Info
Written By: Doug Johnstone.
Published By: Orenda Books.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review, also thanks to Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to the tour.
Overview
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…
Overview taken from the official book press release.
Review
Another great book from the Orenda Books stable and another great Skelf book, although this is my first of the series so I do have some catching up to do. Now with that being said that I am starting late in the series the book itself I didn't feel lost and still felt the story flowed quite nicely
The book itself has more twists and turns than a race track with funerals turning into utter chaos thanks to a drone attack, things are about to happen that will turn the Skelf's lives upside down and although investigations are kind of their thing this time it may well be a little different, gang warfare and people going missing are about to turn this little part of the world on it's head.
Although I haven't read any of the other Skelf books I didn't feel like I was lost reading this book it may have given me more of a background to who everyone was but I quite quickly built up a reasonable picture of who everyone was. Doug Johnstone is a great thriller writer that's for sure I was sat up on the edge of my seat from the word go, even at the beginning stages you always got that impression that something was building in the background.
Summary
Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the reading experience stepping into a wonderfully dark world that Doug had created, the Skelf's definitely have been dealt some rough cards but they are truly playing the best game they can with the cards they have been given but it is most definitely a rough ride.
Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐
GOOD
I give Living is a Problem a good rating of 4 ⭐ a thriller that is wonderfully dark and full of many twists and turns. This book leaves an impression on you but in the best way possible - definitely a book on the recommendation list.
Note on the Author
Doug Johnstone is the author of seventeen 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 for and The Big Chill was 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.
This review was part of the Random Things Blog Tour please check out the other bloggers on the tour
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