Doug Johnstone

Just in case you’re interested, here are my favourite novels of 2017. I reviewed almost all of these in The Big Issue magazine, but their website has glitched and lost most of them, which is kind of annoying. Anyway, I loved ’em all. Enjoy!

Don Winslow, The Force (HarperCollins)
A total tour de, ahem, force, this depiction of corruption in the NYPD is astonishing from start to finish.

Sebastian Barry, Days Without End (Faber)
Such a remarkable narrative, joyous and deeply troubling, with real heart, set in the wild west but unlike any Western story you’ve ever read.

Denise Mina, The Long Drop (Harvill Secker)
Just the smartest and most evocative piece of writing, set in 50s Glasgow and based on a true story. Won every prize going, and rightly so.

Michael Farris Smith, Desperation Road (No Exit)
Hardbitten rural American noir written with real empathy for the disenfranchised underclass it depicts. This was the first I’d read from this guy, it won’t be the last.

Lilja Sigurdardottir, Snare (Orenda)
Terrific smuggling thriller set in Iceland from a brilliant writer, new to me. Written with pace and energy and a really dark sense of humour.

 Matt Wesolowski, Six Stories (Orenda)
Ultra-sharp crime writing in this debut, constructed like a truecrime podcast, dripping with menace and rural horror.

Meg Howrey, The Wanderers (Picador)
Deep and intriguing book about the irresistible urge to go into space and explore. Thoughtful and meditative, but also somehow compelling.

Louise Welsh, No Dominion (John Murray)
Final part of Welsh’s fantastic post-apocalyptic trilogy, this was uncompromising stuff, examining how to remake society once it’s all broken down.

Anneliese Mackintosh, So Happy it Hurts (Cape)
First full novel from a brilliant short story writer, and it was tremendously engaging. Written as a mash-up of styles and formats, it dealt brilliantly with mental health and alcoholism while still being funny as hell.

Chris Brookmyre, Places in the Darkness (Orbit)
Space noir from Scotland’s finest, as he delivers a typically high octane thriller set on a space station, which also tackles issues of genetics, memory and identity. Smart bastard that he is.

Dx

Here’s a thing I wrote about the role of place in my fiction.

As you were.

Dx

So all SIX members of Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers are appearing at Waterstones in Liverpool tomorrow night, talking about books, music and what we’ve got each other in our Secret Santa. Come!

Hey hey! Here’s the proof cover of my next novel, FAULT LINES, out in May next year with the terrific Orenda Books. It’s a whodunit-speculative-psychological-thriller-disaster-movie with volcanoes, islands and earthquakes. Right up your street, basically. Dx

Here I am on brand new Radio Scotland show Winter Weekend, alongside Edi Stark, Jenny Colgan and Kate Young, talking about all things book inspired. 90 minutes of top fun!

Here is some prime nonsense. Good fun to film.

First draft of the book after next is done. Now to knock this crap into shape.

People of Biggar and the Surrounding Area! I’m appearing at the Biggar Little Festival tonight at 7.30pm, with Elaine Thomson, Lin Anderson & Sara Sheridan. Come!

Hello peeps! I am appearing at the Durham Book Festival for the first time tomorrow, along with Louise Welsh, 2.30pm in the Palace Green Library. We’ll be talking all things Orcadian. See ya there!

Here I am over at the Royal Literary Fund website talking about the profound effect Adrian Tomine’s graphic short story collection Killing And Dying had on me. Even if you don’t want to listen to me banging on, please do read Tomine’s work, he’s a genius.