London, 1950. With the war over and London still rebuilding, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England's call for labour. Arriving from Jamaica aboard the Empire Windrush, he's rented a tiny room in south London and fallen in love with the girl next door.
Playing in Soho's jazz clubs by night and pacing the streets as a postman by day, Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home ― and it's alive with possibility. Until one morning, while crossing a misty common, he makes a terrible discovery.
As the local community rallies, fingers of blame point at those who were recently welcomed with open arms. And before long, London's newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy that threatens to tear the city apart. Immersive, poignant, and utterly compelling, Louise Hare's debut examines the complexities of love and belonging, and teaches us that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope.
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The basement club spat Laurie out into the dirty maze of Soho, a freezing mist settling over him like a damp jacket
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(@HQstories, 12 March 2020, 394 pages, ebook, borrowed from @GlasgowLib via @OverDriveLibs)
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I must admit to not reading the blurb before I read this book. I chose it purely based on the title and cover which I liked. So I was not expecting the dark content I found. This book focuses on the Windrush generation, people from the Caribbean who were invited to the UK between 1948 and 1971. The word Windrush is taken from the name of the boat they arrived in. I'm vaguely aware of the event but knew very little detail about it. This has been well researched by the author and really centres and focuses This Lovely City. This is a terrific read. There are some dark moments as Lawrie, one of the Windrush passengers and Evvie's love comes under increasing strain as they both become the focus of and suspects in a terrible crime. This is well written and engaging. I thought it was great.
