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The Good Father: The stunning psychological thriller from the award-winning crime writer
'Heart-stopping and heart-rending, this is Liam McIlvanney's best novel yet' VAL MCDERMID
WHAT COULD BE WORSE THAN YOUR CHILD DISAPPEARING?
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with successful, fulfilling lives. They have a son they adore, a house on the beach and a safe, friendly and honest community in a picture-postcard town on the Ayrshire coast.
Until one day, Bonnie the lab comes in from the beach alone. Their son, Rory, has gone - the only trace left behind is a single black Adidas slider.
Their lives don't fall apart immediately. While there's still hope (and no body) they dig deep and try to carry on. It's a process of abrasion - a wearing away of happiness and normality; a slow degradation, a gradual breakdown - until they'll never be the people they were before. This sort of tragedy impacts a whole town. Does the community still feel the same after? What are folk saying about you? Who are your friends? Who can you trust?
When the worst thing has happened and you've lost everything, you either go under or you rebuild and start again.
'Beautifully written, this is easily one of the finest crime novels I've read in a very long time' C.M. EWAN
WHAT COULD BE WORSE THAN YOUR CHILD DISAPPEARING?
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with successful, fulfilling lives. They have a son they adore, a house on the beach and a safe, friendly and honest community in a picture-postcard town on the Ayrshire coast.
Until one day, Bonnie the lab comes in from the beach alone. Their son, Rory, has gone - the only trace left behind is a single black Adidas slider.
Their lives don't fall apart immediately. While there's still hope (and no body) they dig deep and try to carry on. It's a process of abrasion - a wearing away of happiness and normality; a slow degradation, a gradual breakdown - until they'll never be the people they were before. This sort of tragedy impacts a whole town. Does the community still feel the same after? What are folk saying about you? Who are your friends? Who can you trust?
When the worst thing has happened and you've lost everything, you either go under or you rebuild and start again.
'Beautifully written, this is easily one of the finest crime novels I've read in a very long time' C.M. EWAN
Audible Audio
Published July 3, 2025
About the author
Liam McIlvanney
12 books237 followersProfessor Liam McIlvanney, the son of novelist William McIlvanney, was born in Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, and studied at Glasgow and Oxford Universities. After ten years lecturing in Scottish and Irish literature at the University of Aberdeen, he moved to Dunedin in New Zealand to teach at the University of Otago. He lectures in Scottish literature, culture and history, and on Irish-Scottish literary connections, and holds the Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies chair at the University.
He won a Saltire Award for his first book, Burns the Radical, in 2002. A chance meeting with an editor for Faber and Faber persuaded him to turn to fiction, and his first novel, All the Colours of the Town, was published in 2009 to great acclaim. His second thriller, Where The Dead Men Go, which saw the return of journalist Gerry Conway, won the prestigious Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel in 2014.
He has also written reviews and criticism for the London Review of Books, The Guardian, and others. He lives in Dunedin with his wife and three children.
He won a Saltire Award for his first book, Burns the Radical, in 2002. A chance meeting with an editor for Faber and Faber persuaded him to turn to fiction, and his first novel, All the Colours of the Town, was published in 2009 to great acclaim. His second thriller, Where The Dead Men Go, which saw the return of journalist Gerry Conway, won the prestigious Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel in 2014.
He has also written reviews and criticism for the London Review of Books, The Guardian, and others. He lives in Dunedin with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
September 17, 2025
RTC - but five stars says it all really. Best book he’s written imo
May 7, 2025
Definitely an early contender for my favourite book of the year.
I am a fan of the McIlvanney family novels and hailing from the same small town as Liam and his father William, I also find it even more enthralling when a book is set amongst the same place you live or know. The description of the streets you walk through each day just make it even more captivating.
In The Good Father, a 7 year old boy, Rory, goes missing from the beach. Despite a quick and in-depth search from both the Police and the small local community, no trace of Rory is found leaving his parents, Gordon and Sarah, to deal with the devastating consequences and hole left behind with Rory's disappearance.
For fear of spoilers, I can't say too much more but a lot happens in this novel and the story's twists and turns will keep you captivated. However, for me, it's not the story itself which led me to enjoy this so much. Whilst the disappearance of Rory is the pivotal story in this novel, it is both Gordon and Sarah's response to it which blew me away.
McIlvanney delivers an absolute anatomy of a relationship in turmoil here when both Gordon and Sarah attempt to deal with the consequences of Rory's disappearance both as parents and also as husband and wife.
It is something unimaginable for us parents and having it laid out on each page was simultaneously impossible to read but also unputdownable.
Loved every page and hope this goes on to be hugely successful.
Thanks to Negalley and Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a fan of the McIlvanney family novels and hailing from the same small town as Liam and his father William, I also find it even more enthralling when a book is set amongst the same place you live or know. The description of the streets you walk through each day just make it even more captivating.
In The Good Father, a 7 year old boy, Rory, goes missing from the beach. Despite a quick and in-depth search from both the Police and the small local community, no trace of Rory is found leaving his parents, Gordon and Sarah, to deal with the devastating consequences and hole left behind with Rory's disappearance.
For fear of spoilers, I can't say too much more but a lot happens in this novel and the story's twists and turns will keep you captivated. However, for me, it's not the story itself which led me to enjoy this so much. Whilst the disappearance of Rory is the pivotal story in this novel, it is both Gordon and Sarah's response to it which blew me away.
McIlvanney delivers an absolute anatomy of a relationship in turmoil here when both Gordon and Sarah attempt to deal with the consequences of Rory's disappearance both as parents and also as husband and wife.
It is something unimaginable for us parents and having it laid out on each page was simultaneously impossible to read but also unputdownable.
Loved every page and hope this goes on to be hugely successful.
Thanks to Negalley and Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a hard one to rate, as I’m still trying to work out how I feel about it. It starts out as a story of a missing child, and the blurb doesn’t really hint at some of the things to come, which makes them maybe more shocking. It’s fairly dark in places (CW slight references to some animal cruelty), and I began to wonder about 40% in, where the story was going…
It is well written in language and observations, and I think it does show how people and families can be affected by abductions and the subsequent pressures on them. I think I just didn’t quite buy that Gordon and Sarah would do the first big thing (no spoilers - IYKYK), and then I bought even less Gordon’s second action and final action…
So it’s well described, but I found it a bit hard to fathom. With Storygraph I gave it 3.5 stars, but NetGalley forces me to round it one way or another. It’s definitely one to make you think though!
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
It is well written in language and observations, and I think it does show how people and families can be affected by abductions and the subsequent pressures on them. I think I just didn’t quite buy that Gordon and Sarah would do the first big thing (no spoilers - IYKYK), and then I bought even less Gordon’s second action and final action…
So it’s well described, but I found it a bit hard to fathom. With Storygraph I gave it 3.5 stars, but NetGalley forces me to round it one way or another. It’s definitely one to make you think though!
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
October 18, 2025
3.75 / 5.0
I have to say 3/4 of the book was a solid 4.75 stars for me, the way we see the impact of events build up, the emotional and personal struggles on Gordon Rutherford is captured so beautifully. The pain of the aftermath after Rory goes missing and seeing both Gordon and Sarah rebuild their life after it goes crumbling. The last 100 pages for me felt too forced, it felt off but it felt out of character in a way, maybe it’s the direction of the book and the execution of the plot. It was simply a house of cards gradually built up and crumbled at the end. I was anticipating for a twist due to how slow the ending felt, it was a slog to read through. But I found the ending bizarre to read. So much delicate writing capturing their lives, and it shatters in a matter of pages then bam this is how their lives move on. You don’t really get a sense of closure when you read the book. It feels like the struggle continues and everyone is dealing with their own issues.
The book is centred around Gordon and Sarah Rutherford who are normal people living their life. Then one day their son Rory goes missing when he takes the dog to go out to the beach. The Labrador comes back home without Rory and one of his sandal in his mouth. Both Gordon and Sarah desperately want answers to figure out what happened Rory, why they only have questions and no answers. What happened to Rory?
Overall it’s a great read, I wouldn’t say this book is a thriller. But ultimately it’s a slow read that takes time to build up. You have to have the patience when reading this book as it takes sometime for it to gel and click. I would probably say in two weeks time I’d probably forget this plot.
I have to say 3/4 of the book was a solid 4.75 stars for me, the way we see the impact of events build up, the emotional and personal struggles on Gordon Rutherford is captured so beautifully. The pain of the aftermath after Rory goes missing and seeing both Gordon and Sarah rebuild their life after it goes crumbling. The last 100 pages for me felt too forced, it felt off but it felt out of character in a way, maybe it’s the direction of the book and the execution of the plot. It was simply a house of cards gradually built up and crumbled at the end. I was anticipating for a twist due to how slow the ending felt, it was a slog to read through. But I found the ending bizarre to read. So much delicate writing capturing their lives, and it shatters in a matter of pages then bam this is how their lives move on. You don’t really get a sense of closure when you read the book. It feels like the struggle continues and everyone is dealing with their own issues.
The book is centred around Gordon and Sarah Rutherford who are normal people living their life. Then one day their son Rory goes missing when he takes the dog to go out to the beach. The Labrador comes back home without Rory and one of his sandal in his mouth. Both Gordon and Sarah desperately want answers to figure out what happened Rory, why they only have questions and no answers. What happened to Rory?
Overall it’s a great read, I wouldn’t say this book is a thriller. But ultimately it’s a slow read that takes time to build up. You have to have the patience when reading this book as it takes sometime for it to gel and click. I would probably say in two weeks time I’d probably forget this plot.
April 15, 2026
Conundrum of a read!
Positives: the writing is meticulously done. The slow burn, deep character development, and the emotions pour out the pages. The writing is actually so good it hides a multitude of plot element failures. Additionally, Angus King as narrator is brilliant.
Negatives: what the actual…there are some seriously illogical actions. Without giving anything away - if someone doesn’t recognise you, you don’t slap them with a wet fish until they do! And, after that incident (no wet fish but I’m trying not to give anything away) I was done. If I didn’t know better I’d think the last part of this novel was written by somebody else.
Good until it wasn’t.
Positives: the writing is meticulously done. The slow burn, deep character development, and the emotions pour out the pages. The writing is actually so good it hides a multitude of plot element failures. Additionally, Angus King as narrator is brilliant.
Negatives: what the actual…there are some seriously illogical actions. Without giving anything away - if someone doesn’t recognise you, you don’t slap them with a wet fish until they do! And, after that incident (no wet fish but I’m trying not to give anything away) I was done. If I didn’t know better I’d think the last part of this novel was written by somebody else.
Good until it wasn’t.
June 23, 2025
I really wanted to love this book. The entire synopsis had me so excited to read it but unfortunately it wasn’t going to be what I’d hoped for. To read that Val McDermid found it “heart stopping” really raised my hopes. Val is a brilliant writer.
The book started off really well, I was getting immersed and eager to keep going but then it all fell down like a house of cards. I see some early reviews give this 5 stars so it obviously appeals to some. Books are so subjective though, not everybody is going to love a book.
One of my issues with this book is how wordy it is. There is scene upon scene where paragraphs and more paragraphs are extensive detail of very mundane things. It’s too much. Unnecessary “padding”. Over telling. Irrelevant words. Instead of engaging you and enhancing the plot it gets so tedious. A famous Author one day said to me “show, don’t tell” in relation to this with writing.
My other issue is huge plot gaps. I won’t put spoilers in here but when major events occurred many are just glossed over. At critical points in the story so much could be explored and been so exciting, yet nothing. Minimal detail. You are left hanging, I was thinking that these “holes” would be explained later in the book but then they were not.
I was desperate for questions to be answered! Yet too much detail on the mundane. The wrong way around. You are left feeling let down. There was SO much opportunity to dig deep into these significant plot moments.
I was able to skim read lots of this book yet miss nothing. I don’t need or enjoy multiple paragraphs or even pages detailing some minor moment. Less is more in this case. I wish it was. I wish I’d been a beta reader for this one as I was rooting for it to go places.
You’d also be at one point on a timeline then suddenly it jumps forward in time but what’s in-between that really matters and you crave is not there. There is one specific part of this plot that should have been explored in this book that was so important but we get nothing. To be honest this baffled me. I don’t get it.
So the start had promise and the end from 85% on threw in some stronger scenes but again these key events got me excited to then be too short, little detail and just…lacking. The ending felt very rushed with a lot of unrealistic scenes thrown in. The book needed a switch flipped. For the key events to be fleshed out and more added and the mundane stuff kept short and to the point.
You know those scenes where just doing an everyday task becomes multiple paragraphs and if you gloss over those you miss nothing and still get the point? Lots of those. I really mean lots. If I wasn’t so drained I’d insert an example for you to see what I mean.
The characters were very one dimensional for me. Significant characters were vacant and I got no sense of who they were. Main players outside of the “good Father” were impossible to connect to or form an opinion on. To Ruth’s like or dislike.
I really wanted this to be good, to get better, so much but it just missed the mark. I didn’t want to end up rating it this low. Too many plot holes and things that would not happen in the real world in here too.
I’m so frustrated 😩 after getting to the end of this. I am even frustrated writing this review! It had so much potential with the story. A combination of rushed and empty scenes where focus and detail were needed then the overkill of detail on the boring and irrelevant things. Flip that around and you’d have a corker of a book. Sigh…
I can only give it 2 stars 🌟🌟 I didn’t hate it but it left me very dissatisfied as a reader. It’s rare I skim read large parts of a book but I realised I missed nothing. I sincerely would have loved to have beta read this to give feedback.
Many thanks to Zaffre for my copy to read and review via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
The book started off really well, I was getting immersed and eager to keep going but then it all fell down like a house of cards. I see some early reviews give this 5 stars so it obviously appeals to some. Books are so subjective though, not everybody is going to love a book.
One of my issues with this book is how wordy it is. There is scene upon scene where paragraphs and more paragraphs are extensive detail of very mundane things. It’s too much. Unnecessary “padding”. Over telling. Irrelevant words. Instead of engaging you and enhancing the plot it gets so tedious. A famous Author one day said to me “show, don’t tell” in relation to this with writing.
My other issue is huge plot gaps. I won’t put spoilers in here but when major events occurred many are just glossed over. At critical points in the story so much could be explored and been so exciting, yet nothing. Minimal detail. You are left hanging, I was thinking that these “holes” would be explained later in the book but then they were not.
I was desperate for questions to be answered! Yet too much detail on the mundane. The wrong way around. You are left feeling let down. There was SO much opportunity to dig deep into these significant plot moments.
I was able to skim read lots of this book yet miss nothing. I don’t need or enjoy multiple paragraphs or even pages detailing some minor moment. Less is more in this case. I wish it was. I wish I’d been a beta reader for this one as I was rooting for it to go places.
You’d also be at one point on a timeline then suddenly it jumps forward in time but what’s in-between that really matters and you crave is not there. There is one specific part of this plot that should have been explored in this book that was so important but we get nothing. To be honest this baffled me. I don’t get it.
So the start had promise and the end from 85% on threw in some stronger scenes but again these key events got me excited to then be too short, little detail and just…lacking. The ending felt very rushed with a lot of unrealistic scenes thrown in. The book needed a switch flipped. For the key events to be fleshed out and more added and the mundane stuff kept short and to the point.
You know those scenes where just doing an everyday task becomes multiple paragraphs and if you gloss over those you miss nothing and still get the point? Lots of those. I really mean lots. If I wasn’t so drained I’d insert an example for you to see what I mean.
The characters were very one dimensional for me. Significant characters were vacant and I got no sense of who they were. Main players outside of the “good Father” were impossible to connect to or form an opinion on. To Ruth’s like or dislike.
I really wanted this to be good, to get better, so much but it just missed the mark. I didn’t want to end up rating it this low. Too many plot holes and things that would not happen in the real world in here too.
I’m so frustrated 😩 after getting to the end of this. I am even frustrated writing this review! It had so much potential with the story. A combination of rushed and empty scenes where focus and detail were needed then the overkill of detail on the boring and irrelevant things. Flip that around and you’d have a corker of a book. Sigh…
I can only give it 2 stars 🌟🌟 I didn’t hate it but it left me very dissatisfied as a reader. It’s rare I skim read large parts of a book but I realised I missed nothing. I sincerely would have loved to have beta read this to give feedback.
Many thanks to Zaffre for my copy to read and review via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
September 29, 2025
4 Stars
April 11, 2025
It is a seemingly ordinary August day that fractures the lives of Gordon and Sarah Rutherford. Late summer on the west coast of Scotland; their seven-year-old Rory enjoying the beach outside the family home with their dog Bonnie. Then Bonnie comes home alone. Gordon and Sarah wander the beach. No sign of Rory. The police are called. Questions. More extensive searches. More questions. Hours pass. Days. Months.
Award-winning novelist Liam McIlvanney, a professor at the University of Otago, may be a self-confessed ‘slow motion crime writer’ who doesn’t produce the book-a-year of many peers, but The Good Father demonstrates once more why his tales are always well worth the wait. What could be worse than your child disappearing? A seemingly ordinary day, something Rory had often done, playing near the house with their dog. A safe community in their small town, he’d always returned home. Until he didn’t. Guilt. Fear. Whispers and gossip. How do your neighbours see you now; how do you see yourselves?
McIlvanney takes parental fears and delivers gut-punch storytelling; he is a great writer alongside being a great storyteller. The sentences sing, as Gordon and Sarah’s happy lives are eroded away day by day. It’s the hope that kills. What could be worse than your child disappearing? The Good Father is a quietly terrifying tale that upturns expectations without pyrotechnics, and from an author who’s already collected major writing awards in both hemispheres, may somehow be his best work yet.
[This review was first written for Good Reading magazine in Australia]
Award-winning novelist Liam McIlvanney, a professor at the University of Otago, may be a self-confessed ‘slow motion crime writer’ who doesn’t produce the book-a-year of many peers, but The Good Father demonstrates once more why his tales are always well worth the wait. What could be worse than your child disappearing? A seemingly ordinary day, something Rory had often done, playing near the house with their dog. A safe community in their small town, he’d always returned home. Until he didn’t. Guilt. Fear. Whispers and gossip. How do your neighbours see you now; how do you see yourselves?
McIlvanney takes parental fears and delivers gut-punch storytelling; he is a great writer alongside being a great storyteller. The sentences sing, as Gordon and Sarah’s happy lives are eroded away day by day. It’s the hope that kills. What could be worse than your child disappearing? The Good Father is a quietly terrifying tale that upturns expectations without pyrotechnics, and from an author who’s already collected major writing awards in both hemispheres, may somehow be his best work yet.
[This review was first written for Good Reading magazine in Australia]
August 10, 2025
Ridiculous,over the top,so absurd it's laughable.
January 9, 2026
A great audio book. 2 1/2 stars
July 6, 2025
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford have the idyllic life. Their hard fought for 7 year old son Rory who they absolutely adore, a house in a picture perfect Ayrshire village, surrounded by a safe, friendly and honest community. One afternoon while Gordon is sat in their garden reading, their dog Bonnie returns from the beach at the end of their garden without Rory. Rory is gone without a single trace and the police launch a massive search for him. Gradually over the next week or so, they scale back their investigation until one day Gordon and Sarah are left alone in their search. Whilst there is no body, there is still hope for their son to be safely returned to them.
I really really wanted to love this book, as soon as I read the blurb my interest was immediately piqued and the first part of the book fully delivered on my expectations. It was tense, fast paced and the author fully draws you in to this awful situation the Rutherford’s find themselves in. Then the middle part totally changes tack and everything becomes really slow. There seems to be loads of description about nothing and the one actual major event that happens seems to get glossed over in a really short section. The final part then becomes completely convoluted, it bounces around all over the place making it difficult to follow what’s actually going on and the ending actually just felt a little bit ridiculous. It felt like the author was writing several different thrillers that he then smashed into one very mixed up story.
The characters weren’t particularly likeable either, they seemed entirely flat and their emotional responses just didn’t seem to fit with what was actually happening around them. They were all very one dimensional and you just don’t get a sense of who any of them really are.
I also felt like there were massive plot holes and the timeline seemed to be really out of sync. Something would be happening and then all of a sudden you’d skip forwards in time, something else would be happening and there was no explanation of what had happened in between. It made the whole thing feel really inconsistent and quite awkward to read.
I persisted with it it hoping it would get better, and towards the end did have some much more gripping scenes but over all this just wasn’t it for me at all.
I really really wanted to love this book, as soon as I read the blurb my interest was immediately piqued and the first part of the book fully delivered on my expectations. It was tense, fast paced and the author fully draws you in to this awful situation the Rutherford’s find themselves in. Then the middle part totally changes tack and everything becomes really slow. There seems to be loads of description about nothing and the one actual major event that happens seems to get glossed over in a really short section. The final part then becomes completely convoluted, it bounces around all over the place making it difficult to follow what’s actually going on and the ending actually just felt a little bit ridiculous. It felt like the author was writing several different thrillers that he then smashed into one very mixed up story.
The characters weren’t particularly likeable either, they seemed entirely flat and their emotional responses just didn’t seem to fit with what was actually happening around them. They were all very one dimensional and you just don’t get a sense of who any of them really are.
I also felt like there were massive plot holes and the timeline seemed to be really out of sync. Something would be happening and then all of a sudden you’d skip forwards in time, something else would be happening and there was no explanation of what had happened in between. It made the whole thing feel really inconsistent and quite awkward to read.
I persisted with it it hoping it would get better, and towards the end did have some much more gripping scenes but over all this just wasn’t it for me at all.
August 6, 2025
A new author to me and a heartbreaking story of a young family torn apart when their child goes missing.
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford, parents to their 7 year old son Rory, live by the beach, with their dog, Bonnie.
One day whilst Gordon is working, Rory is playing on the beach with Bonnie. However, soon Bonnie comes back to this house without Rory, but with his shoe in her mouth instead. Gordon goes to look on the beach and sees nothing. His son is no where to be found.
What follows is a devastating story of a missing child and the impact it has on those around you. Told from Gordon’s POV, you hear the community coming together, the looks and glances from those that know your story, the blame happening, the guilt and the what-ifs - the fallout of parents on the brink of their miracle boy having gone missing.
This story tells the tale of the desperation of a father, of never giving up hope, followed by the guilt that comes from trying to be a good father.
This story started off a little slow for me, but then it started building up to be a gripping read. The story drew me in, I really felt for the characters - it’s incredibly sad to read but at the same time, you just want to gee up the characters as you feel for them so much.
The ending had a huge reveal which I didn’t see coming, but did make me think twice about how I missed it!
Whilst the theme of this book was heartbreaking, it was well written and will probably never leave me. I’ll definitely look forward to reading more from Liam McIlvanney!
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford, parents to their 7 year old son Rory, live by the beach, with their dog, Bonnie.
One day whilst Gordon is working, Rory is playing on the beach with Bonnie. However, soon Bonnie comes back to this house without Rory, but with his shoe in her mouth instead. Gordon goes to look on the beach and sees nothing. His son is no where to be found.
What follows is a devastating story of a missing child and the impact it has on those around you. Told from Gordon’s POV, you hear the community coming together, the looks and glances from those that know your story, the blame happening, the guilt and the what-ifs - the fallout of parents on the brink of their miracle boy having gone missing.
This story tells the tale of the desperation of a father, of never giving up hope, followed by the guilt that comes from trying to be a good father.
This story started off a little slow for me, but then it started building up to be a gripping read. The story drew me in, I really felt for the characters - it’s incredibly sad to read but at the same time, you just want to gee up the characters as you feel for them so much.
The ending had a huge reveal which I didn’t see coming, but did make me think twice about how I missed it!
Whilst the theme of this book was heartbreaking, it was well written and will probably never leave me. I’ll definitely look forward to reading more from Liam McIlvanney!
July 11, 2025
The Good Father is a well-written thriller that follows a painful tragedy and a father's emotions during a situation any parent would never hope to imagine.
There's anger, resentment, fear, loss, and the need for revenge. It's certainly a very gritty thriller that explores the dark side of this family dynamic, as a father searches for the truth in a community with dark secrets.
If you enjoy thrillers by TM Logan, Simon Beckett and Simon Lelic, then you will love the masculine tension of this one!
There's anger, resentment, fear, loss, and the need for revenge. It's certainly a very gritty thriller that explores the dark side of this family dynamic, as a father searches for the truth in a community with dark secrets.
If you enjoy thrillers by TM Logan, Simon Beckett and Simon Lelic, then you will love the masculine tension of this one!
August 10, 2025
When I first read this book, I was blown away. The prose flows beautifully, the reader truly feels the pain of the parents, and there are many twists and turns. A few weeks later, however, I’m left thinking about how I’ve read multiple similar crime novels recently about fathers and sons. The rationale of the father in this book in fact makes the least sense, even though this writer is far and away the most technically gifted. Sometimes beautiful writing can really hide a multitude of sins.
December 6, 2025
Did not know what was going to happen
July 30, 2026
Just wasn't for me and I was glad to finish it. The first part was good and there were twists and turns but some of the actions taken were hard to believe and infuriating. I kept going partly because it was very well written. I was annoyed with 'the good father's' wife too, she was just as culpable as him.
September 28, 2025
Hopefully McIIvanney returns to the game of historical fiction with D.I. McCormack soon.
This tale of abduction and revenge killings, all very unpleasant and far fetched. I did not enjoy this, almost as if written by a different author.
This tale of abduction and revenge killings, all very unpleasant and far fetched. I did not enjoy this, almost as if written by a different author.
August 23, 2025
This is my first book by Liam McIllvanney and the blurb really captured my attention. Missing children seems to be a popular theme at the moment for psychological thrillers, so I was intrigued to see how the author known for his literary crime fiction would cover this heartbreaking scenario.
Set in the picturesque coastal town of Fairlie, Scotland, the novel follows Gordon and Sarah Rutherford as they grapple with the vanishing of their seven-year-old son, Rory, whose only trace is a lone black sandal brought home by the family dog.
The book is cleverly split into three parts, beginning with the immediate aftermath of Rory's disappearance and the devastating impact on both parents. The grief and turmoil is intense throughout the story and the reader is taken on this awful journey watching Gordon and Sarah fall apart both emotionally and mentally.
I'm not going to say much more about the story because you need to read this for yourself, but I will tell you that it's a powerful story of love, loss, grief and hope
Set in the picturesque coastal town of Fairlie, Scotland, the novel follows Gordon and Sarah Rutherford as they grapple with the vanishing of their seven-year-old son, Rory, whose only trace is a lone black sandal brought home by the family dog.
The book is cleverly split into three parts, beginning with the immediate aftermath of Rory's disappearance and the devastating impact on both parents. The grief and turmoil is intense throughout the story and the reader is taken on this awful journey watching Gordon and Sarah fall apart both emotionally and mentally.
I'm not going to say much more about the story because you need to read this for yourself, but I will tell you that it's a powerful story of love, loss, grief and hope
October 22, 2025
four and half stars. this was a very dark subject but very compelling. I found it very hard to put down
December 12, 2025
The Good Father – Liam McIlvanney
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (3 stars)
This book is like getting pulled into a cracking first episode… then halfway through the series the writers decide they’re making a different show.
The opening is strong. Rory goes missing and it immediately creates that horrible, sinking feeling. It’s tense, it’s bleak, and it feels like it’s setting up a proper search-for-the-truth story — the kind where you’re slowly piecing together what happened and who’s involved.
But once Rory turns up again, the book starts throwing things at the wall.
It’s not that the themes aren’t serious — they are. Rory’s anger and outbursts make sense given what he’s been through, and the book makes it clear where that’s coming from. My issue is that it becomes a repeated source of frustration rather than something the story meaningfully builds toward. It’s there… then it’s there again… and again… and by the end I felt more annoyed than moved.
What would have kept me hooked is if the story had properly leaned into that “we’re on our own now” angle — Gordon’s cousin Paul, Ian Kerr, that small circle of people close enough to care but stubborn enough to dig. That had the makings of a tight, personal investigation: following the smuggling thread, pushing where the police can’t, and letting the truth come out in a way that actually earns the final reveal.
Instead, the book goes down the murder route and it just didn’t work for me. It felt bolted on — like it was trying to force extra darkness instead of trusting the darkness that was already there. The central story didn’t need that detour, and it made the whole middle feel scattered.
The ending? Not terrible. Just too quick. It’s like the book realises it needs to wrap up and does it in a sprint, when it really needed time to land the emotional punch.
So aye — I didn’t hate it. I just finished it thinking: there was a better, tighter version of this story sitting right there.
🐻 YogiMeter: 3/5 — Strong start, then it swerves, and the payoff doesn’t match the setup.
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (3 stars)
This book is like getting pulled into a cracking first episode… then halfway through the series the writers decide they’re making a different show.
The opening is strong. Rory goes missing and it immediately creates that horrible, sinking feeling. It’s tense, it’s bleak, and it feels like it’s setting up a proper search-for-the-truth story — the kind where you’re slowly piecing together what happened and who’s involved.
But once Rory turns up again, the book starts throwing things at the wall.
It’s not that the themes aren’t serious — they are. Rory’s anger and outbursts make sense given what he’s been through, and the book makes it clear where that’s coming from. My issue is that it becomes a repeated source of frustration rather than something the story meaningfully builds toward. It’s there… then it’s there again… and again… and by the end I felt more annoyed than moved.
What would have kept me hooked is if the story had properly leaned into that “we’re on our own now” angle — Gordon’s cousin Paul, Ian Kerr, that small circle of people close enough to care but stubborn enough to dig. That had the makings of a tight, personal investigation: following the smuggling thread, pushing where the police can’t, and letting the truth come out in a way that actually earns the final reveal.
Instead, the book goes down the murder route and it just didn’t work for me. It felt bolted on — like it was trying to force extra darkness instead of trusting the darkness that was already there. The central story didn’t need that detour, and it made the whole middle feel scattered.
The ending? Not terrible. Just too quick. It’s like the book realises it needs to wrap up and does it in a sprint, when it really needed time to land the emotional punch.
So aye — I didn’t hate it. I just finished it thinking: there was a better, tighter version of this story sitting right there.
🐻 YogiMeter: 3/5 — Strong start, then it swerves, and the payoff doesn’t match the setup.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
This is a beautifully imagined and chillingly told story.
There are no wrong notes.
How much do you love your children?
How far would you go to protect them?
This book will make you reexamine parenthood.
There are no wrong notes.
How much do you love your children?
How far would you go to protect them?
This book will make you reexamine parenthood.
November 26, 2025
God, this book DRAGGED. I finished it out of a weird sense of obligation but honestly, it was like pulling teeth.
June 22, 2025
Well, this may have been the first of Liam McIlvanney's books I have read, but I am pretty safe in saying that it will not be the last. The Good Father is everything a good thriller should be - tense, emotional and full of shocking twists that left me a tough blindsided. It is, in a word, fabulous.
This is the story of Gordon and Sarah Rutherford, two happily married professionals, with as good a life as you can imagine. Until it's not. One fateful afternoon, their precious son, Rory, is taken from the beach outside their home and from that point onward, the only certainty in their lives is that nothing will be the same again. Plunged into a kind of waking nightmare, they are faced with the worst of all situations, and whilst it is fair to say that they do not take the situation lying down, pursuing every possible lead as far as they are able, there comes a time when all the accusations die down, and all the leads take them to a dead end, that the only option left is to move on. And it is in moving on that everything changes once again. And I don't want to say too much more about that as I feel it verges on the spoiler territory.
This is a really thought provoking piece of fiction, exploring what is perhaps the worst of fears of any loving parent - that they lose their child, be it by fair means or foul. Liam McIlvanney manages to take that nightmare and give it words, agency even, bringing the emotional turmoil of Gordon and Sarah to life on the page. Whilst the story is told primarily from Gordon's perspective, the father who feels he failed his son by, on that fateful day, allowing him to play alone whilst he focused on his work instead, the author conveys Sarah's pain with as just as much visceral impact through Gordon's observations.
The story explores that sacrifices that a parent might make on behalf of their children. Of the guilt that they can carry with them when any kind of tragedy befalls them, and the lengths they would go to in order to try and make things right. And Gordon has to go a very long way to protect his own family from more tragedy. There are scenes in the book that are hard to read. Some from the strength of the emotions that are conveyed - guilt, fear, anger - and some from the very nature of what comes to pass. It definitely made me think about how I might react in certain situations, whether I would make the same choices that Gordon and Sarah made, and, whilst I like to think not, guilt is a very strong motivator, as is love.
I had mixed feelings about both Gordon and Sarah. At a certain level, I felt for them. For their situation, their loss. It would be hard not to. But then this also made me think. Because of the way Liam McIlvanney has framed this story, we think we know what is happening, what has happened, and so we would not naturally condemn them for what has happened, and yet, to a lesser extent than you might expect, there is that consideration of how others in the community might race to judgement, to make assumptions about guilt and innocence, a theme which is regularly revisited throughout the book. I appreciated how the author has used Gordon's career, as a Professor of Literature, to explore certain texts which give voice to his state of mind, his personal situation, a kind of art imitating life imitating art. No doubt drawing on his own professional experience, Liam MciLvanney uses this tool perfectly, elevating the story beyond the typical guilty Dad feels bad kind of scenario we are used to reading.
And the real thing that made this work for me is that, just as I felt that there is little left that can surprise you in Sarah and Gordon's story, the author still manages to lob a few curveballs, hand grenades almost, and blow everything I thought I knew right out of the water. And, in a strange way, whilst it might at first seem a touch fantastical, when you take into account events of recent years, the plausibility of it all seems that fraction more possible. Did the story need it? Some might argue not but, as Gordon himself observes, it does at least bring him closure.
If you enjoy an emotionally thought provoking , leaning towards dark story (and warning - the book does include some animal deaths), with some very hard hitting themes that are handled with the utmost sensitivity, and characters who will leave you both exasperated by and heartbroken for, then this book is highly recommended. Time to go and check out the author's back catalogue.
This is the story of Gordon and Sarah Rutherford, two happily married professionals, with as good a life as you can imagine. Until it's not. One fateful afternoon, their precious son, Rory, is taken from the beach outside their home and from that point onward, the only certainty in their lives is that nothing will be the same again. Plunged into a kind of waking nightmare, they are faced with the worst of all situations, and whilst it is fair to say that they do not take the situation lying down, pursuing every possible lead as far as they are able, there comes a time when all the accusations die down, and all the leads take them to a dead end, that the only option left is to move on. And it is in moving on that everything changes once again. And I don't want to say too much more about that as I feel it verges on the spoiler territory.
This is a really thought provoking piece of fiction, exploring what is perhaps the worst of fears of any loving parent - that they lose their child, be it by fair means or foul. Liam McIlvanney manages to take that nightmare and give it words, agency even, bringing the emotional turmoil of Gordon and Sarah to life on the page. Whilst the story is told primarily from Gordon's perspective, the father who feels he failed his son by, on that fateful day, allowing him to play alone whilst he focused on his work instead, the author conveys Sarah's pain with as just as much visceral impact through Gordon's observations.
The story explores that sacrifices that a parent might make on behalf of their children. Of the guilt that they can carry with them when any kind of tragedy befalls them, and the lengths they would go to in order to try and make things right. And Gordon has to go a very long way to protect his own family from more tragedy. There are scenes in the book that are hard to read. Some from the strength of the emotions that are conveyed - guilt, fear, anger - and some from the very nature of what comes to pass. It definitely made me think about how I might react in certain situations, whether I would make the same choices that Gordon and Sarah made, and, whilst I like to think not, guilt is a very strong motivator, as is love.
I had mixed feelings about both Gordon and Sarah. At a certain level, I felt for them. For their situation, their loss. It would be hard not to. But then this also made me think. Because of the way Liam McIlvanney has framed this story, we think we know what is happening, what has happened, and so we would not naturally condemn them for what has happened, and yet, to a lesser extent than you might expect, there is that consideration of how others in the community might race to judgement, to make assumptions about guilt and innocence, a theme which is regularly revisited throughout the book. I appreciated how the author has used Gordon's career, as a Professor of Literature, to explore certain texts which give voice to his state of mind, his personal situation, a kind of art imitating life imitating art. No doubt drawing on his own professional experience, Liam MciLvanney uses this tool perfectly, elevating the story beyond the typical guilty Dad feels bad kind of scenario we are used to reading.
And the real thing that made this work for me is that, just as I felt that there is little left that can surprise you in Sarah and Gordon's story, the author still manages to lob a few curveballs, hand grenades almost, and blow everything I thought I knew right out of the water. And, in a strange way, whilst it might at first seem a touch fantastical, when you take into account events of recent years, the plausibility of it all seems that fraction more possible. Did the story need it? Some might argue not but, as Gordon himself observes, it does at least bring him closure.
If you enjoy an emotionally thought provoking , leaning towards dark story (and warning - the book does include some animal deaths), with some very hard hitting themes that are handled with the utmost sensitivity, and characters who will leave you both exasperated by and heartbroken for, then this book is highly recommended. Time to go and check out the author's back catalogue.
July 3, 2025
I loved The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney. I was drawn into this dark, heartbreaking, psychological thriller about the disappearance of Rory Rutherford and the devastating impact on both his family and the Ayrshire village of Fairlie.
The novel opens on a lovely summer day. Seven-year-old Rory Rutherford and the family Labrador, Bonnie, are on the beach. Fairlie, which McIlvanney knows well, is the kind of place where nothing ever goes wrong. So, Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are relaxed about Rory going out, with just the dog, to play on the sands.
When Bonnie returns alone, carrying a single black sandal, everything comes to an abrupt halt for his parents. It’s that moment that sets the tone and the tension in this extraordinary book. As the plot unfolds, the everyday life of Gordon and Sarah starts to crumble.
This novel has such a strong emotional core. The relationship between Gordon and his son Rory is beautifully drawn. As the narrator, Gordon switches between frantic hope and bleak despair, and McIlvanney captures his internal turmoil with authenticity. He shows us every shudder of fear, every moment of maddening hope, as the days became months, and yet there’s still no sign of Rory. The police have no meaningful leads.
The bond between Gordon and Sarah is breached under tremendous pressure. Their support for each other gradually shifts into defensive mode and blame, and then into deep, aching isolation. McIlvanney demonstrates an acute understanding of how shared grief can erode intimacy and loyalty.
Gordon’s relationship with his own father is also crucial to this novel. Woven through The Good Father are memories and echoes of paternal expectation and absence. Gordon carries the repercussions of emotional distance into his role as a father. When Rory disappears, it is those old wounds that shape Gordon’s response. He needs to protect Rory from what he once lost. For Gordon, it is not just Rory whose future is at stake; it’s the chance to prove himself to be the good father he never had.
McIlvanney’s characterisation is superb. Gordon is so well drawn, sometimes tender, often unravelling, in a way that makes him feel all too real. As a lecturer in Scottish Literature, Gordon uses some of his set texts to give voice to his state of mind. Sarah, too, emerges as a fully rounded character: her fierce, silent grief is restrained yet raw. The community they live in is typical in coming together to show acts of kindness, but rumours abound, and behind closed doors, suspicions are voiced. It all tugs at Gordon and Sarah like wind blowing contrary to the tidal current.
This is a slow-burning, dark psychological thriller, and it is all the more intense for that. We see how Gordon’s mood changes and hardens. Then there is escalating tension until we reach an ending that genuinely surprised me.
The Good Father is about fatherhood; love, fear, failure, guilt, and legacy all play a part in Gordon’s reactions. Rory’s disappearance forces both Gordon and his father into the same space. McIlvanney asks if Gordon can reach beyond his limitations or whether he is doomed to repeat his father’s mistakes. This exploration of the life we owe our children, and the scars we pass on, is handled with honesty and quiet, heartbreaking authority. It’s a theme that resonates.
Verdict: The Good Father is an extraordinary novel. I believe it is his best novel yet. Beautifully written, it is terrifying, haunting, and heartbreaking. McIlvanney proves once again what a powerful voice he is in contemporary crime fiction. His prose is packed with emotional resonance; the setting is a crucial element to the story, and the devastating, twisted ending packs real impact. This is crime fiction with a high emotional bar. This book shows us how trauma fractures families, shifts identities, and makes them cling to hope. The Good Father is an absolute five-star must-read.
The novel opens on a lovely summer day. Seven-year-old Rory Rutherford and the family Labrador, Bonnie, are on the beach. Fairlie, which McIlvanney knows well, is the kind of place where nothing ever goes wrong. So, Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are relaxed about Rory going out, with just the dog, to play on the sands.
When Bonnie returns alone, carrying a single black sandal, everything comes to an abrupt halt for his parents. It’s that moment that sets the tone and the tension in this extraordinary book. As the plot unfolds, the everyday life of Gordon and Sarah starts to crumble.
This novel has such a strong emotional core. The relationship between Gordon and his son Rory is beautifully drawn. As the narrator, Gordon switches between frantic hope and bleak despair, and McIlvanney captures his internal turmoil with authenticity. He shows us every shudder of fear, every moment of maddening hope, as the days became months, and yet there’s still no sign of Rory. The police have no meaningful leads.
The bond between Gordon and Sarah is breached under tremendous pressure. Their support for each other gradually shifts into defensive mode and blame, and then into deep, aching isolation. McIlvanney demonstrates an acute understanding of how shared grief can erode intimacy and loyalty.
Gordon’s relationship with his own father is also crucial to this novel. Woven through The Good Father are memories and echoes of paternal expectation and absence. Gordon carries the repercussions of emotional distance into his role as a father. When Rory disappears, it is those old wounds that shape Gordon’s response. He needs to protect Rory from what he once lost. For Gordon, it is not just Rory whose future is at stake; it’s the chance to prove himself to be the good father he never had.
McIlvanney’s characterisation is superb. Gordon is so well drawn, sometimes tender, often unravelling, in a way that makes him feel all too real. As a lecturer in Scottish Literature, Gordon uses some of his set texts to give voice to his state of mind. Sarah, too, emerges as a fully rounded character: her fierce, silent grief is restrained yet raw. The community they live in is typical in coming together to show acts of kindness, but rumours abound, and behind closed doors, suspicions are voiced. It all tugs at Gordon and Sarah like wind blowing contrary to the tidal current.
This is a slow-burning, dark psychological thriller, and it is all the more intense for that. We see how Gordon’s mood changes and hardens. Then there is escalating tension until we reach an ending that genuinely surprised me.
The Good Father is about fatherhood; love, fear, failure, guilt, and legacy all play a part in Gordon’s reactions. Rory’s disappearance forces both Gordon and his father into the same space. McIlvanney asks if Gordon can reach beyond his limitations or whether he is doomed to repeat his father’s mistakes. This exploration of the life we owe our children, and the scars we pass on, is handled with honesty and quiet, heartbreaking authority. It’s a theme that resonates.
Verdict: The Good Father is an extraordinary novel. I believe it is his best novel yet. Beautifully written, it is terrifying, haunting, and heartbreaking. McIlvanney proves once again what a powerful voice he is in contemporary crime fiction. His prose is packed with emotional resonance; the setting is a crucial element to the story, and the devastating, twisted ending packs real impact. This is crime fiction with a high emotional bar. This book shows us how trauma fractures families, shifts identities, and makes them cling to hope. The Good Father is an absolute five-star must-read.
June 28, 2026
it was okay.
The beginning of the book had me drawn in, it was gripping and i just HAD to find out what happened to Rory. But about a quarter of the way through i was bored, there seemed to be nothing going on but also too much at the same time? there was so many paragraphs i had to skip because it was just constant nonsense that wasn’t even relevant. there was SO much filler about mundane things. i get trying to make us feel connected to the characters but it got to a point where i could literally skim through multiple pages and not miss a single thing! there was way too many parts that i skipped.
I feel like there was no points of suspicion for any of the characters. *the perpetrator* never once gave off a shred of guilt or even suspicious behaviour, but i guess you could say that’s what makes it surprising. all of the characters, except maybe Rory, were bland. the description of this book states “but as desperation mounts, cracks appear and fingers are pointed — at friends, family, each other” this honestly barely even happens, maybe at the beginning of part 1, but certainly not later on. it also states on the cover “when a child disappears, no secret is safe” from memory i could tell you 2 secrets (excluding the obvious) that were mentioned in this book, that’s all, yet it’s made out to be a running theme here.
Becky? becky was a lost character, she was mentioned at the beginning then she disappeared, we never heard from her again until MUCH later. when she was mentioned again i’d honestly forgotten who she was. there was also a plot hole between her and gordon early on, but it was never relevant or mentioned again.
For me personally there wasn’t enough twists and turns where my jaw was physically hitting the floor, i don’t think i actually had a single physical reaction like i usually do with a thriller.
Part 3 of the book was quite frankly all over the place, there was no sense in any of Gordon’s actions and Sarah was FAR too chill about it all. we never fully got an understanding of why BOTH parents did what they did, this would’ve been better use of filler than the drivel that actually was included.
it would’ve been nice for us to maybe get a play by play from Rory’s perspective of the day he was taken? or dialogue from the dad showing Rory’s POV, this just felt like another plot hole.
All in all, this is a very long read, not in the sense of the size of the book, but by how long it takes to get through the mostly unrelated memories and stories gordon tells. it gives off the same feeling as someone showing you their entire camera roll and all you want to do is get onto some exciting conversation. it’s very slow and not exactly exciting to read.
Other than that, the book was alright, there was some good points of suspense but i personally wouldn’t recommend it.
The beginning of the book had me drawn in, it was gripping and i just HAD to find out what happened to Rory. But about a quarter of the way through i was bored, there seemed to be nothing going on but also too much at the same time? there was so many paragraphs i had to skip because it was just constant nonsense that wasn’t even relevant. there was SO much filler about mundane things. i get trying to make us feel connected to the characters but it got to a point where i could literally skim through multiple pages and not miss a single thing! there was way too many parts that i skipped.
I feel like there was no points of suspicion for any of the characters. *the perpetrator* never once gave off a shred of guilt or even suspicious behaviour, but i guess you could say that’s what makes it surprising. all of the characters, except maybe Rory, were bland. the description of this book states “but as desperation mounts, cracks appear and fingers are pointed — at friends, family, each other” this honestly barely even happens, maybe at the beginning of part 1, but certainly not later on. it also states on the cover “when a child disappears, no secret is safe” from memory i could tell you 2 secrets (excluding the obvious) that were mentioned in this book, that’s all, yet it’s made out to be a running theme here.
Becky? becky was a lost character, she was mentioned at the beginning then she disappeared, we never heard from her again until MUCH later. when she was mentioned again i’d honestly forgotten who she was. there was also a plot hole between her and gordon early on, but it was never relevant or mentioned again.
For me personally there wasn’t enough twists and turns where my jaw was physically hitting the floor, i don’t think i actually had a single physical reaction like i usually do with a thriller.
Part 3 of the book was quite frankly all over the place, there was no sense in any of Gordon’s actions and Sarah was FAR too chill about it all. we never fully got an understanding of why BOTH parents did what they did, this would’ve been better use of filler than the drivel that actually was included.
it would’ve been nice for us to maybe get a play by play from Rory’s perspective of the day he was taken? or dialogue from the dad showing Rory’s POV, this just felt like another plot hole.
All in all, this is a very long read, not in the sense of the size of the book, but by how long it takes to get through the mostly unrelated memories and stories gordon tells. it gives off the same feeling as someone showing you their entire camera roll and all you want to do is get onto some exciting conversation. it’s very slow and not exactly exciting to read.
Other than that, the book was alright, there was some good points of suspense but i personally wouldn’t recommend it.
July 7, 2025
Liam McIlvanney has described himself as "a slow motion crime writer" but every single book has been worth waiting for, and this standalone is another masterpiece.
We open with Gordon Rutherford musing on the fact that it has been seven years since his son, Rory, aged seven, went out to play on the beach in front of their Ayrshire home and never came back. We're immediately swept back to that day; the panic, the police questions, the pain of not knowing.
A week later, school starts up again, keeping a place for Rory. But we read that first page, we know he's not coming back. And the longer he's missing, the more the disconnect between family, friends, community and the couple: the media moves on to new stories; the police to new cases; people move on with their lives. But Gordon and Sarah are stuck.
The first anniversary of Rory's disappearance passes; his 11th birthday comes and goes. And while the pain remains, they cope, they function.
And then the plot becomes a whole lot twistier and knottier. From here on to the closing pages I repeatedly thought back to that first page, wondering with a sense of dread: what next? You cannot relax for a moment, this is a novel packed to the rafters with tension and inevitable, inescapable escalation.
And then Gordon makes a decision, and we descend to yet another level of hell. How far will you go to protect the ones you love?
The concluding chapters sadly show the high price that some people are willing to pay to get what they want. But Gordon finds a kind of peace, and there's a glimmer of hope for his family. Everything he did, he did for his family. So, is Gordon a good father? I really don't know...
Sarah is the voice of reason, the sensible but proactive one, reminding Gordon again and again that the focus must be Rory. Gordon struggles with his emotions and often seems detached, but when the chips are down, he's decisive and doesn't hesitate. They're a great pair of characters, hugely believable and perfectly suited.
McIlvanney's love for Ayrshire, and the coastal village of Fairlie, sings from the pages. There's a particular horror in bringing the big bad world into idyllic little places, I do hope the village forgives him... The language is also exquisite from the opening sentence onwards, with a superb attention to detail for maximum impact.
There are some pretty raw moments and it can be a hard read - I can't imagine what it must have been like to write it. And you ask yourself constantly: what would I do? How would I cope? McIlvanney puts his characters through the wringer in these pages, and the reader goes with them.
This book is a five-star must-read, and I know it will not leave me for a long time. Do yourself a favour and read it.
We open with Gordon Rutherford musing on the fact that it has been seven years since his son, Rory, aged seven, went out to play on the beach in front of their Ayrshire home and never came back. We're immediately swept back to that day; the panic, the police questions, the pain of not knowing.
A week later, school starts up again, keeping a place for Rory. But we read that first page, we know he's not coming back. And the longer he's missing, the more the disconnect between family, friends, community and the couple: the media moves on to new stories; the police to new cases; people move on with their lives. But Gordon and Sarah are stuck.
The first anniversary of Rory's disappearance passes; his 11th birthday comes and goes. And while the pain remains, they cope, they function.
And then the plot becomes a whole lot twistier and knottier. From here on to the closing pages I repeatedly thought back to that first page, wondering with a sense of dread: what next? You cannot relax for a moment, this is a novel packed to the rafters with tension and inevitable, inescapable escalation.
And then Gordon makes a decision, and we descend to yet another level of hell. How far will you go to protect the ones you love?
The concluding chapters sadly show the high price that some people are willing to pay to get what they want. But Gordon finds a kind of peace, and there's a glimmer of hope for his family. Everything he did, he did for his family. So, is Gordon a good father? I really don't know...
Sarah is the voice of reason, the sensible but proactive one, reminding Gordon again and again that the focus must be Rory. Gordon struggles with his emotions and often seems detached, but when the chips are down, he's decisive and doesn't hesitate. They're a great pair of characters, hugely believable and perfectly suited.
McIlvanney's love for Ayrshire, and the coastal village of Fairlie, sings from the pages. There's a particular horror in bringing the big bad world into idyllic little places, I do hope the village forgives him... The language is also exquisite from the opening sentence onwards, with a superb attention to detail for maximum impact.
There are some pretty raw moments and it can be a hard read - I can't imagine what it must have been like to write it. And you ask yourself constantly: what would I do? How would I cope? McIlvanney puts his characters through the wringer in these pages, and the reader goes with them.
This book is a five-star must-read, and I know it will not leave me for a long time. Do yourself a favour and read it.
October 16, 2025
Thriller set in NORTH AYRSHIRE
Sarah and Gordon are well settled in the little village of Fairlie. Rory, their young son is out on the beach by their house one day and disappears.
“Rory’s disappearance bled into everything. Like an oil slick, spreading out and tainting almost everyone we knew”
The author really captures the frantic sense of loss, the recriminations between the couple – Gordon clearly failed in watching Rory on the beach. The fall out of the ensuing days is so well captured – possible sightings, lack of news, the local community, social media and strategies for the family to hold it together. Becky, Sarah’s sister, is on hand to offer support and meals dished up by the locals arrive by the dozen.
The police then start to wind down their investigations and so it is down to Gordon and Sarah to keep a focus on their son’s case. On Facebook Gordon happens to notice that a lad went missing in Troon, so he heads over that way to meet with his father, and together it seems possible they could forge a strategy; could there be a link? But what he has to say, his hypotheses fill Gordon with dread. A sighting in Aberdeen confirmed by the police sees him head up north. And a chance encounter with a neighbour – the local busybody – gives him a new lead which takes them across to Ireland. On the day of the disappearance, a woman in a green coat is seen and time is spent searching for her identity. But as the days become weeks, there is still no sign of Rory. it really is ‘the hope’ that kills.
It all comes down to a blue dumbbell and a fisherman’s knife (which apparently is designed with a cork handle, so if it is dropped in water, it will float-love learning new things through fiction!).
The author is a natural writer and storyteller, with plenty of switchbacks along the way and a good sense of pace, This is a very engaging read, set against a tangible and colourful Scottish setting.
Sarah and Gordon are well settled in the little village of Fairlie. Rory, their young son is out on the beach by their house one day and disappears.
“Rory’s disappearance bled into everything. Like an oil slick, spreading out and tainting almost everyone we knew”
The author really captures the frantic sense of loss, the recriminations between the couple – Gordon clearly failed in watching Rory on the beach. The fall out of the ensuing days is so well captured – possible sightings, lack of news, the local community, social media and strategies for the family to hold it together. Becky, Sarah’s sister, is on hand to offer support and meals dished up by the locals arrive by the dozen.
The police then start to wind down their investigations and so it is down to Gordon and Sarah to keep a focus on their son’s case. On Facebook Gordon happens to notice that a lad went missing in Troon, so he heads over that way to meet with his father, and together it seems possible they could forge a strategy; could there be a link? But what he has to say, his hypotheses fill Gordon with dread. A sighting in Aberdeen confirmed by the police sees him head up north. And a chance encounter with a neighbour – the local busybody – gives him a new lead which takes them across to Ireland. On the day of the disappearance, a woman in a green coat is seen and time is spent searching for her identity. But as the days become weeks, there is still no sign of Rory. it really is ‘the hope’ that kills.
It all comes down to a blue dumbbell and a fisherman’s knife (which apparently is designed with a cork handle, so if it is dropped in water, it will float-love learning new things through fiction!).
The author is a natural writer and storyteller, with plenty of switchbacks along the way and a good sense of pace, This is a very engaging read, set against a tangible and colourful Scottish setting.
July 3, 2026
I liked the idea behind this. However, there were so many issues with the writing and story that overall, it was just a grim read. Very little to enjoy, and a real grind to get through.
The premise is decent enough. A young boy goes missing on the West Coast of Scotland, and his family try everything to find out what happened.
Years later, the boy is found (not really a spoiler because there is still two-thirds of the book to go when this happens), and the family have to deal with the consequences of having him (now much older) back in their lives.
It’s supposed to be a thriller, but for the first two-thirds of the book, nothing much happens other than the boy’s disappearance. Very little in the way of thrills. Instead, lots of descriptions of events that make no real difference to the story. The specific local streets where the locals search for the missing boy. Trips to Aberdeen and Ireland that don’t actually change how events turn out. Detailed descriptions of what people eat and drink. Secondary characters that the parents speak to that add very little.
It reads like a first unedited draft or like the writer was trying to hit a word count and just threw everything in. It makes for a really boring reading experience.
It doesn’t help that there are many examples of pretentious, literary-style writing. Characters regularly “stump” around rather than walk. No idea why. The lead character, a literature professor, regularly muses on obscure Scottish ballads and other pointless cultural references. He never chooses a simple word when a more pretentious one is available, and seems to talk and think in lists a lot, with sentences crying out for a full stop.
The final third of the book does at least bring some action, but it’s scarcely credible, and the characters are so tedious and unlikeable that you don’t really care what happens.
The only person I could recommend this to is someone who wanted to practice their editing skills. Pretentious and boring and not what you want from a thriller, sadly.
Well below par.
The premise is decent enough. A young boy goes missing on the West Coast of Scotland, and his family try everything to find out what happened.
Years later, the boy is found (not really a spoiler because there is still two-thirds of the book to go when this happens), and the family have to deal with the consequences of having him (now much older) back in their lives.
It’s supposed to be a thriller, but for the first two-thirds of the book, nothing much happens other than the boy’s disappearance. Very little in the way of thrills. Instead, lots of descriptions of events that make no real difference to the story. The specific local streets where the locals search for the missing boy. Trips to Aberdeen and Ireland that don’t actually change how events turn out. Detailed descriptions of what people eat and drink. Secondary characters that the parents speak to that add very little.
It reads like a first unedited draft or like the writer was trying to hit a word count and just threw everything in. It makes for a really boring reading experience.
It doesn’t help that there are many examples of pretentious, literary-style writing. Characters regularly “stump” around rather than walk. No idea why. The lead character, a literature professor, regularly muses on obscure Scottish ballads and other pointless cultural references. He never chooses a simple word when a more pretentious one is available, and seems to talk and think in lists a lot, with sentences crying out for a full stop.
The final third of the book does at least bring some action, but it’s scarcely credible, and the characters are so tedious and unlikeable that you don’t really care what happens.
The only person I could recommend this to is someone who wanted to practice their editing skills. Pretentious and boring and not what you want from a thriller, sadly.
Well below par.
July 10, 2025
'The Good Father' is a hugely powerful story with strewn with ethical conundrums that will make you question what you would do in similar circumstances, god forbid that they would ever happen to anyone in real life.
Gordon and Sarah's 7 year old son Rory disappears from the peaceful safe beach directly in front of their house. Gordon was meant to be watching him but in the five minutes that he looked away, Rory is taken, simply vanished without a trace. They live in a secluded peaceful village where everyone knows each other, surely someone will have seen what has happened to poor Rory? The police and local residents carry out thorough searches everywhere on land and in the ocean, desperate to find a trace of him but to no avail.
Naturally, Gordon and Sarah's world is shattered, they don't know where to turn or how they will move on from this life-defining moment. They meet other parents whose children have disappeared in similar awful circumstances, bonded in the most tragic of ways, combining their knowledge to find any lead that might help them find their children. When there's the hint that Rory may be elsewhere in the country, Gordon jumps at the chance to take action, desperate to do something to heal his broken family.
Up to this point, it is already a brilliant piece of crime fiction that glues you to the page. As you'll see in other reviews, something then happens that turns the book into something pretty unusual and puts all of Gordon's previous worries into perspective.
Liam McIlvanney is a new writer to me although I had heard lots of positive things about his writing - and based on 'The Good Father' he's definitely an author that I will pick up in the future.
Gordon and Sarah's 7 year old son Rory disappears from the peaceful safe beach directly in front of their house. Gordon was meant to be watching him but in the five minutes that he looked away, Rory is taken, simply vanished without a trace. They live in a secluded peaceful village where everyone knows each other, surely someone will have seen what has happened to poor Rory? The police and local residents carry out thorough searches everywhere on land and in the ocean, desperate to find a trace of him but to no avail.
Naturally, Gordon and Sarah's world is shattered, they don't know where to turn or how they will move on from this life-defining moment. They meet other parents whose children have disappeared in similar awful circumstances, bonded in the most tragic of ways, combining their knowledge to find any lead that might help them find their children. When there's the hint that Rory may be elsewhere in the country, Gordon jumps at the chance to take action, desperate to do something to heal his broken family.
Up to this point, it is already a brilliant piece of crime fiction that glues you to the page. As you'll see in other reviews, something then happens that turns the book into something pretty unusual and puts all of Gordon's previous worries into perspective.
Liam McIlvanney is a new writer to me although I had heard lots of positive things about his writing - and based on 'The Good Father' he's definitely an author that I will pick up in the future.
July 16, 2025
The Good Father is a stunning crime novel, the writing is exquisite, the plot development is sublime. Each character is meticulously created and the Scottish setting is perfect. Yes, I loved this one!
It is a truth universally acknowledged in the world of crime fiction that the 'missing child' theme is very popular with authors. However, sometimes it isn't done so well, and occasionally it is done so brilliantly that you wonder if any other author will ever attempt it!
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford live by the sea in Scotland with their seven-year-old son Rory. Their life is happy and content, they are surrounded by beautiful countryside. It's a good life.
Until the day that their dog Bonnie returns from the beach alone. Rory has disappeared, there is no sign of him, just a solitary black slider, nothing else, no clue.
The novel begins seven years after Rory's disappearance and is narrated by Gordon. Gordon is bitter, angry, hurt, grieving; all of the emotions, tearing through him all of the time. The reader learns how Sarah and Gordon's relationship altered as the years went by, we hear about Gordon's own childhood, we watch as he makes contact with other parents of missing children. It is emotional stuff and so well written. The reader almost feels as though they are spying on these people, intruding on their lives, it is beautifully done.
And then, the twist that puts everything on its head and alters the story so much, and it's a cracker. If you were invested before this part, you certainly will be from here on, right through to the shocking ending.
Liam McIlvanney is so very very talented. This book is so gripping, so emotional and so tense. I loved it and highly recommend it.
It is a truth universally acknowledged in the world of crime fiction that the 'missing child' theme is very popular with authors. However, sometimes it isn't done so well, and occasionally it is done so brilliantly that you wonder if any other author will ever attempt it!
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford live by the sea in Scotland with their seven-year-old son Rory. Their life is happy and content, they are surrounded by beautiful countryside. It's a good life.
Until the day that their dog Bonnie returns from the beach alone. Rory has disappeared, there is no sign of him, just a solitary black slider, nothing else, no clue.
The novel begins seven years after Rory's disappearance and is narrated by Gordon. Gordon is bitter, angry, hurt, grieving; all of the emotions, tearing through him all of the time. The reader learns how Sarah and Gordon's relationship altered as the years went by, we hear about Gordon's own childhood, we watch as he makes contact with other parents of missing children. It is emotional stuff and so well written. The reader almost feels as though they are spying on these people, intruding on their lives, it is beautifully done.
And then, the twist that puts everything on its head and alters the story so much, and it's a cracker. If you were invested before this part, you certainly will be from here on, right through to the shocking ending.
Liam McIlvanney is so very very talented. This book is so gripping, so emotional and so tense. I loved it and highly recommend it.
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