Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Not sure what I expected when I chose this book but I was drawn to the description and cover. As soon as I started reading this I just couldn't stop and finished it within 2 days. The story flows so well, Mike tells his story which draws you in with such ease, seeing him build up his success in his business and where some bad choices along the way take him throughout his life. It is so well written and flows throughout every page.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend people to read it.

This book caught my interest as I wanted to learn a bit more about life as a gypsy, but I was left feeling slightly disappointed.It was written very simply and was a very quick read, my favourite character being Alfie the dog! There is love, loyalty and a bit of cultural insight, although just lacking in a bit of emotion. I would give it 3*. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I read about 20% before I thought you brought anything that happens on yourself and gave up. Not my kind of book!

What a fantastic book, I finished this in two days I truly enjoyed reading this book and finding out more about the Gypsy culture the research in making this book is great, I enjoyed reading about the Gypsy way of like and what happens in their community..

The writing was great each chapter has me gripped more and more. This book opened my eyes and gave me knowledge and learnt alot from reading this book would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime or even loves a good read I kind of didn't want the book to in because I was really into it what a good job the writer has done in creating this book it really holds the mind of the reader..

A true story about Mike Woodhouse . He had a comfortable life in a small village in Norfolk and has a run in with the travelling community- So much so that he takes matters into his own hands.
Fast forward a few years and Mike meets and falls in love with a traveller girl called Rhoda they make a life together for themselves but then his past comes back to haunt him. So much more to this,
A good and interesting read. Well written

Thank you to both NetGalley and Penguin for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

The Gypsy Code follows author Mike Woodhouse as he recounts his past troubles with a gypsy family, who then take it upon themselves to exact revenge and start a lifelong feud. Love, loss and the constant companionship of loyal dog Alfie spins an interesting story as Mike faces untold hardship, and a bittersweet turn of events in Rhoda, a gypsy woman he comes to love.

Mike Woodhouse comes across as a very ‘salt of the Earth’ character. He doesn’t mince his words when regaling his life running from the gypsies he’s been targeted by, and his swift downward spiral into a life living in fear. I wouldn’t necessarily say that his actions are blameless, but he comes across as a man who really understands the consequences of his past crimes and this makes him a lot more likeable than he might have otherwise see. I think this is because his story feels very honest, never shying away from showing the author in a less than positive way when called upon. It feels believable.

The writing style is ok. I found that towards the end the story looses a lot of its momentum, and I did start to loose interest. I think it’s hard to tell a story of this nature and maintain that high level of emotions. This tries, but wasn’t quite there.

This is a true story of how Mike Woodhouse was against the traveling community, the trouble and mess they caused and the violence that came with them when they illegally moved onto a farmers field. Set in Norfolk,

Mike gave them as good as they gave, by causing them as much disruption as possible. His bugbear was a family named The Smiths who he had many run-ins with.
He was a successful businessman with plenty of money in the bank a nice home a smart car, and a love of playing rugby.
Then he meets Rhoda, a gypsy girl who's father is royalty among the gypsy fraternity and his life changes.

This book is gritty but had me in tears at times at the frustrations they face. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

This is an apparently true account of one man’s changing relationship with Gypsies. Mike Woodhouse was a successful man. He was also someone who was far from risk averse, happy to change direction and try new things and make a success of it. An engineer by trade, he had tried his luck at running a nightclub, then when that got too much, threw it in and took a job as a welder before working his way up an engineering company. While there he had his first run in with the Smiths, a troublesome Gypsy clan involved in criminality. Having disturbed a robbery at the company, Mike gave chase and ran them off the road. This sparked a feud that would follow him.
Mike moved away and started his own business, but the Smiths were never far away. A passionate rugby man and unafraid to use his fists, he was not the kind of guy to back down. He also could call on other like-minded and equally capable people. This was most obvious when local farmers asked him to help drive Gypsies from their land, something he engaged in with gusto. But Mike met Rhoda, a Romany Gypsy, and he fell in love. This was the start of a change in his attitudes, and while still despising the Smiths, he learnt that Gypsy culture is far richer than he had dreamed. This change in attitude was solidified when through a betrayal he ended up losing everything and having no choice but to move in to a trailer with Rhoda, in effect living the Gypsy life himself.
The Gypsy Code is an interesting book, it’s very well written and compelling. Gypsies and travellers are often a source of contention for middle England, their caravans and trailers unwelcome in town’s and villages throughout Britain. Their communities suffer discrimination and exclusion; some are involved in crime and they are disproportionately reflected in the prison population. This book doesn’t shy away from the criminality associated with some members of the community, the Smiths being a thoroughly antisocial family, but equally in the latter part of the narrative the author shows how all-too-often the whole population is tarnished with the same brush.
Unfortunately, he’s not consistent, however. Towards the end of the book, Mike runs a stall at a traveller fare and relates how the Romany gypsies were well dressed, polite and proud, the Irish travellers in tracksuits and troublesome. Is this really the case? All Romany’s are upstanding members of the community while all Irish travellers are criminals? Is he not doing what others do to the community as a whole and if he had fallen in love with an Irish traveller instead of a Romany, would he not perceive things the other way around? That said, this is a biography, not a journalistic account or academic study of gypsy/traveller life, and that was obviously how he perceived things at the time.
Without giving away spoilers, Mike’s earlier activity of fighting with Gypsies and running them off farmer’s land comes back to haunt him, and the book ends on a bitter sweet note. The Gypsy Code is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Well written and moving, it will be interesting to read what the author writes next.

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4

Mike Woodhouse had it all: an engineering business, a wine bar, a home, a Range Rover and a boat. Then one morning he caught some travellers stealing from his warehouse. This is the point where Mikes life changed. The story is truthfully told: how he petrol bombed travellers caravans, falling for a gypsy woman and living in fear of being recognised by the travellers he had targeted. He tells how he was a wealthy man to being penniless living in a caravan with no electric or running water. The only faithful companion he has is his beloved dog, Alfie. This memoir tells us how one stupid action can follow you around and have you looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Mike Woodhouse for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**3.5 STARS**

This is the true ‘warts and all’ story of Mike Woodhouse who, (when we first meet him) is quite the entrepreneur. He’s had a number of successful businesses under his belt, but that was before the day he caught a group of travellers stealing from his warehouse. That fateful day was to be the beginning of the end of this period of relative normality, and became an all out war that led him down a very dark and dangerous road - a road that resulted in him having to leave the area in search of a new life. This new life also included a new love interest, and ironically she was a Romany Gypsy called Rhoda. How on earth would this relationship work out when her kin are the very people he’s hiding from!

Told in a down to earth, (call a spade a spade manner) the author pulls no punches in relating his terrifying story of how quickly life can take such a head spinning turn. Because of the actions Mike Woodhouse took against the travellers, my initial thoughts were “Does this guy have a death wish?” My secondary thoughts were “Yes he certainly does! However, it’s easy to recognise the despair he felt at being the target of some major thefts, and he also saw that his community was suffering from the same problems too - he felt that this small Norfolk town was becoming a lawless place to live and he could no longer stand by and let it continue!


The one constant in Mike’s life is Alfie, his German Pointer dog. This beautiful creature appears to be sensitive to Mike’s feelings, seems to know when his master is in a dark place, and ultimately he will prove to be Mike’s saviour when others have deserted him.

An interesting memoir that shows how life can so easily spiral out of control - the narrative is raw and gritty, and included descriptions of animal cruelty that, (as an animal lover) I chose to skim through - after all, my favourite character in this frightening tale has to be the loyal and loving Alfie the dog!