A Brief History of Seven Killings was James’ third novel – an extraordinary feat of research combined with a dazzling display of storytelling. It won the Booker Prize 2015, making him the first Jamaican to win the prize. It also won the American Book Award and the Anisfield-Wolf Award for Fiction, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. 

Spanning three decades, the novel revolves around the near-mythical attempted assassination of singer-songwriter Bob Marley at his home in Jamaica. Though the reggae icon survived, the gunmen were never caught. With politicians on all sides of the spectrum desperate for Marley’s support, many felt that attack was politically motivated. 

James expands this moment into a vast, continent-crossing narrative featuring a shadowy cast of street kids, drug lords, journalists, politicians, prostitutes, gunmen, and secret service agents.

Despite Marley’s global fame, the assassination attempt was largely forgotten outside Jamaica by the 21st century. James’ novel revived awareness of the unsolved event, in a book the Booker judges unanimously praised for its ‘startling range of voices and registers,’ calling it ‘a classic of our times’.

From a reading guide and extract to illuminating features, find out more about our March Monthly Spotlight here.