Double Proof

Martin Stewart author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Birlinn General

Published:7th Mar '24

£9.99

Available for immediate dispatch.

Double Proof cover

1964. A hoard of the finest Scotch whisky ever made – the legendary Dalziel Double Proof – goes missing.

2023. Albie, youngest son of the wealthy Dalziel family, vanishes. His desperate mother turns to Robbie Gould, a disgraced reporter with a reputation as a 'psychic crimebuster'.

Broke and unemployed, Gould is in no position to turn down the job. He throws himself into a twisted chain of criminals, bent cops and Japanese gangsters, but when someone fires a shotgun through his door, he realises he doesn't need supernatural powers to see how deadly the situation has become.

'This is the kind of zany novel in which a dope-dealer’s dogs are not dobermans but miniature dachshunds, and a family of gangsters are called the Sangsters. Fans of graphic comedy — as purveyed by Chris Brookmyre and Stuart MacBride — will love it'

* Times *

'a piece of very enjoyable fiction... this detective story is written with great verve and introduces us to an engaging hero'

-- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *

'Relentless pace, katana-sharp humour and an endearingly irascible protagonist make Double Proof irresistibly entertaining'

-- Chris Brookmyre

'A rollicking thrill-ride of a novel, whip-smart and shot through with the darkest comedy. Martin Stewart is a fresh and exciting new voice in Scottish crime fiction'

-- Doug Johnstone

'a real caper... seriously laugh-out-loud'

-- Michelle McManus * BBC Afternoon Show *

'a cracking good read... so witty, so caustic... the sort of book you have to read sitting bolt up'

-- Breege Smyth * Oban FM *

'a heady mix of corrupt coppers, dodgy drug dealers and Japanese gangsters, all spiced with dark humour and hints of another kind of spirit'

-- Sally McDonald * Sunday Post *

'More than just a capable debut into the adult market, Double Proof is a solid, confidently-told tale laced with sardonic wit and driven by cat-and-mouse energy'

-- Alastair Mabbott * Herald *

'A slick slice of Tartan Noir. With indelible characters and a satisfying plot . . .  the book is knitted together expertly with pathos and humour to offset the gritty action within the pages'

-- Stuart Johnstone, author of Out in the Cold

'There is plenty of tension, and behind the humour, a whole lot of underlying threat... The pacing of this book was spot on'

* JenMedBooksBookReviews *

'Raw and amusing by turns ― occasionally even at the same time. Martin Stewart is a new and innovative voice in psychological thriller-writing to look out for'

-- Carola Huttmann * Bookmunch *

'This funny, gritty novel... keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the final page'

* Jelly Books *

'The novel manages to bring fresh ideas and faces to the genre'

* SNACK Magazi

ISBN: 9781846976490

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 22mm

Weight: 264g

272 pages