Product Description
A gritty crime thriller from the crown prince of 'Brit noir', centred around the 1984 miners' strike. The action takes place in a depressed mining town in the North East. Switching continuously between 1984 and the present day, the plot follows the intertwined lives of a small group of characters, all linked in various ways to the miners' strike: Tony Woodhouse, a professional footballer who can't escape his shady past; Tommy Jobson, cruising the streets of Newcastle, violently collecting debts, about to be sucked into something far more dangerous; Mick Hutton, a striking miner, increasingly desperate to find ways to support his wife and growing family; Stephen Larkin, an idealistic young journalist, determined to expose the truth about the strike - as he sees it; Stephen's sister, Louise, in love with Tony Woodhouse, stalked by a shadowy figure from her past. As the lives of these five characters unfold, it becomes clear the strike will have devastating repercussions - not only for those directly involved, but for future generations too.
About the Author
Born and raised in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Martyn Waites now lives in Essex with his wife and two children. He has turned his hand to many professions: market trader, bar manager, stand-up comic and professional actor, a career he now combines with writing. Most recent TV appearances include a benefit fraud advertisement and The New Adventures of Robin Hood on Channel 5! Martyn is Writer in Residence at Huntercombe Young Offenders' Institution in Oxfordshire. BORN UNDER PUNCHES is his fourth novel.