Tombstoning by Doug Johnstone

Wishing a very happy publication day to Doug John's for Tombstoning! Well, more a happy republication day, as this is actually a 20th anniversary release of Doug's first published novel. Any regular visitor to the blog will have realised I'm a Doug Johnstone fan - you only have to search his name on here to find reviews of a good number of his books. But the first of those was Breakers, published in 2019, and I hadn't read anything from before then, so was excited to get into Tombstoning. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

Your best mate just fell off a cliff in mysterious circumstances. You were the last person to see him alive. What do you do?

If you're David Lindsay from Arbroath, you leg it – and don’t go back. Not for fifteen years.

Then Nicola Cruickshank – yes, that Nicola, the girl you always fancied but never had the guts to speak to – gets in touch. She wants you back for a school reunion. At the very place it happened. Of course you say yes. Not to lay ghosts to rest, but because you still fancy Nicola.

The thing is, if you are David Lindsay, then returning to Arbroath isn’t going to bring closure. Because when someone else tumbles off the cliffs – an act the locals now call tombstoning – David has a choice: run away again, or finally find out why people around him keep dying…

My Review

It was interesting going back in time, back to the beginning of someone's writing career, when you only know their work from the last few years. I needn't have worried. The story is as taut and tense as I would expect, whilst being very character driven. Doug Johnstone is a great observer of people. 

Following the death of his best friend, Colin, David Lindsay left Arbroath for Edinburgh and never looked back. He's not made a huge success of his life, killing time in an unfulfilled job and drinking too much. But going back to Arbroath would bring all the memories back, and he doesn't want that. His mind is changed, though, by Nicola, his crush at school, who is helping organise a school reunion. He doesn't want to go but when he gets together with Nicola, they hit it off, so he agrees to head back to Arbroath for the reunion. Unfortunately, that's not all that happens whilst he is there. 

David wasn't a character I was quick to like. He drinks way too much, and isn't doing much with his life. But the email from Nicola changes things. Gives him a focus. I really liked Nicola - she's authentic, lovely, focused, more dynamic, doing something with her life whilst bringing up a young daughter, but missing the wilder side of her teenage life. And whilst a return to Arbroath brings back memories of Colin and his demise, particularly for David, they're both impacted by a further death. But what we see in the aftermath of this tragic event is a growth of sorts for David. He doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, far from it. 

Tombstoning is a layered tale. Whilst it's a crime story with mystery and tension, it's as much about friendships, relationships, the heady teenage years, the responsibilities of adulthood, it's about growing up, and it's about doing the right thing. It's about hope. It's about all these things and more, and I'm delighted it's been re-released. Loved it. 

The Author

Doug Johnstone is the author of nineteen novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while six of his
books have been shortlisted or longlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year or the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral directors. He’s also been an arts journalist for twenty-five years. He is a songwriter and musician with ten albums released, and drummer for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club.

Genesis by Chris Carter #blogathon

I think we're now on the twelfth book in Chris Carter's epic series - unfortunately, personal circumstances meant I wasn't able to review the last three on the appropriate tour dates - and this one is called Genesis. It's another nail biting ride from Carter. Big thanks to Tracy Fenton from Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part in this project, and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

A killing like no other.
A killer more twisted than he’s ever seen before.
A case that will test him to the limit.
Has Robert Hunter finally met his match?

‘Do you believe the Devil exists, Detective?’ the officer at the end of the line asks. ‘Because if you don’t . . . I’m sure you will once you get here.’

Robert Hunter is called to the most vicious crime scene he has ever attended. It is made even more disturbing when the autopsy reveals a poem, left by the killer, inside the body of their victim.

Soon, another body is found. The methods and signature of the murder differs, but the level of violence used suggests that the same person is behind both crimes. Hunter’s fears are confirmed when a second part of the poem is found.

But this discovery does more than just link the two killings – it suggests that this is the work of a serial murderer.

With no forensic evidence to go on, Robert Hunter must catch the most disciplined and systematic killer that he has ever encountered, someone who thrives on the victims' fear, and to whom death is a lesson that needs to be taught.

My Review

If you search the blog with the author's name you'll find the reviews for most of the previous books in this series, and Genesis follows the same kind of format. As the name suggests, the Ultra Violent Crimes Unit of Los Angeles Police's Robbery Homicide Division, made up of just Robert Hunter and his partner Carlos Garcia, deals with the very worst of the worst crimes. See the quote in the blurb from an officer at the first crime scene to get an idea of what they, and us as readers, are dealing with - horrific, awful crimes. This time, the murder victims seem unconnected, the killing style varies, but it becomes clear that the crimes have been carried out by the same perpetrator. 

I have mentioned before that some of these books have been quite difficult reads for me - I can't read them last thing at night, or if I'm home alone in the evening. They are not for everyone - they are very violent, and very detailed. I found Genesis the hardest so far and there was one part I couldn't read at all and had to skip over - judging by the reaction of a seasoned police officer in the book to the same part, I think I made the right decision. I'm not sure that level of violence is necessary but, of course, the darkness is one of the things that this series is known for. 

What brings me back each time is the protagonist, Robert Hunter. Twelve books in, I still find him fascinating. And full of information - he reads a lot - so every book feels like an education. But Hunter, and therefore the writing, is never stilted or preachy, and the knowledge he imparts just slots into the story. And he has a great sense of justice, and feels things very deeply. Carlos is a great partner for him, I've lived seeing their relationship develop. And Carlos has grown throughout the series. 

As with so many of the books in this series, the reasons behind the twisted crimes in Genesis is complicated and  tragic, and this one hit me hard. This is a great addition to the Robert Hunter series - it's tense and nerve wracking,  heart stopping in moments. But go in prepared - it's very, very dark. 

The Author

Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and Criminal behaviour in the USA. As a member of the District Attorney's Criminal Psychology team, and working together with the Police Department in numerous cases, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions. He now lives in London, UK.