Scottish book of the week

Peacock’s Alibi

By Stuart David, Birlinn, £8.99 Stuart David has released a new novel to complement Ian Rankin’s A Question of Blood, where Peacock made his debut, after David bid in a charity auction to choose the name of one of Rankin’s characters.

Set in Glasgow, we again meet the oddly likeable Peacock Johnson and his excitable wife Beverly, as Johnson attempts to assure the reader his past was misrepresented in the previous book he featured in.

However, Peacock finds himself surrounded by trouble yet again, as he is the main suspect in a murder where there is a direct link to a previous crime of a stolen painting – where Peacock was also the main suspect.

With the persistent Detective Duncan McFadgen obtaining new evidence and breathing down his neck, Peacock must solve the mystery himself. Despite being constantly questioned over crimes he did not commit, Peacock’s only concern is how it could interfere with his latest get-rich-quick business venture.

Stuart David has brought his characters to life with such ease that every page shows no wavering in personality. Peacock is witty, humorous and relatable and many would find it plausible to find such a man in a wee pub in Glasgow. Peacock’s Alibi is a light-hearted and gripping story that keeps the reader on their toes. It was easy to fall in love with the characters and is an effortless read despite its many twists and turns.

9/10