{"product_id":"a-dark-matter-volume-1-paperback","title":"A Dark Matter: Volume 1 - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eDoug Johnstone\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThree generations of women from the Skelfs family take over the family funeral home and PI businesses in the first book of a taut, gripping page-turning and darkly funny new series. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year*** \u003cbr\u003e ***Shortlisted for the Amazon Publishing Capital Crime Awards*** \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHerald Scotland\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'Gripping and blackly humorous' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'I was addicted from the first page; gripping, gritty and darkly funny as hell' \u003cb\u003eErin Kelly\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e '\u003ci\u003eA Dark Matter\u003c\/i\u003e showcases a writer at the peak of his powers, except that with every book, Doug Johnstone just gets better' \u003cb\u003eVal McDermid\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e _________________ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e When patriarch Jim dies, it's left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn't the husband she thought he was. Hannah's best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eA compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, \u003ci\u003eA Dark Matter\u003c\/i\u003e introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e _________________ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'A fiendish mystery that is also deeply moving and laced with suitably dark humour ... set to be one of the books of the year' \u003cb\u003eMark Billingham\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'Emotionally complex, richly layered and darkly funny. An addictive blend of \u003ci\u003eCase Histories\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSix Feet Under\u003c\/i\u003e' \u003cb\u003eChris Brookmyre\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'This dark but touching thriller makes for a thoroughly enjoyable slice of Edinburgh noir' \u003cb\u003eMary Paulson-Ellis\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief, as the three tough but tender main characters pick up the pieces and carry on: more, please' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'A tense ride ... strong, believable characters' \u003cb\u003eKerry Hudson, \u003ci\u003eBig Issue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 'They are all wonderful characters: flawed, funny, brave -- and well set up for a series. I wouldn't call him cosy, but there's warmth to Johnstone's writing' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoug Johnstone\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of 10 novels, including \u003ci\u003eBreakers\u003c\/i\u003e, which was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year, and\u003ci\u003e Fault Lines\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 300\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 x 7.7 x 5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 01, 2020\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42700234489919,"sku":"9781912374984","price":19.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/1181a9aea58ab0fce3f8d9b25aa7eb12.webp?v=1765015968","url":"https:\/\/dhlswag.com\/products\/a-dark-matter-volume-1-paperback","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}