Fault Lines by Doug Johnstone

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Fault Lines by Doug Johnstone! Thanks so much to Anne for organising the tour. Don't forget to check out the rest of the stops too!

​The Synopsis

​In a reimagined contemporary Edinburgh, in which a tectonic fault has opened up to produce a new volcano in the Firth of Forth, and where tremors are an everyday occurrence, volcanologist Surtsey makes a shocking discovery. On a clandestine trip to The Inch – the new volcanic island – to meet Tom, her lover and her boss, she finds his lifeless body, and makes the fatal decision to keep their affair, and her discovery of his corpse secret. Desperate to know how he died, but also terrified she’ll be exposed, Surtsey’s life quickly spirals into a nightmare when someone makes contact – someone who claims to know what she’s done…

My Review

At just 215 pages, Fault Lines is a relatively short read but let me tell you, Johnstone well and truly makes the most of every single page. This is a different and imaginative read which whisks you off to a 'reimagined contemporary Edinburgh' with volcanoes and earthquakes aplenty. I loved this setting and it was made to feel really realistic because the author's knowledge of volcanoes and geology really came through. It's clear he's done his research.
Surtsey was an interesting character to read and while not particularly likeable, she was complex and developed and she goes through so much, that it's impossible not to feel for her and get behind her.
The plot is packed with tension and intrigue with vivid descriptions in all the right places and it raced along to a dramatic conclusion which was tense, dark and satisfying.
Overall, I'm giving Fault Lines 4 out of 5. It's dark, imaginative and different. I'll certainly read more by Doug Johnstone.

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This book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.

​About the Author

​Doug Johnstone is an author, journalist and musician based in Edinburgh. He’s had eight novels published, most recently Crash Land. His previous novel, The Jump, was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his other novels have been award winners and bestsellers, and he’s had short stories published in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. His work has been praised by the likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. Several of his novels have been optioned for film and television. Doug is also a Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow. Doug has released seven albums in various bands, reviews books for Big Issue magazine, is player-manager for Scotland Writers Football Club and has a PhD in nuclear physics.