Tag: Graeme Cumming

Book Review: Graeme Cumming – @GraemeCumming63 Borderline #bookreview #thriller

Synopsis:

Winner of the Bronze Noose Award 2026

Gritty, sharp-witted, and packing a serious emotional punch!
Lauren North

‘Thirty years ago the dominant voice in PI fiction was Robert B. Parker. His ‘Spenser’ novels are probably the best thing since sliced Chandler. Ever since I first read a Spenser novel I’ve wondered about an English Spenser to no particular conclusion, but in Graeme Cumming’s ‘Rand’ Scott (yes, that really is his name) I think we have a contender. Rand is the Spenser mix of borderline criminal and white knight, the hard-case with a heart of gold. That said, Cumming doesn’t pretend to copy Parker’s style, his voice is his own, his dialogue crisp, his sense of place superb … and he doesn’t give a flying F about food (sorry, Robert B.)
John Lawton

What an incredible novel. Cumming’s strong and authentic writing explores the murkiest worlds of covert policing in the most gripping and compelling way. Exquisitely plotted and expertly told.
Graham Bartlett

As good a crime thriller as I’ve read in years.
Rudders Writing

I love how he writes about vulnerable people with such care and compassion, and this adds an extra layer of complexity to the characters in this novel as well as giving the reader some interesting things to think about
Portable Magic

A cracker of a thriller that has the perfect ingredients for a great read!! Gritty, dark and twists that are perfectly placed.
Sharon Beyond the Books

Funny, smart, and with plenty of twists and turns.
Rambling Mads

Borderline is a cracking crime thriller, it’s dark, there is violence, there is intrigue and I was hooked!!
A Knight’s Reads

When the system isn’t working, work outside the system.

A search for a missing man thrusts Rand Scott into the dark realms of homelessness, drug dealing and sex clubs.

Kirsty Moore wants to find her brother Johnny, a one-time rock star.

The police also want him – for murder.

And there are others looking who don’t play nicely.

A simple job turns deadly as Rand uncovers a world where money talks louder than the screams of innocent bystanders.

My Review:

I don’t often read thrillers but when I do I often enjoy them so thought I’d give Graeme Cumming’s book, Borderline, a go.

And I’m glad I did, I enjoyed.

My thoughts: A well crafted, and plotted book which is gritty and exciting, (especially the last third of the book, which really sizzles). Expect musical references and realistic social commentary and dialogue including some laugh out loud moments.

Liked: Characterisation, particularly the main character Rand, (Cowboy,) not a policeman, not a pushover either. Rand follows his own moral code. He investigates and tries to find a missing man, Johnny Moore, a former fairly well known rock star who’s fallen upon hard times, (expect references to crime, drug culture, social issues, and homelessness,) and his sister Kirsty’s wish to help her brother, Johnny, at all costs.

Setting: Seedy sex club culture, homeless refuge, unscrupulous criminal elements, vulnerable women. Storyline and setting/s worked well. 

A recommended read for thriller and other readers.

Well done to Graeme on his Bronze Noose award!

M.J. Mallon’s review of Borderline | Goodreads

Buy link:

Borderline eBook : Cumming, Graeme: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

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My Kyrosmagica Review of Ravens Gathering

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Goodreads Synopsis:

As she let her gaze drift around her, she saw that there were more birds. Perhaps a dozen or so, perched among the trees that stood on the edge of the clearing. And yet more were arriving, swooping down through the gap overhead and landing on branches that overlooked them. The birds weren’t threatening, yet the sight of them all coming together in this dark and isolated spot was unnerving. Tanya reached a hand out towards Martin, and was relieved to feel him take it. She felt him move in behind her. After the uncertainty she’d experienced with him in a similar position only a few moments ago, she recognised the irony of her reaction. His closeness offered security.

“You know what they are, don’t you?”

A stranger’s arrival in a small village coincides with a tragic accident. For the Gates family in particular it’s more than a coincidence, but their unease increases following a brutal attack. As tensions rise, a dark past returns to haunt them and others, while newcomers to the village are drawn into a mystery with terrifying consequences. And no one can explain why the ravens are gathering.

Ravens Gathering twists and turns as the truth is gradually exposed in a gripping thriller with a supernatural edge to it.

My review:

This is a very ambitious first novel, and on the whole Graeme Cumming does a fantastic job, creating a novel which is both highly imaginative, and unusual in many respects. The dialogue is believable, as is the detail in the various innocuous, homely settings: the pub, the farms, and this close knit English village.

Ravens Gathering does a shape shift through several different genres, embracing fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, police procedural, thriller, and horror.

The main character Martin Gates returns to this community, his home after a long time abroad. Martin’s reappearance is not welcomed with open arms by his family, in fact they appear to view his reappearance as something to avoid rather than embrace. To begin with Martin is a difficult character to engage with. His character is somewhat obtuse, but there are reasons for this, which become apparent as we read the book and realise why he is the way he is. We do get a sense of his outrage about being so unloved and uncared for by his family, and yet to begin with we have no idea why this the case. We can only speculate, but there’s no way that our speculations will be correct.

Equally, Tanya, and Ian aren’t particularly appealing either, and neither are Martin’s family. The further we get into the book it seems more and more likely that everyone in Ravens Gathering are flawed in some unique and individual way. The key words that initially come to mind are: selfish, shady, desperate for sexual diversions, or damaged in some way. 

The story unfolds slowly with a considerable amount of detail, making events more real. Shocking and disturbing revelations in the latter part of the novel don’t come as a complete surprise given the underlying sense of a community where something is terribly amiss. Nevertheless I had no idea of what was coming, and the shock factor of what did surprised, and appalled me in equal measure. This is a novel where you can’t help but go WTF!!!!!

The characters for the most part are not particularly lovable which initially distances the reader from them but that’s not meant as a criticism, in fact under the circumstances having read the story one realises why this is the case.

The bad guy is about as horrible, wicked, and debauched a villain as you can get.

This is a very complicated story that remains in your psyche for some time afterwards. It winds its way stretching the believability of the fantastical elements to the max, edging the story to its conclusion.

My recommendation: Definitely an author to watch out for, a well written, confident debut. Read if you like mysterious thrillers with a fantastical, but deeply shocking element.

DISCLAIMER: “As of 13th September 2017 we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”  

My opinions are my own and any reviews on this site have not been swayed or altered in any way by monetary compensation, or by the offer of a free book in in exchange for a review. 

Verified Purchase –  I own a copy. 

Buying Link: 

 

Do connect with Graeme via his link below:

Graeme Cumming’s website

Have you read Ravens Gathering? Do comment below.

Bye for now,

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx