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Book Review – Barley Sugar by Jack Charles

This review is spoiler-free until clearly marked. You can find trigger warnings at the end of the review section.

Plot Overview

Barley Sugar by Jack Charles is a gritty historical crime thriller set in 1950s London during the teddy boy era. Told across multiple timelines and POVs, the novel explores UK gang culture, violence, loyalty, love, and revenge through the memories of a former teddy boy and his teenage grandson.

Christmas might seem like a strange time to read a crime thriller, but some people also feel that Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie. If you don’t mind a bit of Die Hard at this time of year, then you might like what I have for you today, because this book could definitely be a movie.

I started this book some time ago and finished it as part of a finishathon – a week-long reading challenge where mood readers like me focus only on finishing books they’ve already started. This challenge was started by the lovely @teabooksandtazmyn over on Instagram. It was good motivation to carve out time for these books, and I’m so glad I picked this one, because it had me fixed to one spot for hours.

Barley Sugar is a dual-timeline story with several POVs (hence needing proper, uninterrupted reading time so I could keep track). It largely follows 15-year-old Lewis who, after getting into trouble at school, goes on a road trip with his grandfather, Francis. Along the way, Francis tells his grandson about his youth as a teddy boy in London. The story he reveals is dark and gritty, full of secrets and violence – this is very much an 18+ offering.

Writing Style

Despite the darkness of the tale, I had to stop and admire the prose more than once. It’s descriptive and even lyrical in places, but it also gets straight to the point when it needs to. This is a proper traditional British crime, gangster-movie type story, and the language and behaviour feel authentic. By authentic, I mean it doesn’t shy away from the fact that people used terms that are now considered slurs or outdated. It also blasts the idea that certain crimes were ‘invented’ by immigrants right out of the water.

Characters and Setting

It took me a little while to remember all the characters, but it was worth it. The main male characters are layered and believable, and it was genuinely eye-opening to get a sense of what the teddy boy era was like. Anyone who thinks gangs are a modern phenomenon or only pertain to certain groups should consider picking this up, because whew.

What struck me was how the novel challenges the idea that organised crime or gang culture is a modern issue, instead rooting it firmly in Britain’s own working-class history.

As a working-class 80s baby myself, there was a lot of nostalgia here. Despite the very 18+ content and language that would make people’s ears burn today, I had a good time reading this (call it millennial trauma, lol).

I really liked the premise. The two timelines and multiple POVs worked well, and I enjoyed how Francis’s past was slowly pieced together. I also liked the bond between Francis and Lewis. Francis was a very likeable main character, and despite everything that happened, I rooted for him the whole time.

There’s absolutely no doubt that this author is a superb storyteller. The reasons this wasn’t quite a five-star read for me are discussed below and do contain spoilers, so stop here if you’d rather avoid them.

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Deeper Thoughts (Includes Spoilers)

Spoilers from this point

The Significance of Race

The ending, didn’t quite sit right with me. What happened to Winston made sense, and the reasons for the decision he ultimately makes are woven in from the very beginning. His fate as a biracial person at that time also made sense, however unfair it was.

Before I say what bothered me though, I will disclose that the writer was going for the idea that history repeats itself and showing how these things go in cycles. There is nothing wrong with that message and it is a realistic one. But as a sensitivity reader, I can’t help but think about how things might also be interpreted race wise. But that’s the joy of art, right? So when you read it, you can tell me what you think.

It was the ending involving Lewis that made me worry about the ‘magical negro’ trope, traditionally found in American television, where a Black character is featured with the ultimate purpose of selflessly helping a white character. The two main Black biracial characters end up as sacrificial lambs and, ultimately and unsurprisingly, feel the full weight of the law. I would have really liked to see a different outcome for Lewis, rather than him becoming the second Black sacrifice. Maybe if Sammy had also been brave and they’d all received warnings instead, it would have helped. I understand the “power of friendship” angle, but there was an implicit power imbalance at play. I also would have liked to see Lewis truly absorb his grandfather’s (cautionary?) tale and genuinely consider changing the path he was on, rather than leaning into it.

It would only be fair to point out that a traditional magical negro trope involves a side character who usually disappears or dies once their purpose is served and typically don’t have much of a character arc. This is not the case here at all. I am only thinking of Lewis’ sacrifice. Like I said. I would love for you to read the book and let me know what you think!

I’m also not a huge fan of stories where women’s roles are almost entirely centred on what they do sexually and little else. I understand that this fits the style of the book and that it’s told mostly from male POVs, but I would have liked Deborah’s subplot to be more developed. Deborah’s storyline was mostly concerned with her thinking about whether or not she is ready to move on, when she goes on her first date with a man while Lewis is away with his grandfather. It’s a sweet side plot dealing with grief, and the reason why Lewis was with his grandfather in the first place was because Deborah had already done as much as she could to try and get her son in line. However, as a Black woman I wanted to see more of what she had to say.

Her subplot fed into the main because it led to a visit with Connie that revealed the most important part of the story overall, and it was important that Connie was the one to tell it. There were also some effective transitions between timelines, but I wanted HER storyline to give just a little more. As a Black parent to a biracial child who seems destined for a similar path to Winston, she could have added a lot more nuance that might have made that last decision feel that bit more tragic.

But like I said, my thoughts are one of many and ultimately, this was still brilliant and would be a good discussion at a book club. I do appreciate a story that can be examined in different ways. I would still recommend it if a gritty, uncompromising (and at times, darkly funny) tale is what you’re after.

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Content and Trigger Warnings

Barley Sugar is a dark, gritty historical crime novel and contains mature themes. Readers may wish to be aware of the following content:

Open Content List

• Strong language and swearing
• Racism, including racial slurs
• Homophobia
• Misogyny and sexism
• Physical violence and assault
• Blood and injury
• Use of guns and other weapons
• Sharp objects
• Murder
• Police brutality
• Fire and arson
• Sexual violence, including rape
• References to drugs
• Mentions of suicide
• Pregnancy and miscarriage

This is an 18+ read, and some themes reflect the attitudes and language of the historical period in which the story is set.

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About

Format: Paperback and e-book

Pages: 472

Category: Crime / Thriller

Published: 7 July 2025

Widow Deborah Coles is suffering a crisis of conscience about moving on with her life. When her 15 year old son, Lewis, finds himself in trouble with the police, she has little choice but to turn to her father in law for support.

Over the course of a weekend, career criminal, Francis Coles, proves an unorthodox educator, as he reveals the heartbreaking love story which has allowed their family to endure. Reminiscing on his youth in 1950’s London, Francis’s tale is one of Teddy Boy gang fights, rock n roll romance in the dancehalls and daring heists, as he and his two best friends descend into a vicious world of vendetta, revenge and murder.

Lewis listens and learns about the high price of survival, about how the trio – whilst maturing towards the prospect of fatherhood – would have their morality tested, and be forced to meet ever increasing stakes in order to protect not only their endeavours but also their relationships.

Deborah and Lewis will each inherit the family secrets, revelations which could reshape the way they look at love, loss and life.

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