Reviews for Project Deadhead

Sian - 5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar crime thriller - a great read

Fantastic first novel with a plot that had me gripped from the first page to the last. Some characters evoked empathy. Others shocked. The writing is fast paced but descriptive. The storyline takes the reader into a world that we hope not to experience but is a scarily realistic possibility. I hugely enjoyed this book and expect many others will too.

 Martin Mansbridge - 4.0 out of 5 stars New author - outstanding debut.

Just finished “Project Deadhead” by Bob Fairbrother A vision of the near future UK where the economy is close to collapse and lawlessness is on the rise. Bob Fairbrother, a first time author, has produced a startling vision of what could be. Highly recommended.

Deb  - 5.0 out of 5 stars I hope it's dystopian and not our actual future ...

A great story and definitely a credible dystopian future based on the way things seem to be heading right now. But most importantly I very much enjoyed reading Project Deadhead, the plot moves along, the characters are believable and you don't want to stop reading - it is gritty and real in a somewhat noir style but set in a realistic future England which I certainly recognised. The town of Hawham where the story is based suggests a certain town in Sussex which has been voted one of the best places to live in the UK in recent years - but Hawham's best days are clearly behind it. Excellent debut novel.

Hoops - 4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced dystopian thriller

I believe Project Deadhead is the first book from this new author. I really liked it. Fast paced story, engaging characters, several interleaved plot lines all well resolved and some thought-provoking ideas. A very solid and enjoyable first novel.

SM Goodman - 4.0 out of 5 stars A very relevant crime thriller

A new author for me & the picture that he paints in this dystopian near future thriller is not pretty. The internet & satellites have been sabotaged. Mobile phones no longer function. Climate change has hit hard, with searingly hot summers & monsoon like winters. Coastal towns are being evacuated & the country teeters on the edge of social & economical breakdown.
We follow the investigation into a series of seemingly random & unconnected murders in the town of Hawham. DCI MacGillivray is the lead detective; he & his team discover a secret plot that could destroy the whole town.
The story is told through the eyes of the main characters & moves swiftly & chronologically. An easy writing style makes them believable & the premise of the plot is very relevant. A great read.

Jan Grimshaw

Project Deadhead is brilliant. It's ages since I've enjoyed this genre so much.

Lovereading.com

A country on the verge of collapse serves as the backdrop to this twisting mystery.
In an England ravaged by climate change, record heat wave summers and rain soaked winters aren’t the only things causing havoc. The government is keen to maintain control but with the police force unreliable there’s a new age of lawlessness and a push for AI/Bot policing. Seeking to keep control, even with the most drastic measures, the Deputy Prime Minister empowers a specialist police corruption unit to stamp out public protests with Project Deadhead. Meanwhile DCI MacGillivray, drowning in grief for the loss of his family, is investigating a sudden rise of tragic accidents. But is he too far gone to return to his justice seeking former self, can he forgive himself for the depths he’s sunk to in the past and who will he have to reach out to for help in order to seek justice when everyone around him only cares about holding on to power.
The setting of 2046, the knock on effect of the climate and political environment in Project Deadhead gives this police procedural a whole new host of obstacles to overcome as MacGillivray seeks answers. There are plenty of elements that are stalwarts of crime thrillers, a protagonist investigator with a tragic past, struggling to establish his stance on justice, twists and revelations that send the plot in unexpected directions and a dogged determination to find out the truth. Add to the a system that is not only crumbling but also seeming to be against MacGillivray and you have an engaging story for any crime fiction fan.