Needless Alley: The critically acclaimed noir crime debut (William Garrett Novels)

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When Private enquiry agent William Garrett, a man damaged by a dark childhood spent on Birmingham's canals, specialises in facilitating divorces for the city's male elite. With the help of his best friend -charming, out-of-work actor Ronnie Edgerton - William sets up honey traps. But photographing unsuspecting women in flagrante plagues his conscience and William heaves up his guts with remorse after every job. This was Savile Row smut, nicely tailored and nothing vulgar. Smut for gentlemen rather than players. Smut for the officer class, no doubt of that...'

Needless Alley: The critically acclaimed noir crime debut Needless Alley: The critically acclaimed noir crime debut

Save An Evening with Rob Parsons - Birmingham to your collection. Share An Evening with Rob Parsons - Birmingham with your friends. When I think about Uk in the 30s I think about Miss Marple or Peter Wimsey, the Golden Age puzzles classic whodunit. Publishing director Jade Chandler acquired world rights to the two books from Abi Fellows at the Good Literary Agency.Save An Evening with Islam Issa at Waterstones Birmingham to your collection. Share An Evening with Islam Issa at Waterstones Birmingham with your friends. The writing and scene setting in this book was absolutely brilliant. I could see the scenes so clearly I could have been watching on a screen . The setting of 1930s industrial Birmingham will evidently draw Peaky Blinders comparisons but it is not a city I see in books often so I enjoyed the fresh perspective. Ronnie is an attractive man, a little fey and living a bohemian life, like a streetwise Oscar Wilde but with a deep libertine streak. This could be down to the effects of war, but more likely his desire for money without honest toil. The fact he can rub shoulders with canal boatmen and drink in their pubs is beguiling if a little unlikely. At heart he is a damaged man with a nihilistic streak. Very gritty, no punches are spared and the reader will need fortitude to get through the maelstrom of violence and anger that is unleashed. Very well, written, true to its setting and gripping to the very end.

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Queenie is the strong matronly figure even though she is not the eldest of the three. She’s calm and pragmatic with a survive at all costs attitude which gives her a hard carapace to face the world. Her business dealings include criminal activities but there’s some goodness at heart as she cares for those close to her. A tough woman doing what she needs to survive in a hard man’s world. William’s life changes when he meets the beautiful Clara Morton and falls in love. Little does he know she is the wife of a client – a leading fascist with a dangerous obsession. Soon, what should have been another straightforward job turns into something far more deadly. Needless Alley is a fabulous, fast paced story with unexpected twists and fully formed believable characters - a compelling read. I look forward to more from this author.Well this is good! A very immersive read set in 1930s Birmingham. An investigator who photographs people having affairs for their partners in divorce cases. He is asked to look into one women but when he meets her, he takes a liking to her. Well, that's where the trouble starts .... Still, it's his old friend Queenie that William turns to when he gets into trouble, his accent slipping - I loved the way that Marlow played with the characters' speech, you can hear them all clearly in your mind as you read the book - and we then learn a bit of what binds him to her and to his other friend Ronnie. Ronnie plays the honey in William's traps, and he's also another who has a foot in different worlds, more so than even William realises. This is one of those crime novels that delves a little deeper into its characters, offering readers more of a lasting glance into their lives, and what an interesting bunch they are. The characters dreamed up by Marlow are so compelling that I found myself wishing the book was just a little longer, so I'd have more time with them. Needless Alley is an engrossing historical noir with engaging characters an intense plot and a few surprises for the reader. I love how we get to see many facets of the characters such as with main character,William. He comes across as a detective with a heart who is willing to do what it takes to get an answer and justice.

Needless Alley: The critically acclaimed noir crime debut Needless Alley: The critically acclaimed noir crime debut

The references to various places in the Midlands were close to home for me and I found it interesting to think of the towns and cities mentioned in the 1930’s. Alongside this, the history that’s woven through is fascinating, knowing almost nothing about the politics of the time. I definitely felt as though I was at the rallies and surrounded by the far right opinions focused on within the novel. I have only known Birmingham since the 1970's but a lot of the places and building mentioned still exist. Needless Alley , “a highly atmospheric piece of literary noir” set in 1930s Birmingham, is the first in a series following private detective William Garrett as he moves between the shadowy world of the working canals where he grew up, to the hidden speakeasys that provide a safe haven for Birmingham’s queer women. William is a likeable private detective who lays honey traps for unsuspecting wives whose husbands want to divorce them. Birmingham is brought expertly to life in this atmospheric crime noir where corruption and seedy entanglements lurk down every darkly lit street. Compelling and clever, Needless Alley makes for a gripping read that any Peaky Blinder fan is sure to love." - Susan Stokes-ChapmanDeftly plotted, beautifully written, Needless Alley is a delicious slice of Chandleresque Midlands noir.' Mark Wightman, author of Waking the Tiger William's life all changes, when he accidentally meets the beautiful Clara Morton and falls in love. Little does he know she is the wife of a client - a leading fascist with a dangerous obsession. And what should have been another straightforward job turns into something far more deadly. A powerful, gritty and extremely well written story. I began expecting a detective story - William Garrett is a man damaged by the First World War, who sets himself up as a private eye, working with his avant garde friend Ronnie. Billy specialises in setting up entrapments for straying wives - Ronnie takes them to a hotel room, and Billy bursts in to get photographic evidence.