Pynter Bender

Pynter Bender is a child of the cane fields of Grenada, the second smallest independent state in the world. This extraordinary debut novel tells of a boy born blind but whose eyes are healed, allowing him to see great beauty. The story charts the painful awakening of a rural population, essentially organized around serfdom, into a raw and uncertain future that can only be achieved through fighting—a civil war that Pynter is drawn in to. Pynter's father leaves him to be brought up by the Bender women, a close-knit group of aunts and cousins, and Pynter's early life is shaped by these women. He begins to understand a world beyond them when his uncle, Birdie the Beloved, the best baker on the island, occasionally returns to the family on his brief periods out of jail. When Pynter comes to love a woman, and later flees his family to hide in the canes from the marauding soldiers, he can no longer ignore the violent world beyond the yard where he lives. Pynter Bender is about the conflict between the world of men and women, men who walk away from their families and from the cane fields, and their women who forbear.

Literature & Fiction

Ross, Jacob

Literary

Fourth Estate Classic House

Pynter Bender is a child of the cane fields of Grenada, the second smallest independent state in the world; a boy born blind but whose eyes are healed, allowing him to see great beauty. Pynter's father leaves him to be brought up by the Bender women, a close-knit group of aunts and cousins, and Pynter's early life is shaped by them. He begins to understand a world beyond them when his uncle, Birdie the Beloved, the best baker on the island, occasionally returns to the family on his brief periods out of jail. When Pynter comes to love a woman, and later flees his family to hide in the canes from the marauding soldiers, he can no longer ignore the violent world beyond the yard where he lives. This extraordinary debut novel charts the painful awakening of a rural population, essentially organized around serfdom, into a raw and uncertain future that can only be achieved through fighting—a civil war that Pynter is drawn in to. Pynter Bender is about the conflict between the world of men and women, men who walk away from their families and from the cane fields, and their women who forbear.

Harpercollins Pub, Ltd.

Black Rain Falling

Genre Fiction

SPHERE

'Jacob Ross is a truly amazing writer. Black Rain Falling is an outstanding novel' BERNARDINE EVARISTO, WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 'Jacob Ross is a unique and thrilling new voice in crime fiction' MARK BILLINGHAM Delving into issues of family, class and loyalty, Black Rain Falling is a stunning crime novel that asks how far one should go to protect those they love. On the Caribbean island of Camaho, forensics expert Michael 'Digger' Digson is in deep trouble. His fellow CID detective Miss Stanislaus kills a man in self-defence - their superiors believe it was murder, and Digger given just six weeks to prove his friend is innocent. While the authorities bear down on them, Digger and Miss Stanislaus investigate a shocking roadside murder, the first tremors of a storm of crime and corruption that will break over Camaho at any moment., ,

Review\nThe Bone Readers is a page-turner, but its insights and language are equally testament to a literary novel of impressive depth and acuity―Guardian\nIt's masterly. I've started to read it again with increasing admiration―Crime Time\nJacob Ross is a unique and thrilling new voice in crime fiction―Mark Billingham\nA breathtaking, thought-provoking, and yes brilliant read. I know this is a book I shall go back to again and again―Sunny Singh\nRoss's novel is one that effortlessly draws together the past and the present, gender, politics and the legacy of colonialism in a top quality Caribbean set crime thriller. The Bone Readers is a wonderful read―Catherine Johnson\nBy turns thrilling, visceral and meditative, and always cinematic―Musa Okwonga\nAn unconventional crime novel, and one that exposes the dark underbelly of 'paradise'―Book Muse (blog)\nI was fascinated by Ross' ability to create characters with depth and diversity. A great read―Not Chai Tea (blog)\nA unique read, paced to the islands where it takes place with a group of interesting characters I will enjoy following into future books―Word Dreams (blog)\nAn engaging, poetic and twist-filled Caribbean crime-noir novel. Masterful―Book Witty (blog)\nWINNER OF THE JHALAK PRIZE\n'The Bone Readers is a page-turner, but its insights and language are equally testament to a literary novel of impressive depth and acuity' 
Guardian\nSecrets can be buried, but bones can speak . . .\nAfter standing witness to a murder on the streets of the Caribbean island of Camaho, young Michael 'Digger' Digson is recruited into a unique plain clothes homicide squad, an eclectic group of semi-official police officers, led by the enigmatic DS Chilman.\nDigger becomes enmeshed in Chilman's obsession with a cold case, the disappearance of a young man. But Digger has a murder to pursue too: that of his mother, killed by a renegade police squad when he was a boy.\nHe has two weapons at his disposal - his skill in forensics, and Chilman's latest recruit, the mysterious, observant Miss Stanislaus. Together, the two find themselves dragged into a world of dangerous secrets that demands every ounce of their courage to survive.\nThis award-winning crime debut by highly acclaimed author Jacob Ross marks the thrilling start to a new series following forensics genius Michael Digson.\n'It's masterly. I've started to read it again with increasing admiration' 
Crime Time\n'A breath-taking, thought-provoking, and yes brilliant read. I know this is a book I shall go back to again and again' 
Sunny Singh\n'Ross's novel is one that effortlessly draws together the past and the present, gender, politics and the legacy of colonialism in a top quality Caribbean set crime thriller. The Bone Readers is a wonderful read' 
Catherine Johnson\n'By turns thrilling, visceral and meditative, and always cinematic' 
Musa Okwonga\n'An unconventional crime novel, and one that exposes the dark underbelly of 'paradise'' 
Book Muse (blog)\n'I was fascinated by Ross' ability to create characters with depth and diversity. A great read' 
Not Chai tea (blog)\n'A unique read, paced to the islands where it takes place with a group of interesting characters I will enjoy following into future books' 
Word Dreams (blog)\n'An engaging, poetic and twist-filled Caribbean crime-noir novel. Masterful' 
Book Witty (blog)

Bone Readers

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Mystery

Callaloo: A Grenada anthology

Short Stories & Anthologies

Young World Books

Song for Simone and other stories

Song for Simone and Other Stories

History & Criticism

Red Sea Pr

Karia Press

Secrets can be buried, but bones can speak... When Michael (Digger) Digson is recruited into DS Chilman’s new plain clothes squad in the small Caribbean island of Camaho he brings his own mission to discover who amongst a renegade police squad killed his mother in a political demonstration. Sent to London to train in forensics, Digger becomes enmeshed in Chilman’s obsession with a cold case – the disappearance of a young man whose mother is sure has been murdered.

The Bone Readers

Peepal Tree Press Ltd.

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Books by Ross, Jacob