Jack Was Here

Great read, slow to start, however once the story line got going I found it riveting. The description of PTSD is excellent and very well written. The story line of the search in Thailand for Jack is very believable and I felt that I was there in Thailand as the authors ability to describe the places and tensions are just as recall the atmosphere. The corruption and drug use all part of everyday life in parts of Thailand and Cambodia. I good read that I would recommend.

If you are looking for a crime thriller that incorporates suspense, exotic locations and a high body count then this debut from Christopher Bardsley. could be something for you. Hugh Fitzgerald is a damaged former Australian military man suffering from PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. He has split from his fiancee, is under the care a psychiatrist (although he only attends to tick a box to secure his pension) and has been proscribed much medication which he cheerfully throws away. Addicted to drink and drugs Hugh's life is spiraling ever downwards when he is unexpectedly contacted by his brother regarding the disappearance in Thailand of 19 year old Jack Kerr a former pupil of his and who's parents were once family friends.

Having now no real aim in life together with being paid well by Jack's parents Hugh accepts the task of finding their son. We are then taken on a ride through the seamier underbelly of Thai and Cambodian society where drugs and prostitution are rife and corruption among the law enforcement agencies is common.. The writing is very descriptive and you can visualise and feel the heat, smells and bustle of the streets and the seedy bars that Hugh frequents. We learn of how Hugh's past has caused his present state and how this complex character is morally ambivalent when it comes to the act of killing.

This may not do much for the Thai and Cambodian tourist industry but it certainly acts as a warning of what dangers are there for the naive and unsuspecting traveler. The pace increases as the book progresses to it's inevitable bloody climax. I liked the book and because it can be completed in a few hours it is ideal to be taken on a journey although perhaps not to Thailand.

This is a missing person search conducted by an unusual hero. His name is Hugh Fitzgerald . He is an ex-soldier suffering severely from stress and depression after one tour too many in Afghanistan. He spends his days drinking, drug -taking and generally ruining his life. Then, out of the blue, he is asked by close family friends if he would go out to Thailand and find their son who is out there on holiday. Uncharacteristically he has not made contact for weeks and had been scheduled to return 3 weeks previously. Maybe it is the amount of money offered or perhaps it is that Hugh is just looking for a way out of his depressing existence but , for whatever reason, he decides to go. Does he find the boy? Does he find himself? These twin searches form the heart of the novel but, one thing is for sure, it's a grim and gritty search undertaken in a beautiful yet very dangerous part of the world.
Bardsley paints a vivid picture of Thailand and Cambodia but the romance and beauty of these countries is continuously counter-balanced by his ruthless description of how depression dominates, and indeed takes over, Hugh's life. Not a book to be taken lightly as we now know, all too well, the long term affects war has on soldiers. In many cases, although they return home alive, in reality they have lost their lives.

Hugh Fitzgerald is damaged, physically and mentally. Invalided out of the army after being blown up in a vehicle in Iran, he’s now in a downward self-destructive spiral of drinking too much, smoking too much, depression and apathy. His ex-girlfriend is about to get married and he feels he has nothing in his life.
Then comes an unexpected plea from his over-achieving younger brother, Nick. The son of a friend of his has gone missing in Thailand. Knowing that Hugh has been there several times, and that he can handle himself when the pressure’s on, thanks to his army background, Nick suggests that Huge goes to try and find Jack and bring him home. Hugh is reluctant at first, then motivated by the fee alone. However, after some reflection he realises this mission is exactly what he needs. It seems that saving Jack may also be his own salvation. He can prove that he still has value.
He hits the ground running in Thailand, where he soon becomes immersed in its seedier side. He picks up Jack’s trail and doesn’t like where it’s leading at all, but he’s an honourable man and will see his commitment through to the bitter end. Flawed as he is with his addictions and failure to take better care of himself, at heart we see he has a strong moral code. It may not entirely agree with that of the general populace, but he plays by his own rules which he has thought through. He’s intelligent, surprisingly empathetic and loyal. He’ll do whatever it takes to get this job done.
Events take him from Thailand into the no-man’s land of between that country and Cambodia, namely Poipet, which has its own rules. Hugh has to track down The Chairman who is ruthless in the extreme. It’s going to take all his courage and determination to survive, and succeed.
We experience the glory and the horror of Thailand. The writing is no-holds-barred, and stunningly beautiful imagery is found next to the shockingly jagged and brutal. We see our hero’s finest moments as well his lowest. We get a real sense of the desperation of so many lives, and yet sense the optimism and spirit of these same people. You can feel the humidity, the energy, the tension. Christopher Bardsley takes you by the throat with his writing and hangs on for dear life. The book is unputdownable, combining thriller, social commentary, politics, travelogue and self-discovery, and it stays with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s a haunting, challenging and powerful book.
Note: I'm currently unable to post the review to Amazon, either co.uk, .fr or .com. Keeps coming up with 're-submit'. Will keep trying.

Hugh is an ex Australian special forces soldier who suffers from PTSD. He goes to Thailand to track down the missing son of friends. This is a fast paced story about the dark world of drugs and drug smuggling. There is plenty of action and a lot to the story. I hope there is more of Hugh to come.

Wow, what a powerful book. Hugh is all of us in some way, maybe not to the extreme of his character, but we all are fighting something no matter how big or small. The search for the missing young man was thrilling and well fleshed out. This is a new to me author, but that will change because of this book. I will read anything this man puts out!