Kenilworth bookseller paints Coventry skyline for internationally best-selling writer Lee Child - with hidden references to all 24 of the Reacher books

The artwork has been created by Tamsin Rosewell of Kenilworth Books
The artwork has been created by Tamsin Rosewell of Kenilworth Books and shows a composite skyline of Coventry and has already been displayed in Harrods in London. Photo suppliedThe artwork has been created by Tamsin Rosewell of Kenilworth Books and shows a composite skyline of Coventry and has already been displayed in Harrods in London. Photo supplied
The artwork has been created by Tamsin Rosewell of Kenilworth Books and shows a composite skyline of Coventry and has already been displayed in Harrods in London. Photo supplied

A Kenilworth bookseller has been commissioned to create a limited-edition print for internationally best-selling author Lee Child.

The author, whose real name is James Dover Grant, was born in Styvechale, Coventry in 1954 and is world-renowned as the creator of Jack Reacher.

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The artwork has been created by Tamsin Rosewell of Kenilworth Books and shows a composite skyline of Coventry with hidden references to all 24 of the Reacher books written by Lee Child.

The Coventry skyline is shown in shades of blue, complete with all three spires. It also shows the nursing home where Lee was born, which is now the Royal Court Hotel. Tamsin’s original piece was displayed in London’s iconic Harrods store in the Montegrappa Writing Room – named after Italy’s oldest and most respected fountain pen maker, and favourite of authors from Ernest Hemingway to John Dos Passos.

Exclusive prints of the original artwork signed by both the author and his official biographer Dr Heather Martin are available only from Kenilworth Books at Talisman Shopping Centre.

Tamsin Rosewell, of Kenilworth Books, said: “The image I created shows a detailed skyline of Coventry in blue, with entwined plants up the sides.

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“All the plants were chosen carefully as they feature significantly in the biography.

“I really wanted to create something that Reacher fans would enjoy. So hidden in the image are 24 objects, one representing each of the Jack Reacher novels.

"No one has yet found all of them.”

Hundreds of Jack Reacher fans from all over the country have been ordering the new biography of Lee Child from Kenilworth Books to get hold of the collectable, double-signed prints.

It was originally planned that Lee Child would launch the new biography at Coventry Cathedral, in discussion with Dr Martin and hosted by Kenilworth Books and Coventry City of Culture 2021.

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However, pandemic restrictions have meant this had to be postponed but it is intended that the plan for the author to visit his birth city will be resurrected next year.

Hugo Hawkings, chief executive of Discovery Properties – the developers of Talisman Shopping Centre – added: “Tamsin at Kenilworth Books has produced a beautiful piece of art and it’s proving hugely popular with fans of the Reacher series.

“Kenilworth Books as a business continues to go from strength-to-strength - they have been incredibly innovative throughout the pandemic and by being involved in projects with authors like Lee Child the shop is further cementing itself as an industry leader.”

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