ASBO:

I bought this book because after being impressed by Housemates, Ian Rob Wright's books have become an auto-buy for me.Anti Social Personality disorder is very frightening. It's marked by a lack of remorse and an inability to bond with people. The thought that they're members of our society, masquerading as normal citizens, makes it all the more terrifying. Monsters, zombies and goblins don't scare me as much as individuals devoid of a conscience. Is it nature or nurture? If an individual had a different set of parents and lived in a different environment, would he or she have turned out differently? That's the age old question.I believe that my next door neighbor is a sociopath. I've seen him shove a bird down a Pepsi can when we were kids. He seemed utterly maniacal when he did it. But I digress, what makes this book a scary read is because it's plausible and can happen to us at any given moment. Ian Rob Wright plays with our primal fear in ASBO. Andrew, a family man, is caught in a whirlpool of abject madness when sociopathic Frankie decides to make him into his private little sandbox du jour. The pacing is good. Ian builds up the suspense and anxiety-ridden atmosphere. The police can't help him without a burden of proof that Frankie is threatening and terrorizing Andrew and his family. If the police can't help you, then who will? Resorting to violence breeds more violence. Somewhere in a dusty corner at the back of your head, you have this, "what if this happens to me," fear. What would you do if a menacing thug invades the safety of your own home and starts terrorizing you?**Possible Spoilers**For the most part, I enjoyed this book, but I found it rather (after the 100 page mark) predictable. It started out great. It crescendoed towards the middle but then it faltered. Unlike Housemates, the ending didn't surprise me at all. I kinda saw it coming. The characters weren't developed to the point where when someone died, I didn't care much (since I wasn't given a chance to care about said character). I'm not sure how I feel about the main character, Andrew. Sometimes he's implacable and fearless and then in the next moment, he appears to be timid. One minute he's a madman hellbent on revenge and in the next instant he's emotionally deflated and negotiable. Why didn't he install a CCTV in his house when the police suggested it instead of going to Frankie's home and trying to reason with him? After the way Frankie threatened and assaulted Andrew, I'd expect an intelligent man to figure out that you can't reason with sociopaths.Throughout the book, Andrew has emphasized the importance of being a family man, and yet he goes and does something that is in direct conflict with that principle. He does something that has serious consequences and it seemed to me that his daughter, Rebecca, didn't factor into his irrevocable decision. My other gripe is that I grew extremely irritated with Andrew for mentioning Charlie to Frankie. Charlie made it clear she doesn't want to get involved and that she fears him exponentially. She's warned him that he's a dangerous fellow, and yet he carelessly mentions Charlie's name in an off-hand manner? Like as if he hadn't the faintest clue that there's this possibility that Frankie would retaliate and hurt Charlie. Many have complained that the writing style is juvenile. While I don't think it's horrible (like Stephanie Myers and E.L James's prose), Ian has room for improvement.**End of spoilers**All in all, I did enjoy this book. I think Ian Rob Wright is adept at creating horrific scenarios, but I wouldn't consider this to be a fantastic read. It's not the kinda book I'd re-read again. Housemates was a scarier, white-knuckle read. I recommend that over this.3.5 Stars

I don't know how to feel about this book. Truly I'm speechless (which I don't know if this is a good or bad thing). I'm one of those people who watches movies and overanalyze different situations and I did just that with this book. I mean... All the stuff that happened to the main character and he still did what he did... How Sway... How!?!? And the ending... I felt it was rushed and/or like the writer had to just throw something in there to make everything connect. I don't want to spoil it just in case anyone reads my review... Just know that this book will make you scream at the main character and have you asking yourself "how".On a more positive note...I'm all for the blood and guts of the story. Since the book was so " unbelievable" (literally) I would have truly enjoyed more creative gore and horror. In doing so, I would have probably gave it four stars.Overall: it was ok

American readers may not be familiar with the ASBO, it's a quintessential British punishment. It stands for Anti-Social Behaviour Order. It's a punishment for minor offences that supposedly limits movements and types of behavior of the offenders. It's a kind of probation before getting into more serious trouble for breaking the stipulations set out in the ASBO. The type of restrictions might be no alcohol or not being allowed in a certain area. It's been pretty much a failure and is due to be replaced with something else by the British Government. It's a common punishment for typical teenage offences.In my opinion it seems that there is a tremendous fear of teenagers in Britain, with them seen as bored, violent and remorseless. This image is propagated through the news media and through movies such as Eden Lake. As seemingly more teenagers are growing up with few job opportunities and prospects, there is the idea of gangs of youths roaming the streets looking for kicks.Most of the books I've reviewed have had more than an element of the fantastical about them, but this title is very much in our everyday world. There is no supernatural element. In many ways the plausibility makes it all the scarier. Where you can comfort yourself with most horror books that the events could never happen, you don't have that solace here.The story follows a middle class, family man, Andrew, whose life changes through the simple act of walking past a gang of teens. The teens are led by Frankie, recently released from juvenile detention. After an initial unprovoked assault on Andrew, Frankie and his gang continue to harass him and things escalate quickly. We empathize with Andrew's fear for his family, and his desperation to be free of his persecutor. The harassment moves from theft and vandalism to far worse crimes against him. Frankie is a very nasty piece of work, completely without compassion or remorse with his teenage gang following him like a cult leader out of fear. You feel such great sympathy for Andrew and his family as Frankie's attacks on them grow worse and the sanctuary of their home if defiled. The character of Frankie is contrasted with his younger brother Davie, who is almost the opposite, who has family loyalty to Frankie, but takes no pleasure from Frankie's sadistic ways. Sadistic is the right word for Frankie, highlighted by the terrible violence he inflicts on those who he perceives have crossed him. The factors that have shaped Frankie's personality are brought to life as the book progresses. The reveals about Frankie's past add more depth to his character. Also as the book progresses, Frankie's instability escalates, and then the torture starts...The book builds to a brutal climax as violence begets violence and casualties mount. I found the story gripping and you feel so much for the situation the protagonist finds himself in, it is gut wrenching. The small cast of characters that you get to know well and the claustrophobic nature of the plot, makes this a real page turner. You just hope and hope for justice or an end to the suffering. I don't want to give the impression that this is torture porn on the written page, because it's not. It is violent, but it's far from glorified. I would definitely recommend this, it's not a long read and it will have you hooked almost immediately.7.5/10

I'd heard of this writer but had never gotten around to reading anything by him, due mainly to the fact that I read a lot, and normally books by writers I've been reading for years, so anyone new, unfortunately gets left out if I have to take a chance and pay for someone I'm unfamiliar with. Fortunately though, a lot of his books can be had for free on kindle so I downloaded a load of them, Asbo, being the first one read. Yes, the book is quite short, but that's to its advantage I feel, and there was never a dull moment. At times it was like reading Shaun Hutson, but with better characterisation, don't get me wrong, I love Shaun Hutson's work, but I cared more about what happened to the people in this book than most of Shaun 's previous work. So that was a plus. The story was simple but engaging, and certainly makes me want to read more of his books. If this one is anything to go by, I feel as though I'll be in safe hands when I work my way through all the free ones I ordered, and then, will definitely be paying for any others. Highly recommended

Another amazing book by Iain Rob Wright! While this one steers away from supernatural horror, it is truly horrific in a real life sense. This story was a terrifying picture of what happens when a true sociopath preys on innocent people for what seems to be no reason. With so much knife crime happening all over the UK, it is not hard at all imagining this book playing out exactly how it would in the real world. If you like a story that keeps you on your toes the whole way through, then I can highly recommend this book.Please ignore the 1 star reviews, especially in the case of one reviewer, bunnyroo, whose issue with the story is too many 'Americanisms', which I didn't notice at all. Apparently, it's a pet peeve of his and has written the same thing on many books by British authors.Give this one a chance, I know you won't regret it, and all of his other books as well, the ones I've read so far are fantastic!

I actually purchased this book in 2012 and for some reason had never read it. Found it yesterday and read it to the end which as someone has already commented that is a part of my life I will never get back.There is mention of American language used and the stand out example of that is the main character a 40 something year old family man with a teenage daughter using the word 'gotten'. OK his use of 'innit' when the young offenders are involved but the story just loses all credibility with the way the main character Andrew talks and thinks.There is obviously no clue as to Police procedure and talk of Police Officers not knowing the area because they have recently been transferred from a different Branch, not Station, Division or Town even shows that. Then when the officer says she will phone the Super and ask him something? Right that happens all the time a PC phones the Super.............not! There is a chain of command and PC's don't get to discuss things directly with officers of a Superintendent rank on a daily basis.Also at the end of the book the main character is charged with nothing despite the crimes he has committed. Yes under provocation and sometimes in self defence but no charges at all? Really.Maybe sounds like I am nit picking with these small matters but a book has to be believable to be enjoyable and this isn't. Yes I finished it instead of giving up half way but only so I could actually say how truly dreadful it was in a considered and informed view.Don't waste your time.

Really enjoyed this book. I found it easy to submerge myself in the story and the characters.Really well written and a lot different to some of the IRW books I have read but one of the few I have enjoyed the most. I think the reason for this is because of the story. It is easy to place yourself into the world of the characters and directly into their shoes and realise that their choices aren't too different from our own.Would recommend this book to new IRW readers

ASBO on Audiobook* Sickening* Depraved* Morally Debased* Intimidating* Wretched* Bloody Brilliant* RealI love love loved this book, I loved it because it felt real, real in the way you would imagine these reprobates to be.So Bravo to Narrator Nigel Patterson.This indeed is a novel of extreme violent terror made sickeningly real by the fact it is based on real event,we all know that do and can happen!This is not for the faint hearted at all , if you are of a nervous disposition i suggest you dont listen to this .I listened to this on audiobook and I am so glad I did. I haven't read or heard anything so intense in a long time and would have found it difficult to see and feel the change in Andrew,the mild mannered family man to the violent murderer he becomes, by myself.The characters are all strong from the beginning and the storyline flowed all the way through, sometimes such a hard intense storyline fizzles out, not this one, I was holding my ribs and breath for mostly the whole book!The vile characters made me sick to my stomach the things they did , yet, I couldn't stop listening. Isn't it strange how we cant stop though its awful?More Like this would be fabulous