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Halfhead (Paperback)

by Stuart B. MacBride (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £8.52 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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  • This item: Halfhead by Stuart B. MacBride

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Product details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HarperVoyager (3 Sep 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007298706
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007298709
  • Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 3,431 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #59 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

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Product Description

Review

`Slick, gruesome and brutally intelligent, this is bare knuckles thriller-writing.' --Michael Marshall

Product Description

Terrifying serial killer thriller set in the gritty Glasgow of the near future, from the bestselling author of the Logan McRae series. Glasgow, not too far in the future. A new punishment has been devised for the perpetrators of serious crimes -- one that not only reduces the prison population but also benefits society at large. The process is known as halfheading: the offender's lower jaw is removed and they are lobotomized. They are then put to work as cleaners in municipal areas like hospitals, where they serve as a warning to all that crime doesn't pay. But for one halfhead, it seems the lobotomy hasn't quite succeeded. Six years after her surgery, Dr Fiona Westfield 'wakes up' surrounded by the butchered remains of a man she has just brutally killed. As her mind slowly begins to return, she sets out on a quest for vengeance. William Hunter, Assistant Section Director of the 'Network' -- a military wing of the police -- attends the crime scene left behind by the newly awakened halfhead. Sherman House is a run-down concrete housing development full of undesirables and Hunter and his team quickly find themselves in a firefight with the locals. With the help of old comrades and a new friend in the form of prickly but attractive Detective Sergeant Josephine Cameron, Will gets on the trail of the killer. But before long the investigation leads back to a terrible tragedy in his own past, as well as to a terrifying conspiracy to sow violence and misery among Glasgow's most vulnerable citizens.
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Halfhead
37% buy the item featured on this page:
Halfhead 3.8 out of 5 stars (51)
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33% buy
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Dark Blood
12% buy
Dark Blood
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Flesh House
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Flesh House 3.8 out of 5 stars (68)
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Customer Reviews

51 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:
 (23)
3 star:
 (13)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (51 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Grisly Glasgow Goings-On , 4 Oct 2009
By The Wolf (uk) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
The Glasgow depicted in Mr MacBride's new novel 'Halfhead'
is not a Glasgow that its current citizens might wish to
consider too deeply. The future does not look bright at all.

In a time turned not too far forward (luxuries such as Irn-Bru and
Armani have not yet become past pleasures) bad things are afoot.
Very bad things indeed.

In a narrative which weaves the grisly exploits of a serial killer
of greater than usual depravity with the machinations of a dastardly
clandestine government-backed social experiment, Network Assistant
Section Director Mr Hunter becomes both hunter and hunted.

He is given a terribly bad time by his creator. That he survives
his trials at all is a credit to the highly evolved first aid and
surgical techniques which it seems we may all have the pleasure
of looking forward to.

Technology has gone mad. Cloned meat pizza toppings; cranial
video-game implants (for those who can afford them); holographic
adverts which pop up beside you unbidden should you dare to take
a stroll in the park (inadvisable!); weapons with the power to
do unthinkable (but darkly creative) things to flesh and bone
which raises the occasional question about the author's obvious
enjoyment of his own visceral technicolor imaginings.

The body-count is HUGE ! The pace of the story fast and furious.
The love interest is amusingly diverting. The conclusion gripping.

Both major and minor characters are well drawn.
Messrs Kikan and Peitai truly are as bad as baddies get; grubby
forensic pathologist George is a hoot as well as a big help;
DS Cameron makes the most of her internship in more ways than one
and Dr Fiona Westfield is as cruel and twisted a creation as you
are ever likely to meet again in a month of long, cold, dark nights.
(There are few things worse than a neuro-psychiatrist with a grudge!).

Not a novel for vegetarians or readers of a more nervous disposition
but a tale well-told which could conceivably find a future on the silver
screen should Mr MacBride find producers brave enough to back it.

Recommended.



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17 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Halfhead - sci-fi crime thriller, 23 Aug 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
A gritty serial killer thriller set in set in the near future in Glasgow, where criminals are punished by effectively being lobotomised and having their lower jaw removed hence the term 'Halfhead'. They are then put to work as cleaners in hospitals, where they serve as a warning to all that crime doesn't pay. Six years after her surgery, one 'halfhead', Dr Fiona Westfield 'wakes up' surrounded by the butchered remains of a man she has just brutally killed. As her mind slowly begins to return, she sets out on a quest for vengeance.

This novel succesfully merges the two genres of science fiction and crime fiction. Stuart MacBride has created a successful crime fiction series prior to this novel and the style and humour of that series is ever present here. The novel is gritty, visceral and the influence of writers such as Philip K Dick and Michael Marshall Smith can also be seen here. Towards the end of the novel, it became more of an action thriller but overall, I would recommend this novel if you enjoy either crime fiction or science fiction or indeed both.
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6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars There aren't enough stars - it's THAT good, 16 Sep 2009
By SJSmith (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
An amazing book that is disturbing yet compelling. I loved every single page of this gruesome thriller/sci-fi novel. Not having read any Stuart MacBride crime novels I was intrigued by this move into a different direction. What a fantastic read, it was really difficult to put down the ending left me feeling a little shivery! I believe this would make a fantastic film.

The science-fiction aspect reminded me of the likes of Aldous Huxley or Margaret Atwood. Cleverly written, I soon became engrossed in this Glasgow of the future. All the reader knows from the back is that it is not too far in the future. Thanks to MacBride's writing, I could clearly imagine the Halfheads - this may not have been a good thing for a vivid imagination!

You feel like there's several stories running together, which there are in a way. What unites them all is the halfhead Dr Fiona Westfield; lobotomised for her crimes but come back to humanity. Superb and chilling, this book got under my skin. Even more so because the ending seems to pave the way for a further novel - yippee.

Dr Westfield wants revenge and William Hunter has to put a stop to a rampage of crimes without knowing who or what he is looking for. It couldn't possible be a halfhead, could it? The book is very gruesome in parts, so it's not for the faint-hearted. Characters, narrative and plot are superb and if his `normal' novels are written this way, I've just discovered a new novel. I'll be recommending this one to everyone I know!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Sci-fi Horror thriller.
After Sawbones, this is another good break from Macbrides Aberdeen thrillers, he just loves his dark humour & gore, which this book has plenty too offer. Read more
Published 7 days ago by K. W. Dandridge

4.0 out of 5 stars Tough to start, but worth the wait
As some reviewers have already noted, this book can seem a bit difficult to get into at first. But perserverance is the key, and in the end you'll have enjoyed a decent read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by V. Warrington

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
I am a great fan of mr Mcbride and have converted a few others to his books. I adored Halfhead - the plot was just a rollercoaster and I loved the futuristic but believable... Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Williams

4.0 out of 5 stars PLEASE PERSEVERE WITH THIS BOOK!
Like other readers I found the book difficult to get into because it is very confusing at the beginning, a glossary of terms might have been helpful. Read more
Published 1 month ago by romantic

3.0 out of 5 stars another macbride
NB this is not the Macbride of dreich Aberdonian crime. the 'B' between Stuart & Macbride might just give it away. It's a sci-fi (or at least futuristic) dystopian story. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Malcolm Clark

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
As if further proof were needed, in my opinion, this book just goes to show that Stuart MacBride can turn his hand to a different track of writing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Angel

5.0 out of 5 stars half head
Wish I could write half as good as this. The problem is that once picked up, this novel is virtually impossible to put down. Read more
Published 2 months ago by D. J. Newstone

4.0 out of 5 stars Not one for the squeamish
"Halfhead" marks the first venture of Scottish author, Stuart MacBride, into what his publishers seem to want to call science fiction, but is probably more properly classed as... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Steve Benner

3.0 out of 5 stars Far too much shooting.
I loved the premise of this book - I like gruesome (in novels).

This has the makings of a really good read. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sue at home

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read with a few niggles
Halfhead is the new crime/sci-fi novel from Scottish author Stuart MacBride, set in a future Glasgow it follows William Hunter, a member of 'network' - which seems to be something... Read more
Published 3 months ago by David Lovie

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