📖 Overview
Allan Guthrie is a Scottish crime fiction author and literary agent known for his noir novels set in Edinburgh. His work is characterized by dark humor, graphic violence, and psychologically complex characters.
Guthrie's debut novel "Two-Way Split" (2004) won the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and established his reputation in the hardboiled crime genre. His subsequent novel "Kiss Her Goodbye" (2005) was nominated for Edgar, Anthony, and Gumshoe awards.
Beyond writing, Guthrie works as a literary agent and has served as an editor for crime fiction publishers. He also authored the writing guide "200 Ways to Make Your Novel a Winner" (2016), drawing from his experience in both writing and publishing.
His other notable works include "Hard Man" (2006), "Savage Night" (2008), and "Slammer" (2009), all of which continue his exploration of Edinburgh's criminal underworld. Guthrie's novels are particularly recognized for their unflinching portrayal of violence and their focus on the psychological impact of crime on both perpetrators and victims.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently highlight Guthrie's raw, unflinching violence and dark humor. Many note his ability to create tension through psychological elements rather than standard crime plot devices.
What readers liked:
- Fast-paced, tight writing with no wasted words
- Authentic Scottish dialogue and Edinburgh settings
- Complex, morally ambiguous characters
- Dark comedy mixed with brutal scenes
- Unpredictable plots that avoid genre clichés
What readers disliked:
- Level of graphic violence too extreme for some
- Multiple timeline jumps can be confusing
- Some found the dark humor too cynical
- Scottish dialect challenging for non-UK readers
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: "Two-Way Split" 3.8/5 (427 ratings)
"Kiss Her Goodbye" 3.7/5 (284 ratings)
"Hard Man" 3.6/5 (196 ratings)
Amazon: Average 4.1/5 across all books
Notable reader quote: "Like getting punched in the face while someone tells you a joke - brutal but entertaining" (Goodreads review of "Slammer")
📚 Books by Allan Guthrie
Two-Way Split (2004)
An Edinburgh taxi driver becomes entangled with criminals after a robbery goes wrong.
Kiss Her Goodbye (2005) A violent ex-boxer searches for his missing sister in Edinburgh's criminal underworld.
Hard Man (2006) A reluctant tough guy is drawn into protecting a young pregnant woman from her abusive husband.
Kill Clock (2007) A recently released prisoner tries to stay straight while being pursued by a vengeful victim.
Savage Night (2008) Multiple characters' lives intersect violently during one night in Edinburgh.
Slammer (2009) A prison officer's life spirals out of control after witnessing a suicide at work.
Bye Bye Baby (2011) A police officer investigates a series of infant disappearances while dealing with his own family tragedy.
Killing Mum (2011) A man is hired to arrange his own mother's murder but discovers nothing is as it seems.
Kiss Her Goodbye (2005) A violent ex-boxer searches for his missing sister in Edinburgh's criminal underworld.
Hard Man (2006) A reluctant tough guy is drawn into protecting a young pregnant woman from her abusive husband.
Kill Clock (2007) A recently released prisoner tries to stay straight while being pursued by a vengeful victim.
Savage Night (2008) Multiple characters' lives intersect violently during one night in Edinburgh.
Slammer (2009) A prison officer's life spirals out of control after witnessing a suicide at work.
Bye Bye Baby (2011) A police officer investigates a series of infant disappearances while dealing with his own family tragedy.
Killing Mum (2011) A man is hired to arrange his own mother's murder but discovers nothing is as it seems.
👥 Similar authors
Ken Bruen writes noir crime fiction set in Ireland featuring damaged protagonists and sparse prose. His Jack Taylor series follows an alcoholic ex-cop in Galway who takes on cases while battling personal demons.
Ray Banks focuses on hardboiled crime stories in working-class British settings with flawed characters and realistic violence. His Cal Innes series depicts a Manchester PI dealing with local criminals and his own past mistakes.
Adrian McKinty creates crime fiction set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles with complex police procedural plots. His Sean Duffy series follows a Catholic detective in the Protestant-dominated Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Denise Mina writes Glasgow-based crime novels exploring social issues through multiple series and standalone books. Her work often features female protagonists investigating crimes while navigating Scotland's criminal underworld.
Stuart MacBride sets his crime novels in Aberdeen, Scotland with detailed police procedures and dark humor. His Logan McRae series follows a detective sergeant handling brutal cases in the "Granite City" while managing difficult colleagues and superiors.
Ray Banks focuses on hardboiled crime stories in working-class British settings with flawed characters and realistic violence. His Cal Innes series depicts a Manchester PI dealing with local criminals and his own past mistakes.
Adrian McKinty creates crime fiction set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles with complex police procedural plots. His Sean Duffy series follows a Catholic detective in the Protestant-dominated Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Denise Mina writes Glasgow-based crime novels exploring social issues through multiple series and standalone books. Her work often features female protagonists investigating crimes while navigating Scotland's criminal underworld.
Stuart MacBride sets his crime novels in Aberdeen, Scotland with detailed police procedures and dark humor. His Logan McRae series follows a detective sergeant handling brutal cases in the "Granite City" while managing difficult colleagues and superiors.