LS65

by Billy Morris

It's Spring 1965, and young Alan Connolly is a man with a plan. Out of jail and out
of Glasgow, leaving old wars behind and hoping that the voices in his head allow
him to forget the past.

New start, new city. Smart suit, the best scooter and the right connections.
LS1 is swinging - Coffee bars and clubs,pills and protection rackets. And at
Elland Road, Revie's United are chasing a league and cup double in their first
season back in the top flight.

It's the right place and the perfect time to build his empire and the only thing
that can stop him is his own dangerous ambition and the dark memories
that torment him.

You won't be scared of the monsters if you become one yourself.

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2023

About the author

Billy Morris was born in Leeds, Yorkshire in 1966. He left Leeds in the late 1990's and has lived and worked in Europe and USA. He now lives mainly in South East Asia with regular visits back to Yorkshire.

He wrote his first book 'Bournemouth 90' in 2021 and published the sequel, LS92, in 2022. The books open the 'Eighties Leeds' series - Gritty crime fiction set against the backdrop of a northern English city trying to reinvent itself, as its once famous football team emerges from a period in the doldrums to reclaim its position at the forefront of European football.

In September 2023 Morris published LS65. A prequel to the first two books, the story is set in 1965 and finds one of the key characters from Bournemouth90 arriving in Leeds as a teenager at the height of the swinging 60's. Mods and Rockers, scooters, dance halls and pills form the backdrop to the tale as Alan Connolly tries to establish himself in the criminal underworld while battling his own demons.

Paris 75 is the fourth and final book in the 'Eighties Leeds series'. Set ten years after LS65 and fifteen years before Bournemouth 90, the book contrasts the declining fortunes of the city of Leeds during the economic turmoil of the mid 1970's with the achievements of its football team, who are now chasing the elusive dream of a European cup victory. On the streets of Leeds, a gangland feud spirals out of control and leaves Alan Connolly trying to stay one step ahead of the police, special branch, the Provisional IRA and the demons in his own head.

"If you like crime thrillers with a touch of terrace culture you will enjoy the journey these books take you on."

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR - "I'm often asked which order the 4 'Eighties Leeds' books should be read in. Although each book is a standalone story, so can be read individually, they do feature some of the same characters and reference is occasionally made to previous storylines. I would therefore say that either LS65 (the earliest date in the timeline) or Bournemouth90 (the first book written) are the obvious places to start."

'Birdsong on Holbeck Moor' is Morris's first standalone story, set during the tumultuous period at the end of World War 1. The Leeds Pals have been decimated at the Somme and the soldiers who survived return to find a city in the grip of a global pandemic, with food rationing, unemployment and a football team facing expulsion from the league due to financial irregularities during the war years. Throw in an unhealthy dose of corruption, inter-city gang wars and witchcraft and you have the makings of a dark, gritty, Edwardian thriller.

Morris's 6th book, Spotter, published in April 2025, moves into the new millenium, but follows the same gritty fact-meets-fiction formula of his previous work. It's April 2001. The city of Leeds is reinventing itself as an economic powerhouse, and David O'Leary's young United side are conquering Europe in the champions league. For PC Charlie Mills it couldn't be better time to return to his home town as Leeds' football intelligence 'spotter.' But Charlie and the city have a dark history and when a local gang leader is released from prison to unleash a reign of terror, Charlie is forced to revisit his past and question whose side he's on… and try to remember who he really is.

Morris's latest book is nineteen85, released in Nov 2025. The latest story is set against the usual football background with Leeds United languishing in the second division, in a decaying stadium plagued by the worst hooligans in the country. Margaret Thatcher's government have beaten the miners and the IRA bombers but social unrest is rising. Adversity represents opportunity for 3 men - a politician, a tabloid reporter and a local crime boss who wants to own a football club. 3 men trying to manage a situation which is spiralling out of control in an era of greed, power and corruption.

Follow the author on Twitter @Yorkshire_Tales and Facebook BillyMorrisAuthor

Reviews

[Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have not read the final book of this series, LS65 has easily been my favorite. It’s an excellent look into the events that shaped one of the main characters of the books set in the 90s. I really like the way that Billy Morris ties the story to real life events, making the reader wonder if a character was actually present for historic moments. I have gone down extensive trails after reading these books just to make sure parts of them are fiction.

This book was a bit different for me as it was not quite as focused on the sporting side of things, but rather the rise to power that coincided with it. This is not a bad thing, even though I loved reading about the classic soccer matches as Morris presented them previously. Throughout this book, you will recognize a few of the characters, but it is definitely important to read the first two in the series to tie everything together. One of my favorite parts in this book occurs in the epilogue, with a revelation about one character that left me shocked by the real life connection.

It may be premature as I have one more book to go, but I hope this book finds its way into the hands of many readers. I’d love to have discussions to tie up some of the loose ends I still have questions about.

[Luke White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prequel to Billy Morris's best selling book Bournemouth 90 - this is set 25 years earlier than the first book in 1965. Alan Connolly, the 'baddie' from Bournemouth is a young mod arriving in Leeds to escape a dark past in Glasgow. The book charts his attempts to break into the gangland scene in Yorkshire, set against a backdrop of mod sounds, scooters, dance halls and pills. It's all very atmospheric and a lot of research has obviously gone into getting the background just right. As usual the style is fast moving, gritty and violent. Will appeal to people who read the first book but that isnt necessary as this is a standalone story. Also good for anyone into the 60s and mod scenes.

[Karl Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent crime thriller, especially of interest ti anyone with an interest in the sixties -football, mods, dance halls etc. If you're familiar with the city of Leeds it will be of particular interest.