Debut novel inspired by London’s club scene in running for prestigious prize

A debut novel set in London’s underground reggae scene in the 1970s is one of 16 books longlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Fire Rush, by former charity worker Jacqueline Crooks, is about a trio of young women who grow up on the same estate and spend their weekends on dancefloor of the fictional Crypt nightclub.

Crooks, who grew up in Southall, west London, based the story on her own youth which saw tangled up in a gang lifestyle before moving on to education.

Jacqueline Crooks whose debut novel has been long-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction (Renee Osubu)

The novel is one of nine debuts in contention for the prestigious £30,000 prize.

Broadcaster Louise Minchin, who is chairing this year’s jury, said: “I love this story. It’s a love story. It’s about music. It’s about passion. It’s about your roots. It’s told from the point of view of a young British black woman growing up in 1970s London. I could not put it down, and I can’t wait for people to read it.”

Also longlisted are two previous winners – Maggie O’Farrell and Barbara Kingsolver – as well as authors from Ireland, Canada and France with books inspired by Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, the brutal siege of Sarajevo and life in a rundown cinema.

Jacqueline Crooks debut novel Fire Rush has been long-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction (Women’s Prize for Fiction)

Ms Minchin said: “This year’s longlist is a glorious celebration of the boundless imagination and creative ambition of women writers over the past year.

“Every one of these 16 books is excellent and original in its own individual way; they all offer fresh perspectives on history and humanity, exploring hard truths with empathy, sensitivity, directness, and sometimes infectious humour: There is something here for all readers! It has truly been a life-enhancing experience to judge the Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist this year; and we are looking forward to celebrating these voices that need to be heard.”

The prize, set up in 1996, is awarded for the best full-length novel of the year written by a woman and published in the UK. The longlist is narrowed down to a shortlist of six with the winner announced on Wednesday June 14.

Last year’s prize was won by Ruth Ozeki for her fourth novel The Book of Form and Emptiness. Other previous winners include Ali Smith, Rose Tremain and Zadie Smith.

The team behind the prize recently announced a new prize for non-fiction written by women to ensure female writers have their voices “amplified, honoured and respected” in the same way as their male counterparts.