A POLITICS lecturer at the University of Winchester has released a new book which he describes as a “crime thriller with a politic twist”.
Roger Cottrell’s new book, Jaded Jerusalem, was released in September 2022, and is part of a proposed trilogy by the former crime and investigative reporter.
Roger explained: “It’s a retrospective thriller set in the 1984 miners’ strike.
“It’s very similar to the kind of retrospectives that are written by people like Dave Pearson in the United Kingdom or maybe James Elroy in the United States.
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“It’s part of a projected trilogy, which is in progress, which, a bit like James Elroy’s Underworld trilogy, tries to look at the history of corrupt politics through the under belly of crime.”
The book concerns a deep state assassin who has gone rogue, killing young women who support the miner’s strikes in the Rhonnda Valley area of Wales in 1984 and 1985, while Acting Detective Inspector Terry Vaughn works to try to stop the killer.
The novel also takes inspiration from the abduction and murder of Vishral Mehrota in 1981, whose body was discovered near Petersfield.
Roger continued: “It’s partly a work of fiction, however it is informed by fact."
Since its release the book has proven to be a success, being reviewed by former Guardian journalist David Henke, something that Roger calls “great”.
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“Obviously, it’s early days yet.
“David is the most important review I’ve had so far, baring in mind that he’s an ex-guardian journalist, he was actually political reporter of the year.”
Roger is currently working on the sequel to Jaded Jerusalem, which will carry the story into 1988, as well as re-working some of his older self-published books.
At time of writing, he is also working on adapting Jaded Jerusulum for TV.
Jaded Jerusulum is published by LR Price Publications Ltd.
It is available for purchase from Amazon and other leading book retailers.
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