Overview

A body lost at sea, arson, murder, astronauts, wind phones, communal funerals, stalking and conspiracy theories … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unnerving and warmly funny as ever!   ‘A terrific read with all of Johnston’s trademark warmth and wicked wit in the latest gripping outing for this beguiling family’ A K Turner    ‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction. Pitch-perfect balance of dark and light … disturbing, compassionate and brilliantly funny’ Sarah Hilary   'The Skelfs series just gets better and better! Outstanding characters and a gripping plot … Doug Johnstone is one of the greats of Scottish crime fiction' Luca Veste   ____________   Even death needs company…   The Skelf women are recovering from the cataclysmic events that nearly claimed their lives. Their funeral-director and private-investigation businesses are back on track, and their cases are as perplexing as ever.   Matriarch Dorothy looks into a suspicious fire at an illegal campsite and takes a grieving, homeless man under her wing. Daughter Jenny is searching for her missing sister-in-law, who disappeared in tragic circumstances, while grand-daughter Hannah is asked to investigate increasingly dangerous conspiracy theorists, who are targeting a retired female astronaut … putting her own life at risk.   With a body lost at sea, funerals for those with no one to mourn them, reports of strange happenings in outer space, a funeral crasher with a painful secret, and a violent attack on one of the family, The Skelfs face their most personal – and perilous – cases yet. Doing things their way may cost them everything…   Tense, unnerving and warmly funny, The Opposite of Lonely is the hugely anticipated fifth instalment in the unforgettable Skelfs series, and this time, danger comes from everywhere…   _________________________   ‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly   ‘Authentic female characters … Short, punchy chapters mean that the pace is brisk, and Johnstone’s deft way of portraying old and new characters means that even novice readers of the series won’t be left behind’ Scotsman   'An absolute joy to read … full of such wonderful characters, brilliantly realised, with more peril and intrigue. Certainly the best one yet' James Oswald   ‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times   Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge   ‘A unique brand of crime fiction boasting rare heart and depth’ Ambrose Parry   ‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ Daily Express   ‘Gritty, atmospheric and, above all, profoundly moving. An emotional education in the most unexpected of ways … I loved it’ Sarah Sultoon   ‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly   ‘The Skelfs books are brilliant’ Miranda Dickinson   ***SHORTLISTED FOR THEAKSTON’S OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR***  

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9781914585807

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Reviews

Praise for the series: 'Exceptional ... a must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists' Publishers Weekly 'A new outing for the Skelfs deserves dancing in the streets of Edinburgh' Val McDermid 'A total delight to be returned to the dark, funny, compulsive world of the Skelfs ... Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch. Brilliant!' Gytha Lodge, author, Little Sister 'An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones' Herald Scotland 'Gripping and blackly humorous' Observer 'A tense ride strong, believable characters' Kerry Hudson, Big Issue 'The power of this book, though, lies in the warm personalities and dark humour of the Skelfs, and by the end readers will be just as interested in their relationships with each other as the mysteries they are trying to solve' Scotsman 'A thrilling, atmospheric book, set in the dark streets of Edinburgh. Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!' Kate Rhodes, author, Crossbones Yard 'This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please' Guardian 'Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave' Sunday Times

"""The squeamish may balk at the details of modern corpse disposal (and drugs, drumming and dogging) but others will find them more than fascinating. Doug Johnstone's trademark gallows humour - in what has become a brilliant series - does not preclude compassion. He may view humans as ""haunted meat, waiting to die"" but the persistence of love in the Skelf household, no matter what fate flings at it, is both reassuring and life-affirming."" --The Times Praise for the series: 'Exceptional ... a must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists' Publishers Weekly 'A new outing for the Skelfs deserves dancing in the streets of Edinburgh' Val McDermid 'A total delight to be returned to the dark, funny, compulsive world of the Skelfs ... Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch. Brilliant!' Gytha Lodge, author, Little Sister 'An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones' Herald Scotland 'Gripping and blackly humorous' Observer 'A tense ride strong, believable characters' Kerry Hudson, Big Issue 'The power of this book, though, lies in the warm personalities and dark humour of the Skelfs, and by the end readers will be just as interested in their relationships with each other as the mysteries they are trying to solve' Scotsman 'A thrilling, atmospheric book, set in the dark streets of Edinburgh. Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!' Kate Rhodes, author, Crossbones Yard 'This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please' Guardian 'Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave' Sunday Times"

Author Information

Doug Johnstone is the author of twelve novels, most recently The Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for TV. In 2021,The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), will be published in 2022. Several of his books have been best sellers and award winners, and his work has been praised by the likes of Val McDermid, Irvine Welsh and Ian Rankin. He's taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin' Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He's also player-manager of the Scotland Writers Football Club. He lives in Edinburgh.

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