Foxtrot Oscar - Charlie Owen

Introduction.

Foxtrot Oscar is the second novel by the author, Charlie Owen, a retired Police Inspector and cleverly follows on from his first one, Horses' Arse.

Horses' Arse is the police's name for Handstead, an overspill town built on the outskirts of Manchester and which the City Council used as a dumping area for it's unwanted 'dregs' of society. Not only used as such by the council but also by the County's police ...
...and undisciplined officers, along with an occasional new recruit unfortunate to be posted to fill the district quota of manpower. Hmmm, a bit unpolitically correct there I think, should that be officer power??

The story.

The summer of 1976, Britain is baking in a heatwave although things are boiling on in Handstead, particularly on the Park Royal Estate. The trial is taking place of some of the notorious Park Royal Mafia ... more

Introduction.

Foxtrot Oscar is the second novel by the author, Charlie Owen, a retired Police Inspector and cleverly follows on from his first one, Horses' Arse.

Horses' Arse is the police's name for Handstead, an overspill town built on the outskirts of Manchester and which the City Council used as a dumping area for it's unwanted 'dregs' of society. Not only used as such by the council but also by the County's police force as a punishment posting for any of their miscreant and undisciplined officers, along with an occasional new recruit unfortunate to be posted to fill the district quota of manpower. Hmmm, a bit unpolitically correct there I think, should that be officer power??

The story.

The summer of 1976, Britain is baking in a heatwave although things are boiling on in Handstead, particularly on the Park Royal Estate. The trial is taking place of some of the notorious Park Royal Mafia gang and those not on trial are now being led by Travers and Briggs, who have seized leadership of the gang, mostly in part because of their sheer viciousness and thuggery. Attacks on the police are taking place in retribution for the gang members who are currently on trial.

However, something far more sinister is about to raise it's ugly head in the shape of Sercan Ozdemir, a Turkish gangster and member of a family crime syndicate involved in drug smuggling and other activities under the guise of a legitimate transport company. Whilst he is quite highly regarded within the syndicate, Ozdemir has ambitions above his current status and plots his own jobs without the 'godfathers' knowledge in order to elevate himself higher within the organisation.

To achieve his aim, he sees the opportunity to take advantage of and use the extreme violence that the Park Royal Mafia is renowned for. Having initially introduced himself to Briggs and Travers in a way that scares them both witless, (though they are in effect already brain donors) he enlists them in his grand plan. A very scary scenario and will his plans succeed? I am not going to 'cough' that and give away the ending, thus will have to leave you in suspense!!
Although that is the main central story, as with the Horses' Arse book, much of it regales around the officers of the local nick, the criminals and residents of the aforesaid town. These incidents and stories are interwoven astutely within the book alongside the main theme, even though some are totally unconnected with it, they do form an integral part of giving the reader a perfect, if slightly exaggerated picture of policing in that era.

Along with the officers from the first book, Physco Pearce, Pizza Petty, The Grim Brothers, Blister Wheeler, Piggy Malone (not the Ronnie Barker character!),Ally Stewart, The Aneathsthetist Collins, the Suits, Benson and Clark as well as others, we are now introduced to other colourful characters, in particular to Ooh Yah Young and his dog Alfie.

All these have their own individual part to play in the varied daily aspects of police work, be it playing outrageous pranks, blackmailing the public and a lot of unethical, violent and policitically incorrect methods. They are however somewhat highly amusing, the characters have a short input of background input which gives the reader their own picture of each one, though not as extensive as in the authors first book.

Difficult to highlight any of the incidents involved as there are so many, suffice it to say that laughter abounds throughout. If one is really discernable, they will notice a rare piece which sheds light on the fears that a copper can feel as a result of a particular occurrence, in this case the death of a colleague and the effect on their home life, a rare moment of seriousness amidst the humour.

Bent solicitor and prison officer on the 'take', a criminal co-erced, (to put it mildly), into becoming a snout (informant that is, not prison baccy), all combine to illustrate the seedier side of policing in that day and age.

At the end is an author's note thanking various people for the help in his new found career as a writer, which appears to be a highly promising one, without a doubt.

My view.

Having already read Horses' Arse, I couldn't wait to read this and certainly was not disappointed in any way. I couldn't put this down once I had started, except for having jobs to do for the Mrs, from whom I endured many disdainful looks of "He's bloody mental" , as my loud laughter emanated from my reading of it.

Some sexual content but constant foul language is contained throughout the book which may be off putting to the more sensitive reader, but this was the reality of the 'canteen culture' which was prevalent then. I can vouch for this, having been there, done it and got numerous t shirts!!! It may be classed as a work of fiction but much nearer the truth than you may wish to think.

If I was a judge summing up a trial, I would sum the book up simply as "Highly recommended, get it, read it, laugh and thoroughly enjoy it".

Other plaudits for the author and his books.

Charlie Owen is a talent. This is the first book since Layer Cake to have an authentic voice that exposes the dark and eccentric side of English street crime. Guy Ritchie.

Foul mouthed, scatological and amusing in equal measure. The Guardian.

Will have you gripped from page one, the plotlines and dialogue are so vivid. Daily Record.

It's Life on Mars without the time travelling. Zoo.

Availability

Amazon online. £7.19p plus p & p, although spend £15 and get free delivery, which was my method used.

Available also from the publisher direct by telephone on 0123 5400414 and normally via their website, www.headline.co.uk, however at the time of writing this review, the site was being updated so cannot give details of a price from them.

Ciao have listed it as an audio book, which obviously it isn't. 

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