We are returning to Doug Johnstone's Skelf family for The Great Silence. This intriguing family first appeared in his crime novel, A Dark Matter, which was one of the most read posts on my blog when I reviewed it. You can check out my review here. You can also read the second novel featuring the Skelfs, The Big Chill here. I also have the chance for you to win a print copy of The Great Silence. Details on how to enter this UK Giveaway are at the foot of this post.
Keeping on top of the family funeral directors’ and private-investigation businesses is no easy task for the Skelf
women, and when matriarch Dorothy discovers a human foot while walking thedog, a perplexing case presents itself.
Daughter Jenny and grand-daughter Hannah have their hands
full too: the mysterious circumstances of a dying woman have led
them into an unexpected family drama, Hannah’s new astrophysicist colleague claims he’s receiving messages from outer space,
and the Skelfs’ teenaged lodger has a devastating experience.
Nothing is clear as the women are immersed ever deeper in
their most challenging cases yet. But when the daughter of Jenny’sviolent and fugitive ex-husband goes missing without trace
anda wild animal is spotted roaming Edinburgh’s parks, real
danger presents itself, and all three Skelf’s are in peril.
Taut, dark, warmly funny and unafraid to ask big questions –
of usall – The Great Silence is the much-anticipated third
instalment inthe addictive, unforgettable Skelf’s series.
My Thoughts
Having met the Skelfs before, it felt easy to slide back into their world of funeral directors and private investigators. The three generations of the family had their own stories as before but the family feeling between them counterbalances their rather grim findings and the death which is part of their daily lives. I enjoyed the black humour and the relationships between the characters.
It took me a little time to work out who some of the other characters were. and how they fitted in. Craig, Jenny's ex-husband is on the run but always in her thoughts and there is the added complication of his new partner and child. Dorothy's lodger has her own turmoil and the most intriguing of all, is Hannah's colleague who claims to be receiving messages he can't explain. I felt that Hannah's investigations gave flight to some really thoughtful parts of the story with some soul- searching issues and important questions to answer. Always in the background is the prowling big cat, with all its symbolism of dark forces and wild motives.
This has been an entertaining and engrossing series, with plenty of dark moments, rounded characters and shocking incidents. The opening scene of The Great Silence certainly counts as the latter!
In short: smart, funny, thought-provoking.
About the Author
Doug Johnstone is the author of twelve previous novels, most
recently The BigChill (2020). Several of his books have been bestsellers and
three, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), were
shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. He’s
taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions
over the last decade – including at a funeral parlour ahead of writing A Dark
Matter – and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a
songwriter and musician with five albums and three solo EPs released, and he
plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He’s
also player-manager of the Scotland Writers Football Club. He lives in
Edinburgh.
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!
To win a print copy of The Great Silence, just Follow and Retweet the pinned tweet at @bookslifethings and good luck!
Closing date is 22nd August 2021 and there is one winner.
*Terms and Conditions – UK only The winner will be selected at
random via Tweetdraw from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter
and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right
to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the
competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with
third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed
to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize. I am not
responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
Thanks so much for the blog tour support xx
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