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The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown
The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown is a gripping YA book set in contemporary East London.
Marcus, 15, wants to bring Police Sergeant Talbot Blair to justice for shooting his father dead in a racially motivated incident. But how can he do that when the police investigators have cleared Blair of blame? Will an inquest make any difference?
Part Small Great Things, part The Hate U Give, this compelling story sees a young man take on the entire criminal justice system.
Perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Alex Wheatle and Nic Stone.
Marcus, 15, wants to bring Police Sergeant Talbot Blair to justice for shooting his father dead in a racially motivated incident. But how can he do that when the police investigators have cleared Blair of blame? Will an inquest make any difference?
Part Small Great Things, part The Hate U Give, this compelling story sees a young man take on the entire criminal justice system.
Perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Alex Wheatle and Nic Stone.
142 pages, Paperback
Published February 17, 2022
18 people want to read
About the author
Marta Pacini
2 books2 followersMarta Pacini is the pioneering founder of radical independent publisher Disturbance Press and the author of The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown (Disturbance Press, February 2022) and Conspiracy (Disturbance Press, June 2022).
Marta is a roamer who currently lays her hat in Accrington, Lancashire.
Marta is a roamer who currently lays her hat in Accrington, Lancashire.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 5, 2023
Vigtigt emne belyst på en (for mig) fin måde, men på en eller anden måde sad jeg lidt med en “nåh” følelse til sidst - det hele blev afviklet lidt hurtigt, så den måtte godt have været længere
July 17, 2022
The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown follows 15-year-old Marcus and his fight for justice, after he witnesses his father’s killing by Police Sergeant Talbot Blair.
It’s very easy (as a British White person) to see a lot of debates online about race relations and the police, and think that this doesn’t apply to the UK. However, The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown has changed my views on that. It is set in Hackney, East London, and it was incredibly eye-opening about the British justice system. It takes a lot of inspiration from the tragic murders of Sean Rigg and Stephen Lawrence, among others.
I felt like I learned a lot about how British law works through this book. For example, I had assumed that the Independent Office for Police Conduct would be totally independent — but over 80% of IOPC investigators are former police officers. As Marcus considers, would he be able to remain impartial while investigating his classmates?
I thought Marcus was a great character. I especially enjoyed his discussions with Ama about his identity — and the point about even though Ama has Irish grandparents, she feels more Ghanaian than Irish as she doesn’t ‘look’ Irish. It was really insightful and not something I’ve ever had to consider myself, as someone who is from a White British background. Marcus is incredibly well-written, and the dialogue with his friends felt realistic. (But it did make me feel old — I didn’t know that ‘calm’ is the new ‘cool’!) I really felt his frustration about how his mother was apathetic, and willing to believe his father was actually a criminal! I couldn’t really understand how she could remain so impassive, and not feel as angry about it as Marcus did!
In places The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown feels perhaps a bit too educational. I think that’s because of the important subject matter, and because it’s not an area I know much about. But I did enjoy reading it and I think it focuses on something that’s really important, and that I’ve not read about in fiction before. To me, this is an absolute must-read for anyone wanting to learn more about Black rights in the UK, and what happens when the police kill people — and how hard it is to get justice when police kill unlawfully.
It’s very easy (as a British White person) to see a lot of debates online about race relations and the police, and think that this doesn’t apply to the UK. However, The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown has changed my views on that. It is set in Hackney, East London, and it was incredibly eye-opening about the British justice system. It takes a lot of inspiration from the tragic murders of Sean Rigg and Stephen Lawrence, among others.
I felt like I learned a lot about how British law works through this book. For example, I had assumed that the Independent Office for Police Conduct would be totally independent — but over 80% of IOPC investigators are former police officers. As Marcus considers, would he be able to remain impartial while investigating his classmates?
I thought Marcus was a great character. I especially enjoyed his discussions with Ama about his identity — and the point about even though Ama has Irish grandparents, she feels more Ghanaian than Irish as she doesn’t ‘look’ Irish. It was really insightful and not something I’ve ever had to consider myself, as someone who is from a White British background. Marcus is incredibly well-written, and the dialogue with his friends felt realistic. (But it did make me feel old — I didn’t know that ‘calm’ is the new ‘cool’!) I really felt his frustration about how his mother was apathetic, and willing to believe his father was actually a criminal! I couldn’t really understand how she could remain so impassive, and not feel as angry about it as Marcus did!
In places The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown feels perhaps a bit too educational. I think that’s because of the important subject matter, and because it’s not an area I know much about. But I did enjoy reading it and I think it focuses on something that’s really important, and that I’ve not read about in fiction before. To me, this is an absolute must-read for anyone wanting to learn more about Black rights in the UK, and what happens when the police kill people — and how hard it is to get justice when police kill unlawfully.
September 4, 2025
"The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown" (2022) by British author Marta Pacini
3,5 stars. Bordering on 4 stars.
Set in contemporary East London, The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown follows Marcus, a 15-year-old Black teen whose father is shot dead by police sergeant Talbot Blair right outside their home. Though the official ruling is self-defense, Marcus refuses to accept it, as he saw it happen—and embarks on a courageous quest to prove that racial bias—and not threat—killed his father.
This isn't just YA fiction—it's a raw, urgent portrait of what happens when the justice system fails someone you love. Marcus is forced to navigate a system stacked against him, fraught with bureaucracy, procedural hurdles, and police protectionism. Yet his drive to reopen the case is fueled not just by grief, but by a deep sense of injustice.
Marcus is a teen torn between anger, confusion, and fierce love. His perspective brings both authenticity and intensity.
The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown is more than a novel—it’s a moral call, served through the voice of a sixteen-year-old boy determined to stand tall amidst crushing grief.
3,5 stars. Bordering on 4 stars.
Set in contemporary East London, The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown follows Marcus, a 15-year-old Black teen whose father is shot dead by police sergeant Talbot Blair right outside their home. Though the official ruling is self-defense, Marcus refuses to accept it, as he saw it happen—and embarks on a courageous quest to prove that racial bias—and not threat—killed his father.
This isn't just YA fiction—it's a raw, urgent portrait of what happens when the justice system fails someone you love. Marcus is forced to navigate a system stacked against him, fraught with bureaucracy, procedural hurdles, and police protectionism. Yet his drive to reopen the case is fueled not just by grief, but by a deep sense of injustice.
Marcus is a teen torn between anger, confusion, and fierce love. His perspective brings both authenticity and intensity.
The (Un)lawful Killing of Daniel Brown is more than a novel—it’s a moral call, served through the voice of a sixteen-year-old boy determined to stand tall amidst crushing grief.
February 8, 2022
With a grippingly twisty plot, sensitive treatment of difficult themes, and heartwarming characterisation, what's not to love about this powerful debut novel? Well, maybe the fact that it exists at all. The killing of Daniel Brown wouldn't be out of place in a dystopian urban fantasy, but everything about this book is utterly plausible, from the tragic events which lead to Daniel's death to the frustrating hoops the legal system forces Marcus through to seek justice for his father. Read it and weep. And then get angry. And change things.
August 27, 2025
2.5⭐
fun fact: i was doing an internship at the graphic designer, who designed this cover, while she was doing it. i watched her make this cover!!
anyways this was pretty indifferent to me. i literally don't feel anyhthing. it's no good, it's not bad it's just meh. it did kinda feel like a book you would read for school though😅
fun fact: i was doing an internship at the graphic designer, who designed this cover, while she was doing it. i watched her make this cover!!
anyways this was pretty indifferent to me. i literally don't feel anyhthing. it's no good, it's not bad it's just meh. it did kinda feel like a book you would read for school though😅
February 14, 2022
This wonderful work of YA fiction fearlessly takes on issues of systemic racism, grounding it in relatable characters and a page-turner plot. A must read for young and old adults alike! I'm looking forward to checking out upcoming work by Pacini and Disturbance Press.
March 5, 2022
I cannot recommend this book enough! It’s truly incredible. Please, everyone read this. The easiest 5-stars I’ve ever given. I read the entire story in one sitting. A true page turner.
June 6, 2024
This is the sad reality of the world we live in
April 2, 2022
Just before he arrives at the garage where his car mechanic dad’s business is located, Marcus Brown observes a policeman shoot his dad who appeared to be cooperating fully. The police say otherwise, claiming that his dad pulled a gun on them and they had no choice but to shoot. Marcus knows this isn’t true and when he hears the story about why the police were visiting his dad in the first place, it makes even less sense. The reaction from Marcus’ mom is hard to figure out. She seems willing to just let things lie, either not caring or, more likely recognizing the futility of trying to do anything about it. But Marcus, convinced that dad died only because he was black and the police were too quick to shoot in that situation, isn’t willing to ignore what happened.
Following along with Marcus as he figures out what to do and how to approach it kept me engaged. That he was obviously in the right had me pulling for him the whole way. I realized as I was reading that the legal system in the UK is enough different from the US that my uncertainty about where things would end up was adding to the mystery and suspense. A very good read.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Following along with Marcus as he figures out what to do and how to approach it kept me engaged. That he was obviously in the right had me pulling for him the whole way. I realized as I was reading that the legal system in the UK is enough different from the US that my uncertainty about where things would end up was adding to the mystery and suspense. A very good read.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews