Murder at Wimbledon
MURDER AT WIMBLEDON is a fiction novel, set in London in the early '90's. Jack Hardigan, Australian student working at his doctorate at the University of Oregon, and pro tennis player, spends several summers studying at the University of London and trying to qualify for Wimbledon. He tells his story during a time when London had several ruthless underworld factions fighting to control the markets for liquor, cheap cigarettes, illegal gambling, extortion, prostitution and exploitation of young women. Set against a vivid background of Wimbledon with its class distinctions and traditions and with the threats from the Irish bombings almost every week.
Jack quickly makes new friends in all levels of London society. He takes us on his personal tour of London and the qualifying tournaments for Wimbledon. His summer takes him through a labyrinth of various characters involving him with all factions of society, from a lonely rich diamond heiress to several of London's major crime bosses. and international terrorists. The story, as told by Jack, comes to a disastrous climax with a murder at Wimbledon.
Jack tells his story of that warm summer in London with great authenticity and empathy. He draws on all the grandeur and tradition of Wimbledon and tells of the great differences of class and stature of a society going through change. There is love, violence, sex and death in this story of a young man coming of age in a new world.