Photographed in a Liverpool shirt and given the title after the demise of a corrupt and murderous police officer, Charlie Connolly struggles with the name and the accidental career choice.
In a talk with his partner Mina he asks; ‘I mean, how did we end up in the middle of this? Is it me…us, or are we just living through crazy times?’
‘Both.’ Mina let out a breath. ‘The thing is, you can only hide from the craziness for so long, but at some point it comes to get you. Even if you don’t watch the news, or follow world events, the news and world events are gonna come knocking on your door.’ Mina reached for Charlie’s hand. ‘Might as well be ready for it.’
‘For fucks sake, how did I end up with someone as smart as you?’
‘Maybe, because you came out to meet the craziness.’
The craziness includes Book 1 of the Red Detective series Burning Down The House;
Liverpool 2020. Facing police violence and the threats of climate change, a cast of young characters find they need to change themselves before they can change the world.
When climate activist Matt Whitney dies in police custody, Charlie Connolly has his life turned upside down after giving a witness statement. Embroiled in the turmoil of climate politics and targeted by a rogue policeman, Charlie struggles to find his place in the world. But there are more immediate threats to his life than global warming.
As thousands of schoolkids demonstrate for their future, Charlie and his friend, Amina, follow the clues to unravel the tragic backstory of Whitney’s life and death.
Are you tired of Police procedurals that start with a dead, abused woman or child? A loner detective divorced and fighting alcoholism?
Well so am I.
We are bombarded with detective series that all follow the same script, the troubled hero battles through the odds to discover what no one else could, and he singlehandedly wraps up the case, although nowadays it can be a she, and even a black or gay detective, but the essentials remain the same.
The reality is the world is not so black and white and the line between the law makers and law breakers can not only move but at times disappear. It is a murky world where someone with all the power of the state and part of the largest gang in any city. The police, can become very powerful, very quickly.
In Shanghai’d Book two of the Red Detective series due out in May 2026; There is a mystery surrounding the disappearance of Yin Woo a Chinese sailor along with hundreds of other Chinese fathers and husbands following WW2
In April 2021 Mina and Charlie, agree to help Jaime find his grandfather Yin Woo.
What follows is a trail through Liverpool’s history, from Jaime’s experience of the anti-police uprising in 1981. To Yin Woo’s fight for equal pay for Chinese seamen. Kathleen a young Liverpool Irish woman is caught in an air raid during the blitz of May 1941. She is rescued by Yin Woo. Despite hostility from family and death threats from an ex boyfriend, Kathleen and Yin become a couple. An intriguing tale of struggle and deceit is eventually revealed.
Shanghai’d is a story that spans generations and continents as we follow families who to this day search for loved ones and the truth.
To start your journey with the Red Detective buy ‘Burning Down The House here;
Click here for Burning Down The House
As one reader said; ‘Loved it. Unputdownable, five star read. Bloody Brilliant. Kind of feel sad that I read it so quickly, but I couldn’t stop. Such gripping, twisted read! Multi-layered brilliance! Exceptional!’ Natalie Freeman @Natfree37
Jack Byrne 
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