Canongate Books


Books published by Canongate Books

A Corruption of Blood

In 1850s Edinburgh, Dr Will Raven and his friend Sarah Fisher investigate the truth behind two deaths at different extremes of the social spectrum.

Reviewed on 20 August 2022 by Chris Roberts

Devil's Fjord

Tristan and Elsbeth Haraldsen move from the capital city of Torshavn in the Faroes to an isolated village on Vágar island. Tristan’s job is to ensure that rules of the grind, a whale hunt, are followed. Against his wishes he’s pushed into killing the animals on the day, and in the ensuing chaos two young boys go missing,

Reviewed on 20 August 2022 by Ewa Sherman

The Unusual Suspect

The true story of a would-be Robin Hood, a man who robbed banks and betting shops, and for an impressive time managed to evade capture.

Reviewed on 26 March 2022 by Chris Roberts

The Cutting Room

When Rilke is called to a house clearance in a respectable Glasgow suburb, he immediately knows he’s sitting on a goldmine, but the auction job turns out to have a darker side.

Reviewed on 22 January 2022 by Linda Wilson

The Second Cut

When Glasgow auctioneer Rilke’s old friend Jojo is found dead in a doorway, the police don’t seem that interested, but unlike them, Rilke isn’t quite so ready to write off Jojo’s death as an unfortunate by-product of a dissolute lifestyle.

Reviewed on 22 January 2022 by Linda Wilson

Bobby March Will Live Forever

When a young Glasgow girl is abducted, detective Harry McCoy is sidelined by a rival who’s been given charge of the case.

Reviewed on 04 July 2020 by Chris Roberts

The Art of Dying

Will Raven returns to Edinburgh a fully qualified doctor to find he must resolve his feelings for former housemaid Sarah Fisher as the pair plunge into the dark world of a serial killer.

Reviewed on 13 June 2020 by John Cleal

Wild Harbour

Pacifist couple Terry and Hugh flee to the Grampian wilderness to avoid Hugh being called up for a war with which they do not agree. 

Reviewed on 14 March 2020 by John Cleal

February's Son

Detective Harry McCoy of the Glasgow police is not long returned to duty when he is called out by his Chief inspector, Murray, to view a body found on the roof of a 14-storey tower block. The body, showing obvious signs of torture, turns out to be that of a well-known Celtic footballer.

Reviewed on 30 March 2019 by Arnold Taylor

How To Stop Time

Tom Hazard may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but he has lived for centuries. After frequently changing his identity to stay alive, he now craves an ordinary existence.

Reviewed on 08 December 2018 by John Cleal

The Way of All Flesh

Young women are dying in agony and Edinburgh medical student Will Raven, personally connected to one such death, sets out to discover why, aided by an intelligent and ambitious housemaid Sarah Fisher.

Reviewed on 13 October 2018 by John Cleal

The Fortunate Brother

The Now family are crushed by the loss of the eldest son and thrown into confusion when a local man is killed, a man who nobody had reason to like.

Reviewed on 11 November 2017 by Chris Roberts

The Satanic Mechanic

When a South African bushman is poisoned, an expert in sauces helps with the case, but is threatened herself before the culprit is caught.

Reviewed on 04 March 2017 by Chris Roberts

Recipes For Love & Murder

Tannie Maria runs a cooking and agony aunt column in her local newspaper, the Klein Karoo Gazette. When a correspondent is found killed Tannie must put all her common sense and cooking skills to find the murderer.

Reviewed on 15 October 2016 by Anthea Hawdon

Endgame

A writer takes a liking to a small town, but discovers that disputes between leading citizens result in a high murder rate. He becomes personally embroiled and eventually becomes involved in murder himself.

Reviewed on 06 August 2016 by Chris Roberts

Ten Days

Scheming politicians take on a new police chief as an incident on a London council estate sets the city ablaze.

Reviewed on 12 March 2016 by Sharon Wheeler