Bitter Water

Glasgow’s melting. The temperature is rising and so is the murder rate. Douglas Brodie, ex-policeman, ex-soldier and now newest reporter on the Glasgow Gazette, has no shortage of material for his crime column. But even Brodie baulks at his latest subject: a rapist who has been tarred and feathered by a balaclava-clad group. Brodie soon discovers a link between this horrific act and a series of brutal beatings. As violence spreads and the body count rises, Brodie and advocate Samantha Campbell are entangled in a web of deception and savagery. Brodie is swamped with stories for the Gazette. But how long before he and Sam become the headline?

Reviews of Bitter Water

Vividly evoked… If he is still most famous for selling 200,000 books electronically then that situation will undoubtedly change. Readers will discover that this second outing for Douglas Brodie is perhaps better than its acclaimed predecessor, The Hanging Shed. Independent Ferris scores with some unexpected plot twists, a convincing portrayal of sad, edgy post-war Glasgow and a background of lost love. The Times A rising star of Scottish literature. Scotsman His writing has a great feel for authenticity and a terrific narrative drive. Val McDermid The Hanging Shed is the word-of-mouth hit that is leaving its fellow thrillers in its wake… This is the latest addition to Scotland's proud tradition of fictional sleuths, and if the strenth of his debut is anything to go by, we'll be seeing a lot more of Douglas Brodie. Observer Plunges the reader into a vividly evoked 1947 Glasgow… the real pleasure lies in the assured characterisation of the damaged, seen-it-all-before protagonists – and the flinty evocation of life in urban Scotland six decades ago. Independent Ferris is a writer of real authority, immersing the reader into his nightmare world with a brand of scabrous writing reminiscent of William McIlvanney's Laidlaw… everything speaks of an original voice. Independent The Hanging Shed broke e-book records. It wasn't a fluke. With its pitch-perfect dialogue and chilling undertones, Bitter Water is destined to join its predecessor as a bestseller. Daily Record