Tartan Noir: the definitive guide to Scottish crime fiction

A comprehensive and fascinating guide to the worldwide crime fiction phenomenon known as Tartan Noir covering all its major authors.

What is Tartan Noir? Which authors belong to this global crime fiction phenomenon? Which books should you read first, next, again, or not at all? And what are the many historical, political, and cultural influences that have woven themselves into the Tartan Noir success story?

Here, Len Wanner investigates the literature s four main sub-genres the detective, the police, the serial killer, and the noir novel. Covering four decades worth of literary history, Wanner offers not only four in-depth cross-examinations but also close readings of another 40 novels everything from commercial hits and critical triumphs to curiosity pieces and cult classics.

Books critiqued include international bestsellers by the likes of Ian Rankin, William McIlvanney, Val McDermid, and Denise Mina, alongside lesser known gems by counter-cultural icons such as Hugh C. Rae, Ray Banks, Allan Guthrie, Helen FitzGerald, and many more.