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Tommy Wildeblood #3
The Inalienable Right
In the age of AIDS and Section 28: a secret that could change political history
It is 1987, and Tommy Wildeblood has put his days as a Piccadilly Circus rent-boy long behind him. Slightly to his own surprise, he is now a rookie teacher at a South London comprehensive.
But when Margaret Thatcher's government launches a chilling attack on the 'promotion' of homosexuality in a new law known as Section 28, Tommy can't stay silent – especially when he realises he may have information about one of Thatcher's key lieutenants that could change the political situation completely.
Forming an uneasy alliance with a sharp-elbowed tabloid journalist, and delving deep back into his past on the 'Dilly', he puts everything on the line – for both himself and his old friends – in a desperate bid to expose the truth.
With his trademark blend of historical research and 'what if' fiction, Adam Macqueen captures the spirit of a frightening age in another spellbinding case that lifts the lid on the Eighties political establishment's murkiest secrets.
It is 1987, and Tommy Wildeblood has put his days as a Piccadilly Circus rent-boy long behind him. Slightly to his own surprise, he is now a rookie teacher at a South London comprehensive.
But when Margaret Thatcher's government launches a chilling attack on the 'promotion' of homosexuality in a new law known as Section 28, Tommy can't stay silent – especially when he realises he may have information about one of Thatcher's key lieutenants that could change the political situation completely.
Forming an uneasy alliance with a sharp-elbowed tabloid journalist, and delving deep back into his past on the 'Dilly', he puts everything on the line – for both himself and his old friends – in a desperate bid to expose the truth.
With his trademark blend of historical research and 'what if' fiction, Adam Macqueen captures the spirit of a frightening age in another spellbinding case that lifts the lid on the Eighties political establishment's murkiest secrets.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 27, 2025
While reading this book, set at a time when the UK was sinking deep into the AIDS epidemic and Thatcherism, I just couldn't help thinking of what is going on today, not far from here, for instance in Hungary, one of these many countries where anti-gay backlash is on the rise again as a part of a much broader upswing of wide-ranging intolerance.
This is the third Tommy Wildeblood delivery and once again, part-journalist part-novelist Adam Macqueen expertly weaves fiction and reality in a clever, well-paced, thrilling and moving story. Keeping the reader agog from beginning to end with political facts about which one might think everything has already been told - I mean who on earth has never heard of mad Maggie and her infamous "inalienable right"?- is not a given, and this is another feather in Macqueen's cap.
In my opinion this is a good story -and a good series - because it is about those whose fair aspirations are always met with so many put-downs, who are "dragging [their] usual chaos in [their] wake and trampling great big footsteps from the past all over everything". It gives a voice to the voiceless, and lays bare how murky politics always is, how the powers that be prove themselves dangerous hypocrites.
By the way, don't be put off by the word politics. You really don't have to be a pundit on British politics in recent history to get into The Inalienable Right. I see two reasons why not. First, Adam Macqueen knows what must be done to reach out to a wider audience. Second, narrow-mindedness has an overbearing way of disregarding borders!
PS: Somewhere in the story, "Rent" by Pet Shop Boys is referred to. This song is so, so special to me!
"But look at my hopes, look at my dreams
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent"
Ah, the shivers of delight down my spine! Thanks for the throwback, Adam!
This is the third Tommy Wildeblood delivery and once again, part-journalist part-novelist Adam Macqueen expertly weaves fiction and reality in a clever, well-paced, thrilling and moving story. Keeping the reader agog from beginning to end with political facts about which one might think everything has already been told - I mean who on earth has never heard of mad Maggie and her infamous "inalienable right"?- is not a given, and this is another feather in Macqueen's cap.
In my opinion this is a good story -and a good series - because it is about those whose fair aspirations are always met with so many put-downs, who are "dragging [their] usual chaos in [their] wake and trampling great big footsteps from the past all over everything". It gives a voice to the voiceless, and lays bare how murky politics always is, how the powers that be prove themselves dangerous hypocrites.
By the way, don't be put off by the word politics. You really don't have to be a pundit on British politics in recent history to get into The Inalienable Right. I see two reasons why not. First, Adam Macqueen knows what must be done to reach out to a wider audience. Second, narrow-mindedness has an overbearing way of disregarding borders!
PS: Somewhere in the story, "Rent" by Pet Shop Boys is referred to. This song is so, so special to me!
"But look at my hopes, look at my dreams
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent"
Ah, the shivers of delight down my spine! Thanks for the throwback, Adam!
April 14, 2025
So good. All three of these Tommy Wildeblood books have been amazing. In fact I think they keep getting better. They deserve to be bestsellers but I quite like being a member of the secret private club that knows about and loves these books. Sorry author x
March 9, 2025
Another fantastic book in the Tommy Wildeblood series!
Very much looking forward to the next!
Very much looking forward to the next!
March 24, 2025
Another enjoyable outing for Tommy Wildeblood, but I didn't feel it worked as will as the first two. Even so a compelling read. Adam MacQueen writes so well and his research is so good that it is fascinating to review the events of the 1980s and the social ramifications of political decisions. Tommy has now settled into a loving relationship and has become a probationary teacher. Most of the first half of the book focuses on the relationship and the tensions therein. In the background is the Thatcher government planning the infamous Section 28 prohibiting the discussion of gay sexuality in school or Government supported projects. I have very little knowledge of gay experience, friends at university and my daughter gave me some understanding. However, while there are many intimate gay moments it creates a good sense of a normal gay life raising the stakes for Tommy and Ryan's life as they start to get caught up in the corruption of politicians and child abuse. Very easy and enjoyable to read. My only negative is that the plot wasn't as strong as the previous two and I rather felt Macqueen spoilt it a bit by playing fast and loose in the with the facts in the denouement, having been so spot on until then. And he admits it in an afterward!
March 14, 2025
I can't remember the last time a book made me rush off and buy the other works by that author, but that's exactly what The Inalienable right made me do.
From the nostalgia of events I lived through like the hurricane in '80, to the heart tugging memories of how the HIV/AIDS epidemic affected the gay community. Each concept is shown with such emotion and attention to detail, I couldn't help but be swept along in the story.
Such a wonderful book, and I can't wait to read the earlier two books by Adam Macqueen, and wait excitedly for future books
From the nostalgia of events I lived through like the hurricane in '80, to the heart tugging memories of how the HIV/AIDS epidemic affected the gay community. Each concept is shown with such emotion and attention to detail, I couldn't help but be swept along in the story.
Such a wonderful book, and I can't wait to read the earlier two books by Adam Macqueen, and wait excitedly for future books
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews