with streaks of "purple"....a parade of piquant scumbags...and cringe-inducing violence......
In 2005, i couldn't wait for his next book
4 Stars...and then some
November 19, 2021
Guy Ritchie meets Irvine Welsh by way of the Coen brothers
June 19, 2022
Read in 2004. A unique crime thriller.
June 16, 2011
It started out strong as Rawhead, a English mob hitman returns on the eve of his best friends wedding. From there the story spreads out into Rawhead’s return back into the Manchester Gang scene and his friend Billy’s dealings with TV producers. It’s a short 227 page novel, so there isn’t much in the way of character development and the plot, such as it is doesn’t really get the resolution that I was looking for. Overall I liked the book, the author definitely has style.
February 15, 2013
Scary, uncomfortable and describing the persons in a very talented way, the story draws you in, I really liked it in all it's cruelty and monstrosity, but the ending its a little bit like the author lost his Geist and had to just get something together, the writing gets sloppy and lose momentum, pity, as that took away one star.
January 9, 2008
Another great Bowker book, a worthy sequel to "The Death You Deserve." I still don't get why this guy hasn't caught on in America.
May 21, 2010
three and half
July 1, 2011
This book is in the same vein as Guy Ritchie's movies. As long as you're able to find some elements of humor in the violence, it is a quick, entertaining read.
February 8, 2016
Laugh out loud funny and a quick read. Entertaining!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews