Street Sweeper by Bren Gosling

Whilst I do mainly read, and love, crime fiction, I always welcome the opportunity to read new (to me) books from other genres. Bren Gosling's debut novel and winner of the the Novel London Literary Prize in 2021, Sweet Sweeper, was a book I was lucky enough to receive in paperback, and equally lucky to read on a sunbed somewhere hot. It tells the story of Almir and Roland, and I really enjoyed it. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

London, 2002. When Almir, a twenty-one-year-old Kosovan ex-boy soldier, is relocated to London with a new identity, flashbacks undermine his ability to keep his job as a street sweeper. Then he meets Roland, a forty-year-old British Jamaican, a Council surveyor trying to escape his Pentecostal upbringing, and a failed relationship with Shirl with whom he has a fifteen-year-old son.

Roland and Almir become closer as Roland offers first friendship, then sex, yet Almir remains secretive about his past, and struggles to identify as gay, forcing Roland to question their relationship. And who is Muzzafer, the name Almir repeatedly shouts out during frequent nightmares? As tension builds, Almir confronts his involvement in a war atrocity, which threatens to destabilise his sanity and his new UK life.

But, against all these powerful obstacles, Almir and Roland’s love for each other continues to grow. Is it strong enough to last?

My Review

Almir has only been in  Britain for a short time after his involvement in the Kosovan war in the late 90s. He has a job as a street sweeper, literally with a cart and a broom, and has been accepted by his colleagues. When he returns to work after a period of illness, he is given a new area to clean and bumps into local resident Roland, and the two men begin a tentative relationship. 

Oh, goodness, Almir has my heart. He is so troubled by his memories of the war, suffering terrible flashbacks, often  triggered by sights or sounds around him. He probably doesn't have sufficient English to talk about it but can't anyway. He just keeps reliving the war, particularly a couple of incredibly traumatic events. In addition, Almir has never really acknowledged that he's gay. He's all alone in a new country and it's so hard. From the author's notes, it is clear he has done extensive research, and things certainly feel authentic.

Roland is lovely. A genuinely nice man who is sorry for his failed relationship with his ex-wife and wants to ensure he has a healthy relationship with his teenage son. Something pulls him and Almir together, just at the right time for both of them. But it's a tricky relationship, especially when Almir can't talk about the past, and Roland is afraid to ask. Especially when he sees Almir have an episode. 

The story is built around these two men but there are some other key characters playing important roles. Julie, a befriender, who has volunteered to support Almir, Roland's son Gary and Stan, Roland's long time friend. All three of them have their roles to play in Almir and Roland 's story. I particularly liked Julie, maybe because I'm probably a similar age to her but I also enjoyed how she came to look at and feel about herself. 

Street Sweeper is a novel touching on many big issues - immigration, marginalisation, racism, homophobia, trauma and grief. But mostly it's about love and acceptance. I devoured this book over two days and was cheering on Almir and Roland from the beginning, hoping they'd make it. You will be too. 

The Author

Bren Gosling, an alumnus of City University’s Novel Studio, is published in numerous anthologies, and was a finalist of the London, Brighton and Exeter Short Story Prizes. Street Sweeper won the Novel London Literary Prize in 2021, and the inaugural Book Edit Writer’s Prize for under-represented writers. The novel was shortlisted for the New Anglia Manuscript Prize in 2023. Bren’s plays have garnered two Offies nominations, and an ONComm Commendation. His latest play, Invisible Me starring Tessa Peake Jones ran at the Southwark Playhouse from April 8th to May 2nd this year. Find out more about Bren’s work at www.brengosling.com.

Bren explains: “My writing explores the narratives of quiet lives, extraordinarily lived, marginalised voices of overlooked people and places. A member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have researched the experiences of being a gay first generation British Jamaican man, through interviews; I spent time in a Pentecostal church. I interviewed Kosovan immigrants to the UK as well as the head of department of Albanian Studies at University of London to better understand Albanian culture and recent history. I shadowed a street sweeper at Walthamstow Cleansing Depot. What interests me is bringing untold stories to life by creating fictional narratives. This has been my focus in writing Street Sweeper.”

Mother Missing by Ruth Dugdall

Yesterday was the publication day and my blog tour date for Mother Missing by Ruth Dugdall, the latest in the Cate Austin series. Unfortunately, I was unable to post my review then but I'm pleased to share it now. Many thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me and to the publisher for sending a review copy, and a belated ' Happy Publication Day!' to Ruth.

 

The Blurb

She vanished without a trace. But someone knows exactly where she is.

Bronte Lowe — single mother and the key witness to a local hit-and-run — disappears in broad daylight.

Probation officer Cate Austin is used to spotting lies. So when Adam, one of her offenders, starts raising red flags, she can’t ignore her instincts.

Meanwhile, Adam’s girlfriend Freya has just moved into his remote cliffside home, hoping for a fresh start. But something isn’t right. The closer she looks, the more she senses the house is hiding something — or someone.

As Bronte’s disappearance collides with Cate’s investigation, a web of secrets begins to unravel. When desperation takes over, how far will three women go to protect what they love?

My Review

Cate rushes back to Britain from Luxembourg when her sister goes missing from her rehab facility, bringing Amelia with her and staying with ex-husband Tim. To aid in her search she does a few hours work at her old probation office. In doing so she comes across Adam, who is on probation, and Freya. Meanwhile protests are growing against the local power plant and a worker goes missing, the second person to disappear recently...

Well, Cate is only back for seven days but it's a packed week! She's so worried about her sister Lizzie and determined to find her, get her back to rehab. But while she's doing that she meets Tim's neighbour Bronte, and her colleague Kasia, who lives across the green. The book is divided into days, with points of view from three different women - Cate, Freya and Bronte.

While the main storyline belongs to Bronte, Freya's touched me the most. She's vulnerable but determined to do whatever is necessary to keep her family together. My heart ached for her, just hoping things worked out for her.

What I like about Cate is that she totally throws herself at things when she thinks something is wrong, whether it's her business or not. Here she runs into some opposition but she doesn't let it stop her. I love that.

The storylines all weave together as we move through the book and I didn't see the twist(s) that came in the reveal towards the end, so that was great. Mother Missing is the fifth Cate Austin book by Ruth Dugdall I've read and I really feel quite invested in her life. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next installment.


The Author

Ruth studied English at university and then took an MA is Social Work. Following this she worked in the Criminal Justice System as a social worker then as a probation officer. Part of this time was spent seconded to a prison housing serious offenders. She continues to work within the Criminal Justice System, most recently in Luxembourg.

Ruth's novels are informed by her experience and are "authentic and credible".

Ruth's first novel, The James Version, is a historical fiction based on the actual murder of Maria Marten at the Red Barn in Suffolk. The story is re-told with a fresh light on who really killed Maria.

Her second novel, The Woman Before Me, won the Debut Dagger when it was originally published in 2005. It is the first in a series featuring probation officer Cate Austin.

"Probation officers have more face-to-face contact with criminals than any other profession," says Ruth, "they are the unsung heroes of the Criminal Justice System."

Fall from Grace by Leye Adenle

After this review I will be taking a break for a couple of weeks, although some scheduled posts will go up. I'm sorry I have been so ridiculously slow sharing my Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize longlist reviews, I'm afraid life has been lifeing hard but I did share one just at the weekend there which you might have missed, The Diary of Lies. The Bloody Scotland festival is this weekend but it is still my intention to share the rest of the longlist reviews at some point as they're all great books. 

 Anyway, back to today. I'm delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Fall from Grace, the first in a new series featuring Bobby Fatokun, by Leye Adenle. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my paperback review copy.

The Blurb

The first novel in a sharp, timely and darkly funny new private investigator series from a vivid and unforgettable voice in the genre.

Bobby Fatokun is no stranger to conspiracies. A former police officer turned ‘Bad Coach’, he now reforms corrupt officers within the Met. But when a client requests an urgent meet and then turns up dead, Bobby suspects there's more to the story than an accidental death.

Bobby's investigation leads him to a church where the victim had been working undercover, but he isn't the only one asking questions …
The church's wealthy pastor has a powerful enemy at the heart of the British Establishment - one who will stop at nothing to neutralise a threat. As the pieces of their dangerous gambit fall into place, Bobby will have to tread lightly, or his search for the truth will turn deadly.

My Review

Prior to reading this novel, my first by Leye Adenle, I read Cell One, a novella by the same author, also featuring Bobby Fatokun, which was published earlier in the year as part of the Reading Agency's Short Reads initiative designed to encourage reluctant readers and those returning to reading. In that, Bobby is a young man, in his very early days with the Nigerian police force. Now, in Fall from Grace, he's back in London, has left the police and now has his own business helping unscrupulous cops within the Metropolitan Police Force - the ones who've been caught, anyway - see the errors of their ways through coaching, not too dissimilar to counselling.

After a former client turns up dead after arranging to meet with Bobby, he sets out to investigate. The death appears to be a suicide but that doesn't sit right with Bobby. But all he really knew about the man was that prior to coming to see Bobby, Roger had been working undercover at a church in London. Meanwhile, we meet Francis, a sprightly 72 year old ex spy, now working as the king's private secretary - as one observer wryly points out, basically his PA - who is contacted by a charismatic pastor, who is also a qualified lawyer, who has somewhat of a delicate matter to discuss with Francis...

The novel moves at speed, with plenty going on. Poor old Bobby sees the end of much of it. But there are brief quieter moments, more emotional ones. Bobby is a really interesting character. Passionate about his job and careful to protect his clients, he tends to hyperfixate on things - during this investigation he barely seems to sleep, for example. And whilst this hyperfocus is useful in his work as a coach studying people's behaviours, it's less useful day-to-day as it can make him paranoid, spinning elaborate stories and scenarios that may or may not be true, or may or may not come to pass. Which makes him a slightly unreliable narrator, and that's always good fun as a reader.

The characters are all colourful and well written. The pastor is a stand out and I also liked Naomi Long-Fuller, a journalist who approaches Bobby looking for a story. The storyline is great and we follow it from Bobby's point of view but we also see what Francis is up to, and it's not just acting as the king's secretary. The denouement is great and I hadn't seen it coming. Fall from Grace is a cracking thriller that I really enjoyed. 

The Author

Leye Adenle is a Nigerian-born crime thriller author, known for his gripping and suspenseful stories that explore the darker side of human nature. His debut novel, Easy Motion Tourist, won the prestigious Prix Marianne in France in 2016.

Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize Longlist - The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller

Bloody Scotland starts in less than a week and I'm only on to the third of my reviews of the McIlvanney Prize longlist books. I'm sorry this is such a slow slog - sometimes reviewing comes easy, sometimes not! Not because of the books, not at all, just being in the wrong headspace. And for various reasons I'm in that place now. But the important thing is reading (and crocheting) is keeping me going! I think these reviews will still be going up after the festival, sorry. Right, enough rambling, welcome to my review of  The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller which, since I started this review (told you it was bad) has been shortlisted for the prize, alongside four others (read about it here). 

 

The Blurb

Shona Sandison might be about to get her biggest scoop yet – if she can make it to the end of the investigation alive.

In a darkening, post-COVID world, fearless investigative reporter Shona Sandison is seeking meaning – and her next big story. A secret contact inside the government has promised her something huge, but she has no idea of the danger she is in. Meanwhile, her old friend Hector Stricken has taken on a position in communications for a new state agency, where he stumbles across a sinister, top-secret project codenamed 'Grendel'. And on the Scottish coast, an ageing spy chief, living in seclusion, grieves his murdered son – and contemplates revenge.

Connecting them all is an insidious conspiracy within the UK's most powerful institutions, a rot so deep that the only way to cure it may be to cut it out – or burn the whole thing down.

My Review

This, I think, is the third book in a series but the first I've read. The fact that I hadn't read the previous entries did not hinder me any as all the information I needed was there with brief references to incidents that had gone before I met Shona. 

Shona Sandison is fresh from winning a journalism award when her interest is piqued about another possible story. I learned very quickly that Shona is a woman who'll let pretty much nothing stop her in the search for the truth and another story. 

'Grendel' is clearly something that somebody seriously wants to stay hidden but that only seems to push Shona on further. The story is action packed as Shona attempts to find out what 'Grendel' actually is and why it needs to be kept secret. She finds herself in jeopardy on several occasions, as do other people whom she comes into contact with. 

I loved Shona. She's feisty, experienced and determined. And flawed. I genuinely feared for her at points in this book! She feels very real, a standout character. We also meet the mysterious Mr Wolf. We learn a lot about him through his journal, but it's a while before we find out where he fits in, and I couldn't work it out until it waIs revealed. 

The Diary of Lies is a neat, well written crime thriller. The tension builds throughout the book and there is no shortage of action and peril along the way. The denouement is definitely satisfying, and it was a great introduction to Shona. And I absolutely loved Inspector Benedict Reculver! I need to find out more about his back story. 

The Author

Philip was a journalist for twenty years, as Arts Correspondent for The Scotsman, The Sunday Times in Scotland, and The Herald, twice being named Arts Writer of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards.

Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize 2026 Shortlist

BLOODY SCOTLAND REVEALS THE FINALISTS FOR THE McILVANNEY PRIZE 2026
sponsored by the Glencairn Glass
Winner to be presented at 5pm on Friday 18 September 2026

This year the McIlvanney Prize is being judged by well-known broadcasters, Nicola Meighan and Sally Magnusson and crime reviewer, Gordon McGhie. Today they reveal the books they have selected as finalists and why:



Tariq Ashkanani - The Hollow Boys (Viper)

‘A powerful evocation of small town America and a deftly handled plot with an impossibly chilling mystery at its heart.’

Gavin Bell - 138 Main Street (S&S)

‘A genuinely unputdownable serial killer novel. We loved the originality and the sheer scale (both geographical and imaginative) of this thriller.’

Frances Crawford - A Bad, Bad Place (Transworld)

‘A bold, vital and original voice in Scottish crime writing. Full of wit and humanity, the characters stay with you long after you put the novel down.’

Philip Miller - The Diary of Lies (Polygon)

‘Absolutely beautiful prose evoking the Fife Coast and Edinburgh under snow. A truly exquisite sense of pace and a strong female lead character.’

Zoë Rankin - The Vanishing Place (Viper)

‘A gripping story about a forgotten family, alone and vulnerable in the New Zealand wilderness. We loved the strong characterisation in this compelling debut.’

Tariq Ashkanani was the winner of the McIlvanney Prize 2025 and also won the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize in 2022. He is one of the most established names on the list, which includes two debut authors – Frances Crawford and Zoë Rankin – who are also shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, the latest book by Gavin Bell (who has previously written as Mason Cross and Alex Knight) and Philip Miller who appears on the McIlvanney shortlist for the first time.

It’s also a triumph for indie publishers with Viper (Profile) appearing twice and Polygon (Birlinn) ensuring that indies dominate the list of finalists.

Kirsty Nicholson, Head of Marketing at awards sponsor Glencairn Crystal, said:
“We’re thrilled to once again be part of the McIlvanney Prize and to celebrate the incredible talent at the heart of Scotland’s crime-writing community. This year’s finalists have delivered stories that intrigue, thrill and captivate, showcasing the imagination and originality that make this crime fiction prize so special. We’ll be raising a Glencairn Glass to every finalist as we look forward to discovering who takes home this year’s prize. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and the best of luck!”

The presentation of both prizes will take place in the Church of the Holy Rude at 5pm on Friday 18 September before a grand procession led by the two winners and guest programmer Denise Mina to her event with Lee Child at The Albert Halls.

Surface by Olivier Norek (translated by Nick Caistor)

Today I'm helping close the blog tour for Surface, written by Olivier Norek and translated from the French by Nick Caistor. It's a great book which I read in two days. Huge thanks to Zoe O'Farrell at Zooloo's Book Tours for inviting me to take part and to the publisher for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

Police capitaine Noémie Chastain has everything: a coveted position in Paris, a devoted team and a loving partner.

On a dawn raid in a grimy Parisian banlieue, in an instant, she loses it all. Shot by the drug dealer she was about to arrest, she is left with serious scars on her face and deeper, longer-lasting damage to her psyche.

Pushed out of her job in Paris by superiors concerned that her disfigurement would damage team morale, abandoned by her boyfriend, she is posted to a police department that serves six sparsely populated communes in the back of beyond, in the southern département of Aveyron. Her brief: to report back on the police department and give head office an excuse to close it altogether.

But when the body of a child floats to the surface of the man-made lake that hides the buried past of the village of Avalone, Capitaine Chastain is forced to take the opportunity to prove her worth and win back her job in Paris. To solve the case, she must lead a team more used to tracking down stolen combine harvesters – handsome Lieutenant Valant, the mayor’s son; ex-Drug Squad Brigadier Bousquet; and green local boy “Bambi” – through the twists and turns of what has become a murder investigation and uncover the dark secrets that have haunted the village for twenty years.

 

My Review

Last year I read The Winter Warriors by this author, and enjoyed it. That was historical fiction based on a true event. Surface is a very different book, set now, and I enjoyed it very much. 

As it mentions in the blurb, Noémie Chastain, a respected capitaine in the Paris Drug Squad, suffers a terrible injury to a large part of her face, which leaves terrible scars. People either stare at her or can't bear to look at her. And she loses part of who she is following the incident, feels lost and isolated, as her supervisor does his best to push her out of the way. To help her deal with the psychological effects of her injury she works with hospital psychiatrist Melchior, intially in person, later online. He looks at her normally, isn't repulsed, treats her just as he would any other patient. He's kind and gentle when he needs to be, straight talking at other times. I thought he was great. The same can not be said about Adriel. I was so disappointed in him and his behaviour, which I'm sure is the reaction the author wanted. 

Noémie is sent to the Aveyron region, which is in the countryside and nothing at all like Paris. And generally very quiet with regards to crime. She arrives angry and is initially abrasive to her new colleagues. But she is accepted, and her team treat her with respect. She doesn't want to be there, though, until a body is found, then she is in her element, feels more at ease because she knows what to do.

I loved Noémie. She is so strong and determined, not willing to let her injury and its effects define her. It was really interesting to watch her recovery, to a degree, and to see the changes in her as she begins to find herself again. The investigation itself is large and complex, going back twenty five years and opening some painful wounds. There is tension, and peril more than once for Noémie before the conclusion. And there is a sting in the tail too. 

I loved Surface. It felt fresh, and has a superb, damaged, gutsy heroine. It's well written (and well translated, thanks to Nick Caistor), populated with believable characters (Marguerite Saulnier was a stand out for me) and a cracking crime story. Just one thing - who do I complain to about the Hugo situation? Didn't turn our the way I wanted at all! 😂 Highly recommend this one. 

The Author

Olivier Norek spent 18 years in the French police force, where he rose to the rank of capitaine. Since he began to write crime fiction, his books have sold millions of copies and won many prizes. The Winter Warriors was his first historical novel and sold over 400,000 in France. Surface is his next book translated into English and has already won multiple awards in France and has been adapted into a hit TV series.

Bloody Scotland 2026 Influencers Tour

Bloody Scotland starts a fortnight today and I'm really delighted to be on the Influencers Tour again this year - many thanks to Fiona Brownlee, Tim Donald, Bob McDevitt and Dawn Geddes. Trouble is, I've been asked to pick just two events that I'm looking forward to this year - but there are so many fantastic interviews and panels taking place it's hard to pick!

So I've gone with the two events I am looking forward to the most. Unfortunately, I can only pick one of them to attend as they are on at exactly the same time! But they are both going to be fantastic and are both worth checking out. And the first one is also available as part of the digital pass.


Denise Mina presents SA Cosby
Saturday 19th September, 11:30am, The Albert Halls

What the brochure says:

We are delighted to welcome one of the most dynamic voices in crime fiction on his first visit to Stirling. Over the course of five exceptional novels, SA Cosby has firmly established himself as the genre’s rising star. With the breathtaking Blacktop Wasteland, and the unforgettable Razorblade Tears Shawn has racked up awards and acclaim in equal measure and achieved global success.

Shawn’s homeland is the American south which he again depicts brilliantly in his latest novel, the exhilarating King of Ashes. It is a gritty tale of family and secrets and is a powerful reminder that nothing lasts forever.

Shawn will be interviewed by Denise Mina.

What I can add:

I haven't yet read King of Ashes but I recently re-read Blacktop Wasteland and have just finished Razor Blade Tears, both to be reviewed here in due course. They were beautifully characterised novels both featuring ordinary guys who have left behind the 'life' but find themselves in (different) out of the ordinary circumstances and who make fateful decisions that will change their lives forever. Full of tension and jeopardy, each is heartbreaking in its own way. So I'm really looking forward to reading the other novels and hearing what Shawn has to say about his writing and beyond.

You can book tickets for this event here.

Across the Pond: Gavin Bell, Edel Coffey, Tariq Ashkanani
Saturday 19th September, 11:30am, Made in Stirling

What the brochure says:

We travel west with three outstanding writers whose books are set in what we used to call the good ol’ US of A.

A killer has committed four murders in four weeks in four American cities, all of living at 138 Main Street in Gavin Bell’s ingenious thriller. Corruption, murder and dangerous secrets amid Manhattan’s elite are rampant in the scintillating In Glass Houses by Edel Coffey. Tariq Ashkanani’s atmospheric The Hollow Boys is a dark slice of classic American gothic as a nine-year-old boy comes back from the dead.

This event will be chaired by Susie Green.

What I can add:

I love Gavin Bell's writing - he has previously written under the names Mason Cross and Alex Knight - and recently reviewed 138 Main Street here. I found it to be a complex, well thought out and beautifully written novel that fully satisfies. I haven't read any Edel Coffey yet but In Gllass Houses sounds great. Last but not least, I have read a couple of Tariq Ashkanani's books including The Hollow Boys - review to follow. I can tell you the man has a dark mind! The Hollow Boys starts dark and only gets darker! Brilliantly written, though.

This is sure to be another interesting discussion well worth checking out.

You can book tickets for this event here:

You can check out all the events, book tickets or purchase a digital pass at https://bloodyscotland.com/.