📚 TheFirstElevenMinutes 📚

I'll keep this brief (honest). I am delighted and honoured to announce that I'll be joining the judging panel for the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger 2027! Looking forward to reading LOTS of great crime books in the coming year and discussing with my fellow judges.

Maybe we’d build a healthier reading culture if people spent more time championing books they love rather than publicly humiliating the ones they don’t. Not every book is written for every reader. That’s fine. But the constant sneering around “bad” books or mocking people for what they enjoy reading creates an atmosphere where readers feel judged instead of welcomed. Reading for pleasure should never feel like a test. In the National Year of Reading 2026 and the message to GO ALL IN, this matters more than ever. If we want more people to read, discover bookshops, take chances on stories and build lifelong reading habits, then enthusiasm will always achieve more than literary snobbery.

New review on Bookstagram. ‘Body of Lies’ by @JoCallaghanKat is out Thursday 21st May from @simonschusterUK instagram.com/p/DYfMxrOjF3i/…

Our event with Denise Mina and Lee Child has SOLD OUT in record time. Thanks for all the fantastic support. We'll have more early release events coming next week, and you can still sign up to become a 'Prime Suspect' bloodyscotland.com/donate/

Happy publication day to our reigning McIlvanney Prize winner! @TariqAshkanani

🎉 Cover Reveal for my 2nd novel! ✨ for THE TROUBLE WITH SISTER FRANCIS. Really hope Frank & Red fans enjoy meeting Sister F. and the boys. Coming August 26’. x

Happiest of publication days to @TariqAshkanani! #TheHollowBoys is a triumph.

It's time to reveal Denise Mina's first special guest who will be joining us in September, and they don't come any more special than the absolute legend that is @LeeChildReacher Get your tickets here before they're all gone: bloodyscotland.com/event/denise-m…

🚨 #TheHollowBoys by @TariqAshkanani is out today 🚨 The latest thriller from the McIlvanney Prize winning author of #TheMidnightKing, set in a dying rust-belt town in America. Two children lost, the wrong one found... viperbooks.co.uk/work/the-hollo…

Check out thefirstelevenminutes's video! #TikTok vm.tiktok.com/ZNRGm65Ck/

We're going to start releasing our 2026 events tomorrow. If you like early access plus a whole host of other benefits, there's still time to become one of our 'Prime Suspects' - join us! bloodyscotland.com/donate/

Today I’m on the Blog Tour for ‘The Hollow Boys’ by @tariqashkanani which is released today from @ViperBooks Check out my review and be in with the chance of winning a finished hardback copy of the book. instagram.com/reel/DYT1cZiOM…

@cjtudor @MichaelJBooks Thank YOU for being on my forever shelves! 💛

@koolard @MichaelJBooks Yay! Thank you. xx

A brand new series on my Bookstagram starts tonight and Chapter One features @cjtudor instagram.com/p/DYKkHSfjI9S/…

#TheHollowBoys by @TariqAshkanani has been recommended by The Critic, described as a 'powerful book'. Get your hands on a copy of the McIlvanney Prize winning author's new thriller this Thursday! 📚 thecritic.co.uk/murders-for-ma…

@amwbooks I was just thinking exactly the same thing Andy.

One day it would really be nice to be recognised and invited to a publishers new and upcoming crime and thriller evening event, maybe I need to move to London or up my crime reading

Still time to enter my three book giveaway. Head over to Instagram for full details. instagram.com/p/DX_xW-cjNau/…

Thrilled to be part of this awesome anthology, out this Autumn. Look at all these lovely, scary authors I'm keeping company with! 😱

@MarkBillingham @lilmissmorfett @LinghamsBooks @funlovinwriters @valmcdermid @cbrookmyre @stuartneville @LucaVeste Did Val have a word yet? 😉

The Fun Lovin' Crime Writers are BACK and ready to rock! We may even consider a spot of roll. Come and see us murdering songs for fun in Liverpool on June 18th, through the fabulous @LinghamsBooks @funlovinwriters @valmcdermid @cbrookmyre @stuartneville @LucaVeste @doug_johnstone linghams.co.uk/event/fun-lovi…

I’ve posted a new book review on Instagram 🙌 So check out my review of ‘Rat Race’ by @callummcsorley which is out Thursday 7th May from @PushkinPress If you like what you see then all comments, likes, shares AND follows are appreciated. instagram.com/p/DX9vaEvDMQ4/…

April Reading Wrap Up on the Gram. Or – some nice pictures of books. Whichever way you look at it, if you like then please share, comment or drop me a follow over there. I thank you. instagram.com/p/DX4ay79DC6_/…