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To Be Frank
Fifty-something newspaper columnist, Frank Savage, pens a controversial piece calling for dogs and babies to be banned from cafés as his swansong to journalism. Instead of being dismissed, the column catapults him to stardom—and into further trouble.
On a night out, Frank spots his arch-enemy, Brewster, 56—an apparently reformed racist, homophobic football hooligan turned drug dealer, now a respected figure in the local community—whom he blames for his brother’s death.
This coincides with the arrival of his eldest daughter, Naomi, whom Frank hasn’t seen for years. A genius with numbers, she works for an organised crime syndicate in London, headed by the Wise One, but is desperate to break free and go straight. The Syndicate places Naomi in the seaside town of Portobello, Edinburgh, to work alongside Brewster, overseeing their money laundering operation.
As Naomi and Frank grow closer and begin to heal old wounds, neither realises they are both hiding secrets that would devastate the other.
On a night out, Frank spots his arch-enemy, Brewster, 56—an apparently reformed racist, homophobic football hooligan turned drug dealer, now a respected figure in the local community—whom he blames for his brother’s death.
This coincides with the arrival of his eldest daughter, Naomi, whom Frank hasn’t seen for years. A genius with numbers, she works for an organised crime syndicate in London, headed by the Wise One, but is desperate to break free and go straight. The Syndicate places Naomi in the seaside town of Portobello, Edinburgh, to work alongside Brewster, overseeing their money laundering operation.
As Naomi and Frank grow closer and begin to heal old wounds, neither realises they are both hiding secrets that would devastate the other.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2025
About the author
Kevan Christie
1 book7 followersKevan Christie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Raised in Craigentinny, Portobello and Leith he was politely asked to leave school at 16 and started work in a builder's merchant. He spent the next two decades working in the City's financial institutions where he learnt little about finance and a lot about alcohol abuse. He gained a degree in journalism from Napier University in 2006, working as a bookseller, youth support worker and taxi driver to help fund his studies.
His 14-year journalism career began with the Newsflash Press Agency before stints at the Daily Record, Dundee Evening Telegraph, Scotland on Sunday and The Scotsman where he wrote a weekly column. His favourite band is New Order and his place of worship is Easter Road Stadium the home of Hibernian Football Club. Kevan has been sober since August 2018.
His 14-year journalism career began with the Newsflash Press Agency before stints at the Daily Record, Dundee Evening Telegraph, Scotland on Sunday and The Scotsman where he wrote a weekly column. His favourite band is New Order and his place of worship is Easter Road Stadium the home of Hibernian Football Club. Kevan has been sober since August 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 20, 2026
Right so this guys a bit of an asshole. But, to be honest, I’ve met HUNDREDS of aul scottish men like him that it just made him feel even more real. The classic pub regulars. The ‘I only eat traditonal’ type of man. The same men who have followed the same football team that their dads did because, well, obviously they’re the best and everyone else is wrong.
However, To Be Frank also takes a rather surprising turn when Frank’s daughter enters the scene. She’s gotten herself into a wee bit of trouble and, even though she’s not close with her dad, she knows Frank’s the one to talk to it about.
At it’s core, with this colourful craft of characters, is a book that also takes a look at loneliness. At his heart, Frank just wants to have someone in his life who’s going to stick around. Who’s going to be there for him.
But back to the fun bits because I could not stop laughing at this book. This is the authors debut and WHAT a debut it is.
(PS: tbh Frank, I too think babies should be banned from cafes… not so much on the dogs but I see you there).
However, To Be Frank also takes a rather surprising turn when Frank’s daughter enters the scene. She’s gotten herself into a wee bit of trouble and, even though she’s not close with her dad, she knows Frank’s the one to talk to it about.
At it’s core, with this colourful craft of characters, is a book that also takes a look at loneliness. At his heart, Frank just wants to have someone in his life who’s going to stick around. Who’s going to be there for him.
But back to the fun bits because I could not stop laughing at this book. This is the authors debut and WHAT a debut it is.
(PS: tbh Frank, I too think babies should be banned from cafes… not so much on the dogs but I see you there).
September 4, 2025
To Be Frank is a sharp, darkly comic crime thriller set in Portobello, Edinburgh, that blends satire, family drama, and the gritty realities of organised crime. Frank Savage, a fifty-something journalist, thinks his career is over when he pens a controversial column about banning dogs and babies from cafés. Instead, the piece propels him into unexpected notoriety and back into a world of old grudges and new dangers.
A chance encounter with his lifelong enemy Brewster—once a racist football hooligan, now a supposedly reformed community figure—forces Frank to confront past trauma tied to his brother’s death. At the same time, Frank’s estranged daughter Naomi reappears. Brilliant with numbers but trapped in a London crime syndicate, she is sent to Edinburgh to launder money under Brewster’s supervision. As father and daughter attempt to rebuild their fractured bond, they both hide devastating secrets that threaten to unravel everything.
Kevan Christie’s writing captures the seaside Edinburgh setting with authenticity and flair, balancing humor and grit. Frank is a wonderfully sardonic, flawed protagonist whose dry wit makes him instantly engaging, while Naomi’s struggle to break free from the criminal world adds emotional depth. Themes of redemption, family, secrecy, and betrayal are woven seamlessly into a fast-paced, character-driven story.
With its mix of dark humor, local color, and suspense, To Be Frank will appeal to readers who enjoy crime fiction with heart, especially fans of Mark Billingham or Mick Herron. A fresh, entertaining, and memorable read.
Highly recommended.
A chance encounter with his lifelong enemy Brewster—once a racist football hooligan, now a supposedly reformed community figure—forces Frank to confront past trauma tied to his brother’s death. At the same time, Frank’s estranged daughter Naomi reappears. Brilliant with numbers but trapped in a London crime syndicate, she is sent to Edinburgh to launder money under Brewster’s supervision. As father and daughter attempt to rebuild their fractured bond, they both hide devastating secrets that threaten to unravel everything.
Kevan Christie’s writing captures the seaside Edinburgh setting with authenticity and flair, balancing humor and grit. Frank is a wonderfully sardonic, flawed protagonist whose dry wit makes him instantly engaging, while Naomi’s struggle to break free from the criminal world adds emotional depth. Themes of redemption, family, secrecy, and betrayal are woven seamlessly into a fast-paced, character-driven story.
With its mix of dark humor, local color, and suspense, To Be Frank will appeal to readers who enjoy crime fiction with heart, especially fans of Mark Billingham or Mick Herron. A fresh, entertaining, and memorable read.
Highly recommended.
May 20, 2026
Genre: Crime | Thriller | Suspense | Scottish Crime
Pages: 377
Publisher: The Book Guild
Rating: 4.5 stars
This one put me on a roller coaster of emotions. I loved the crime suspense aspect of the book, but also throughly enjoyed the (dark) humor. I think I might be related to Frank, as we have the same sense of snarky attitude. Then we get to the dog-napping scenes. I'm not sure if it was meant to be comical, but I chuckled to myself. It definitely had my brain flashing back to the first time I watched John Wick. You don't mess with a man and his four legged companion apparently. Clearly Frank didn't the memo. My favorite part of the book was how relatable Frank is. Maybe not the addiction and neck deep in criminal activity, but just the way he voices his reports and speaks to others. I know it was said a few times that his reports were not to be taken too seriously, but honestly, those are the kind of articles I like to read. Keep it nice and simple and speak your truth. The storyline was solid and definitely fast paced, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. All in all, it was a very good read.
Pages: 377
Publisher: The Book Guild
Rating: 4.5 stars
This one put me on a roller coaster of emotions. I loved the crime suspense aspect of the book, but also throughly enjoyed the (dark) humor. I think I might be related to Frank, as we have the same sense of snarky attitude. Then we get to the dog-napping scenes. I'm not sure if it was meant to be comical, but I chuckled to myself. It definitely had my brain flashing back to the first time I watched John Wick. You don't mess with a man and his four legged companion apparently. Clearly Frank didn't the memo. My favorite part of the book was how relatable Frank is. Maybe not the addiction and neck deep in criminal activity, but just the way he voices his reports and speaks to others. I know it was said a few times that his reports were not to be taken too seriously, but honestly, those are the kind of articles I like to read. Keep it nice and simple and speak your truth. The storyline was solid and definitely fast paced, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. All in all, it was a very good read.
May 26, 2026
I was kindly sent a free copy of this book as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review. For a debut novel, this was a sharp, hard hitting crime thriller and it seamlessly weaved unresolved family traumas into the world of gritty nefarious money laundering and drug dealing scenes in Edinburgh, Scotland. I loved the fact that our main protagonist is an aging chain smoking alcoholic journalist who you can kind of root for even though most of the time he is being an absolute twat (because he’s also a fairly funny twat). I think I was more invested in his daughter Naomi, who was actually very switched on and, unbeknownst to her somewhat estranged dad, a key player in the money laundering syndicate. I felt like the descriptions really brought the setting to life for me and there was a lot of comedy despite all the high stakes criminal elements. This was very entertaining and very action packed whilst still being character centred and they all evolved and developed a good deal throughout the novel. I’ve gone 4 stars just because it’s not something I’d likely re-read again but definitely an impressive debut and I will be looking out for more by this author in future.
May 21, 2026
To Be Frank is a sharp, comic crime thriller set in Edinburgh, one of my favourite places. It brilliantly blends family drama with gritty organised crime. Frank Savage, a fifty-something journalist, thinks his career is over when he pens a controversial column about banning dogs and babies from cafés. But when this piece of writing is a roaring success it propels Frank into unexpected stardom.
An encounter with his lifelong enemy Brewster forces Frank to confront past trauma relating to his brother’s death. At the same time, Frank’s estranged daughter Naomi reappears. She is sent to Edinburgh to launder money under Brewster’s supervision. Father and daughter both hide devastating secrets that threaten to unravel everything. The storyline was so engaging and there was a lot going on.
The Edinburgh setting is brilliant. There is such a fabulous balance of humor alongside the gripping criminal activities. Frank is a wonderful character, his wit makes him highly engaging. Themes of redemption, family, secrecy, and betrayal are woven seamlessly into a fast-paced, character-driven story.
A highly entertaining read.
An encounter with his lifelong enemy Brewster forces Frank to confront past trauma relating to his brother’s death. At the same time, Frank’s estranged daughter Naomi reappears. She is sent to Edinburgh to launder money under Brewster’s supervision. Father and daughter both hide devastating secrets that threaten to unravel everything. The storyline was so engaging and there was a lot going on.
The Edinburgh setting is brilliant. There is such a fabulous balance of humor alongside the gripping criminal activities. Frank is a wonderful character, his wit makes him highly engaging. Themes of redemption, family, secrecy, and betrayal are woven seamlessly into a fast-paced, character-driven story.
A highly entertaining read.
May 21, 2026
Journalist Frank Savage, writes a piece for his paper which rockets him into the limelight for his controversial views in dogs a babies in cages. Saving him from his demise at the newspaper, and instead making him the poster boy for Scottish news.
I’m not going to lie at times I absolutely thought Frank was an absolute waste of space and whilst he was the protagonist of this book I actually enjoyed his friends and daughter more. Battling multiple addictions and a distinct lack of self love Frank is certainly a character you will love or hate. Naomi on the other hand is smart, cunning, manipulative and a criminal mastermind. I still question whether she truly wants to be rid of her criminal ways and the power she holds in that shady underworld.
Filled with humour, grit, murder and Frank’s dry wit you can’t help to get drawn into this book. Add in the family dynamics, secrets and betrayal and suddenly you’ll be picking a side hoping for their success and others demise.
A humour filled but still gritty crime fiction that will be perfect for fans of slow horses.
I’m not going to lie at times I absolutely thought Frank was an absolute waste of space and whilst he was the protagonist of this book I actually enjoyed his friends and daughter more. Battling multiple addictions and a distinct lack of self love Frank is certainly a character you will love or hate. Naomi on the other hand is smart, cunning, manipulative and a criminal mastermind. I still question whether she truly wants to be rid of her criminal ways and the power she holds in that shady underworld.
Filled with humour, grit, murder and Frank’s dry wit you can’t help to get drawn into this book. Add in the family dynamics, secrets and betrayal and suddenly you’ll be picking a side hoping for their success and others demise.
A humour filled but still gritty crime fiction that will be perfect for fans of slow horses.
May 13, 2026
This book had me laughing the whole way through, it isn't a book if you are offended by anything as I think Frank probably offends everyone - but that is the point - it doesn't mean what he says is right!
Frank is brighter than he lets on and is a great main character who is very underestimated, his love of the posh car is really his downfall but he just has to have it!
Brewster is another character, arguably worse than Frank, but shows how people get sucked in to bad situations - is there a way out?
I loved where the story was based, and the meetings up Arthurs Seat. Naomi and Frank, daughter and father are more alike than either of them think and it shows an emotional side to gangsters.
I great laugh from start to finish, no dogs or children were harmed writing this review!
Frank is brighter than he lets on and is a great main character who is very underestimated, his love of the posh car is really his downfall but he just has to have it!
Brewster is another character, arguably worse than Frank, but shows how people get sucked in to bad situations - is there a way out?
I loved where the story was based, and the meetings up Arthurs Seat. Naomi and Frank, daughter and father are more alike than either of them think and it shows an emotional side to gangsters.
I great laugh from start to finish, no dogs or children were harmed writing this review!
May 26, 2026
What an absolute treat for the Bank Holiday weekend this was! A quick read - mainly because I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down. Staggered to discover this is a debut. There’s an assurance and confidence to the writing. Satire isn’t for everyone but I am a huge fan of satire done well and that’s what this is. The characters are all well rounded - if a little rough around the edges - and totally believable. The location chosen was perfect. As a regular visitor to Edinburgh I felt like the author captured the heart and the essence of the city - a heady mix of beauty and seediness. This would make a perfect miniseries or even a movie. I was fully invested and was disappointed at the end. Not by the ending but because it was over. I would love to read more from Kevan Christie. One hell of a debut!
May 16, 2026
The blurb really appealed to me here. I found this book really immersive, right from the start it pulled me in to the storylines. This is a 5 star read for me! It was 361 pages on my kindle and it was quite a fast-paced book. There was great humour throughout - it had me laughing out loud. I loved the references to older stuff peppered in it, such as Russ Abbott & the A Team, to mention a couple. I really liked the main male character, Frank, and I was rooting for him all the way through. It showed friendship dynamics and how they changed well. A great book and the ending could not have been better!
May 16, 2026
To Be Frank is a funny, entertaining, page-turning, fast-paced crime thriller. Not always a group of words you would see together, but this cast of characters is great! I love that Frank’s story was about how dogs and babies should not be allowed in cafes which ended up causing him to become a bit famous with its controversial nature. This is the first book from Kevan Christie, and it is a solid debut. I look forward to what Mr. Christie has for us in the future! 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 19, 2026
Such a fun silly interesting localized read - the author’s first book, based in the area of Edinburgh where I live. Spot on with the British humor (humour)/cheekiness and tendencies/mannerisms/stereotypes that are actually true. Very fun to read and hard to put down.
May 4, 2026
A page turner, very localised but fine if you know the area where it's set ( as I do), and very silly. I ginished it against my better judgement, as I wanted to know how it turned out!
September 18, 2025
To be Frank is an excellent crime thriller. It has a plot that I'd describe as a page turner. It is also very funny and engaging.
The characters are extremely well portrayed, and you find yourself rooting for Frank throughout. The variety of characters that crop up never fail to be thoroughly entertaining.
Edinburgh in general and Portobello in particular are also stars of the novel. I also enjoyed a little look under the bonnet of journalism and how it's rapidly changing.
Can't wait to read about Frank's future adventures.
I think fans of Christopher Brookmyre will love Kevan's debut novel.
The characters are extremely well portrayed, and you find yourself rooting for Frank throughout. The variety of characters that crop up never fail to be thoroughly entertaining.
Edinburgh in general and Portobello in particular are also stars of the novel. I also enjoyed a little look under the bonnet of journalism and how it's rapidly changing.
Can't wait to read about Frank's future adventures.
I think fans of Christopher Brookmyre will love Kevan's debut novel.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews