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The Good Father
WHEN A CHILD DISAPPEARS, NO SECRET IS SAFE . . .
THE POIGNANT AND BRILLIANTLY CLEVER NEW THRILLER FROM AWARD-WINNING CRIME AUTHOR, LIAM McILVANNEY.
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with rich, fulfilling lives. They have a son they adore, a house on the beach and a safe, friendly community in a picture-postcard town.
Until, one day, Bonnie the labrador comes in from the beach alone. Their son, Rory, has gone - the only trace left behind is a single black sandal.
Their lives don't fall apart immediately. While there's still hope, they dig deep and try to carry on.
But as desperation mounts, arms around shoulders become fingers pointed - at friends, family, strangers, each other. Without any answers, only questions remain. Who can they trust? How far will they go to find out what happened to Rory?
And the deadliest question of what could be worse than your child disappearing?
When the truth begins to emerge, they find themselves in a world they could barely have imagined.
THE POIGNANT AND BRILLIANTLY CLEVER NEW THRILLER FROM AWARD-WINNING CRIME AUTHOR, LIAM McILVANNEY.
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with rich, fulfilling lives. They have a son they adore, a house on the beach and a safe, friendly community in a picture-postcard town.
Until, one day, Bonnie the labrador comes in from the beach alone. Their son, Rory, has gone - the only trace left behind is a single black sandal.
Their lives don't fall apart immediately. While there's still hope, they dig deep and try to carry on.
But as desperation mounts, arms around shoulders become fingers pointed - at friends, family, strangers, each other. Without any answers, only questions remain. Who can they trust? How far will they go to find out what happened to Rory?
And the deadliest question of what could be worse than your child disappearing?
When the truth begins to emerge, they find themselves in a world they could barely have imagined.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
About the author
Liam McIlvanney
13 books241 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 147 reviews
September 13, 2025
RTC - but five stars says it all really. Best book he’s written imo
September 25, 2026
This deserved all the stars another picked on a whim so good! 📚💞RTC
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 25, 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.
September 3, 2026
That book was a surprising find from the library and boy was it a good one. A missing son, a desperate search, acceptance, return of the lost, unexpected turns and foes, The Good Father was a really really engaging and gripping read. I really enjoyed it.
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.
October 4, 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.
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
January 19, 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]
September 7, 2026
A great start to the story, quite a slow middle but an unexpected finish. I enjoyed reading this. I would definitely look out for more books by this author.
July 26, 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.
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!
August 8, 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
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 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.
September 28, 2026
4.5 stars. Gordon and Sarah live a quiet, content life. A beach house, a dog and their seven year old son, Rory. But suddenly the idyllic is shattered when Rory disappears from the beach. They search and search, the police search and search, but to no avail. Rory is gone. How do you get past that? How do you move on?
What a compelling and addictive read! It’s every parent’s worst nightmare and it’s described so evocatively within these pages that it’s impossible not to be drawn into the grief and suffering of Gordon and Sarah. Which makes what happens down the line believable and even relatable! The Good Father is the story of a dad who will do anything for his son. It has twists and turns, shocks and surprises and both darkness and light.
I was swept right along by this story, couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out where it would go, and I wasn’t disappointed. I part listened to it (as it’s been languishing on my shelves for way too long) and the audio was absolutely brilliant. If you fancy a fast paced listen that will keep you right on the edge of your seat, then look no further, it’s here.
What a compelling and addictive read! It’s every parent’s worst nightmare and it’s described so evocatively within these pages that it’s impossible not to be drawn into the grief and suffering of Gordon and Sarah. Which makes what happens down the line believable and even relatable! The Good Father is the story of a dad who will do anything for his son. It has twists and turns, shocks and surprises and both darkness and light.
I was swept right along by this story, couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out where it would go, and I wasn’t disappointed. I part listened to it (as it’s been languishing on my shelves for way too long) and the audio was absolutely brilliant. If you fancy a fast paced listen that will keep you right on the edge of your seat, then look no further, it’s here.
September 5, 2026
This is my first book by this author.
The premise really drew me.
Set in the quiet coastal town of Fairlie, Scotland, the novel follows Gordon (though more Gordon, as he is The Good Father) and Sarah, as they have to deal with the vanishing of their seven-year-old son, Rory, whose only trace is a lone black sandal brought home by Bonnie the dog.
The book is split into three parts, beginning with the immediate aftermath of Rory's disappearance.
The grief and effect on emotions and actions is intense throughout the story. Some parts are quite dark, which was borderline for me!
The reader is taken on this rollercoaster journey watching particulary Gordon fall apart both emotionally and mentally.
A powerful story with many moral dilemmas and what love for your child will make you capable of.
The premise really drew me.
Set in the quiet coastal town of Fairlie, Scotland, the novel follows Gordon (though more Gordon, as he is The Good Father) and Sarah, as they have to deal with the vanishing of their seven-year-old son, Rory, whose only trace is a lone black sandal brought home by Bonnie the dog.
The book is split into three parts, beginning with the immediate aftermath of Rory's disappearance.
The grief and effect on emotions and actions is intense throughout the story. Some parts are quite dark, which was borderline for me!
The reader is taken on this rollercoaster journey watching particulary Gordon fall apart both emotionally and mentally.
A powerful story with many moral dilemmas and what love for your child will make you capable of.
September 10, 2026
My expectations for this book was low for this book club choice. A supermarket thriller, a woe is me character, 400 pages of repetitive text. The first chapters did nothing to change this opinion. Then there was an element introduced that made me volte face. The aim of the narrative wasn’t what I expected, there was a change in the attitude of the cast, the atmosphere of the story. It ended up being very satisfying, using all information given previously to wrap it up in a nice bow. Well worth reading.
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 14, 2026
This was the library's book of the month. I have not read this author before but wow does he tell a good story. Will certainly read more of his books.
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.
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.
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.
November 2, 2025
God, this book DRAGGED. I finished it out of a weird sense of obligation but honestly, it was like pulling teeth.
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