Thank you NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for the eARC.
Allan Linton, former crime journalist, now a Private Detective in Dundee, Scotland, is visited by an Englishman from London who hires him to find a young woman who originally came from Dundee. With just a picture and a name, Allan and his associate are facing an impossible task. But with the help of some of Allan's good friends the case slowly progresses and they manage to find the woman, with some surprising and dangerous twists.
I like Allen a lot, he's not a tortured soul drinking or drugging his way through life, as seems to be the way with quite a few of the modern detectives. He's friends with his ex-wife, adores his teenage daughter, and is happy with his friends and associate. He's also a decent human being who loves
old rock, a good pint and may have a new romance come into his life. This seems like the start of a promising new series in a fascinating city I would love to visit some day. I also liked that we get a lot of Allen's backstory and interesting facts about the city of Dundee. A very enjoyable read, I recommend it strongly.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Black and White Publishing for an advance copy of Vermin, the first novel to feature Dundee based PI Allan Linton.

Being Scottish I have to confess I love this type of book. First in what will hopefully be a series of stories featuring Allan Linton. Good background to main character by the author making me think that this is not planned on being a one of publication. Particularly interesting as I knew a number of the parts of Dundee in the story.

No hesitation in recommending and look forward to next installment.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Black and White Publishing and the author William A Graham for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Vermin in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and fast paced. The characters were engaging and realistic.
Definitely well worth a read

An excellent nove. Thoroughly enjoyed it. From the advertising blurb, it wasn’t what I expected. More light hearted in tone, although it was a good mystery. I hope the writer writes more about Allan Linton and his escapades
W

This book is different to the ones I usually read but however a change in genre is worth it.
I loved this book. Gripped me from the start which is usually a good sign. So yes will totally recommend this book to my fellow reader.s

Try it you will be surprised. Amazing

Meet Allan Linton, accidental Private Investigator and his Associate Niddrie. When a well dressed man walks into the office of Allan Linton & Associates, he hands over a picture of a young girl dressed in a school uniform. The man offers a fee that Allan just can't justify turning down.

But the new client isn't who he says he is ... and the girl he's looking for isn't who he says she is. Quite a conundrum for Allan and Niddrie.

It becomes even more interesting when a dead body turns up.

This is the beginning of what looks like an entertaining series. I love the humorous relationship between the two men. Allan loves music from the 60s ... there are numerous singers and bands mentioned.. as his father was a member of a band in that era.

I like how there are stories .. usually told by Allan ... about his background... how he got to where he is and where he found Niddrie. There's also an ex-wife and a teenage daughter that keep him well balanced... and maybe even a new romance in the future.

Being a new author to me, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What I got was a book full of personality. I'm keeping fingers crossed we see more of the 'detective with a difference' in the near future.

Many thanks to the author / Black & White Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of VERMIN. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
This new addition to Scottish noir is a very engaging read. Allan Linton used to be a journalist on the only major paper in Dundee, but after a dispute with the owners he is now a private detective with a lot of time on his hands. When an expensively dressed, well-spoken Englishman walks into his office and asks him to find a young woman named Tina Lamont who may have once lived in Dundee, he is initially reluctant, but needs the cash being offered. The problem is that Lamont is probably not her real name and the only clue he has is a photo of a girl wearing a school uniform. Things spiral out of control when a body turns up and Linton and his motley crew of helpers find themselves battling with some serious London criminals.
Graham writes very well and the story flows along at a good pace, although not a lot happens. Linton’s reflections, musical tastes and personal life are interesting, and Graham gives you a good sense of life in Dundee. Flashbacks take up a lot of the book, as Graham sets up Linton’s backstory and his various relationships. There is a flash of action at the end, and a neat tie-in to the book's Prologue, but the book does not extrude suspense. Overall, I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading more about Linton, but hopefully with a more substantial crime story next time.

Graham is a writer to watch in Scottish crime fiction. He has written a taut thriller that is engrossing!!

Good crime novels have a pace and beat to the writing that carries the reader through the story. “Vermin” has this pace, but the story and the characters do not quite work.

Allan Linton is a detective in Dundee, Scotland who is hired to look for a missing girl. Linton mostly works alone but occasionally is assisted by an enigmatic man, named Liddrie. Hmm, where have we met such characters in other works? Do they sound a lot like Spenser and his friend Hawk from the Robert B. Parker novels? It sure seems like they were. And, Graham even includes a reference to the pair.

The Linton character is often snide and sarcastic which makes him seem not serious. Yet, the end of the book, in direct contrast, is rather grim and therefore seems unbelievable.

Graham makes the Dundee setting vivid, which along with the quality of the writing pulls the book from two stars to three.

I read the synopsis for ‘Vermin’ and I was immediately intrigued. It sounded just my kind of read. I was not to be disappointed as I absolutely loved it but more about that in a bit.
I couldn’t help but take to Allan Linton, who is the main character in this book. He is a former crime reporter on his local newspaper, who has put his investigative skills to other uses and he is now a private investigator. His main case is to find a missing girl called Tina Lamont. Only it’s not a straightforward case is it? Linton only has a photograph of her to work with. He isn’t sure that Tina Linton is her proper name nor is he sure that she hails from Dundee. Added to this is the fact that Linton is not the only person who is looking for her. The case becomes dangerous when it emerges that a crime family from London are also after her- but why? Linton has other matters on his mind too. He has to deal with his ex-wife and his daughter is the subject of unwarranted sexual advances from the captain of the rugby team. You could certainly say that Linton has a hell of a lot on his plate. Will Linton find ‘Tina Lamont’? Will Linton survive to the end of the book? Is his daughter safe? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out because I am not going to tell you.
Well it’s definitely true that the story starts in a way that certainly grabs your attention and ensures that you will remember the book for a long while to come. Or at least that’s what I found. There’s a prologue featuring an MP with a flatulence problem. I found myself addicted to reading the book from that moment forward. The more I read, the more I got into the story and the quicker the pages turned. In fact it was almost as if the pages were turning themselves and before I knew what was happening I had finished the book, which I was disappointed about. I just wanted the book to continue because I was enjoying it so much. I binge read the book over the course of one day. The book isn’t particularly long but that doesn’t affect the story, which is neatly complete. The story is relatively fast paced and the pace is maintained throughout..
The book is extremely well written. The story is told in two different ways. The story takes part in the present day but certain chapters as well as telling the present day story, do refer to events that happened in the past and help to explain what happened to get to that point and to explain whey certain characters behave in the way that they do. This way of telling the story works really well and the story flows seamlessly.
‘Vermin’ is the sort of book that I needed to pick up today. I was in need of a distraction for various reasons and this book was certainly a distraction. There was a strong main plot with a couple of subplots, there were fabulous and believable characters, there was drama, there was action, there was crime and what I especially loved was the fact that there is a strong vein of humour running throughout the book. I know that might not sound right to some people, given that it is a crime book and it’s supposed to be serious but there were certain moments that intentionally made me laugh out loud. I suppose it’s what you might call a type of ‘Gallows Humour’.
In short I really, really, really enjoyed reading ‘Vermin’ and I sincerely hope that we see more of Allan Linton in future books. I would definitely recommend this author and his book to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Hmmm... I enjoyed this book, although unlike many, I generally prefer novels that take place in the U.S., NOT because of superior writing, but because my empathy suffers when I am unfamiliar with the locale, slang, and police procedures. Still, the suspense was palpable and the characters believable. Recommended read.

This book is a really good read. Set in atmospheric Dundee this is a fast paced read with a lot of action and detail thrown in. Allan is a private investigator and he is asked to find Tina Lamont. This is not a straightforward case. I liked the characters in this book and their back stories. They all felt believable. I would definitely recommend this book and I hope there are more in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Vermin
By William A. Graham

Here is a very different private detective story – enjoyably so!

William Graham has written an engaging and easy to read mystery story.

As a reader we are not overloaded with characters, which allows Graham to develop some depth into the characters, showing a human story to them with short backfilling history asides.

The Plot centres around private detective Allan Linton, who generally makes up the rules as he progresses. This time he is hired to track down a missing girl. But there is more to the story that it seems.

All he's got to go on is an old photo and the help – and hindrance – of the city's biggest drug dealer and his eccentric associate Niddrie.

An enjoyable story that leaves you wanting more.

#Vermin #NetGalley
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Allan Linton was a journalist but by pure chance he is now a private investigator. He works with a guy named Niddrie who he met on a bus one day. The camaraderie and rapport between these two is very entertaining. You can't help liking them and routing for them.
A man called Carter gives them an old photograph and asked to track this girl down. Calling in favours he finally tracks the girl down, unfortunately his troubles have only just begun. They have visitors from London who are also looking for the girl. Carter's body turns up and things go downhill from then.
It is up to Allan with the help of his part time side kick Niddrieand a little help from old clients they need to save the girl and protect his family.
If you Stuart McBride you will like this book. A good crime thriller.
I would like to thank the author William A. Graham, Black& WHITE Publishing and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Black and White Publishing for an advance copy of Vermin, the first novel to feature Dundee based PI Allan Linton.

When Mr Carter offers Allan Linton a substantial amount and even more on completion to find a young woman called Tina Lamont who hails from Dundee but has disappeared he takes the job despite the only clue being a photograph of her in school uniform. Enlisting the help of his associate, Niddrie, he sets to work but it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I thoroughly enjoyed Vermin which has a good plot, some unexpected twists and a healthy slug of humour. It made me laugh and held my attention throughout so I read it in one sitting, loathe to put it down. The novel is narrated in the first person by Allan Linton so the reader gets a birds eye view of the case, his history and his take on life and as he has a mostly upbeat approach it is very entertaining.

Allan is a lovely man (for a former journalist) being honourable, honest and self deprecating. He has plenty of friends and the invaluable skill of taking them at face value so, for example, he doesn't know Niddrie's other name or where he lives. This and the wisecracking may make him seem inept but he's smart enough to solve his cases and maintain client confidentiality. His take on life is a joy to read and the story of his failed marriage had me in stitches.

The plot is well done with Allan doing his gumshoe impression with not much result but it soon takes a more serious turn when there is a murder, the first of many twists. He soon finds himself out of his depth but, ever resourceful, he finds solutions. It's not all go from start to finish but Allan's voice keeps it interesting.

Vermin is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.