First of the True Believers: A Novel Concerning the "Beatles" - Hardcover

The Beatles formed in 1959, and by March 1964, every one of the top five singles in the American Billboard chart was theirs. They had become a worldwide pop sensation and their home town of Liverpool was the centre of the thriving British music industry. Among other less celebrated Merseybeat groups of the time were the Nighttime Passengers, led by Theo Hennessy, who - according to his own testimony, at least - very nearly replaced Pete Best as drummer of the `Fab Four'.
First of the True Believers tells of a decade in the life of Theodore Hennessy. It begins in the late 1950s with his first meeting with the beautiful and elusive Marianne Burgess, and follows their subsequent on-off love affair and his rise to prominence as a musician and music agent. Intertwined is the story of The Beatles themselves. Undaunted by his near miss, Theo remains an enthusiastic music fan and he follows their progress with interest.