Eminence

Synopsis

Camden, London – 1975

A bear-like man leaves a pub just before last orders — a man you’d much rather regard as a friend than an enemy. But, to Roland Raynott, Clement is most definitely the enemy.

Minutes later, Clement is lying dead in a rainswept alley as Roland Raynott scurries away.

Atlanta, Georgia – 2022

An old letter hidden amongst his late mother’s possessions is the reason why Patrick Finch is now four thousand miles from his home in South London. The letter suggested that a man by the name of Ray Johnson might be Patrick’s biological father and the only person on the planet he can now call family.

His quest to find Ray Johnson doesn’t start well after two men attempt to rob Patrick. They might have succeeded if it wasn’t for the sudden intervention of a man dressed in flared jeans and a denim waistcoat. After brutally dealing with Patrick’s assailants, the stranger introduces himself as Clement.

Confused and seemingly suffering from amnesia, Clement claims he has no idea how he arrived in Atlanta, but he does know one thing — he absolutely must help Patrick in his quest.

Despite his reservations about Clement’s motives, not to mention his industrial use of the English language, Patrick reluctantly agrees that the big man can help in the search for Ray Johnson. What the two men unearth on their journey will change Patrick’s life forever … and possibly Clement’s death.

About This Book

Eminence marks the return of Clement — Keith’s most popular character — in a new series that takes the big man out of London and drops him in Atlanta, Georgia. He has no idea how he got there, he has no memory of his previous missions, and he’s paired with Patrick Finch, a young South Londoner searching for the biological father he’s never met.

What follows is a buddy story with a harder edge than the original Clement series. There’s still the trademark humour — Clement is still Clement, still in double denim, still baffled by the modern world — but the stakes are higher, the threats more physical, and the mystery at the centre of Patrick’s search takes some dark turns. Readers have compared Clement in this book to a 1970s Jack Reacher: blunt, dangerous, and operating by a moral code that hasn’t been updated since decimalisation.

It’s also an origin story of sorts. The opening scene — Camden, 1975 — shows us how Clement died, and the question of why he’s now in America with no memory runs beneath the surface of the entire novel.

Where Does This Fit in the Clement Universe?

This is important, so here’s the straightforward answer:

If you’ve never read a Clement book before: You can start here — it works as a standalone, and multiple readers have done exactly that. But for the full Clement experience, I’d recommend starting with the original series: Who Sent Clement?, Wrong’un, Clawthorn, and Headcase. Those four books introduce Clement properly, and you’ll get much more out of the Angel of Camden series if you’ve read them first.

If you’ve already read the original Clement series: Eminence is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. Clement is back, but the setting and tone are different — it’s bigger, darker, and takes Clement somewhere he’s never been. The Angel of Camden series currently runs to two books (Eminence and Terrier), with a third on the way that brings Clement back to London.

Who Is This Book For?

Eminence appeals to fans of the original Clement series who want more of the big man, readers who enjoy buddy mysteries and mismatched-partnership stories, and anyone who likes action-driven fiction with heart, humour, and a protagonist who’d be terrifying if he weren’t so oddly loveable.

If you enjoy Lee Child’s Jack Reacher for the blunt-force problem-solving but wish the books were funnier and more emotionally grounded, Clement is your man. It also appeals to readers who liked the fish-out-of-water element of the original series — Clement was already out of time; now he’s out of his country too.

The Angel of Camden Series

Eminence is the first book in the Angel of Camden series. The sequel, Terrier, was published in 2024. A third book is planned, which will see Clement return to London. The books should be read in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to read the original Clement series first?
Not strictly, but I’d recommend it. Eminence works as a standalone — Clement arrives with amnesia, so you discover him fresh alongside Patrick. But the original four books give you the full backstory, and reading them first makes the Angel of Camden series significantly richer.

Is Eminence the same tone as the original Clement books?
It’s recognisably Clement — the humour, the double denim, the bewilderment at the modern world — but the overall tone is harder. The setting is grittier, the threats are more physical, and the mystery at the centre of Patrick’s story takes some dark turns. Think of it as Clement with the dial turned up.

Is this set in America?
Yes — mostly in and around Atlanta, Georgia. Clement has somehow ended up four thousand miles from home with no memory of how he got there. The fish-out-of-water element is doubled: he’s not just a man from the 1970s in the modern world; he’s a man from 1970s Camden in the American South.

Who narrates the audiobook?
The audiobook is narrated by Beau Thomas and is available on Audible and other audiobook platforms.