'Brilliant debut. The Darker the Night pulled me in from the start and didn't let go' - Jeremy Bowen, BBC International Editor

NPR's Book of the Day

A referendum on Scottish independence is only days away, and the campaign has been expertly orchestrated by First Minister Susan Ward. All signs point to victory for the nationalists. But when senior civil servant John Millar is shot in a Glasgow alley on a furiously rain-soaked night, his death triggers a chain of catastrophic events. An incriminating phone number and video are found in his possession.

Into this chaos walks reporter Fulton Mackenzie. A man himself blighted by tragedy but also someone used to seeing beneath the surface to find the truth. Who was John Millar? Who wanted him dead? And why? And the biggest question of all - who is trying to alter the future path of an entire nation?

About the Author

Martin Patience was a BBC foreign correspondent for more than fifteen years with postings in Jerusalem, Kabul, Beijing, Lagos and Beirut. He covered wars and insurgencies in many countries as well as producing award-winning investigations into issues such as babies being sold online in China. He studied history at Glasgow University while working at several Scottish newspapers and, later, journalism at Columbia University in New York City. Martin currently lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and son. He is a senior producer at NPR on the Weekend Edition Show. The Darker the Night is his first book.

Reviews

'Patience writes with a newsman's sharp eye ... an impressive mix of backstreet noir and high Scottish politics'

* Financial Times *

'Punchy, political and bursting with clever plot twists, this page-turner kept me on my toes from start to finish'

-- Hollie Bruce * Dundee Courier *

'A strong and confident debut novel unafraid of playing for high stakes'

-- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *

'Brilliant debut. The Darker the Night pulled me in from the start and didn't let go. The latest in a distinguished line of Scottish thriller writers, Martin Patience could do for his native Glasgow what Ian Rankin did for Edinburgh'

-- Jeremy Bowen, BBC International Editor

'The storytelling skills that made Martin a great BBC correspondent are brought to bear in the pages of this book'

-- Jon Sopel, journalist and presenter

'Time you gave Martin Patience a go! Fabulously intricate, up-until-the-wee-small hours compelling!'

-- Denzil Meyrick

'This is a gritty, no-nonsense thriller that will engage you, draw you in and keep you reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it'

-- Matt Johnson * LoveReading *

'The Darker the Night by Martin Patience is a fascinating combination of murder mystery and political thriller'

-- Ken Lussey * Undiscovered Scotland *

'I enjoyed Martin Patience's debut novel The Darker the Night so much I stayed up way past midnight last night to finish it. Gripping crime-thriller about a seismic murder on the eve of Scotland's independence referendum'

-- Rachel Savage * Reuters *

'Cracking read from Martin Patience, five stars!'

-- Mark Leggatt, author

'Patience - a BBC foreign correspondent for 15 years - manages to keep things rattling along with pleasing efficiency'

* The Scotsman *

'With a dark and gripping plot and characters so engaging that you wouldn't be surprised to bump into one in a Glasgow boozer, this is a thoroughly enjoyable crime thriller'

* Scottish Field *



Book Information
ISBN 9781846976339
Author Martin Patience
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
Publisher Birlinn General
Weight(grams) 192g