The Five By Five Interview with Sharon Bairden Author Sharon Bairden “Five By Five?” Um, well… I wanted a name for this (hopefully regular) feature, and as well as being a big crime fiction fan I am also a big Buffy The Vampire Slayer fan, with a soft spot for “rogue slayer” Faith, who uses … Continue reading Interview: Sharon Bairden
Tag: Scotland
Review: The Great Silence
Doug Johnstone - The Great Silence (Blog Tour) Author Doug Johnstone (Portrait: Duncan McGlynn) Published by Orenda Books, paperback £8.99. 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: Keeping on … Continue reading Review: The Great Silence
Review: Anthrax Island
DL Marshall - Anthrax Island Published by Canelo, paperback £8.99. I received a proof copy of the novel from the author for review purposes. First, the official blurb: FACT: In 1942, in growing desperation at the progress of the war and fearing invasion by the Nazis, the UK government approved biological weapons tests on British soil. Their … Continue reading Review: Anthrax Island
Review: Sight Unseen
Sandra Ireland - Sight Unseen Published by Polygon Books, paperback £8.99. I received a copy of the novel from the publisher for review purposes. First, the official blurb: 1648. Alie Gowdie marries Richard Webster during a turbulent time in Scotland’s history. Charles I is about to lose his head, and little does Alie know that she … Continue reading Review: Sight Unseen
Review: Mirrorland
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
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: 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
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