My first three books Under The Bridge, Across The Water, and Before The Storm, The Liverpool Mysteries deal with times from the 50s to 2010 in Garston and Speke.
Before The Storm shows the rise of a Reform type Councillor in Speke, a nationalist with the constant refrain ‘Stop the boats.’ Whatever is wrong in society his answer is to blame immigrants. This is not so far from the truth in many areas of the UK right now.
Garston has two Community Independent Councillors and I think these are bright spots in an otherwise pretty dismal scene. The ongoing genocide in Gaza seems to have become just the backdrop to everyday life is depressing, even the Starmer victory that should have brought some relief has shown how bankrupt politics are, and not just in the UK as we can see from Trump’s continued rule in the USA.
It’s hard to see right now but there will come a point at which people say enough is enough, and yes, take to the streets, but more than this, begin to organise in those streets and communities to represent themselves. Food banks, advice centres, tenants groups, opposition to evictions and deportations, hopefully the small groups of Independent Councillors around the UK can band together with or without a Corbyn figure and begin to build real opposition to Tory/Starmer/Farage.
So what does this have to do with my books? The next three books are all set in Liverpool, and explore this contradiction. They are the ‘Contested City’ series. The first of these is ‘Burning Down the House’ which is available for Pre order now, and will be out in a couple of weeks.(Check the link below)
An early reviewer said “I’ve just finished this book by Jack Byrne. ‘Burning Down The House’
It has everything. Set in Liverpool the novel tells a story of murder and police corruption. Against a backdrop of climate change protests, and the relationship of XR and working class people, racism, immigration, religion and football. This has the lot and I was actually nervous reading the last 30 pages, it has twists and turns all the way through it. A superb book.”
Phil Rowan London region RMT political officer.
The second deals with the aftermath of WW2 and the deportation of Chinese sailors.
The third book is set after the tragic and brutal killings in Southport. Here Charlie, a main character, reflects on the aftermath of the news.
Charlie paced the kitchen, the sun’s rays streamed through the repaired window and brought a cold harsh light. The internet was awash with memes, Gifs, rumors, and malice.
It took Charlie to his place of darkness, his primeval fear. That they would win; the petty minded, the jealous, the nasty. The neighbour who’s curtain twitches with every movement in the street, the whispers of the gossips who take pleasure in other people’s shame, the bully who craves the humiliation of those closest to him, the coward who hides his fear behind arrogance. These were the people he grew up with and lived among. He knew them all, he went to school, work, the match and the pub with them.
They were everywhere not just in Liverpool, but yes in Liverpool too, where some blind Scousers claimed racism had been abolished, socialism was alive because the monarchy was boo-ed. A place that took care of its own, except when the pubs closed and people beat the shit out of each other. A city that took pride in itself and a shiny new centre, while it left the estates where people lived to fall into disrepair and neglect. This was the city of swagger and pride that hid the emptiness of purpose, in make up and tight dresses, new shirts and smart shoes, in red and blue football teams. It was the entertainment capital of the North, even if that entertainment was drowning in debt and all the flash clothes and cosmetics hid a city of poverty and depression.
A contested city, like the country to be fought over and for, Charlie feared that they would lose the battle.
The key word here is contested, there are other points in the story where he is more hopeful of a brighter future for himself and the city, but I think it’s important we don’t gloss over the reality that is producing victories for parties like Reform.
https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/burning-down-the-house-paperback
Jack Byrne 
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