Book synopsis
2004
The discovery of a body in the Liverpool docklands unearths long forgotten secrets. Reporter Anne McCarthy is keen to prove herself and dives into the case with abandon. There she finds Michael, an old Irish caretaker who knows far more than he’s letting on and may have a connection to the body.
Vinny Connolly is starting a postgrad degree, researching Liverpool’s migrant history and a burgeoning Scouse identity. But Vinny has been neglecting his own family history and stranger Michael might know about
his father’s disappearance in the 70s.
1955
Escaping poverty in Ireland and fresh off the boat, Michael falls in with Wicklow boys Jack Power and Paddy Connolly, who smuggle contraband through the docks, putting them at odds with the unions. While organisers rally the dockworkers against the strikebreakers and rackets. A story of corruption, secret police, and sectarianism slowly unravels.
But will the truth out?
As the conflict heightens, Michael questions the life sprawling out ahead of him, while in the present, Anne races to solve the mystery, but is she prepared for what she’ll find?
About the Author
Jack was born and raised in Speke Liverpool to Irish immigrant parents and knows Mersyside like the back of his hand. His debut novel Under the Bridge follows reporter Anne and student Vinny, as they become involved in a story of unions, crime, and police corruption after human remains are discovered at a construction site.
My review
This book follows the story about Anne and Vinny uncovering a crime that happened many years ago. I loved the dual time line so we could go back in time and really see what happened. The characters were relatable and I loved Anne and her determination to find out the truth no matter what.
I loved the writing style of this Author and the storyline kept me gripped the whole way through. I am so intrigued to see what happens next in these stories as this was book 1.
A quote from the book that I loved “Halfway between the land and the sea, halfway between the city and the world outside, but belonging completely to neither”
Purchase link – Amazon
Disclaimer – Thank you to the author for my gifted copy of this book for my honest review.