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Nigel Bird
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Southsiders - That's All Right: Jesse Garon #1 Kindle Edition

by Nigel Bird (Author), Allan Guthrie (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 141 ratings
Ray Spalding's had enough of his wife, Paula. He's left his home in Edinburgh's Southside and headed for Belfast. It's safer there.

Unknown to Ray, Paula's also had enough of him. She's not going back home. Not now, not ever.

Jesse Spalding wakes up one morning to find both his parents gone. And he can't tell anyone or he'll be taken into care.

As time passes and bills need paying, all Jesse can rely on are his wits, his friend Archie and his dad's 1950s record collection.

Southsiders is a powerful short novel that follows the spiralling fortunes of Ray and Jesse, pushing father and son to their limits while they struggle against the odds in the darker shadows of two of the UK's capital cities.

"The prose is tightrope taut and the plotting first class … a tense and thrilling novella" – Crimesquad.com on Mr Suit

"Grim, but really good" – Ian Rankin on Smoke

Nigel Bird is the author of several novels, novellas and short story collections, including The Shallows, Smoke, In Loco Parentis, Mr Suit and Dirty Old Town.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Southsiders
  2. Print length
    194 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    25 April 2017
  6. File size
    1.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B072DWNNF8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sea Minor
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 25 April 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Southsiders
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 141 ratings

About the author

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Nigel Bird

Nigel Bird

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Nigel Bird is the author of novels, novellas and short story collections, including the Rat Pack series,The Shallows, the Southsiders series, In Loco Parentis, Smoke, Mr Suit and Dirty Old Town.

His work has appeared in a number of prestigious magazines and collections, including 2 editions of The Best Of British Crime,The Reader, Crimespree and Needle.

He lives on the East Coast of Scotland in Dunbar with his wife and three children.

As well as writing fiction, he has been a teacher for thirty-five years and has worked in a number of mainstream and special schools.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
141 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging as a novel. However, the story receives mixed reactions, with several customers describing it as very depressing.

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StorytellingDepressing story
5 customers mention ‘Storytelling’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's storytelling engaging, with one customer noting it has a great beginning and middle, while another describes it as a refreshing piece of work.

"...To summarise this is a refreshing piece of work for any curious reader wanting some heartfelt fiction with a rock and roll flavour...." Read more

"...This was a short but very engaging novel about a young man who finally found that coping by himself was preferable to living with constant fights in..." Read more

"...But, a few pages in I was hooked. Its a really good premise that grows into a great story and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next...." Read more

"...This book actually has a great beginning and middle and absolutely no sign of an end! Makes me wary of trying his other stuff." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Depressing story’2 positive1 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's emotional content, with some finding it very depressing and sad, while one customer appreciates the cliffhanger ending.

"...view (Ray and Jesse) Nigel Bird delivers a powerfully emotional and tragic story with a cliff hanger ending that begs for a sequel...." Read more

"...I know I have said this already, but I found the story to be so depressing that I won't be reading the rest of the series and really don't care..." Read more

"...It's really funny in places too. So, gripping, sad, funny and wise. There's not much more you can ask of a book really." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Warren Stalley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Drainpipe Daydreams
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I first came across the author Nigel Bird in the ebook anthology True Brit Grit. Being curious I decided to investigate more of his work. Southsiders (That’s All Right) is a short yet emotional novella following the fortunes of Jesse Spalding and his soft-hearted dad Ray. After yet another domestic bust-up Ray walks out on his abusive wife Paula, regretfully leaving his son Jesse behind. As Ray flies off to Belfast, his doesn’t realise that Paula has also walked out thinking Ray is the one left behind with Jesse. This leaves Jesse fighting to survive on his own without school or the authorities finding out about his desperate situation. Told from twin points of view (Ray and Jesse) Nigel Bird delivers a powerfully emotional and tragic story with a cliff hanger ending that begs for a sequel. Crucially it’s the father/son relationship between Ray and Jesse which really is the narrative core to Southsiders lifting it above other works of fiction. To summarise this is a refreshing piece of work for any curious reader wanting some heartfelt fiction with a rock and roll flavour. Another winner from Mr Bird and Blasted Heath publishing. If you enjoy Southsiders I would also recommend In Loco Parentis by the same author, a story that mixes love, lust and teaching with murder!
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  • Ignite
    4.0 out of 5 stars Short but very engaging novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 November 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Young Jesse Spalding is the sort of child you’d be proud of. He’s grown up with the constant warring of his parents, often resulting in physical violence from his mother to his father. Eventually, they both decide they’ve had enough and leave home. Each thinks the other is still there to look after Jesse. He has to fall back on his own resourcefulness to manage to eat and pay the rent on his parents’ flat. His best friend Archie comes to his rescue on a number of occasions with food and money. His father goes to Belfast to find work, living with an old friend for whom life isn’t a dream either.

    This was a short but very engaging novel about a young man who finally found that coping by himself was preferable to living with constant fights in a filthy and unkempt home. I enjoyed it very much. If I had to pick a fault it was that I could happily have read a great deal more!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Rebecca Gransden
    3.0 out of 5 stars Touching attempt to grapple with the grit of downtrodden lives
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 November 2020
    A young boy, Jesse, is raised in a tumultuous household in Scotland. One day he discovers that after years of mistreatment by his mother, his father has left for Belfast to clear his head and perhaps find new work. It so happens that on the very same day, his troubled mother leaves the family home, resentful of her husband. Jesse is left to fend for himself, and fearing that he’ll be taken away from the family, decides to try to hide his situation for as long as possible. With money running low he turns to his father’s beloved record collection. Assembled over many years and containing rare releases he reluctantly pawns a particularly sought after and valuable selection.

    Music plays a pivotal role in this short first instalment of the Southsiders series. Love of early rock & roll is a shared interest between the father and son, and acts as a means for them to have a common interest, as well as representing for both of them a freer way of living. The conflicted feelings Jesse experiences when, due to desperation, he is forced to put his father’s collection in jeopardy are well portrayed. A young son’s loyalty to his parents despite their considerable flaws is brought into focus. Jesse struggles with conflicted feelings—understanding the reasons behind his father being so beaten down but also craving for him to stand up for him himself, and by extension defend his son’s interests also.

    A novel that visits the grim realities ordinary people can face, where abuse and neglect sometimes go unchallenged until the inevitable grave consequences result. Bird successfully draws a nuanced portrayal of damaged and overwhelmed people unable to outrun themselves. The intervention of various side characters adds a sense of a larger world for Jesse, and help create a contrasting tone in the narrative. There are some old-fashioned attitudes sprinkled throughout, but this is in keeping with the characters represented.

    Overall, a touching attempt to grapple with the grit of downtrodden lives.
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  • A. N. Other
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, sad, funny and wise. There's not much more you can ask of a book really.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 December 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure I was going to as it isn't the sort of story I usually go for. But, a few pages in I was hooked. Its a really good premise that grows into a great story and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. I have read a few books by this author and I really like his style. He has a way of getting inside his character's heads - no that isn't quite right - he has a way of putting you inside his character's heads that makes you (well me anyway) want to shout at them "No, don't do that that's a really BAD idea!" and then be massively relieved when they don't do that thing or shocked when they do. It's really funny in places too. So, gripping, sad, funny and wise. There's not much more you can ask of a book really.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Christopher Black
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top class
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 December 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting set up, great characters and a lot of questions raised to keep you guessing until the end. Nigel Bird knows how to control the narrative perfectly for pace and tension. Another very fine book from a very fine author.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This was my first experience of Nigel Bird and I'll definitely be going back for more!
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  • Grumpy Old Git
    2.0 out of 5 stars Where is the ending?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Did I get a duff version? Because I actually feel a bit cheated by this book. It's not because it is a novella as such, it's short but reasonably priced for that. I just feel the author got half way through a decent story and just stopped! I might be boring and conventional, but I like the stories I invest my time and money on to have a beginning, a middle and an end. This book actually has a great beginning and middle and absolutely no sign of an end! Makes me wary of trying his other stuff.
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  • Mr. Ian Murray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compulsive read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 December 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Cannot wait to read book two in the series.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Marlie H
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Story
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 January 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book. It is a very different kind of story. The young boy Jesse is a good kid and seems smarter than all the adults. They seem sad and angry in comparison. I could see it having a sequel so the story could continue.
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  • Customer Pam W.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Back in Memphis...
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 December 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This was a well written book, making me think as I read. Could have happened like in the story at any time...and I have met people who feel like the father did about Elvis, and boys who could tell you things about different songs the same as Jessie could. Would recommend this book and will probably read the rest of the series at some point soon.
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  • Chris Bell
    3.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, original and full of surprises
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 June 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is an accomplished book with compelling, three-dimensional characters and an unusual plot with some good twists. It's funny in the right places, suspenseful and original. It has to be said that the e-book is very slightly marred by a few clumsy typographical errors and inattentive editing, but otherwise it's a confident start to the series and I look forward to reading the rest.
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  • Kindle Customer TP
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a pair.
    Reviewed in the United States on 22 October 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Ray and son Jesse are some pair. They are often down but very cool and I enjoyed their predicaments and travels.
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  • Kat
    4.0 out of 5 stars The story continues.
    Reviewed in the United States on 3 June 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great story beginning, I wish I could have read more of it. The book continued in the next edition and I was disappointed by the way in which the author left off. He was passibly in the tree house and his mom was dead killed by ? His father.
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