Product Description

It’s 1976 and England is sweating its nuts off. As an unrelenting heat wave beats down on the nation, the residents of Horse’s Arse – aka Handstead New Town, north Manchester – are reaching melting point. The Park Royal Mafia, having recovered from the loss of its senior members, is under new management and open for the business of mindless violence again. Unfortunately their antics have attracted the attention of a psychotic Turkish gangster, who’s decided the Mafia is just what he needs to pull himself to the top of the criminal heap. And wading into the middle of it are the Grim Brothers, Psycho, Pizza, Ally – Horse’s Arse’s finest and the hardestboiled coppers you’ll ever meet. With this lot hot under the collar it’s all going to end in blood, (a lot of) sweat and tears.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16595 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

About the Author
Charlie Owen enjoyed a thirty-year career in the police service, serving with two forces in the Home Counties and London, reaching the rank of Inspector. He recently commenced a second career in the security services department of an investment bank. Charlie Owen is married with six children.

Customer Reviews

Is it ok for grown men to cry in public?
It is now. This book will make a jibbering wreck out of anybody with a sense of humour. Within minutes of starting it, I was laughing out loud and wiping the tears from my eyes on a packed commuter train. My face ached because of the constant silly grin on it. Young women sitting near me were smiling at me, (for the first time in years) during my very public display of uncontrolled hilarity. Foxtrot Oscar picks up perfectly where Horses Arse ended, and Charlie Owen's expertise as a story teller has gone from strength to strength, as the story unfolds and a compelling plot develops. This book is an absolute page turner that I only unwillingly put down when the train driver threatened to leave me in the sidings overnight. Book 3 can't come soon enough.

Foxtrot Oscar
Charlie Owen has managed to do the 'difficult second book' with ease. In Horses Arse he introduced us to Psycho, The Brothers and the rest but in FO he takes the time to show us their full depth, whilst still maintaining the fast pace. You even start to actually like and feel for the characters, despite their dubious tactics.

Charlie has chosen a great setting for the book and the backdrop of the hot summer really adds to the madness. If you liked HA then you're going to love this and if you if you weren't sure then give this a go anyway, because it's better. All I can say is hurry up and write the third book Charlie!!!

'Foxtrot Oscar' is absolutely 'Foxtrot Echo' !
I finished this book after two days and having enjoyed Horses Arse immensly I was in no way disappointed with the sequel.Charlie has developed the various characters and Foxtrot Oscar expertly continues the story of policing Hatfield (sorry, Handstead) in the late 70's. As I have said previously, the characters are entirely believable and I have no doubt that is because they actually existed. (I certainly know who 'Alfie' is!) Foxtrot Oscar is an excellent read and although absolutely hilarious in parts this is countered by a darkness and intensity that sends a shiver down the spine. Policing was like that,Police bars were like Charlie describes and the apprehension felt by officers prior to a busy night shift on a hot,sticky night is more than adequately captured within Charlie's words. Buy and read this book and like me you will be looking forward to December when the third book in the serise, Bravo Jubilee is published. Thanks Charlie,you have done it again!