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3.13 AVERAGE
3.13 AVERAGE
Did not finish - I seek out books written by women because I'm tired of reading about misogynist men, and unfortunately I could not make it past the second chapter thanks to the way Staines (and others) thinks and behaves.
I saw this author, give a reading from this novel, at Noir at the Bar in Edinburgh. And it struck a chord with me.
This is Lesley's debut novel and I hope they're more to come. This is a fast, edgy and funny read. It is two stories running concurrently.
Joseph Staines returns to Leith and finds himself in trouble with the local gangsters.......police and an unconventional priest.
The second story tells of his younger days, with brother Colin and friend Lachie, who just happens to be connected to the above said gangsters.
He develops a friendship with Lachie that he is still trapped in thirty years later.
Joseph left town with a stolen tallybook, but two suspicious deaths and surprise inheritance lures him back.
No-one is pleased to see him. The debtors want him gone, the police have questions and a mysterious stranger is asking questions.
The writing is top notch. The tale well told and the ending satisfying.
I look forward to more stories from this author and I urge you to read this novel!
This is Lesley's debut novel and I hope they're more to come. This is a fast, edgy and funny read. It is two stories running concurrently.
Joseph Staines returns to Leith and finds himself in trouble with the local gangsters.......police and an unconventional priest.
The second story tells of his younger days, with brother Colin and friend Lachie, who just happens to be connected to the above said gangsters.
He develops a friendship with Lachie that he is still trapped in thirty years later.
Joseph left town with a stolen tallybook, but two suspicious deaths and surprise inheritance lures him back.
No-one is pleased to see him. The debtors want him gone, the police have questions and a mysterious stranger is asking questions.
The writing is top notch. The tale well told and the ending satisfying.
I look forward to more stories from this author and I urge you to read this novel!
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel from Lesley Kelly in no small part because large sections are set, despite the title, in Leith where I was born and brought up. Joseph Staines is the protagonist and quite frankly someone I'd probably avoid in real life. He's a hard drinker, has dabbled in drugs and is well known to the local police force. And yet, somehow, Lesley Kelly has made him a really likeable character. He recently left Edinburgh in a hurry with the 'tally book' (record of debts) owned by the deceased Isa Stoddart. The Stoddarts were a feared family in the area collecting protection money from the local businesses. Joe was a childhood friend of Lachie Stoddart, Isa's rather unpleasant son, but now he too has died and Joe has come back to meet the family lawyers who have some rather surprising news for him.
This was a really gripping book and quite unusual in that the crime is being investigated by a rather dodgy character rather than the police. Joe's own life is in danger if he can't figure out who really killed Isa Stoddart and why. It is darkly funny and I particularly enjoyed the chapters of the book looking back at Joe's childhood and how he grew up. I think they are the reason why he is so likeable, because the reader gets to know him as a wee boy and understands the events which make him the adult he becomes. His dad was a great character and I had a lot of time for him, trying his best for his boys in difficult circumstances. There were a lot of memorable characters in the book including the wonderfully named Wheezy, the priest Father Paul and the very scary Meikle.
If you want a twist on the crime novel with a large helping of Scottish humour, this is the book for you. A very entertaining fast-paced debut novel. I'm looking forward to reading more by Lesley Kelly and rather hope that Stainsey might feature again!
This was a really gripping book and quite unusual in that the crime is being investigated by a rather dodgy character rather than the police. Joe's own life is in danger if he can't figure out who really killed Isa Stoddart and why. It is darkly funny and I particularly enjoyed the chapters of the book looking back at Joe's childhood and how he grew up. I think they are the reason why he is so likeable, because the reader gets to know him as a wee boy and understands the events which make him the adult he becomes. His dad was a great character and I had a lot of time for him, trying his best for his boys in difficult circumstances. There were a lot of memorable characters in the book including the wonderfully named Wheezy, the priest Father Paul and the very scary Meikle.
If you want a twist on the crime novel with a large helping of Scottish humour, this is the book for you. A very entertaining fast-paced debut novel. I'm looking forward to reading more by Lesley Kelly and rather hope that Stainsey might feature again!