CORNED Beef Sandwich is the debut novel from Manchester's own Mark Sullivan, and centres very much around the familiar streets of the city.

It is a fast moving crime caper set in a seedy district of the city, falls somewhere between farce of Ealing comedies and the menace of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

It follows the exploits of a bookie's assistant who accidentally takes home a gun man's swag bag. A series of mishaps and misunderstandings ensue.

This is an impressive first novel which not only keeps the reader interested, but brings a smile to the face at the same time.

Published by Crocus Books, price £6.99 paperback

Beverly Greenberg