Review
I would like to thank the author WHS Mcintyre, his publisher Sandstone Press and publicity officer Keara Donnachie, for the ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I think it is important to note this book is part of a series, but it reads great as a standalone. I for one will be reading all the books in the series.
In the acknowledgements the author thanks the Sandstone publicity officer for doing her best to make him a household name, a task he claims is not easy even in his own household. Well Mr McIntyre deserves to be a household name, because Good News Bad News is a first class defence mystery.
It has all the elements of a fabulous read. Great characterisation, especially in the lead character Robbie Munroe. Flawed but loveable, doing his best to save his clients from a criminal conviction; even if that involves shady deals or manipulating the law. This is no idealist, who sees the law as a paragon never to be challenged, but a realist, who uses his skills, dogged determination and keen intelligence to get his clients of charges most are guilty of.
On top of an entertaining hero, the novel reads smoothly because of the use of humour, wry observations of city life and the many and varied characters that make up Edinburgh and its surroundings. Even the baddies have a soft side! It maybe buried deep, but it makes them far more believable, than many of the cardboard cut out villain’s that litter so many of today’s thrillers.
It helps that Good News Bad News is set in one of my favourite cities, Edinburgh, because in some ways it makes it feel familiar. But that is a personal response by me to this very entertaining read. What draws you in, is the humour, intelligence, likeable characters, balance between drama and everyday normality and so so important, the atmosphere the writer creates. You can feel the way the city works away from the typical tourist haunts and into the criminal underworld of this iconic city.
Why not take a journey into the criminal world of Edinburgh. Take a step into the courts of Justice. Robbie Munroe will in turns make you shake your head and then delight you, as he seeks to capitalise on good news, never giving up when it turns into bad news. Robbie is a realist and that is why I love him.
Without a doubt if they made this book into a TV series, I for one would be there to watch it.
Author
William McIntyre is a partner in Scotland’s oldest law firm Russel + Aitken, specialising in criminal defence. William has been instructed in many interesting and high-profile cases over the years and now turns fact into fiction with his string of legal thrillers, The Best Defence Series, featuring defence lawyer, Robbie Munro.
Based in Scotland and drawing on his thirty years as a criminal defence lawyer, there is a rich vein of dry-humour running through the series, which William describes as an antidote to crime fiction featuring maverick cops chasing a serial killers, emphasising that justice is not only about convicting the guilty, but also about acquitting the innocent.
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