Black Hearts Book Reviews

Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone Book Summary

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 explosive thriller, and this time things are more than personal...

'If you loved Iain Banks, you'll devour the Skelfs series' Erin Kelly

‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone. I love The Skelfs' Val McDermid

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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...

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Praise for The Skelfs series

***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***

‘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

‘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' 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. 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 Weekly

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Black Hearts (Doug Johnstone) Book Reviews 2024

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