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Jessup
Jessup is a broken man, scarred physically and emotionally, by what he witnessed during World War 2, and now cleans the toilets of prisoners to make money to buy alcohol. When not arguing with his best friend, Marlow, he broods in his room and contemplates suicide as the only way to escape his pain.
But when he is offered the chance of a better job, he must choose between a new start and turning his back on the one person who treats him with respect: a man whose life is in danger.
A dark, sweeping tale from the battlefields of France and Northern Africa to the East End of London… It is 1950 and Jessup has one last chance to turn his life around.
A harrowing, gripping novel, Jessup will linger long in the reader’s memory.
Jessup is the latest novel now available worldwide from the Author of the Dennis Bisskit books.
But when he is offered the chance of a better job, he must choose between a new start and turning his back on the one person who treats him with respect: a man whose life is in danger.
A dark, sweeping tale from the battlefields of France and Northern Africa to the East End of London… It is 1950 and Jessup has one last chance to turn his life around.
A harrowing, gripping novel, Jessup will linger long in the reader’s memory.
Jessup is the latest novel now available worldwide from the Author of the Dennis Bisskit books.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2021
3 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Ainley
12 books20 followersBorn in Birmingham, UK in 1952. Served in the British airborne in the 1970s before emigrating to Western Australia.
Now...
It’s the Winter of 1963, and Detective Inspector Jack White, with the unruly haircut and matching attitude, is battling ice, snow, and a cold-blooded killer. The Winter of ’63 is the latest standalone crime thriller from Stephen Ainley and, once again, takes the reader back to the post-war unforgettable and unforgiving East End of London.
Spike first introduced DI Jack White. It’s 1961, and London’s Aldgate is rocked by two brutal murders. Spike is a brutal crime novel set in the heart of the 1960s East End, which is still recovering from the ravages of World War Two bombings.
The author’s next crime novel was The Broken Detective, in which the DI struggles with guilt that no amount of alcohol can assuage. A young girl goes missing, and a man’s wife disappears, but Jack’s own demons won’t stop him from investigating.
The Winter of ’63 is the third Jack White novel by Stephen Ainley.
The author was born in Birmingham, UK, and served in the British Airborne in the 1970s before moving to Australia. He is currently re-editing and re-publishing the hilarious Dennis Bisskit Series, filled with family, fun, colourful characters, and disasters. Available now are The Dennis Bisskit Story and, Dennis Bissit and the Missing Masterpiece,
His first serious novel and Amazon Bestseller, Jessup, takes place in 1950 and spans the battlefields of France and Northern Africa, to the East End. Jessup is a heart-rending story of a former soldier with undiagnosed PTSD, with one last chance to turn his life around.
And now comes, The Winter of ’63. It’s the coldest winter in 200 years, so cold in London that people can skate on the river Thames. On one of the worst nights, only two men are unfortunate enough to be out on the streets in the East End, Jack White and the man he finds encased in snow and with an axe wedged in his spine. It’s the unforgettable Winter of 1963.
Join Jack White with his unruly hair and dark humour as he tries to solve these crime thrillers. There are many more to come.
Now...
It’s the Winter of 1963, and Detective Inspector Jack White, with the unruly haircut and matching attitude, is battling ice, snow, and a cold-blooded killer. The Winter of ’63 is the latest standalone crime thriller from Stephen Ainley and, once again, takes the reader back to the post-war unforgettable and unforgiving East End of London.
Spike first introduced DI Jack White. It’s 1961, and London’s Aldgate is rocked by two brutal murders. Spike is a brutal crime novel set in the heart of the 1960s East End, which is still recovering from the ravages of World War Two bombings.
The author’s next crime novel was The Broken Detective, in which the DI struggles with guilt that no amount of alcohol can assuage. A young girl goes missing, and a man’s wife disappears, but Jack’s own demons won’t stop him from investigating.
The Winter of ’63 is the third Jack White novel by Stephen Ainley.
The author was born in Birmingham, UK, and served in the British Airborne in the 1970s before moving to Australia. He is currently re-editing and re-publishing the hilarious Dennis Bisskit Series, filled with family, fun, colourful characters, and disasters. Available now are The Dennis Bisskit Story and, Dennis Bissit and the Missing Masterpiece,
His first serious novel and Amazon Bestseller, Jessup, takes place in 1950 and spans the battlefields of France and Northern Africa, to the East End. Jessup is a heart-rending story of a former soldier with undiagnosed PTSD, with one last chance to turn his life around.
And now comes, The Winter of ’63. It’s the coldest winter in 200 years, so cold in London that people can skate on the river Thames. On one of the worst nights, only two men are unfortunate enough to be out on the streets in the East End, Jack White and the man he finds encased in snow and with an axe wedged in his spine. It’s the unforgettable Winter of 1963.
Join Jack White with his unruly hair and dark humour as he tries to solve these crime thrillers. There are many more to come.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 18, 2021
A remarkable novel by an author who has shown his deep understanding of war and those caught up in it.
Jimmy Jessup, to the outsider, is a poor soul; one of a generation who couldn’t wait to sign up to fight in WWII and came home a broken man. Far from all his boyhood dreams, he now cleans toilets and every other mess in the local police station. He shares his flat with Marlow, his childhood buddy who joined up and fought alongside him. He is viewed by the many as a nothing man; one who returned home injured and is, for the most, part invisible. He considers suicide as a way out of his lonely life, but when he gets the opportunity of a well-paid regular job he dithers between making a better life for himself and leaving behind the one person who treats him with respect.
I have long been a fan of this author’s writing; there are some scenes in his Dennis Bisskitt books which pop into my head at the most inopportune moments (funerals) to make me smile so even though I knew this was a very different novel, I jumped at the chance of reviewing it – and I’m so glad I did. This is a story which will horrify and entertain; yet it is tender and touching and will surely have you reaching for the tissues. Even though this is fiction, I’ve read enough about wartime to know it is based in truth and Stephen Ainley has done a fine job of creating a character every reader will care about and, of course, there are moments of humour to lift the mood. Beautifully written, this is an absolutely awesome novel and one I won’t forget for a long time. My highest recommendation and a full five sparkling stars.
Jimmy Jessup, to the outsider, is a poor soul; one of a generation who couldn’t wait to sign up to fight in WWII and came home a broken man. Far from all his boyhood dreams, he now cleans toilets and every other mess in the local police station. He shares his flat with Marlow, his childhood buddy who joined up and fought alongside him. He is viewed by the many as a nothing man; one who returned home injured and is, for the most, part invisible. He considers suicide as a way out of his lonely life, but when he gets the opportunity of a well-paid regular job he dithers between making a better life for himself and leaving behind the one person who treats him with respect.
I have long been a fan of this author’s writing; there are some scenes in his Dennis Bisskitt books which pop into my head at the most inopportune moments (funerals) to make me smile so even though I knew this was a very different novel, I jumped at the chance of reviewing it – and I’m so glad I did. This is a story which will horrify and entertain; yet it is tender and touching and will surely have you reaching for the tissues. Even though this is fiction, I’ve read enough about wartime to know it is based in truth and Stephen Ainley has done a fine job of creating a character every reader will care about and, of course, there are moments of humour to lift the mood. Beautifully written, this is an absolutely awesome novel and one I won’t forget for a long time. My highest recommendation and a full five sparkling stars.
June 23, 2021
Instead of going for the stereotypical misconstrued glorifying war / bravado approach; Jessup does a harrowing job of portraying the post-traumatic stress disorder young men would felt after the war. Jessup even explores the collateral damage war does to an entire society, such as lost love ones, broken families, corruption and the negative economic repercussions. Being a man in my late twenties, I wasn't fully aware of this. So I found the novel very thought provoking.
Jessup is straight to the point and doesn't overstay it's welcome. Every sentence, plotline and character is carefully written by Stephen to tell an engaging story that stays with you long after you've finished it. Jessup contains so many wonderful, complex characters that will always stay with me.
The novels two different plot lines (before and after the war), coincide masterfully together to have you racing to reach the conclusion. Stephens first serious novel, shows off his versatility as an author and gives your Bryce Courtneys and Markus Zusak's a run for their money.
If the last couple pages don't make your heart melt , then you don't have a soul.
Jessup is straight to the point and doesn't overstay it's welcome. Every sentence, plotline and character is carefully written by Stephen to tell an engaging story that stays with you long after you've finished it. Jessup contains so many wonderful, complex characters that will always stay with me.
The novels two different plot lines (before and after the war), coincide masterfully together to have you racing to reach the conclusion. Stephens first serious novel, shows off his versatility as an author and gives your Bryce Courtneys and Markus Zusak's a run for their money.
If the last couple pages don't make your heart melt , then you don't have a soul.
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November 8, 2021FREE today (October 22, 2021) on Amazon.
August 28, 2021
This is my first read by Stephen Ainley, and it has left me wanting more of his literary brilliance. Jessup; Jimmy - what a fine character. He returns from the war, he is broken, injured, and crippled. He had dreams and aspirations but is reduced to drinking and cleaning up the mess at the local police station.
Each character is a strong individual, one in particular made my blood boil - as my mum used to say. Structurally, the story is in perfect balance. It doesn't over-elaborate, it shoots straight to the point. It is a page-turner, urging the reader to find out what happens next. The ending is definitely tissue-time, there shouldn't be a dry eye after reading the last sentence. Jessup will stay in my mind for some time, Jimmy and his friends are so endearing. This story is a 5-star read on every level.
Each character is a strong individual, one in particular made my blood boil - as my mum used to say. Structurally, the story is in perfect balance. It doesn't over-elaborate, it shoots straight to the point. It is a page-turner, urging the reader to find out what happens next. The ending is definitely tissue-time, there shouldn't be a dry eye after reading the last sentence. Jessup will stay in my mind for some time, Jimmy and his friends are so endearing. This story is a 5-star read on every level.
July 9, 2021
It is 1950, in the East End of London. Jimmy Jessup is weary, scarred and crippled. A shell of a man haunted by the things he’s seen in the war. The Battle of Cable Street, France, North Africa. He now cleans toilets for a living. Jessup’s life is reduced to pain and booze. When an opportunity for a new and better job comes along, will Jessup take it and start over or will he stay and help someone who’s in trouble? Stephen Ainley skillfully weaves a gripping, emotional story of a soldier and the visible and invisible wounds of war.
August 13, 2021
Excellent story.Hard to put down.
June 3, 2021
Jessup is a wonderful account of one man's story from his childhood in London to the blitz, Dunkirk and Africa ... ending up with his return home and his job cleaning toilets in the local police station.
This is a medium sized book and a lot is covered from the start of the war and Jessup going with his friend Marlow. So well written and without the heavy description, this story flows beautifully.
I loved Jessup's army friends, his back history with his own family and the storyline with the Superintendent at the police station.
5 well deserved stars, highly recommend!
This is a medium sized book and a lot is covered from the start of the war and Jessup going with his friend Marlow. So well written and without the heavy description, this story flows beautifully.
I loved Jessup's army friends, his back history with his own family and the storyline with the Superintendent at the police station.
5 well deserved stars, highly recommend!
June 26, 2021
In contrast to his hilarious tales in the Dennis Bisskit series, Stephen Ainley has immersed himself in an entirely different genre and come up with a winner with his latest novel ‘Jessup’ - a deeply moving story of a man badly scarred both mentally and physically, by his experiences in WW2. This is a book that truly tugs at the heartstrings.
Jimmy Jessup’s life leading up to the war, his relationship with Marlow – a young man he rescues from a beating by the black-shirts – and his harrowing ordeals in Dunkirk, are told in tandem with the circumstances of his life after the end of the war. The transition is easy to follow and it’s a structure that works well in this story.
There is a twist in the plot that will come as a surprise to many readers and adds another layer of poignancy to this well-written account of one man’s bitter experiences and the brave way in which he confronts his demons and learns how to live with his suffering.
I have one minor criticism that I feel is worth a mention: there were places where the dialogue could have been more natural e.g. no one speaks perfect English the whole time and I doubt that would be the case with soldiers in the trenches. It’s a minor point that has to do with style rather than the actual story and is not significant enough to affect my rating.
Mr. Ainley is a wonderfully entertaining story-teller and has proved that he is well capable of writing a serious work of fiction. Hats off to him. 5*
Jimmy Jessup’s life leading up to the war, his relationship with Marlow – a young man he rescues from a beating by the black-shirts – and his harrowing ordeals in Dunkirk, are told in tandem with the circumstances of his life after the end of the war. The transition is easy to follow and it’s a structure that works well in this story.
There is a twist in the plot that will come as a surprise to many readers and adds another layer of poignancy to this well-written account of one man’s bitter experiences and the brave way in which he confronts his demons and learns how to live with his suffering.
I have one minor criticism that I feel is worth a mention: there were places where the dialogue could have been more natural e.g. no one speaks perfect English the whole time and I doubt that would be the case with soldiers in the trenches. It’s a minor point that has to do with style rather than the actual story and is not significant enough to affect my rating.
Mr. Ainley is a wonderfully entertaining story-teller and has proved that he is well capable of writing a serious work of fiction. Hats off to him. 5*
July 7, 2021
A beautiful story of what it's like to be on the outside...
This double-timeline story gave me all the feels and had me turning the pages to devour what was coming next. Ainley's style is such that the story unfolds in a way that each character's story is gently and intricately woven together seamlessly and the story eats away at you. Themes of love and friendship, family and traditions, society's values and discrimination. Jessup is a hero's tale... of then and now... and makes us stop and think about not only the atrocity of war but the on going pain and hardship of those who have been "lucky" to survive. I cried reading this book and I think you will too. Passionate, raw, heartfelt and true.
This double-timeline story gave me all the feels and had me turning the pages to devour what was coming next. Ainley's style is such that the story unfolds in a way that each character's story is gently and intricately woven together seamlessly and the story eats away at you. Themes of love and friendship, family and traditions, society's values and discrimination. Jessup is a hero's tale... of then and now... and makes us stop and think about not only the atrocity of war but the on going pain and hardship of those who have been "lucky" to survive. I cried reading this book and I think you will too. Passionate, raw, heartfelt and true.
June 15, 2021
The book cover is a perfect image of what this story is based on. Jessup is the story of a young man who is full of character but not necessarily full of charm. However, this said and without giving away any spoilers, the true core value of Jessup eventually shines through.
A war veteran he returns to civilian life with his physical and emotional scars at a time in history when the words Post-traumatic -stress-disorder were never spoken.
I was so invested in the character of Jessup that I did not want this well-written and beautifully crafted book to end.
A war veteran he returns to civilian life with his physical and emotional scars at a time in history when the words Post-traumatic -stress-disorder were never spoken.
I was so invested in the character of Jessup that I did not want this well-written and beautifully crafted book to end.
September 8, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters were believable and engaging, especially the main character, Jessup, a loveable rogue suffering from PTSD after his wartime experiences. I liked the way the story of Jessup's past and present entwined, with details of events like the Battle of Cable Street coming into play. The plot was believable and fast-paced, and Jessup's trauma felt very real. Little touches of humour here and there lightened the mood. The twist was something I had suspected all along, but this didn't spoil the plot for me.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews