Skip to content

Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night Hardcover - 2008

by Allan Guthrie

Summary

How much blood would you spill to avenge those you love?

Andy Park passes out at the sight of blood, but he thinks he’s discovered a way to make his family’s enemies pay. He isn’t prepared for the fallout, though, when his teenage son is put in mortal danger and his daughter and her fiancé are forced to carry out his dirty work.

And yet Park’s world is peachy in comparison to Tommy Savage’s. A masked man known only as Mr. Smith is blackmailing Savage—for what, he has no idea. And after an attempt to gain the upper hand has near-fatal results, Tommy and his brother, Phil, find themselves heading to a graveyard with only a couple of swords and a bag of cash for company.

Will they survive the night?

Will anyone?

With equal parts blood phobia and blood lust, Allan Guthrie’s Savage Night unfolds over six short blood-blind hours in Scotland’s capital city.

Details

  • Title Savage Night
  • Author Allan Guthrie
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First American E
  • Pages 311
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Houghton Mifflin, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
  • Date June 9, 2008
  • ISBN 9780151013012 / 0151013012
  • Weight 1.25 lbs (0.57 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.26 x 6.09 x 1.07 in (23.52 x 15.47 x 2.72 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Edinburgh (Scotland), Ex-convicts
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2007046028
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

Excerpt

savage night,

10:30 p.m.,

fraser’s

WHEN HE OPENED his sitting-room door, the last thing Fraser Savage expected to see was a corpse. Stuffed inside a stainless-steel bathtub on a plastic sheet in the middle of the floor, the body was naked and clearly male, even though it was facedown.

"Who the fuck is that?" Effie said.

Fraser shook his head slowly. The corpse had pale skin. Hairy buttocks. It was plump around the middle.

Holy fucking Christ, it couldn’t be . . .

Fraser’s toes and fingers started to prickle and his stomach cramped. The two pints he’d had earlier in the evening suddenly seemed like a lot more. And those three—or was it four?—lines of coke hadn’t helped. Sweat rolled down his back. His nose was running, too. He dabbed at his nostrils with the back of his hand.

"I think it might be Uncle Phil," he said.

"Does he have any identifying features?" Effie asked. "Tattoos? Scars?"

"I don’t think so."

He shivered. Not that he was cold. Felt like he’d puked his guts out and there was nothing left. Another shiver rippled through him.

Was it his uncle? Same waxy pale skin that ginger people have, same overall body shape.

But he’d never seen Uncle Phil naked. He might have identified him by his hair, that permanent ginger bed-head, but that wasn’t an option. Maybe the corpse had ginger pubes. Although even that didn’t mean it was Uncle Phil. There were plenty of other poor bastards with ginger pubes. Maybe the skin was excessively pale because of the blood loss and he wasn’t ginger at all.

Fraser could turn him over, find out.

Yeah, right. He wasn’t wrestling with that.

There was a good reason for the tub. There was a good reason Fraser felt sick. There was a good reason Fraser didn’t want to turn him over.

Somebody had cut the poor bastard’s head off.

And it was nowhere to be seen.
 

"DRINK THIS."

He took the glass of vodka from Effie, the liquid sloshing around as his hand shook. Steadied it with his other hand and knocked it back. It burned his throat nicely. He gave her back the glass and she poured him another. He took it, drank it. Felt warmer now, less shivery, hands not so shaky.

Effie didn’t appear fazed by the situation at all. Almost as if she were used to stumbling over corpses in her boyfriends’ homes.

Not that he was her boyfriend, exactly. But they’d been getting along well and maybe something would have happened tonight. It certainly wouldn’t now. A headless corpse was a major turnoff.

Jesus, he had to grow up.

Maturity, that’s what it was. Fraser was twenty-five. Effie’d have to be around the thirty mark. He hadn’t asked her, didn’t want to risk screwing things up. Anyway, she’d had more experience than him, which is why she was so much more composed.

Although it was unlikely, however old she was, that she’d seen a naked, headless corpse before.

And yet, Fraser couldn’t help but think of the way Effie had introduced herself when they first met. Wearing a two-tone orange blouse, open at the back, checked headscarf, sandals, almost a hippie thing going on. Said the cold didn’t bother her, although her nipples suggested otherwise.

That was less than a week ago.

"Effie," Fraser had said, shaking her hand, feeling her cool palm in his. "Nice name. And what do you do?"

Her grin brought out tiny wrinkles around her eyes. "I kill people," she’d said.

Fraser grabbed her hand tighter, laughing. Played along with her. "Like a mercenary or something?"

Effie squeezed his fingers hard, then slid hers out of his grip.

You just had to take one look at her to know she didn’t have what it took to be a paid killer. She was no more than an inch over five foot.

But, Fraser wondered now, staring at the tub in his sitting room, what if it was true?

Shock. Had to be. Starting to suspect Effie was plain fucking crazy. She’d been at the pub with Fraser, so she couldn’t have done it. Even if she was some kind of psycho killer. What the hell was he thinking? He should concentrate on more important questions.

Like, where the fuck was the head? And why would anybody want to run away with it? Jesus, maybe it was lying around somewhere. Under one of the chairs, or beneath a cushion or behind the curtain. Christ’s sake.

Fraser didn’t feel too good.

He was glad Simone wasn’t here. She’d probably order him to get down on his hands and knees and start hunting for it.

"Want to take a closer look?" Effie said.

She was as bad as Simone.

Fraser found himself stepping toward the tub. Swaying as he walked, as if he were drunk. Hadn’t had much, though. Just those pints and the neat vodkas Effie’d given him.

The plastic sheet scraped underfoot. He bent over the body, peered down at the neck. Ragged skin and gristle. He looked away. Straight at the inch or so of dark liquid clotting in the bottom of the tub.

And the smell: sharp and raw.

His stomach muscles tightened, cheeks puffed, but somehow he held his dinner down. Amazing he could smell anything, the way his nose was streaming. He wiped it with the back of his hand, beyond caring what Effie would think.

He stepped back from the tub, shaky, a bit fuzzy-headed, but okay. Shit, yeah.

The corpse’s legs were bent at the knee, flopped sideways. Fraser couldn’t remember seeing the soles of Uncle Phil’s feet before. They were white and tender-looking. It felt wrong that they were exposed like this. He shouldn’t be staring at them.

Effie said, "Recognize that?"

Fraser followed her gaze toward the corpse’s hand, twisted behind his back. He wasn’t sure what she meant.

"The ring," she said.

Of course. If Fraser got a close-up of that ugly monstrosity, he could be sure, right enough. But he couldn’t tell with the hand lying palm-up like that.

"Go on," Effie said. "Take a good look."

Fraser didn’t move.

Effie strode over to the tub, grabbed the hand, turned it over, held it out. She bent the ring finger toward Fraser.

No doubt about it. Uncle Phil’s silver Viking longboat ring.

Effie raised her eyebrows.

Fraser tried to speak. Nodded instead.

Effie dropped Uncle Phil’s hand and said, "I’ll call the police."
 

FRASER WATCHED HER step over to the table, pick up the phone, dial. Calm in a crisis. Every bit as capable as Simone.

Fraser didn’t feel calm or capable.

If he’d been alone, he’d be shouting fit to rip the lining from his throat by now. If he could summon up the energy. That’s what he wanted to do. Open his mouth and yell and yell and yell. And throw up and throw up and throw up. Then probably yell some more, throw up some more. Or just fall asleep.

Anything, as long as this would all go away.

Another line of coke might do the trick.

He stuck his hand in his pocket, but took it out again when Effie said, "Police."

He thought she was warning him, but she was speaking into the phone. Made him think, though. Probably not the best time for him to indulge in any dodgy habits. He listened as she explained what had happened. Gave the cops the address.

Impressive. Memory like a bank vault.

She’d only been here once before. All over him when they’d arrived—clinging to him as he punched in the alarm code—but she’d grown more distant as the night went on. Not that it went on that long. Called herself a taxi after a couple of drinks. Fraser was probably coming on too strong.

But she wouldn’t be here now if there wasn’t some hope. Thing was, he fancied the pants off her, but he liked her a lot, too. Anyway, he suspected he was creating a bad impression right now, one that wasn’t hugely attractive, forgetting Uncle Phil for a minute. Right now, he’d settle for not throwing up or pissing himself.

He wiped his nose again, breathed deeply through his mouth, and immediately wished he hadn’t. He wasn’t ready for the taste that clung to his tongue, his lips, his teeth. He glanced over at Effie, who shrugged, spoke into the phone again.

Fraser felt like crying. Not that he felt sad, exactly. Come to think of it, he could just as easily break into a fit of giggles. Really fucking odd. Like he’d taken a fistful of pills and was buzzing and sloppy drunk at the same time. Could be the coke, but it was a feeling he didn’t recognize.

He was glowing under his skin.

What he really wanted was for Effie to hold him, stroke his hair while he fell asleep. That’d be nice.

Copyright © Allan Guthrie, 2008

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be submitted online at www.harcourt.com/contact or mailed to the following address: Permissions Department, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.

Media reviews

PRAISE FOR HARD MAN

“Like a Buster Keaton movie with bloodshed . . . Guthrie is such a witty and inventive stylist.”—The Washington Post Book World

"An Edinburgh festival of lip-smacking gruesomeness and black comedy, where every light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.”—Val McDermid, author of The Grave Tattoo
Back to Top↑

More Copies for Sale

Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night

by Guthrie, Allan

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
1
Seller
ParlorBooks
WINDBER, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$4.74
A$6.82 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008-06-09. Hardcover. Acceptable. 1.2000 in x 9.5000 in x 6.1000 in. Ex-Library. Hardcover.
Item Price
A$4.74
A$6.82 shipping to USA
Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night

by Guthrie, Allan

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Better World Books
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$10.72
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
A$10.72
FREE shipping to USA
Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
1
Seller
More Than Words Inc.
Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$11.37
A$4.55 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Used - Very Good. . . All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofi t job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
Item Price
A$11.37
A$4.55 shipping to USA
Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night

by Guthrie, Allan

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Better World Books
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$12.86
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
A$12.86
FREE shipping to USA
Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night

by Allan Guthrie

  • Used
  • Fine
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Fine
Edition
First US Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
1
Seller
visionarybook
Denver, Colorado, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$20.19
A$6.06 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Harcourt, 2008. First US Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. This book is in fine condition. The binding is tight and pages are clean. It appears to have not had use. The dust jacket is in very good condition with minor bumps and scuffs.
Item Price
A$20.19
A$6.06 shipping to USA
Savage Night [Hardcover] Guthrie, Allan
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night [Hardcover] Guthrie, Allan

by Guthrie, Allan

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GridFreed LLC
San Diego, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$23.84
A$8.27 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 39608. Hardcover. New. In shrink wrap.
Item Price
A$23.84
A$8.27 shipping to USA
Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night

by Guthrie, Allan

  • Used
  • Near Fine
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
First Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
1
Seller
All-Ways Fiction
carson city, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$24.29
A$7.59 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. First Edition. First edition, First printing. Book is in Near Fine condition. Boards are clean, not bumped. Fore edges have the tiniest bit of shelf wear. Interior is clean and legible. Not remaindered. Dust Jacket is in Near Fine condition. Not chipped or crinkled. Not price clipped. Dust Jacket is covered by Mylar Brodart. Thanks and Enjoy. All-Ways well packaged, All-Ways fast service..
Item Price
A$24.29
A$7.59 shipping to USA
Savage Night
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Savage Night

by Guthrie, Allan

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780151013012 / 0151013012
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bonita
Newport Coast, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$70.22
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
hardcover. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
Item Price
A$70.22
FREE shipping to USA
Show all copies
Back to Top↑

Hang on… we’re fetching the requested page.