Breakers by Doug Johnstone-Crime /contemporary urban

Tyler is a good guy at heart. He is still at school himself and takes care of his younger sister

Bethany affectionately known as Bean, as their mother is more often than not the worse for

wear on either drugs or vodka or both. He has older siblings in the form of Barry and Kelly

(who are in a relationship). Barry is a bully and will knock Tyler about for the slightest thing

. Barry rules with his fists. In order to survive in the easiest way possible the three of them

break into houses in the better parts of the area. They need Tyler as he is small and can

get through fanlights, although he is getting bigger and doesn’t want Barry to bring Bean

into this. Tyler does his best and really wishes that he  wasn’t involved in housebreaking.

One night things take a different turn and Barry pulls a knife. The recipient is the wife of

the local gang lord and revenge is on the cards. Tyler meets a friend in the most unusual

of places and his thoughts are starting to strengthen. I really took to this and wanted

Tyler to do the right thing by him and seven year old Bean having been let down by

the authorities for care. One where the heart in the right place makes good.

A moving tale. an excellent plot, a wonderful story.

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‘A cracking and highly original thriller. Johnstone never fails to deliver’ Mark Billingham ‘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 ‘Doug Johnstone is Scotland’s truest exponent of noir. He writes novels that are punchy, fast-paced and sometimes gruellingly dark; unflinchingly challenging his readers by taking them to places that are emotionally and ideologically uncomfortable’ Chris Brookmyre Seventeen-year-old Tyler lives in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived areas. Whilst trying to care for his little sister and his drug-addicted mother, he’s also coerced into robbing rich people’s homes by his bullying older siblings. One night whilst on a job, his brother Barry stabs a homeowner and leaves her for dead. And that ’s just the beginning of their nightmare, because they soon discover 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 terrible danger, Tyler is running out of options, until he meets posh girl Flick in another stranger’s house. Could she be his salvation? Or will he end up dragging her down with him? ‘Doug Johnstone never fails to deliver’ Mark Billingham AUTHOR BIO

Doug Johnstone is an author, journalist and musician based in Edinburgh. He’s had nine novels published, most recently Fault Lines. His previous novel, The Jump, was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his other novels have been award winners and bestsellers, and he’s had short stories published in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. His work has been praised by the likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. Several of his novels have been optioned for film and television. Doug is also a Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow. He’s worked as an RLF Fellow at Queen Margaret University, taught creative writing at Strathclyde University and William Purves Funeral Directors. He mentors and assesses manuscripts for The Literary Consultancy and regularly tutors at Moniack Mhor writing retreat. Doug has released seven albums in various bands, and is drummer, vocalist and occasional guitarist for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He also reviews books for The Big Issue magazine, is player-manager for Scotland Writers Football Club and has a PhD in nuclear physics