Doug Johnstone – författare

Shortlisted for CrimeFest's Last Laugh AwardFour friends, one weekend, gallons of whisky. What could go wrong?Driven by amateur whisky-nut Adam, four late-thirties ex-university mates are heading to Islay - the remote Scottish island world famous for its single malts - with a wallet full of cash, a stash of coke and a serious thirst.Over a weekend soaked in the finest cask strength spirit, they meet young divorcee Molly, who Adam has a soft spot for, her little sister Ash who has all sorts of problems and Molly's ex-husband Joe, a control freak who also happens to be the local police. As events spiral out of control, they are all thrown into a nightmare that gets worse at every turn.

Four friends, one weekend, gallons of whisky. What could go wrong?Driven by amateur whisky-nut Adam, four late-thirties ex-university mates are heading to Islay - the remote Scottish island world famous for its single malts - with a wallet full of cash, a stash of coke and a serious thirst.Over a weekend soaked in the finest cask strength spirit, they meet young divorcee Molly, who Adam has a soft spot for, her little sister Ash who has all sorts of problems and Molly's ex-husband Joe, a control freak who also happens to be the local police. As events spiral out of control, they are all thrown into a nightmare that gets worse at every turn.A wild trip to the Scottish Highlands, Doug Johnstone's debut on the Faber crime list is a classic violent thriller, doused with black humour.

Driving home from a party with his girlfriend and brother, all of them drunk and high on stolen pills, Billy Blackmore accidentally hits someone in the night. In a panic, they all decide to drive off.But the next day Billy wakes to find he has to cover the story for the local paper. It turns out the dead man was Edinburgh's biggest crime lord and, as Billy struggles with what he's done, he is sucked into a nightmare of guilt, retribution and violence.From the author of the acclaimed Smokeheads, Hit & Run is another pitch-black psychological thriller.

Driving home from a party with his girlfriend and brother, all of them drunk and high on stolen pills, Billy Blackmore accidentally hits someone in the night. In a panic, they all decide to drive off.But the next day Billy wakes to find he has to cover the story for the local paper. It turns out the dead man was Edinburgh's biggest crime lord and, as Billy struggles with what he's done, he is sucked into a nightmare of guilt, retribution and violence.From the author of the acclaimed Smokeheads, Hit & Run is another pitch-black psychological thriller.

'It's just to say that no-one has come to pick Nathan up from school, and we were wondering if there was a problem of some kind?' As Mark Douglas photographs a pod of whales stranded in the waters off Edinburgh's Portobello Beach, he is called by his son's school: his wife, Lauren, hasn't turned up to collect their son. Calm at first, Mark collects Nathan and takes him home but as the hours slowly crawl by he increasingly starts to worry. With brilliantly controlled reveals, we learn some of the painful secrets of the couple's shared past, not least that it isn't the first time Lauren has disappeared. And as Mark struggles to care for his son and shield him from the truth of what's going on, the police seem dangerously short of leads. That is, until a shocking discovery...

'It's just to say that no-one has come to pick Nathan up from school, and we were wondering if there was a problem of some kind?' As Mark Douglas photographs a pod of whales stranded in the waters off Edinburgh's Portobello Beach, he is called by his son's school: his wife, Lauren, hasn't turned up to collect their son. Calm at first, Mark collects Nathan and takes him home but as the hours slowly crawl by he increasingly starts to worry. With brilliantly controlled reveals, we learn some of the painful secrets of the couple's shared past, not least that it isn't the first time Lauren has disappeared. And as Mark struggles to care for his son and shield him from the truth of what's going on, the police seem dangerously short of leads. That is, until a shocking discovery...

'Calling to mind the best of Harlan Coben, Johnstone shows us how quickly an ordinary life can take one dark turn and nothing is ever the same again.' Megan Abbott, author of The FeverFrom the author of the bestselling thriller Gone Again...Meet Martha. It's the first day of her new job as intern at Edinburgh's The Standard. But all's not well at the ailing newspaper, and Martha is carrying some serious baggage of her own.Put straight onto the obituary page, she takes a call from a former employee who seems to commit suicide while on the phone, something which echoes with her own troubled past.Setting in motion a frantic race around modern-day Edinburgh,The Dead Beat traces Martha's desperate search for answers to the dark mystery of her parents' past. Soundtracked by and interspersed with a series of gigs from the alternative music scene of her parents' generation in the early '90s, Doug Johnstone's latest page-turner is a wild ride of a thriller, and a perfect follow-on to his #1 Kindle bestseller, Hit & Run.

Meet Martha. It's the first day of her new job as intern at Edinburgh'sThe Standard. But all's not well at the ailing newspaper, and Martha is carrying some serious baggage of her own.Put straight onto the obituary page, she takes a call from a former employee who seems to commit suicide while on the phone, something which echoes with her own troubled past.Setting in motion a frantic race around modern-day Edinburgh,The Dead Beat traces Martha's desperate search for answers to the dark mystery of her parents' past. Soundtracked by and interspersed with a series of gigs from the alternative music scene of her parents' generation in the early '90s, Doug Johnstone's latest page-turner is a wild ride of a thriller, and a perfect follow-on to his #1 Kindle bestseller, Hit & Run.

Struggling to come to terms with the suicide of her teenage son, Ellie lives in the shadows of the Forth Road Bridge, lingering on its footpaths and swimming in the waters below. One day she talks down another suicidal teenager, Sam, and sees for herself a shot at redemption, the chance to atone for her son's death.But even with the best intentions, she can't foresee the situation she's falling headlong into - a troubled family, with some very dark secrets of their own.From #1 bestselling author of Gone Again, The Jump is a hugely moving contemporary thriller, and a stunning portrait of an unlikely heroine.

Struggling to come to terms with the suicide of her teenage son, Ellie lives in the shadows of the Forth Road Bridge, lingering on its footpaths and swimming in the waters below. One day she talks down another suicidal teenager, Sam, and sees for herself a shot at redemption, the chance to atone for her son's death.But even with the best intentions, she can't foresee the situation she's falling headlong into - a troubled family, with some very dark secrets of their own.From #1 bestselling author of Gone Again, The Jump is a hugely moving contemporary thriller, and a stunning portrait of an unlikely heroine.

An adrenaline-charged thriller from the Kindle-bestselling author of Gone Again and Hit and Run.'An unnerving tale of what happens to ordinary lives when the wheels come off.' VAL MCDERMID'A haunting, unforgettable page-turner that ticks every excellence box in crime writing.' ALANNA KNIGHTSitting in the departure lounge of Kirkwall Airport, Finn Sullivan just wants to get off Orkney. But then he meets the mysterious and dangerous Maddie Pierce, stepping in to save her from some unwanted attention, and his life is changed forever.Set against the brutal, unforgiving landscape of Orkney, CRASH LAND is a psychological thriller steeped in guilt, shame, lust, deception and murder.

Sitting in the departure lounge of Kirkwall Airport, Finn Sullivan just wants to get off Orkney. But then he meets the mysterious and dangerous Maddie Pierce, stepping in to save her from some unwanted attention, and his life is changed forever.Set against the brutal, unforgiving landscape of Orkney, CRASH LAND is a psychological thriller steeped in guilt, shame, lust, deception and murder.

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 Scotland’s finest crime writers.SHORTLISTED for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year***BOOK OF THE YEAR in SCOTSMAN***‘It’s a lovely, sad tale, beautifully told and full of understanding’ The Times  ‘Breakers is the most powerful and moving book from Johnstone yet – a calling card that no-one can ignore’ Scotsman  ‘A cracking story, great characters … it’s also about something and really addresses the “whys” of crime’ Mark Billingham‘This may be Doug Johnstone’s best book yet. An unsparing yet sympathetic depiction of Edinburgh’s ignored underclass, with terrific characterisation. Tense, pacey, filmic’ Ian Rankin________________________________There are two sides to every family…Seventeen-year-old Tyler lives in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived areas. Coerced into robbing rich people’s homes by his bullying older siblings, he’s 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 that’s just the beginning of their nightmare, because the woman is the wife of Edinburgh’s 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 stranger’s house, and he thinks she may just be his salvation … unless he drags her down too._________________  ‘It’s as psychologically rich as it is harrowing. I’ve come to expect nothing less from Doug Johnstone, one of the genre’s premiere writers’ Megan Abbott‘Breakers again shows that Doug Johnstone is a noir heavyweight and a master of gritty realism. This may be his finest novel yet’ Willy 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 world’ James Sallis‘Bloody brilliant. Gut punch after gut punch after gut punch and you can’t put it down. But it’s the final, huge punch to the heart that blows you away … This is premier league crime writing’ Martyn Waites‘A tough, gritty and effective ride into the dark side of Edinburgh’ Douglas Skelton‘Pacy, harrowing and occasionally brutal, it’s a stunning thriller about poisonous families and one decent kid’s desperate attempt to do the right thing. Had me in tears at the end…’ Paddy Magrane‘Loved this one … it may be Doug Johnstone’s 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 to’ James Oswald‘Oh. My. God. This was sooo good. Read it in two days. Gripping, dark, fast, but still somehow full of heart’ Louise 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 … STUNNING’ Miranda Dickinson

Three generations of women from the Skelfs family take over the family funeral home and PI businesses in the first book of a taut, gripping page-turning and darkly funny new series.***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year*** ***Shortlisted for the Amazon Publishing Capital Crime Awards***‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer‘I was addicted from the first page; gripping, gritty and darkly funny as hell’ Erin Kelly‘A Dark Matter showcases a writer at the peak of his powers, except that with every book, Doug Johnstone just gets better’ Val McDermid_________________Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators…When patriarch Jim dies, it’s left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events.Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn’t the husband she thought he was. Hannah’s best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined.As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything…A compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, A Dark Matter introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series._________________‘A fiendish mystery that is also deeply moving and laced with suitably dark humour … set to be one of the books of the year’ Mark Billingham'Emotionally complex, richly layered and darkly funny. An addictive blend of Case Histories and Six Feet Under’ Chris Brookmyre‘This dark but touching thriller makes for a thoroughly enjoyable slice of Edinburgh noir’ Mary Paulson-Ellis‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief, as the three tough but tender main characters pick up the pieces and carry on: more, please’ Guardian‘A tense ride … strong, believable characters’ Kerry Hudson, Big Issue‘They are all wonderful characters: flawed, funny, brave — and well set up for a series. I wouldn’t call him cosy, but there’s warmth to Johnstone’s writing’ Sunday Time

Running private-investigator and funeral-home businesses means trouble is never far away, and the Skelf women take on their most perplexing, chilling cases yet in Book Two of the darkly funny, devastatingly tense and addictive Skelfs series!***Longlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year***‘Compelling, compassionate … just brilliant. This series gets better with every book. I cannot get enough of the Skelfs’ Mark Billingham‘Brilliantly drawn and blackly comic’ Herald Scotland‘Confirms the Skelfs as a classic crime clan. I can’t wait for the next one’ Erin Kelly‘I LOVE the Skelfs … The only problem with The Big Chill is that you’ll devour it so fast you’ll feel as bereft as one of the Skelfs’ clients. Doug Johnstone has murdered sleep’ Val McDermid____________________Haunted by their past, the Skelf women are hoping for a quieter life. But running both a funeral directors’ and a private investigation business means trouble is never far away, and when a car crashes into the open grave at a funeral that matriarch Dorothy is conducting, she can’t help looking into the dead driver’s shadowy life. While Dorothy uncovers a dark truth at the heart of Edinburgh society, her daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah have their own struggles. Jenny’s ex-husband Craig is making plans that could shatter the Skelf women’s lives, and the increasingly obsessive Hannah has formed a friendship with an elderly professor that is fast turning deadly.But something even more sinister emerges when a drumming student of Dorothy’s disappears and suspicion falls on her parents. The Skelf women find themselves sucked into an unbearable darkness – but could the real threat be to themselves?Following three women as they deal with the dead, help the living and find out who they are in the process, The Big Chill follows A Dark Matter, book one in the Skelfs series, which reboots the classic PI novel while asking the big existential questions, all with a big dose of pitch-black humour.____________________‘Exceptional … Johnstone seamlessly presents their stories with depth, elegance, and a delicate touch of wry humor as they get difficult jobs done with grace and kindness. This is a must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly‘Emotionally complex, richly layered and darkly funny. An addictive blend of Case Histories and Six Feet Under‘ Chris Brookmyre‘Johnstone’s intuitive depiction of this trinity of resilient women is never less than flawless, in this tale punctuated by emotional depth and moments of dark humour...’ Raven Crime ReadsPraise for The Skelfs series***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year*** ‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer‘This dark but touching thriller makes for a thoroughly enjoyable slice of Edinburgh noir’ Mary Paulson-Ellis‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief, as the three tough but tender main characters pick up the pieces and carry on: more, please’ Guardian‘A tense ride strong, believable characters’ Kerry Hudson, Big Issue‘They are all wonderful characters: flawed, funny, brave and well set up for a series. I wouldn’t call him cosy, but there’s warmth to Johnstone’s writing’ Sunday Times

The discovery of a human foot in an Edinburgh park, the inexplicable circumstances of a dying woman, and the missing daughter of Jenny’s violent ex-husband present the Skelf women with their most challenging – and deadly – cases yet… Book THREE in the addictive The Skelfs series!‘Simply stunning. Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone. The Great Silence speaks volumes about the power of story’ Val McDermid______________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 the dog, a perplexing case presents itself … with potentially deadly results.Daughter Jenny and grand-daughter Hannah have their hands full too: The mysterious circumstances of a dying woman lead 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 yet another devastating experience.Nothing is clear as the women are immersed ever deeper in their most challenging cases yet. But when the daughter of Jenny’s violent and fugitive ex-husband goes missing without trace and a wild animal is spotted roaming Edinburgh's parks, real danger presents itself, and all three Skelfs are in peril.Taut, dark, warmly funny and unafraid to ask big questions – of us all – The Great Silence is the much-anticipated third instalment in the addictive, unforgettable Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever.______________‘This is their third outing and the stories get better each time … Told with a wry humour and affection, the novel underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail‘The power of this book lies in the warm personalities and dark humour of the Skelfs, and by the end readers will be just as interested in their relationships with each other as the mysteries they are trying to solve’ Scotsman‘Remarkable’ Sunday Times Crime Club STAR PICK‘Keeps you hungry from page to page. A crime reader can’t ask anything more’ The Sun‘Mysteries aplenty … a poignant reflection on grief and the potential for healing that lies within us all. A proper treat’ Mary Paulson-Ellis‘A thrilling, atmospheric book, set in the dark streets of Edinburgh. That great city really came alive for me in this gripping tale. Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!’ Kate Rhodes‘An unstoppable, thrilling, bullet train of a book that cleverly weaves in family and intrigue, and has real emotional impact. I totally loved it’ Helen Fields‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please’ Guardian‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times ‘Exceptional … a must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers WeeklyThe Skelfs series has been:***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year******Longlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year******Shortlisted for Amazon Publishing Capital Crime Thriller of the Year***

A faked death, an obsessive stalker, an old man claiming he’s being abused by the ghost of his late wife, and a devastating spectre from the past. The Skelfs are back in another warmly funny, explosive thriller, and this time things are more than personal…  **SHORTLISTED for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year**‘A new outing for the Skelfs deserves dancing in the streets of Edinburgh' Val McDermid  ‘Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham  ‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland‘A total delight to be returned to the dark, funny, compulsive world of the Skelfs … Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch. Brilliant!’ Gytha Lodge_________________________________________Death is just the beginning…The Skelf women live in the shadow of death every day, running the family funeral directors and private investigator business in Edinburgh. But now their own grief interwines with that of their clients, as they are left reeling by shocking past events.A fist-fight by an open grave leads Dorothy to investigate the possibility of a faked death, while a young woman’s obsession with Hannah threatens her relationship with Indy and puts them both in mortal danger. An elderly man claims he’s being abused by the ghost of his late wife, while ghosts of another kind come back to haunt Jenny from the grave … pushing her to breaking point.As the Skelfs struggle with increasingly unnerving cases and chilling danger lurks close to home, it becomes clear that grief, in all its forms, can be deadly…_________________________________________‘The Skelfs keep getting better and better. Compelling and compassionate characters, with a dash of physics and philosophy thrown in’ Ambrose Parry  ‘Expertly written, with poise, insight and compassion’ Mary Paulson-Ellis  ’If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly  ‘Dynamic and poignant … Johnstone balances the cosmos, music, death and life, and wraps it all in a compelling mystery’ Marni GraffPraise for The Skelfs series***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year******Shortlisted for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year******Shortlisted for Amazon Publishing Capital Crime Thriller of the Year***‘Hurroo! The Skelfs — Edinburgh funeral directors and part-time private eyes — are back … the persistence of love in the Skelf household, no matter what fate flings at it, is reassuring and life-affirming’ The Times Book of the Month  ‘Told with a wry humour and affection, the novel underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail`Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction´ Daily Express  ‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please’ Guardian‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times‘Exceptional … a must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer‘A tense ride strong, believable characters’ Kerry Hudson, Big Issue‘The power of this book, though, lies in the warm personalities and dark humour of the Skelfs, and by the end readers will be just as interested in their relationships with each other as the mysteries they are trying to solve’ Scotsman‘Remarkable’ Sunday Times‘Keeps you hungry from page to page. A crime reader can’t ask anything more’ Sun  ‘A thrilling, atmospheric book, set in the dark streets of Edinburgh. Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!’ Kate Rhodes‘An unstoppable, thrilling, bullet train of a book that cleverly weaves in family and intrigue, and has real emotional impact. I totally loved it’ Helen Fields

When three people suffer strokes after seeing dazzling lights over Edinburgh, then awake completely recovered, they’re convinced their ordeal is connected to the alien creature discovered on a nearby beach … an adrenaline-soaked, deeply humane, life-affirming first-contact novel from one of Scotland’s most revered authors…  **Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023**  ‘All the drive, curiosity and wonder of his crime and mystery novels … science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B Miller  ‘If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it’s this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima   ‘The main characters, their lives and their struggles, are portrayed very vividly. I was straight into this, just like a thriller’ Ivo Graham on Between the Covers   ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––  Connecting will change everything…  Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don’t know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes...   ...only to wake up the following day in hospital, miraculously recovered.   When news reaches them of an octopus-like creature washed up on the shore near where the meteor came to earth, Lennox senses that some extra-terrestrial force is at play. With the help of Ava, Heather and a journalist, Ewan, he rescues the creature they call 'Sandy' and goes on the run.   But they aren’t the only ones with an interest in the alien … close behind are Ava’s husband, the police and a government unit who wants to capture the creature, at all costs. And Sandy’s arrival may have implications beyond anything anyone could imagine…  ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––  ‘This had all the makings of a film … such relatable characters. Writing a story about a mixed-race boy in the care system and two women so brilliantly is so impressive’ Sunetra Sarker on Between the Covers  ‘So readable and accessible … I was really rooting for the characters’ Alan Davies on Between the Covers  ‘A gateway book to SciFi … I loved it’ Sara Cox on Between the Covers  ‘A sci-fi novel that is as moving as it is magical and mysterious. Doug Johnstone has hit it out of the park again’ Mark Billingham  ‘A delicious, demanding departure from Doug Johnstone’ Val McDermid  ‘Science fiction may be a departure for Johnstone, but he’s approached it like the crime thrillers that made his name, prioritising pace, tension and high stakes … a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective, and a celebration of our capacity to connect with one another, shot through with vivid characters and a sense of wonder’ Herald Scotland  ‘An entertaining, fast-paced story of first contact … well told, with relatable characters and important themes making for an emotionally engaging read’ Guardian  ‘A gloriously hopeful story and a perfect road trip movie just waiting to be made … I can’t recommend this highly enough’ James Oswald  ‘An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding for our instinctual need to connect' Rachelle Atalla  'Johnstone's mesmeric story artfully puts Scotland centre stage in a sci-fi drama that is as much about the smallness of mankind and the importance of kinship … Pay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next film’ Marnie Riches  ‘A clever and unusual read … I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixed’ Susi Holliday  ‘Doug Johnstone held me spellbound with this mesmerising tale of wonder and hope’ Marion Todd  ‘A heart-warming, fast-paced, often tense look at friendships that surpass all boundaries, and an exploration of the very basic need for connection and a place to belong … divine’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews  What readers are saying  *****  ‘I wish I could adequately convey how much I loved this book’  ‘A beautiful story … it brought me to tears’  ‘A masterpiece … compassionate, full of love and hope’  ‘An out-of-this-world, mesmerising first-contact story about the striking importance and impact of true connection’  ‘Riveting’  ‘High stakes, high adrenaline and somehow so gentle and moving. This is one of the most beautiful, extraordinary books I’ve ever read’  ‘I don’t think I’ll ever forget these characters’

A body lost at sea, arson, murder, astronauts, wind phones, communal funerals, stalking and conspiracy theories … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unnerving and warmly funny as ever!  ‘A terrific read with all of Johnston’s trademark warmth and wicked wit in the latest gripping outing for this beguiling family’ A K Turner   ‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction. Pitch-perfect balance of dark and light … disturbing, compassionate and brilliantly funny’ Sarah Hilary  'The Skelfs series just gets better and better! Outstanding characters and a gripping plot … Doug Johnstone is one of the greats of Scottish crime fiction' Luca Veste  ____________  Even death needs company…  The Skelf women are recovering from the cataclysmic events that nearly claimed their lives. Their funeral-director and private-investigation businesses are back on track, and their cases are as perplexing as ever.  Matriarch Dorothy looks into a suspicious fire at an illegal campsite and takes a grieving, homeless man under her wing. Daughter Jenny is searching for her missing sister-in-law, who disappeared in tragic circumstances, while grand-daughter Hannah is asked to investigate increasingly dangerous conspiracy theorists, who are targeting a retired female astronaut … putting her own life at risk.  With a body lost at sea, funerals for those with no one to mourn them, reports of strange happenings in outer space, a funeral crasher with a painful secret, and a violent attack on one of the family, The Skelfs face their most personal – and perilous – cases yet. Doing things their way may cost them everything…  Tense, unnerving and warmly funny, The Opposite of Lonely is the hugely anticipated fifth instalment in the unforgettable Skelfs series, and this time, danger comes from everywhere…  _________________________  ‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly  ‘Authentic female characters … Short, punchy chapters mean that the pace is brisk, and Johnstone’s deft way of portraying old and new characters means that even novice readers of the series won’t be left behind’ Scotsman  'An absolute joy to read … full of such wonderful characters, brilliantly realised, with more peril and intrigue. Certainly the best one yet' James Oswald  ‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times  Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge  ‘A unique brand of crime fiction boasting rare heart and depth’ Ambrose Parry  ‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ Daily Express  ‘Gritty, atmospheric and, above all, profoundly moving. An emotional education in the most unexpected of ways … I loved it’ Sarah Sultoon  ‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly  ‘The Skelfs books are brilliant’ Miranda Dickinson  ***SHORTLISTED FOR THEAKSTON’S OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR***

Ava, Lennox and Heather make contact with alien Sandy and head for a profound confrontation … The awe-inspiring, exquisitely moving sequel to The Space Between Us, as seen on BBC Two's Between the Covers.  ‘A barnstorming thriller … and a wonderful and radical sense of a greater, wider way of seeing life on our planet’ Martin MacInnes  ‘Terrifyingly plausible and an excellent allegory for our times … I’ll be recommending this to everyone’ James Oswald  ‘A powerful and epic multi-layered story. Doug Johnstone is a true literary master’ Michael Wood**Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book**_________________  Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens’ visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland’s west coast.  Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.  Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.  When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…  Sequel to the bestselling The Space Between Us, The Collapsing Wave is an exquisite, epic first-contact novel, laced with peril and populated by unforgettable characters, and the awe-inspiring book we all need right now…  _________________  PRAISE FOR The Space Between Us  **Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023**  ‘A gateway book to sci-fi … I loved it’ Sara Cox  ‘So readable and accessible’ Alan Davies  ‘If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it’s this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima  ‘Prioritising pace, tension and high stakes … a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective’ Herald Scotland  ‘An emotionally engaging read’Guardian  ‘Science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B. Miller  ‘A delicious, demanding departure’ Val McDermid  ‘As moving as it is magical and mysterious’ Mark Billingham  ‘A first-contact tale full of heart and high-octane action’ D.V. Bishop  ‘An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding’ Rachelle Atalla  ‘Pay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next film’ Marnie Riches  ‘Clever and unusual … I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixed’ Susi Holliday  ‘A mesmerising tale of wonder and hope’ Marion Todd  ‘Johnstone doesn’t shy away from complex themes and smartly leverages the lens of science fiction to cut deep into the human experience … the well-paced and carefully breadcrumbed plot is fed to the reader with tender finesse’ SciFi Now Book of the Month

Drones, gangland vendettas, a missing choir singer, disturbances in the cemetery, PTSD, panpsychism, and secrets from the past … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as nail-biting, tense and warmly funny as ever!  ‘The persistence of love in the Skelf household, no matter what fate flings at it, is reassuring and life-affirming' The Times  'The Skelfs feel like family – their joys are my joys, their pains are my pain … Edinburgh's favourite family, bringing darkness and delight' Val McDermid  'Another wonderful entry in one of the finest crime series out there. I remain a happily hopeless Skelfaholic' Mark Billingham  _______________  The Skelf women are back on an even keel after everything they've been through. But when a funeral they're conducting is attacked by a drone, Jenny fears they're in the middle of an Edinburgh gangland vendetta.  At the same time, Yana, a Ukrainian member of the refugee choir that plays with Dorothy's band, has gone missing. Searching for her leads Dorothy into strange and ominous territory.  And Brodie, the newest member of the extended Skelf family, comes to Hannah with a case: Something or someone has been disturbing the grave of his stillborn son.  Everything is changing for the Skelfs … Dorothy's boyfriend Thomas is suffering PTSD after previous violent trauma, Jenny and Archie are becoming close, and Hannah's case leads her to consider the curious concept of panpsychism, which brings new danger … while ghosts from the family's past return to threaten their very lives.  Funny, shocking and profound, Living Is a Problem is the highly anticipated sixth instalment of the unforgettable Skelfs series – shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year – where life and death become intertwined more than ever before…  _______________  ‘A series that keeps getting better and better. Readers have come not only to know the Skelf family but care for them too, which makes their increasingly dangerous predicaments all the more thrilling’ Scots Whay Hae  Praise for The Skelfs series**SHORTLISTED for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year****SHORTLISTED for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel**  ‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction’ Sarah Hilary  ‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly‘An addictive blend of Case Histories and Six Feet Under’ Chris Brookmyre  ‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times  ‘Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail  ‘Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge  ‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale’ Herald Scotland  ‘One of the greats of Scottish crime fiction´ Luca Veste  ‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer  ‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly

Lennox, Vonnie and Ava head to Greenland to meet up with Heather, Sandy and the Enceladons, commencing an epic showdown that will change everything … The emotive, devastating yet ultimately life-affirming conclusion to the bestselling Enceladons Trilogy, as seen on BBC2’s Between the Covers…‘An affecting and thought-provoking read. Johnstone's worldbuilding is top notch in this pacy eco-alien tale of peril and hope’ Tendai Huchu‘Doug Johnstone has emerged as the unholy, octopoid lovechild of David Attenborough and Michael Crichton … a thrilling, action-packed adventure’ Callum McSorley‘Forget what you think you know about science fiction … pick up this book if you want to explore what it means to be human, with all the hopes and fears, loves and losses that brings – something Johnstone has done in so many of his novels, but rarely as beautifully as he does in this trilogy’Scotsman‘Surprising, compelling and out of this world’ Ann Morgan'Johnstone brilliantly plays out the tensions between competing groups and their response to the peaceful aliens off the coast of Greenland. But will they survive? Johnstone is a born storyteller whatever the subject' Mirror'A delight! We need more novels that take on human exceptionalism with such gusto' Ever Dundas______ It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq. It's not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death. What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved? Profound, ambitious and immensely moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy – a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it…______ ‘A powerful, poignant, and devastating finale to the Enceladons Trilogy, a series that has consistently blurred the lines between sci-fi, eco-thriller and character-driven drama … a gut-punch of a read, serving up a tense, high-stakes plot that’s as emotionally resonant as it is action-packed. It culminates as a bold and heartrending conclusion that resonates with profound themes and leaves an indelible impression'SciFi Now ‘The gripping conclusion to his Enceladons trilogy – exploring first contact, humanity’s relationship with our planet, and the possibility of alien civilisations’ Daily Express‘A brilliant novel, handling complex themes … a timely meditation on man's destructive nature’ Ambrose Parry‘Wonderfully drawn … a serious critique of the state of the world today in a tense thriller anchored in the lives of ordinary people’ James Oswald‘One of the best writers of his generation,’ Paul Burke, CrimeTime ‘The perfect end to the perfect trilogy’ Michael Wood‘Powerful, profound, prescient and pacy … A brilliant near future tale, told beautifully, and sure to appeal to sci fi and thriller fans alike’ Lyndsey CroalPraise for The Enceladons Trilogy **Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023****Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year** ‘A gateway book to sci-fi … I loved it’ Sara Cox‘A barnstorming thriller … and a wonderful and radical sense of a greater, wider way of seeing life on our planet’ Martin MacInnes‘Science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B. Miller ‘So readable and accessible’ Alan Davies ‘If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it's this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima ‘Prioritising pace, tension and high stakes … a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective’ Herald Scotland ‘An emotionally engaging read’ Guardian ‘A delicious, demanding departure’ Val McDermid ‘As moving as it is magical and mysterious’ Mark Billingham ‘A first-contact tale full of heart and high-octane action’ D.V. Bishop ‘An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding’ Rachelle Atalla ‘Clever and unusual … I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixed’ Susi Holliday ‘A mesmerising tale of wonder and hope’ Marion Todd ‘Johnstone doesn't shy away from complex themes and smartly leverages the lens of science fiction to cut deep into the human experience’ SciFi Now Book of the Month

David’s best mate died falling off a cliff – and he was the last to see him alive. Fifteen years later, he returns to Arbroath, where another death forces him to face the past. A darkly funny, gripping debut from one of Scotland’s finest writers – newly reissued.20th ANNIVERSARY EDITIONINTRODUCTION BY CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE‘Very funny, with a touching and believable romance thrown in’ Kate Saunders,The Times‘[A] pacy debut thriller. . . Johnstone skilfully coaxes the reader into identifying with these difficult-to-love characters and maintains the tension and drama’Metro‘[Leads] to comparisons with the Scots writer Christopher Brookmyre … with a touch of romance [and] a gripping action sequence in the final chapters’ Scotsman________________Your best mate just fell off a cliff in mysterious circumstances. You were the last person to see him alive. What do you do?If you're David Lindsay from Arbroath, you leg it – and don’t go back. Not for fifteen years.Then Nicola Cruickshank – yes, that Nicola, the girl you always fancied but never had the guts to speak to – gets in touch. She wants you back for a school reunion. At the very place it happened. Of course you say yes. Not to lay ghosts to rest, but because you still fancy Nicola.The thing is, if you are David Lindsay, then returning to Arbroath isn’t going to bring closure. Because when someone else tumbles off the cliffs – an act the locals now call tombstoning – David has a choice: run away again, or finally find out why people around him keep dying…____‘Detailed and atmospheric descriptions … funny and sparky dialogue’ Sunday Herald‘Excellently written, intriguing storyline, and different from anything else around. A very impressive debut’ Allan Guthrie‘A brilliant new author … a rollicking tale of mystery set in Auld Reekie and the east coast town of Arbroath...’ The List‘A vibrant and engaging debut, by turns humorous, irreverent and poignant’ Bill Duncan ‘A seductive and thrilling evocation of what lurks beneath the surface of small-town Scotland – or, indeed, small-town anywhere’ Christopher BrookmyrePraise for Doug Johnstone‘Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone … speaks volumes about the power of story’ Val McDermid ‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer ‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please’ Guardian‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ Daily Express‘Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail‘Keeps you hungry from page to page. A crime reader can’t ask anything more’ Sun ‘A thrilling, atmospheric book … Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!’ Kate Rhodes  ‘Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge  ‘One of the greats of Scottish crime fiction´ Luca Veste‘An unstoppable, thrilling, bullet train of a book … I totally loved it’ Helen Fields‘Expertly written, with poise, insight and compassion’ Mary Paulson-Ellis‘A terrific read with all of Johnston’s trademark warmth and wicked wit’ A K Turner  ‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction. Pitch-perfect balance of dark and light … disturbing, compassionate and brilliantly funny’ Sarah Hilary'An absolute joy to read … full of such wonderful characters, brilliantly realised, with more peril and intrigue' James Oswald‘A unique brand of crime fiction boasting rare heart and depth’ Ambrose Parry

A last-chance winter road trip for a Scottish band spirals into wild chaos – seagull massacres, bomb tests, and darkly funny rock’n’roll madness on the edge. A raw, darkly funny novel by one of Scotland’s finest authors – newly reissued!ANNIVERSARY EDITION with an INTRODUCTION BY VAL McDERMID‘A drug-fuelled, counterclockwise state-of-the-nation rock ’n’ roll tour captures where we were at better than any modern novel I’ve read’ — Irvine Welsh‘A powerful and moving commentary on the country and its defining myths’ — Ian Rankin‘One of the most vital books about modern Scotland – our landscape, culture, identity, myths and lies – of the twenty-first century. And despite the dinge, debauchery and danger, it's still a joy to tour with the band’ — Callum McSorley‘Packed with seedy, sticky bars, sullen punters and morose reflections in deteriorating weather, there is an atmospheric beauty to The Ossians’ — Independent on Sunday___Connor is twenty-four: brilliant, broken, and out of control. He’s the swaggering frontman of The Ossians, a Scottish indie band on the brink of signing a major record deal.Desperate to make their mark, they set off on a two-week winter tour across Scotland’s cities and hinterlands — a last-ditch attempt to find fame, purpose, and themselves.But the tour soon spirals into a surreal, chaotic odyssey. From seedy bars and snowbound towns to a final, defining Glasgow gig, the band hurtles through a whirlwind of seagull massacres, botched drug deals, a mysterious stalker, radioactive beaches, bomb-testing ranges, epileptic fits, riotous Russian submariners, deadly storms, epiphanies, regular beatings and random shootings.Raw, darkly funny and wild with energy, The Ossians is a gloriously anarchic story of rock’n’roll obsession, national identity and self-destruction — and what it means to belong: in a band, in a country, in a life unravelling at speed.___‘The authentic ring of a man who’s been there’ — Guardian‘Johnstone is good at describing the excitement, boredom, sniping and bonhomie of a touring band at the transit-van end of the career arc’ — The Times‘A blast’ — Scotland on Sunday‘So exhilaratingly authentic, you can hear the chords and smell the vomit’ — Christopher Brookmyre‘A gripping, compelling road trip around modern Scotland’ — Niall Griffiths‘This is This Is Spinal Tap for Scotland’s lost generation. Johnstone has taken a small story of a small band lost in a small country and created an epic’ — Ewan Morrison‘Entertains in the uncharted corners of an unseen Scotland’ — ListPraise for Doug Johnstone‘Tense, funny and deeply moving’ — Mark Billingham‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone … speaks volumes about the power of story’ — Val McDermid‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ — Herald Scotland‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ — Sunday Times‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ — Observer‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ — Publishers Weekly‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please’ — Guardian‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ — Daily Express‘Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ — Daily Mail

A heart attack at a funeral, blackmail, murder, grief bots, affairs, the power of music and ghosts of every kind, who threaten the Skelfs’ very existence. The Skelfs are back in another gripping, heartfelt and irresistible mystery.‘One of the finest crime series out there. I remain a happily hopeless Skelfaholic’ Mark Billingham‘The persistence of love in the Skelf household is reassuring and life-affirming’ The Times‘A brilliant addition to one of my favourite series in any genre’ James Oswald‘The Skelfs feel like family … Edinburgh’s favourite family, bringing darkness and delight’ Val McDermid‘Johnstone has hit upon a genuinely disturbing and all too believable premise’ Herald Scotland______The Skelf women have been keeping their heads down, running the family’s funeral directors and private investigation businesses. But when a woman collapses at her husband’s funeral and is saved by Dorothy, she finds herself drawn into the murky world of ‘grief tech’ – a booming new industry that creates digital avatars of the dead.Jenny’s latest case – a simple blackmail job for an old school friend – quickly spirals into chaos as the woman’s tangled love life pulls Jenny towards dangerous old habits.Meanwhile, Hannah and her wife, Indy, are confronted by the unexpected arrival of Indy’s ex-boyfriend, claiming to be dying and eager for the Skelfs to arrange his funeral. But his arrival uncovers more ghosts from the past, and threatens to upend everything they’ve built.As their cases collide and their personal lives spiral, the Skelfs face danger from all sides. How far will they go to protect one another, and what will it cost to finally silence the ghosts?Warm, tense and full of heart, Ghost Notes is another masterful instalment in Doug Johnstone’s award-winning, addictive Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever…__________Praise for The Skelfs series:**SHORTLISTED for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year****SHORTLISTED for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel**‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction’ Sarah Hilary‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ Daily Express‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly‘An addictive blend of Case Histories and Six Feet Under’ Chris Brookmyre‘Thrilling, atmospheric’ Kate Rhodes‘Cleverly weaves in family and intrigue’ Helen Fields‘A noir heavyweight’ Willy Vlautin‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times‘Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail‘Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale’ Herald Scotland‘One of the greats of Scottish crime fiction’ Luca Veste‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly

Die Skelf-Frauen leben jeden Tag im Schatten des Todes und führen das Familienunternehmen für Bestattungen und Ermittlungen in Edinburgh. Im dritten Band der Skelf-Reihe beginnt die Matriarchin Dorothy eine Beziehung mit dem Polizisten Thomas, während sie gleichzeitig eine jugendliche Untermieterin bei sich aufnimmt, die sich von ihrer Familie entfremdet hat. Dorothys Hund Einstein findet einen menschlichen Fuß auf den Wiesen, aber als sie ihn in einem Hundehaufenbeutel zur Untersuchung ins Bestattungsinstitut zurückbringt, wirft das mehr Fragen auf, als es beantwortet. Der Fuß hat nach dem Tod einiges mitgemacht. Auch Tochter Jenny und Enkeltochter Hannah haben alle Hände voll zu tun: Die mysteriösen Umstände des Todes einer reichen Frau ziehen sie in ein unerwartetes Familiendrama hinein. Darüber hinaus behauptet Hannahs neuer Astrophysiker-Kollege, er empfange Botschaften aus dem Weltall. Nichts ist klar, als die Skelfs tiefer in ihre bisher schwierigsten Fälle eintauchen. Als die Tochter von Jennys gewalttätigem und flüchtigem Ex-Mann spurlos verschwindet und ein wildes Tier in den Parks von Edinburgh gesichtet wird, scheint die Welt der Skelfs schlagartig zu überdrehen. Spannend, düster, warmherzig, humorvoll. Es steht mehr auf dem Spiel denn je.

Wer einen Skelf-Roman aufschlägt, weiß, dass ihn die bunte Welt des Verbrechens, der Trauer und der Zusammenhalt dreier Frauen erwartet. Eine Schlägerei an einem offenen Grab bringt Dorothy Skelf dazu, die Möglichkeit eines vorgetäuschten Todes zu untersuchen. Tochter Jenny schwimmt derweil am Strand von Portobello, bemüht, die Folgen ihres Traumas zu überwinden. Sie ist gebrochen, verzweifelt, funktioniert kaum noch. Enkelin Hannah hingegen gewöhnt sich an das Eheleben, bis es von außen in Gefahr gebracht wird. Da ist Laura, eine Studentin, die den Bezug zur Realität verliert, als sie jemanden verliert, der ihr nahe steht. Da ist Danny, dessen Mutter starb, nachdem sein Vater verschwunden war. Da ist der ältere japanische Witwer, der glaubt, dass er heimgesucht wird. Gesichter aus der Vergangenheit überall, die schwer zu ertragen sind. Neben den traditionellen Bestattungen und Einäscherungen fasziniert das Eintauchen in japanische Traditionen ebenso wie die Astrophysik. Während Jenny Skelf es vorzieht, die Erinnerungen mit Gin zu verdrängen, statt sie nüchtern in einer Therapie zu verarbeiten, stößt sie Menschen von sich undbricht zusammen. Der Fund einer Leiche am Strand könnte der letzte Strohhalm sein. Wie so oft bei den Skelfs kommt das Verbrechen gerade rechtzeitig.Ein vorgetäuschter Tod, ein besessener Stalker, ein alter Mann, der behauptet, vom Geist seiner verstorbenen Frau missbraucht zu werden, und ein zerstörerisches Gespenst aus der Vergangenheit. Die Skelfs sind zurück in einem weiteren explosiven Thriller, und dieses Mal geht es um mehr als nur persönliche Dinge. SCHWARZE HERZEN ist Schmerz, ist Trauma, ist Trauer. An vielen Stellen düster-komisch und voller Hoffnung.