White Riot
The Sunday Times Thriller of the Month
by Joe Thomas
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Pub Date Jan 19 2023 | Archive Date Jan 18 2023
Quercus Books | Arcadia Books
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Description
'A timely, powerful and gorgeously readable novel that represents everything that is good and important about the crime fiction genre' Irish Times
1978: The National Front is gaining ground in Hackney. To counter their influence, anti-fascist groups launch the Carnival Against Racism in Victoria Park. Observing the event is Detective Constable Patrick Noble, charged with investigating racist attacks in the area and running Spycops in both far-right and left wing groups. As Noble's superiors are drawn further into political meddling, he's inveigled into a plot against the embattled Labour government as the Winter of Discontent begins to bite.
1983: Under a disciplinary cloud after a Spycops op ended in tragedy, Noble is offered a reprieve by an old mentor. He is dispatched in the early hours to Stoke Newington police station, where a young black man has died in suspicious circumstances. This is Thatcher's Britain now, a new world that Noble unwittingly helped to usher in, where racial tensions are weaponised by those in power. His investigation will expose the dark heart of a nation at war with itself.
'Gripping' The Times
'Enthralling' Sunday Times
'A propulsive crime novel' Guardian
'One of our very best contemporary crime writers' David Peace
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781529423372 |
PRICE | £18.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 400 |
Featured Reviews
White Riot (2023) is a kaleidoscopic novel told from multiple perspectives and set in the London borough of Hackney. The first part takes place in 1978, opening with the Rock Against Racism march and concert in April of that year. The second part takes place in 1983, in the aftermath of the death of Colin Roach inside Stoke Newington police station. We get to hear the perspectives of the police, activists, councillors, Margaret Thatcher, community leaders, and musicians - some fictional, some real, but all wholly convincing. I remember those days and White Riot powerfully and authentically evokes the era and the place.
White Riot is the first part of the United Kingdom Trilogy which, I suspect, could be up there with David Peace's Red Riding Trilogy. David Peace is namechecked on the cover and there are similarities - which is very high praise.
If you're interested in the era and specifically the music, politics, corruption and racism, then don't hesitate. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
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