Once Upon a Time in England

A working-class family struggles to overcome prejudice in this “utterly gripping” novel of pride, loyalty and love from the acclaimed author of Brass (She).
 
On the coldest night of 1975, Robbie Fitzgerald sprints through the snowy streets of a northern British town. With a Van Morrison-meets-Robert Johnson singing voice, the young crooner is on the verge of his big break, with the legendary producer Dickie Vaughn attending his show. Both his own dreams and those of his young family are on the line.
 
Meanwhile, in a rough neighborhood on the other side of town, Robbie’s young wife Susheela and his son wait for him, as they must all too often. But when Susheela falls victim to a monstrous hate crime, the balance of their lives is thrown off-kilter—and everything they hoped for may be lost forever . . .
 
In this absorbing story of the awkwardness of youth and the necessary maturity that comes with age, Walsh has created “the kind of book whose events you find yourself repeating to friends” (The Daily Telegraph).