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Dial 999
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Read Dial 999
Jon Hunter: Book 1

Dial 999 (2010) (edit title/settings)

by H. L. Raven (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

It's 1977, and Jon Hunter has followed his passion for punk rock across the pond to London. But when his life begins to resemble the chaos in his favorite lyrics, it's up to this Yank to figure out who's responsible for the murder and mayhem.

Note by author: This is the 1st book in my... read more

Summary edit see section history

Passion for the punk music scene in London, circa 1977, shimmers throughout H.L. Raven’s debut novel, Dial 999. Discovering who might be behind a series of heroin overdoses mowing down friends of young American transplant, Jon Hunter, propels this fast-driving mystery.

Raven adeptly... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Passion for the punk music scene in London, circa 1977, shimmers throughout H.L. Raven’s debut novel, Dial 999. Discovering who might be behind a series of heroin overdoses mowing down friends of young American transplant, Jon Hunter, propels this fast-driving mystery.

Raven adeptly captures the pace of Hunter’s lifestyle as he and his friends engage in tooth-popping fights with Teddy Boys outside of clubs and concerts, and spar with police detectives at crime scenes. The reader is immediately swept up into this punk world. Raven leads with an arresting scene depicting our hero mopping up his post-fight wounds in a friend’s bathroom, while another mate searches for a suitable vein for her heroin fix, her arm propped up at just the right angle on the toilet bowl. The images are vivid, the language raw, and the scene crystallizes the mood of this time and place.

A familiarity with British slang will help the reader enjoy this novel more fully. From the very title (999 is the UK police emergency hotline, as 911 is in the US), the book is peppered with Britishisms. Pop culture mavens will delight in the many music references. Hunter works along with his reggae-loving friend, Paul, in a record stall, organizing record album displays and putting together artwork and articles for his music zine. In the midst of all this intensity, the author provides a hilarious scene in which a detective gets a punk makeover to go undercover at an X-Ray Spex concert.

Raven’s virtuosity in conjuring up vivid scenes and metaphors is captured in this gem: “My cigarette was now an oxygen tank, and I inhaled desperately.” Unfortunately, her imaginative skills don’t quite carry over to the development of her characters. The author does not explain much about each character aside from what they might do for a living, and maybe some identifying physical trait, e.g., one policeman chews pens, Hunter’s girlfriend has freckles and dyed hair. Even with the great description of scenes and atmosphere, it is hard to care what happens to such thinly described characters.

A cozy mystery this is not, but if one wants to travel back in time to feel the edgy intensity of London at the height of the punk scene, this book is pitch perfect. Raven’s treatment of pogo dancing, binge drinking, drugging, barbed wire wristlets, frenetic concert scenes, violence, and inventive sex will take the riveted reader there in short order. The author is planning another book in the series, and if she can develop the portraits of her characters more fully, it will be worthy of attention.

----Rachel Jagareski, ForeWord Clarion Review

Characters edit see section history

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Bugs continued cursing next to me, working more holes into his battered t-shirt. I could hear him seething. The veins in his arms were still visible. 'You never fucking speak up, ya cunt,' he'd always scold me. 'You never fucking throw a punch. You just stand there like a poof as the pigs take me in.'”
    Jon Hunter

Setting & Locations edit see section history

This book takes place in London, England from April 30 to May 19, 1977.

Organizations edit see section history

  • Teddy Boys: A youth subculture; the '70s version (which is featured in this book) appearing like the American "greasers" of the '50s. They were known for clashing with Punks.

First Sentence edit see section history

When Miranda slumped over onto the floor, I knew it was time to go.

Glossary edit see section history

Show all 31 glossary entries

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 1 in Jon Hunter. (standard series)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. H. L. Raven (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Reality Asylum Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 0-9718673-1-3
Page Count: 220

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

A note from the author: This book is not appropriate for children due to language, violence, and drug use.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

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