I created this space for book lovers, to spark positive conversations about our shared love of reading! Here, you can discover my monthly picks of the best classic and new titles (when you’re not reading the latest DCI Ryan, of course!) and look out for monthly competitions, giveaways and live Q & A’s with guest authors. Join in the conversation online, or sign up to the newsletter to find out more. #LJBookClub
Hello and welcome to the LJ Ross Book Club!
This Month’s Picks
Brighton Rock
Graham Greene
About
Behind the tourist façade and bright lights of 1930s Brighton, a gang war is raging. The book’s antihero, ‘Pinkie’, is a seventeen-year-old psychopath and up-and-coming leader of the ‘mob’ who has killed a man with merciless relish. He believes he can escape retribution by silencing the witness to his crime—but he doesn’t account for Ida Arnold, a decent woman with a relentless thirst for justice…LJ's thoughts
This is an unforgettable read, from start to finish. Gritty and clever, even the title of the novel is imbued with meaning—it refers to the confectionary sold at seaside resorts, with the name of the resort traditionally embedded through the centre, only revealed when the stick of rock is broken in half. Greene used this as a metaphor for Pinkie’s character in the novel, which is to say that his black character was the same all the way through to his core. This story has gravitas from the very first page, forcing the reader to consider ‘big’ questions of good versus evil; of the tenacity of the human spirit; of faith and other moral questions—without detracting from the main thrust of the storyline, which remains thrilling throughout. If you’ve never read any of Greene’s work before, you can’t beat this for an introduction!Where to find it
Surfeit of Suspects
George Bellairs
About
‘At 8 o’clock in the evening on the 8th November, there was a terrific explosion in Green Lane, Evingden.’ The offices of the Excelsior Joinery Company have been blown to smithereens and three of the company directors lie dead amongst the rubble. Littlejohn’s investigation is soon confounded by an impressive cast of suspicious persons, each concealing their own axe to grind, in this classic thriller described by some as a 'gripping masterpiece of misdirection'.LJ's thoughts
I love these British Crime Classics! Surfeit of Suspects has enough to keep your brain teased, whilst being accessible enough to read comfortably in the bath or at the end of a hard week. Perfect escapism!Where to find it
Previous Picks
Quick Curtain
Alan Melville
About
In this British Library Crime Classic, the show opens at The Grosvenor theatre to a packed house, where the lead actor is shot and another actor is found dead. Initial appearances suggest a straightforward case of murder followed by suicide. Inspector Wilson of Scotland Yard and his son, an enthusiastic young reporter are both in the audience that night and they suspect foul play...LJ's thoughts
Alan Melville found his audience during the 'Golden Age' of crime fiction but, with the passage of time, his work was gradually forgotten. However, thanks to its revival as part of the series of British Crime Classics, new audiences have been able to discover his accessible, nostalgic storytelling with its humorous flavour. I loved it, and have set one of my own books in London's Theatreland, so I appreciate a dramatic setting..!Where to find it
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