Review
Guthrie's prose is a series of short, sharp shocks, reeking of the visceral brutality of the toughest contemporary noir...those who enjoy the darker side of the genre are in for some serious thrills with this, his fifth novel. --Guardian
A book as inventive and groundbreaking as it is magnificently written…'Slammer' is the most relentlessly page-turning novel this reviewer has come across in a long, long time…a superb novel that will leave you thinking hard about life for a long time afterwards, and there's not much higher praise than that --The Scotsman
A witty and inventive stylist --Washington Post
A book as inventive and groundbreaking as it is magnificently written…'Slammer' is the most relentlessly page-turning novel this reviewer has come across in a long, long time…a superb novel that will leave you thinking hard about life for a long time afterwards, and there's not much higher praise than that --The Scotsman
A witty and inventive stylist --Washington Post
Product Description
A dark, psychological thriller set in a Scottish prison.
Young prison officer, Nicholas Glass, is finding the stresses of his new job increasingly hard to handle. Bullied and abused by inmates and colleagues alike, each day is getting longer than the one before. When a group of cons uses outside help to threaten his wife and daughter, he agrees to do them a "favour". But as their threats escalate, and one favour leads to another, he grows ever closer to breaking point.
Praise for SLAMMER
"an absolute masterpiece, really should be at the top of everyone's "must-read" list" EuroCrime
"With SLAMMER, Guthrie creates a twisting labyrinth of a book that offers all his signature blood-racing energy, but with a deepening emotional heft that, by the end, leaves the reader breathless. His main character – his richest yet – sinks us down with him, and the results are both shocking and utterly heart-rending." Megan Abbott, author of THE END OF EVERYTHING
"He can even change your entire perception of reality with the smallest little twitch of the finger. Allan Guthrie is noir fiction's pre-eminent psychosurgeon – precise, diabolical and wildly talented." Duane Swierczynski, author of FUN AND GAMES
Praise for TWO-WAY SPLIT
"Seek him out and buy his book." Ian Rankin, creator of Inspector John Rebus and author of THE COMPLAINTS
"Excellent." George Pelecanos, author of THE CUT
"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, author of THE PACK
"… all the beauty of BLUE VELVET and all the insanity of WILD AT HEART" Ray Banks, author of BEAST OF BURDEN
"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
"...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
About the author:
Allan Guthrie is an award-winning Scottish crime writer. His debut novel, TWO-WAY SPLIT, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger award and went on to win the Theakston's Crime Novel Of The Year. He is the author of four other novels: KISS HER GOODBYE (nominated for an Edgar), HARD MAN, SAVAGE NIGHT and SLAMMER and three novellas: KILL CLOCK , KILLING MUM and BYE BYE BABY, a Top Ten Kindle Bestseller. When he's not writing, he's a literary agent with Jenny Brown Associates.
Young prison officer, Nicholas Glass, is finding the stresses of his new job increasingly hard to handle. Bullied and abused by inmates and colleagues alike, each day is getting longer than the one before. When a group of cons uses outside help to threaten his wife and daughter, he agrees to do them a "favour". But as their threats escalate, and one favour leads to another, he grows ever closer to breaking point.
Praise for SLAMMER
"an absolute masterpiece, really should be at the top of everyone's "must-read" list" EuroCrime
"With SLAMMER, Guthrie creates a twisting labyrinth of a book that offers all his signature blood-racing energy, but with a deepening emotional heft that, by the end, leaves the reader breathless. His main character – his richest yet – sinks us down with him, and the results are both shocking and utterly heart-rending." Megan Abbott, author of THE END OF EVERYTHING
"He can even change your entire perception of reality with the smallest little twitch of the finger. Allan Guthrie is noir fiction's pre-eminent psychosurgeon – precise, diabolical and wildly talented." Duane Swierczynski, author of FUN AND GAMES
Praise for TWO-WAY SPLIT
"Seek him out and buy his book." Ian Rankin, creator of Inspector John Rebus and author of THE COMPLAINTS
"Excellent." George Pelecanos, author of THE CUT
"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, author of THE PACK
"… all the beauty of BLUE VELVET and all the insanity of WILD AT HEART" Ray Banks, author of BEAST OF BURDEN
"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
"...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
About the author:
Allan Guthrie is an award-winning Scottish crime writer. His debut novel, TWO-WAY SPLIT, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger award and went on to win the Theakston's Crime Novel Of The Year. He is the author of four other novels: KISS HER GOODBYE (nominated for an Edgar), HARD MAN, SAVAGE NIGHT and SLAMMER and three novellas: KILL CLOCK , KILLING MUM and BYE BYE BABY, a Top Ten Kindle Bestseller. When he's not writing, he's a literary agent with Jenny Brown Associates.
