Carole Johnstone - Mirrorland (Blog Tour) Mirrorland author Carole Johnstone Published by Borough Press, hardback £12.99. I received a proof copy of the novel from the publisher for review purposes. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. First, the official blurb: No. 36 Westeryk Road, an imposing … Continue reading Review: Mirrorland
Category: Tartan Noir
Review: Still Life
Val McDermid - Still Life Published by Sphere, paperback £8.99. My review is of the Little Brown hardback edition (£20), which I bought new. Still Life is the sixth Karen Pirie novel and Val McDermid's 34th novel, and who knows what number crime novel I've read, but opening the covers I know that I will face … Continue reading Review: Still Life
Review: The Cut
Chris Brookmyre - The Cut Published by Sphere Books, hardback £18.99. Many thanks to Fiona Brownlee at Brownlee Donald Associates for sending me a proof copy of the novel for review purposes. First, the official blurb: Millie Spark can kill anyone. A special effects make-up artist, her talent is to create realistic scenes of bloody violence. Then, … Continue reading Review: The Cut
Review: What Will Burn
James Oswald - What Will Burn (Blog Tour) James reading from Bury Them Deep on his launch tour for the book in 2020 Published by Wildfire Books, hardback £16.99. I received a proof copy of the novel from the publisher for review purposes. Many thanks to Antonia Whitton at Headline for inviting me to join the … Continue reading Review: What Will Burn
Review: The Cutting Room
Louise Welsh - The Cutting Room Published by Canongate Books, paperback £8.99. I bought this book new. Since it won the Crime Writers Association John Creasey New Blood dagger in 2002, Louise Welsh's The Cutting Room has become a modern classic of Scottish literature, as well as something of a touchstone for those looking to stretch … Continue reading Review: The Cutting Room
Review: The Blood Is Still
Douglas Skelton - The Blood Is Still Published by Polygon Books, paperback £8.99. I received a copy of the novel from the publisher for review purposes. I had the pleasure of reviewing Douglas Skelton's last novel, Thunder Bay, for The Scotsman, which allowed me to shout to a wide audience about the absolute triumph it was. … Continue reading Review: The Blood Is Still
Feature: Books of the year, 2020
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
Review: Sins Of The Father
Sharon Bairden - Sins Of The Father (Blog Tour) Sins of the Father author Sharon Bairden Published by Red Dog Press, paperback £8.99. I received a proof copy of the novel from the publisher for review purposes. Many thanks to Meggy Roussel at Red Dog Press for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. … Continue reading Review: Sins Of The Father
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
