You've got this book, I'm sure. If you haven't, then read on and then go and get yourself a copy. It belongs on any noir fan's shelves.
It's over 20 years since this was first published, which I'm finding difficult to comprehend. Hell, that's a long time. It was a Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel Of The Year back in 2007 and launched the writing career of the writing talent that is Allan Guthrie.
More importantly, it altered the direction of my life and, for that, I feel very fortunate indeed. Let me explain.
I happened to be passing Waterstones on Princes Street when I saw a poster for an event. It explained that Al would be reading from his debut novel. I can't recall whether there were any books on display or whether I checked them out, but the cover for it was so insanely good and insane that I needed to go along. It was a special evening. The reading blew me away and the Q&A went so well that I bought my copy and I loved it for it's energy, darkness and noir sensibilities. In short, it broke the mould for me, or possibly reset an old mould created long ago across the pond. On a personal and a from the point of view of my writing, the rest is history.
What was that you said? You missed it the first time around? Well have no fear, it's just been re-released by Grey Dog Books with a brand new cover. It's even out there as an Audiobook via Audible, read by the talented Angus King.
In case I haven't convinced you, check out what these others had to say:
Praise for Two-Way Split:
"With razor-sharp characterisation and an evocative sense of place, the novel's pace never relents: the supremely damaged characters that Guthrie conjures up are seldom let off the hook, and stew throughout in their fetid juices. Dark and splendid." — The Guardian
"Seek him out and buy his book." — Ian Rankin
"Excellent." — George Pelecanos
"In the tradition of Irvine Welsh and Ian Rankin, Allan Guthrie chronicles life in the underbelly of Edinburgh with dazzling grace. TWO-WAY SPLIT is a hard-edged, fast-paced noir thriller with outstanding dialogue and plenty of unforgettable bad guys. It's Scottish crime fiction with a unique American hard-boiled twist." — Jason Starr
"Scottish crime noir at its best" — Sunday Independent
"the tension ratchets up with each snatch of mayhem" — Sunday Herald
"...a memorable and stunning and pitch-perfect debut and one you should grab forthwith. I can't remember a first novel this good in a long, long time." — Mystery Scene
"Allan Guthrie is a master at giving readers heroes who are anti-heroes, people who they can easily identify with and care about. In Guthrie’s world, unconventional becomes conventional, sanity is found in madness, love springs from the dark. Critics are fond of calling books like Guthrie’s neon noir or hard-boiled fiction. Call it anything you want, but read ‘Two-Way Split.’ It is damn good fiction." — The New Review
And here's what it's all about:
Winner of the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year and shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger, TWO-WAY SPLIT announced the arrival of a major new voice in crime fiction.
One bad decision. No way out.
Robin Greaves is having a very bad day. When compromising photographs surface, revenge is on his mind, but the robbery meant to fix everything goes catastrophically wrong.
Now he’s on the run. The police are closing in. Two private detectives are circling for their own grubby reasons. And somewhere in the chaos, a ruthless killer has decided Robin needs to die.
For most people, that would be enough. For Robin, it’s worse – he hasn’t been taking his medication. Reality is slippery. Paranoia is rising. And every choice he makes drags him deeper into trouble.
TWO-WAY SPLIT is a lean, ferocious crime thriller, stripped to the bone and powered by hard violence, black humour and a dangerously unstable central character. It never lets its protagonist off the hook and it never lets the reader catch their breath.
No comments:
Post a Comment