Boy Kills Man

Too young to die - old enough to murder

Shorty and Alberto are more than best friends. They're blood brothers, both about to turn thirteen, running wild on the streets of Medellin, Colombia.

In this troubled South American city, guns speak louder than words. A killing can be bought for nothing here, with kids hired to do the dirty work. So when Alberto comes to the attention of a gangland boss, Shorty is left to kick at the dirt and reflect on his lot in life.

Lost without his buddy, Shorty begins to yearn for some purpose, affection and respect of his own - even when Alberto goes missing.


"Bold, chilling and beautifully written." Melvin Burgess


"In writing Boy Kills Man, I didn't set out to purposely shock or disturb. Nor did I write for a specific age group. I just wanted to tell a story as honestly as I could, as seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old assassin - living in a part of our world where this really happens.

For Shorty, a gun provides a purpose and earns him respect. This may make uneasy reading, and invite accusations of glamorising violence, but you have to ask why anyone in this situation would be drawn to pick up a gun in the first place. Once such a weapon is in his possession, however, it becomes like a terminal disease. He lives with it as best he can, knowing it'll get him in the end.

Boy Kills Man isn't a novel to preach that 'guns are bad', and nor is Shorty particularly sorry for what he does. Despite this, I hope the reader is left with sympathy and affection for Shorty, and then question why that is."

UK hardback      March 2004    £10.99    (Hodder)

UK paperback    Jan 2005        £5.99      (Hodder)

Boy Kills Man is also published in the USA, Sweden, France, Italy, Portugal, Japan, Norway, Estonia and Holland.