{"product_id":"tombstoning-doug-johnstone-9781917764186","title":"Tombstoning: The Darkly Funny, Gripping Debut Mystery by One of Scotland's Finest Writers - 20th Anniversary Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid's best mate died falling off a cliff - and he was the last to see him alive. Fifteen years later, he returns to Arbroath, where another death forces him to face the past. A darkly funny, gripping debut from one of Scotland's finest writers - newly reissued.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eINTRODUCTION BY CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Very funny, with a touching and believable romance thrown in  \u003cb\u003eKate Saunders, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e [A] pacy debut thriller. . . Johnstone skilfully coaxes the reader into identifying with these difficult-to-love characters and maintains the tension and drama  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eMetro\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e [Leads] to comparisons with the Scots writer Christopher Brookmyre ... with a touch of romance [and] a gripping action sequence in the final chapters  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eScotsman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e____\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYour best mate just fell off a cliff in mysterious circumstances. You were the last person to see him alive. What do you do?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you're David Lindsay from Arbroath, you leg it - and don't go back. Not for fifteen years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen Nicola Cruickshank - yes, that Nicola, the girl you always fancied but never had the guts to speak to - gets in touch. She wants you back for a school reunion. At the very place it happened. Of course you say yes. Not to lay ghosts to rest, but because you still fancy Nicola.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe thing is, if you are David Lindsay, then returning to Arbroath isn't going to bring closure. Because when someone else tumbles off the cliffs - an act the locals now call\u003ci\u003e tombstoning \u003c\/i\u003e- David has a choice: run away again, or finally find out why people around him keep dying...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e____\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Detailed and atmospheric descriptions ... funny and sparky dialogue  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSunday Herald\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Excellently written, intriguing storyline, and different from anything else around. A very impressive debut  \u003cb\u003eAllan Guthrie\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A brilliant new author ... a rollicking tale of mystery set in Auld Reekie and the east coast town of Arbroath...   \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe List\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A vibrant and engaging debut, by turns humorous, irreverent and poignant  \u003cb\u003eBill Duncan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A seductive and thrilling evocation of what lurks beneath the surface of small-town Scotland - or, indeed, small-town anywhere  \u003cb\u003eChristopher Brookmyre\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for Doug Johnstone\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Tense, funny and deeply moving  \u003cb\u003eMark Billingham\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone ... speaks volumes about the power of story  \u003cb\u003eVal McDermid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHerald Scotland\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Gripping and blackly humorous  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eObserver\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eGuardian\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaily Express\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Keeps you hungry from page to page. A crime reader can't ask anything more  \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSun\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e A thrilling, atmospheric book ... Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!  \u003cb\u003eKate Rhodes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch  \u003cb\u003eGytha Lodge\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e One of the greats of Scottish crime fiction  \u003cb\u003eLuca Veste\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Doug Johnstone\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1917764189\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781917764186\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Orenda Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/14\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 300\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback","brand":"Doug Johnstone","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48623571239167,"sku":"9781917764186","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/tombstoning-doug-johnstone-9781917764186","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}