Published: Oct. 21, 2011
Words: 95,310 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465768155

Short description

Harry Fingle is a crusading journalist, dedicated to exposing the truth. He fears no one, and gives no favours. But when he’s framed for a crime he didn’t commit, fired from his job, his brother and sister-in-law are murdered, and his life is threatened, he demands answers. He unearths a violent, shocking conspiracy that implicates the CIA and MI6 and exposes the criminality of big business.

Extended description

Harry, an investigative journalist with a top UK national newspaper, discovers a mysterious, encrypted file on his late brother’s computer. He thinks it contains a cure for HIV and is linked to his brother and sister-in-law’s murders. Helped by Amie, his ex-girlfriend, he starts to search for the truth. He becomes immersed in a violent, disturbing international conspiracy, where two of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies resort to murder and corruption to secure their world dominance and the American and British security services are shown to be complicit.

Playing Harry is the story of a man’s epic fight against powerful organisations. His terrifying journey brings him back into contact with his former partner – who never came to terms with their break-up – a successful career woman who grieves over the death of her teenage son, a sad, pathetic alcoholic, who’s continually trying to kick the habit, and a supposedly-reformed drug dealer, who can’t escape his .. (Read more) Harry, an investigative journalist with a top UK national newspaper, discovers a mysterious, encrypted file on his late brother’s computer. He thinks it contains a cure for HIV and is linked to his brother and sister-in-law’s murders. Helped by Amie, his ex-girlfriend, he starts to search for the truth. He becomes immersed in a violent, disturbing international conspiracy, where two of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies resort to murder and corruption to secure their world dominance and the American and British security services are shown to be complicit.

Playing Harry is the story of a man’s epic fight against powerful organisations. His terrifying journey brings him back into contact with his former partner – who never came to terms with their break-up – a successful career woman who grieves over the death of her teenage son, a sad, pathetic alcoholic, who’s continually trying to kick the habit, and a supposedly-reformed drug dealer, who can’t escape his past.

‘Nick Wastnage’s books stand apart from other thrillers. Each a blend of powerful, page-turning narrative where the human drama could be taken straight from the 21st century.’ John Stand, creative writing tutor.
(Less)

Tags

cia, corruption, conspiracy, assasin, alcoholic, grief and loss, mi6, spooks, drugdealer, lostlove

Available ebook reading formats

Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.

Format	Full Book	Sample First 20%
Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser)	Buy	View sample
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)	Buy	Download sample
Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	Download sample
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
RTF (readable on most word processors)	Buy	No sample available
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	Download sample
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	Download sample
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

Log-in to write a Review   Log-in to add a Video Review

Review by: Dale Ibitz on Dec. 14, 2012 :
This is a complex novel with a lot of players and a lot of moving pieces. This is a the type of novel that's difficult to write really well. The characters themselves are portrayed well, their motivations and emotions are clear and understandable.

I had a hard time getting into the story because it flashed quickly between points of view, and it took me a while to put the pieces together to figure out where the story was going. Nick himself is portrayed as kind of a dick, and the fact that he's been through a good amount of crap, doesn't make him any less of a dick in the way he handled the situation...especially to the ex-girlfriend. Granted, at the end he recognizes that he's been a dick, but I went through the whole story not really liking Harry all that much because, you know, he was a dick.



In fact, as well as the characters were portrayed, I really didn't feel much attachment to them.

The dialogue didn't flow well for me. Most of the speech sounded unnatural and robotic and extremely formal.

The biggest draw back for me is that the characters' movements were diagrammed to the point where there movements started appearing mechanical. It was really distracting.

I think I spent part of the time being confused, part of the time being annoyed, and part of the time being bored by this one.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Kenneth Wayne on Sep. 14, 2012 :
Playing Harry is the second thriller by Nick Wastnage that I have had the pleasure to read. As with Electronic Crime in Muted Key, the protagonist is a white professional comfortable with the tools of the IT age. Where Electronic Crime focused on an elaborate plot of false identity and deception of family members, friends and the police, Playing Harry focuses on deception of the protagonist by friends, co-workers and governments (both domestic and foreign). In ways the beginning of the novel reminded me a little of the Stieg Larsson novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo since Harry is also a journalist on trial facing prison if convicted. That fate is narrowly missed, but very quickly he finds himself involved a situation beyond his control when he discovers the existence of a mysterious computer file on the harddrive of his recently deceased brother's computer. From here stranger events begin to escalate rapidly involving the deaths of others seemingly connected, corporate backbiting, spying and espinage; all of which appears to involve international corporations, foreign governments, organized crime, MI6 and even the American CIA. What is poor Harry to do and who is it that is actually playing with him and to what end? Oh yeah, I can't forget the interplay with his ex-girlfriend and a couple of other sexual encounters that add more heat to the whole .
If you want to curl up with a thriller constructed by a real master, you cannot go wrong with Playing Harry.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Arlena Dean on July 10, 2012 :
Author: Nick Wastnage
Published By: Smashwords
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5

Review:

"Playing Harrying" by Nick Wastnage was indeed at good mystery read. I was kept seating on the edge of my seat...quickly turning the ages until I was finished with this wonderful read. Be ready for a action packed read that will have you waiting for the next twist and turn because there will be many for "Playing Harry." Being a senior journalist working for 'The Morning Times was what Harry loved. However, problems came.... and he had been found not guilty of a trumped- up charge...and that is how this story starts. The author was able to keep the reader very interested in what was going on....the death of his brother...sister-in-law... all comes together in a violent international conspiracy that will only leave you saying WoW!

The characters were simply off the chart....good.....here are a few...Harry Fingle, Philip Stacey, Amie Lue, Richard Morecombe, Kate Fisher, Gary Lester, Jimmy, Ed James, Alex Goad, Clair & Joe Fingle, John Edwards, Dave, Jackie, Boris, Natasha, Scott Reynolds, Paul Thompson, Jill Fellows, Sheila Robinson, Mirman Rodriquez and I am sure I have left out someone. All of these characters had their certain amount of flavor(even the bad) that truly added a plus to this excellent read to find out how. Now to find out more you will simply have to pick up "Playing Harry" to find out.

If you are in for a good mystery with corruption, conspiracy, drugs, lost love, grief and more.... you are at the right place for "Playing Harry" and I would recommend this novel as a excellent read for you.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Arlena Dean on July 10, 2012 :
Author: Nick Wastnage
Published By: Smashwords
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5

Review:

"Playing Harrying" by Nick Wastnage was indeed at good mystery read. I was kept seating on the edge of my seat...quickly turning the ages until I was finished with this wonderful read. Be ready for a action packed read that will have you waiting for the next twist and turn because there will be many for "Playing Harry." Being a senior journalist working for 'The Morning Times was what Harry loved. However, problems came.... and he had been found not guilty of a trumped- up charge...and that is how this story starts. The author was able to keep the reader very interested in what was going on....the death of his brother...sister-in-law... all comes together in a violent international conspiracy that will only leave you saying WoW!

The characters were simply off the chart....good.....here are a few...Harry Fingle, Philip Stacey, Amie Lue, Richard Morecombe, Kate Fisher, Gary Lester, Jimmy, Ed James, Alex Goad, Clair & Joe Fingle, John Edwards, Dave, Jackie, Boris, Natasha, Scott Reynolds, Paul Thompson, Jill Fellows, Sheila Robinson, Mirman Rodriquez and I am sure I have left out someone. All of these characters had their certain amount of flavor(even the bad) that truly added a plus to this excellent read to find out how. Now to find out more you will simply have to pick up "Playing Harry" to find out.

If you are in for a good mystery with corruption, conspiracy, drugs, lost love, grief and more.... you are at the right place for "Playing Harry" and I would recommend this novel as a excellent read for you.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: My Gam3 Books on Oct. 29, 2011 :
I love playing Harry. It reminds me of Alan Jacobson books. The plot twisted and the ending is unpredictable. I like how Nick Wastnage make the story in gray area. He didn't force his opinion but let us decide for ourselves whether the end justify the mean.

I like all characters there including the bad guys. He make the characters live because they do what real people will do. Everyone have their own problems and they struggle with it. Character I like the most is Gary Lester. I feel he is the one who have the most character development. The irony is he didn't have any connection with Harry Fingle (main character) unlike other characters.

The theme itself is ordinary but Nick Wastnage wrap it so good that you keep reading until the end. But, it's not without minus. One area I feel the story lack is dialogue. I think it was his style to prefer narrative story telling to conversation. But certainly I won't mind if he increase the dialogue between characters. Anyway, it's a very good and interesting books. I'm waiting for Nick Wastnage next books.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Reason for report:
— Select a reason — Book is or contains spam Book infringes copyright Same content is published elsewhere with different author (for ex., by private-label rights) Duplicate Incomplete work (such as sample or serial) Should be marked adults-only Category is inappropriate Poorly formatted Nudity or other inappropriate content on cover Nudity or other inappropriate visual content in book Inappropriate erotica content Cover image is improper Content is inappropriate Other violation of Terms of Service Other reason not shown above.

Additional details: