Kiss Her Goodbye

Joe Hope works as a loan shark and enforcer in Edinburgh's criminal underworld. When his teenage daughter commits suicide, he returns home to find his wife murdered and himself framed as the prime suspect. On the run from both the police and criminal elements, Joe must navigate Edinburgh's dangerous streets while wrestling with his grief and searching for answers. His investigation leads him through a web of violence and deception that forces him to question everything he thought he knew. The story moves between past and present as Joe pieces together the events that led to his current situation, all while dodging those who want him dead or imprisoned. This noir thriller explores themes of revenge, redemption, and the price of violence. The gray morality of its characters raises questions about justice and whether anyone can truly escape their past.

Readers describe this as a dark, violent noir thriller that moves at a rapid pace. Many note the gritty Edinburgh setting and morally complex characters as strengths. Positive reviews highlight: - Tight, economical writing style - Realistic portrayal of grief and revenge - Unpredictable plot twists - Strong character development, especially Joe Hope - Authentic Scottish dialogue Common criticisms: - Too much graphic violence - Difficult to follow multiple narrators - Some plot points strain credibility - Heavy Scottish dialect can be hard to understand Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (261 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (42 ratings) Review quotes: "Raw and unflinching - not for the faint of heart" - Amazon reviewer "The Scottish dialect adds authenticity but requires concentration" - Goodreads review "Characters feel real despite their extreme actions" - Crime Fiction Lover blog

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🔸 Author Allan Guthrie worked as a literary agent and an editor before becoming a crime fiction writer, giving him unique insight into both sides of the publishing industry. 🔸 "Kiss Her Goodbye" was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award and was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel. 🔸 The book is set in Edinburgh, Scotland, and captures the city's gritty underbelly rather than its tourist-friendly facade, drawing comparisons to Ian Rankin's portrayal of the city. 🔸 The protagonist, Joe Hope, was partly inspired by the hardboiled noir characters of Jim Thompson's novels, particularly from "The Killer Inside Me." 🔸 While writing "Kiss Her Goodbye," Guthrie maintained a day job as a hypnotherapist, which helped inform some of the psychological aspects of his characters.