Double Proof
Shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize
Published on 7. March 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-84697-649-0 (ISBN)
Description
Stolen whisky, drug dealers, bent cops, social influencers and yakuza mobsters. And Robbie Gould is caught in the middle.
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.
'A heady mix of corrupt coppers, dodgy drug dealers and Japanese gangsters, all spiced with dark humour' - Sally McDonald, Sunday Post
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.
'A heady mix of corrupt coppers, dodgy drug dealers and Japanese gangsters, all spiced with dark humour' - Sally McDonald, Sunday Post
Reviews / Votes
'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 Magazine * 'One of the best crime debuts of the year... both embraces and subverts genre stereotypes and expectations to create something fresh and exciting' * Scots Whay Hae podcast, 10 Best Crime Novels of 2024 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
270 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84697-649-0 (9781846976490)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2024
Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
€5.99
Available for download
Person
Martin Stewart's Young Adult work was published in the UK and US by Penguin Random House and nominated for several national awards. His Middle Grade series, Bridget Vanderpuff, launched in 2023 with Zephyr. Martin's work has been published all over the world and translated into multiple languages. A native of Glasgow, he now lives in Troon with his wife, two children and a very big dog. Double Proof is his adult fiction debut.