Who Sent Clement?
"I've never laughed so hard at a character who's technically dead. Clement is rude, politically incorrect, and completely impossible to dislike. The mystery kept me guessing, but it's the man in double denim you'll remember long after you've finished. I read it in a single sitting and immediately bought the next one."
— Amazon reader reviewSynopsis
Beth Baxter always dreamt of being an author. Unfortunately, fate has a twisted sense of humour so rather than writing books, she now sells them in a second-hand bookshop. With middle-age approaching and her life unfulfilled, Beth is at least grateful her forthcoming marriage to Karl is worthy of hope — or, so she thought.
When her fiancé’s sordid past catches up with him, Beth finds herself embroiled in a sinister game of hide and seek. As her life is torn apart and all appears lost, Beth is thrown an unlikely lifeline when a former gangland fixer called Clement crashes into her life, offering to help.
Unfortunately for Beth, there is one minor complication with her saviour — Clement claims he died in 1975 and must help Beth as penance for sins committed in his previous life.
With just seven days to avoid a fate she can’t bear to contemplate, Beth chooses the lesser of two evils and reluctantly joins her deluded, politically incorrect companion on a quest across London in search of a solution.
Will this unlikely partnership succeed? Will Clement ever come to terms with paying five quid for a pint? And will Beth ever learn the truth about who sent Clement?
About This Book
Who Sent Clement? is a British comedy mystery with a supernatural twist. It introduces Clement — a double-denim wearing, politically incorrect former gangland fixer from the 1970s who claims he died in 1975 and now appears in the lives of people who need his help, seeking redemption for sins committed in his previous life.
In this first book, Clement crashes into the life of Beth Baxter, a bookshop owner whose world is falling apart. What follows is a mismatched buddy story set across modern-day London, as two people separated by a generation team up on an unlikely quest. It’s funny, occasionally touching, and driven by one of the most memorable characters in British indie fiction.
Readers often describe it as Life on Mars in reverse — a man from the 1970s dropped into the twenty-first century, baffled by everything from contactless payments to what you can and can’t say anymore. But beneath the comedy, there’s a story about redemption, unlikely friendship, and good overcoming evil.
Who Is This Book For?
Who Sent Clement? appeals to readers who enjoy British comedy with heart, quirky mysteries, and characters who are beautifully flawed. It’s a great fit if you like fish-out-of-water stories, odd-couple partnerships, or fiction that blends humour with something a little bit supernatural.
Readers often compare it to the tone of Life on Mars, the charm of a Richard Osman novel, and the unlikely-hero appeal of books by Jonas Jonasson. If you enjoy stories where a deeply imperfect character does the right thing in the most chaotic way possible, Clement is your man.
The Clement Series
Who Sent Clement? is the first of four books in the Clement series. Each book follows Clement as he appears in a different person’s life, helping them through a crisis as penance for his past. The books are best read in order, though each features a self-contained story.
The full series reading order is:
- Who Sent Clement? — Clement helps Beth Baxter
- Wrong’un — Clement helps Sir Charles Huxley
- Clawthorn
- Headcase
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Who Sent Clement? a supernatural or fantasy novel?
There’s a supernatural element — Clement claims he died in 1975 and has been sent to help people as penance. Whether you take that at face value or not is part of the fun. It’s not a fantasy novel in the traditional sense. It’s a comedy mystery with something unexplained at its heart.
Do I need to read the Clement books in order?
Each book features a different person Clement is sent to help, so they work as standalone stories. That said, the series is best enjoyed in order, as Clement’s backstory and character develop across the four books.
Is Clement connected to The ’86 Fix or Keith’s other books?
No. The Clement series is completely separate from The ’86 Fix, the Echo Lane series, and Keith’s other novels. It’s its own thing entirely.
Who narrates the audiobook?
The audiobook is narrated by Cassie Layton and is available on Audible and other audiobook platforms.
Is the humour offensive?
Clement is deliberately politically incorrect — he’s a product of the 1970s who hasn’t caught up with modern social norms. The humour comes from his obliviousness rather than malice, and it’s handled with a light touch. If you enjoy characters who say the wrong thing at the wrong time, you’ll love him.
