Ron Ellis

RON ELLIS

Ron Ellis has probably one of the most unorthodox backgrounds as far as writer is concerned. Involved in the 1960s Merseybeat phenomenon, he imported records from the US for the Beatles and later was the first North-Western UK mobile DJ. In the 1970s he was promoter for Warner Brothers Records and later, during the punk period, reached No.7 in the New Age charts with his own group. In 1992 the English tabloid The Sun claimed he was the man with most jobs in Britain: librarian, lecturer, salesman, landlord, DJ, actor, broadcaster, photographer, journalist and author. Apart from the current series featuring Johnny Ace, Ellis is also author of a police procedural featuring Inspector Glass, Journal Of A Coffin Dodger (1979) that won two comedy awards and was serialized on BBC radio, and a collection of poems (The Last of the Lake Poets, 1998). He also helped Albert Goldman for Lives of John Lennon (1988) for whom he conducted 19 interviews and took many photographs. Ellis currently lives on Merseyside with his wife and two children and still does broadcasts on local radio as well as DJ gigs.

EARS OF THE CITY

Matt Scrufford is found dead. Reading about it, Johnny Ace is curious: 30 years earlier he knew a Mal Scrufford. Johnny tracks Mal down to find he is Matt's father. It soon becomes apparent there's more to the mystery than Matt's death. Johnny soon becomes a participant in a sinister game.

MEAN STREETS

This is the second in the Liverpool crime series featuring Johnny Ace. Johnny starts investigating the murder of Bert's son, Bradley, an ageing singing star. Strangely, Bert is adamant that he will be killed next. But what did Bradley have to hide? And why would that now threaten Bert's life?

FRAMED (Review)

It's an ordinary Thursday evening in July when Michelle Lunt is found hanging in a flat off Liverpool's Sefton Park. Unfortunately for Johnny Ace, the flat belongs to him. Ace has been framed but once out on bail, he needs to find out who framed him and why and if it's connected with Lunt's death.

THE SINGING DEAD

Disc jockey and private investigator Johnny Ace is delighted when he accidentally comes across a tape of homeviously unreleased material by John Lennon. His delight is short-lived as violence and mayhem ensue - some of it aimed at him!

GRAVE MISTAKE

"Grave Mistake" is the fifth novel in this gritty, urban contemporary Liverpool mystery series featuring tough but loveable Private Eye/DJ Johnny Ace. With the help of his trusty dog, Roly, Johnny sets out to solve three cases.

MURDER FIRST GLASS

The Executioner is a new type of criminal. He advertises his crimes as forthcoming events. In a letter to The Times, he announces his intention of personally restoring the death penalty in England and, by the end of the week, his first victim is swinging at the end of a rope. Meanwhile, Det. Chief lnsp. Glass races from Carlisle, Blackpool and Liverpool on the trail of a vicious gang who are robbing Post Offices. Will he get to them before The Executioner? The trail ends in London on a crowded Bank Holiday afternoon.

THE SNORT OF KINGS

Det. Chief lnsp. Knox goes undercover on a pop music tour, trying to find the man behind an international drug ring. Posing as a record promoter, he accompanies U.S. pop star Shula Sun round the disco and radio station circuit. Meanwhile, Det. Chief lnsp. Glass, who has no time for "college policemen", is unofficially investigating a series of "accidents" to jockeys at various racecourses up and down the country. The two trails meet in the Cotswolds as the pace hots up and lives are lost before a dramatic climax at the Grand National at Aintree.