MoMoBookDiary

Secrets, Death and Malt Whisky

Alan Gillespie

About the book:

Cullrothes, in the Scottish Highlands, where Innes hides a terrible secret from his girlfriend Alice, a gorgeous, cheating, lying schoolteacher. In the same village, Donald is the aggressive distillery owner, who floods the country with narcotics alongside his single malt; when his son goes missing, he becomes haunted by an anonymous American investor intent on purchasing the Cullrothes Distillery by any means necessary. Schoolgirl Jessie is trying to get the grades to escape to the mainland, while Grandpa counts the days left in his life.

This is a place where mountains are immense and the loch freezes in winter. A place with only one road in and out. With long storms and furious midges and a terrible phone signal. The police are compromised, the journalists are scum, and the innocent folk of Cullrothes tangle themselves in a fermenting barrel of suspicion, malice and lies.

The Mash House uses multiple narratives to weave together the parallel lives of individuals in the village. Each fractured by the fears and uncertainty in their own minds.

My thoughts:

*I listened to the audiobook edition*

The narration of The Mash House is outstanding—easy on the ear and perfectly matched to the story’s dark, atmospheric tone. The narrator’s accent adds a layer of authenticity that draws you deeper into the world Alan Gillespie has created.

This is a brilliantly written, chilling story with complex characters you’ll either love or love to hate. Gillespie skillfully leaves each character shrouded in mystery, and their motivations gradually unfold, leaving you wondering who can be trusted. It’s a clever way of reflecting real life, where we never fully know everything about those around us.

Set in the remote, isolated village of Cullrothes, the vivid descriptions of the lochs, mountains, and treacherous roads create a strong sense of foreboding. The atmosphere is eerie and the tension builds, with a local gangster, a dangerous teacher, and unpredictable weather keeping the suspense alive. The characters are fascinating, especially Alice, whose erratic behavior had me on edge throughout. Jessie and her grandfather, with their warm, endearing relationship, are a refreshing contrast to the chaos around them. Their bond brought a much-needed emotional depth to the story.

Drugs and crime lurk beneath the surface of this seemingly quaint village, giving the book an unsettling undercurrent. The story is unpredictable, with twists that catch you off guard. While some of the character arcs feel unfinished and the ending leaves a lot hanging, the ambiguity fits the overall tone of the novel.

If you enjoy sinister, suspenseful reads with well-crafted characters and unexpected turns, The Mash House is definitely worth a read!

and more…

The Author, Alan Gillespie can be found on Instagram and Threads

The Narrator of the audiobook is Angus King.

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.

Tags: #AlanGillespie #TheMashHouse #Debut #CrimeFiction #Thriller #Fiction #Paperback #Audiobook #AngusKing (narrator)