Amen Alonge

Amen Alonge was born in Lagos and moved to London as a teenager. He took a Master’s Degree at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, then worked as an engineer. He went on to take a screenwriting course at London Film Academy and, for a while, ran the family business, a sports media company that owned the global licensing rights for the Nigerian Football League.

More recently he is currently training to be a solicitor. Amen's first Pretty Boy thriller A Good Day to Die was published in 2022 and the second in the series, A Good Night to Kill is published by Quercus on 27 April and is available to borrow on our catalogue.

Amen will be appearing at our upcoming Skulduggery in Stowmarket crimewriting festival on Saturday 29 April at Stowmarket Library. Tickets are £5 and are available to purchase online.

When did you first discover the world of books and writing? Who were your literary heroes as you were growing up?

I was raised in a very Christian home, so the bible and daily devotionals were my first introduction to books. Then Enid Blyton’s famous five books. But growing up as a teenager, the only fiction books available to me were the Christian “Left Behind” novel series, so, sadly, I didn’t have a literary hero growing up.

Your background is as a lawyer. How did you get into the writing?

Writing was my first love, even before the law. However, my initial ambition was to write for the screen. I went to film school to study screenwriting and enjoyed a budding career as a screenwriter. But when I decided to pursue law, I chose to give my first love one more shot and wrote my first book… the rest is history.

Your latest book is A Good Night to Kill. Can you tell us a little about it?

A Good Night To Kill is the second in the Pretty Boy series. It is a propulsive gangland thriller set in London in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics. Family is at the heart of the book because the action is driven by a clash of the extent people with means will go to avenge their family, protect their family, and do harm to that same family when wronged by them. A nameless protagonist, known only as Pretty Boy to some, will be our guide through all of it… for as long as he survives.

You are two books into the story now. Do you have a grand plan for Pretty Boy's universe all mapped out somewhere?

Absolutely! In notes on my phone and my head.

A Good Day to Die seemed to be very authentic. How did you research the book, and did you discover anything interesting when you were researching?

A mixture of in-person conversations with people that live the life I depict in the book every day, visiting many of the locations, and lots of Google searches. My search history is a sight to behold. So much that I occasionally enter “I am an author, and this is research” into the search box!

What's next for you?

The third and (maybe) final book in the Pretty Boy series. Then I have two ideas I’m working on, which I’m excited to write.

What is on your 'to read' pile at the moment?

by Patrick Radden Keefe

by Vaseem Khan

by Marlon James

by S.A. Cosby

You are coming to Suffolk for Stowmarket Library's Skulduggery Crime Writing festival on Saturday 29 April. Have you ever visited Suffolk and what can we expect to hear from you?

I’ve never been to Suffolk, and I’m looking forward to it. Expect stories of growing up in Lagos, passionately pursuing my passion, and how much I’m enjoying my life as a father, husband, lawyer and writer, all with a good dose of humour.

One book, piece of music or artwork that everyone should experience?

Music - Water No Get Enemy by Fela Kuti.

Can you tell us one thing about yourself that your readers may not know?

Bluey is currently one of my favourite TV shows - I think I enjoy it more than my son!