It Was a Riot by Daniel Hall – emotional and touching LGBTQ historical fiction

It Was a Riot is poignant, emotive, and touching LGBTQ historical fiction. It’s sure to be one of my favorite debut novels of 2024.

Synopsis

Edward “Eddy” Turner’s entire life is a battlefield.

Growing up gay in the violent and poverty-stricken streets of East London, Eddy’s childhood is haunted by the shadow of bullying, rejection, and his domineering football hooligan father. Enrolling in medical school is his only lifeline – but it only catapults him into a fresh set of struggles that will define the rest of his life.

From the brutal front lines of the Falklands War to the impoverished mining communities of Northern England and the drug-fuelled raves of London, Eddy desperately tries to numb his pain and escape his inner demons. But his efforts are futile – and with the spectre of AIDS hanging over his head, he’s helpless to prevent his closest friends from succumbing to the disease.

But Eddy can’t hide forever. After a protest turns violent, he’s left fighting for his freedom against a biased court system that’s hell-bent on jailing him for manslaughter. His story quickly ignites a national frenzy as his case hits the headlines. And when Eddy makes a shocking discovery about his past, he must re-evaluate his entire life and decide what’s really important.

Can Eddy escape the shadow of his father’s judgement? Or will he never be able to accept himself for who he is?

As a gripping and authentic contemporary LGBT fiction novel that explores the stark realities of being gay in 1990’s England, It Was a Riot explores deep themes of identity, sexuality, paternal rejection, and the struggle to find oneself. This book is a must-read for fans of character-driven epics including Tomasz Jedrowski’s Swimming in the Dark and Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain. Scroll up and grab your copy today.

Review

It Was a Riot is an emotive LGBTQ historical fiction about Eddy Turner, who is facing trial in 1990, recounting his life journey from his childhood in a working-class family in 1958 to the current trial in 1990, explaining the situations and events that shaped him and led him to court.

The writing is engaging and touching, maintaining a steady pace throughout. Told from Eddy’s perspective, It Was a Riot explores themes of familial expectations, gender identity, acceptance, societal challenges, and personal growth.

Eddy is a sensitive, observant, smart, and caring person. I rooted for him from the beginning. He is not a flawed character but rather very human, making many mistakes in his quest for his father’s approval, which he never achieved.

Reading about Eddy’s struggle was poignant and heartbreaking. Raised by a father who equated masculinity with drinking and fighting, Eddy faced bullies throughout his school life, learned to box, and stood up against his tormentors. He struggled to define his own path and grappled with the confusion and acceptance of his sexuality.

At every stage of his life, Eddy encountered challenges, rejection, prejudice, and discrimination for being gay. Despite these obstacles, he eventually found love and a supportive community. However, the constant pursuit of his father’s approval cast a dark shadow over his life, leading to heartbreak and self-destruction.

When Eddy finally realized that seeking his father’s approval was futile, he found purpose in helping AIDS patients. Yet, another mistake made it too late for him to turn his life around.

I admired Eddy for his strong will, resilience, and adherence to his conscience. Even when guilt, regret, and the need to please his father weighed him down, he stood up once again, accepted his mistakes, and tried to right his wrongs.

No one should have to endure what Eddy did. All he needed were kind words and unconditional love from his parents. He deserved all the happiness and love, and it was heart-shattering to see that the court and life didn’t give him another chance.

The setting of London from the 1950s to the 80s, and its gradual modernization while retaining some traditional and archaic elements, was fascinating. I appreciated how the author captured key events and topics of the time period, including economic challenges, the Falkland Islands War, mine workers’ protests, and the Poll Tax protest.

Reading about the spread of AIDS, the public’s reaction, and the government’s inaction was infuriating. The treatment of the queer community and Eddy by society and the legal system was deeply upsetting.

I was moved by Eddy’s transformation and his heartfelt conversation at the end. It was admirable how Eddy shared his hard-earned wisdom with the people he loved and the world, even though he didn’t get a second chance. Given the trajectory of the story, the bittersweet and tragic ending felt inevitable.

Overall, It Was a Riot is a poignant, emotive, and touching LGBTQ historical fiction. It’s sure to be one of my favorite debut novels of 2024.

[TW – bullying, police brutality, drug addiction, suicide, street fight, homophobia, war, injustice]

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

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