Half Made Up

An Andrew Mackay Thriller

By: James Dunlop

Narrated by: Alan Ptaszek

How far would you go for a friend?

Andrew MacKay would usually go as far as his local pub and no further. A man more inclined to wager his last penny on a three-legged nag than take on anything resembling responsibility, Andy is about to discover what loyalty really costs. When his closest mate is murdered over a classified secret, he finds himself obliged to retrieve it. Not because he’s a hero. Simply because friendship, in his book, has always been worth more than self-preservation.

Andy learns the stolen secret is a new nerve agent deadly enough to make any terrorist giddy with joy. Wanting nothing more than to ignore the whole thing, he finds himself drawn into a web of corporate espionage, government corruption, and a terrorist cell with excellent taste in chemical warfare. He’ll have to rely on his wits to stay one step ahead of MI5 and somehow stop the terrorists from killing thousands.

With time running out, Andy’s got only one chance to make things right.

©2025 James Dunlop (P)2025 Alan Ptaszek. James Dunlop

A Great Start to a Promising Series

I enjoyed this fast paced terrorist thriller where the hero doesn’t take himself, or sometimes anything else too seriously. Who doesn’t love a story about a loyal friend who sticks to his promise despite all the danger?
Narrator Alan Ptaszek does a great job of portraying a capable yet sometimes bumbling hero. I look forward to hearing more from him.

Slick and fun

Dry British humor, criminal and spy hijinks and some good action throughout. Very enjoyable overall!

Clever characters and tense action make for a spledid adventure

Let's get this out of the way first: The anti-hero in this story is flawed. Seriously. He knows it. His friends know it. People he meets for the first time see it glistening on his skin. But, even with all his flaws, he's got determination and a desire to see a promise through to the end, no matter the cost. The writing style stands out with its frequent word substitutions and culture references, adding a unique flavor to the storytelling. Each character has their own personality, which Alan Ptaszek brings to the life with varied voices and charisma. During the listen I had flashbacks of Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, The Pink Panther, and others of a similar genre that effortlessly blends action, mystery, and dark humor. Andrew Mackay is definitely someone you'll want to get familiar with. [Disclosure: I received this title for free and listened at 2.0x.]

Thrilling, Mysterious and an Overall Great Time

To the quick wited comments from Andrew McKay, to the suspense and mystery throughout this story, this was a great book! The twists and turns were enjoyable. I found myself trying to put the pieces together of this mystery and Alan Ptaszek did a great job bring this story to life.

Not your Father's Espionage Thriller

This is not a Ludlum or Child thriller novel, however that's not a negative description. This is the first spy thriller type of story that I've found myself laughing out loud while listening. The main character has a dry and darker sense of humor that keeps you listening to see what exactly will befall him next in the story, and just how he will react or describe the scenario. The wordplay throughout this book is delightful and an unexpected turn for this type of story. Yes there's plenty of action and twists and turns, but my favorite parts were Andrew's reactions to his many obstacles and interactions with other characters. While the story is entertaining and will hold you from start to finish, the Narrator is what truly shines in my opinion. Mr. Ptaszek does an amazing job, not only of giving the main character a depth that makes you feel like an old friend is telling you a story, but giving every other character a distinct voice and delivery that keeps you in the "just one more chapter" sort of mindset. I hope we see more narration from this gentleman and more Andy MacKay adventures from Mr. Dunlop.