What We Were Hiding by Jonas Saul

We're back into the world of crime today with my stop on the blog tour for What We Were Hiding by Jonas Saul. As you can see below, Jonas has written many books but this is the first of his I have read. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me and to the publisher for my paperback review copy. 

The Blurb

Ben Redfield built a life he refuses to lose—his business, his marriage, his name. 

So when a rival begins quietly dismantling everything he’s built, Ben doesn’t call the police. He doesn’t call a lawyer. 

He calls his estranged brother—with one instruction: make the problem go away. Clean. Quiet. Untraceable.

Instead, the wrong people start dying.  

Now Ben is exposed. The police are closing in. And someone is always watching.

He wanted one man gone. Now he’s the one being hunted.

Because once you step into a world built on silence, you don’t get to choose who pays the price.

My Review

Ben and his wife Eliza own The Stillwater House, a successful hotel in Savannah. Marcus Vale owns the Nocturne Savannah Hotel. The problem is that Marcus wants The Stillwater House for himself and Ben and Eliza are unwilling to sell it. And that's where the trouble starts. Ben is attacked, there is a fire in part of the hotel. Ben just wants it all to stop, so takes drastic action, which begins a whole new chain of events, far more serious...

The book is told from several points of view. Mainly Ben's and Eliza's but there are also some chapters from Marcus's point of view, and some from Ben's brother, Jason. Everyone has secrets. From each other, and some from the reader, to be discovered along the way. I found I didn't fully engage with the characters but the fast moving story kept me invested. There's a feeling of threat throughout all the  action, and I couldn't figure out how things would end, which was great. 

What We Were Hiding is a quick read, with a story full of action and peril that will keep you hooked. It's a great holiday read to pop in your suitcase. 

The Author

Jonas Saul is the bestselling author of the Sarah Roberts Series - more than two million sold - and has written and published over sixty thrillers. After acquiring an agent, he signed several deals in Los Angeles, with MadRiver Pictures optioning (currently in development) his Sarah Roberts Series -over forty books!

Jonas is regularly invited to be a guest speaker, teacher, or workshop presenter at international writing conferences and film festivals worldwide. He hosts an annual writer’s retreat in Greece, where he currently lives. He focuses his teaching on how to build tension and emotion in every scene and on every page, how he made it as a creator/writer, the path to success in this business, and the pitfalls to avoid. He also hosts a reading retreat in Greece, as well as yoga and hiking retreats with guest authors.

Author Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/jonassaul/

https://www.instagram.com/jonassaul/

The Cutting by Michael J Malone

I have loved all the previous instalments in the eerie, atmospheric Annie Jackson Mysteries by Michael J Malone (search under his name for my previous reviews) so was really looking forward to The Cutting. Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

The most dangerous voices are the ones no one else can hear…

Evie Cartwright first speaks to the dead as a child. When she leaves home for university, her gift takes a terrifying turn after she witnesses a brutal murder. By morning, she is haunted by a dead serial killer who refuses to leave her alone, and marked by a cut across her neck that never heals.

For the next ten years, Evie is driven from place to place, searching for a way to rid herself of the voice that torments her day and night. When desperation leaves her with nowhere else to turn, she arrives at the remote Highland home of Annie Jackson, hoping she will finally find answers.

As Annie and her brother Lewis begin to investigate, helped by an old friend with specialist knowledge of the occult, they are drawn into a dark and dangerous search that reaches deep into Scotland’s history. And some ghosts are not content to remain in the shadows…

My Review

Well, this was a creepy one! On her first night in a new city, before her university course has even begun, she witnessed a brutal attack, and sees something lurking in the shadows. That same something takes hold of her and refuses to let her go. Using her ability to speak to the dead,  she earns money across the world as a medium, constantly searching for people who might be able to help with her unique situation, before coming back to Scotland. She ends up near Annie's home and after overhearing people talking about Annie and doing her own research, Evie is convinced Annie is the right person to help her. 

Told from three different viewpoints, that of Evie, Annie and Annie's brother Lewis, and we also have flashbacks to a series of events towards the end of the 1700s. Annie knows she can't help Evie directly herself but the two women seek advice and help from Ina Hetherington, who has appeared in the series before. I love Ina. She's warm, welcoming and wise, and nothing much gets past her. She also has a huge knowledge, and a huge library, of the occult. And it's hard not to feel for Evie, having spent so long living with her own personal torment, not able to find peace, although she does make some dubious decisions. Meanwhile, alongside his work, Lewis is continuing his own investigation following events in The Howling, before everything dovetails together.

I love Annie. On one hand, she just wants to be left alone to live in peace, just a few shifts in the local cafe, but otherwise safe in her wee house. But she's also compassionate, and finds it hard to turn away those people who seek her out, looking for help. Like Evie. But,  goodness me, it leads her, and Lewis, into some difficult situations! And at the heart of the mystery there are often legends, voices and ghosts, and the atmosphere is tense, often eerie. As in previous books, the rugged Scottish countryside, plays such an important role it's a character in itself, and adds to the overall feeling of the book. 

The Cutting is another beautifully written entry in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, telling of an awful crime centuries ago and its reverberations in the modern day. But also a very current mystery with a violent denouement makes up a huge part of the story. I don't know how Annie has the strength to carry on after all that she's been through, Lewis too, but I am very glad they keep at it because we get excellent books like this one. 

The Author

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines
throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. His dark psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number one bestseller, and is currently in production for the screen, and five powerful standalone thrillers followed suit. The Murmurs, The Torments and The Howling, the first three books in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, were published to critical acclaim. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber), he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr, where he also works as a hypnotherapist.

Girls Girls Girls: One Woman's Experience as a Sex Worker in the 1990s by Shelley Stoehr

Extending my little break from crime fiction, I had the opportunity to read my first memoir in a long while. This one stood out for me because it gives an insider view of an industry that attracts much negativity. Big thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me on the tour and to the author for my review copy. 

The Blurb

In the recession-scarred landscape of 1990s New York City, a young writer and dancer faces a brutal economic reality: no one will hire her, not even to bus tables. When she impulsively takes a job as a topless dancer, Stoehr begins a nine-year journey through the misunderstood world of sex work, a journey that runs parallel to her struggles for artistic recognition and personal autonomy.

From the neon-lit stages of New York City to the debauched clubs of San Francisco, Stoehr chronicles the dualities of creating art while being objectified and of finding camaraderie among fellow dancers while enduring an increasingly abusive marriage. With unflinching honesty, she dismantles the stereotypes and stigma surrounding sex workers, revealing the humanity, resilience, and sisterhood that flourishes behind the curtain of societal judgment.

My Review

This memoir covers a period of about ten years, I think, when the author was a young woman, a trained dancer and already a published author, working on her second book when this one begins. She and her boyfriend, Frank, a photographer, are trying to establish a life together, but soon discover that pursuing their artistic dreams does not make it easy to pay bills. Even with Frank taking a day job and Shelley doing some dance teaching, there is still not enough. So Shelley begins to explore other options. 

Whilst topless dancing might not have been the author's ideal job, she settles into it. She becomes comfortable with exposing her skin and the job at least means she gets to dance, albeit in a different way from how she is used to, and she can earn more money doing that for a few shifts than she does teaching. Whilst Shelley is comfortable with it quite quickly, the same cannot be said for Frank. He already belittles Shelley, and this becomes worse, but, as for so many women, Shelley believes it to be her fault, that it's what she deserves. 

Over time, Shelley moves on to full strip dances, and some private and lap dances. She forms friendships with the other girls at all the clubs she works at, many of them close ones. That's one of the biggest things that stood out for me - the camaraderie and support amongst the dancers (in the main), and oftentimes, the fun they had. They weren't ashamed of what they did to make money, they owned it, but only to a degree, as many of them, the author, included, hid what they did from their families and other people in their regular lives. Another thing that stood out to me was it was the emotional cost of the work that was more wearing than the physical one, although that was heavy too. But listening to men unburden themselves, and performing an emotional role for them took its toll. And for Shelley it was coupled with a worsening situation at home with Frank, now her husband, leading to alcohol abuse, obsession and panic attacks. 

Girls Girls Girls: One Woman's Experience as a Sex Worker in the 1990s is exactly that - one woman's lived experience. And not all women in the sex industry then or now will have been through the same things. What struck me about Shelley's story was, as previously mentioned, the friendships and camaraderie between the dancers, but also that for Shelley herself, the clubs essentially became her safe spaces, away from the troubles of home. And she was a real grafter. The stripping was only ever a means to an end, to enable her to do what she really wanted to do, and she never have up. Her strength and perseverance are to be admired. 

The Author 

Shelley Stoehr is a prize-winning author, with awards from the De Groot Foundation, ALA, New York Public Library, North American Review, and more. She is the author of Crosses (1991)—the first YA novel about self-injury, published in five languages by Bantam Doubleday Dell (now Penguin Random House). Her website is www.shelleystoehrauthor.com where you can find a free reader’s guide and discussion questions for this book.

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/.

Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize Longlist - A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford

after a tough of illness last week, I'm finally back reviewing the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize Longlist books. And today it's A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford. This is one of several debut novels on the list, and is also shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. And it recently won the Val McDermid Crime Debut Award. 

The Blurb

What happened to the dog walker who found the body?

Glasgow, 1979.

Twelve-year-old Janey won’t take her dog, Sid Vicious, for a walk. Not anymore. It’s Sid’s fault she found the murdered woman.

Janey claims she can’t remember what she saw at the abandoned railway, but the police think she’s hiding something. And they’re not the only ones interested.

Fear and rumour rip through the tight-knit community of Possilpark. Janey and her nana, Maggie, are dragged into the hunt for a murderer. And Maggie’s struggle to keep her beloved granddaughter safe becomes ever more desperate.

Because Janey’s memories can’t stay hidden forever.

And neither can the killer…

My Review

This book opens five days after the murder in 1979. We get two points of view - 12 year old Janey and her nana, Maggie, with whom Janey lives. There are lots of books featuring children but it's not that often we see thing from their point of view (see my review of Where are the Kings for another recent example of this). And older people, especially women, don't often feature centre stage.

A Bad, Bad Place looks at how the discovery of a murder victim might affect the person who found the body. In this case, it's 12 year old Janey who finds the body of a young woman whilst walking the dog, the excellently named Sid Vicious. Janey doesn't know how to process this discovery, what to do, how to move past it and thinks it's her job to find the truth. It's also clear from the start that she hasn't told the police everything.

Meanwhile, Maggie is worried sick about Janey who is less and less herself in the days and weeks following the murder. On top of that she has general worries about money, and putting money on the table - they are not wealthy people and they live in a rougher part of Glasgow. Many of the other characters in the book are slightly dodgy - at the minimum, living by their wits, some a lot worse. But most of them have their own moral code - Maggie gets help from an unexpected place and Janey is generally treated kindly. I loved the descriptions of Gibby.

The novel is written in the Glasgow vernacular. I am English but have lived in Glasgow for thirty years so some of these words are ones I know use. I think everyone, though, will be able to understand unfamiliar words just by looking at the phrases around them. Also, I read from a proof copy but I believe the book comes with a glossary of terms. The use of the vernacular is perfect for this book and for Janey and Maggie - it really helps build the characterisation and scene setting - it helps it feel real.

A Bad, Bad Place is an excellent study of a neglected area. of crime fiction - what happens afterwards to those affected. The characterisation and scene setting is brilliant - I loved both Janey and Maggie. It was a glimpse at Glasgow in the late 70s. The story is perfect - sad, angry, confusing, scary. And it's great to have it told through the eyes of the 12 year old at the centre of it all. A very assured debut.


The Author

As a passionate advocate of lifelong learning, Frances was delighted to graduate in 2022, age 60, with MLitt (Distinction) Creative Writing from Glasgow University. In 2026, her novel A BAD BAD PLACE won the McDermid Debut Award for fiction.

Frances grew up in North Glasgow and credits the good people of Possilpark and Milton as her writing inspiration. She still lives in Glasgow with her family and likes libraries and punk rock.

Ghost Notes by Doug Johnstone

It's been a couple of years since the last book in the Skelf series from Doug Johnstone. He hasn't been resting on his laurels as The Transcendent Tide was published last year and this year has seen a couple of his early novels released to mark twenty years in publishing. But I am absolutely delighted to see the return of Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah in Ghost Notes, the seventh novel in the hugely popular series about the Skelf women. My thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me on the tour and to the publisher for my review copy. 

 

The Blurb

The highly anticipated seventh novel in the unforgettable, critically acclaimed Skelfs series,featuring three generations of women in the Skelf family: funeral directors and part-time investigators.

The Skelf women have been keeping their heads down, running the family’s funeral directors and private-investigation businesses. But when a woman collapses at her husband’s funeral and is saved by Dorothy, she finds herself drawn into the murky world of ‘grief tech’ – a booming new industry that creates digital avatars of the dead.

Jenny’s latest case – a simple blackmail job for an old school friend – quickly spirals into chaos as the woman’s tangled love life pulls Jenny towards dangerous old habits.

Meanwhile, Hannah and her wife, Indy, are confronted by the unexpected arrival of Indy’s ex-boyfriend, claiming to be dying and eager for the Skelfs to arrange his funeral. But his arrival uncovers more ghosts from the past, and threatens to upend everything they’ve built.

As their cases collide and their personal lives spiral, the Skelfs face danger from all sides.

My Review

Oh, I've missed these women! Coming back to their lives feels a bit like coming home. And I wonder if that isn't, at least in part, down to the atmosphere in Dorothy's kitchen - the warmth she creates just by being her, for both her family and employees, but others as well.

Dorothy saves the life of a woman who collapses at a funeral that Dorothy has organised. The ceremony is for the woman's husband, and the family have already experienced heartbreak and grief. Looking into the man's death, Dorothy uncovers some deeply unpleasant things in a murkier corner of death industry. Jenny's blackmail case for an old school acquaintance takes her to some dark places but also brings about a realisation about herself and Indy's ex-boyfriend makes Hannah question everything she thought she knew about her wife and their relationship.

What I love is that each woman has a puzzle to solve, whilst keeping themselves safe, strong and together. They are each other's support network and need each other more than any of them would probably care to admit. The characterisation, as always, is brilliant. Dorothy warmth and care, Jenny's rougher edges and Hannah's lovely nerdiness. But what helps make them feel complete are the characters around them, particularly Indy, Archie, whom I adore and Brodie. Indy has a more central part to play in this novel when Yannis turns up for the team to plan his funeral, we learn much more about her back story and it's great to have that information. But it's hard to see Hannah when she doesn't know what or who to believe. Jenny realises much about herself in this book which is great to see, but I fear it won't all be smooth sailing ahead. And Dorothy... oh, my heart hurt for her.

The three storylines are very different, some more violent than others and a couple really infused with a lot of sadness. But they all feel real, and that's down to the skill of the author. The world building and scene setting is great and the characterisation of all involved is wonderful. As always with a Doug Johnstone novel, he touches on issues I knew nothing or very little about, and I love that. And he mentions lots of bands I've never heard of because he's cool and I'm not!

As you may have guessed, I am delighted to see these wonderful, strong, flawed women back. Ghost Notes is well written, full of brilliant characters and interesting storylines. But at the centre of it all is family and love. And I really liked the meaning behind the title but also how it could refer to other things across the book. Roll on book eight!


The Author

Doug Johnstone is the author of twenty novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while Black Hearts was shortlisted – and The Big Chill longlisted – for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year. Three of his books – A Dark Matter, Breakers and The Jump – have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize. Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral home. He’s also been an arts journalist for 25 years. He is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club and lives in Edinburgh with his family.

Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize Longlist - 138 Main Street by Gavin Bell

A while back I promised to try to review all of the books on the McIlvanney Prize longlist this year before the Bloody Scotland festival weekend and then....nothimg! The festival starts in just under four weeks - it's come around so quickly! - so I really need to get back on this, see how far I get.

I'm going to start by resharing my review of the one book on the list that I have reviewed, just before the list was published, actually. You can find my original post (including a short Q&A with the author) here but below is a recap of my thoughts on 138 Main Street by Gavin Bell.

The Blurb

There is a killer on the loose.
And he is targeting one specific address – 138 Main Street.
The problem? There are over 7,000 Main Streets in the USA.
And no clue which one will be next.

For FBI Special Agent Ben Walker and his rookie colleague, Officer Zoe Hill, the pressure to solve the case is unimaginable. There aren’t enough police officers to cover every house, and vigilante residents are attacking anyone who rings their doorbell. Main Street might be one of America’s most popular addresses, but for those living at number 138 it comes down to fight or flight.

Then a manuscript is sent to the New York Times, purporting to be the manifesto of the Main Street Killer and demanding radical social change. The killer demands that Wall Street be shut down for a day. The financial implications will be huge, but unless it happens he will escalate to bombings. Soon it won’t just be whoever lives at 138 Main Street who is at risk, but entire residential blocks.

As the effect of the terror campaign takes hold across the nation, Ben and Zoe find themselves in a race against time to stop the killer. But with their target always several steps ahead, and almost 3,800,000 square miles of ground to cover, they'll have to find him first…

My Review

Woohoo! Been so excited for this one - it's been a long time coming! 

The premise is brilliant. Murders are taking place across the US, seemingly unconnected - no links between the victims, different MOs. Until after three or four the realisation hits that all the crimes have taken place at the same address - 138 Main Street. The trouble is, there are an awful lot of those across And and nobody has any idea where will be hit next. 

Zoe Hill is one of the first attending police officers at an early crime scene and impresses FBI guy Ben Walker with her observations. Now all they, and the rest of the team, including analyst Matthew Brodie, have to do is work out who is committing these crimes, where he or she might hit next -  from thousands of potential targets - and how to stop that happening. They have an overwhelming task ahead of them. 

I loved this! As well as following the FBI investigation, we meet some of the people living at various 138 Main Street addresses, and learn a little of their lives and their thoughts around the whole thing. The characters are great and beautifully written. I particularly loved Zoe. Coming from a small town police department to a national FBI case, she's understandably anxious but determined to get the job done.  And Ben seems like a real stand up guy. They make a great team, especially when you add Brodie, with his puppy dog excitement and enthusiasm and sideways way of looking at things, into the mix - very different people, different skills, a formidable team. We see their frustrations as they fail, their thought processes and analysis as they pick themselves back up and carry on. 

138 Main Street is a complex, well thought out and beautifully written novel that fully satisfies - great characterisation across the board, brilliant scene setting, from one horse towns to big cities, plenty of tension and dread, unexpected twists and an explosive conclusion. So glad Gavin is back and has arrived in style! 

Photo by Scarlett Bell

Where are the Kings by Donal Ryan

Something different for me today, a break from crime and thrillers. I thought the blurb for Donal Ryan's Where are the Kings sounded great so was delighted to take part in the blog tour. Big thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the publisher who sent me a gorgeous hardback copy to review. 

The Blurb

Jack is just twelve years old when he rushes down the hill after his mother's car on his bike, desperate to reach her before she reaches the lake.

What happens next cannot be undone. Jack's life changes just at the moment he is entering those dizzying years when he will transition from boy to man; when nothing makes sense at the best of times.

Yet Jack is not alone. Enveloped as he is by his extended family - his ferociously loving Nana; Grandad, given to sudden bursts of rage; his earthy uncles Haulie and Theo who want to show him what it means to be a man, and the irascible JJ who resents him deeply. Then there is beautiful aunt Rose, whose mere presence ignites every atom in his changing body.

But how can a boy with so many questions, in a family with so many secrets, understand the person he is becoming? Without his mother to ground him on the earth, will he spin off into the stars?

The stunning, emotional story of a young boy coming of age just as his life is thrown into new waters. Beautifully poignant, deeply lyrical and layered, this is a novel that resonates beyond the page.

My Review

This is my first Donal Ryan novel although he has published several previous books and been longlisted and shortlisted for many awards and won several prizes. I wasn't sure what to expect and his is a writing style I'm not used to. He doesn't use speech marks which I thought I would struggle with a little but I found as I got absorbed in the story I  forgot they weren't there. 

Jack is twelve when he loses his mother, and her death puts his already emotionally unstable father into a mental hospital. Jack is taken to live with his mum's family who, although they live nearby, he has not spent much time with. His fiercely catholic Nana and Grandad, their unmarried sons Theo, Haulie and JJ, and their daughter Rose take him in to their home. Jack doesn't really know what to expect from them or why they expect of him. He knows he is loved deeply and is completely accepted into the bosom of the family. But he worries. He misses his mum so much but doesn't understand why he's not crying, why he's not grieving. And all the while he is growing up - we meet him in the cusp of his teens and follow him for a couple of years. 

I loved the family, all of them, but particularly Theo and Haulie. They are manly men, rough and tough, comfortable in themselves, larger than life, full of banter, but tender when they need to be. Nana sounds lovely, full of warmth, tea and cake on the go. And she's determined that Jack knows how much he is cared for. Jack's relationship with JJ, his uncle, but only a couple of years older than him, gets off to a tricky start but they soon develop a rhythm. His grandad is head of the house but we all know that for most of the time, the real boss is Nana. And then there is his auntie Rose, the family member for who causes Jack the most angst, as she causes feelings he doesn't understand, urges he's pretty sure he shouldn't be having. It's a lot for a young boy to process, especially after the loss of his mum, who was, of course, daughter and sister to these lovely folk. 

We follow Jack through days where not much happens, on day trips, on a holiday, visits from and to his dad,and when his memorable great aunt Gertrude comes to stay. We see his interactions with family, friends, girls and others, and we feel his confusion about it all. And we see the gaping hole his mother has left in his life. Sometimes it's not clear whether something is in Jack's imagination, in a dream or whether it's actually happening, but it doesn't detract, particularly as Jack doesn't always realise himself which is going on. 

The author has a very lyrical way of writing meaning a lot of this read as poetic prose. There are plenty of Irish words used but I was able to follow everything without any bother (special credit to Tom Read Wilson as thanks to his Edinburgh Fringe show I knew the word 'gee'). Where are the Kings is a beautiful coming of age novel about life, death, grief, love and family. And Jack finds his kings. Gorgeous. 

The Author

Donal Ryan, from Nenagh, County Tipperary, has published seven number one bestselling novels and a short story collection.

He has won several awards for his fiction, including the European Union Prize for Literature, the Guardian First Book Award and six Irish Book Awards, and has been shortlisted for several more, including the Costa Book Award and the Dublin International Literary Award. He was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2013 for his debut novel, The Spinning Heart, and again in 2018, for his fourth novel, From A Low and Quiet Sea. The Spinning Heart was voted Irish Book of the Decade in 2016. In 2021 Donal became the first Irish writer to be awarded the Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature.

His most recent novel, Heart Be at Peace, won both Novel of the Year and Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards, and was shortlisted for Novel of the Year at the Nero Book Awards.

His work has been adapted for stage and screen and translated into over twenty languages.

Donal has lectured in Creative Writing at the University of Limerick since 2014 and lives in Castletroy with his wife Anne Marie and their two children.