‘Lifting the Lid’ – 10th Anniversary!

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Rob Johnson

That’s right, it’s now ten years since I published my first novel, the comedy thriller ‘Lifting the Lid’, and I’ve been amazed how well it’s done. I never believed it would sell more than a handful of copies, but so far it’s sold over 30,000. That’s almost 15 million pages read, which I find quite astonishing.

It also recently hit 2,000 global ratings with the vast majority (73%) being 4 or 5 stars. OK, you can’t please everyone, of course, but here are a few of my favourite reviews (followed by some of my less favourite ones):

I will simply say that if your life needs cheering-up, buy this.

Funny, witty and clever. A good escape from the monotony of real life!

Loved it. You’ve gained another fan.

It’s brilliant! A fast paced frenzy where there isn’t a moment to breathe.

You’ll laugh so hard, you’ll have to make a couple trips to the restroom.

I chuckled my way through every chapter of this highly enjoyable book.

True comedy crime thriller of the highest standard.

A refreshing change of pace from the murder mysteries I usually read.

This book is an absolute joy to read, brimming with amusement and an engaging plot.

Some readers have been less than impressed, however, and in the interests of balance, here are some of the most damning comments:

Lift lid: Insert book.

Rubbish – needs flushed away.

A waste of my life and that of the author.

Badly written tosh.

As I said above, you can’t please everyone, but many thanks to everyone who’s read and enjoyed ‘Lifting the Lid’ over the years. I really appreciate your support.

Click here for more ‘Lifting the Lid’ reviews

Click here for ‘Lifting the Lid’ and all my other books on Amazon

Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review for ‘Quest for the Holey Snail’

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Rob Johnson

“Quest for The Holey Snail by Rob Johnson is a brilliant fantasy glittering with hilarious humor.” – Olga Markova for Readers’ Favorite

I’m not sure I’ve ever had quite such a glowing review of any of my books, and it’s from one of the biggest book review sites on the Internet.

Here’s some more:

“Quest for The Holey Snail was my first meet-and-greet with Rob Johnson’s novels. I found this one remarkable for its generously abundant next-to-none humor. I loved it at least as much as Robert Rankin’s The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse. Johnson’s unique humor kept me initially chuckling until it got me laughing to tears at the hilarious characters and their adventures. And humor apart, the tale has everything a fan of fantasy may wish for; a breathtaking supernatural adventure, page-turning suspense, and an intricate plot. Indeed, it left me feeling like I had never lived before reading it!”

Click here if you’d like to read the review in full.

Click here to view/buy “Quest for the Holey Snail”

‘Dishing the Dirt’ – Some reviews so far

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Rob Johnson

It’s now almost three months since ‘Dishing the Dirt’ was published, and I’m pleased to say it’s been pretty well received so far. Many thanks to everyone who’s read the book and posted a review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc. Here are some of my favourites so far:

DTD break glass mockup

Another great read. The pages turn themselves and the laughs leap out at you.

Enjoyable, funny and brilliant.

This has been a tough year for everyone, but even if you can’t go to your favourite holiday destination you can at least escape into the wonderful world that this author creates for you.

A superb follow up in this series.

Some excellent twists and turns right up until the very end.

During lockdown, I re-read Rob’s entire back-catalogue, and I laughed over again at the shenanigans and mishaps of the two hapless detectives.

Do yourself a favour and bring some fun into your life…you will not regret it.

Never fails to bring a smile, even on multiple readings.

Flipping brilliant.

Can’t wait to read more of Rob’s books.

It gets better and better.

The storyline whisks you along in a fantastic story.

Click here to read more reviews

Click here for more details of Dishing the Dirt

Click here to buy Dishing the Dirt

‘Lifting the Lid’ review in San Francisco Review of Books

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Rob Johnson

Many thanks to the San Francisco Review of Books for an excellent review of Lifting the Lid.

Here are a couple of quotes:

“The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, laughing all the time. The story is intriguing, but the best part is just enjoying the frolic from one adventure to the next.”

“Lovers of comedic thrillers are sure to enjoy Lifting the Lid.”

And here’s a link to the review in full.

The Audiobook of the Book of the Podcast – Episode 17 of ‘A Kilo of String’ Podcast Series

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Rob Johnson

Podcast image for Yes, it’s back! Nearly four years since my last ‘A Kilo of String’ podcast episode, I’ve finally got round to recording a new one.

What have I been doing for the past three years and nine months? Audiobook? What audiobook? Who’s been banging on about Brexit? What barely fits and is flimsy? When is a preface not a preface?

Listen to this podcast episode to find the answers to these and many other important questions and hear a sneak preview of my forthcoming audiobook.

Listen to podcast…

Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review for ‘A Kilo of String’

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Rob Johnson

Delighted to report that I’ve just received a great 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite, which is one of the biggest book review sites on the Internet. And look, I even get a badge to go with it!

Here’s an extract:

“Welcome to Greece! A Kilo of String by Rob Johnson takes readers on an entertaining trip to Greece with the author and his wife, Penny, and their experiences while living there. The author’s entertaining stories, interesting anecdotes, and humor make this book an excellent read for everyone.”

And here’s a link to the review in full.