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Detective J.T. Ellington #3
Restless Coffins
1969, Bristol. Bajan ex-cop and reluctant private detective, Joseph 'JT' Tremaine Ellington is still trading in cash and favours, lending a helping hand to those too scared to go to the police or anyone trying to stay one step ahead of them.
Life is tough for JT, who is broke. It is about to get a lot tougher when he receives a telegram informing him of a tragedy that has unfolded thousands of miles away. Ellington's sister, Bernice has been murdered. Ellington wants to make the long journey back to his home on the island of Barbados to pay his final respects and to settle his late sister's affairs. To do so, he must accept a ticket from his shady cousin, Vic, on condition he travels to New York first, where Vic is building himself a criminal empire in Harlem.
Vic appoints the beguiling Evagelina Laveau to mind his cousin, along with his henchmen, Clefus Horton and a hot-headed Bajun, Pigfoot, a man always quick with his knife. JT soon discovers that Vic is the American end of an operation that stretches back to Barbados, and that Vic's business partner is Conrad Monroe, the man responsible for the death of JT's wife and daughter. And as JT finds himself embroiled in the world of drugs, bent law, voodoo and the bitter legacy of slavery, he must return to the island of his birth and face the demons of his past.
'Page turning historical detective fiction at it's finest, picks you up and puts you right in 60's Britain, and its underbelly, and a new genre to boot, say hello to 'Barbadian/Bristolian noir'.
- DERMOT O'LEARY
'This is terrific crime fiction - evocative, socially aware and gripping - and JT Ellington is a compelling protagonist.'
- MARK BILLINGHAM
Life is tough for JT, who is broke. It is about to get a lot tougher when he receives a telegram informing him of a tragedy that has unfolded thousands of miles away. Ellington's sister, Bernice has been murdered. Ellington wants to make the long journey back to his home on the island of Barbados to pay his final respects and to settle his late sister's affairs. To do so, he must accept a ticket from his shady cousin, Vic, on condition he travels to New York first, where Vic is building himself a criminal empire in Harlem.
Vic appoints the beguiling Evagelina Laveau to mind his cousin, along with his henchmen, Clefus Horton and a hot-headed Bajun, Pigfoot, a man always quick with his knife. JT soon discovers that Vic is the American end of an operation that stretches back to Barbados, and that Vic's business partner is Conrad Monroe, the man responsible for the death of JT's wife and daughter. And as JT finds himself embroiled in the world of drugs, bent law, voodoo and the bitter legacy of slavery, he must return to the island of his birth and face the demons of his past.
'Page turning historical detective fiction at it's finest, picks you up and puts you right in 60's Britain, and its underbelly, and a new genre to boot, say hello to 'Barbadian/Bristolian noir'.
- DERMOT O'LEARY
'This is terrific crime fiction - evocative, socially aware and gripping - and JT Ellington is a compelling protagonist.'
- MARK BILLINGHAM
Audio CD
First published January 25, 2018
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About the author
M.P. Wright
15 books34 followers Mark Wright was born in Leicestershire in 1965. He was employed in various roles within the music industry before working as a private investigator. He retrained in 1989 and spent the next twenty years in the mental health and probation services in the UK, specialising in risk assessment. A self-confessed aficionado of film, music and real ale, and father of two beautiful daughters, Mark lives with his wife and their two Rottweiler dogs, Clover and Dylan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 20, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Black & White Publishing for an advance copy of Restless Coffins, the third novel to feature Bristol based enquiry agent Joseph "JT" Ellington.
Joseph is shocked when a telegram from his elusive, criminal cousin, Vic, tell him his sister is dead and asks him to return to Barbados to settle her affairs. Little does he know what this entails or how closely Vic is involved but with Vic pulling the strings his trip home involves detours to New York and New Orleans.
I thoroughly enjoyed Restless Coffins which is an unusual mixture of lyrical descriptions, complicated plotting and serious violence with a high body count.
The novel is narrated by Joseph in the first person. There are pros and cons to this approach but on the whole it works well. It makes it easy for the reader to understand and identify with Joseph, a black man in 1960s England and America where racism was alive and accepted as the norm. Mr Wright does an excellent job of describing Joseph's frustration at the accepted assumption of white superiority by white people, especially the harsh realities of American race laws and segregation. I also found an early scene of his experiences in a pub sad but realistic. The downside is that the reader only sees the other characters through Joseph's eyes, especially the fascinating Vic.
I love the descriptions in the novel from the heat of Barbados to poverty of New York. Mr Wright has produced an atmospheric novel where the reader can visualise the settings and Joseph's feelings.
The plot is complicated with the Machiavellian Vic pulling the strings, initially from afar, but latterly in person. I found myself getting lost in some of his machinations, most of which seem unnecessarily convoluted and read as obvious plot devices, but the basic premise of Shakespearian revenge is obvious. The pacing of the novel is good as Joseph learns bit by bit the reasoning behind all his adventures, although misadventures is probably a better word.
The level of violence in the novel is high so it's not for the faint hearted. It is interesting to see the Black Panthers make an appearance and mention of their aim to win equality through violence. There is a certain irony, therefore, in the events that unfold.
Restless Coffins is an absorbing read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Joseph is shocked when a telegram from his elusive, criminal cousin, Vic, tell him his sister is dead and asks him to return to Barbados to settle her affairs. Little does he know what this entails or how closely Vic is involved but with Vic pulling the strings his trip home involves detours to New York and New Orleans.
I thoroughly enjoyed Restless Coffins which is an unusual mixture of lyrical descriptions, complicated plotting and serious violence with a high body count.
The novel is narrated by Joseph in the first person. There are pros and cons to this approach but on the whole it works well. It makes it easy for the reader to understand and identify with Joseph, a black man in 1960s England and America where racism was alive and accepted as the norm. Mr Wright does an excellent job of describing Joseph's frustration at the accepted assumption of white superiority by white people, especially the harsh realities of American race laws and segregation. I also found an early scene of his experiences in a pub sad but realistic. The downside is that the reader only sees the other characters through Joseph's eyes, especially the fascinating Vic.
I love the descriptions in the novel from the heat of Barbados to poverty of New York. Mr Wright has produced an atmospheric novel where the reader can visualise the settings and Joseph's feelings.
The plot is complicated with the Machiavellian Vic pulling the strings, initially from afar, but latterly in person. I found myself getting lost in some of his machinations, most of which seem unnecessarily convoluted and read as obvious plot devices, but the basic premise of Shakespearian revenge is obvious. The pacing of the novel is good as Joseph learns bit by bit the reasoning behind all his adventures, although misadventures is probably a better word.
The level of violence in the novel is high so it's not for the faint hearted. It is interesting to see the Black Panthers make an appearance and mention of their aim to win equality through violence. There is a certain irony, therefore, in the events that unfold.
Restless Coffins is an absorbing read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
April 18, 2019
Restless Coffins by M.P. Wright is the third book in the Detectice J.T. Ellington series. This time J.T. faces an obstacle that forces him to travel away from Bristol. He receives a telegram from his cousin with some tragic news.
The third book offers some interesting insight to J.T.*s childhood which made the main character feel more real and not so distant as in the previous books. I really enjoyed reading this book and the well-detailed but complex plot was absolutely incredible. I've always been a huge thriller fan and this just did the trick for me. I haven't heard anything about this author before receiving a copy of this book but now I must admit that I'm looking forward to reading the other books as well. I do kind of wish that I had read the other books before tackling this one but it was still an amazing read and I would definitely recommend it.
*I got an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for providing me with a copy*
The third book offers some interesting insight to J.T.*s childhood which made the main character feel more real and not so distant as in the previous books. I really enjoyed reading this book and the well-detailed but complex plot was absolutely incredible. I've always been a huge thriller fan and this just did the trick for me. I haven't heard anything about this author before receiving a copy of this book but now I must admit that I'm looking forward to reading the other books as well. I do kind of wish that I had read the other books before tackling this one but it was still an amazing read and I would definitely recommend it.
*I got an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for providing me with a copy*
September 17, 2018
A Barbados-born detective in the haunting violent atmosphere
JT Ellington was an ex-cop living in Bristol. He received the bad news from his native country, Barbados. He and his sister discovered a corpse at the shore in the ‘30s when they were little.
JT needed to go home to pay his respects to one of his relatives. However, he had to meet his cousin, Vic the crime lord in New York. Once in Harlem, JT met Evangeline and Pigfoot the Bajan. They travelled together to New Orleans.
The attitudes towards the non-white people still never change in the UK and the US and this makes me still sad. There is still violence, corruption and voodoo in the communities in Harlem, New Orleans and the Caribbean islands.
I laud MP Wright because of the way the characters speak in African-American or Afro-Caribbean accents, as if I am listening to their conversations. I strongly recommend this book.
Columpoirot
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
JT Ellington was an ex-cop living in Bristol. He received the bad news from his native country, Barbados. He and his sister discovered a corpse at the shore in the ‘30s when they were little.
JT needed to go home to pay his respects to one of his relatives. However, he had to meet his cousin, Vic the crime lord in New York. Once in Harlem, JT met Evangeline and Pigfoot the Bajan. They travelled together to New Orleans.
The attitudes towards the non-white people still never change in the UK and the US and this makes me still sad. There is still violence, corruption and voodoo in the communities in Harlem, New Orleans and the Caribbean islands.
I laud MP Wright because of the way the characters speak in African-American or Afro-Caribbean accents, as if I am listening to their conversations. I strongly recommend this book.
Columpoirot
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
March 12, 2024
Being given an ARC of a book you’ve been waiting ages to read, by an author you value as a fine writer and friend is both a joy and a little difficult.
Like being tossed the keys to their newly acquired top of the range sports car and hearing ‘take it for a spin.
A book in a series is also hard to share, as it needs to be faithful to what has gone before and readers often know more than the writer can remember(thank goodness for those journals), and when it is the third book in a declared trilogy MP Wright knows he has to raise his game.
Joseph Ellington, known more often than not as JT is a mild mannered man most blokes would welcome as a mate. That is if it was not the mid sixties in Bristol; at this time he is less than a human being to some for he is black. Part of an influx from the Caribbean, JT has left Barbados to settle in the UK. Although not highly educated, he is a man of honour and served Britain’s interests well as a policeman on his home island. He left amid personal grief and a sense of betrayal and carries these memories and loss with him.
Unable to work due to discrimination and by his on standards of right and wrong he ended up as a private investigator. Books 1 and 2 demonstrate how well that is going.
In The Restless Coffins we have the status quo turned on its head and we follow JT on a journey home to bury his sister.
His cousin Victor, Vic, left Bristol some 18 months earlier, escaping the law and unhappy associates; it is he who sends JT the news and the means to return home via New York to settle affairs. Bernice his closest relative has died and as with the culture and mysticism of his people many thoughts fill his head and share his dreams. So he prepares to leave and begin the difficult trip wanting answers and a sense of closure.
The author has paced this novel so well. No need for clever flashbacks and different points of view; the story is beautifully told through Ellington in the first person. This works so well due to our affinity and empathy for him. His honesty and humble bearing on all his interactions and considerations for others.
The narration therefore allows for expressive and expansive concepts and descriptions of the changing and new environment JT takes on his journey.
Casual racism confronts him at every turn in the UK as he travels to London. “One look into his rancorous eyes told me the whole story of what he truly felt about a man like me.” Direct and violent hatred due to his colour as he seeks to get a drink. Experiences he has, that at that time were not open to black people as he takes a transatlantic flight ordinary black workers could not afford.
The book then touches on Harlem and another train trip to New Orleans.
At every turn the magic, grandeur and beauty are wonderfully shared in the writer’s dialogue and descriptions, imagined generated similes “The early red sun had just broken above the tree line like a Lucifer match being scratched across the sky.” and poetic reflections about the weather from hot and oppressive to wet and consuming.
Above all the story has a string of characters wrapped around it like a neckless of beautiful pearls, hard and tough, with the voice of that district or the Deep South. The patois seems spot on and is the voice of its day and time. Indeed when a white person tries to pass off the N word, you and the text catches its breath. There is no offence here and it isn’t just trying to be a hip/gangster writer either it is so carefully done and changes to suit the age, location and people involved in these conversations.
Furthermore for me it shows how much JT feels an alien in both The Big Apple and The Big Easy.
The pace quickens in the final quarter of the novel as JT arrives home. The journey there and the things he has learned mean he will never be the same man. Can his cousin save him? Is revenge sweet or does it cost a man if it is spilled unwisely?
This is a life changing journey for our protagonist; he is a product of his upbringing, his carefree childhood, his kith and kin. There is closure here as befits a trilogy, by part III but more besides JT is changed, how will he behave from here? The fourth book beckons.
This journey home is a terrific work of fiction; such a pleasure to share with a character you have come to enjoy and root for. But as with any literature, aside from the quality of writing it is the ideas, memories, forgotten faith, superstition and dreams that mean there is so much more to this novel than a holiday read.
Like being tossed the keys to their newly acquired top of the range sports car and hearing ‘take it for a spin.
A book in a series is also hard to share, as it needs to be faithful to what has gone before and readers often know more than the writer can remember(thank goodness for those journals), and when it is the third book in a declared trilogy MP Wright knows he has to raise his game.
Joseph Ellington, known more often than not as JT is a mild mannered man most blokes would welcome as a mate. That is if it was not the mid sixties in Bristol; at this time he is less than a human being to some for he is black. Part of an influx from the Caribbean, JT has left Barbados to settle in the UK. Although not highly educated, he is a man of honour and served Britain’s interests well as a policeman on his home island. He left amid personal grief and a sense of betrayal and carries these memories and loss with him.
Unable to work due to discrimination and by his on standards of right and wrong he ended up as a private investigator. Books 1 and 2 demonstrate how well that is going.
In The Restless Coffins we have the status quo turned on its head and we follow JT on a journey home to bury his sister.
His cousin Victor, Vic, left Bristol some 18 months earlier, escaping the law and unhappy associates; it is he who sends JT the news and the means to return home via New York to settle affairs. Bernice his closest relative has died and as with the culture and mysticism of his people many thoughts fill his head and share his dreams. So he prepares to leave and begin the difficult trip wanting answers and a sense of closure.
The author has paced this novel so well. No need for clever flashbacks and different points of view; the story is beautifully told through Ellington in the first person. This works so well due to our affinity and empathy for him. His honesty and humble bearing on all his interactions and considerations for others.
The narration therefore allows for expressive and expansive concepts and descriptions of the changing and new environment JT takes on his journey.
Casual racism confronts him at every turn in the UK as he travels to London. “One look into his rancorous eyes told me the whole story of what he truly felt about a man like me.” Direct and violent hatred due to his colour as he seeks to get a drink. Experiences he has, that at that time were not open to black people as he takes a transatlantic flight ordinary black workers could not afford.
The book then touches on Harlem and another train trip to New Orleans.
At every turn the magic, grandeur and beauty are wonderfully shared in the writer’s dialogue and descriptions, imagined generated similes “The early red sun had just broken above the tree line like a Lucifer match being scratched across the sky.” and poetic reflections about the weather from hot and oppressive to wet and consuming.
Above all the story has a string of characters wrapped around it like a neckless of beautiful pearls, hard and tough, with the voice of that district or the Deep South. The patois seems spot on and is the voice of its day and time. Indeed when a white person tries to pass off the N word, you and the text catches its breath. There is no offence here and it isn’t just trying to be a hip/gangster writer either it is so carefully done and changes to suit the age, location and people involved in these conversations.
Furthermore for me it shows how much JT feels an alien in both The Big Apple and The Big Easy.
The pace quickens in the final quarter of the novel as JT arrives home. The journey there and the things he has learned mean he will never be the same man. Can his cousin save him? Is revenge sweet or does it cost a man if it is spilled unwisely?
This is a life changing journey for our protagonist; he is a product of his upbringing, his carefree childhood, his kith and kin. There is closure here as befits a trilogy, by part III but more besides JT is changed, how will he behave from here? The fourth book beckons.
This journey home is a terrific work of fiction; such a pleasure to share with a character you have come to enjoy and root for. But as with any literature, aside from the quality of writing it is the ideas, memories, forgotten faith, superstition and dreams that mean there is so much more to this novel than a holiday read.
January 26, 2018
Restless Coffins is the third book in what was a trilogy featuring J.T. Ellington. I am delighted to read at the end of the book that the author has decided to write another book in the series. Brilliant news for fans of the series as I know I for one wasn’t ready to say goodbye to JT yet.
I have developed somewhat of a soft spot for JT over this series. What he has been through personally, certainly has you routing for him and wanting for something good to come along. Sadly life seems to deal him a different hand from the one we want for him.
Poor JT is dealt another devastating blow that has him traveling miles away from Bristol. I have to say I loved the locations that the author takes us to in this novel. I was literally transported around the world and easily visualised the places that he took me to. The dialect that some of the characters talk in had me hearing voices in my head and it really brought the whole story to life.
There really is so much to love about this book. There is plenty to thrill the reader as JT certainly finds himself in some dangerous predicaments that could cost him his life. There is also quite a tug on emotions as JT’s journey takes him on a very personal one and fighting a lot of inner demons. I was very moved at one part of the book that just made me love JT just that little bit more.
Restless Coffins for me is the authors best book yet. Set in the sixties, the author very much brings to life what it was like back then and does it in a way that will appeal to readers that are born years later as well as people who remember the era well. A gripping and emotive read.
My thanks to Black & White Publishing for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I have developed somewhat of a soft spot for JT over this series. What he has been through personally, certainly has you routing for him and wanting for something good to come along. Sadly life seems to deal him a different hand from the one we want for him.
Poor JT is dealt another devastating blow that has him traveling miles away from Bristol. I have to say I loved the locations that the author takes us to in this novel. I was literally transported around the world and easily visualised the places that he took me to. The dialect that some of the characters talk in had me hearing voices in my head and it really brought the whole story to life.
There really is so much to love about this book. There is plenty to thrill the reader as JT certainly finds himself in some dangerous predicaments that could cost him his life. There is also quite a tug on emotions as JT’s journey takes him on a very personal one and fighting a lot of inner demons. I was very moved at one part of the book that just made me love JT just that little bit more.
Restless Coffins for me is the authors best book yet. Set in the sixties, the author very much brings to life what it was like back then and does it in a way that will appeal to readers that are born years later as well as people who remember the era well. A gripping and emotive read.
My thanks to Black & White Publishing for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
August 30, 2021
Having quietly championed the first two books in the J. T. Elington trilogy , Heartman and All Through The Night , as both a blogger and a bookseller, it was with a sense of anticipation that I approached the reading of Restless Coffins. As life conspires to kick Ellington in the teeth again, you know things are going to get a bit lively, but with the intervention of his wayward cousin Vic, it can only get downright dangerous…
Obviously, having been following the books already, the doom laden back story of JT is firmly established in my mind already, but fear not dear reader, the set up of Restless Coffins is quite accessible to the first time reader, if you randomly begin here. With the first two books being so firmly set in the UK, this book also strikes a broader appeal as the story travels from Bristol, to the gangs of Harlem, to the hoodoo voodoo of New Orleans and then propels us to the bloody denouement in JT’s native Barbados. By broadening the book in this way, it also enabled Wright to consolidate his position as, in my opinion, one of the finest purveyors of descriptive fiction in the thriller genre. His attention to detail, to atmosphere building, to location, to the very make up of whatever environment he places his characters into, is absolutely second to none. Every scene is loaded with precise and vivid detail, more commonly encountered in literary fiction, which enshrouds you completely, and transports you with absolute clarity to the environs of his character’s experiences. Every location, every means of transport, every person, everything JT sees and experiences, puts us there with him, entwining us even more intensely with the book.
Likewise, Wright’s characterisation is pitch perfect as usual, and the intensity he imbues in JT in particular, is absolutely compelling. JT’s emotional, complicated, self questioning inner life must be exhausting to convey to the page, and every scene that puts the spotlight solely on this character, is an emotional rollercoaster for JT as well as the reader. As well as the constant pull on his emotions through the loss of those closest to him, both by birth, by marriage, and by association, he undergoes an extreme amount of physical assault. Indeed, the fight scenes are so precisely written I have an image of the author throwing himself his writing room choreographing them to the nth degree of detail, and by extension in the aftermath of JT’s physical encounters, the reader, through the exact descriptions, can feel every cut, every bruise. As well as being a hugely sympathetic character, there is always a degree of questioning from him, at times struggling to keep his emotions and impulses in check, showing his very real human frailty, but steadfastly demonstrating his loyalty to those closest to him, and to the memory of those he has lost. A troubled and complicated man, but also one of great integrity.
And then there’s cousin Vic.
Glorious, dangerous, slippery, sharp-talking Vic. I adore him. You just know that Vic’s gonna turn up, shake up JT’s world a little more, and tweak the nose of death along the way, and that he does. Brilliant. With the new American cast of characters, and some unwelcome faces from JT’s past, there are a host of good, bad and in some cases, exceptionally ugly people to keep JT and Vic on their toes, and the reader thoroughly entertained, horrified, or enraged. There’s some real bad folks in this one.
With Wright’s finely honed ear for the lilting cadence and rhythm of the Caribbean and American dialects, the use of language and dialogue is never less than perfectly authentic, and you quickly assume the pace and rhythm of each interaction. The heat, the atmosphere, the pulsing of human life, the frailties and strengths of his characters, and the rush of blood in violence, assails your mind and senses throughout Restless Coffins, leading to a completely immersive reading experience. Highly recommended.
Obviously, having been following the books already, the doom laden back story of JT is firmly established in my mind already, but fear not dear reader, the set up of Restless Coffins is quite accessible to the first time reader, if you randomly begin here. With the first two books being so firmly set in the UK, this book also strikes a broader appeal as the story travels from Bristol, to the gangs of Harlem, to the hoodoo voodoo of New Orleans and then propels us to the bloody denouement in JT’s native Barbados. By broadening the book in this way, it also enabled Wright to consolidate his position as, in my opinion, one of the finest purveyors of descriptive fiction in the thriller genre. His attention to detail, to atmosphere building, to location, to the very make up of whatever environment he places his characters into, is absolutely second to none. Every scene is loaded with precise and vivid detail, more commonly encountered in literary fiction, which enshrouds you completely, and transports you with absolute clarity to the environs of his character’s experiences. Every location, every means of transport, every person, everything JT sees and experiences, puts us there with him, entwining us even more intensely with the book.
Likewise, Wright’s characterisation is pitch perfect as usual, and the intensity he imbues in JT in particular, is absolutely compelling. JT’s emotional, complicated, self questioning inner life must be exhausting to convey to the page, and every scene that puts the spotlight solely on this character, is an emotional rollercoaster for JT as well as the reader. As well as the constant pull on his emotions through the loss of those closest to him, both by birth, by marriage, and by association, he undergoes an extreme amount of physical assault. Indeed, the fight scenes are so precisely written I have an image of the author throwing himself his writing room choreographing them to the nth degree of detail, and by extension in the aftermath of JT’s physical encounters, the reader, through the exact descriptions, can feel every cut, every bruise. As well as being a hugely sympathetic character, there is always a degree of questioning from him, at times struggling to keep his emotions and impulses in check, showing his very real human frailty, but steadfastly demonstrating his loyalty to those closest to him, and to the memory of those he has lost. A troubled and complicated man, but also one of great integrity.
And then there’s cousin Vic.
Glorious, dangerous, slippery, sharp-talking Vic. I adore him. You just know that Vic’s gonna turn up, shake up JT’s world a little more, and tweak the nose of death along the way, and that he does. Brilliant. With the new American cast of characters, and some unwelcome faces from JT’s past, there are a host of good, bad and in some cases, exceptionally ugly people to keep JT and Vic on their toes, and the reader thoroughly entertained, horrified, or enraged. There’s some real bad folks in this one.
With Wright’s finely honed ear for the lilting cadence and rhythm of the Caribbean and American dialects, the use of language and dialogue is never less than perfectly authentic, and you quickly assume the pace and rhythm of each interaction. The heat, the atmosphere, the pulsing of human life, the frailties and strengths of his characters, and the rush of blood in violence, assails your mind and senses throughout Restless Coffins, leading to a completely immersive reading experience. Highly recommended.
January 31, 2018
Those lucky enough to have already enjoyed author MP Wright’s impressive debut novel “Heartman” and the excellent sequel “All Through The Night” will be eagerly anticipating the release of this book, which completes a trilogy of 1960’s-set detective novels featuring J.T. Ellington, the former Bajan police sergeant transplanted to the St. Paul’s district of Bristol, and now scraping a living as a private eye.
If you think sequels are tricky, try completing a trilogy. You have to complete circles and tie off loose ends whilst conjuring a conclusion that works for new readers but also satisfies the many who have followed the story of Ellington from the start (which further includes two superb short stories, “Wendell Patin’s Pork Pie” and “Standing In The Shadows With The Ghost Of Emmett Till”). The potential to wind up on your backside is enormous.
“Restless Coffins” removes us from the familiar surroundings of Bristol very early on following news of family tragedy from our hero’s original home back in Barbados. Ellington is summoned across the Atlantic by his cousin Vic to meet him in New York and from there events rapidly spiral out of control, loyalties are called into question and the body count is both high and savage.
As with its lauded predecessors, “Restless Coffins” is an intoxicating read - Wright’s gift for creating worlds is such that you not only see the locations in your mind’s eye, but hear and smell them too. Not only does he have a believable, battered, and sometimes painfully human protagonist in JT Ellington, but also a truly memorable anti-hero in Vic, who haunts and drives the narrative in “Restless Coffins” for well over half the book before finally appearing in person. Secondary characters are beautifully drawn although few survive long enough for us to get to know them well. The main villain of the piece is a rare piece of evil, utterly irredeemable and shorn of any saving graces, being well written enough for the reader to see how pathetic they are without engendering them any sympathy.
The denouement feels a little abrupt perhaps, but only in the way that endings tend to when concluding a longer story - one often hopes for greater catharsis than life tends to deliver, and MP Wright roots Ellington’s tales strongly in a ‘real world’ environment. However, this is not to suggest that it is in any way unsatisfying. Ellington has been to hell and back before we are even introduced to the character in “Heartman”, and “Restless Coffins” earns him the right to be left in about as good a place as could be hoped for given his circumstances.
MP Wright has successfully negotiated the various narrative pitfalls inherent in concluding a trilogy, partly by painting on a broader and more alien canvas than was encountered in the first two Ellington novels. There are elements of John Buchan’s “The 39 Steps” and Ian Fleming here, whilst maintaining the pacing and exquisite atmosphere of his earlier works. The world of JT and Vic is neither safe nor comfortable, and the author unflinchingly depicts the racism of the times. The violence is visceral. A bullet doesn’t leave a neat little hole. A punch wounds. People often don't get what they deserve. The inhabitants of the book feel real, not cyphers or stereotypes.
For those readers already invested in JT Ellington, “Restless Coffins” makes for a bruising, bloody but ultimately brilliant ending to his 1960s adventures. It also manages to work just as effectively if this is your introduction to MP Wright’s work - and you’ll want to check out what you’ve been missing by the end.
If you think sequels are tricky, try completing a trilogy. You have to complete circles and tie off loose ends whilst conjuring a conclusion that works for new readers but also satisfies the many who have followed the story of Ellington from the start (which further includes two superb short stories, “Wendell Patin’s Pork Pie” and “Standing In The Shadows With The Ghost Of Emmett Till”). The potential to wind up on your backside is enormous.
“Restless Coffins” removes us from the familiar surroundings of Bristol very early on following news of family tragedy from our hero’s original home back in Barbados. Ellington is summoned across the Atlantic by his cousin Vic to meet him in New York and from there events rapidly spiral out of control, loyalties are called into question and the body count is both high and savage.
As with its lauded predecessors, “Restless Coffins” is an intoxicating read - Wright’s gift for creating worlds is such that you not only see the locations in your mind’s eye, but hear and smell them too. Not only does he have a believable, battered, and sometimes painfully human protagonist in JT Ellington, but also a truly memorable anti-hero in Vic, who haunts and drives the narrative in “Restless Coffins” for well over half the book before finally appearing in person. Secondary characters are beautifully drawn although few survive long enough for us to get to know them well. The main villain of the piece is a rare piece of evil, utterly irredeemable and shorn of any saving graces, being well written enough for the reader to see how pathetic they are without engendering them any sympathy.
The denouement feels a little abrupt perhaps, but only in the way that endings tend to when concluding a longer story - one often hopes for greater catharsis than life tends to deliver, and MP Wright roots Ellington’s tales strongly in a ‘real world’ environment. However, this is not to suggest that it is in any way unsatisfying. Ellington has been to hell and back before we are even introduced to the character in “Heartman”, and “Restless Coffins” earns him the right to be left in about as good a place as could be hoped for given his circumstances.
MP Wright has successfully negotiated the various narrative pitfalls inherent in concluding a trilogy, partly by painting on a broader and more alien canvas than was encountered in the first two Ellington novels. There are elements of John Buchan’s “The 39 Steps” and Ian Fleming here, whilst maintaining the pacing and exquisite atmosphere of his earlier works. The world of JT and Vic is neither safe nor comfortable, and the author unflinchingly depicts the racism of the times. The violence is visceral. A bullet doesn’t leave a neat little hole. A punch wounds. People often don't get what they deserve. The inhabitants of the book feel real, not cyphers or stereotypes.
For those readers already invested in JT Ellington, “Restless Coffins” makes for a bruising, bloody but ultimately brilliant ending to his 1960s adventures. It also manages to work just as effectively if this is your introduction to MP Wright’s work - and you’ll want to check out what you’ve been missing by the end.
February 6, 2018
Starting off in Bristol in the late 60’s, the reader is taken on a journey to New York, New Orleans and the Barbados where loss, grief, corruption, racism, family secrets, betrayal, revelations, retribution and the truth are just a few of the themes that all come together in this “all is not what it seems” story!
The book starts way back in JT’s childhood and really sets the tone for this emotive story. Although not a fast-paced read, the build up had me on tenterhooks, I knew something was coming – I just didn’t know what! When it was delivered, it was definitely one of those punch-in-the-gut blows which I enjoyed because of the slow build up of suspense, mystery and tension throughout. I also loved the authenticity of the dialect and great descriptions which really had me right there in the moment. There was a rawness to the atmosphere, edgy and surreal at times when the reader is taken to the underbelly of the crime world in this era and man…it sure wasn’t pretty!
Rich with some extremely well written characters, there are just too many I would love to mention, so I will give you a flavour in the hopes that it will entice you to pick up this book and find out more!
J.T. Ellington is the main character and works as an “Enquiry Agent” or Private Investigator as they are more commonly known. He is really put through the wringer in this novel and we see a more vulnerable side to him as the past comes back and really messes with his mind. He is determined, however to find the truth – no matter the cost and put the demons to rest. I really was invested in this character and it was great to see the difference in him from the last book compared to this book.
Evangeline Laveau was a brilliant character – all mouth but also quite vulnerable. J.T.’s cousin Vic has Evangeline taking J.T. where he needs to be when he arrives in New York and they both travel to New Orleans. I wasn’t sure what to make of her initially but it didn’t take long to warm to her bold and brassy nature.
Vic (Victor) is J.T.’s cousin and I won’t spoil his backstory. Another one I was unsure about – he seems to have trouble two steps behind him at all times. He is very protective of his family and not wary of using violence when necessary. Despite their differences, you can see why J.T. and Vic remain close.
Conrad Monroe ….OMG! This is one messed up dude…and it seems that it runs in the family! 😱 He is a Bajan gangland boss and totally unscrupulous but he has A LOT of influence and that doesn’t bode well for J.T or Vic….
Do I recommend this book? That would be a Hell Yeah, I do for sure! Intense, emotive, shocking and oozing atmosphere and character, Restless Coffins really captured the times and emotions beautifully! Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first two books (though you should as they are worth reading) as this book can easily be read as a stand-alone!
The book starts way back in JT’s childhood and really sets the tone for this emotive story. Although not a fast-paced read, the build up had me on tenterhooks, I knew something was coming – I just didn’t know what! When it was delivered, it was definitely one of those punch-in-the-gut blows which I enjoyed because of the slow build up of suspense, mystery and tension throughout. I also loved the authenticity of the dialect and great descriptions which really had me right there in the moment. There was a rawness to the atmosphere, edgy and surreal at times when the reader is taken to the underbelly of the crime world in this era and man…it sure wasn’t pretty!
Rich with some extremely well written characters, there are just too many I would love to mention, so I will give you a flavour in the hopes that it will entice you to pick up this book and find out more!
J.T. Ellington is the main character and works as an “Enquiry Agent” or Private Investigator as they are more commonly known. He is really put through the wringer in this novel and we see a more vulnerable side to him as the past comes back and really messes with his mind. He is determined, however to find the truth – no matter the cost and put the demons to rest. I really was invested in this character and it was great to see the difference in him from the last book compared to this book.
Evangeline Laveau was a brilliant character – all mouth but also quite vulnerable. J.T.’s cousin Vic has Evangeline taking J.T. where he needs to be when he arrives in New York and they both travel to New Orleans. I wasn’t sure what to make of her initially but it didn’t take long to warm to her bold and brassy nature.
Vic (Victor) is J.T.’s cousin and I won’t spoil his backstory. Another one I was unsure about – he seems to have trouble two steps behind him at all times. He is very protective of his family and not wary of using violence when necessary. Despite their differences, you can see why J.T. and Vic remain close.
Conrad Monroe ….OMG! This is one messed up dude…and it seems that it runs in the family! 😱 He is a Bajan gangland boss and totally unscrupulous but he has A LOT of influence and that doesn’t bode well for J.T or Vic….
Do I recommend this book? That would be a Hell Yeah, I do for sure! Intense, emotive, shocking and oozing atmosphere and character, Restless Coffins really captured the times and emotions beautifully! Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first two books (though you should as they are worth reading) as this book can easily be read as a stand-alone!
February 6, 2018
Starting off in Bristol in the late 60’s, the reader is taken on a journey to New York, New Orleans and the Barbados where loss, grief, corruption, racism, family secrets, betrayal, revelations, retribution and the truth are just a few of the themes that all come together in this “all is not what it seems” story!
The book starts way back in JT’s childhood and really sets the tone for this emotive story. Although not a fast-paced read, the build up had me on tenterhooks, I knew something was coming – I just didn’t know what! When it was delivered, it was definitely one of those punch-in-the-gut blows which I enjoyed because of the slow build up of suspense, mystery and tension throughout. I also loved the authenticity of the dialect and great descriptions which really had me right there in the moment. There was a rawness to the atmosphere, edgy and surreal at times when the reader is taken to the underbelly of the crime world in this era and man…it sure wasn’t pretty!
Rich with some extremely well written characters, there are just too many I would love to mention, so I will give you a flavour in the hopes that it will entice you to pick up this book and find out more!
J.T. Ellington is the main character and works as an “Enquiry Agent” or Private Investigator as they are more commonly known. He is really put through the wringer in this novel and we see a more vulnerable side to him as the past comes back and really messes with his mind. He is determined, however to find the truth – no matter the cost and put the demons to rest. I really was invested in this character and it was great to see the difference in him from the last book compared to this book.
Evangeline Laveau was a brilliant character – all mouth but also quite vulnerable. J.T.’s cousin Vic has Evangeline taking J.T. where he needs to be when he arrives in New York and they both travel to New Orleans. I wasn’t sure what to make of her initially but it didn’t take long to warm to her bold and brassy nature.
Vic (Victor) is J.T.’s cousin and I won’t spoil his backstory. Another one I was unsure about – he seems to have trouble two steps behind him at all times. He is very protective of his family and not wary of using violence when necessary. Despite their differences, you can see why J.T. and Vic remain close.
Conrad Monroe ….OMG! This is one messed up dude…and it seems that it runs in the family! 😱 He is a Bajan gangland boss and totally unscrupulous but he has A LOT of influence and that doesn’t bode well for J.T or Vic….
Do I recommend this book? That would be a Hell Yeah, I do for sure! Intense, emotive, shocking and oozing atmosphere and character, Restless Coffins really captured the times and emotions beautifully! Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first two books (though you should as they are worth reading) as this book can easily be read as a stand-alone!
The book starts way back in JT’s childhood and really sets the tone for this emotive story. Although not a fast-paced read, the build up had me on tenterhooks, I knew something was coming – I just didn’t know what! When it was delivered, it was definitely one of those punch-in-the-gut blows which I enjoyed because of the slow build up of suspense, mystery and tension throughout. I also loved the authenticity of the dialect and great descriptions which really had me right there in the moment. There was a rawness to the atmosphere, edgy and surreal at times when the reader is taken to the underbelly of the crime world in this era and man…it sure wasn’t pretty!
Rich with some extremely well written characters, there are just too many I would love to mention, so I will give you a flavour in the hopes that it will entice you to pick up this book and find out more!
J.T. Ellington is the main character and works as an “Enquiry Agent” or Private Investigator as they are more commonly known. He is really put through the wringer in this novel and we see a more vulnerable side to him as the past comes back and really messes with his mind. He is determined, however to find the truth – no matter the cost and put the demons to rest. I really was invested in this character and it was great to see the difference in him from the last book compared to this book.
Evangeline Laveau was a brilliant character – all mouth but also quite vulnerable. J.T.’s cousin Vic has Evangeline taking J.T. where he needs to be when he arrives in New York and they both travel to New Orleans. I wasn’t sure what to make of her initially but it didn’t take long to warm to her bold and brassy nature.
Vic (Victor) is J.T.’s cousin and I won’t spoil his backstory. Another one I was unsure about – he seems to have trouble two steps behind him at all times. He is very protective of his family and not wary of using violence when necessary. Despite their differences, you can see why J.T. and Vic remain close.
Conrad Monroe ….OMG! This is one messed up dude…and it seems that it runs in the family! 😱 He is a Bajan gangland boss and totally unscrupulous but he has A LOT of influence and that doesn’t bode well for J.T or Vic….
Do I recommend this book? That would be a Hell Yeah, I do for sure! Intense, emotive, shocking and oozing atmosphere and character, Restless Coffins really captured the times and emotions beautifully! Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first two books (though you should as they are worth reading) as this book can easily be read as a stand-alone!
February 4, 2018
A Stunning Heartwrenching Read....
This is a story of a man with a haunted past ,a man who is trying to get on with his life yet the dreams plague him still..Now living in Bristol Joseph Ellington receives a phone call that will scar him...Devasted Joseph has to make a journey not quite knowing where the journey will take him..Along the way he meets the beautiful Evangeline Laveau..along with some other characters like Pigfoot and Sweetness..This story takes Joseph to America then back to his homeland as he tries to find his cousin... and answers as to exactly what happened to his beautiful sister...This is a dark gritty story...but one that I absolutely loved..There were elements of the supernatural... Parts were so tender and moving...Joseph kind of goes through every emotion on his quest to find the truth..As Joseph gets to the heart of the truth ...something changes in his soul...You wander will Joseph ever be the same again...My first read by this author....A Stunning Heart wrenching pulsating read...
This is a story of a man with a haunted past ,a man who is trying to get on with his life yet the dreams plague him still..Now living in Bristol Joseph Ellington receives a phone call that will scar him...Devasted Joseph has to make a journey not quite knowing where the journey will take him..Along the way he meets the beautiful Evangeline Laveau..along with some other characters like Pigfoot and Sweetness..This story takes Joseph to America then back to his homeland as he tries to find his cousin... and answers as to exactly what happened to his beautiful sister...This is a dark gritty story...but one that I absolutely loved..There were elements of the supernatural... Parts were so tender and moving...Joseph kind of goes through every emotion on his quest to find the truth..As Joseph gets to the heart of the truth ...something changes in his soul...You wander will Joseph ever be the same again...My first read by this author....A Stunning Heart wrenching pulsating read...
April 5, 2018
Barbados to Bristol, and back via Harlem the Deep South of America. But this is no travel book as it a superb revenge crime story featuring a ‘retired’ Bajan detective J T Ellington. luckily, I was able to identify the 1967 era when the story is set, and then was very familiar with the St Paul’s, Bristol area. At the insistence of cousin Vic, JT found himself in New York on the trail of his sister’s killer. I do not want to ruin the story, only to say that I love the writer’s style, his descriptions of places, characters (lots of different emotions), and journeys are a joy. He even made a long train journey evocative mixed with violence. The book has a great ending, and I did not realise it was the last in the trilogy until I had finished it. Yes, there are a few dead bodies, but this did not deter me from giving the book 5 stars.
January 31, 2018
Tightly written crime thriller that took me on an unexpected journey. Scene setting was excellent and the characters complex. Took me a little while to get my brain around the dialogue, but this did little to diminish my enjoyment of the book. Glad to see there will be more tales about this character.
February 11, 2018
Well Mr Wright has done it again, no author has quite the same expertise of first class descriptive writing! I mean you're there with them and in the drama of it all, I even got excited when he described the aeroplane taking off!
I love Joseph, such a great character, trouble is I always end up an emotional wreck by the time these books have finished.
Great read again, loved it obviously! :-)
I love Joseph, such a great character, trouble is I always end up an emotional wreck by the time these books have finished.
Great read again, loved it obviously! :-)
May 14, 2018
Set in the 60s, engaging characters and violence, voodoo and corruption.
Gritty and not for the feint hearted. A captivating and gripping read from start to finish.
Although this is the third book in the series, it was great and really well written and makes me want to read the others in the series!
Gritty and not for the feint hearted. A captivating and gripping read from start to finish.
Although this is the third book in the series, it was great and really well written and makes me want to read the others in the series!
February 16, 2018
I couldn't wait for Restless Coffins to come out, I had read the other two in the trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed them so was eager to find out the next adventures for JT. M P Wright definitely didn't disappoint, with fabulous description from the start as before I feel like I've travelled to the places and witnessed the scenes depicted throughout the gripping story. This third story ties up some loose ends, yet still manages to leave you wanting more answers and with a twist at the end and the announcement of the fourth book, 'Rivers of Blood', 2019 can't come soon enough!
April 8, 2018
Third in the series huge Joseph fan.Tense chilling a wild ride of a read unputdownable so excited there will be another in the series.Highly recommend
April 5, 2018
Third in the series Soft spot for Joseph .unputdownable a true edge of your seat page turner.Excited there will be another in the serie #netgalley #black& White publishers
May 12, 2018
Have enjoyed this series so far
March 20, 2018
Review to follow
July 4, 2018
An absolutely fantastic series so far with a variety of interesting characters. The author recreates an authentic feel for the period and remains true to it. Please keep this series going 🙏🙏
June 2, 2018
*Review by Nicola*
Lock the door and throw away the key! Seriously you don’t want anyone taking away your precious time when reading Restless Coffins.
M.P. Wright is a new to me author with Restless Coffins being book 3 in the series, I’d say you’re fine jumping straight in but if you like to read a series in order then definitely get books 1 & 2.
20180202_093851-01.jpeg
I really enjoyed Mr Wright’s writing style, he drew me in from the start and didn’t let me go until the last page. I was captivated by the story and eager to turn those pages, even though most nights it was way past my bedtime. Its a dark and edgy read, i loved the accents (i did have to read a few lines more than once but im blaming the late nights and not wanting to put the book down in those words not sinking in!) The book has the perfect mix of thrills, twists and emotions that keeps the reader on their toes for the whole book.
The cover was definitely an eye catcher for me and the simple sentance on the back had me needing this book for my shelf –
‘Brother, a dead body can’t run from a coffin, but their spirit sure as hell can try.’
And then when my book arrived I have my very own miniature coffin and trinkets, what’s not to love?!!
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M.P. Wright is now on my author watch list, I’m looking forward to future releases and slowly checking out his previous books. If you love your crime books detailed and gripping then this series is one to stick your nose into!
*Advanced copy supplied by Black and White Publishing*
Lock the door and throw away the key! Seriously you don’t want anyone taking away your precious time when reading Restless Coffins.
M.P. Wright is a new to me author with Restless Coffins being book 3 in the series, I’d say you’re fine jumping straight in but if you like to read a series in order then definitely get books 1 & 2.
20180202_093851-01.jpeg
I really enjoyed Mr Wright’s writing style, he drew me in from the start and didn’t let me go until the last page. I was captivated by the story and eager to turn those pages, even though most nights it was way past my bedtime. Its a dark and edgy read, i loved the accents (i did have to read a few lines more than once but im blaming the late nights and not wanting to put the book down in those words not sinking in!) The book has the perfect mix of thrills, twists and emotions that keeps the reader on their toes for the whole book.
The cover was definitely an eye catcher for me and the simple sentance on the back had me needing this book for my shelf –
‘Brother, a dead body can’t run from a coffin, but their spirit sure as hell can try.’
And then when my book arrived I have my very own miniature coffin and trinkets, what’s not to love?!!
20180202_093733-01.jpeg
M.P. Wright is now on my author watch list, I’m looking forward to future releases and slowly checking out his previous books. If you love your crime books detailed and gripping then this series is one to stick your nose into!
*Advanced copy supplied by Black and White Publishing*
June 4, 2018
I received this book from Netgalley and am providing an honest review below.
In Restless Coffins, former Barbados police officer and now PI Joseph Ellington is living in Bristol, England, when he gets a letter from his criminal-and-in-hiding cousin, Victor, that Joseph's sister is dead, and arrangements will be made for Joseph to travel to NY. This is the start of what will appear to be a mystery and a journey that will lead Joseph from England to NY, then New Orleans, and finally Barbados, but will eventually become a blood-soaked revenge story.
Restless Coffins takes places in 1967, and Joseph is a black man, and racism plays a significant role in the novel, as does the Black Panthers and dope smuggling.. M. P. Wright is an extremely descriptive writer, both with what Joseph is seeing, smelling, tasting, and experiencing, and with what is going on internally.This is at times a meandering book where there are chapters, such as a plane ride, which have nothing to do with the mystery or revenge plot, but are included so we can experience what Joseph is, which makes this more literary than the typical crime/mystery novel. But Joseph is a character we don't mind meandering around with, and while this book might have a more literary feel than other crime novels, it is by no means tame--the deaths that happen (and there are plenty) are extremely violent. A well-crafted (ignoring a conversation that takes place in a New Orleans' restaurant that seems to contradict other plot elements in the book) and engaging mystery/crime novel turned revenge thriller.
In Restless Coffins, former Barbados police officer and now PI Joseph Ellington is living in Bristol, England, when he gets a letter from his criminal-and-in-hiding cousin, Victor, that Joseph's sister is dead, and arrangements will be made for Joseph to travel to NY. This is the start of what will appear to be a mystery and a journey that will lead Joseph from England to NY, then New Orleans, and finally Barbados, but will eventually become a blood-soaked revenge story.
Restless Coffins takes places in 1967, and Joseph is a black man, and racism plays a significant role in the novel, as does the Black Panthers and dope smuggling.. M. P. Wright is an extremely descriptive writer, both with what Joseph is seeing, smelling, tasting, and experiencing, and with what is going on internally.This is at times a meandering book where there are chapters, such as a plane ride, which have nothing to do with the mystery or revenge plot, but are included so we can experience what Joseph is, which makes this more literary than the typical crime/mystery novel. But Joseph is a character we don't mind meandering around with, and while this book might have a more literary feel than other crime novels, it is by no means tame--the deaths that happen (and there are plenty) are extremely violent. A well-crafted (ignoring a conversation that takes place in a New Orleans' restaurant that seems to contradict other plot elements in the book) and engaging mystery/crime novel turned revenge thriller.
February 21, 2020
Such a good book. I'm sorry I let this sit on the shelf for so long. It's part of a series but stands alone. I'm definitely going to buy the others. Need these on my shelf. If you like a well written crime thriller, this is your book. Loved, loved, loved.
April 11, 2018
Restless Coffins (2018) by M. P. Wright is the third in his series about policeman turned private-eye J.T. Ellington. This work follows Heartman (2014) and All Through the Night (2016). Fans will be glad to hear that there is to be a fourth in the series.
I can see why previous books in the series have been so popular. Characters are well developed and credible as they make their way through a series of unpredictable, challenging situations. The text flows well, and is easy to read, yet is so incredibly rich in descriptive detail, it is as if the author watched it unfold as a video and had the luxury of stopping each scene to capture every element to allow readers to paint a picture in their own minds of each unfolding situation. This visual imagery is supported by Ellington’s narration in formal English and dialogue between the characters in Bajan (a spoken Barbados English-based creole language with African influences) or African-English vernacular.
The plot features extreme violence, racism, corruption and revenge, the latter arising from a multi-generational feud between two families. It takes readers to the 1960s Black Panther era, from Bristol UK to Harlem and New Orleans in the USA and then Barbados. Knowing nothing about the time, settings and cultures did not diminish my enjoyment of the book, but presented a drawback for writing an informed review. I don’t know if the events described are typical of what happened at the time. I would like to understand how the author completed the research required for the book, and why this author decided to tell this story.
Though the ending seems to suggest the possibility of better days and happier times, I am not convinced it will, so look forward to Ellington’s return in River of Blood (2019).
Disclosure: I received a review copy of Restless Coffins for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I can see why previous books in the series have been so popular. Characters are well developed and credible as they make their way through a series of unpredictable, challenging situations. The text flows well, and is easy to read, yet is so incredibly rich in descriptive detail, it is as if the author watched it unfold as a video and had the luxury of stopping each scene to capture every element to allow readers to paint a picture in their own minds of each unfolding situation. This visual imagery is supported by Ellington’s narration in formal English and dialogue between the characters in Bajan (a spoken Barbados English-based creole language with African influences) or African-English vernacular.
The plot features extreme violence, racism, corruption and revenge, the latter arising from a multi-generational feud between two families. It takes readers to the 1960s Black Panther era, from Bristol UK to Harlem and New Orleans in the USA and then Barbados. Knowing nothing about the time, settings and cultures did not diminish my enjoyment of the book, but presented a drawback for writing an informed review. I don’t know if the events described are typical of what happened at the time. I would like to understand how the author completed the research required for the book, and why this author decided to tell this story.
Though the ending seems to suggest the possibility of better days and happier times, I am not convinced it will, so look forward to Ellington’s return in River of Blood (2019).
Disclosure: I received a review copy of Restless Coffins for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance review copy of this book.
Restless Coffins by M.P. Wright, grabbed my attention firstly with the title and the cover art. Reading the synopsis I thought, wow, what a great concept, a Barbadian (that's a person from Barbados, I think) moves away from his island home and becomes a private investigator in the UK, but is dragged back into his past life after a family tragedy.
Sounds awesome, but this book did leave me slightly flat. It had nothing to do with the fact that this is book 3 of a trilogy, which I didn't realise initially, having not read the first two books. The author did an awesome job covering pertinent events from the past, allowing this to be read as a stand-alone book. It's a little hard for me to really pinpoint what the issue was, but the book just couldn't hold 100% of my attention. I can say that I actually found the author's sometimes overly descriptive style a little annoying. That may have had something to do with it.
Having said that, I did enjoy the story. Joseph Ellington, the main protagonist, is a complicated character who has gone through some deep tragedy, with the loss of his wife and daughter in an act of revenge against him. He just wants to live his life in London, plodding through as a PI, but is dragged back into his dark history when his sister dies. He then has to deal with his criminal cousin, who sponsors his trip back to Barbados. Joseph is exposed to more of his cousin's criminal activities than he'd ever known, manipulated and coerced into doing things his conscience would never normally allow.
This is a good mystery story, which I would have rated 4 stars, but am dropping to 3.5 stars simply because it just didnt manage to hook me as much as I'd hoped. (Unfortunately i have to choose 3 stars)
Restless Coffins by M.P. Wright, grabbed my attention firstly with the title and the cover art. Reading the synopsis I thought, wow, what a great concept, a Barbadian (that's a person from Barbados, I think) moves away from his island home and becomes a private investigator in the UK, but is dragged back into his past life after a family tragedy.
Sounds awesome, but this book did leave me slightly flat. It had nothing to do with the fact that this is book 3 of a trilogy, which I didn't realise initially, having not read the first two books. The author did an awesome job covering pertinent events from the past, allowing this to be read as a stand-alone book. It's a little hard for me to really pinpoint what the issue was, but the book just couldn't hold 100% of my attention. I can say that I actually found the author's sometimes overly descriptive style a little annoying. That may have had something to do with it.
Having said that, I did enjoy the story. Joseph Ellington, the main protagonist, is a complicated character who has gone through some deep tragedy, with the loss of his wife and daughter in an act of revenge against him. He just wants to live his life in London, plodding through as a PI, but is dragged back into his dark history when his sister dies. He then has to deal with his criminal cousin, who sponsors his trip back to Barbados. Joseph is exposed to more of his cousin's criminal activities than he'd ever known, manipulated and coerced into doing things his conscience would never normally allow.
This is a good mystery story, which I would have rated 4 stars, but am dropping to 3.5 stars simply because it just didnt manage to hook me as much as I'd hoped. (Unfortunately i have to choose 3 stars)
May 12, 2018
See more eclectic reviews on my blog at
https://eclecticreview.wordpress.com/
The title of Wright's third book in the Detective J.T. Ellington series, caught my eye as I was browsing NetGalley one day, so after debating if I should read the third book in a series I had never read, I downloaded it and the rest is history.
Set in the tumultuous 1960s among the Vietnam War, ghetto rioting, and the rise of a militant antiwar movement, Joseph Ellington is swept from Bristol to Harlem, to New Orleans, and finally to Barbados inside of just a few days. The telegram he receives from his cousin Vic (a man with questionable business practices) is short and to the point "Joseph Stop I sincerely regret to inform you of the death of your sister Bernice May Ellington Stop Request you make arrangements to return to Barbados to settle affairs Stop." Joseph's journey to Barbados is laden with violence, death and family secrets that will change his life forever.
Told in Joseph's point of review, we delve into Joseph's pain and anger of losing yet another loved one, as well as the fear that he might not make it back to his quiet life in Bristol. Joseph interacts with many well-developed, colorful characters (good and bad) during a year of much unrest, giving the story depth and credibility convincing me that book 3 can be read on its own. A fast-paced, quality suspense thriller with plenty of surprises that does contain violence and strong language. Mr. Wright notes that book 4, Rivers of Blood, is in the works. Get the whole series at Amazon.
Thank you to Mr. Wright, Black and White Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The title of Wright's third book in the Detective J.T. Ellington series, caught my eye as I was browsing NetGalley one day, so after debating if I should read the third book in a series I had never read, I downloaded it and the rest is history.
Set in the tumultuous 1960s among the Vietnam War, ghetto rioting, and the rise of a militant antiwar movement, Joseph Ellington is swept from Bristol to Harlem, to New Orleans, and finally to Barbados inside of just a few days. The telegram he receives from his cousin Vic (a man with questionable business practices) is short and to the point "Joseph Stop I sincerely regret to inform you of the death of your sister Bernice May Ellington Stop Request you make arrangements to return to Barbados to settle affairs Stop." Joseph's journey to Barbados is laden with violence, death and family secrets that will change his life forever.
Told in Joseph's point of review, we delve into Joseph's pain and anger of losing yet another loved one, as well as the fear that he might not make it back to his quiet life in Bristol. Joseph interacts with many well-developed, colorful characters (good and bad) during a year of much unrest, giving the story depth and credibility convincing me that book 3 can be read on its own. A fast-paced, quality suspense thriller with plenty of surprises that does contain violence and strong language. Mr. Wright notes that book 4, Rivers of Blood, is in the works. Get the whole series at Amazon.
Thank you to Mr. Wright, Black and White Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2020
Restless Coffins is the 3rd book in the 4 book ‘trilogy’ by M.P. Wright. Set in the 60s these books are about an ex Bajan detective, Joseph Tremaine Ellington, now a gumshoe plying his trade in sixties Bristol.
JT is a crafty and wily fox. He attracts bad news. In particular from his rogue cousin Vic..
Receiving news from Barbados that his sister has passed, JT finds himself on a journey to both New York and New Orleans, then on to ‘Bim’ where he faces the ultimate in his past demons.
This book takes JT out of Bristol and returns him to his roots, and his past returns in devastating fashion.
With an eccentric and eclectic cast of friends and villains, M.P. Wright puts down on paper another scorching rum soaked story.
The master of descriptive writing, Wright’s 3rd tale about his shrewd and cunning protagonist is perhaps the finest so far.
The language is authentic, it’s actually a joy to read, the characters also drink like I do 😀.
I had the pleasure of meeting M.P a long while ago, and over a pint, you can see the enthusiasm and love he has for his Bajan detective. These stories are written with thought and care. I don’t think JT is just a character in Wrights mind, he’s possibly a mischievous alter ego..
In summary, this is a fast paced, breathtaking tale, that will take you to an oppressive and racist 60s, you will meet a bunch of larger than life characters and be transported all over the US and Barbados at breakneck speed as you drink in an absolute stunner of a thriller.
Without doubt one of my favourite ever characters.
I raise my glass, all the flames and With the highest recommendation
5🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
JT is a crafty and wily fox. He attracts bad news. In particular from his rogue cousin Vic..
Receiving news from Barbados that his sister has passed, JT finds himself on a journey to both New York and New Orleans, then on to ‘Bim’ where he faces the ultimate in his past demons.
This book takes JT out of Bristol and returns him to his roots, and his past returns in devastating fashion.
With an eccentric and eclectic cast of friends and villains, M.P. Wright puts down on paper another scorching rum soaked story.
The master of descriptive writing, Wright’s 3rd tale about his shrewd and cunning protagonist is perhaps the finest so far.
The language is authentic, it’s actually a joy to read, the characters also drink like I do 😀.
I had the pleasure of meeting M.P a long while ago, and over a pint, you can see the enthusiasm and love he has for his Bajan detective. These stories are written with thought and care. I don’t think JT is just a character in Wrights mind, he’s possibly a mischievous alter ego..
In summary, this is a fast paced, breathtaking tale, that will take you to an oppressive and racist 60s, you will meet a bunch of larger than life characters and be transported all over the US and Barbados at breakneck speed as you drink in an absolute stunner of a thriller.
Without doubt one of my favourite ever characters.
I raise my glass, all the flames and With the highest recommendation
5🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
September 11, 2018
This was a strange book but I didn't know that it was number 3 which explains why I often felt that I was missing something. Though the author does fill in some gaps it wasn't always clear to me why the protagonist was acting in the way he did. I presume having read the first two books would have clarified that. (Contains spoilers.) The plot was interesting enough but I found the constant violence and deaths of well-rounded (seemingly key) players hard to accept. After a while I decided not to invest in any characters as they would no doubt soon be bumped off. There was also way too much description which didn't further or enhance the plot and which could easily have been deleted without harm to the work. The thing I struggled with most was that the protagonist's cousin was as, if not more, violent and criminally inclined as the actual baddies so I just kept wishing that the whole lot of them - baddies and cousin plus his gang - would all die a horrid death. This made the whole book rather difficult to like as it is important to feel some sympathy and engagement with someone in a novel and this was hard to find here! I won't be finding books 1 and 2 to read but this might appeal if death, violence and lengthy descriptions are your cup of tea.
November 1, 2019
A different read - a private detective in 1960s Bristol returns to his Barbados homeland via New York and New Orleans. The trip is prompted by teh death of his sister - the latest in a line of family tragedies. But how does his gangster cousin Vic fit into the story?
This novel starts well. The character development is good as we learn of JT's past. The sense of place is good too, the 60's settings and the difficulty of living as a black man are well brought out. The plot gets a bit stuck towards the end. Most of the big reveals come in the middle section, leaving the final resolution as not much more than a series of fights.
This novel starts well. The character development is good as we learn of JT's past. The sense of place is good too, the 60's settings and the difficulty of living as a black man are well brought out. The plot gets a bit stuck towards the end. Most of the big reveals come in the middle section, leaving the final resolution as not much more than a series of fights.
May 17, 2018
To say this genre takes me out of my comfort zone is an understatement. That said, I'm glad I went along for the ride. The descriptive genius Wright provides puts you bang in the middle of the world of J T Ellington. This final book in the Ellington trilogy will have you smelling and tasting the world most of us are oblivious to.
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