As I'd enjoyed reading another of Allan Guthrie's short stories/novellas
Killing Mum, I started Bye Bye Baby at lunchtime for a quick read.
The story introduces Frank Collins, an ex bus driver who joined the Police and several years later became a Detective with just a smattering of help from his uncle, DI James Fleck. He is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a seven year old child. His colleague on the case is DC Erica Mason.
Allan Guthrie is obviously a talented writer and weaves an excellent story. He has managed to create a police/crime novella that blends some humour into a clever plot with an underlying subject which is sad and very often mis-understood. I will not expand any further as you can never tell what might give a plot away and blight the enjoyment of other readers.
The Bye Bye Baby novella is an expanded story based on another short story written by Allan Guthrie that was published in an anthology of crime stories. The original version has thoughtfully been included at the end of and it is interesting to read the story from a different character's viewpoint - in the case of the original, the victim's perspective whereas the novella is the Detective's take on it.
I have just discovered that Allan Guthrie has some full length novels published and both Killing Mum and Bye Bye Baby have whetted my appetite for more of his work - I don't know why I've never come across his work before but hope to enjoy more in the near future.
If you like crime stories, particularly from Scottish authors, try this - it's an excellent value taster and you won't be disappointed.
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