My favourite reads of this <very special> year... I think we all need a wee dram to celebrate making it through 2020... It has been something of a year, hasn't it? Thank goodness for the armchair travel and general escapism of books! 2020 was also the year that I finally got this blog up and running … Continue reading Feature: Books of the year, 2020
Category: Edinburgh
Review: The Big Chill
Doug Johnstone - The Big Chill Published by Orenda Books, paperback £8.99. I received a proof copy of the novel for review purposes. Six months on from the events of A Dark Matter - which saw the Skelf women deal with death and betrayal, alongside running a funeral directors and a private investigation business after … Continue reading Review: The Big Chill
Review: A Dark Matter
Doug Johnstone - A Dark Matter Published by Orenda Books, paperback £8.99. I received a proof copy from the publisher for review purposes. I've long been a fan of Doug Johnstone's exquisitely crafted novels, whether on the breathlessly tumbling plot-heavy side such as Hit And Run or Crash Land, or the heartbreaking character work of … Continue reading Review: A Dark Matter
Review: Bury Them Deep
James Oswald - Bury Them Deep James Oswald on his book tour in February Published by Wildfire Books hardback £16.99. Paperback (due out 3 September) £7.99. I was loaned a proof copy by a friend. James Oswald celebrated the launch of this tenth Tony McLean novel with a mini tour of Scotland in February when … Continue reading Review: Bury Them Deep
Feature: Noir At The Bar
From a darkened room to Zoom... I always think of myself as an introvert, and happy in my own company, but during lockdown I've come to realise I also need the company of like-minded people at least now and again. So I have been very grateful for the online events that have popped up to … Continue reading Feature: Noir At The Bar
Review: Perfect Crime
Helen Fields - Perfect Crime Published by Avon Books, paperback £7.99. I bought this book new. For her previous book, Perfect Silence, Helen Fields did a pop-up signing at Bloody Scotland in Stirling. I snaffled a copy - new-to-me-author? yes please! - and while I felt the plot pushed the boundaries hard in terms of … Continue reading Review: Perfect Crime
Review: The Way Of All Flesh
Ambrose Parry - The Way Of All Flesh Published by Canongate Books, paperback £8.99. I received a free proof copy (of the hardback edition) from the publisher for review purposes. The Way Of All Flesh begins, as so many hackneyed crime novels have done before, with a man standing over the dead body of a … Continue reading Review: The Way Of All Flesh
Review: Breakers
Doug Johnstone - Breakers Published by Orenda, paperback £8.99. I received a free proof copy from the publisher for review purposes. Much of Doug Johnstone’s work falls into two camps: action-packed (Smokeheads, Crash Land) or psychologically powerful (Gone Again, The Jump). Last year’s Fault Lines saw him weld these strands together and in Breakers he … Continue reading Review: Breakers
Review: How The Dead Speak
Val McDermid - How The Dead Speak Published by Sphere, paperback £8.99. My review is of the Little Brown hardback edition (£18.99), which I bought new. I’ve been a big fan of Val McDermid’s books for many years, and Tony Hill and Carol Jordan are two of my favourite characters in crime fiction. I’ve reread … Continue reading Review: How The Dead Speak
Review: The Art Of Dying
Ambrose Parry - The Art of Dying Published by Black Thorn Books, paperback £8.99. I received a proof copy (of the Canongate Books hardback edition) from the publisher for review purposes. The Art Of Dying offers more of the alluring combination of crime fiction and historical fact seen in last year’s The Way Of All … Continue reading Review: The Art Of Dying
