I love a great crime series, and am especially a big fan of the Skelf novels by bestselling writer Doug Johnstone. I have read and loved every book in the series as they are always thought provoking and dramatic. The latest novel in the series, Living is Problem, which is released tomorrow (12 September 2024) is definitely no exception! Crikey, this book really has left it’s emotional mark on me! Doug Johnstone has ended it on quite the emotional cliff hanger, and I am now desperate to discover what’s next in store for the kick-ass Skelf women and their extended family.
If you have not read any of the Skelf novels, then I urge you to do so. Set in Edinburgh off the tourist track, these are darkly addictive, character driven crime novels, all told from the point of view of three fantastic and flawed female protagonists.
- A Dark Matter; grit, intrigue and humour
- The Big Chill; a cracking crime sequel
- Black Hearts; tense, dark and explosive
- The Opposite of Lonely; another great Skelf adventure
Dorothy Skelf is the compassionate, brave matriarch who in this novel is now very much aware of her age; Jenny, Dorothy’s daughter, who after years of emotional and physical trauma, now has the chance to grasp love and emotional stability if she has the courage to do so; and Hannah, Jenny’s happily married daughter and Dorothy’s granddaughter who is somewhat a bit lost after completing her PhD. This, along with the case of the purposeful disturbance of the grave of a stillborn baby, leads Hannah to the concept of panpsychism, which as a reader, is truly fascinating.
The Skelf women are well known throughout the city for running their two family businesses; a funeral director’s which in this latest novel they rebrand it to become an undertakers (the different use of wording I had never considered before reading this novel); and a private investigating agency. Yet, with drama and turmoil never far away, the two businesses often become dangerously interwoven. This is certainly the case in Living Is A Problem with the Skelf funerals being targeted by horrendous and malicious drone attacks, causing Jenny to seek out the murky world of Edinburgh’s ganglands.
Like the previous Skelf novels, Living Is A Problem is quirky and very moving. I especially feel Dorothy’s personal story is extremely moving as she appears to be loosing one of her most stable forces that emotionally and spiritually props her up. This is a tragic, emotional and compelling story that explores the true destructive power of PTSD.
From reading and thoroughly enjoying all the Skelf novels, I have always been aware that music plays an important role in Doug Johnstone’s narratives. But if I am honest, I have not really paid that much attention to this aspect of the stories; most likely because I’ve been so consumed by the plots. However Living Is A Problem has changed this for me. This is probably because this novel, like the others explores deep societal issues issues, and in doing so, has aptly titled it after a Biffy Clyro song. This led me to listening to many of the other songs included in the narrative, and seeking out the Skelf’s playlist, which is not difficult to find. I’m listening to it now as I write and it’s fab!
Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to the blog tour of Living Is A Problem. Believe me, the Skelf crime series is not to be missed!
To follow the blog tour, please see below.
Living Is A Problem is released by Orenda Books on Thursday 12 September 2024.
Thanks for the blog tour support x