Fault Lines by Doug Johnstone ** Review & Giveaway**

It is great, as ever, to take part in an Orenda Books blog tour to celebrate Doug Johnstone's new thriller, Fault Lines. It is published in paperback on May 22nd 2018. I am also able to offer you the chance to win a copy of the book in a great Giveaway! Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post.

In a reimagined contemporary Edinburgh, in which a tectonic fault has opened up to produce a new volcano in the Firth of Forth, and where tremors are an everyday occurrence, volcanologist Surtsey makes a shocking discovery. On a clandestine trip to The Inch - the new volcanic island - to meet Tom, her lover and her boss, she finds his lifeless body. Surtsey's life quickly spirals into a nightmare when someone makes contact - someone who claims to know what she's done...

My Thoughts

In siting this story in a reimagined Edinburgh, the author gives you a setting which you are completely unsure about. Never quite certain what the reality is, everything seems both familiar and at the same time, unrecognizable. From the start, you feel that you are missing a step, not quite sure of what is what. I like that about a book. It makes you feel that anything is possible.

    Throughout the book, the danger from the erupting earth is always there. It gets more insistent as the story progresses and makes you feel that danger is getting closer and closer. The truth of what happened to Tom and what is threatening Surtsey is a surprise when it is revealed and yet has always been hiding in plain sight. This is a cracking read and well worth the effort.

In short: An arresting setting and tension which ramps up throughout. 

About the Author 

Doug Johnstone is an author, journalist and musician based in Edinburgh. He’s had eight novels published, most recently Crash Land. His previous novel, The Jump, was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his other novels have been award winners and bestsellers, and he’s had short stories published in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. His work has been praised by the likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. Several of his novels have been optioned for film and television.

Doug is also a Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow. He’s worked as an RLF Fellow at Queen Margaret University, taught creative writing at Strathclyde University and been Writer in Residence at both Strathclyde University and William Purves Funeral Directors. He mentors and assesses manuscripts for The Literary Consultancy and regularly tutors at Moniack Mhor writing retreat. Doug has released seven albums in various bands, reviews books for The Big Issue magazine, is player-manager for Scotland Writers Football Club and has a PhD in nuclear physics.

You can follow Doug here: Twitter   |  Website 

 Book link: Amazon UK 

 Thanks to Doug Johnstone, Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater of Orenda Books for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Don't forget these other great bloggers!

Giveaway (UK only)

 

To win a copy of Fault Lines, just Follow and Retweet the pinned Tweet at @bookslifethings.  Closing date is 28th May 2018 and there is one winner, UK only.