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.
Doug Johnstone is the author of twenty novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while Black Hearts was shortlisted – and The Big Chill longlisted – for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year. Three of his books – A Dark Matter, Breakers and The Jump – have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize.
Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral home. He’s also been an arts journalist for 25 years.
He is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club and lives in Edinburgh with his family.
My thoughts: Skelfs, Skelfs, Skelfs!!! The Skelf family are back and I am delighted.
As always, Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah have their own cases, stemming in part from their roles as funeral directors, that impact on their own lives.
Dorothy revives a woman at her husband’s funeral, only to become embroiled in the family’s problems and an AI program that resurrects the dead, with troubling results.
Jenny is contacted by an old school friend, who needs her help with blackmail. But as Jenny gets involved, things take a nasty turn and end with a young man dead. Can Jenny work out who killed him and solve the blackmail too?
And we learn a lot more about Hannah’s wife Indy, as her ex, Yannis, appears at the Skelfs’ office, asking for them to arrange his funeral. He’s dying and wants to sort out a few things before he does. Unfortunately for Hannah and Indy he brings trouble with him.
As always, this is a fantastic read, written by an excellent writer. It might seem like the usual crime novel but there’s always something profound and thought provoking in every book. As the Skelfs blend crime solving and funerals, things surface that really make you pause and consider. Masterful. Delighted to have more Skelfs in my life.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 