Are you sick of a dead woman or child at the beginning of every mystery, or thriller? Tired of the ‘maverick’ cop, who despite their slightly quirky behaviour, oddball character, drinking problem, always solves the crime. In the proceess recasting police services who exist to defend property and the ruling class, as forces that ‘despite their issues’, protect and serve us? This is the world of mainstream cinema, TV and fiction.
The real world is represented in the Red Detective trilogy. Mysteries and thrillers where we choose not to have dead bodies of women or children. Sometimes the police are responsible for the bodies that do appear, sometimes the crimes, are crimes against the working class and oppressed in which the police are complicit.
At the centre of these events, are two young Scousers, one of Irish, and one of Yemeni descent. LFC supporter Charlie Connolly and activist Amina Haidar are working-class youth trying to find their way through a world of climate catastrophe, conspiracy theories, right-wing mobilisations, and police corruption. Luckily, Charlie’s historian father reminds them of the city’s past struggles and union battles, and Amina is connected to a Black community that has always struggled through adversity to survive in Liverpool.
So our intrepid investigators solve crimes related to the death of a climate activist in police custody, the deportation of Chinese Seamen following WW2, and the rise of far right racist attacks, all the time drawing on the very real history of struggle of women, workers and black people in Liverpool.
Comments on Jack’s work
Loved it. Unputdownable, five star read. Bloody Brilliant. Kind of feel sad that I read it so quick, but I couldn’t stop. Such a gripping, twisted read! Multi-layered brilliance! Exceptional! Natalie Freeman @Natfree37
I’ve just finished this book by Jack Byrne.
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.
Me and mybookshelf ……….an exhilarating addition to the Liverpool Mysteries, set against the backdrop of a post Brexit United Kingdom. This gripping story seamlessly weaves between two timelines, 1981 and 2016, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.
I adored the commentary on a post-brexit Britian and how it has indeed changed the landscape, not literally but figuratively. He just gets it and can put it down in words in such a brutally honest yet beautiful way.
@SelMcCormick
‘One thing Byrne is masterful at is political and social commentary’.
https://bit.ly/3reFWjR
@catsherding
The setting of this book feels very real. It’s not glamourised or exaggerated, but very round in the realistic vibe of the times. I’ve never been to Liverpool but I really enjoy it when an author shows us both the beauty and the ugly side of a place.
https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com/2023/07/03/before-the-storm-by-jack-byrne-blog-tour/
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