Description

A pulsatingly tense psychological thriller and a breathtakingly brutal, beautiful and deeply moving story of a good kid in the wrong family, from one of Scotlands finest crime writers.SHORTLISTED for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year***BOOK OF THE YEAR in SCOTSMAN*** Its a lovely, sad tale, beautifully told and full of understandingThe Times Breakersis the most powerful and moving book from Johnstone yet a calling card that no-one can ignoreScotsman A cracking story, great characters its also about something and really addresses the whys of crimeMark Billingham This may be Doug Johnstones best book yet. An unsparing yet sympathetic depiction of Edinburghs ignored underclass, with terrific characterisation. Tense, pacey, filmicIan Rankin________________________________There are two sides to every family Seventeen-year-old Tyler lives in one of Edinburghs most deprived areas. Coerced into robbing rich peoples homes by his bullying older siblings, hes also trying to care for his little sister and his drug-addict mum. On a job, his brother Barry stabs a homeowner and leaves her for dead, but thats just the beginning of their nightmare, because the woman is the wife of Edinburghs biggest crime lord, Deke Holt. With the police and the Holts closing in, and his shattered family in devastating danger, Tyler meets posh girl Flick in another strangers house, and he thinks she may just be his salvation unless he drags her down too._________________ Its as psychologically rich as it is harrowing. Ive come to expect nothing less from Doug Johnstone, one of the genres premiere writersMegan Abbott Breakersagain shows that Doug Johnstone is a noir heavyweight and a master of gritty realism. This may be his finest novel yetWilly Vlautin Doug Johnstone is for me the perfect free-range writer, respectful of conventions but never bound by them, never hemmed-in. Each book is a different world, each book something new in this worldJames Sallis Bloody brilliant. Gut punch after gut punch after gut punch and you cant put it down. But its the final, huge punch to the heart that blows you away This is premier league crime writingMartyn Waites A tough, gritty and effective ride into the dark side of EdinburghDouglas Skelton Pacy, harrowing and occasionally brutal, its a stunning thriller about poisonous families and one decent kids desperate attempt to do the right thing. Had me in tears at the end Paddy Magrane Loved this one it may be Doug Johnstones best, in fact unusual perspective on Scottish crime that just knocks it out the park Russel McLean The tale is both horrifying and uplifting, and one of those books I looked forward to picking up each time I had a moment to read I hope it does as well as it deserves toJames Oswald Oh. My. God. This was sooo good. Read it in two days. Gripping, dark, fast, but still somehow full of heartLouise Beech A brooding, intensely dark thriller with a defiant beating heart. Evocative, heartbreaking and hopeful the power of the human spirit to shine in the most desperate place STUNNINGMiranda Dickinson