Crow Bait

Davie McCall #2

by Douglas Skelton

They'll all be crow bait by the time I'm finished...Jail was hell for Davie McCall. Ten years down the line, freedom's no picnic either. It's 1990, there are new kings in the West of Scotland underworld, and Glasgow is awash with drugs. Davie can handle himself. What he can't handle is the memory of his mother's death at the hand of his sadistic father. Or the darkness his father implanted deep in his own psyche. Or the nightmares…Now his father is back in town and after blood, ready to waste anyone who stops him hacking out a piece of the action. There are people in his way. And Davie is one of them. Tense, dark and nerve-wracking... a highly effective thriller. THE HERALD This is crime fiction of the strongest quality. CRIMESQUAD.COM A gory and razor-sharp crime novel from the start, Douglas Skelton's Crow Bait moves at breakneck speed like a getaway car on the dark streets of Glasgow. THE SKINNY Skelton has been hiding from his talent for long enough. High time he shared it with the rest of us. QUINTIN JARDINE PRAISE for Blood City The city's dark underbelly complete with knives, razors, guns and gangs... DAILY MAIL You follow the plot like an eager dog, nose turning this way and that, not catching every single clue but quivering as you lunge towards a blood-splattered denouement. DAILY EXPRESS The Glasgow of this period is a great, gritty setting for a crime story, and Skelton's non-fiction work stands him in good stead… he's taken well to fiction… the unexpected twists keep coming. THE HERALD

Genres: Crime

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2014

About the author

Douglas has been a shelf stacker, bank clerk, tax officer, factory worker, advertising salesperson, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), journalist and criminal investigator. His early books were all in true crime or criminal history but now he writes fiction, beginning with the Davie McCall series. The final book in the series, OPEN WOUNDS, has been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2016, alongside such authors as Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Lin Anderson, Doug Johnstone and James Oswald.
His next book is THE DEAD DON'T BOOGIE, which will kick off a new series.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read 4.25 STARS!**

This thrilling crime novel is the 2nd volume of the four part "Davie McCall" series.

Once again the author's experience as a non-fiction crime writer comes very much to the fore in this novel of crime, brutality, sacrifice and death.

Storytelling is superb, all characters come to life in this story about crime and death, while also the changing priorities and atmosphere in 1990s Glasgow concerning the criminal underworld are beautifully described and pictured.

This second outing is once more set in Glasgow, and we find Davie McCall, after a ten year prison sentence in Barlinnie prison, now on the outside again and hoping to find some peace of mind, but finding it impossible due to the fact when he's confronted by the horrors committed by his father, Danny McCall.

More and more Davie is haunted and taunted by his father, and provoked coming into action, until a final showdown will settle the score, but in the meantime many innocent lives are taken by his devious father Danny McCall.

In the meantime within the Glasgow underworld certain measures are being taken by some individuals, all to claim full control about criminal operations and thus eliminating those people who have become useless or too troublesome.

What is to follow is a fast-paced crime novel, and all this is brought to us in a most spectacular fashion by the author.

Very much recommended, for this is a wonderful addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this second episode: "An Action-Packed McCall Hunt"!

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice second volume of the Davie McCall series. Good characters and dialogues in a condensed plot without frills.

More 3,5* than 4 (some parts of the plot are that close to be far fetched) but I was entertained enough to round it up.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quality instalment in this series which I am really enjoying.
Loving all the twists and "Game of Thrones"-like tendency to kill off major characters willy nilly !
On to the next one...

[Lynne McCartney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Book number 2 in the series and enjoyed it even more than book number 1. Thankfully I have book number 3 ready and waiting! Love Davie McCall and can't wait to find out what happens to him next. Gritty, true to life crime drama set in Glasgow in the 1980s. What's not to like? Highly recommended to fans of this genre

[Theweebarrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant Scottish crime book that was hard to put down. This is the 2nd book in the Davie McCall series and I loved this as much as the 1st book. Douglas Skelton is the top of my list of favourite authors. I can't wait to read devils knock the 3rd book in the seriesk,'

[Colette Lamberth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who worked in the Gorbals in the early 90's this was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me. The characters are all too real and the Glasgow humour is all spot on. Great book, read it in a day, and I'm moving straight on to book 3.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mean City

I thought Blood City would be a hard act to follow but Mr Skelton has produced a follow-up every bit as good as the first book in the series.
Crow Bait continues Davie McCall's journey through the Glasgow underworld and his growing awareness of his place in it. It is all the more chilling for the unfairness of the characters day to day life, an ordinariness punctuated by shocking acts of callous violence.
An outstanding read and would have been a five star but for my slight disappointment with the ending, although it does set up book three very well.
I think Danny McCall, Davie's father, is one of the most chilling villains of recent fiction. Thank you Douglas Skelton.

[Holly Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book and two others by Skelton because the cover art and striking titles caught my eye, hinting to the gritty and delicious sort of (Scottish!) crime novel I need to read more of.
Wasn't even aware it was a sequel until now, adding it to my Currently Reading after 1/3 of the way in!
This book has gripped me fiercely and reads with pace and ease, and I'm thoroughly enchanted and entrenched in the notion

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the story of Davie McCall, now released from jail into the changed world of 1990s Glasgow and a crime scene more involved with drugs. For Davie and those around him it's a world still filled with danger as he tries to reestablish himself. Davie has to battle his own darkness and the consequences of his dads choices and demons.

[Sue Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hard Hitting Tale

A further installment in the life of Davie McCall hard hitting with a powerful stench of violence this book will keep you enthralled from first word until you reach the final one

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I found impressive with this was the immediacy of it; the way it drew me so deeply into Davie McCall's world that, when interrupted, it took time to reconnect. It's heavy too, the characters dark and nasty for the most part. Strong. Hence the trajectory of the tale.

[K Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

will read more

[Peter Barrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book I'll keep reading the series 👍

[Keith Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davie McCall is in the notorious Glasgow prison, Barlinnie, AKA the Bar-L. He was convicted for a robbery by perjured evidence and given two-and-a-half years inside. Davie is the model prisoner until he’s attacked by fellow inmate Jinky Harris with a Bar-L Special – a toothbrush with inset razor blades – an improvised weapon designed to kill. Davie evades the attack, but seriously harms Harris when the blackness within him bursts to the surface. A prison guard, Lomas, says Davie attacked Harris without provocation and so his initial sentence is increased to 10 years. Ultimately it costs Davie his relationship with his girlfriend Audrey who, until now, was standing by him. Davie is convinced it’s his father, Danny McCall, who wants him dead. The pair have unfinished business. His father murdered his mother when Davie was 15, then disappeared.

It’s 1990 and Davie’s sentence has come to an end. He’s back out on the streets and believes his father is looking for him. When both Harris and Lomas end up dead, the former from a drug overdose and the latter stabbed, the long arm of the law looks to Davie, believing he had a debt to settle. But when a woman is found battered to the edge of death in a scene that’s almost a carbon copy of his mother’s murder Davie is convinced Danny is back to finish what he started. He tries to convince the police but they won’t listen. Only Audrey, now happily married to a copper, and his friends Bobby and Rab believe him. As Danny closes in can Davie save Audrey and himself?

Crow Bait is the second book featuring Davie McCall in what will be a series of four. Unfortunately it’s not entirely a standalone novel. Not having read McCall’s first outing a degree of catch-up was required and several events and actions made less impact than perhaps they could have so it’s probably sensible to read Blood Work first to avoid this potential issue. However, Crow Bait is a compelling, page turning story that builds tension throughout. It is down to earth, gritty and sometimes gory. Grimy Glasgow is a perfect backdrop for the unfolding events. The author, prior to turning to fiction, wrote 11 true crime works and this knowledge shines through in the narrative.

The other strong element is the characterisation. There’s Davie, who battles with his inner darkness; the lunatic Danny; crime boss Rab; strong Audrey, who faces up to perhaps having made a mistake; and many others. Which leads to another aspect of Crow Bait – the multiple perspectives through which the story is told. If you prefer a narrative to unfold via one or two main characters then Crow Bait, which develops through almost every character, may prove a challenge. There are also some flashbacks in the early stages as Davie recounts his jail experiences. This is necessary as it builds up to the concluding events, but it does break up the flow a bit.

The next novel should be out early in 2015 and I’ll be keeping an eye out for it, but should probably read Blood City first.

Originally reviewed for Crime Fiction Lover.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read and reviewed the first in this series a few months ago I said that this opener hit the ground running, providing a bucket load of action which didn't let go until the last page. Well, this follow-up continues right where that left off.
We pick up Davie McCall on his release from prison. He has been there a little while longer than expected and we learn why and what has been happening to him and the other characters over the past 10 years in flashback. Enough of the story from the first book is explained in this one so that the reader can follow it well enough but, to be honest, to really get the best from this book, to really get under the skin of the characters and understand the motives behind what they do, you really should read Blood City first.
This book, like the first, is written in the vernacular but this didn't put me off as there was little that couldn't be worked out from context and the rest was easily looked-up. The descriptive passages of Glasgow and the surrounding areas were all very visual to me and added to rather than distracted from the story.
And the pacing of the book, well, it was full of action from the get go. The only let up for the reader was when there was suspense rather than hard-boiled action - not really much of a breather!
This time we see more of Davie's childhood, we meet his father and where Davie is a bad boy but with morals, his father is downright nasty with a pretty gruesome agenda. As a baddie, I loved him!
And the ending, just when I thought it was all sewn up neatly - wham! Didn't see that coming. Can't wait to find out where this takes Davie next...

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Fiona Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the Davie McCall series and what a sequel! It is absolutely brilliant, I loved it. It jumps on 10 years from Blood City and takes up Davie's story from his release from prison. He is now 28 and the world has changed since he was imprisoned at the age of 18. Drugs have taken over the city as predicted,and guns are more freely available, leading to a increase in the level of violence. This book was even better than the first one I felt, as we got a better understanding of Davie by learning more about his family life. It's certainly true what they say, you can't pick your family! I liked the way the characters from the first book were developed, the police officers Donovan and McKnight were really brought to life in this book.
Excellent book, and what an ending! Just when you thought you knew where it was going......!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an arc from net galley in exchange for an honest review. Davie MMccall I'd nearing the end of his prison sentence following the events of blood city. As well as forcing him to grow up fast, prison has introduced him to a new cast of criminals and unfortunates. Wow. OMG. Wow. Absolutely fantastic read. CNPID. Read in one sitting. I loved the story and the characters. I loved Davie. He was my favourite character. Even though he was a bad boy. Had me gripped from start to finish. Wow. What a read. Didn't expect that. I liked the ending too. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. Definitely worth more than 5 *.

[Miss Dizzy Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good, can't think of a decent enough review! I best do one later!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic - gritty gripping and Glasgow - felt as though I was there in the pages of the book