- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: New English Library; New edition edition (15 April 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340694939
- ISBN-13: 978-0340694930
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.2 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 564,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The acclaim that greeted Johnston's earlier Body Politic, which won the Crime Writers' Association Award for best first crime novel, was accompanied by a fierce debate: Was this a crime novel or a science fiction novel? Similar argument is likely to surround this equally accomplished follow-up, set in 21st-century Edinburgh. But although the trappings may be futuristic, they're not excessively so--this is essentially the hard- boiled Scotland we're familiar with from writers such as Ian Rankin. Johnston again has a flinty satiric edge in his tale of grisly murder. In his oppressive, crime-free independent city state, run by a council of city guardians, a series of murders is upsetting the rigidly regulated status quo. The victims have music tapes planted inside their bodies: and Johnston quickly has his anti- establishment private eye hero Quintilian Dalrymple in the thick of things, struggling with low-life and official corruption (accompanied by his Watson, Davie). When the trail runs cold, Dalrymple finds that the mysterious Bone Yard is the key to the mutilations. All he has to do is figure out what it is.
As before, Johnston fills in the fascinating background of his sinister society with seamless skill. If the shock and impact of his debut thriller is less evident this time, that's perhaps inevitable--but the gains (not least in razor-sharp dialogue and satisfyingly off- kilter plotting) are considerable. --Barry Forshaw
Review
'A powerful, fantastical thriller’ (NIGHT AND DAY (MAIL ON SUNDAY) )
‘First-rate crime fiction with an original twist’ (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
‘Impressive follow-up to the award-winning BODY POLITIC...Johnston’s conceit with Edinburgh is brilliant and there’s a mordant Scots wit...stylish’ (GUARDIAN )
‘[A] sly satire and gruesome thriller’ (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
‘First-rate crime fiction with an original twist’ (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
‘Impressive follow-up to the award-winning BODY POLITIC...Johnston’s conceit with Edinburgh is brilliant and there’s a mordant Scots wit...stylish’ (GUARDIAN )
‘[A] sly satire and gruesome thriller’ (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
excellent different futuristic thriller,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Bone Yard (Paperback)
The Body Politic was an excellent introduction to these thrillers but the Boneyard is even better. Its nice to have a different slant on a detective novel. Set in the future in Edinburgh its great to identify with the places mentioned. Ian Rankin is a good scottish writter but Paul Johnson is better.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I want to go back the future with Quint,
By J. Jordan "Editor of Crimespree Magazine" (milwaukee, wi United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Bone Yard (Paperback)
The Bone Yard is the second book in this series from Paul Johnston. The first was titled The Body Politic. The series is set in Edinburgh, Scotland. In the 2020's. The general run down is, the world has gone to hell, and the city has closed itself off. The allow tourism, which is the source of income. The city is ruled by a group of people known as The Council. There is also a police group known as The Guardsmen. Our hero, Quintilian Dalrymple, is a former guardsman who now operates as a detective for hire. Quint is approached by a citizen who is being followed/stalked, and Quint doesn't think much of it. He promises to look into it just to make the guy happy. Of course mysteries being what they are, the guy turns up dead. And it's then that the story kicks in. The council brings him in to find the killer. He asks for and is given the assistance of a guardsman named Davie who is also a freind of Quint's. Together they investigate the murder, which turns into murders. Along the way there are illegal drugs, strange deaths, and people hiding the truth. The book is a great read. Social commentary mixed in by way of Quint's outlook on the future city, and who runs it. The story is tight and the investigative work believable. Quint is a hardboiled detective typical of this fiction and fun because of it. The book wraps everything up in a wonderful ending that left me wanting more. Which I will soon have, as I have ordered everything available by this author. Jon Jordan
5.0 out of 5 stars
See also...,
By R. W. "Prog Dog" (Scotland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Bone Yard (Paperback)
This is a detective tale based on an alternative reality future Edinburgh. More Fi than Sci.
For another great book in a similar vein, with a bit more sci as well as fi, see also "The Night Sessions" (or Och Aye Robot)by Ken Macleod. Ken's book is a little more optimistic about the future of Edinburgh (it imagines a time when the trams are up and working). Brilliant.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews |
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
