The likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Denise Mina have become household names and figureheads for Scottish crime fiction. One of the latest to join this crew is Andrew Raymond, whose DCI John Lomond series, set in Glasgow, has built a dedicated readership, which grows with each new novel. After initially self-publishing digitally, Raymond has signed with Vinci Books whose print editions are finding him new audiences in the UK and North America. Books five and six in the series, The Long Dark and The Ferryman, have been published simultaneously, forming something of a two-part story. Even though it picks up threads from elsewhere and sets up those to come, The Long Dark is surprisingly self-contained police procedural and is a fine jumping-on point for anyone yet to meet Lomond.
It opens with a flashback to a young Lomond in the early noughties and his involvement in a major incident. He’s far from the world-weary, man of authority we’ve come to know. It’s an intriguing juxtaposition and ponders the question of whether Raymond plans to explore more of Lomond’s past in upcoming editions. This incident links to the death of Jack Beattie, something of a legend in the force. In his retirement, he had become a consultant on a smash hit detective show but he has been murdered on the set.
Beattie’s death sets in motion a chain of events that quickly escalate. With rumblings of an abuse scandal within the upper echelons of the Glasgow police and questions about Lomond’s own team and their mental state after losing a colleague, there is a lot for him to juggle. He manages to weave effortlessly between the seemingly disparate threads, eventually showing there are links, no matter how subtle, between the events of the past, buried evidence and Beattie’s murder. At under 400 pages, it is impressive how well Raymond balances the plotlines, introducing new characters and maintaining ongoing subplots from the previous novels.
There are certainly the hallmarks of detective fiction and shades of familiarity on occasion but Raymond has created that rare beast: a fresh spin on detective fiction and in turn Tartan noir. It’s an eclectic ensemble anchored by Lomond but finding room to flesh out the wider crew, with new additions here who look set to feature in future instalments.
Lomond, as a central character, is one of the most compelling in the contemporary detective genre. There are certainly parallels to Ian Rankin’s Rebus, but Lomond is very much his own man, fighting his own demons. The eclectic personnel of his team add a unique spin that feels of the moment. Even with five novels under his belt in this series, it feels like there are plenty more stories for Raymond and his detectives to investigate.
The Long Dark is a fast-paced, at times breathless read, but impressively one that never sacrifices character development for the sake of action. There is a sense of familiarity perhaps at times but enough original ideas to feel fresh in a congested genre. The pain and grief of the team is at its core and even though this is a Lomond novel, the whole ensemble is fleshed out in a way that means each member feels integral and with a purpose in the investigation. Raymond also gives us insight into their lives away from the work; no one feels underserved.
While the main investigation is wrapped up, there are plenty of details left unresolved for The Ferryman, Raymond whetting the appetite for further novels with DCI Lomond and his team.
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Vinci Books
Paperback
£9.99
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
