So this year I brought the Davie McCall quartet to a close and began a new series.
I admit the change in style – from the gritty realism of the McCall books to the wisecracking world of Dominic Queste – was always a gamble.
Would readers accept it? Would the mix of thrills and humour- with underlying darkness – appeal?
The reaction I’ve had so far to The Dead Don’t Boogie has been heartening.
Reviewers have commented on the humour, darkness, pop culture references and the cinematic nature of the action. So if there are any producers out there looking for the next big thing, gimme a call. Don’t be shy.
Yes, there are those who miss Davie, because you do like a bad boy, but Dominic is holding his own. It’s a disgusting habit but it keeps him happy.
There is a host of great reviews on that on-line store. Readers have also taken to blogs to praise the book. I am extremely grateful to them all.
Sharon Bairden was first off the block with a review on her Chapter in My Life Blog.
She said:
This review on Undiscovered Scotland worried me at the start but I breathed considerably easier within a few lines.
‘Douglas Skelton’s first outing for his protagonist Dominic Queste is a great read that draws you in and keeps you hooked until it spits you out, 235 extremely enjoyable pages later.’
Read the full review here:
Gordon McGhie at Grab This Book said:
‘You will find that Dominic Queste will have you laughing out loud one minute and then tensely gripping the edge of your book the next.’
Read his review here:
Gordon also selected it as one of his top five Scottish reads for 2016.
Top Five Scottish titles
The Times Book Club then said the book was ‘darkly witty’.
Scots Wha Hae said ‘This is modern pulp fiction at its best.’
Read the full review here:
It was also included in their best of 2016:
Best of 2016
Crime Fiction Lover also enjoyed the book.
‘The Dead Don’t Boogie is a heady mixture of hardboiled detective novel and super-sharp black humour.’
Read the full review here:
Reviewer Craig Sisterson said ‘I raced to the end of the book with a grin on my face’.
Read his full review here:
Top crime writer Alex Gray said the book was ‘Different, quirky’ and made her laugh out loud. She chose it as as one of her top reads in both The Times and the Herald.
While Shari Low also included it in a Christmas round-up of top Scottish books in the Daily Record Book Club
Now Crime Review UK have said the book is ‘fast-paced’ and ‘witty’.
Here’s the full review:
The influential Crime Time site placed it at number 86 in their top 100 for 2016
Caro Ramsay, bestselling author and the living embodiment of ace sleuth Letitia Luvibod, very kindly chose Boogie as her top read for 2016 for the Daily Record Book Club.
And Simon Lloyd of Waterstones in Falkirk chose Boogie as his review in the Sunday Mail in January. Thanks, Simon – and glad you liked it.
Thanks to all who have taken the time to both read and review any of my books, whether in a blog, on Amazon or Goodreads. They are always appreciated – and very, very, VERY necessary.
And, of course, there’s always room for more!
(If I’ve missed any – please let me know)