Breakers

by Doug Johnstone

A pulsatingly tense psychological thriller and a breathtakingly brutal, beautiful and deeply moving story of a good kid in the wrong family, from one of Scotland’s finest crime writers.

SHORTLISTED for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year

***BOOK OF THE YEAR in  SCOTSMAN ***

‘It’s a lovely, sad tale, beautifully told and full of understanding’  The Times

‘The most powerful and moving book from Johnstone yet – a calling card that no-one can ignore’  Scotsman

‘A cracking story, great characters … it’s also about something and really addresses the “whys” of crime’  Mark Billingham

‘This may be Doug Johnstone’s best book yet. An unsparing yet sympathetic depiction of Edinburgh’s ignored underclass, with terrific characterisation. Tense, pacey, filmic’  Ian Rankin

________________________________

There are two sides to every family…

Seventeen-year-old Tyler lives in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived areas. Coerced into robbing rich people’s homes by his bullying older siblings, he’s also trying to care for his little sister and his drug-addict mum.

On a job, his brother Barry stabs a homeowner and leaves her for dead, but that’s just the beginning of their nightmare, because the woman is the wife of Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord, Deke Holt.

With the police and the Holts closing in, and his shattered family in devastating danger, Tyler meets posh girl Flick in another stranger’s house, and he thinks she may just be his salvation … unless he drags her down too.

_________________

‘It’s as psychologically rich as it is harrowing. I’ve come to expect nothing less from Doug Johnstone, one of the genre’s premiere writers’  Megan Abbott

‘ Breakers  again shows that Doug Johnstone is a noir heavyweight and a master of gritty realism. This may be his finest novel yet’  Willy Vlautin

‘Doug Johnstone is for me the perfect free-range writer, respectful of conventions but never bound by them, never hemmed-in. Each book is a different world, each book something new in this world’  James Sallis

‘Bloody brilliant … This is premier league crime writing’  Martyn Waites

‘A tough, gritty and effective ride into the dark side of Edinburgh’  Douglas Skelton

‘Pacy, harrowing and occasionally brutal …had me in tears at the end…’  Paddy Magrane

‘The tale is both horrifying and uplifting, and one of those books I looked forward to picking up each time I had a moment to read … I hope it does as well as it deserves to’  James Oswald

‘Oh. My. God. This was sooo good. Read it in two days. Gripping, dark, fast, but still somehow full of heart’  Louise Beech

‘A brooding, intensely dark thriller with a defiant beating heart. Evocative, heartbreaking and hopeful – the power of the human spirit to shine in the most desperate place … STUNNING’  Miranda Dickinson

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Scotland, Audiobook, Mystery, Contemporary

230 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2019

About the author

Doug Johnstone is a writer, musician and journalist based in Edinburgh. His fourth novel, Hit & Run, was published by Faber and Faber in 2012. His previous novel, Smokeheads, was published in March 2011, also by Faber. Before that he published two novels with Penguin, Tombstoning (2006) and The Ossians (2008), which received praise from the likes of Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. Doug is currently writer in residence at the University of Strathclyde. He has had short stories appear in various publications, and since 1999 he has worked as a freelance arts journalist, primarily covering music and literature. He grew up in Arbroath and lives in Portobello, Edinburgh with his wife and two children. He loves drinking malt whisky and playing football, not necessarily at the same time.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Doug Johnstone deserves more attention as a writer because I’ve read three of his books so far and they’re all really good. This one is heartbreaking. It’s the story of Tyler and his sister Bean (Bethany) who live in one of the most deprived areas of Edinburgh. Their mother is a heroin addict and whilst she is in no way a bad person as life has dealt her many physical and mental blows, she does leave Tyler who is 17 to look after Bean. Tyler and Bean are lovely characters and you just so want them to be able to rise above what’s around them. The whole family is controlled by Barry, who is Tyler’s hard brother. He is rotten to the core. He is a violent and vicious thug who makes Tyler participate in crime, especially burglaries. One night, Barry chooses the wrong house and stabs the wife of someone even more villainous than he is. The story unfolds really well, I could have wept for Tyler on numerous occasions as he so wants to do the right thing. Eventually Barry gets what he deserves.

A very good and emotional read.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Doug Johnstone, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but one thing I wasn’t expecting was to have my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. Breakers could have been a depressing read considering it’s a modern tale of poverty, and deprivation, and yet it’s not, it’s a plausible and heartbreaking story, but buried amid all the ugliness is the beautiful and moving story of Seventeen-year-old Tyler who lives in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived area’s. The cards aren’t stacked in his favour, living with his junkie mum and younger sister, he lives hand to mouth stealing from people’s homes to support his family. The contrast between the affluent areas of Edinburgh and the more deprived areas are stark, but very credible. The author doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties of living in such a grim environment where violence, drugs and crime are part and parcel of everyday life for its residents.

I really did not expect to like, let alone sympathise with Tyler’s character, after all he steals from people’s houses, causing upset and trauma to the people from whose homes he steals. Yet once the author scratches away below the surface you realise Tyler isn’t all bad, his relationship with his little sister Bethany is heartwarming to say the least, he’s her loyal protector and desperate to shield her from the ugly and harsh realities of the life she has been born into. On the other hand, his relationship with his junkie mother is toxic, despite her shortcomings and she has many, Tyler still isn’t ready to give up on her, he sees things no child should have to witness, and it’s these scenes that are heartbreaking and harrowing, as the reader you want to wrap him in a big hug and tell him “everything is going to be alright” even though you know the realities of the world he lives in and the chance of him finding a “happy after” are slim to none. The author has the unique ability to create characters that despite their flaws, you find yourself rooting for, you feel their pain, experience their joy and cry at the injustice of the world we live in.

Doug Johnstone’s writing is superb every word, in fact every sentence has a deep impact on the reader, his characters are superbly depicted, and if this book doesn’t leave you an emotional wreck, then I’m sure you will be in the minority. Breakers is a searing and heartbreaking portrayal of modern day Britain, the author takes the reader on an emotional journey, one that at times feels uncomfortable, it packs a hell of a punch, you will find yourself questioning your own assumptions, it’s a book whose characters will remain with you long after you reach the last page. In case you haven’t already guessed I loved this book, and it will definitely be one of my top reads of 2019. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a gritty thriller with a powerful and moving plot.

All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across this author after reading his novel, Hit and Run. Since then I have gone on to read nearly every one of his novels, there’s just one that i still need to read, but have enjoyed them all. There was something about Hit and Run that has remained one of my personal favourites and for me Breakers is very much on par with it.

The author has created a young protagonist that will have the reader really caring about. Tyler is a young adult whose life certainly isn’t one he would choose for himself. There is very much a conflict of good versus evil going on in his head. Right from the start I knew he was a good lad but circumstances have him involved with stuff that he knows is wrong but he does it for the easy life to be left alone by his controlling older brother.

The relationship between Tyler and his younger sister Bean (Bethany), was so heart warming. I just wanted to pick them up and take them away from it all. Their childhood is certainly one that no child should endure but sadly they do. The author has created a very credible story of how easy it is for young adults to fall into the life of crime and what life is like in the poorest parts of a big city where crime and drugs are rife.

Breakers is a hard hitting and at times, heart wrenching, story. There is so much depth and meaning in this novel that it was hard not to get emotional at times. It is dark and gritty and had me gripped throughout. This is a novel where the main character really captured my heart and whose story will stay with me for a long time to come. Would love for the author to do a follow up book at some point.

My thanks to Orenda and Anne Cater for inviting me to be part of the blog tour and for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

About three years ago I reviewed a book by Doug Johnstone called The Jump , a book that remains as one of the best books I have ever read. In my original review I said that, “When people decry genre fiction as somehow not being as worthy or the compare of ‘literary fiction’, I have no hesitation in drawing their attention to books such as this, which possesses an emotional intensity and sensitivity that is rarely encountered in any genre, harnessing emotional, and by their very nature, contentious issues that many writers in the ‘literary’ field would struggle to address in such an affecting way as Johnstone achieves.” So it will come as no real surprise to hear that in this intensely compelling read, and in my ever so humble opinion, Doug Johnstone has more than achieved this again…

Let’s start with Tyler, the central protagonist, balancing his role as protector, provider, and accomplice, at a relatively tender age, and with an over enhanced sense of responsibility and some times misplaced loyalty in his familial role. Juggling the role of caregiver and protector of his younger sister ‘Bean’, but finding himself at the behest and control of his aggressive and borderline psychopathic step brother, Tyler navigates a tense and ominously threatening path through life. Desperate to keep the equilibrium of his home life, but with his mum’s instability and dependence on drink and drugs, casting a shadow over the stability of this, one impulsive criminal act places Tyler and Bean in extreme danger. What Johnstone captures so perfectly in the character of Tyler, is that of a young man propelled into adulthood and maturity due to the extreme behaviour of others. He’s bright, resourceful, and emotionally intuitive, and a wonderful caregiver for Bean, but there’s also there’s always this sense of the child about him, dominated by his stepbrother, his tentative handling of his relationship with spiky posh girl Flick, and his unflinching acceptance of his mum’s emotional and physical weakness. He is the epitome of a young man who’s had to grow up a startling fast rate, but not to the detriment of his own strong moral code, his integrity and compulsion to protect others.

As we have come to expect of this author, Johnstone himself is also unflinching in this portrayal of a family in meltdown. The particular angst, borderline poverty and issues of abuse and anger, that all too many families encounter lay at the very heart of this book, but tangentially Johnstone also shows through the home life of Flick that this emotional paucity is equally relevant to her life, with the emotional neglect of her parents, her mother’s alcohol abuse, and the coldness of her father. She seeks attention in destructive ways and she’s financially rich, but only attains an emotional richness through her growing attachment to Tyler, and by extension, Bean too. Through this relationship we also see her bravery and resourcefulness, and the sense of her yin to Tyler’s yang that begins to become apparent as her involvement in these dark events escalates.

The authenticity of Johnstone’s characters is due in no small part to his intensely realistic portrayal of the world that Tyler and his family exist in. The book is peppered with sudden outbreaks of violence and abuse, with the overriding control of his sadistic stepbrother Barry, and the ramifications of entering the dangerous world of a hardened criminal that Barry’s foolish and impulsive actions, catapult them into. At one point Tyler berates Flick for embarking on her own ‘poverty safari’ as their life experience appear to be so markedly different, and Tyler’s world is a stark contrast socio-economically- harsh and poor, with the threat of violence a norm. As much as the book is brutally realistic, it is also tinged with sensitivity and compassion, with a strong message that a less than promising start in life is not necessarily proof of a moral deficiency, and that a good nature can overrule bad nurture. Despite the anger and tension so in evidence in these characters’ lives, I found this book tremendously life affirming, and as Tyler grows in stature and strength, he very much takes the reader with him. You’re rooting for him, and it doesn’t feel that your belief in him is misplaced. Breakers is a superb read (with an equally excellent soundtrack woven into the narrative) and once more I would heartily encourage you that, if you haven’t read this author before, you really should do so.

It would be rude not too…

Highly recommended.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong on stereotypes and several standardised characters but overall a solid read.

This is my first foray with this author and the Scottish setting is definitely a draw. The novel follows a predictable path, from the down-and-out situation to the meeting of a rich girl saviour. The local crime family and of course bullying, drugs, desolation, overdoses and the inevitable death or two permeate the read.

So why four-stars? It was still a page-turner and I felt connected to the protagonist despite its predictability. Well written, with no possible error in signposting the various stages.

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. In a summer full of feeling somewhat let down by many of this year’s hyped books from major publishers, it’s an indie book that makes me feel this way. A wreck, gutted, yet somehow strangely hopeful. As opposed to the hyped book I’ve just finished that could not keep my attention for more than a chapter or two (seriously, I found myself pulling out weeds instead, not a great sign), Breakers grabbed me by the throat from the first page of the first chapter and I could not tear myself away. Moreover, I didn’t want to.

Right off the bat it’s crystal clear where we’re at: at the fringes of society. Tyler, little more than a teenager himself, is the sole carer of his seven-year-old sister Bethany (Bean). Their mum is an addict, booze, pot, heroin, whatever she can get her hands on, and they have an older half-brother Barry and half-sister Kelly (same mum, different dad) who live in the same building. They live in poverty and make a living from crime. I’m sure there are loads of poor people who are upstanding citizens, who do their best every day, who work or maybe can’t work, and for whatever reason have problems making ends meet. Tyler is trying to be that guy. But with a mum who spends every cent she gets on drugs and alcohol and an older brother who practically forces him to come robbing houses with him, there’s really not that much he can do. On the bright side, the burglaries mean that every now and then he can hide some cash from his brother so he can buy food or other necessities, or he can nick some trinkets for Bean, like a stuffed panda bear, or things like soap. I couldn’t not feel for Tyler and especially Bean. They’re good kids, smart, deserving of a better mum, better siblings. I wanted to jump between the sentences, and hug them both. They’re stuck in this dead-end situation, there’s no hope for the future. I hated seeing a seven-year-old so jaded. Bean is a smart girl, Tyler wants to protect her from seeing their mum in drunken or drug-induced stupors but Bean knows what’s what and no girl that age should have that kind of smarts. And then a job goes wrong: while Tyler and his older half-siblings are robbing a fancy house, the owner comes home and Barry stabs her. It turns out that the woman in question is actually the wife of Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord and Tyler finds himself caught between a rock and various hard places: his coked-up brother, the police and the crime lord. And then he meets Flick, a rich kid, but not quite the goody two-shoes that she’s meant to be. She brings hope, hope for love, hope for some kind of salvation, but what when Barry finds out?

The crime aspect of Breakers is truly chilling. Yes there is violence and lots of it, but it isn’t cheap, it isn’t overly gory, it’s just very realistic and that makes it worse. I’m sure everyone knows someone whose house has been broken into. Coming home and finding your house broken into, your stuff taken, that’s bad enough, but just imagine coming home just a few minutes too early, catching the burglars red-handed.
Barry scared the living daylights out of me. He’s creepy enough when he’s sober but half the time he’s coked up and all the time he’s completely off his rocker, and the way he treats his siblings is just ugh *shudders* (what an eloquently worded review this is turning out to be, isn’t it 🙄)

Breakers is gritty and dark and harrowing, and it broke my heart and it make me feel very lucky to be where I am, on the one hand, but also kind of like an entitled rich kid on the other (while I’m nothing of the sort, trust me). However, Breakers is not only dark and confrontational, it’s also about love. About a boy with so much love for his little sister, doing whatever needs to be done to protect her, psychologically as well as physically, and that little sister loving him back. (Doug Johnstone really did an amazing job portraying Bean, I love that girl to bits!) It’s about finding love and compassion where you’d least expect it, it’s about forgiveness. It’s about being in the gutter but looking at the stars, and maybe, just maybe, there is some hope for the next generation.

I loved this book so much. I finished it in a day and wanted to dive right back in the second I’d finished it. I have tried to express how deeply I feel about Breakers and it characters, to explain its layeredness, its awesomeness, and I feel like I failed miserably. I’ve never been to Scotland, I’ve never been in a criminal environment, but I was there with Breakers.

Very highly recommended.

[Fictionophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler lives in a tower block in Niddrie, one of Edinburgh’s impoverished neighbourhoods. He lives with his Mum and his little sister, Bethany (aka Bean). His Mum is an alcoholic/addict so the responsibility of caring for her and his sister Bean falls on his narrow shoulders. If that wasn’t bad enough, his elder brother and sister live in the apartment next door. Barry is a bullying thug, often drug-addled like their mother. He coerces Tyler into committing robberies with him with threats of violence against him and his little sister.

When one of their more lucrative robberies turns deadly, Tyler’s life takes a turn for the worse. Frightened, guilt-ridden, and traumatised, Tyler seeks reprieve from his horrible situation. When he meets posh schoolgirl Flick, he wonders if she will be his salvation or his downfall. Or… will he be hers…

Constantly afraid for their physical safety, Tyler also lives in fear of being separated from his wee sister. He valiantly tries to keep their predicament away from the eyes of the police or social services. His life is a constant struggle.

Flick and Tyler would escape from their troubled lives by climbing to the top of Craigmillar Castle and look out at the city of Edinburgh below…

MY THOUGHTS

After reading several glowing reviews by my fellow bookbloggers, I knew that I just had to read “Breakers” and I’m SO happy I did! I was grabbed by the first few pages and enjoyed every minute of reading this novel. WOW!

Although this is indeed a dark and gritty crime novel, I also found it to be heartbreaking in equal measure. Tyler and his little sister, Bean were such sympathetic characters that you couldn’t help but constantly wish that they could be removed from their disadvantaged environment and given the safety and security that they deserve.

Tyler adores his little sister and he not only provides for her, he tries to shield her from the ugliness and danger inherent in their environment.

The book is set in an Edinburgh that won’t be depicted on the tourist brochures. An Edinburgh riddled by crime and poverty which emphasizes the yawning divide between the social classes.

The character of Flick stood out in the book much like her car did in the seedier parts of Edinburgh. Altruistic, kind, and empathetic, Flick was a gem in Tyler’s life. In fact, besides his little sister Bean, she was the only good thing in Tyler’s desperate, grim, and bleak existence.

I loved Tyler. He was a truly good person born into one of the most dysfunctional families I’ve ever read about. Throughout, no matter what he did or was forced to do, I was rooting for him to endure and escape his horrible life.

This is a novel that I’ll remember for quite some time. One that will stand out in my memory years from now.

Written with skill, excellent characterization, and a firmly depicted sense of place, this crime novel is highly recommended by me. “Breakers” will definitely be on my ‘Best Reads of 2019’ list. I’m looking forward to reading more by this talented author.

[The Tattooed Book Geek (Drew). · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...

Breakers is highly addictive and darkly compelling, at times, savage, sometimes brutally so, at other times, tender, it will leave a mark on you, it is a powerful story and one that resonates with the reader.

Tyler Wallace is seventeen-years-old and lives in Edinburgh in Niddrie, one of the most run-down and dilapidated areas of the city that is rife with abusers, gangs, wasteland, building sites, vandals and squalor. Tyler lives in a tower block along with his drink and drug-addled Mum, Angela and his younger sister, seven-year-old Bethany/Bean. On the same floor as them live his older half-brother, Barry and his older half-sister, Kelly.

To make money Tyler is an unwilling participant in robberies along with Barry and Kelly, he isn’t bad, he just does bad things to survive and the threat of the psychotic Barry makes him go along with their plans and robberies. Being from such a deprived area the trio has to look further afield and drive around the richer areas of Edinburgh, scouting out suitable houses that are ideal candidates to rob.

During a raid on one of the empty houses, something goes wrong and one of the home owner’s returns during the attempted robbery. After a confrontation with Barry, a knife is pulled, Barry stabs the women and leaves her lying in a growing pool of her own blood.

Barry threatens both Kelly and Tyler that nothing happened in the house and that is the story that they need to maintain thinking that it will all just wash away, another victim of a bungled robbery with no suspects. The women who Barry stabbed isn’t just a random homeowner though, she is the wife of Deke Holt, Edinburgh’s largest crime lord, an underworld kingpin and someone who you don’t ever fuck with.

Barry kicked the hornet’s nest by stabbing Holt’s wife, there are ramifications, reverberations that will affect them all, the police are after the siblings and Holt himself wants payback, revenge for his wife being stabbed and the noose is tightening for the Wallace family.

After the botched job, Tyler is out in the night, trying to calm his mind, time with his thoughts to reflect and contemplate. He breaks into another house, not to steal but simply for the peace, a quiet place to think and to be alone. This is where he inadvertently meets Flick, a ray of light against the impending darkness that has been unleashed with Holt.

Some people, like Barry, are just bad, they are damaged, evil, violent and volatile and there is a cruelness to them. They do bad things because they get a kick out of it, a thrill, an exhilaration and a high. it’s all they know how to do and who to be but still, there’s a darkness to them. Tyler isn’t like that. Tyler is a flawed but decent person, he does bad things not because he is bad but because of his family and his situation. He is a product of his situation, his location and circumstances that are beyond his control and he is just trying to make the best out of a bleak existence, to survive.

Even with Barry, Johnstone gives you a glimpse, only slight and through the words of Kelly as to the reason he is how he is, is who he is. It doesn’t excuse his behaviour, personality or anything about him, he is a vile individual but it helps explain it and shows how a toxic influence can bleed down through generations and how someone older can shape someone younger, model them like clay to become another version of themselves. Honestly, Barry is despicable but like with Angela and Kelly, I had a glimmer of sympathy for him, a sympathetic portrayal to them all for a life that none of them asked for. I couldn’t help but wonder if things had been different for him, for Kelly and for Angela would they have become who they are or would they be different? It is the same with Tyler and Bean, you will ponder how different could their lives have been under different circumstances and if they had been given a chance, a chance at a happy home life and a loving parental unit instead of the rusted blade of existence that they have been brought up in.

The Wallace family are small-time criminals, doing enough to eke out a living such as it is, getting by on the bare minimum and always having enough to keep them supplied in drink and drugs. Tyler, however, is different to his Mother, Barry and Kelly, he has seen what addiction can do, what you become when the demon gets hold of you and instead of embracing the lifestyle he abstains. He has an inner strength to him, different priorities, Bean, looking after, looking out for, caring for and protecting her as best he can.

Flick and Tyler are different people from different places and are polar opposites on the social scale. There is a class divide, Flick is one of the rich, one of the ‘haves’ while Tyler is one of the poor, one of the ‘have nots’ but there is a connection between them. Something that transcends social standing and something inside them that makes them similar, common ground, a symmetry to them and how they feel about themselves, their families, their lives and the world. They are from different sides of the track but are kindred spirits who have found something in each other that was missing.

I love books where the characters come to life. Books where you can imagine that you are reading about real people and real events. Fully-fleshed and three-dimensional characters, not just names on a page, cardboard cutouts who are involved in a story but characters that you feel for, that you care about and that seem real. I don’t just mean the ‘good‘ characters of the story either that many readers gravitate towards and root for but also the ‘bad‘ characters too. The ones that you dislike not because they are the villain of the tale and you are ‘supposed‘ to hate them but the ones that actually do make you hate them because of their actions, attitudes and because they are evil. That’s what Johnstone gives you in Breakers, stellar characterisation and characters that whether you like them or not they make you feel.

There are motes of colour in an otherwise grey existence for Tyler. You’ll be warmed by Bean who is such an endearing and strong child and some of the interaction between her and Tyler even as your heart breaks over their situation. Likewise, you’ll smile at Tyler and Flick, some of the comments shared between them and at Tyler’s awkwardness around her during the course of their budding friendship.

You know that come to the end of Breakers that in some way Holt will get his revenge for his wife, that is the story reaching its pinnacle, it’s inevitable, like night following day, you can’t escape it and the climax to Breakers is the ‘edge-of-the-seat‘ type of reading where you have to carry on reading to see where the cards finally fall. For me, however, at the forefront of Breakers is the Wallace family and I found Breakers to be a story about family, the drama and the lives of the Wallace’s. It is an uncompromising look at harsh family life, a family that has been consumed by alcohol and drug addiction, kin, the ties that bind, those that don’t and how they survive with an additional focus on the blossoming friendship between Tyler and Flick, two people from different worlds but inside, the same.

Johnstone doesn’t shy away from highlighting the harshness or pull his punches and Breakers can be graphic and grimy in its depiction of life in Niddrie with a tightly plotted and unflinching story being told. There is a tautness to the story and a weight, events that take place and words that are written are weighted with meaning and emotion. There is a gritty finesse to Johnstone’s writing. The dialogue between characters is snappy and he also does a great job of bringing Edinburgh to life, whether it’s the poverty-stricken areas or the more affluent areas of the city.

Breakers is only a short book but it punches well above its small page-count for both character and story depth giving the reader a deep and profoundly human story.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while, it really hits home how hard this reviewing malarkey can be. Especially when you come across a book like Breakers. While I was reading, I already realised there was no way any of the words I could possibly come up with would do this book justice.

Having only read Doug Johnstone’s previous book, Fault Lines, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Breakers but it soon became apparent Johnstone is seemingly somewhat of a chameleon who can seamlessly switch genres. In this case, from a dystopian novel to a psychological thriller. But not just any psychological thriller. This is one with a difference, incredibly original and with an amazing level of depth to it that you don’t always find in this genre.

Seventeen year old Tyler lives in Edinburgh with his mother and his seven year old sister. Life is hard in one of the most depraved areas of this city and Tyler is being bullied by his older half-brother into burgling houses of the more affluent residents. But one night, things go horribly wrong when a homeowner returns home unexpectedly and Tyler’s brother stabs her. Unbeknownst to them, this woman is the wife of Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord, Deke Holt, and he is not a man to be messed with.

This isn’t an easy story to read. It’s at times massively uncomfortable and immensely sad. Tyler’s circumstances are extremely heartbreaking and I really felt for him and everything he had to deal with on a daily basis. His love for his sister, Bean, and his fierce determination in protecting her and keeping her safe almost brought a tear to my eye. Stuck in this cycle of poverty, addiction and violence, Tyler goes out of his way to somehow create an environment of normalcy for his sister, a routine, all the while doing whatever he can to shield her from the things that are really going on around her.

A little beacon of light comes from a somewhat unlikely source when Tyler meets Flick. Flick is posh, goes to an expensive boarding school and drives a flashy car. She seems to have everything Tyler wants from life but looks can be deceiving. Watching their friendship develop was truly heartwarming. Flick sees Tyler the same way I, as the reader, did. As a young man who is good, who does good, but is also forced to do bad and unable to see a way out.

Breakers is quite dark and gritty. It’s tense and constantly has this sense of impending doom. I kept feeling deep down this couldn’t end well but was utterly unable to see how things would turn out. Tyler is one of those characters you become completely invested in, one you’ll root for all the way. This gripping, compelling, raw, sometimes brutal and utterly thought-provoking novel will make you reel against the injustice, will make you feel helpless, will put your own life into perspective and appreciate what you have. Breakers is a story that will stay with me for quite some time to come and I’m secretly hoping for a follow-up to see what becomes of Tyler and Bean.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the hardest review I have had to write, as in the interests of being honest,I have to admit that this is the first Orenda Book which I have not enjoyed.

It is absolutely me as a reader, many many others have read it and loved it so this is entirely a personal opinion. As a written work it is so well plotted and written, but that to me, was its downfall.You can see the joins. You can see the story before it happens.

None of the characters had emotional depth, I could not relate to them at all.They seemed to be caricatures that reinforced stereotypes of poverty. There was no redemptive arc-you had the drugs,the crime,the squalor, the multiple children to multiple fathers being dragged up not brought up,the rich girl who fell for the wrong boy, the air of tragedy and desperation

But it lacked authenticity, it lacked the depth of other, better writers and I could not connect to the story at all. Again, this is just my personal opinion and I am fully aware that I could,and probably am,shooting myself in the foot. It will absolutely be the perfect read for so many, many readers and I  am sure I will be in a minority.

The only thing that kept running through my head whilst reading this was the song,'Common People' by Pulp.Everyone reacts differently to different novels at certain times in their lives, but I live in one of the biggest social housing estates in Europe, we live in poverty and this is a pale imitation of what is our day to day existence.

'Breakers' is a day tripper to read, a book that makes people feel like they have had a taste of what being poor and desperate is like. They have the luxury of closing this book and walking away. The rest of just live here.

[Irena BookDustMagic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit the locations in the novel


Doug Johnstone has taken me to some gritty places via his books. I’ve lived in Edinburgh but have never seen this side of the city thank goodness. It’s a unique and gripping premise though; following the house breakers around the city as they case joint after joint.

It makes for uncomfortable reading at times. People who steal from others are hardly going to be sympathetic characters are they? Except some of these are. The family in the novel are from the wrong side of the track and have struggled with life from day one. Their version of life, of the daily grind, of how to survive in an increasingly expensive world is very different from the comfortable version many people have. Doug never excuses them but paints a stained picture of honour, commitment and doing their best when life throws one pile of rubbish after another at them.

This gritty insight paints Edinburgh in a non too favourable light. However, this is a city of rich and poor, of haves and have nots and is typical of any city across the world really. Except, Edinburgh seems to have extremes; houses with turrets and wastegrounds where gangs have to hang out. Craigmillar Castle features as the icon of the area where most of the action takes place. A historically impressive caste – surrounded not by a moat, but the poorest of the city. An icon of wealth bearing down on Tyler and his family.

Doug writes gritty grimy crime fiction like no-one else. It’s a raw visceral visit this one. Top notch writing and dialogue which spits out at you from the page.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakers by Doug Johnstone is a crime novel where Tyler Wallace, a young teen boy, is forced to be the adult in his dysfunctional family while living in a subsidized, high-rise tenement building while his mother proves incapable of tending to her family.

Tyler also is responsible for his younger sister nicknamed Bean and is groomed into participating in residential burglaries by his violent, older half-brother and half-sister. Along the way, unbeknownst to Tyler, the three end up burglarizing the wrong house in a burglary that goes wrong and ends up resulting in the three being hunted by the dangerous homeowner.

Breakers is well written and flows really nicely and is the type of novel where the author has created a mostly believeable story that includes characters the reader does care about.

Breakers is one of the best novels I have read this year and recommended to readers that like the writing of authors like Richard Price, George Pelecanos and crime tales that are both morality tales and tales that leave a mark.

[Louise Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was breathlessly-paced and darkly gritty ... but it also broke my heart. So beautifully observed. I'm left kind of a bit speechless, to be honest. In the best way. Can't recommend this one enough.

[Gunnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seitdem ich Bücher nicht nur lese, sondern auch regelmäßig rezensiere (wenngleich auf Amateurniveau), hat sich bei mir die Betrachtungsweise eines Buches schon etwas verschoben. Man taucht teilweise nicht mehr so tief in die Geschichte ein, achtet mehr auf Logikfehler, auf sprachliche Schwächen, auf Klischees und Plattitüden, zieht schon während der Lektüre Vergleich zu ähnlichen Werken. Auch die Protagonisten dienen nicht mehr als Sympathieträger, sondern werden daran beurteilt, ob sie die Geschichte voranbringen und möglichst authentisch angelegt sind. Das heißt nicht, dass die Lektüre keinen Spaß mehr macht, aber man liest etwas „professioneller“. Umso schöner, wenn man dann doch einen Roman erwischt, der einen nicht nur von den äußeren Merkmalen her völlig überzeugt, sondern der einen auch emotional packt. Spontan fällt mir da aus den letzten Jahren Steve Hamiltons „Der Mann aus dem Safe“ ein, einen sensationellen Coming-Of-Age-Heist-Thriller. Und nun habe ich wieder so einen Roman gelesen, und der spielt im ach so pittoresken Edinburgh.

Die Fläche zwischen hier und da war eine einzige große illegale Mülldeponie, ein Wirrwarr von Gummirohren, feuchten Matratzen, ein paar Autotüren, einer zertrümmerten Windschutzscheibe, Bergen von Müllsäcken, prall gefüllt mit weiß Gott was, und zerbrochenen Zaunfragmenten, die irgendwann mal irgendwen von irgendwo hatten fernhalten wollen. Das alles sah er im Licht der Scheinwerfer des Baugeländes. Er sah kurz zum Wauchope House hinüber, dem Zwilling des Hochhauses, auf dem sie sich befanden. Er würde nie verstehen, warum diese beiden letzten Dinosaurier nicht mit dem Rest abgerissen worden waren. Warum sie nicht ganz einfach Niddrie, Craigmillar und Greendykes mit einer Flächenbombardierung überzogen hatten und fertig. (Auszug S.8-9)

Der 17jährige Tyler wohnt mit seiner Mutter und seiner kleinen achtjährigen Schwester Bean in einer Wohnung in einem heruntergekommenen Hochhaus im Problemstadtteil Niddrie. Seine Mutter Angela ist drogen- und alkoholabhängig, nicht mehr imstande, sich um ihre Familie zu kümmern. In der Wohnung nebenan leben Tyler ältere Halbgeschwister Barry und Kelly in einem inzestuösen Verhältnis. Tyler kümmert sich wie ein Erziehungsberechtigter um Bean und versucht ihr einen halbwegs ordentlichen Alltag zu bieten. Vor allem versucht er, sie vom aggressiven und kokainsüchtigen Barry fernzuhalten. Barry zwingt den eher kleingewachsenen Tyler, sich an den regelmäßigen Einbruchstouren zusammen mit ihm und Kelly zu beteiligen. Sie brechen in die Wohnhäuser der wohlhabenderen Gegenden Edinburghs ein und gerade Tyler ist prädestiniert, in gekippte Fenster oder ähnlich enge Durchlässe einzusteigen.

Eines Nachts brechen die drei wieder in großes freistehendes Haus ein und räumen gerade ihre Beute zusammen, als sie von der heimkommenden Besitzerin überrascht werden. Diese entdeckt Tyler auf der Treppe und wird im nächsten Augenblick von Barry brutal von hinten niedergestochen. Sie können fliehen, aber Tyler ist entsetzt von Barrys Brutalität und wählt heimlich den Notdienst. In Nachhinein wird das Ausmaß der Katastrophe erst sichtbar: Das Haus, in dem sie eingebrochen sind, gehört dem lokalen Gangsterboss Deke Holt und die schwer Verletzte ist dessen Ehefrau und Mutter eines Schulkameraden von Tyler. Deke Holt schwört bittere Rache, falls er die Schuldigen erfährt und lange kann dies nicht mehr dauern, denn Barry hat bereits einen Teil der Beute weitervertickt. Zudem hat die Polizei Tyler und seine Geschwister schon länger auf dem Kieker, kann ihnen aber noch nichts nachweisen. Sie übt Druck auf Tyler aus, seinen Bruder zu verraten, droht ihm damit, seine Schwester Bean aus der Familie zu holen. Tyler steht nun von mehreren Seiten unter Druck. Just in diesem Moment lernt er ein gleichaltriges Mädchen kennen. Flick ist eine Internatsschülerin aus reicherem Hause, doch sie ist auch eine Seelenverwandte mit anders gelagerten, aber auch problematischen Familienverhältnissen.

Er sagte nichts. Sie warf ihm immer wieder Seitenblicke zu, während sie den Kreisverkehr passierte und Richtung Osten fuhr.
„Tut mir leid“, sagte sie schließlich. „Das war unangebracht“.
„Schon okay.“
„Sag doch einfach, ich soll die Klappe halten.“
„Halt die Klappe.“
Sie lachte, und ihm gefiel, wie sich das anhörte. (Auszug S.70-71)

Die schottische Kriminalliteratur genießt unter Genrekennern einen exzellenten Ruf. Angefangen über den „Godfather“ William McIlvanny, über natürich Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre und zahlreiche andere Hochkaräter. Unter den schottischen Autoren ist Doug Johnston auch kein Unbekannter, ein paar seine Romane wurden auch ins Deutsche übersetzt (zuletzt „Wer einmal verschwindet“ in 2015). Dennoch hatte ich ihn bislang so gar nicht auf dem Schirm. Johnstone hat übrigens eine interessante Vita: Er promovierte in Kernphysik und arbeitete als Radar- und Raketeningenieur. Neben seiner Autorenkarriere ist er auch Journalist und spielt in einer Band aus lauter Krimiautoren („Fun Lovi Crime Writers“). Mit seinem neuesten Werk könnte er sich aber auch in Deutschland einen größeren Namen machen. „Der Bruch“ („Breakers“ im Original) erschien 2019 und war unter anderem auf der Shortlist des wichtigsten schottischen Krimipreises.

Doug Johnstone zeigt dem Leser in diesem Buch die Schattenseiten des schönen Edinburgh. Soziale Brennpunkte, heruntergekommene Wohnungen, dysfunktionale Familien, Armut, Drogen, Kriminalität. All dies kondensiert in Tylers Familie mit Barry als Tyrann, Kelly als dessen willfährige Partnerin und seiner Mutter als Wrack. Tyler alleine muss die ganze Last der Verantwortung schultern. Die Liebe zu seiner kleinen Schwester hält ihn aufrecht. Bei ihr holt er sich die kleinen Erlebnisse, die ihn über den weiteren Tag bringen. Und dennoch ist er oft nah an der Verzweiflung ob dieser Bürde. Johnstone schildert Tylers brutalen Alltag zwischen der Versorgung von Bean, den eigenen (wenigen) Schulstunden, dem Haushalt und der nächtlichen Streifzügen durch Edinburghs Villenviertel mit einer schonungslosen Realität. Dabei zeichnet er den Protagonisten Tyler mit einer tiefen Empathie, der sich der Leser nicht entziehen kann.

„Der Bruch“ ist vieles, ein sozialkritischer Roman, ein Krimi oder besser noch ein spannungsreicher Thriller oder auch ein düsterer Noir, wenngleich mit einigen Funken Hoffnung. Vor allem aber, so spricht es Autorenkollege Mark Billingham auf dem Cover an, „..es geht auch um etwas und spricht wirklich das „Warum“ des Verbrechens an“. Bloggerkollege Philipp Elph urteilte jüngst: „Bereits zu Beginn des Jahres einen Kriminalroman als ein Highlight des Jahres zu bezeichnen, ist eine gewagte Äußerung. Ich sage es trotzdem.“ Und ich mag ihm da nicht widersprechen. Doug Johnstone ist ein großartiger Roman gelungen. Einer dieser, die einen noch emotional richtig mitnehmen – mit authentischen Figuren, einem mitreißenden Plot und einem scharfen Blick für die sozialen Probleme seiner Heimatstadt. „Der Bruch“ ist ein wirklich großer Wurf.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly one of the more difficult reviews I've ever written. It's generally pretty easy to write about crime fiction; with the good guys and the baddies and the heinous crime at the centre. All are different, but that's the basic premise.

Not with Breakers! Oh no, Doug Johnstone has to be different, and whilst this is quite firmly a novel about crime, it's also one of the most expressive and insightful stories about modern families that I've ever read. This author just gets better and better; his ability to draw the most magnificent characters is astounding.

We often hear about 'nature v nuture' and how much of an influence our parents and siblings have on us. The author takes that theory and really shakes it up a bit; this is not a cliche-ridden, generation after generation dysfunctional family story at all.

Tyler is seventeen and lives in the rough area of Edinburgh, in one of two remaining tower blocks, surrounded by building sites that will provide the dream houses for the up and coming, and with a view that includes the city hospital. He lives with his heroin addicted mother and his little sister, known as Bean.
Next door, in a flat acquired by forcing out a Syrian family live Barry and Kelly; Tyler's two older half-siblings, and their vicious, constantly barking dogs; Ant and Dec.

The family business is burglary. Breaking and entering the homes of Edinburgh's wealthy; taking whatever they can carry; selling what they can; keeping what they need. It's just their way of life; as far as they are concerned, those rich people can afford it; they have insurance; some of them don't even bother with alarms.
That's what Tyler has been taught, but he knows that it is all wrong. He's not like Barry and Kelly, he hates what they do; he hates Barry who is a cruel and violent bully. However, he has to protect Bean and if he doesn't go on the jobs, then they'll try to force her through the small windows instead.

One night everything goes wrong. In explosive, dramatic scenes, this author relates the reality of burglary and its impact. However, this is not just any house, the owner of this particular house is going to make life for the three young burglars very very difficult.

Sometimes Tyler breaks into empty houses just for some peace and quiet. Not to steal or be destructive; just for a chance to breathe, and be himself, away from the chaos of his family and neighbourhood. It's during one of these escapades that he meets Flick; a girl from the good side of the tracks; but underneath she's not very different to him. They are both unhappy, they both feel unloved, they both want more. Doug Johnstone gently unfolds their friendship in the most glorious of ways, giving such genuine insight into how two young people who have been nurtured in the exact opposite ways can be almost identical in nature.

Breakers is a triumph. It's an exploration of community, family and friendship. It is dark and it is violent and it is full of grit, yet it is also warm and funny and ultimately uplifting.
An engrossing, taut tale filled with the largest of characters; some are dreadfully evil, some are an utter delight, but all of them are crafted with the highest of precision; believable and incredibly real.

I have so much admiration for this brilliant author and cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Breakers” written by Doug Johnstone, packs a very powerful punch even from the first captivating chapter. Once I started reading this book, I found it very difficult to put down, drawn to the dark, gritty and often brutal storyline.
The characters are so well depicted and very, very realistic. My heart went out to Tyler and his sister Bean and the way the author described Barry! - he couldn’t have been any the more horrid and vicious if he tried. Excellently portrayed and really set the scene for the whole premise perfectly.
The whole issue of breaking and entering houses made me feel very anxious and it was only knowing I do have excellent house security that helped me to sleep at night after reading this book. It’s truly frightening how easy it is to scope unoccupied houses without alarms or adequate lighting and for burglars to find a way into them without raising suspicion.
The setting of Edinburgh was very atmospheric and because I know the city I could visualise a lot of the places for myself. The author was exceedingly detailed in his descriptions of the streets and areas and if I’m ever lost in Edinburgh I’ll be consulting this book, not a map!
I’ve read Doug Johnstone’s previous novel ‘Fault Lines’ so I knew I was in for another exceptional read. He’s a very talented and intelligent man who is also a musician with the band ‘Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers’ and is an author I am happy to recommend and read more from in the future.

4 stars

[Havers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der Polar Verlag eröffnet sein Programm 2021 gleich mit einem Knaller, Doug Johnstones „Der Bruch“ (in gewohnter Qualität übersetzt von Jürgen Bürger), einem Autor, der regelmäßig auf der Shortlist für den McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year vertreten ist, mit diesem Titel 2019. Zurecht, wie man nach dem Lesen dieses Kriminalromans feststellen wird, der gleichzeitig eine beeindruckende und sehr bedrückende Milieustudie ist. Aber vor allem ist es eine Geschichte von Familienbeziehungen und dem Überleben unter schwierigen Verhältnissen.

Tyler lebt mit seiner Familie in Greendyke, sozialer Brennpunkt vor den Toren Edinburghs. Zwei Hochhäuser, umgeben von Brachland voller Schutt und Gerümpel. Ein Drecksloch. Das Neubaugebiet Greenacres in Sichtweite, Wohnprojekt für die Mittelklasse. Nichts für Tylers Familie. Tyler wirkt eigentümlich fehl am Platz, er ist derjenige, dem die Sympathien des Lesers/der Leserin gelten. Die Mutter ständig zugedröhnt von Drogen und Alkohol, unfähig, den Alltag zu bewältigen. Das erledigt Tyler, der sich außerdem voller Hingabe um seine kleine Schwester Bean kümmert. Für sie hat er eine Vision, möchte, dass sie einmal ein besseres Leben hat.

Seine beiden Halbgeschwister, Barry und Kelly, sind Kleinkriminelle, immer auf der Suche nach der guten Gelegenheit für einen Bruch. Tyler muss sie bei ihren Aktivitäten unterstützen, das stellt er nicht infrage. Er ist klein und schmal für sein Alter, hat die perfekte Größe, um sich durch schmale Öffnungen hindurch zu schlängeln. Üblicherweise klappt das, doch dann wählen sie das falsche Objekt aus. Das Haus gehört einem mächtigen Boss von Edinburghs Unterwelt, dessen Frau ihnen in die Quere kommt. Barry geht mit dem Messer auf sie los, verletzt sie schwer und setzt damit eine Kette von Ereignissen in Gang, aus der es kein Entkommen gibt.

Tyler ist einer dieser Jugendlichen, die durchs Raster fallen, in schwierige Verhältnisse hineingeboren werden, denen sie nicht entkommen können. Die zwar eine Ahnung davon haben, was sein könnte, denen aber letztendlich nicht nur die Kraft sondern auch die Unterstützung dafür fehlt, einen Neuanfang zu wagen.
Johnstone zeigt uns das Leben jenseits der Royal Mile und Edinburgh Castle. Zwingt uns dazu hinzuschauen. Stellenweise fast unerträglich beschönigt er nichts, sondern konfrontiert uns mit dessen knallharter Realität.

Bemerkenswert ist aber vor allem dieses Maß an Empathie, mit der er Tyler und dessen Lebensumstände, dessen Schicksal beschreibt. Sein Dilemma, nach dem missglückten Raubüberfall zu entscheiden, was richtig oder falsch ist. Ob die Loyalität gegenüber der Familie wichtiger ist als das Benennen des Schuldigen, um so größeres Unheil von seiner Familie abzuwenden.

Eine Story, die ebenso spannend wie bewegend ist, eindringlich und voller Emotionen geschrieben. Unbedingt lesen!

[Cassandra MADEUP BookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to very end this is a powerfully emotive tale, full of heartbreaking and surprisingly honest scenarios. This is a close look at family ties, crossing social boundaries and classes, and all the complications and trials that go alongside it.

Following Tyler we come to see how one person who is born into a life surrounded by crime and hardship can still have a good heart, how fighting to maintain a stable life for those we love can make us further appreciate the life we have.

Tyler is far from enviable, his position in life leading him to steal from others homes, causing upset to those families. But I found myself not just liking him, but rooting for him entirely. Tyler is who he is as a result of his own position and situation within society.

From the very start it is clear to see that he loves his young sister very much, and is trying to do anything he can to keep her safe, to give her some measure of happiness. He does the things he does because he can’t find another way, but when there appears to be another way he takes it.

The book is a gloriously honest look at how imperfect life is, how imperfect the world we live in. It’s a heart wrenching story that will stay with me for a long time and I don’t doubt other readers will feel the same. The writing style is gripping, with an easy flow that makes you fly through the story even as the emotions aren’t always comfortable.

This was my first time reading a book from Doug, but certainly won’t be the last.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up till 2am to get this finished. Loved every minute of reading it.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breakers – Not the picturesque side of Edinburgh

When people talk about Edinburgh they talk of the Royal Mile, the castle, Arthurs seat and the fringe every August. With all that beauty around, people tend to forget the other side, the forgotten, and the sink estates. Doug Johnson brings to life the forgotten and never mentioned side of Edinburgh, where life is hard, and it is dog eat dog.

Tyler has enough on his plate, seventeen, still at school, caring for his younger sister and his drink and drug ravaged mother. His elder brother Barry, and sister Kelly have bullied him and coerced him into robbing the houses of those richer than themselves. He could not say no to Barry, as he was handy with his fists, both he and Kelly carried the marks to prove it.

One night, both Barry and Kelly are high on cocaine, and it shows, when they pick a rather nice house, no alarm, no lights on and more importantly, detached. Things do not go well on the job, when Barry stabs the homeowner when she returns home. Out of guilt Tyler calls an ambulance for her, and this plays on his mind. What he did not realise that this job will turn into a living nightmare, Barry has stabbed the wife of Deke Holt the biggest crime lord in Edinburgh.

When Tyler hears who it is Barry stabbed, he bunks school and goes for a wander round the posher parts of Edinburgh, when after breaking into a house he meets Flick. Flick is the opposite of Tyler, private school, someone he finds it easy to talk too. Will she be his salvation, or will his family drag Flick down with the rest of them?

Doug Johnson delivers a beautiful, horrifying and off the scale thriller. There is no dragging the story out, over 200 pages, he delivers an engrossing thriller, which some cannot do at 400 pages.

Johnson reveals how some of the poorest live, and it is not a pretty sight, these the forgotten are trying the best they can. Unfortunately think that crime is the only way, along with the drugs to try and forget where you live and what your real situation is. At the same time the story is intense, while pulsating proving why he is not only one of Scotland’s but the UK’s top thriller writers.

Once you start Breakers you will want to finish in one sitting, and hope, that there is a better outcome for Tyler and Bean, but the only way to find out is to read their story.

[Andy Weston · Rating 2 out of 5]

How on earth did I get through this?
And why did I ever even start it?
8 years ago I read Smokeheads , attracted by its Hebridean island setting and whisky theme.. Just looked back at my review and I was disappointed, just 3 stars.
Could be it was the tag of ‘Edinburgh noir’ that enabled it to get onto my tbr list, but it’s about as far from noir as you can get. It has very few redeeming features, perhaps just that it isn’t badly written, and may well find its audience somewhere. For me it was far too predictable, and avoided the grubby situations that belong to the genre it was billed in, including the language, instead an emphasis on puppies, soft toys and jammies. And, was far too predictable.

[Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breakers by Doug Johnstone is set in Edinburgh, one of my favourite cities, but the Edinburgh in this book is not the Edinburgh I know and love. In this novel, Edinburgh is a dark and dangerous place with drug addicts, burglary, poverty and aggression. Our protagonist is Tyler, a young man for whom life is tough. He lives on the top floor of a block of flats with his mother and younger sister, Bethany, who he calls Bean. His step-siblings Barry and Kelly live in the flat opposite and have done ever since Barry forced a Syrian family to flee after terrorising them and scaring them witless.

Barry is, to not put too fine a point on it, evil. He is one of those men you’d cross the street to avoid and try very hard not to inadvertently get eye contact with. It is he who rules the family and it is he who makes Kelly and Tyler break into houses with him. They drive around Edinburgh looking for houses which don’t have CCTV, have secluded drives, homes which look empty and force entry into them, stealing everything they can carry. One night when in the midst of ransacking a house something goes wrong, and they realise they have messed up. Big time.

Tyler is dragged into this life of crime, it isn’t something he wants to do but you cannot say no to Barry. To counteract the darkness of his life Tyler occasionally breaks into houses by himself just to have some time alone. These houses represent what he sees as normal family life, loving parents, well-cared for children and food in the fridge. These excursions are a holiday from his normal life and whilst he is in a house he shouldn’t be in, somebody else breaks in, a young woman named Flick.

Tyler and Flick are seemingly opposite, she is very wealthy, attends a private boarding school, has a family home worth millions and drives her own car, whilst he lives in a council flat with sparse furniture and attends school when he can be bothered. It would be easy to portray Flick as an atypical rich girl for whom life is easy, but Doug Johnstone doesn’t do this. As the book progresses it becomes clear that your background defines you in a myriad of ways and, rather then her wealth and good fortune making life easy for her, she is just as metaphorically chained as Tyler is – the only difference is what the chains are.

For Tyler it is his family, a mother who is a drug addict, step-siblings who are both terrifying and brow-beaten and a younger sister who depends upon him more than she realises. Whilst it is easy to see Tyler’s sadness in his demeanour, Flick’s is buried beneath the surface. It is only as time goes on that we realise that she is very lonely and isolated and it is her money and circumstances that, rather than giving her opportunities, are making her life small.

Yes, this is a crime novel, but it is also an astute and timely exploration of society, class and deprivation. It is beautifully and sensitively written and the characterisation, especially of Tyler is great. He is one of those characters who worm their way deep into your heart and is a prime example of good people doing bad things. His motivations for the bad things are born of fear but also everything he does is for his younger sister, Bean. This relationship is the centre of Tyler’s world with the love he feels for her being the purest and simplest thing and something he will do anything to protect.

I really loved this book and found it quite heart-breaking. Reading about a young man who is furiously trying to make his life better against the circumstances he finds himself in was very affecting. Tyler is fictitious but I know that there are many kids just like him, stuck in sad and desperate situations and for whom life is a daily struggle. Books like this bring issues like these to the fore making this a crime book which will stay with me for quite sometime.

[Book-Social · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been wanting to read Fault Lines by Johnstone, about a volcano in Edinburgh for ages, but it’s a book that somehow keeps evading me. So when I was given the chance to read Johnstone’s newest book, Breakers, I jumped at it. Damn you Fault Lines, I will have a Johnstone reading credit to my name!

“A toxic family … a fight for survival…
Seventeen-year-old Tyler lives in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived areas. Coerced into robbing rich people’s homes by his bullying older siblings, he’s also trying to care for his little sister and his drug-addict mum.

On a job, his brother Barry stabs a homeowner and leaves her for dead, but that’s just the beginning of their nightmare, because the woman is the wife of Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord, Deke Holt.

With the police and the Holts closing in, and his shattered family in devastating danger, Tyler meets posh girl Flick in another stranger’s house, and he thinks she may just be his salvation … unless he drags her down too.”

Whilst Breakers didn’t take long to read, it packed a mighty punch. Johnstone certainly doesn’t hold back when describing life for Tyler, a boy from a bad family trying to keep everything together. He was living in a grotty high rise flat, in amongst a sordid, f*@ked up family who force him into breaking into houses to steal goods for drug money. The sad thing is, Tyler’s life is all too believable. I bet there are a few teachers who recognise Tyler’s sister Bean. A few police officers who know a Holt family, and more than a few social workers familiar with Tyler’s mother. Johnstone perfectly illustrated how the rich and the poor make uncomfortable neighbours and delivered a powerful insight into life today for those living in certain postcodes.

I approached this book thinking it was a Young Adult. I think I was wrong. Sure, Tyler is a teenager and there is no sex, but there is just about everything else: swearing, addiction, violence. I certainly wouldn’t want a young teen choosing this as their bedtime reading. Yet older teens would probably appreciate Tyler’s youth and relate to his earbuds. If not his musical choices. So parents proceed with caution.

My favourite part of the book was Tyler’s relationship with Flick. I thought it genius for Johnstone to focus on the hand holding and the heart beating as opposed to them jumping in to bed. In a world of grime, drugs and murder, the contrast in the simplistic beauty of their relationship was strong. It would have been so easy for the reader to hate ‘posh’ Flick. Yet Johnstone made her likeable, relate-able and I’m so pleased he pushed back on the bitchy, boarding school girl stereotype.

My thanks go to Orenda Books alongside Anne Cater for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Breakers (published THIS month people!) was brutal, powerful and strong and I’m so pleased I’ve read it. Now to hunt down Fault Lines….

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler is seventeen years old, but seems to have the whole world on his shoulders. His mother is an addict. His older half-brother and sister dragged him to a world of crime. And he needs to keep this balanced to protect his younger sister, Bean. But things are about to take a very dangerous turn, when Tyler, Barry and Kelly break into a house and, caught in the act, Barry ends up stabbing a woman. Worse, the victim is married to Deke Holt, the region’s biggest crime lord. She survived, but there will be a price to pay for the attack. And suddenly, Tyler finds himself trapped between the violence of his own home and the shadow that hangs over his head. He never needed help more than he needs now. But can he get it, if it means dragging someone else to his darkness?
Of the many impressive things contained in this book, the most memorable of all is this: how easy it is to feel and to care for a character that is, after all, leading a less than respectable life. Tyler may be more victim than culprit, but he is robbing houses when the story begins. So it is quite impressively how easily the author makes us care and root for him, mostly because of his circumstances, but also because of how brilliantly this character is built.
Tyler has a special kind of strength, the one that makes him most vulnerable, and this is absolutely clear since the very start. He’s not physically strong, he is beaten multiple times, mostly by his brother and he isn’t exactly the type of character to win physical fights. But he has many other things: a heart in the right place, a protective instinct that makes him act and plan and do things even when the consequences might be terrible and a huge and remarkable conscience. That a character like this can exist in a scenario like the one he grew up in is a miracle in itself and this is what makes his story so delightful to follow.
The truth is that, more than a tale of crime and a somehow unexpected path of punishment, this is a tale of vulnerability. Tyler’s, most of all, yes, but also the global vulnerability of living in a world where the concept of fairness is a long gone fairy tale. From Tyler’s dysfunctional family to the escalating war against the Holts, there is in everything a hard lesson to learn. And the ending… the ending is such a delicate balance of frailty and strength, of darkness and hope, of… life and death, that it is impossible not to keep Tyler and his hard redeeming path in one’s mind well after finishing this book.
Beautifully written, emotionally devastating and with a brilliant cast of characters on a path as difficult as exhilarating, this is the kind of book that stays in our hearts for a very long time. A glorious reminder that protecting our own might sometimes mean being vulnerable and exposed. And a beautiful read, of course.


* I received this book from Orenda Books in exchange for an honest review

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as I am concerned this is Johnstone's best book yet. Absolutely, without a doubt, hits the nail on the head, and he has just uncovered his own literary deposit of gold.

This story takes place predominantly in one of the most deprived areas of Edinburgh. Seventeen-year-old Tyler is forced to take part in break-ins and robberies with his two half-siblings. His brother Barry is violent, abusive and high the majority of the time. The only reason Tyler participates is because he will do anything to keep his younger sister Bean safe, and out of the the grasp of social services.

There is no support coming his way, as he navigates being both mother and father to Bean. Taking her to school, feeding and dressing her, and making sure she sleeps at night. His, their mother, the drug and alcohol addict can't even take care of herself let alone any of her children.

This story follows Tyler after a simple enter-grab-scarper turns into a deadly nightmare, when they pick the wrong house and people to steal from. Barry goes too far and Tyler finds himself stuck in a nightmare in the midst of his own personal daily one.

I came away from this read thinking about the overall feel of it and a possible comparison to be able to describe it to other readers. I'm not sure these pop culture references will make sense to non-Brits, but perhaps a few will get where I am going with this.

There are Brit films that achieve a certain status of fame, because they hit and portray the reality of life in such an authentic way that the audience connects and never forgets, hence achieving cult status at some point. Think Trainspotting, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and even Rita, Sue and Bob Too.

Each of those capture a certain element of life on the front-line of economic depravity and or the criminal Brit gangster world, which Johnstone brings together in this story in a perfect collusion of truth meets fiction.

It's urban crime with a strong message about socio-economic deprivation and its impact on our young people and children. It's a captivating fast-paced thriller, urban crime that has the brusque authentic feel of life and not of fiction.
*I received a courtesy copy*

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading: May 18th 2019

"Everything with her was a performance, layered in irony, wrapped up in too much self-awareness. It was sweet but fucked up, tiring to go along with, like he was supposed to dig around for the real her."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Anne Cater and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



I knew I had to read Breakers as soon as I first read the blurb. The Edinburgh setting, the devastating home situation of the main character, the mention of a crime lord involved... Oh yes, there were a lot of signs this was going to be an explosive and emotionally harrowing read. My instincts were right, because it turned out to be an absolute scorcher! In fact, the second thriller in a row to make me forget about everything else and finish the whole book in one sitting.

There is a lot to love in Breakers. The first thing that stands out is the writing style: the story is well written, engaging and the descriptions are done exceptionally well. The real power behind Breakers are the main characters though. Both flawed and realistic, Tyler, Flick and little Bean will win over your heart and you will ache for them as things are spinning out of control. Tyler has a very difficult life at home with his drug-addict mother and his violent older brother, but somehow he still manages to grow up pretty decent and protect his little sister Bean. His story is heartbreaking and Tyler's relationship with his little sister earned a lot of brownie points! It's obvious he doesn't have an easy life, and it's interesting to see his situation being contrasted to Flick's life. It shows that having money doesn't necessarily mean a happy life, but it does make things easier... It also shows that in the end they are not as different as Tyler thinks. Barry is a real pain and very easy to dislike, but his character is ment this way and helps show a contrast with his younger brother and that a difficult home situation doesn't mean all kids turn out the same.

Another thing I could really appreciate was the crime lord element; it definitely spiced up the plot! At first we get a dose of minor crime as Barry, Kelly and Tyler rob houses, but then things take a turn for the worse as Barry knifes the wife of local crime lord Deke Holt. Things spin out of control quickly then and it shows in Barry's character as well as he becomes even more unstable and violent. The situation of Tyler's mother is tragic and shows us the effects of drug and alcohol addiction; children left fending for themselves as parents are no longer able to take care of them. Little Bean brings something sweet and innocent to the plot though. Her relationship with Tyler and innocent look on life are used as another contrast between 'good and bad'.

Both character description and development are simply sublime in Breakers. It was fascinating to see how the different characters reacted to the situations that arised! This story was brutal and emotionally draining, but highly satisfying as a whole. Trigger warnings are in place for violence, abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction... Each of these elements is well incorporated into the plot and used to realistically display how tragic the home situation of Tyler and his little sister basically is. It is all a vicious circle almost impossible to escape... As you might have guessed already, Breakers is an absolutely fantastic and brutal story that fans of the genre will most likely devour in one sitting. I know I did!

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating - 4.5*

A toxic family
A fight for survival

Breakers is the latest novel from author, journalist and musician, Doug Johnstone. Published on 16th May with Orenda Books, it is described as ‘a breathtakingly brutal, beautiful, and deeply moving story of a good kid in the wrong family’ I have never read any previous work by Doug Johnstone but when Ian Rankin says ‘Breakers may be Doug Johnstone’s best book yet…an unsparing yet sympathetic depiction of Edinburgh’s ignored underclass’….well you just have to listen don’t you!!

This book is a quite a special little find. Admittedly not one I would immediately have picked up in the shop but look closer folks because that cover is portraying so much. Tyler is seventeen years of age. His family is completely dysfunctional, in every way possible, with a drug-addicted mother unable to function, unable to focus. His older siblings live a very broken life style, robbing from the wealthy to feed their habits and dragging Tyler along for the ride. Tyler’s little baby sister, affectionately known as Bean, is the one staple in Tyler’s life, the one bit of innocence and light in his very dark world.

Tyler’s brother Barry is a loose cannon, a cruel and nasty individual with no remorse and no sense of right and wrong. The night it all goes wrong changes the lives of Tyler and his family forever. On a job, Barry insists they break in to a particular house, not alarmed, easy pickings. But an unexpected arrival of the woman of the house sets off a panicked frenzy with Barry stabbing this lady, the wife of one of Edinburgh’s most renowned crime gang, the Holts.

Tyler’s world comes crashing down. Unable to get the dying expression of Monica Holt out of his mind, Tyler is distracted and frightened. The Holts will seek revenge and Tyler knows that someone in their community will spill the beans. As Barry’s addiction spirals out of control, his attitude becomes more reckless , more careless, more daring. Tyler looks for a sanctuary, a place to hide away from his troubles for a while and it is there that he meets Flick, a rich girl boarding at the local private, and very expensive, school. Their relationship blossoms and troubles are shared but Tyler is in so deep, can he survive? Can Flick save him from a life of violence and crime?

Breakers is a heartbreaking read in so many ways. There is Tyler, a young man, with the world at his feet but no opportunities available to him. Surrounded all his life by destructive personalities, Tyler will need to dig deep to come through this particularly harrowing time of his life. There is a cinematic quality to this novel, with the sights and sounds of this dark side of Edinburgh so incredibly portrayed. Doug Johnstone has written a compelling and troubling novel, with some very touching scenes, very poignant and upsetting, yet filled with a strange and almost poetic beauty.

Breakers is a shocking yet very thought-provoking read. Tyler is such a lovable, warm character who got dealt a very rough hand. His life, unfortunately, is not unique and Doug Johnstone doesn’t spare in his harrowing descriptions of life in this particularly underprivileged Edinburgh suburb. A very emotional read, Breakers is one that will stay with me for quite some time, a book I would encourage all, including young adults (15+), to pick up and read. It’s insightful, stirring, tragic and yet hopeful…..

[Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breakers takes its reader to a particularly undesirable area of Edinburgh where Tyler lives with his drug addict of a mother and therefore bringing up his younger sister single-handed. Tyler’s older siblings have taken up residence next door; Barry is a nasty piece of work who is a bully, controlling and most definitely getting Tyler travelling down the wrong path – Kelly isn’t much better but is easily led by Barry.

Barry has Tyler involved in robbing rich houses and one night the burglary really doesn’t go to plan – what they don’t realise is that the house that they have targeted is that of Deke Holt, Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord. When Barry stabs Deke’s wife and leaves her for dead, their problems only just begin.

However, whilst everything seems to be crashing down around them, Tyler meets Flick who’s background is very different to his own, but they gel immediately. Flick attends a private boarding school but has issues of her own that she is dealing with so in that respect, they are not so different.

Tyler is an amazing protagonist, Doug Johnstone has created a character that you immediately care for. Tyler is a victim of his circumstance, generally a gentle soul who wants nothing more than to have a normal family but in the absence of that, his one and only priority is the care of his little sister. In pursuit of ensuring that she has a relatively good upbringing and the coercion from Barry, he has got himself involved in criminal activity – but to be fair, Barry isn’t someone you say no to. Barry is an absolutely vile character (kudos to the author for creating a character that I truly hated with all my being!!) who didn’t care who he hurt, he even enjoyed being intimidating to his little sister.

Breakers is an addictive and dark read so I was pleased I had about 4 hours of train journeys to devour it! What is both gripping and absolutely chilling is that this is a portrayal of true life for some. Sadly kids like Tyler are caught up in things they really shouldn’t be exposed to, all to literally make ends meet. Throughout the whole book my heart was in my throat, worrying about Tyler’s safety and the knock-on effect that Bean, his little sister, would experience if anything happens to him.

Breakers is a hard-hitting and gripping novel which I couldn’t put down – the author’s flawless writing transports his reader to both the deprived and rich areas of Edinburgh (which in this instance are only about 20 minutes from each other), demonstrating what individuals will do when pushed to their limits. A great cast of characters that were well-developed, each contributing in different ways to the fantastic overall storyline.

Highly recommended – all the stars!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often I read a book where I am reluctant to put it down. Where I need to know what the characters would be facing next. Breakers was one of those books. I needed to know that Tyler, aged seventeen, responsible for his younger sister, Bean, would stay safe.

He isn’t entirely innocent, the danger he is in is because he was breaking the law. But when you start to see how how relationship with his elder siblings Barry and Kelly and the terrible situation his mother was in you know he had little choice.

Each of the siblings had an affect on me. Tyler is still at school, is trying his best to be there for Bean, clean up after his drug addict and alcoholic mother and avoid the local police officer who tries to help, of only he could see it. If it was possible to help a character in a book I would do. Kelly, out of her depth, with a misguided loyalty, probably governed by fear. Barry, a vicious bully, coke head, and capable of anything. Barry was a character who I feared more than many others I have ‘met’ in fiction. And Bean, adorable, outspoken, wise beyond her years.

But Tyler isn’t the only one whose family life is tough. Flick, wealthy, privileged, but whose family are not as perfect as you’d expect them to be. Pearce, the police officer who tried to be a friend because she knew how difficult it was. And who proved that life could be turned around.

The relationship between Tyler and Bean was something special. Warmth, love and devotion in an impossible situation. Their scenes together, even the bedtime stories were special. Even more so when you could see their relationship with Barry.

It is a believable read. I imagine there are families like Tyler’s everywhere.