{"product_id":"tombstoning-the-darkly-funny-gripping-debut-mystery-by-one-of-scotlands-finest-writers-20th-anniversary-edition-paperback","title":"Tombstoning: The Darkly Funny, Gripping Debut Mystery by One of Scotland's Finest Writers - 20th Anniversary Edition - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eDoug Johnstone\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid's best mate died falling off a cliff - and he was the last to see him alive. Fifteen years later, he returns to Arbroath, where another death forces him to face the past. A darkly funny, gripping debut from one of Scotland's finest writers - newly reissued.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eINTRODUCTION BY CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Very funny, with a touching and believable romance thrown in  \u003cb\u003eKate Saunders, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e [A] pacy debut thriller. . . Johnstone skilfully coaxes the reader into identifying with these difficult-to-love characters and maintains the tension and drama  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eMetro\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e [Leads] to comparisons with the Scots writer Christopher Brookmyre ... with a touch of romance [and] a gripping action sequence in the final chapters  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eScotsman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e____\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYour best mate just fell off a cliff in mysterious circumstances. You were the last person to see him alive. What do you do?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you're David Lindsay from Arbroath, you leg it - and don't go back. Not for fifteen years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen Nicola Cruickshank - yes, that Nicola, the girl you always fancied but never had the guts to speak to - gets in touch. She wants you back for a school reunion. At the very place it happened. Of course you say yes. Not to lay ghosts to rest, but because you still fancy Nicola.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe thing is, if you are David Lindsay, then returning to Arbroath isn't going to bring closure. Because when someone else tumbles off the cliffs - an act the locals now call\u003ci\u003e tombstoning \u003c\/i\u003e- David has a choice: run away again, or finally find out why people around him keep dying...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e____\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Detailed and atmospheric descriptions ... funny and sparky dialogue  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSunday Herald\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Excellently written, intriguing storyline, and different from anything else around. A very impressive debut  \u003cb\u003eAllan Guthrie\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A brilliant new author ... a rollicking tale of mystery set in Auld Reekie and the east coast town of Arbroath...   \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe List\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A vibrant and engaging debut, by turns humorous, irreverent and poignant  \u003cb\u003eBill Duncan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A seductive and thrilling evocation of what lurks beneath the surface of small-town Scotland - or, indeed, small-town anywhere  \u003cb\u003eChristopher Brookmyre\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for Doug Johnstone\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Tense, funny and deeply moving  \u003cb\u003eMark Billingham\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone ... speaks volumes about the power of story  \u003cb\u003eVal McDermid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHerald Scotland\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Gripping and blackly humorous  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eObserver\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eGuardian\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaily Express\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Keeps you hungry from page to page. A crime reader can't ask anything more  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSun\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A thrilling, atmospheric book ... Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!  \u003cb\u003eKate Rhodes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch  \u003cb\u003eGytha Lodge\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e One of the greats of Scottish crime fiction  \u003cb\u003eLuca Veste\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoug Johnstone \u003c\/b\u003eis the author of fourteen novels, including \u003ci\u003eThe Great Silence\u003c\/i\u003e, the third book in the acclaimed Skelfs series, which has been optioned for television. In 2021, \u003ci\u003eThe Big Chill\u003c\/i\u003e, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, while in 2020, \u003ci\u003eA Dark Matter\u003c\/i\u003e, the series opener, was shortlisted for both the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year Award. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The series continued with \u003ci\u003eBlack Hearts\u003c\/i\u003e (book four, 2022) and \u003ci\u003eThe Opposite of Lonely\u003c\/i\u003e (book five, 2023). Several of Johnstone's novels have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Space Between Us\u003c\/i\u003e, was selected as a BBC2 \u003ci\u003eBetween the Covers\u003c\/i\u003e pick. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Alongside writing, Johnstone has taught creative writing, served as writer-in-residence at various institutions, and worked as an arts journalist for over twenty years. A musician and songwriter, he has released five albums and three EPs and plays drums with the band The Fun Lovin' Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh. \u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 300\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.91 x 7.71 x 5.01 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 14, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53655708172653,"sku":"9781917764186","price":25.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1001\/0823\/9213\/files\/sqqoQUtGHJ9781917764186.webp?v=1785968421","url":"https:\/\/cleanfreaklab.myshopify.com\/products\/tombstoning-the-darkly-funny-gripping-debut-mystery-by-one-of-scotlands-finest-writers-20th-anniversary-edition-paperback","provider":"Clean Freak Lab","version":"1.0","type":"link"}