Lionel Ross, in his fourth novel ‘Men of Conviction’ tells the fascinating tale of three desperate and disparate young men, released from prison on the same day.  They are Hussein, the Islamist preacher of Jihad, Wayne the burglar and Dovid the religious Jew and ‘one offence fraudster.’ Men of Conviction is their story over the ensuing ten years.                  

Hussein, predictably, builds a shadowy Jihadist organisation with the intention, through terrorism, of creating the Caliphate of Britannia under Shari’a law. Wayne is determined to change his life and almost accidently finds himself the owner of a chain of Massage Parlours. By his previous standards, this is the path to wealth and respectability                     

Dovid, on the other hand, with the aid of his wealthy grandfather, becomes a successful property developer.       

The action takes place in such contrasting locations as 21st century Manchester, Istanbul, Afghanistan, Belfast and a mysterious breakaway Islamic republic.  The contemporary background to the plots ensures the airing of such issues as Islamist and Irish terrorism, religious intolerance and drug trading. The main characters are easily recognised as typical members of today’s British multi-cultural society.                                                                                                   

As the cataclysmic ending approaches, the paths of the three main characters are destined to cross again in an epic and amazing ending.