No Easy Deeds

Synopsis

Not that he’s counting but, 409 days ago, life was rosy for Danny Monk.

Today, the 3rd of September 1990, Danny’s future seems almost as bleak as the British economy in the new decade – the glamour and glitz of the ’80s replaced by a deep recession, crippling interest rates, and mass riots over the poll tax.

Then, by pure chance, Danny stumbles upon a new job opportunity. The prospect of becoming an estate agent holds little appeal but, as one of the two million unemployed, any job is better than no job. Danny accepts the role of trainee negotiator with Gibley Smith.

Little does he know it, but Danny’s new job will result in the strangest of encounters, and an offer that seems almost too good to be true – complete a somewhat unorthodox challenge in exchange for the deeds of a detached house.

What Danny doesn’t realise is that there’s far more to both his challenge and reward than he could possibly imagine. For better or for worse, 1990 is destined to be the year that irrevocably changes Danny Monk’s future.

About This Book

No Easy Deeds is neither a time travel novel nor a rom-com, but it cleverly blends elements of both. Set in 1990 against the backdrop of the British recession, it follows Danny Monk — a likeable bloke who’s lost his job, lost his fiancée, and is now trying to rebuild his life as a trainee estate agent in suburban England.

What starts as a workplace comedy with sharp office banter takes a strange turn when Danny visits a house on Echo Lane and meets its mysterious owner, Mrs Weller. The offer she makes him is too good to be true — and as Danny soon discovers, there’s far more to the house on Echo Lane than scenic views and ample parking.

It’s genuinely funny, occasionally touching, and packed with 1990s pop culture and period detail. If you’ve ever worked in a small office with characters you couldn’t make up, you’ll feel right at home.

Who Is This Book For?

No Easy Deeds appeals to readers who enjoy character-driven British fiction with humour, heart, and a speculative twist. It’s particularly popular with fans of Keith’s earlier time travel novels like The ’86 Fix, readers who enjoy workplace comedy and office-based fiction, and anyone who remembers — or is curious about — Britain in the early 1990s.

Readers often compare it to the work of Mike Gayle and Nick Hornby, with a dash of something more mysterious. If you enjoy books where ordinary people stumble into extraordinary situations, this is one for you.

The Echo Lane Series

No Easy Deeds is the first book in the Echo Lane series. The sequel, The Fourth Clause, continues Danny’s story and was published in December 2024. The series is planned to run to five books.

The recommended reading order is: No Easy Deeds first, then The Fourth Clause. Each book follows on directly from the last, so they should be read in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is No Easy Deeds a time travel novel?
Not exactly. The book’s own tagline says it best — it’s neither a time travel novel nor a rom-com, but it cleverly blends elements of both. There is a speculative element involving time, but it’s not the kind of book where someone hops in a machine and travels to a different century. It’s far more grounded — and far stranger — than that.

Do I need to have read Keith’s other books first?
No. No Easy Deeds is a completely standalone series. It has no connection to The ’86 Fix, the Clement books, or any of Keith’s other novels. It’s a great entry point if you’re new to his work.

Is No Easy Deeds part of a series?
Yes. It’s the first book in the Echo Lane series, which is planned to run to five books. The sequel, The Fourth Clause, is available now. The books should be read in order.

Where and when is the book set?
England, 1990. Much of the story takes place in and around a fictional estate agency during the British recession of the early nineties. Expect poll tax references, period detail, and the general bleakness of the post-Thatcher economic landscape — leavened with a good deal of humour.

Is No Easy Deeds available as an audiobook?
Yes. The audiobook is narrated by Matt Jopling and is available on Audible and other audiobook platforms.