‘A body lost at sea, arson, murder, astronauts, wind phones, communal funerals, stalking and conspiracy theories … This can ONLY mean one thing!
The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unnerving and warmly funny as ever!‘
– The Opposite of Lonely
[ About The Opposite of Lonely ]
Even death needs company…
The Skelf women are recovering from the cataclysmic events that nearly claimed their lives. Their funeral-director and private-investigation businesses are back on track, and their cases are as perplexing as ever.
Matriarch Dorothy looks into a suspicious fire at an illegal campsite and takes a grieving, homeless man under her wing. Daughter Jenny is searching for her missing sister-in-law, who disappeared in tragic circumstances, while grand-daughter Hannah is asked to investigate increasingly dangerous conspiracy theorists, who are targeting a retired female astronaut … putting her own life at risk.
With a body lost at sea, funerals for those with no one to mourn them, reports of strange happenings in outer space, a funeral crasher with a painful secret, and a violent attack on one of the family, The Skelfs face their most personal – and perilous – cases yet. Doing things their way may cost them everything…
[ My Review ]
The Opposite of Lonely by Doug Johnstone publishes today with Orenda Books and is described as ‘tense, unnerving and warmly funny.‘ It is the fifth instalment in the highly successful Skelfs series set in Edinburgh, and is currently in production for TV.
I’ve been very fortunate to have read the previous three books in this series, The Big Chill (#2), The Great Silence (#3) and Black Hearts (#4), courtesy of Orenda Books. The very first book in this series, A Dark Matter, is one I clearly need to read, so I must rectify that and go back to where the story of The Skelf family began. But, here is the wonderful thing about these books, no matter where you pick up, Doug Johnstone has done the most incredible job with the backstory, expertly slipping snippets in all over the place, providing the reader with the perfect overview of what’s been happening over the last few years. (Although do be warned that if you are planning on reading this series backwards it will inevitably lead to spoilers).
The Skelfs are an Edinburgh institution, almost to the point that if I ever go to Edinburgh I’ll be looking them up. Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah are three generations of a family of funeral directors that have diversified into private investigating. Trouble seems to find these three women wherever they go. After a rough few years, where all their lives were at risk at any given time, things seemed to have calmed down a little.
Dorothy, the matriarch of the family, is in a loving relationship with Thomas. Although in her seventies, Dorothy has always maintained a fit and healthy lifestyle with little sign of stopping. Dorothy has plans for the funeral side of the business. Conscious of environmental issues, she is hoping to adopt more climate friendly practices going forward. The book opens with a very dramatic scene off the Cramond Island causeway, with its ominous concrete teeth (see cover of book), where Dorothy is conducting a funeral service for a member of a travelling community. This group of people are not welcome locally, with the assumption that they bring trouble wherever they camp up. Following the funeral, one of their caravans is torched and, with little support from the local police, Dorothy intervenes and makes a decision to get to the bottom of it herself. As Dorothy investigates, she ends up pulling the cover off a Pandora’s Box, unveiling some very dark secrets.
Jenny, her daughter, has been through hell and back but is now in a better place both emotionally and physically. Jenny has mellowed a little from the angry person she once was. But then she has reason, as her ex-husband is dead and (almost) finally out of her life. Jenny is now back home living with her mother, Dorothy, somewhere she had never expected to be at her age, but she is coming to terms with it now and is almost content to be there. When she gets a very unexpected request to track down her missing sister-in-law, she finds herself on a very unanticipated and unpredictable path. But Jenny is never one to shy away from danger and follows through, putting herself into risky situations where her safety is questionable.
Hannah lives with her wife Indy. Hannah is studying at college but also assists with both sides of the Skelf business when required. Indy works full-time as a funeral director becoming a very welcome addition to the family. Hannah has been through some very turbulent years but with Indy by her side, she is coming to terms with her past and slowly finding the peace she craves. Hannah had always had a dream to go to space so when an unexpected request for her assistance comes knocking on her door from a retired female astronaut, Hannah is anxious to prove her worth. Indy, from the get-go, is not too enamoured with Hannah’s preoccupation with this case and, as things take a sinister twist, Indy is frightened for Hannah.
This Scottish series is rightfully loved by many as Doug Johnstone has created a very original bunch of characters. They have an abundance of grit and warmth, with plenty of dark humour, but most importantly they are authentic. There is so much packed into each of these books and, as I have stated in the past, it’s very hard to pigeonhole them into any one specific genre. While entertaining, Doug Johnstone doesn’t shy away from highlighting dark themes but he does handle them realistically yet also very sensitively.
Continuing the theme of strong and feisty protagonists with strong and intriguing storylines makes The Opposite of Lonely a wonderful addition to the Skelf series. With the perfect balance of witty dialogue, a compelling and multi-layered plot and three extraordinary women at the helm, The Opposite of Lonely is a humane and poignant tale. This really is an ace series for all. It has that extra special something that readers of all genres will truly enjoy.
Will there be a book six? Well I literally just discovered that yes there will be, as Doug Johnstone has just announced on X(Twitter) that there will be a further 2 book deal with Orenda Books. Huge congratulations Doug and Karen Sullivan of Orenda. As one of the many fans of this series, this is a good day!
[ Bio ]
Doug Johnstone is the author of sixteen novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while Black Hearts and The Big Chill were longlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year. Three of his books – A Dark Matter, Breakers and The Jump – have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize.
Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral home. He’s also been an arts journalist for 25 years. He is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers.
He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club and lives in Edinburgh with his family.
X(Twitter) ~ @doug_johnstone
I only read a few mysteries but this sounds like a good series to get into.
Rosie it really is. Great characters throughout and just wonderfully written.