As well as writing crime thrillers, I read avidly. This month, I’m reviewing a little-known but brilliant writer – Chuck Loyola. In 1990, he self-published “Blood Libel”, a political thriller. Although it pre-dates the digital age (the internet doesn’t feature at all, and the huge mobile phones of the time are disparagingly called ‘yuppie bricks’), the themes within the book are bang up to date. Corruption, child abuse and ghetto violence are still with us.
“Blood Libel” introduces us to young black investigative journalist, Howie. ‘City Life’ is a new listings magazine run on a shoestring, but receptive – at least at first – to Howie’s desire to expose the truth about political corruption in the city. The magazine has an uneasy relationship with its public, however, and increasingly, Howie’s finding it difficult to publish the hard-hitting articles he loves to write. Worse, his work has made him enemies – violent, murderous ones. This brilliant thriller oozes suspense as it describes the darkness at the heart of a rapidly regenerating city. Chuck Loyola makes the reader itch to turn the page, with an impressive cliffhanger finish to every chapter.
Howie’s wry wit sparkles throughout the tense narrative. He gently pokes fun at the city’s rebranding. The Media Quarter, Finance Quarter and Retail Quarter should be joined by the Ghetto Quarter and Bohemian Quarter, he decides. Howie is even more scornful of the men holding the levers of power in the city, until he finds himself fearing for his life.
I loved the slightly paranoid, noir edge to Blade Runner, and Chuck Loyola captures that feeling perfectly. Rather than a future city, though, this is Britain in 1990. While the city is never named, my guess is that it’s Birmingham. Hammered by the recession of the early 80s, it set about reinventing itself to become the shiny, exciting urban centre we see today. Certainly, it’s Handsworth and Moseley that I see when Loyola writes about the Ghetto Quarter and the Bohemian Quarter. Plus ça change?
I’m delighted it’s been republished by Andy Conway of the respected New St Authors group. His foreword is a great read too, describing how he tracked Chuck down. With luck, Andy will persuade Chuck to write a sequel or two, as writing of this calibre deserves a wide audience. “Blood Libel” is simply the perfect thriller – incredibly well-written and full of suspense.
Take a look for yourself here.
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I write crime thrillers set in British cities. Both London and Birmingham feature in latest thriller The Bride’s Trail, with stunning action scenes in Birmingham’s old Jewellery Quarter.
