The Good Son (2008)
New Kindle edition available now
"I love McNee" - Robert Olen Butler
"THE GOOD SON is the most exciting, and gripping, Scottish crime fiction debut of recent years. Stylish and atmospheric, it marks the arrival of a exceptional talent." - John Connolly
Nominated for the 2010 Shamus Awards in the US, this taut, phsychologically acute crime novel marks the arrival of an exciting new voice in Scottish crime fiction.
Scottish farmer, James Robertson, finds his estranged brother's corpse hanging from a tree. The police claim suicide. But Private Investigator J McNee is about to uncover the disturbing truth behind the death. With a pair of vicious London hard men loose in the Scottish city of Dundee, its only a matter of time before people start dying.
McNee must confront his own demons and these brutal killers in a violence showdown that threatens to leave no one alive.
"I love McNee" - Robert Olen Butler
"THE GOOD SON is the most exciting, and gripping, Scottish crime fiction debut of recent years. Stylish and atmospheric, it marks the arrival of a exceptional talent." - John Connolly
Nominated for the 2010 Shamus Awards in the US, this taut, phsychologically acute crime novel marks the arrival of an exciting new voice in Scottish crime fiction.
Scottish farmer, James Robertson, finds his estranged brother's corpse hanging from a tree. The police claim suicide. But Private Investigator J McNee is about to uncover the disturbing truth behind the death. With a pair of vicious London hard men loose in the Scottish city of Dundee, its only a matter of time before people start dying.
McNee must confront his own demons and these brutal killers in a violence showdown that threatens to leave no one alive.
US Edition
From St Martin's Press, hardcover (no longer in print)
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L'IMPICCATO (Italian edition)
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Praise
The Good Son nominated for the Shamus Award 2010 for Best First Novel by the Private Eye Writers of America.
"Scottish short story master, Russel McLean released a strong debut novel earlier this year that took the melancholy inherent in the genre to the limit with The Good Son and his second, The Lost Sister is already sitting atop my list of most anticipated titles for next year."
Jedidiah Ayres for Ransom Notes, the B&N Mystery Blog
"Scottish short story master, Russel McLean released a strong debut novel earlier this year that took the melancholy inherent in the genre to the limit with The Good Son and his second, The Lost Sister is already sitting atop my list of most anticipated titles for next year."
Jedidiah Ayres for Ransom Notes, the B&N Mystery Blog
"McNee... is so complex that he could actually be real."
The Mystery Maven
"McLean's debut novel, set in Dundee, Scotland, is everything a fan of PI novels most enjoys."
The Drowning Machine
"Great character, strong plot that carried all the way through, and perfect balance of funny bits and emotional tugs at the heart. PI story with heart, but by no means soft."
I Love a Good Mystery
"...the rare PI novel that is dark, character-driven and organically told while also as exciting, fast-paced and violent as any thriller."
The Nerd of Noir for Crime Factory issue #1
"A highly reccomended crime thriller... [I] hope that we haven't seen the last of the haunted PI McNee."
Gumshoe
"McLean has created an intensely complex, credible central character and surrounds him with a skillfully drawn supporting cast. Readers will look forward to a reprise of J. McNee."
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
"Clever, tough, witty... a great character study with a wonderful plot and plenty of atmosphere"
The Globe and Mail
"The Good Son delivers a two-fold punch with its intense plot and poignant depth."
Nights and Weekends
"The future of crime fiction is in good hands"
Crimespree magazine on the US release of THE GOOD SON.
"...an atmosphere of delicious gloom."
Mystery Scene
"McLean has scored in his first novel."
January Magazine
"McLean's debut hurtles towards a terrifying cataclysm"
Kirkus reviews
The Mystery Maven
"McLean's debut novel, set in Dundee, Scotland, is everything a fan of PI novels most enjoys."
The Drowning Machine
"Great character, strong plot that carried all the way through, and perfect balance of funny bits and emotional tugs at the heart. PI story with heart, but by no means soft."
I Love a Good Mystery
"...the rare PI novel that is dark, character-driven and organically told while also as exciting, fast-paced and violent as any thriller."
The Nerd of Noir for Crime Factory issue #1
"A highly reccomended crime thriller... [I] hope that we haven't seen the last of the haunted PI McNee."
Gumshoe
"McLean has created an intensely complex, credible central character and surrounds him with a skillfully drawn supporting cast. Readers will look forward to a reprise of J. McNee."
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
"Clever, tough, witty... a great character study with a wonderful plot and plenty of atmosphere"
The Globe and Mail
"The Good Son delivers a two-fold punch with its intense plot and poignant depth."
Nights and Weekends
"The future of crime fiction is in good hands"
Crimespree magazine on the US release of THE GOOD SON.
"...an atmosphere of delicious gloom."
Mystery Scene
"McLean has scored in his first novel."
January Magazine
"McLean's debut hurtles towards a terrifying cataclysm"
Kirkus reviews
"The Dundee locale, some mordant Scots wit, and the plausibly clumsy showdown with the sociopaths in an ancient graveyard make this a promising debut."
Booklist
"...impressive first novel... this newest addition to the Scottish noir tradition will appeal to fans of Ian Rankin and Stuart MacBride"
Library Journal (starred review)
"Russel D. McLean flat-out rocks the house with this outstanding debut. Taut, tough, and profoundly touching, THE GOOD SON signals the start of a big career. I loved this book, can't wait for the next one."
Sean Chercover, author of Trigger City
"Dark, well-honed and taut. I crave more McNee."
Jen Jordan for CrimeSpree Magazine.
"McLean's fast, stripped-down writing style economises on waffle but not on characterisation and he supplies a neat twist at the end.
If you like tough private eye stories at all, you'll definitely want to pack this one for your next train journey. McNee is the most convincing British PI for a while."
Mat Coward for The Morning Star
"With its appreciation of life’s small pleasures, combined with a willingness to confront societal violence, The Good Son reminded me of early Martyn Waites novels. Evocatively describing the Dundee landscape, it’s a highly readable piece of noir."
Carol Anne Davis, author of Youthful Prey for Tangled Web
"With The Good Son first time novelist Russel McLean is off to a flying start. Buy it, read it, watch out for him. If he keeps this up, he's going to be huge."
Martyn Waites, author of White Riot
"THE GOOD SON is the most exciting, and gripping, Scottish crime fiction debut of recent years. Stylish and atmospheric, it marks the arrival of a exceptional talent."
John Connolly, author of The Reapers.
"Scottish crime fiction is entering a new era and Russel McLean is at the vanguard. A thrilling new writer, a brilliant debut...The Good Son is very good indeed."
--Tony Black, author of Paying for It
"...there is a writer so under-rated that most people never heard of him, and he might be amongst the very best there is. Manchette.... Now there is a Scottish answer to this wondrous author. Russel D McLean........ He has all the merits of this brilliant writer with the added bonus of a Scottish sense of wit that is like no other. You read Russel D McLean and not only will you want to search out Manchette, you'll be checking for [McLean’s] next. He is that good."
Ken Bruen, author of Sanctuary
"The Good Son is an astonishing debut; Russel D McLean hasn't only made the British PI credible, he's updated and honed the sub-genre to a razor-sharp edge… tight, sleek and controlled, with an emotional resonance that is utterly refreshing."
Ray Banks, author of No More Heroes
"a promising writer."
The Big Issue in Scotland
Booklist
"...impressive first novel... this newest addition to the Scottish noir tradition will appeal to fans of Ian Rankin and Stuart MacBride"
Library Journal (starred review)
"Russel D. McLean flat-out rocks the house with this outstanding debut. Taut, tough, and profoundly touching, THE GOOD SON signals the start of a big career. I loved this book, can't wait for the next one."
Sean Chercover, author of Trigger City
"Dark, well-honed and taut. I crave more McNee."
Jen Jordan for CrimeSpree Magazine.
"McLean's fast, stripped-down writing style economises on waffle but not on characterisation and he supplies a neat twist at the end.
If you like tough private eye stories at all, you'll definitely want to pack this one for your next train journey. McNee is the most convincing British PI for a while."
Mat Coward for The Morning Star
"With its appreciation of life’s small pleasures, combined with a willingness to confront societal violence, The Good Son reminded me of early Martyn Waites novels. Evocatively describing the Dundee landscape, it’s a highly readable piece of noir."
Carol Anne Davis, author of Youthful Prey for Tangled Web
"With The Good Son first time novelist Russel McLean is off to a flying start. Buy it, read it, watch out for him. If he keeps this up, he's going to be huge."
Martyn Waites, author of White Riot
"THE GOOD SON is the most exciting, and gripping, Scottish crime fiction debut of recent years. Stylish and atmospheric, it marks the arrival of a exceptional talent."
John Connolly, author of The Reapers.
"Scottish crime fiction is entering a new era and Russel McLean is at the vanguard. A thrilling new writer, a brilliant debut...The Good Son is very good indeed."
--Tony Black, author of Paying for It
"...there is a writer so under-rated that most people never heard of him, and he might be amongst the very best there is. Manchette.... Now there is a Scottish answer to this wondrous author. Russel D McLean........ He has all the merits of this brilliant writer with the added bonus of a Scottish sense of wit that is like no other. You read Russel D McLean and not only will you want to search out Manchette, you'll be checking for [McLean’s] next. He is that good."
Ken Bruen, author of Sanctuary
"The Good Son is an astonishing debut; Russel D McLean hasn't only made the British PI credible, he's updated and honed the sub-genre to a razor-sharp edge… tight, sleek and controlled, with an emotional resonance that is utterly refreshing."
Ray Banks, author of No More Heroes
"a promising writer."
The Big Issue in Scotland
