Published: Aug. 01, 2010
Words: 18,396 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781452333595

Short description

When a seven-year-old boy disappears after school, the case is handed to Detective Frank Collins. He's been looking to lead a high-profile case for a while, and sets out determined to prove his worth. But the missing schoolboy is only a trigger for another crime. Someone is intent on exploiting the boy's grief-stricken mother. And they have plans for Frank Collins too.

Extended description

When a seven-year-old boy disappears after school, the case is handed to Detective Frank Collins. He's been looking to lead a high-profile case for a while, and sets out determined to prove his worth. But the missing schoolboy is only a trigger for another crime. Someone is intent on exploiting the boy's grief-stricken mother. And they have plans for Frank Collins too.

Praise for BYE BYE BABY

"The approach is so fresh that it makes the whole thing feel like the first time I've read a police story" Do Some Damage (Read more) When a seven-year-old boy disappears after school, the case is handed to Detective Frank Collins. He's been looking to lead a high-profile case for a while, and sets out determined to prove his worth. But the missing schoolboy is only a trigger for another crime. Someone is intent on exploiting the boy's grief-stricken mother. And they have plans for Frank Collins too.

Praise for BYE BYE BABY

"The approach is so fresh that it makes the whole thing feel like the first time I've read a police story" Do Some Damage

"...a purely original, funny, sharp piece of writing. It has a plot that develops in an unorthodox, non-linear fashion--hardly resembling many of the police procedurals I've read. It's often noted that Guthrie is one of the top working mystery writers, and he certainly lives up to that reputation..." Death By Killing

"A story that moves quickly, in short chapters of crisp prose, with plenty of plot turns to hold the attention, and characters you can love and others you can hate... Like Guthrie's full-length novels, Bye Bye Baby is sly, noir as all hell (more noir than some, actually), and it just might bring a tear of pity to your eyes. It's a police procedural filled with incident and back story, and man, what an ending." Detectives Beyond Borders

"...a dark, clever, funny and sad story which races along to reach a smart conclusion. A tough and lovely slice of the hard side of life." You Would Say That, Wouldn't You?

Praise for SLAMMER by Allan Guthrie

"SLAMMER is the most relentlessly page-turning novel this reviewer has come across in a long, long time, but Guthrie does so much more than just throw visceral action and sharp banter at the reader, teasing and cajoling us with red herrings and subtle foreshadowing, delving deep inside a mind that is quickly unravelling into psychotic madness. At SLAMMER's core is a surprisingly subtle examination of what it means to be good or evil, and how easily that distinction can become blurred. Guthrie creates empathy for all his characters – there are no faceless monsters here – and in portraying the prisoners and their guards as two sides of the same human coin, he nails a universal truth about the nature of life and about the way we differentiate good and bad, sanity and madness." The Scotsman

"This is Guthrie's masterpiece to date, grim and brutal in tone, cunning in design and flawless in the telling. Guthrie keeps the numerous plot turns both exciting and believable. There is a surprise twist in the middle of the novel that stuns the reader and makes the pace even faster...SLAMMER is not only artful, it's real art." Bookgasm

"...an absolute masterpiece, really should be at the top of everyone's "must-read" list" Eurocrime

"...a gripping psychological crime novel. When we speak of those on the forefront of dark fiction ...Guthrie’s name is near the top of the list, and SLAMMER proves why." Bookspot Central

"a dark jigsaw-puzzle of a book... expect moments of 'oh, I see!' mingled with sharp sadness. Nick Glass is an unforgettable protagonist and Guthrie has placed him in a darkly tragic, poignant, and ultimately satisfying psychological thriller." The Drowning Machine

"Guthrie's prose is a series of short, sharp shocks, reeking of the visceral brutality of the toughest contemporary noir. While this won't be to everyone's taste, those who enjoy the darker side of the genre are in for some serious thrills." The Guardian

"one of the best thrillers of the year" The Editor's Notebook
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Tags

crime, mystery, police, scotland, detective, kidnap, novella

Available ebook reading formats

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Reviews

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Review by: Paul D Brazill on Feb. 05, 2011 :
A dark, clever, funny and sad story which races along to reach a smart conclusion. A tough and lovely slice of the hard side of life.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Paul D Brazill on Oct. 20, 2010 : (no rating)
A tough and lovely slice of the hard side of life.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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