The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coe

The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coe was published in paperback in September 2025. I actually preordered a copy, so it arrived on publication day, then I didn’t get round to reading it for a long time. When I finally did start reading it, I binged it under 24 hours, because I absolutely loved it! (And I had a delayed Eurostar journey followed by a train journey from Paddington to home.)

Graduate Phyl is stuck at home with her parents, working a zero hours catering job at Heathrow Airport. Life at home is boring and lonely, after the excitement of university.

But then her mother’s friend from university comes to stay. Chris is a political blogger, who has spent his whole life researching and investigating those on the right of the Conservative party. Chris and his daughter, Rashida, bring a bit of much-needed excitement to Phyl’s life.

When Chris goes to a conference for a radical think tank formed at Cambridge University in the 1980s by his own contemporaries, things start to get dangerous. What extremes would his former acquaintances go to, to prevent their secrets getting out and silence Chris and his blog?

When the conference ends in murder, Phyl and Rashida decide to investigate…

This is a clever and humorous read, set against the backdrop of Liz Truss becoming prime minister and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Phyl, Chris and Rashida are all likeable characters, determined to find the truth. I’ve never read a mix of cosy crime and politics before, but it works! And, just when I thought I knew where the story was going, there were a couple of clever twists at the end.

If you like satire and poking gentle fun at British politics or if you like your cosy crime a bit cleverer than usual, I can highly recommend The Proof of My Innocence.

I’ve read a few of Jonathan Coe’s previous books, including Bournville (the Covid novel) and Middle England (the Brexit novel). They are all well worth a read if you like a bit of political humour.