Doug Johnstone
About the book:
Driving home from a party with his girlfriend and brother, all of them drunk and high on stolen pills, Billy Blackmore accidentally hits someone in the night. In a panic, they all decide to drive off.
But the next day Billy wakes to find he has to cover the story for the local paper. It turns out the dead man was Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord and, as Billy struggles with what he’s done, he is sucked into a nightmare of guilt, retribution and violence.
My thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark and compelling book. I could vividly picture the setting of the accident, a road I know well, which made me feel as though I was right there, standing in the darkness on the empty road as the characters wrestled with their immediate decisions after the crash. I felt a deep empathy for Billy, the driver, who was intoxicated and seemed uncertain about the choices being made, as though he was being led by those he trusted.
My sympathy for him grew throughout the story. The author’s narrative takes readers on a journey that profoundly alters everyone’s lives, exposing the darker side of Edinburgh. The plot explores the fallout from a single, panic-driven decision, unraveling its consequences over the hours, days, and weeks that follow. The author skillfully captures the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go, making this book, with its gruesome and brutal descriptions, a standout example of Scottish Noir.
and more…
The Author, Doug Johnstone can be found online at DougJohnstone.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Threads
This book was published by Faber & Faber and can be found online at Faber.co.uk and on Facebook and Instagram
I read the Faber & Faber Paperback edition (published May 2012) which was 272 pages. The above review relates to that edition.
Doug Johnstone is a talented Scottish Writer who has the ability to grip the reader right into the book
I have really enjoyed Doug Johnstone’s books and have most of his books here with a few still sitting on the shelves unread.
All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts thereof, may also be published on my social medial channels – find me everywhere as momobookdiary – and book websites, such as Amazon, Goodreads, LoveReading, StoryGraph, and Waterstones. All links are correct at the time of publication.
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