I’m not really a crime aficionado and read only the occasional detective story, but I met Chris Longmuir at the Love A Happy End event in June and I’ve been looking forward to her prize-winning Dead Wood ever since. Apart from anything else I’ve entered the Dundee Prize and was keen to see the kind of book that had come out on top! And the book is set In Dundee too, a city I know only slightly, but anywhere north of the border starts with an advantage in my eyes. Would it go anywhere to challenging Rebus’ Edinburgh in the Scottish crime stakes?
I did have some qualms. Chris mentioned that some people find the book particularly dark, but although there are grisly scenes and disturbing glimpses into the mind of the murderer, there was nothing I felt was gratuitously nasty or prompted the revulsion I have occasionally felt with tartan noir, so no worries on that score.
The story centres on Kara, a young Mum who, after a mix-up involving a drugs deal, comes close to being the victim of a serial killer. During all this she has been forced to leave her kids home alone, and as a result they are taken into care. Her primary motivation throughout the book is to get them back, but she does manage to report the killer’s activities to the local nick where we meet a hard-boiled detective struggling with a disintegrating private life. Sounds familiar? Yes, but this is no Rebus clone, because we also get to know a whole team of liaison officers and social workers dealing with the problems thrown up by Kara’s situation. The author has experience in this field, making for an authentic picture of police work today, involving as it does case conferences as well as incident rooms.
In the same way, Dundee makes a great backdrop to events: unglamorous, gritty and with just a whiff of the sea, not to mention some outlandish characters, like the hooker who keeps snakes – (so bizarre I’m hoping there’s a real-life equivalent somewhere!)
There is a big cast of characters and an intricate plot. Somewhere in the middle I got a bit lost in the past history of Templeton Woods but then everything clicked into place and it became clear that the killer was not just on the loose but (trying not to give too much away!) very close indeed to the investigating team.
The closing chapters keep everything simmering at just the right temperature, and the ending, in terms of Kara’s future, hits just the right note. A great read with all the right ingredients, this will appeal to all crime fans and maybe a few more besides.
Chris writes mainly crime, but if you like historical sagas, her Salt-splashed Cradle (e-book only) centred on a Victorian fishing community is well worth a look too.
Ali Bacon / Books and Other Things 
Thank you for a brilliant review, Ali. It was totally unexpected because I was unaware you were doing it. But what a lovely surprise to find it here. As for the hooker and the snakes, believe me, there is a real life equivalent and I’ve been in that room!
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Hi Chris – Some years ago I used to do ‘party plan’ her in Bristol and once arrived at my hostess’s place to discover the room full of snake tanks – very disconcerting, and obviously not just a Dundee thing!
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I agree, very disconcerting. However, in the job I had at the time it wouldn’t have done to show any discomfort or fear.
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Will shortly be reading Chris for the first time myself and can’t wait! She’s a very experienced and celebrated author and an amazing award winner. Love your review Ali!
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Brilliantly written review, as always, Alison. Dead Wood is already on my TBR mountain.
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The next book is in its final throes, Kit, and I’ll be down on bended knee looking for your services as an editor, so maybe you want to let Dead Wood escape from the mountain so you can get a flavour of my style! Of course I risk having you say ‘get another editor, it’s not for me!’
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What a fabulous review! I can see why you were so pleased, Chris. That’s one happy bunny tonight. 🙂 Well done, girls! :xx
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Oops, there’s a funny face at the end. Mine, I think! Please ignore. xx
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I thought that was a scared face!
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I read this soon after it came out. Since Chris and I had met already, first virtually then for real, I knew I had to read it. So, I put on my publicist hat and rustled up some interest in copies here in Canada and contacted Polygon. The result? Twelve signed by the author copies came to Canada. I loved Dead Wood. I’ve only been through Dundee – first time by way of the bus station and the second time passing through on our way back to Glasgow by way of Carnoustie (family there).
Dead Wood was absolutely brilliant! And possibly even scarier (only because i know the Templeton Woods murders) than Night Watcher.
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Hi Melanie – great transatalantic work! And I am totally embarassed at not realising the original Templeton woods murders were factual. Been away from Scotland too long!
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