Political satire for a country that has forgotten how to laugh together.
For fans of The Thick of It. Disgraced MPs saving the country. Yep, seriously.
The Right Members Club has existed for over four hundred years to protect British politics from one competence. Membership is reserved for disgraced MPs. Mark Fallow fits perfectly. Newly elected, immediately ruined, nationally humiliated.
Then everything breaks.
A pensioner’s death shocks the country. The Prime Minister falls. Jackson Pierce becomes Leader of the United Kingdom. He is different. He hates the Establishment and everything it protects. And the country starts to work as he starts abolishing Parliament.
The Right Members Club faces a threat it does not understand. A government the public actually loves. Mark Fallow is pulled deeper into the truth behind Jackson Pierce, behind Parliament, behind the system itself.
As his marriage collapses and Westminster unravels, he is forced to ask uncomfortable questions. Who is Jackson Pierce? Does Britain even need Parliament? And what is wrong with the bacon?
If you have ever wondered where disgraced MPs go (really?), then this is the book for you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ this book will make you laugh out loud, gasp in shock, and perhaps even shed a couple of tears by the end!
It’s a fast-paced story, and it will keep you on your toes until the very last chapter. I flew through the last 25% as everything converged into a really exciting finale. While it’s primarily a political satire, I also enjoyed some of the broader themes relating to family and mental health.
Things you can expect:
- Multiple POVs - Mental health (OCD) rep - Morally grey characters - A fun (and kind of disturbing) subplot about bacon
It’s a timely story, and while it’s set in the UK I think it will resonate with readers everywhere given the current geopolitical climate.
A superb book! On the surface somewhat 'laddish', with plenty of double entendres and references to enjoying oneself, The Right Members Club is fast-paced, humorous, and packed with action and drama. Beneath the fun, though, there are some genuinely philosophical discussions about the state of politics, about poverty, and about mental health. This is a perfectly balanced, and paced, book, and is ideal reading for modern times.
A great, funny approach to politics - don’t be put off by the ‘political’ tag! Very on the nose with what’s going on at the moment, but a nice break from reality. It’s not all laughs though, there’s a thread throughout of mental health and a strong central relationship. Something for everyone in this
“Whether you believe in me as a man of my convictions or not, frankly it's rain in the wind. The House of Lords is going; the House of Commons is changing. Britain does not want to waste time on the politics of old. One party rules, another throws barbs. They swap. Rinse and repeat. It's a played-out dance for a played-out era. Red blames blue, the incumbent points at the predecessor, until the cycle comes round to their exit, and it all starts all over again. All the while, nothing gets done. We go left, we go right, and we end up back at square one.”
The Right Members Club has a very distinctive style of humour, mixing political satire with an exaggerated look at the personalities and absurdities surrounding Westminster.
Very relevant in the UK right now, so the timing of this book release was pretty much spot on, the pace is fast, and the story develops quickly. Family, mental health, death and poverty this book covers it all
Interesting characters, sensitivity around mental health issues. Tender moments portrayed as the wife helps the character deal with OCD & Intrusive thoughts.
An original concept with a very British sense of humour. ★★★★
This was a fun book to read which certainly made me chuckle. The political story was entertaining and it was scary to think that given the antics of current politicians around the world some of it could even be true! It will definitely keep you guessing what will happen till the end. I look forward to reading more of this author’s books.
Witty and engaging read. As a slow reader it was quite a feat that I finished this book in a matter of days. This book is definitely deserving of its top spots on Amazon. Looking forward to see what this author does next!
With the current political climate and sad state of the world, I usually read fantasy or romance for escapism, but after being advised to try this political satire, I relented and decided to give it a go. Even if this isn’t your genre, I recommend you to read it because I was pleasantly surprised. It was a thoroughly entertaining read, witty with an interesting concept and my only negative is that now I’m wishing The Right Members Club actually existed! Just what the country needs lol Look forward to more titles from this author, brilliantly written
Filled with truly British humour and a lot of heart, this is a great debut. It’s almost disturbing how closely it reflects our political landscape and some might accuse Urbanowski of shamanism. I look forward to seeing the club grow and develop in their next outing!
I read this in two sittings, drawn in by the fast-paced narrative (a week is a long time in politics - and two days is a horribly long time when all you want to do is read, but you have to work, eat, sleep).
I enjoyed the story, which reminded me of a classic British caper– or the erstwhile political satire we used to enjoy before everything that dares critique power got banned or diluted. The premise is original and entertaining, but I don’t want to spoil it.
Let me just say that what we think of as ‘shadow government’ might mean neither the loyal opposition, nor any imputed ‘deep state’, in this wild comic ride through British constitutional histories, contemporary electoral processes, the workings of government, and the troubles that politicians bring on themselves. If MORI polls and YOUGOV surveys get on your nerves, you’ll find solace and amusement here.
The somewhat hapless hero is drawn into a secret society with several layers of intrigue, as he moves from being a parliamentary candidate, to downfall as a scandal-ridden loser, and then back again to guardian of democracy. At the same time, there’s a sub-plot that handles the protagonist’s anxiety and OCD, and the role played by his wife in helping support him through it all.
There’s bacon, several boozers, the spinniest of spin doctors, plenty of deplorable characters, and a rollicking bonkers finale with real (low-grade) explosives. This is a fun read, and I look forward to more from this debut author.
I bought this on a whim after seeing a post on X (I think!) but couldn’t read it straight away as I had other books on the go. I thought this was really well written and such a good idea. I think the author should write another book immediately cos I’m waiting!
The Right Members Club by Louis Urbanowski is not just a book of our times, it's a book for our times. It's not just a book to laugh with, it's a book to think with. The Right Members Club holds up a mirror to the UK today, grabs the reflection by the tie and drags it kicking and screaming into an alternative reality that can so very easily happen, especialy when it comes to Bacon
Mark Fallow, is running to be an MP in a party whose leader is, let's just say, a rather narcissistic authoritarian. That is until an unfortunate oversight while um, relieving tension (to put it politely) ensured that his political career would be short lived
Jackson Pierce has plans to shake up government, prune it to the roots and all with the help of mysterious messages he pays close attention to, but that no-one else notices
Jackson Pierce must be stopped at all costs, before he brings down parliament entirely. Enter the Right Members Club of 6 disgraced MP's, The Members for Wrath, Greed, Envy, Sloth, and Pride. This clandestine group has been operating since Guy Fawkes took the fall, always in the shadows, keeping the balance. But they are one member short. After his catastrophic fall from an admittedly not very great height, Mark Fallow is just the person to fill the seat. Will he become the Member for Lust and will The Right Members Club be able to stop the Jackson juggernaut before the country crumbles?
This book is simply incredible. It is quite unlike anything I have read in the genre in recent times in that it is an absolute screamer! I was howling with laughter one minute and deep in thought the next. There are many "What ifs" and the plausibility is palpable, giving voice to subjects such as mental health issues, social issues and the political enviroment. It is intentional but forces no ideology or agenda. It is genuine, observational and authentically hilarious
I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author, but I can be sure it is going to be top tier
The Right Members Club is a fun, fast-paced political comedy with a satirical edge – and, perhaps worryingly, it’s more than a little relevant given the current state of geopolitics.
The book centres on the titular club, whose membership is reserved for disgraced members of parliament. For over 400 years, the club has worked in the shadows to keep politics dull, steer Britain through crises, and ensure the country survives its rulers.
But the newly elected and mysterious Jackson Pierce presents a challenge unlike anything they have faced before. Popular with the public and promising to give people exactly what they want, Pierce does away with the title of Prime Minister, declares himself Britain’s new Leader, and sets about dismantling the establishment. Naturally, his promises may be too good to be true.
The idea of a populist figure offering easy solutions while causing chaos is not perhaps the most original concept – thank you, real-world UK, USA and several others – but Louis Urbanowski keeps things playful, readable and entertaining throughout.
This is a brisk debut novel, and I got through it in just two sittings. While I did see the big twist coming from quite a distance, I still had a good time with it. It may not have fully surprised me, but it entertained me, made me smile, and shows plenty of promise.
A solid, enjoyable three-star read.
Thank you to Louis Urbanowski for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
MUST READ! Not a genre I would usually choose but I found this book to be a real page turner and one of those you think about……I found myself comparing it to what is actually happening in the news, kind of expecting to see Jackson Pierce in the headlines, its both plausible and possible when you read it and consider the current political landscape both here in the UK and in the US. It’s a well written book that maintains your interest - I looked forward to picking it up again each evening! It’s witty, clever, intriguing and filled with characters that are both relatable and funny. I could completely picture the Omnibar and it made me wonder about the history of the Houses of Parliament - what has and does go on to keep our country on an even keel, who knows?!
Clever prose, biting commentary, and a surprising amount of heart. The Right Members Club had me howling, gasping, tearing up, and blushing on public transit. A modern day political satire of epic proportions that manages to capture so much of our contemporary discourse in a concise, hilarious package. Urbanowski's sophisticated yet accessible writing gives voice to people who have struggled with mental illness, offers the hope of redemption from even our most humiliating failures, and demonstrates the lengths - and depths - men will go to when faced with the loss of a good woman. Not a sentence was wasted in this massively enjoyable creation. Louis Urbanowski will be joining Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett on my bookshelf in the "cherished British authors" section.
There's something about this book that I just didn't enjoy. The blurb sounded great, but the book was just a bit bland. The characters didn't feel real, more like characters from a comic book. I guess I mean they were two dimensional. The story was boring for the most part, it did have some funny bits but it lacked any drama.
It can't have been too bad because I finished the book, but it's not something I would recommend to a friend. There was a lot of what I would call typical British TV humour which didn't hit the mark for me.
Political satire or dystopian possibility?! 🤣 I could be swayed to believe this Club very well exists.
I've seen The Thick of It and really enjoyed it, but I'm generally not all that knowledgeable about politics. Luckily, I didn't need to be to enjoy this book.
Packed with current references, quick-witted remarks, and plenty of classic British humour, this was a genuinely entertaining read. It's not a genre I pick up very often, so I'm really glad I stumbled across it.
Also, a sardine terrine 🤮... Enough said!
If you're looking for a quick, funny mystery with a healthy dose of British politics, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go!
Entertaining even if you know nothing about parliament
The Right Members Club kept surprising me, I couldn't predict what was going to happen next at any moment. Great character development of a surprising number of memorable people despite being a pretty quick listen. The narration was very well done as well, enjoyed the non-exaggerated tonal shifts for female character and different accents to help differentiate as I listened. I thought about posting a favorite quote, but I think most of my favorite quotes were too cheeky for me not to worry that Amazon wouldn't actually keep my review up. Highly recommend.
"Small Boats floated on the sea of public consciousness". This line made me chuckle and had me hooked from the start. It's exactly my type of humour. A fast paced, funny read which makes fun of all the ridiculousness of modern day politics. Some nice plot twists along the way, amusing descriptions and a reminder that click-bait populist politicians only care about one thing: power.
This book doesn't take itself too seriously, has nice short chapters and most importantly loves a pun!
A fast-paced, satirical look at British politics that had me hooked! Really well written; the humour hits, there are twists and turns aplenty, and a plethora of interesting characters. Not only did I find myself laughing along with this read, but many moments made me stop and think - it isn't a far cry from some of the ridiculousness of the state of politics. I had a great time reading The Right Members Club, and I look forward to more work from Louis Urbanowski.
A really fun read. A fast paced commentary on current UK politics but doesn't take itself seriously. Really well written, with great British humour throughout.
A wholly enjoyable political satire that skirts ominously close to what could be reality if populist politics is given free reign. Louis Urbanowski expertly treads the line between humour and intrigue in this tale of the dangers that await if too much power lays in the hands of one person.
I really enjoyed The Right Members Club. It’s sharp, funny and a bit unsettling in the best way. Political satire isn’t usually my sort of thing, but this felt oddly believable as well as completely ridiculous. A very confident debut and a great read.