Hacking George by Bob Palmer

June 17, 2022

Hacking George
Bob Palmer
5 Stars

Pages: 349
Published: 10 June 2022
Publisher: Double Bluff Books
Genre: Humorous Dark Comedy

Publisher's Blurb

Playing God is a dangerous game, even if you do write the rules and think they’re pretty neat.

Following a road-rage incident in which he was the victim, middle-aged cynic George Sanderson has an epiphany. He believes he has the power to influence fate and set the world to rights.

During a meticulously-planned intervention to help his friend Angela Hayworth, the two fall in love. George’s lonely existence looks set to improve. But he’s about to discover that playing games with people’s lives is fraught with danger. And when his life starts to fall apart, he’s forced to confront the frightening truth…

Someone is manipulating him. But why?

With his freedom and sanity at stake, George must fight for everything he holds dear – especially his lawn, his meat thermometer, and Angela’s perfect teeth.

Perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman, Graeme Simsion, Richard Osman, and Jonas Jonasson, Hacking George will put a smile on your face and a tear in your eye as it drives you towards its startling end.

Review

George Sanderson embarks on a mission to help the woman he met when he was on the receiving end of a vicious assault following a minor traffic collision. What George doesn’t realise is that while he is manipulating Angela’s boss, someone else is hacking into his own life and is about to turn George’s sedate existence right on its head.

Filled with delightfully quirky characters and witty situations, the author takes a completely ordinary man, an accountant no less, and turns him into the unlikely hero of this highly entertaining story.

George is a pedant, a perfectionist and borderline sufferer of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He has to plan every decision or action in minute detail and has to correct everyone given the chance, but you just can’t help but love him. I wish I had a friend like George.

The situations George finds himself in are in part ridiculous and in equal measure genius. I fear for anyone who makes an enemy of the author as he has a devious mind and a flair for intrigue that wouldn’t be out of place in a secret agent.

I found that the story flowed well and maintained my interest throughout. I like a book that reads fluently and minimises the number of times that the suspension of disbelief is dispelled, this book ticks both boxes.

If ever proof were needed that a good book doesn’t need a tortuously complicated plot, a high body count and gratuitous sex and violence then this is it.

I loved the supporting cast, from the love interest Angela to the nefarious villain of the piece Reg. I’d like to see George in a sequel as I feel that he still has more to give and a crime fighting team up with his beau is not beyond the realms of reasonability. The world is more than ready for a pedantic OCD private detective.

The final resolution of the lottery ticket plot needs credit as it would have been far too easy to finish it in a less satisfactory manner given George’s personality.

The character of Ray is a complicated one that has you changing your opinion of him a number of times throughout the book and his final act is suitably in character given the man we come to know as the drama unfolds.

In summary, this is a delightful read that delivers great characters, an interesting plot and a satisfaction that at the end you’ve not been short changed

The Author

A former town planner and rock drummer, Bob Palmer finally found his niche as an advertising creative in London, winning numerous UK and international awards. A pioneer of book trailer marketing, he has extensive experience in the publishing industry.

He co-founded the television production company and emerging talent showcase HYPtv. Bob has mentored numerous young filmmakers, helping them take their first steps into commercials, TV and film. More recently, he co-produced the New York Times Critics Pick feature film Us & Them.

Bob shares a creaky 400-year-old cottage on the edge of London with a black cat, rampant woodworm, and his infinitely patient author and cover-designer wife Berni Stevens.

When he’s not working, you'll find him hiking canyons in south-east Utah searching for ancient ruins and rock art. To share his passion, he created the popular website reddirtblueskies.net.

Hacking George is his debut novel and a labour of love. His next novel, The Last Boy in America, is scheduled for release in autumn 2022.

Website

___________________________________________________________