There are many other interesting characters in the novel; Queenie, Ronnie and Clara to name a few. They all feed into each other nicely, creating a full circle and I found them all to be interesting for different reasons. Needless Alley makes for a gripping read that any Peaky Blinder fan is sure to love' Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora This is a gritty murder mystery set in 1930’s Birmingham. Our main protagonist is William, a private investigator who earns a living by providing evidence for divorce cases for a shady solicitor. One case that he takes on introduces him to Clara, the wife of a rich industrialist and his growing relationship with her makes him begin to look at his life differently. When the murder happens, he begins to act as a proper investigator and starts to see how little he actually knows about people. 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. The affairs of William Garrett are exactly that. The first part focuses, primarily, on his relationships, namely those with Clara and Ronnie, and the part ends on an interesting footing for them all. Yet, the subsequent parts utilise a considerably different tone- one I didn't connect with in the same way.

Needless Alley: The critically acclaimed noir crime debut

The book has obviously been meticulously researched and it includes cameo appearances from real historical figures such as Oswald Mosely as William finds himself negotiating the seedy side of politics and the rise of fascism. 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. Private enquiry agent William Garrett facilitates 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 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. The one that caught my imagination was Phyll, who William at first believes is a young boy. He later discovers that she is a bright intelligent young woman with a penchant for men’s clothing and an eye for good tailoring. Another survivor and a bit of a fish out of water with the norms of the day.Marlow's very engaging protagonist may herald the birth of a new genre: Midlands Noir' Financial Times William Garrett is a refreshing protagonist. Shaped by a chaotic upbringing and his experiences of war he is a man who knows himself - a flawed but ultimately moral. A man before his time, his opinion of women and sexual identities and practices are much more accepting than would have been the norm. He is partnered by his close friend Ronnie who brings some spice and humour to the story. set in 1930's birmingham, this book centres around the character of william garrett, a private detective who helps to manufacture evidence for divorce for the men of the upper classes. along with his best friend, he sets up traps to catch wives in the act - using his camera as a means of supplying evidence to his clients. the guilt weighs on him until he meets, and, subsequently, falls in love with, clara morton, the young wife of his newest customer. desperate to atone for his sins, william begins to develop a plan to try and save clara but ends up in something far worse than he expected.

Needless Alley by Natalie Marlow | Goodreads

It completely surpassed my expectations; I found it an exciting and absorbing read from cover to cover. I will not be able to visit Brum again without catching a glimpse of Billy, Queenie, Ronnie or Phyll in dark and bygone corners of the city. I particularly enjoyed the homage descriptions of the beautiful midlands countryside and urbanity.The characters were really well written and I had no difficulty in envisaging them and feeling for them. William was a really good and believable main character.