What do you think?
Rate this book
A Bad, Bad Place
A gritty and poignant debut about a young working-class girl in 1979 Glasgow who happens upon the body of a murdered woman—and must face an insular community desperate for answers, as well as herself.
Glasgow, 1979: If it hadn’t been for her wee stupid dog, Sid Vicious, twelve-year-old Janey Devine might never have stumbled upon the corpse of Samantha Watson. And then maybe she’d still be able to sleep at night. And maybe her nana wouldn’t be so worried all the time. And maybe Billy “The Ghost” Watson, a notorious gangster, wouldn’t be on her tail—for it’s Billy’s daughter who was left for dead on those train tracks, and now Billy wants answers.
Fear and gossip have spread through the tight-knit community of Possilpark, and while Janey swears she can’t remember the details of that morning, the cops think she’s hiding something—and indeed, there’s something she knows that she’s not quite ready to tell anyone, not even her nana, who won’t rest until this whole thing is behind them.
Shot through with remarkable humor, Frances Crawford’s stunning debut is a coming-of-age whodunit, an intimate portrait of a working-class neighborhood that weaves Janey’s innocent candor and her nana’s hard-earned wisdom into a sweeping tale of grief and survival that marks the arrival of a major new voice in crime fiction.
Glasgow, 1979: If it hadn’t been for her wee stupid dog, Sid Vicious, twelve-year-old Janey Devine might never have stumbled upon the corpse of Samantha Watson. And then maybe she’d still be able to sleep at night. And maybe her nana wouldn’t be so worried all the time. And maybe Billy “The Ghost” Watson, a notorious gangster, wouldn’t be on her tail—for it’s Billy’s daughter who was left for dead on those train tracks, and now Billy wants answers.
Fear and gossip have spread through the tight-knit community of Possilpark, and while Janey swears she can’t remember the details of that morning, the cops think she’s hiding something—and indeed, there’s something she knows that she’s not quite ready to tell anyone, not even her nana, who won’t rest until this whole thing is behind them.
Shot through with remarkable humor, Frances Crawford’s stunning debut is a coming-of-age whodunit, an intimate portrait of a working-class neighborhood that weaves Janey’s innocent candor and her nana’s hard-earned wisdom into a sweeping tale of grief and survival that marks the arrival of a major new voice in crime fiction.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2026
145 people are currently reading
19112 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
March 17, 2026
3.5 ⭐
⭒❃.✮:▹ Glasgow, 1979: Twelve-year-old Janey Devine lived a normal life until her dog, Sid Vicious, led her to the corpse of Samantha Watson. Now, she can’t sleep at night, her nana is always worried about her, and Samantha’s dad, Billy “The Ghost” Watson, wouldn’t want to find any answers from her about his daughter’s death. The police think Janey is hiding something, and they’re right, but she can’t tell anyone. So her secret consumes her as fear, gossip, and distrust spread through the small community of Possilpark, all the while a killer is on the loose and lurking in the shadows.
◈━◈━◈━◈━◈
⭒❃.✮:▹ I honestly have no idea why this took me forever to read. It might be because of how much of a slow burn this was, and it didn’t get really interesting until the 45% mark, but regardless, it was still a good book!
I loved the writing! The story is told from Janey’s and her nana’s point-of-view, and the language and dialect were so immersive. Now, I don’t know how spot on it is with how the Scots speak, but it sounded pretty realistic to me. Not only that, but even the mundane was interesting, like the characters meeting up with friends or having a conversation with a coworker, which was written in a way to keep your eyes glued to the screen. I think it’s all thanks to how the author made the characters sound so realistic and relatable, like they are two normal people who have dealt with and are dealing with life and its tragedies.
As I said, the mystery aspect of the book was very slow, and I do think this book was longer than it needed to be, but it was still engaging enough for me to keep reading because I just had to know who killed Samantha. I put in my guess pretty early once a character was introduced, and even though I’m happy I was right, I’m a little disappointed because I was hoping for a jaw-dropping plot twist that would leave me staring at the wall in disbelief. Maybe I should stop watching Forensic Files. 😂
All in all, this was a really good book, and if you are looking for a mystery set in the 70s that keeps you wondering whodunnit, then I recommend it! 🤍
» Thank you to Soho Press for granting my wish to read this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book is now available! «
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, violence, and mentions sexual assault & drugs.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No
⭒❃.✮:▹ Glasgow, 1979: Twelve-year-old Janey Devine lived a normal life until her dog, Sid Vicious, led her to the corpse of Samantha Watson. Now, she can’t sleep at night, her nana is always worried about her, and Samantha’s dad, Billy “The Ghost” Watson, wouldn’t want to find any answers from her about his daughter’s death. The police think Janey is hiding something, and they’re right, but she can’t tell anyone. So her secret consumes her as fear, gossip, and distrust spread through the small community of Possilpark, all the while a killer is on the loose and lurking in the shadows.
◈━◈━◈━◈━◈
⭒❃.✮:▹ I honestly have no idea why this took me forever to read. It might be because of how much of a slow burn this was, and it didn’t get really interesting until the 45% mark, but regardless, it was still a good book!
I loved the writing! The story is told from Janey’s and her nana’s point-of-view, and the language and dialect were so immersive. Now, I don’t know how spot on it is with how the Scots speak, but it sounded pretty realistic to me. Not only that, but even the mundane was interesting, like the characters meeting up with friends or having a conversation with a coworker, which was written in a way to keep your eyes glued to the screen. I think it’s all thanks to how the author made the characters sound so realistic and relatable, like they are two normal people who have dealt with and are dealing with life and its tragedies.
As I said, the mystery aspect of the book was very slow, and I do think this book was longer than it needed to be, but it was still engaging enough for me to keep reading because I just had to know who killed Samantha. I put in my guess pretty early once a character was introduced, and even though I’m happy I was right, I’m a little disappointed because I was hoping for a jaw-dropping plot twist that would leave me staring at the wall in disbelief. Maybe I should stop watching Forensic Files. 😂
All in all, this was a really good book, and if you are looking for a mystery set in the 70s that keeps you wondering whodunnit, then I recommend it! 🤍
» Thank you to Soho Press for granting my wish to read this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book is now available! «
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, violence, and mentions sexual assault & drugs.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No
January 11, 2026
| ARC REVIEW | COMING: 12th Feb 2026
★ 4.5 ★
The year is 1979, in Possilpark, Glasgow. And twelve-year-old Janey Devine has just discovered the body of a woman. A woman who has been brutally murdered.
This story is told from two alternating perspectives:
Janey — who is trying to navigate the aftermath of this horrific day and the challenging emotions that have arisen as a result, and how she attempts to piece together what happened with the fragments of memories she hasn't repressed.
And Maggie — Janey's nana, who is trying her best to support Janey through the traumatic event while still navigating ghosts from her own past.
I thought this book was very cleverly written. In my opinion, the use of the Glaswegian dialect, (which although very occasionally threw me off) was written in an accessible and easy to read way, ensuring the characters remained cohesive with the story's location. I found this a charming way of bringing the characters more to life. Also, Frances Crawford's ability to write from a child's perspective is fantastic! I felt that she really mastered the "child's voice" which is a skill many authors struggle with. This meant that both perspectives were very distinct, making for an easily understandable transition throughout the change in perspectives every other chapter.
I found the focus on Janey's guilt and the story's underpinning theme of Catholicism very interesting. I found myself wondering if Janey's journal documenting the victim's life was her method of confession. A way of assuaging her guilt without having to speak it aloud. A very authentic portrayal of the guilt some real-life victims in Janey's position often feel.
I thought this book was fantastic! Just when I thought I could see where the story was leading, another twist happened. I was utterly gripped from start to finish. But the ending is what really got me thinking. I was devastated with how the book ended and am desperate to know which decision Maggie made. — The lack of closure regarding the justice evoked several feelings in me: frustration, sadness and anger. But after a think, I realised that this reflects how many victims' families feel when tragic events like these happen in real life. I don't know if this mirroring of emotions was something Frances Crawford deliberately aimed to achieve when writing this novel, but wow was it an effective way of ensuring the story plays on your mind!
I would 100% recommend this book if you like crime thrillers, and deeply layered characters that will keep you hooked throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley, Frances Crawford and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
❀ Tia ❀
★ 4.5 ★
The year is 1979, in Possilpark, Glasgow. And twelve-year-old Janey Devine has just discovered the body of a woman. A woman who has been brutally murdered.
This story is told from two alternating perspectives:
Janey — who is trying to navigate the aftermath of this horrific day and the challenging emotions that have arisen as a result, and how she attempts to piece together what happened with the fragments of memories she hasn't repressed.
And Maggie — Janey's nana, who is trying her best to support Janey through the traumatic event while still navigating ghosts from her own past.
I thought this book was very cleverly written. In my opinion, the use of the Glaswegian dialect, (which although very occasionally threw me off) was written in an accessible and easy to read way, ensuring the characters remained cohesive with the story's location. I found this a charming way of bringing the characters more to life. Also, Frances Crawford's ability to write from a child's perspective is fantastic! I felt that she really mastered the "child's voice" which is a skill many authors struggle with. This meant that both perspectives were very distinct, making for an easily understandable transition throughout the change in perspectives every other chapter.
I found the focus on Janey's guilt and the story's underpinning theme of Catholicism very interesting. I found myself wondering if Janey's journal documenting the victim's life was her method of confession. A way of assuaging her guilt without having to speak it aloud. A very authentic portrayal of the guilt some real-life victims in Janey's position often feel.
I thought this book was fantastic! Just when I thought I could see where the story was leading, another twist happened. I was utterly gripped from start to finish. But the ending is what really got me thinking. I was devastated with how the book ended and am desperate to know which decision Maggie made. — The lack of closure regarding the justice evoked several feelings in me: frustration, sadness and anger. But after a think, I realised that this reflects how many victims' families feel when tragic events like these happen in real life. I don't know if this mirroring of emotions was something Frances Crawford deliberately aimed to achieve when writing this novel, but wow was it an effective way of ensuring the story plays on your mind!
I would 100% recommend this book if you like crime thrillers, and deeply layered characters that will keep you hooked throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley, Frances Crawford and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
❀ Tia ❀
March 5, 2026
Janey has found a body.
I thought A Bad, Bad Place was brilliant. Firstly, the title is incredibly apt. It covers so many aspects of a bad, bad place; that might be the social, economic and living conditions of the people of Possilpark where the story is set, the actual location where Sid Vicious the dog and Janey find Samantha’s body, or the internal workings of many of the minds of those in the narrative. Because, whilst A Bad Bad Place is an intriguing murder mystery, it is so much more besides and a stunner of a story that considers community and many layers of guilt.
The authorial tone is just perfect. Frances Crawford uses an accessible accent so that the voices of the characters are heard clearly, bringing them to life. She employs just enough dialect to make Glasgow every bit as much a character as setting, and she is unafraid to use quite strong expletives in a manner that feels perfectly natural within the context of the narrative. It’s really quite difficult to accept that this is a debut novel and not a text written by an author who has been refining their craft for decades. I thought the way Samantha was the lynchpin for the action, being the means for the reader to discover the morality of the characters and to understand both era and setting even though she is not actually present, was inspired.
I loved the plot. I genuinely didn’t know quite how A Bad Bad Place might resolve itself and the fast pace created by alternating chapters between Janey and Nana meant that I was continuously drawn back to the book. I found the ending so thought provoking. As ever with this kind of story, it’s so tricky to say more without spoilers, but I found the exploration of the impact of crime in a community and the way it ripples across the lives of those in the area was handled with empathy, realism and deep understanding.
The characters are vivid, compelling and utterly engaging. Whilst so many are criminal in behaviour and the kind of people we might look down upon or fear, they are also incredibly human so that Frances Crawford looks at the dark underbelly of life and finds glimmers of humanity. Poverty, grief, religion and so on are all shown to shape us and affect our behaviours. I genuinely forgot I was reading a work of fiction because I was so invested in the people.
The themes of A Bad Bad Place are simply wonderful. Childhood innocence and its loss, corruption across several strata of society, domestic abuse, the impact of gangs, drugs and alcohol and the dismissive way young children and older women are treated should all combine into a bleak or grim read. But they don’t. Instead, A Bad Bad Place is a rich tapestry of life where resilience, courage and hope combine into a book that touches the heart of the reader as well as entertains them.
A Bad Bad Place is a superb book and one I recommend completely. Don’t miss it.
I thought A Bad, Bad Place was brilliant. Firstly, the title is incredibly apt. It covers so many aspects of a bad, bad place; that might be the social, economic and living conditions of the people of Possilpark where the story is set, the actual location where Sid Vicious the dog and Janey find Samantha’s body, or the internal workings of many of the minds of those in the narrative. Because, whilst A Bad Bad Place is an intriguing murder mystery, it is so much more besides and a stunner of a story that considers community and many layers of guilt.
The authorial tone is just perfect. Frances Crawford uses an accessible accent so that the voices of the characters are heard clearly, bringing them to life. She employs just enough dialect to make Glasgow every bit as much a character as setting, and she is unafraid to use quite strong expletives in a manner that feels perfectly natural within the context of the narrative. It’s really quite difficult to accept that this is a debut novel and not a text written by an author who has been refining their craft for decades. I thought the way Samantha was the lynchpin for the action, being the means for the reader to discover the morality of the characters and to understand both era and setting even though she is not actually present, was inspired.
I loved the plot. I genuinely didn’t know quite how A Bad Bad Place might resolve itself and the fast pace created by alternating chapters between Janey and Nana meant that I was continuously drawn back to the book. I found the ending so thought provoking. As ever with this kind of story, it’s so tricky to say more without spoilers, but I found the exploration of the impact of crime in a community and the way it ripples across the lives of those in the area was handled with empathy, realism and deep understanding.
The characters are vivid, compelling and utterly engaging. Whilst so many are criminal in behaviour and the kind of people we might look down upon or fear, they are also incredibly human so that Frances Crawford looks at the dark underbelly of life and finds glimmers of humanity. Poverty, grief, religion and so on are all shown to shape us and affect our behaviours. I genuinely forgot I was reading a work of fiction because I was so invested in the people.
The themes of A Bad Bad Place are simply wonderful. Childhood innocence and its loss, corruption across several strata of society, domestic abuse, the impact of gangs, drugs and alcohol and the dismissive way young children and older women are treated should all combine into a bleak or grim read. But they don’t. Instead, A Bad Bad Place is a rich tapestry of life where resilience, courage and hope combine into a book that touches the heart of the reader as well as entertains them.
A Bad Bad Place is a superb book and one I recommend completely. Don’t miss it.
February 13, 2026
From its opening to the final pages, this was a warm and poignant story. The crime that starts events is, as you’d expect, shocking…but it’s what happens afterwards that really got me hooked.
When our main character - Janey - is walking her dog (the wonderfully named Sid Vicious) she stumbles across a dead body. The victim is the young daughter of a local man rumoured to be involved in gang activity. Janey, naturally, is affected by this…but a lot of that is to do with what she’s not told people.
Janey lives with her nana, a woman who has her own secrets. The pair are getting by, but their background and experiences shape their interactions with all involved. Throughout the book we can see the strong sense of community around Janey, and I liked the fact that the key focus is not the murderer but those left behind.
I found the two voices distinctive, and the contrast in their experiences really impacted me as I was reading. Even though a number of the characters are not particularly pleasant, they are sympathetically presented and it’s hard not to feel compassion for them. I was not surprised by the identity of the killer, and though it might have been a neat ending to have everything resolved it felt more true to life to leave us wondering how things would end.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.
When our main character - Janey - is walking her dog (the wonderfully named Sid Vicious) she stumbles across a dead body. The victim is the young daughter of a local man rumoured to be involved in gang activity. Janey, naturally, is affected by this…but a lot of that is to do with what she’s not told people.
Janey lives with her nana, a woman who has her own secrets. The pair are getting by, but their background and experiences shape their interactions with all involved. Throughout the book we can see the strong sense of community around Janey, and I liked the fact that the key focus is not the murderer but those left behind.
I found the two voices distinctive, and the contrast in their experiences really impacted me as I was reading. Even though a number of the characters are not particularly pleasant, they are sympathetically presented and it’s hard not to feel compassion for them. I was not surprised by the identity of the killer, and though it might have been a neat ending to have everything resolved it felt more true to life to leave us wondering how things would end.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Bad, Bad Place is a good, good book. Actually, scratch that, because it's not merely good, it's bloody brilliant. It's crime fiction done different, and that's what makes it stand out. How is it done different, I hear you cry. Well, instead of being told from the point of view of the police tasked with investigating the murder, it's told from the POV of the child who discovered the body, and her nana, Maggie. 🐕🦺
Meet wee Janey, who is 12 years old, and, had the misfortune of finding the body of a young woman, whilst out walking her dog. Actually, it was said dog, Sid Vicious (I kid you not) who found the deceased. 🐕🦺
From this point on we follow Janey as she becomes more and more withdrawn. The trauma of her discovery is apparent, as she tries to reassemble her memories of that day. 🐕🦺
Maggie's POV sheds more light on how Janey is coping, and gives us the family's backstory. 🐕🦺
Set in Glasgow in the late 1970's, A Bad, Bad Place is gritty and dark, but there is a black humour within. The characters are well fleshed out, and most of them are likeable. 🐕🦺
I loved this book. It was, hands down, one of my favourite books this year.
Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
Meet wee Janey, who is 12 years old, and, had the misfortune of finding the body of a young woman, whilst out walking her dog. Actually, it was said dog, Sid Vicious (I kid you not) who found the deceased. 🐕🦺
From this point on we follow Janey as she becomes more and more withdrawn. The trauma of her discovery is apparent, as she tries to reassemble her memories of that day. 🐕🦺
Maggie's POV sheds more light on how Janey is coping, and gives us the family's backstory. 🐕🦺
Set in Glasgow in the late 1970's, A Bad, Bad Place is gritty and dark, but there is a black humour within. The characters are well fleshed out, and most of them are likeable. 🐕🦺
I loved this book. It was, hands down, one of my favourite books this year.
Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
September 18, 2025
Received a copy of this book from someone who attended Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. It took me a while to pick it up but when I did, I couldn’t put it down. The story hooked me instantly, and I loved how it opened up with details of what Janey had seen, whilst still keeping some mystery. I hooked on to ‘who dunnit’ the second we met them, but still the story had me questioning it constantly.
My only critique is it felt, at times, that the story dragged a little. It could have been about 50 pages shorter and the ending felt a little rushed. That being said, I liked the open-ended feeling of it.
My only critique is it felt, at times, that the story dragged a little. It could have been about 50 pages shorter and the ending felt a little rushed. That being said, I liked the open-ended feeling of it.
March 18, 2026
The title of this book says it all. A ten year old girl is growing up in a bad, bad area of Glasgow in 1979. This has so much darkness and danger for an adult but imagine a child being exposed to the harshest conditions in order to exist with just her Grandmother trying to keep her safe and from harm.
A terrible thing has happened and we see the on going story evolve from the view points of the girl, Janey, and her Grandmother. So many times as I read I kept thinking “oh my God” how much worse will things get for this twosome. There was a hopelessness to their lives and yet together, along with Janey’s dog, Sid Vicious, they did survive.
At the end of the story you are left not knowing how it really ends, only knowing that the Grandmother is putting an end to her and Janey’s peril by making a decision that will remove this danger from their lives.
Very dark read but very well written and the characters were vivid. It was easy to understand both Janey’s actions and reactions and her Grandmother’s. The other characters, whose motives all seemed suspicious, left me guessing as to who could be trusted and who could not.
I won this ARC in a GoodReads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher Soho Press Inc. and the author, Frances Crawford.
A terrible thing has happened and we see the on going story evolve from the view points of the girl, Janey, and her Grandmother. So many times as I read I kept thinking “oh my God” how much worse will things get for this twosome. There was a hopelessness to their lives and yet together, along with Janey’s dog, Sid Vicious, they did survive.
At the end of the story you are left not knowing how it really ends, only knowing that the Grandmother is putting an end to her and Janey’s peril by making a decision that will remove this danger from their lives.
Very dark read but very well written and the characters were vivid. It was easy to understand both Janey’s actions and reactions and her Grandmother’s. The other characters, whose motives all seemed suspicious, left me guessing as to who could be trusted and who could not.
I won this ARC in a GoodReads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher Soho Press Inc. and the author, Frances Crawford.
March 1, 2026
Well that was different.
And by that,I mean good different.
I really liked the two main characters that the story revolved around ,and the other people that came in and out of their lives were equally well imagined
This book was cleverly plotted, and the only reason I've removed a star is at times the story felt like it slowed down a bit too much before picking up again.
A special mention must go to Sid Vicious, because who wouldn't want a dog like that 🤔
And by that,I mean good different.
I really liked the two main characters that the story revolved around ,and the other people that came in and out of their lives were equally well imagined
This book was cleverly plotted, and the only reason I've removed a star is at times the story felt like it slowed down a bit too much before picking up again.
A special mention must go to Sid Vicious, because who wouldn't want a dog like that 🤔
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars rounded up
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 and I had super high hopes for it.
I admire Frances. She was 60 when she graduated with MLitt (Distinction) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University, which then led to this book. She is proof that you don't have to do everything by the time you're 30, that success can come at any age.
The POV of a grandchild and grandmother, two ends of the spectrum; there are other characters but these are your two main players and they're so interesting. The other characters are more background, only there to move the main story along, which is fine because they do that very well. I don't think I've ever read a thriller or crime novel in the view of a child, maybe we don't like to think of children being involved in things like murders, but I think it gives an interesting perspective of it. Which then contrasts with the grandmother's viewpoint.
I think having a child's viewpoint makes it all the harder to read about. Thrillers are my most read genre and I watch a lot of true crime programmes and so, to a certain extent, I'm a bit blasé when it comes to facing fictional murder, it's not all that shocking to me anymore. But having a child find the body and then deal with the aftermath, it brings it home just how traumatic it can be and in a roundabout way, made it more thrilling to read.
I like that she's made Janey write down what happened to her and how she's feeling in a scrapbook as opposed to drawn-out narrative. I feel it would have felt unrealistic for a girl not yet a teenager to be happy to tell adults everything. But it's believable that she may keep some sort of diary or journal, and it felt like an organic way to tell that part of the story.
It is written in a Glaswegian dialect and generally speaking, I don't like books written in dialects or accents because I find they take your focus away from the story. It did take me some getting used to because there's terms I don't understand, however I do love the Scottish accent (I know that's a bit generic because there are many different Scottish accents), and it really helped add further depth to he characters and their surroundings.
Yes it's a crime novel, yes there's a murdered woman, it's thrilling, I get that. But for me, that aspect is almost second best to how Frances has constructed this story around it. It's more about family and friends, your community, what you would do to protect your loved ones, working through trauma etc. that just so happens to have a body underneath it all.
One thing I did enjoy was there wasn't a stereotypical, caricature, pantomime idea of a villain. It all felt very real which made it more tense because it feels like it could be anyone.
It's set in the 1970s which means there are slightly more unsavoury elements to it, themes and actions that would have been acceptable at the time but unpleasant by today's standards, but it's important she's added them.
I would have liked a clearer ending. I don't mind an open-ended ending generally, but not in thrillers, as I want to know if the goodies win or if the baddies get their comeuppance etc. It's a perfectly enjoyable ending but I just wanted that final thing tied up.
All in all, this is a fantastic, thrilling debut and I cannot wait for what she decides to do next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 and I had super high hopes for it.
I admire Frances. She was 60 when she graduated with MLitt (Distinction) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University, which then led to this book. She is proof that you don't have to do everything by the time you're 30, that success can come at any age.
The POV of a grandchild and grandmother, two ends of the spectrum; there are other characters but these are your two main players and they're so interesting. The other characters are more background, only there to move the main story along, which is fine because they do that very well. I don't think I've ever read a thriller or crime novel in the view of a child, maybe we don't like to think of children being involved in things like murders, but I think it gives an interesting perspective of it. Which then contrasts with the grandmother's viewpoint.
I think having a child's viewpoint makes it all the harder to read about. Thrillers are my most read genre and I watch a lot of true crime programmes and so, to a certain extent, I'm a bit blasé when it comes to facing fictional murder, it's not all that shocking to me anymore. But having a child find the body and then deal with the aftermath, it brings it home just how traumatic it can be and in a roundabout way, made it more thrilling to read.
I like that she's made Janey write down what happened to her and how she's feeling in a scrapbook as opposed to drawn-out narrative. I feel it would have felt unrealistic for a girl not yet a teenager to be happy to tell adults everything. But it's believable that she may keep some sort of diary or journal, and it felt like an organic way to tell that part of the story.
It is written in a Glaswegian dialect and generally speaking, I don't like books written in dialects or accents because I find they take your focus away from the story. It did take me some getting used to because there's terms I don't understand, however I do love the Scottish accent (I know that's a bit generic because there are many different Scottish accents), and it really helped add further depth to he characters and their surroundings.
Yes it's a crime novel, yes there's a murdered woman, it's thrilling, I get that. But for me, that aspect is almost second best to how Frances has constructed this story around it. It's more about family and friends, your community, what you would do to protect your loved ones, working through trauma etc. that just so happens to have a body underneath it all.
One thing I did enjoy was there wasn't a stereotypical, caricature, pantomime idea of a villain. It all felt very real which made it more tense because it feels like it could be anyone.
It's set in the 1970s which means there are slightly more unsavoury elements to it, themes and actions that would have been acceptable at the time but unpleasant by today's standards, but it's important she's added them.
I would have liked a clearer ending. I don't mind an open-ended ending generally, but not in thrillers, as I want to know if the goodies win or if the baddies get their comeuppance etc. It's a perfectly enjoyable ending but I just wanted that final thing tied up.
All in all, this is a fantastic, thrilling debut and I cannot wait for what she decides to do next.
September 3, 2025
A Bad, Bad Place is the story of the fallout from a murder. 12-year-old Janey discovers the mutilated body of a woman while walking her dog, and the months following this are told through the eyes of Janey and her Nana.
Set in the late 70’s in Scotland, the tale is built around the mystery of who killed Samantha, but as it is told by Janey and her Nana it beautifully shows the wider consequences of that one event. We’re introduced to the whole spectrum of society, from ordinary people to thieves to gang leaders.
This was an intriguing read, and although it took me a few pages to get into it, once I was hooked I didn’t want to put it down. This is the first crime book I’ve read with the majority told through the eyes of a child, and it was a refreshing change. The impact of the murder on Janey’s relationships with everyone was very well done, and Nana’s struggles to bring up a child and protect her while dealing with her own grief and secrets are heartbreaking at times.
All the characters felt very real with none of the cartoon villains you sometimes get in crime books, and Janey and Nana’s voices were clearly distinguishable. The end left me wanting to know more, but not in a frustrated way and I feel like that was the perfect place to leave it. Although there isn’t a lot of high action is this book, it is full of raw emotion and exploration of what it means to be a community.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Set in the late 70’s in Scotland, the tale is built around the mystery of who killed Samantha, but as it is told by Janey and her Nana it beautifully shows the wider consequences of that one event. We’re introduced to the whole spectrum of society, from ordinary people to thieves to gang leaders.
This was an intriguing read, and although it took me a few pages to get into it, once I was hooked I didn’t want to put it down. This is the first crime book I’ve read with the majority told through the eyes of a child, and it was a refreshing change. The impact of the murder on Janey’s relationships with everyone was very well done, and Nana’s struggles to bring up a child and protect her while dealing with her own grief and secrets are heartbreaking at times.
All the characters felt very real with none of the cartoon villains you sometimes get in crime books, and Janey and Nana’s voices were clearly distinguishable. The end left me wanting to know more, but not in a frustrated way and I feel like that was the perfect place to leave it. Although there isn’t a lot of high action is this book, it is full of raw emotion and exploration of what it means to be a community.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
January 8, 2026
What a remarkable book. This is a gritty, coming of age whodunit set in 1970s Glasgow.
The story is told through a Dual Narrative: Janey and her Nanna and guardian, Maggie. When Janey discovers the murdered body of a young woman whilst out walking their dog Sid Vicious, she’s left with half a memory of the traumatic event and has to figure out who murdered poor Samantha Watson without giving away any secrets. Her nanna is worried sick and tries to help her whilst nursing her own trauma and secrets. To complicate matters, the victim was the daughter of the local gangster and wants Janey and her Nanna to help him too. As the story and mystery unfolds, Janey regains her memory and confidence to help recover her memories and help Samantha Watson.
The author created such an immersive portrait of 1970s Glasgow. I loved the Scottish dialect, the working class community and the host of side characters of Possilpark. Heartbreaking in parts, but also full of warmth and humour. Janey was an amazing character, I wanted to reach into the book and hug her & the dog. She provided such insightful and innocent observations of the kindness of friendship alongside the bleak poverty and harsh life in 1970s Glasgow.
What a fantastic debut! Themes of prejudice, poverty, trauma & the grittiness of the working class. Gave me Angela’s Ashes/List of Suspicious Things/Adrian Mole vibes. All the stars.
The story is told through a Dual Narrative: Janey and her Nanna and guardian, Maggie. When Janey discovers the murdered body of a young woman whilst out walking their dog Sid Vicious, she’s left with half a memory of the traumatic event and has to figure out who murdered poor Samantha Watson without giving away any secrets. Her nanna is worried sick and tries to help her whilst nursing her own trauma and secrets. To complicate matters, the victim was the daughter of the local gangster and wants Janey and her Nanna to help him too. As the story and mystery unfolds, Janey regains her memory and confidence to help recover her memories and help Samantha Watson.
The author created such an immersive portrait of 1970s Glasgow. I loved the Scottish dialect, the working class community and the host of side characters of Possilpark. Heartbreaking in parts, but also full of warmth and humour. Janey was an amazing character, I wanted to reach into the book and hug her & the dog. She provided such insightful and innocent observations of the kindness of friendship alongside the bleak poverty and harsh life in 1970s Glasgow.
What a fantastic debut! Themes of prejudice, poverty, trauma & the grittiness of the working class. Gave me Angela’s Ashes/List of Suspicious Things/Adrian Mole vibes. All the stars.
March 24, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up!
A bad, bad place is quite an introverted literary mystery focussing on the impact a murder has on a community in Glasgow, and how the ripples of murder can be felt well beyond the family and friends.
The story starts very strong. It has a defined and purposeful narrative voice for two POV characters that inject both warmth and humour into a dire situation and difficult existence. Unfortunately the strong writing isn't quite enough to see the piece out and towards the end there's a real drop in engagement and it becomes a bit directionless. I've rounded up to 4 stars to be kind because I did enjoy it, but ultimately I was left wanting more and somehow less as the story continues to bloat and bloat and be carried by two exceptional female leads. There are some leaps in logic, and Janey the wee bairn can sometimes feel much older than her character is, but the world of Possilpark and the impact of this murder, it's characters and their lives are well realised. Worth reading if you like slower paced mysteries with the added benefit of a unique voice.
A bad, bad place is quite an introverted literary mystery focussing on the impact a murder has on a community in Glasgow, and how the ripples of murder can be felt well beyond the family and friends.
The story starts very strong. It has a defined and purposeful narrative voice for two POV characters that inject both warmth and humour into a dire situation and difficult existence. Unfortunately the strong writing isn't quite enough to see the piece out and towards the end there's a real drop in engagement and it becomes a bit directionless. I've rounded up to 4 stars to be kind because I did enjoy it, but ultimately I was left wanting more and somehow less as the story continues to bloat and bloat and be carried by two exceptional female leads. There are some leaps in logic, and Janey the wee bairn can sometimes feel much older than her character is, but the world of Possilpark and the impact of this murder, it's characters and their lives are well realised. Worth reading if you like slower paced mysteries with the added benefit of a unique voice.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
The premise and the concept behind the book was very good. I enjoyed the dual POV of both the child and the adult in the same situation but different perspectives. However, the language i.e using slang and dialect from the region of the books setting did make it hard to read in some places.
I will also say that I do not believe the author explored the characters of the murderer and murdered enough to make the book thoroughly enjoyable.
Still a good read, but not a favourite for sure.
The premise and the concept behind the book was very good. I enjoyed the dual POV of both the child and the adult in the same situation but different perspectives. However, the language i.e using slang and dialect from the region of the books setting did make it hard to read in some places.
I will also say that I do not believe the author explored the characters of the murderer and murdered enough to make the book thoroughly enjoyable.
Still a good read, but not a favourite for sure.
March 28, 2026
Twelve year old Janey is freaked out after walking with her dog Sid Vicious when she finds the murdered body of Samantha Watson. Who was the murderer? Fears and rumours are rife in the Possilpark community of Glasgow. It takes a bit to get used to the local dialect (and foul language) used throughout the story. An interesting and colourful bunch of characters.
Read
February 14, 2026dnf'd at page 76
February 9, 2026
3.75⭐️💫 Glasgow, 1979. While walking her dog, twelve-year-old Janey finds a murdered woman on an abandoned railway - and her innocent childhood ends in a shocking moment of trauma. When the victim is named as daughter of a local hardman, Janey's nana, Maggie, is distraught and deeply afraid. Janey claims she can’t remember what she saw that day, but the police think she’s hiding something, and they’re not the only ones interested. Maggie tries desperately to keep Janey safe but is battling long-buried secrets of her own. As fear and rumour stalk the streets of Possilpark, Maggie becomes convinced she will lose her beloved granddaughter forever - especially when Janey starts to remember exactly what happened in that bad, bad place...
What a nostalgic trip back into a world of Woolworths and Angel Delight puddings, setting the scene perfectly for this story of Janet and her nana Maggie.
From the outset one thing is clearly evident, the two characters are the crux of this story and as a reader, I felt that instant connection with them both, becoming truly invested in what would happen from the beginning. The story being told through the differing POV’s of Janey and then Maggie is also very cleverly executed, the differences of situations from a 12 year old’s way of thinking compared to the wise and weary outlook of Maggie is perfectly balanced, the story developing through their opinions and thoughts perfectly.
I must admit it took me a while to get used to the Glaswegian dialect and slang used in this title but I soon found myself sub-consciously reading in the accent. This also aides the sense of community that is built through this title, you can really sense how the events described would’ve impacted everyone, from Janey’s discovery to the local gossip, each element fitting in exactly as you would expect.
The concluding reveal was a little predictable and the pace was a little slower in parts but overall this is a very impressive debut and would definitely read more by this author in the future.
What a nostalgic trip back into a world of Woolworths and Angel Delight puddings, setting the scene perfectly for this story of Janet and her nana Maggie.
From the outset one thing is clearly evident, the two characters are the crux of this story and as a reader, I felt that instant connection with them both, becoming truly invested in what would happen from the beginning. The story being told through the differing POV’s of Janey and then Maggie is also very cleverly executed, the differences of situations from a 12 year old’s way of thinking compared to the wise and weary outlook of Maggie is perfectly balanced, the story developing through their opinions and thoughts perfectly.
I must admit it took me a while to get used to the Glaswegian dialect and slang used in this title but I soon found myself sub-consciously reading in the accent. This also aides the sense of community that is built through this title, you can really sense how the events described would’ve impacted everyone, from Janey’s discovery to the local gossip, each element fitting in exactly as you would expect.
The concluding reveal was a little predictable and the pace was a little slower in parts but overall this is a very impressive debut and would definitely read more by this author in the future.
March 13, 2026
This is a tricky book to review because while I loved elements of it (most especially the portrayal of female relationships between Janey and her grandmother, and between Janey and the late Samantha), the book failed to really hook me until over halfway and I was left a little unsatisfied by the ending. The character work at play here was lovely and I loved the setting, but otherwise wasn't really captured by this novel. I would really like to read anything this author produces in the future, though!
November 24, 2025
A Bad, Bad Place is a bleak, sad and tragic story of events following a young girls discovery of a murdered woman’s corpse.
I enjoyed the style of writing especially how the author made the setting and characters so descriptive. The characters were realistic and full of depth, and I appreciated that the story was told from both Janey and her gran’s perspective which added nuance and authenticity.
However, I didn’t enjoy the way Janey treated her dog Sid Vicious after discovering the body - with numerous references to violence and neglect. Her trauma is clearly evident without this. I also found her friendship with Theresa to be baffling and I felt it was used as a lazy attempt to move the story on. I found the ending to be rushed and felt the murderer was far too obvious.
That being said, A Bad Bad Place was an enjoyable, descriptive read and I’d read more from this author in the future.
Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for the ARC.
I enjoyed the style of writing especially how the author made the setting and characters so descriptive. The characters were realistic and full of depth, and I appreciated that the story was told from both Janey and her gran’s perspective which added nuance and authenticity.
However, I didn’t enjoy the way Janey treated her dog Sid Vicious after discovering the body - with numerous references to violence and neglect. Her trauma is clearly evident without this. I also found her friendship with Theresa to be baffling and I felt it was used as a lazy attempt to move the story on. I found the ending to be rushed and felt the murderer was far too obvious.
That being said, A Bad Bad Place was an enjoyable, descriptive read and I’d read more from this author in the future.
Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for the ARC.
January 7, 2026
A Bad, Bad Place finds Glaswegian, punk loving Janey, a young girl, living in the hardest of conditions in 1979. While out walking Sid Vicious, her loyal dog, she finds Samantha Watson dead in a tunnel, sadly her end was not natural or peaceful. The impact on Janey, is understandably, all consuming; and the impoverished community is affected deeply. Mistrust and fear are rife.
The characters are so richly drawn, their language so vivid and evocative, leaving nothing to the imagination. It is raw, the brutal honesty of the dialogue sometimes stopping me in my tracks, other times it made me snort with laughter. I love Janey, the names she has for her friends are so vividly descriptive. These names tell you everything you need to know, while bringing a wry smile too.
The writing of the dialogue leaves you in no doubt as to where the book is set, I’m sure the audio narration would only enhance this sense of place further. Some of the things that Janey found comforting, broke my heart for her. The matter of fact descriptions of their daily lives, really brings home the level of poverty endured by our characters. At times I felt uncomfortable whilst reading, I wanted to scoop up the characters, and take them away to a place of safety.
The alternating narration between Janey and her Nana felt very strong. The contrast of Janey’s youth, against all that her Nan has had to bear through the years. What shines through is their strength. All of the characters are well rounded and so real. Not a single one is all good, or all bad, just as in life.
This gritty read is unbelievably the author’s debut. This is not a gentle book, I felt uneasy and tense whilst reading. Having said that, the love between Janey and her Nana is strong and heart warming, the bond between the community is steadfast, and says so much for the resilience of the people. I think readers who are fans of Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, and The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey will appreciate this powerful story. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
The characters are so richly drawn, their language so vivid and evocative, leaving nothing to the imagination. It is raw, the brutal honesty of the dialogue sometimes stopping me in my tracks, other times it made me snort with laughter. I love Janey, the names she has for her friends are so vividly descriptive. These names tell you everything you need to know, while bringing a wry smile too.
The writing of the dialogue leaves you in no doubt as to where the book is set, I’m sure the audio narration would only enhance this sense of place further. Some of the things that Janey found comforting, broke my heart for her. The matter of fact descriptions of their daily lives, really brings home the level of poverty endured by our characters. At times I felt uncomfortable whilst reading, I wanted to scoop up the characters, and take them away to a place of safety.
The alternating narration between Janey and her Nana felt very strong. The contrast of Janey’s youth, against all that her Nan has had to bear through the years. What shines through is their strength. All of the characters are well rounded and so real. Not a single one is all good, or all bad, just as in life.
This gritty read is unbelievably the author’s debut. This is not a gentle book, I felt uneasy and tense whilst reading. Having said that, the love between Janey and her Nana is strong and heart warming, the bond between the community is steadfast, and says so much for the resilience of the people. I think readers who are fans of Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, and The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey will appreciate this powerful story. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
October 9, 2025
Set in Scotland in the 1980s, this story focuses on 12-year-old Janey, who discovers the dead body of a young woman, Samantha. What follows is the fallout from this on Janey, her family and her community.
This was a very dark and gritty book, mainly focused on relationships and conversations. It follows Janey as she slowly comes to terms with what she's seen, the loss of someone she didn't know, and how she slowly uncovers the motives behind the murder.
It was an interesting read, challenging at times to read this from the perspective of a young person, but in some ways that made it more grounding and real. It's an incredible debut by Frances Crawford. I look forward to reading more of her books over the coming years.
Thanks to Frances Crawford, Penguin and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
This was a very dark and gritty book, mainly focused on relationships and conversations. It follows Janey as she slowly comes to terms with what she's seen, the loss of someone she didn't know, and how she slowly uncovers the motives behind the murder.
It was an interesting read, challenging at times to read this from the perspective of a young person, but in some ways that made it more grounding and real. It's an incredible debut by Frances Crawford. I look forward to reading more of her books over the coming years.
Thanks to Frances Crawford, Penguin and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
August 23, 2025
I’ve DNF this book as I really couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening. The language used was hard to understand. Honestly I’ve never heard anyone use word ‘wee’ so many times as in the first few chapters of this book.
August 17, 2025
Actual rating 4.5.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So I'm a quirky person. I'm sure a few of my regular readers have figured that out by now. Wink, wink. This is why I love reading books with a sprinkling of quirk, especially in characters. It's also why I chose to read A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford, with the following synopsis: "Glasgow, 1979: If it hadn’t been for her wee stupid dog, Sid Vicious, twelve-year-old Janey Devine might never have stumbled upon the corpse of Samantha Watson." I didn't even really feel the need to read any more about it. I was already hooked.
Janey finds the body almost immediately. The story spans the next few months as she struggles with the scars that experience has left on her young mind. Her nana is also struggling. Watching her granddaughter battling the horrors of what she experienced, as well as her own bad memories, clearly fills her with a sense of helplessness. Janey claims she doesn't remember all the details of finding the body, but the police don't believe her. It's true that she is hiding something about it, but it's not what the police think it is.
This book is highly character-driven, orbiting around themes of trauma and recovery, abuse and sexism, corruption, and coming of age in a roughneck area. The juxtaposition of Janey's innocence with the harsh realities of her world created a mixed bag of emotions within me. Sure, there are moments that are funny, but they're often laced through with a thread of melancholy. My heart hurt for her experiencing this at all, but even more so because she experienced it at such a pivotal age.
I found the character development remarkable, especially with the two narrators, Janey and her nana. They're both forced to grow before all is said and done. The chapters aren't especially long, and the two narrators alternate with each. Things are happening in the moment in the story, but they also often share memories of times in their past. While this is necessary and makes the story that much richer, it does slow the pace of reading.
The setting of 1979 Glasgow was fitting, and I especially loved how Crawford uses Scottish-accented speech even in the characters' thoughts. It was like I was truly listening to them without any audio. It really grounds the story in this specific place and culture, building the world through voice instead of description dumps. There is also a subtle layer of metaphor and insight tucked into everyday details, and she uses quiet, character-driven symbolism rather than literary flourishes. Overall, this makes the book immersive, voice-driven, regionally grounded, emotionally restrained, and socially observant. The author doesn't pull you in with dramatic language, but with the unsettling feeling that this is exactly how someone like this would think and speak, which makes everything that happens feel uncomfortably real.
A Bad, Bad Place isn't a heavy tome in terms of pages, but in subject matter. I had to take it slowly and sit with things. I'm admittedly an impatient person, and this made the book feel longer than it is, but I'd be lying if I said this story won't stick with me for years to come. It doesn't look powerful on the surface, but it packs a punch all the same. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy literary fiction over mysteries and thrillers. There is an element of mystery to it, yes, but the previously mentioned themes carry more of the load. I'd most liken this book's vibe to authors like Tana French and Emma Flint. This book is more about "mood and character," and one should read it for the voice and creeping dread, not the adrenaline.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓 — Subtle, unsettling, and memorable
Let's Discuss
Have you ever read a book that stayed with you more because of how it felt than because of what happened? Tell me about it.
I read a digital copy made available by Soho Press/Soho Crime through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
Janey finds the body almost immediately. The story spans the next few months as she struggles with the scars that experience has left on her young mind. Her nana is also struggling. Watching her granddaughter battling the horrors of what she experienced, as well as her own bad memories, clearly fills her with a sense of helplessness. Janey claims she doesn't remember all the details of finding the body, but the police don't believe her. It's true that she is hiding something about it, but it's not what the police think it is.
This book is highly character-driven, orbiting around themes of trauma and recovery, abuse and sexism, corruption, and coming of age in a roughneck area. The juxtaposition of Janey's innocence with the harsh realities of her world created a mixed bag of emotions within me. Sure, there are moments that are funny, but they're often laced through with a thread of melancholy. My heart hurt for her experiencing this at all, but even more so because she experienced it at such a pivotal age.
I found the character development remarkable, especially with the two narrators, Janey and her nana. They're both forced to grow before all is said and done. The chapters aren't especially long, and the two narrators alternate with each. Things are happening in the moment in the story, but they also often share memories of times in their past. While this is necessary and makes the story that much richer, it does slow the pace of reading.
The setting of 1979 Glasgow was fitting, and I especially loved how Crawford uses Scottish-accented speech even in the characters' thoughts. It was like I was truly listening to them without any audio. It really grounds the story in this specific place and culture, building the world through voice instead of description dumps. There is also a subtle layer of metaphor and insight tucked into everyday details, and she uses quiet, character-driven symbolism rather than literary flourishes. Overall, this makes the book immersive, voice-driven, regionally grounded, emotionally restrained, and socially observant. The author doesn't pull you in with dramatic language, but with the unsettling feeling that this is exactly how someone like this would think and speak, which makes everything that happens feel uncomfortably real.
A Bad, Bad Place isn't a heavy tome in terms of pages, but in subject matter. I had to take it slowly and sit with things. I'm admittedly an impatient person, and this made the book feel longer than it is, but I'd be lying if I said this story won't stick with me for years to come. It doesn't look powerful on the surface, but it packs a punch all the same. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy literary fiction over mysteries and thrillers. There is an element of mystery to it, yes, but the previously mentioned themes carry more of the load. I'd most liken this book's vibe to authors like Tana French and Emma Flint. This book is more about "mood and character," and one should read it for the voice and creeping dread, not the adrenaline.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓 — Subtle, unsettling, and memorable
Let's Discuss
Have you ever read a book that stayed with you more because of how it felt than because of what happened? Tell me about it.
I read a digital copy made available by Soho Press/Soho Crime through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Twelve-year-old Janey struggles to come to terms with stumbling across the mutilated body of a young woman. With the police unable to find the murderer, it's up to her grandmother, Maggie, to keep Janey safe among the tenements of 1970s Glasgow.
As soon as you start reading A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford, you are drawn into the world of Janey Devine and her grandmother, Maggie. The author has given both characters such clear and distinctive voices that you almost feel as if you are a fly on the wall. Alongside such well-rounded characters, the author has also painted a vivid picture of the Glasgow tenements in 1979. As I read, I found it easy to imagine the day-to-day living, the scramble to make ends meet and the culture of the time.
Janey is a typical pre-teen; happy to spend time outside away from prying adults, cheeky, apprehensive about her move to "big school", and devoted to her grandmother. When she finds a dead body as she's walking her dog, Sid Vicious (brilliant name for a dog), her life grinds to a halt. Not only is she traumatised by what she's seen, but she's also hiding a secret. Looking at this scenario with a modern eye, it's obvious that Janey has PTSD. Unfortunately, in 1970s Glasgow she just needs to pull herself together and get on with it.
Protecting Janey is her grandmother. Maggie has her own issues; she's still finding it difficult to come to terms with the tragic death of her daughter's family, a tragedy that left Janey in her care. Once again, a sign of the times means that she is simply expected to get on with things. Money is a major issue; there's never quite enough to see the week out or to put aside for treats. The offer of a better job puts Maggie in a difficult position; more money is welcome, however, it will put her and Janey directly in contact with a local crime lord, someone who has a vested interest in finding the murderer.
There is a very strong sense of community; everyone living in Possilpark is managing day-to-day, but they look out for each other. Neighbours watch each other's children, and occasionally feed and clothe them. The thought that one of them could possibly be the murderer makes Janey far less trusting than she normally would be, and makes Maggie feel guilty about leaving her granddaughter alone.
As I read, there were times when I had fond memories of a simpler childhood, one without the inherent dangers around today, where children played outside, and the street lights coming on were the sign to go home. The book is a stark reminder not to think of those days as being idyllic. We are reminded of the lax ways in which the police carried out their investigations and how domestic abuse was known about but ignored.
Janey's secret weighs heavily on her mind. I wanted to scoop her up and protect her. The problem, however, is that I didn't know who I wanted to protect her from. The author has managed to skillfully sew distrust around a number of possible characters that you are never sure who the murderer is until the final reveal.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
As soon as you start reading A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford, you are drawn into the world of Janey Devine and her grandmother, Maggie. The author has given both characters such clear and distinctive voices that you almost feel as if you are a fly on the wall. Alongside such well-rounded characters, the author has also painted a vivid picture of the Glasgow tenements in 1979. As I read, I found it easy to imagine the day-to-day living, the scramble to make ends meet and the culture of the time.
Janey is a typical pre-teen; happy to spend time outside away from prying adults, cheeky, apprehensive about her move to "big school", and devoted to her grandmother. When she finds a dead body as she's walking her dog, Sid Vicious (brilliant name for a dog), her life grinds to a halt. Not only is she traumatised by what she's seen, but she's also hiding a secret. Looking at this scenario with a modern eye, it's obvious that Janey has PTSD. Unfortunately, in 1970s Glasgow she just needs to pull herself together and get on with it.
Protecting Janey is her grandmother. Maggie has her own issues; she's still finding it difficult to come to terms with the tragic death of her daughter's family, a tragedy that left Janey in her care. Once again, a sign of the times means that she is simply expected to get on with things. Money is a major issue; there's never quite enough to see the week out or to put aside for treats. The offer of a better job puts Maggie in a difficult position; more money is welcome, however, it will put her and Janey directly in contact with a local crime lord, someone who has a vested interest in finding the murderer.
There is a very strong sense of community; everyone living in Possilpark is managing day-to-day, but they look out for each other. Neighbours watch each other's children, and occasionally feed and clothe them. The thought that one of them could possibly be the murderer makes Janey far less trusting than she normally would be, and makes Maggie feel guilty about leaving her granddaughter alone.
As I read, there were times when I had fond memories of a simpler childhood, one without the inherent dangers around today, where children played outside, and the street lights coming on were the sign to go home. The book is a stark reminder not to think of those days as being idyllic. We are reminded of the lax ways in which the police carried out their investigations and how domestic abuse was known about but ignored.
Janey's secret weighs heavily on her mind. I wanted to scoop her up and protect her. The problem, however, is that I didn't know who I wanted to protect her from. The author has managed to skillfully sew distrust around a number of possible characters that you are never sure who the murderer is until the final reveal.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
March 15, 2026
It’s 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland. Twelve-year-old Janey Devine lives with her grandmother, Maggie, in Possilpark, a neighborhood that is rough around the edges but mostly full of good (albeit nosy) people. Maggie has worked hard to provide for Janey --- both a safe place to live and as much joy and support as possible --- ever since Janey’s parents and sister died in a terrible accident when she was just a baby. Maggie’s own life has been full of violence and loss, which makes things all the worse when Janey stumbles onto a horrific crime scene.
What follows, in Frances Crawford’s first novel, is both a mystery and a poignant family drama as Janey and Maggie navigate the legal system, the fallout from the crime, the social dynamics of their neighborhood, and their own fraught past and fragile present. A BAD, BAD PLACE is layered, entertaining, thoughtful, and full of interesting twists that will keep readers guessing until the very end (and beyond).
While walking her dog, Sid Vicious, along the “Dummy Railway,” Janey finds the mutilated corpse of 22-year-old Samantha Watson. Janey doesn’t remember much after she approaches and touches the body, but she knows she cannot share with the police exactly what she remembers about those moments. The trauma is compounded by the police investigation and the advances of Samantha’s father, infamous local crime boss Billy “The Ghost” Watson. Billy wants to get to know and protect Janey, as the person who found Samantha, and bonds with Maggie over the grief of losing a child. But his friendship and attention actually bring more danger to Janey and Maggie.
As the weeks go by, and as Janey and Maggie are drawn further into the Watson orbit, Janey begins remembering moments from the day she found Samantha. And even as she tries to shield Janey from further harm, Maggie cannot help but recall the tragic loss of her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, as well as what she suffered at the hands of her husband many years ago. All this as the police continue to investigate Samantha’s murder, and as Janey deals with preteen friendships, adult concerns about her, and the fears that plague her as the key witness in the investigation. Janey wants to preserve Samantha’s memory, find the killer, and be done with all of it.
Crawford writes with an equal balance of toughness and tenderness and never sacrifices the vocabulary and linguistic conventions of her Glaswegian characters. Set against a backdrop of political and social realities, and with the energy of the punk rock that Janey and her best friend, Martin, love, this is a terrific debut. The first few pages are a bit choppy, but then Crawford settles into a good pace and into her exciting plot. While her love of the setting is always apparent, it is the characters --- and their relationships to each other --- that make the book.
A BAD, BAD PLACE is a smart and well-crafted novel that will leave readers pondering the ending. Janey and Maggie, as well as the other characters, are finely written with unique voices and perspectives. This is a tale of growing up, growing old, memory, loss, resilience, and the bonds that make us human.
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
What follows, in Frances Crawford’s first novel, is both a mystery and a poignant family drama as Janey and Maggie navigate the legal system, the fallout from the crime, the social dynamics of their neighborhood, and their own fraught past and fragile present. A BAD, BAD PLACE is layered, entertaining, thoughtful, and full of interesting twists that will keep readers guessing until the very end (and beyond).
While walking her dog, Sid Vicious, along the “Dummy Railway,” Janey finds the mutilated corpse of 22-year-old Samantha Watson. Janey doesn’t remember much after she approaches and touches the body, but she knows she cannot share with the police exactly what she remembers about those moments. The trauma is compounded by the police investigation and the advances of Samantha’s father, infamous local crime boss Billy “The Ghost” Watson. Billy wants to get to know and protect Janey, as the person who found Samantha, and bonds with Maggie over the grief of losing a child. But his friendship and attention actually bring more danger to Janey and Maggie.
As the weeks go by, and as Janey and Maggie are drawn further into the Watson orbit, Janey begins remembering moments from the day she found Samantha. And even as she tries to shield Janey from further harm, Maggie cannot help but recall the tragic loss of her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, as well as what she suffered at the hands of her husband many years ago. All this as the police continue to investigate Samantha’s murder, and as Janey deals with preteen friendships, adult concerns about her, and the fears that plague her as the key witness in the investigation. Janey wants to preserve Samantha’s memory, find the killer, and be done with all of it.
Crawford writes with an equal balance of toughness and tenderness and never sacrifices the vocabulary and linguistic conventions of her Glaswegian characters. Set against a backdrop of political and social realities, and with the energy of the punk rock that Janey and her best friend, Martin, love, this is a terrific debut. The first few pages are a bit choppy, but then Crawford settles into a good pace and into her exciting plot. While her love of the setting is always apparent, it is the characters --- and their relationships to each other --- that make the book.
A BAD, BAD PLACE is a smart and well-crafted novel that will leave readers pondering the ending. Janey and Maggie, as well as the other characters, are finely written with unique voices and perspectives. This is a tale of growing up, growing old, memory, loss, resilience, and the bonds that make us human.
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Twelve-year-old Janey is taking her dog, Sid Vicious, for a walk down by the old defunct railway. Later Janey will blame Sid, for it’s him who finds the body — the brutally mutilated corpse of a young woman, Samantha Wilson. No one will give Janey any peace to recover from the trauma of this experience. The police demand that she go over every detail again and again; Samantha’s dad, Billy Wilson, a local gangster, isn’t much better, and is scarier; and the local community is in full gossip mode, all wanting to know what Janey saw — partly through fear, partly through that strange excitement that comes with events that happen close enough for people to feel touched by them, even if they’re not directly involved. Janey’s Nana, Maggie, is scared — that Janey has been badly affected by her experience, and that there’s a murderer out there somewhere, who might also think Janey is a danger to him…
Set in Possil in Glasgow in 1979 and told entirely in Glaswegian dialect, this was one I very much wanted to love. The dialect is brilliantly done — entirely authentic — and the Possil setting and community also ring true. There are a few tiny anachronisms that I’m sure wouldn’t be visible to anyone who hadn’t lived through that period in Glasgow, so I almost feel it’s unfair of me to mention them. It’s told through two first-person voices, Janey and Maggie, and although just occasionally Janey sounds older than her years, for the most part they’re sustained very well.
Unfortunately I gradually began to find that it dragged. The first-person viewpoints are quite restricted — neither Janey nor Maggie is privy to the police investigation, obviously, and they only know Billy Wilson by reputation at first. I found there was quite a lot of repetition and even some filler, as we waited for each new piece of the jigsaw to be given. My initial enthusiasm for the undoubted quality of the voices and dialect began to wane a little as they seemed to become the point — a virtuoso performance rather than a background to the story. The main focus is not on the crime, but on Janey’s emotional state and Maggie’s worry about her. Two things increasingly irritated me: the constant swearing — authentic perhaps, but tiresome to read; and Janey’s low-level cruelty to her previously beloved dog, whom she continues to blame for finding the body. That didn’t ring true to me at all, and it certainly didn’t endear Janey to me.
For a while, I felt the good stuff was outweighing the less good, but eventually the balance tipped. I skimmed through much of the second half, though I was still interested enough to want to know who the murderer was. This is Crawford’s debut, written after graduating at the age of 60 with an MLitt in Creative Writing, and I certainly felt it showed a lot of promise, both in terms of originality and writing talent. I’ll be interested to see what she does next, and I’m hopeful she’ll find a better balance between style and plot — the strength and weakness of this one, respectively. One to watch!
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Set in Possil in Glasgow in 1979 and told entirely in Glaswegian dialect, this was one I very much wanted to love. The dialect is brilliantly done — entirely authentic — and the Possil setting and community also ring true. There are a few tiny anachronisms that I’m sure wouldn’t be visible to anyone who hadn’t lived through that period in Glasgow, so I almost feel it’s unfair of me to mention them. It’s told through two first-person voices, Janey and Maggie, and although just occasionally Janey sounds older than her years, for the most part they’re sustained very well.
Unfortunately I gradually began to find that it dragged. The first-person viewpoints are quite restricted — neither Janey nor Maggie is privy to the police investigation, obviously, and they only know Billy Wilson by reputation at first. I found there was quite a lot of repetition and even some filler, as we waited for each new piece of the jigsaw to be given. My initial enthusiasm for the undoubted quality of the voices and dialect began to wane a little as they seemed to become the point — a virtuoso performance rather than a background to the story. The main focus is not on the crime, but on Janey’s emotional state and Maggie’s worry about her. Two things increasingly irritated me: the constant swearing — authentic perhaps, but tiresome to read; and Janey’s low-level cruelty to her previously beloved dog, whom she continues to blame for finding the body. That didn’t ring true to me at all, and it certainly didn’t endear Janey to me.
For a while, I felt the good stuff was outweighing the less good, but eventually the balance tipped. I skimmed through much of the second half, though I was still interested enough to want to know who the murderer was. This is Crawford’s debut, written after graduating at the age of 60 with an MLitt in Creative Writing, and I certainly felt it showed a lot of promise, both in terms of originality and writing talent. I’ll be interested to see what she does next, and I’m hopeful she’ll find a better balance between style and plot — the strength and weakness of this one, respectively. One to watch!
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley and thank the publishers Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and the author for this book. This review is my honest reflection after reading the book.
I completed this book a couple of days back and have been sitting with my thoughts on it for a while now because this for me is one of those books that does some things fabulously well yet never realizes its potential heights of greatness.
Set in the late 1970's Glasgow, this story follows twelve year old Janey, who discovers the body of a murdered woman on an abandoned railway line. What unfolds is partly a coming of age story, partly also a community drama and a significant part as a crime narrative. The strongest element, without question, is its voice. Janey feels so real. Her observations are sharp, naive in places and often unintentionally cutting. There is an honesty to her perspective that carries much of the emotional weight.
The relationship between Janey and her nana is the true heart of the novel. Their dynamic is tender without ever feeling sentimental. There is frustration, humour and a very grounded kind of love that feels lived in. The domestic scenes often resonated more deeply with me than the central mystery.
The setting is also handled with care and full credit to Frances here. The atmosphere of Glasgow of a past era feels authentic and immersive. You can sense the tight knit nature of the community, the unspoken rules, the way gossip travels faster than truth. Frances clearly understands the emotional geography of this place.
Where the novel faltered for me was in its structure and pacing. It sometimes felt caught between two identities. The intimate character study works beautifully. The crime element, however, never reaches the same level of tension or narrative drive. I am kind of hardboiled when it comes to crime thrillers and I kept waiting for the investigation to either become sharper and more urgent or to step back entirely in favour of the emotional arc. Instead the story for me sits stranded somewhere in the middle, which left me feeling slightly disconnected by the end.
The use of local dialect adds texture and authenticity, though it may take some readers a few chapters to settle into its rhythm. For me, as an outsider, this added charm rather than distraction, but I can see how it might not work for everyone.
Overall this is a promising debut with a strong emotional core and a memorable young narrator. It has moments of real brilliance and insight, especially in its portrayal of childhood vulnerability within a watchful community. It just did not quite deliver the narrative impact I was hoping for. But Frances is for me an author to look out for in future.
A solid three stars from me.
I completed this book a couple of days back and have been sitting with my thoughts on it for a while now because this for me is one of those books that does some things fabulously well yet never realizes its potential heights of greatness.
Set in the late 1970's Glasgow, this story follows twelve year old Janey, who discovers the body of a murdered woman on an abandoned railway line. What unfolds is partly a coming of age story, partly also a community drama and a significant part as a crime narrative. The strongest element, without question, is its voice. Janey feels so real. Her observations are sharp, naive in places and often unintentionally cutting. There is an honesty to her perspective that carries much of the emotional weight.
The relationship between Janey and her nana is the true heart of the novel. Their dynamic is tender without ever feeling sentimental. There is frustration, humour and a very grounded kind of love that feels lived in. The domestic scenes often resonated more deeply with me than the central mystery.
The setting is also handled with care and full credit to Frances here. The atmosphere of Glasgow of a past era feels authentic and immersive. You can sense the tight knit nature of the community, the unspoken rules, the way gossip travels faster than truth. Frances clearly understands the emotional geography of this place.
Where the novel faltered for me was in its structure and pacing. It sometimes felt caught between two identities. The intimate character study works beautifully. The crime element, however, never reaches the same level of tension or narrative drive. I am kind of hardboiled when it comes to crime thrillers and I kept waiting for the investigation to either become sharper and more urgent or to step back entirely in favour of the emotional arc. Instead the story for me sits stranded somewhere in the middle, which left me feeling slightly disconnected by the end.
The use of local dialect adds texture and authenticity, though it may take some readers a few chapters to settle into its rhythm. For me, as an outsider, this added charm rather than distraction, but I can see how it might not work for everyone.
Overall this is a promising debut with a strong emotional core and a memorable young narrator. It has moments of real brilliance and insight, especially in its portrayal of childhood vulnerability within a watchful community. It just did not quite deliver the narrative impact I was hoping for. But Frances is for me an author to look out for in future.
A solid three stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It’s 1979, and 12-year old Janey has discovered the body of a young woman near a disused railway. It’s a gruesome sight for a 12-year old to witness, and Janey can’t quite get over it. Her gran, and her guardian, Maggie, wants to help her – but doesn’t know how.
Set in the depths of working class Glasgow and smattered with Glaswegian dialogue throughout, A Bad, Bad Place is much more than the tale of a murder. This is more about the aftermath of discovering a body, how a crime can affect an entire community, and how a little girl is supposed to cope with being the only key witness to such a terrible act.
But more than that, it’s also the tale of Janey and Maggie, their lives together, and their personal struggles, both together and apart. They share a tragic past, and with a backdrop of poverty and everyday crime, they are both complex, intriguing characters. Over the course of the book, you’ll learn more about both characters, how Maggie came to be Janey’s guardian, and the devastating weight that both characters carry around with them every day.
Uncovering exactly what happened to the young woman that Janey discovers is a key part of the novel, sure, but just as enjoyable is getting to know Janey and her gran. It’s easy to come to care for both characters, as well as their dog Sid Vicious, who’s just as big a character as either of them. Equally important are the cast of sub-characters that all breathe life into A Bad, Bad Place. From shady neighbours, family friends and well-known crime bosses, there’s a colourful mix of good and bad here, making a believable tapestry of any working class estate.
I have a lot of love for A Bad, Bad Place, and while getting to grips with the odd bit of Scottish dialect can be a bit tricky if you’re unfamiliar with it, it gives the book a lot of heart. This is a debut novel from Crawford, and a seriously incredible achievement: I spoke briefly to Frances at last year’s Harrogate Crime Fest, asking her what she did before she wrote the book. “Nothing,” she said, “I was signing on.”
It’s clear she’s poured her own lived experiences into this book, from the emotion and soul that spills out of every page, from the larger-than-life background characters that brings it to life. Writing a debut later in life, Crawford is a real inspiration, and I genuinely hope this novel is a huge success for her.
Set in the depths of working class Glasgow and smattered with Glaswegian dialogue throughout, A Bad, Bad Place is much more than the tale of a murder. This is more about the aftermath of discovering a body, how a crime can affect an entire community, and how a little girl is supposed to cope with being the only key witness to such a terrible act.
But more than that, it’s also the tale of Janey and Maggie, their lives together, and their personal struggles, both together and apart. They share a tragic past, and with a backdrop of poverty and everyday crime, they are both complex, intriguing characters. Over the course of the book, you’ll learn more about both characters, how Maggie came to be Janey’s guardian, and the devastating weight that both characters carry around with them every day.
Uncovering exactly what happened to the young woman that Janey discovers is a key part of the novel, sure, but just as enjoyable is getting to know Janey and her gran. It’s easy to come to care for both characters, as well as their dog Sid Vicious, who’s just as big a character as either of them. Equally important are the cast of sub-characters that all breathe life into A Bad, Bad Place. From shady neighbours, family friends and well-known crime bosses, there’s a colourful mix of good and bad here, making a believable tapestry of any working class estate.
I have a lot of love for A Bad, Bad Place, and while getting to grips with the odd bit of Scottish dialect can be a bit tricky if you’re unfamiliar with it, it gives the book a lot of heart. This is a debut novel from Crawford, and a seriously incredible achievement: I spoke briefly to Frances at last year’s Harrogate Crime Fest, asking her what she did before she wrote the book. “Nothing,” she said, “I was signing on.”
It’s clear she’s poured her own lived experiences into this book, from the emotion and soul that spills out of every page, from the larger-than-life background characters that brings it to life. Writing a debut later in life, Crawford is a real inspiration, and I genuinely hope this novel is a huge success for her.
March 17, 2026
Frances Crawford’s debut, A Bad Bad Place, has really lodged itself in my mind. It has been ages since I felt this attached to characters, but Nana and Janey absolutely got under my skin in the best possible way.
Set in Glasgow in 1979, the story begins with eleven year old Janey stumbling across the body of a young woman while out walking her dog, Sid Vicious. The victim turns out to be Samantha, daughter of local hard man Billy Watson, and her murder sends shockwaves through the whole community. From that moment on, Janey becomes the centre of everyone’s attention.
The police are convinced she is holding something back, but Janey genuinely can’t remember everything she saw. She knows there is a missing piece, something her mind has tucked away, and the harder she tries to reach for it, the further it seems to slip. Her Nana, who is raising her, is terrified of what the trauma is doing to her.
The alternating chapters between Janey and Nana work beautifully. Seeing the same moments through their different eyes; Janey’ s confusion and innocence, Nana’s weary protectiveness, adds so much depth. And as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that they are both carrying secrets of their own, each trying to shield the other. Even Billy Watson, for all his brutality, is shown with flashes of grief that complicate him in interesting ways.
The book focuses more on the impact of Samantha’s death on Janey rather than the police investigation into the murder. Her relationship with Sid changes, her trust in people wavers, and she becomes caught between those who genuinely care for her and those who want to use her, her innocence, her fear, her proximity to the crime, for their own ends. She spends a lot of time trying to piece together who might be responsible, and the reader is led through several possibilities before the final reveal, which is genuinely chilling.
The 1979 setting is wonderfully vivid. The supporting cast brings Possilpark to life as a place where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and gossip travels faster than truth. The dialect feels natural and adds to the atmosphere without ever getting in the way.
Overall, it is a striking debut, tense, emotional, and full of heart. I am already excited to see what Frances Crawford writes next, and I’m hoping she might drop a few hints when I see her at the Hay Festival in May.
Set in Glasgow in 1979, the story begins with eleven year old Janey stumbling across the body of a young woman while out walking her dog, Sid Vicious. The victim turns out to be Samantha, daughter of local hard man Billy Watson, and her murder sends shockwaves through the whole community. From that moment on, Janey becomes the centre of everyone’s attention.
The police are convinced she is holding something back, but Janey genuinely can’t remember everything she saw. She knows there is a missing piece, something her mind has tucked away, and the harder she tries to reach for it, the further it seems to slip. Her Nana, who is raising her, is terrified of what the trauma is doing to her.
The alternating chapters between Janey and Nana work beautifully. Seeing the same moments through their different eyes; Janey’ s confusion and innocence, Nana’s weary protectiveness, adds so much depth. And as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that they are both carrying secrets of their own, each trying to shield the other. Even Billy Watson, for all his brutality, is shown with flashes of grief that complicate him in interesting ways.
The book focuses more on the impact of Samantha’s death on Janey rather than the police investigation into the murder. Her relationship with Sid changes, her trust in people wavers, and she becomes caught between those who genuinely care for her and those who want to use her, her innocence, her fear, her proximity to the crime, for their own ends. She spends a lot of time trying to piece together who might be responsible, and the reader is led through several possibilities before the final reveal, which is genuinely chilling.
The 1979 setting is wonderfully vivid. The supporting cast brings Possilpark to life as a place where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and gossip travels faster than truth. The dialect feels natural and adds to the atmosphere without ever getting in the way.
Overall, it is a striking debut, tense, emotional, and full of heart. I am already excited to see what Frances Crawford writes next, and I’m hoping she might drop a few hints when I see her at the Hay Festival in May.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews