Neil Broadfoot – The Storm

A clean-cut Tartan Noir thriller that keeps you reading, if not guessing

Since the release of Falling Fast, the debut novel which earned him a nomination for Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2014, Neil Broadfoot has established himself as something of a heavyweight newcomer in the world of Tartan Noir. His second novel, The Storm, picks up where the first left off: expertly telling the rapid, frantic story of crime reporter Doug McGregor and Detective Sergeant Susie Drummond as they attempt to solve an Edinburgh-wide mass murder case.

Both characters have connections to the killings: Doug sees his editor shot in front of him, and Susie is inadvertently a witness to the death of a prominent lawyer. Their professional obligations are undercut by their personal feelings towards the case; a conflict that Broadfoot handles well and takes care not to overplay. The story’s conclusion is solid, though a little predictable, while the incisive prose and intelligent use of mixed narratives work together to keep interest in the story peaked. This is a swift, clean-cut thriller that may not keep you guessing, but will almost certainly keep you reading.

Out on Thu 7 May, published by Saraband.