The Bone Yard [Paperback]

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

'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 )

Praise for BODY POLITIC: 'A hugely entertaining fantasy ... engagingly imagined' The Times 'An intricate web ... Johnston is a Fawkes among plotters ... Quint's career looks set to blossom' Observer 'Darkly satirical ... more than just a murder story' Scotsman 'A fascinating and thought-provoking debut that delivers much and promises more' Val McDermid in Manchester Evening News 'A thrilling hunt-the psycho novel with countless twists, turns and dead ends ... accomplished ... offers real proof of the vigour and class of current Scottish crimewriting' Ian Rankin in Scotland on Sunday 'An excellent satire, and good thriller to boot ... Further adventures are promised and eagerly awaited' Mike Ripley, Daily Telegraph 'Think of Plato's Republic with a body count' The Sunday Times 'Intricate plotting and tongue in check descriptions of post-Millennial Edinburgh' Shots 'You'll see why Johnston's bone-chilling dystopia took Britain's John Creasey Award for the year's best crime debut' Kirkus 'This bleak, near-future hunt for a vicious serial killer won Britain's Creasey Award for best first novel and should capture admiring attention here as well...Offbeat, but on target, this is one exciting debut' Publishers Weekly Praise for THE BONE YARD 'A powerful, fantastical thriller' Night and Day (The Mail on Sunday) '[A] sly satire and gruesome thriller' Daily 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 'This is first-rate crime fiction with an original twist' Sunday Telegraph 'An inventive, well-structured and briskly paced thriller' Yorkshire Evening Post 'Clever and exciting' Inverness Courier 'My reader loves him' Bookseller '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'

'A powerful, fantastical thriller'

New Year’s Eve 2021. The one night of the year when the guards are less vigilant. The perfect time for murder.
Welcome to 21st century Edinburgh. An oppressive, almost crime-free independent city state, run by the Council of City Guardians. Subversive, blues-haunted private investigator Quintilian Dalrymple is trying to crack a series of murders in which music tapes are planted inside the victims. The solution lies in the Bone Yard. If they can ever discover what the Bone Yard is...

Paul Johnston was born and grew up in Scotland. He now spends much of his time on a small Greek island, but regularly visits the UK. THE BONE YARD is his second novel and he has already contracted to write two further novels featuring Quintilian Dalrymple for Hodder..