Ghost Notes by Doug Johnstone #virtualbooktour #ghostnotes @writerdougj @orendabooks @randomthingstours #theskelfs #scottishcrimefiction

 

The Skelf women have been keeping their heads down, running the family’s funeral directors and private investigation businesses. But when a woman collapses at her husband’s funeral and is saved by Dorothy, she finds herself drawn into the murky world of ‘grief tech’ – a booming new industry that creates digital avatars of the dead.

Jenny’s latest case – a simple blackmail job for an old school friend – quickly spirals into chaos as the woman’s tangled love life pulls Jenny towards dangerous old habits. 

Meanwhile, Hannah and her wife, Indy, are confronted by the unexpected arrival of Indy’s ex-boyfriend, claiming to be dying and eager for the Skelfs to arrange his funeral. But his arrival uncovers more ghosts from the past, and threatens to upend everything they’ve built.

As their cases collide and their personal lives spiral, the Skelfs face danger from all sides. How far will they go to protect one another, and what will it cost to finally silence the ghosts? 

Warm, tense and full of heart, Ghost Notes is another masterful instalment in Doug Johnstone’s award-winning, addictive Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever…

Ghost Notes by Doug Johnstone is published today, 13 August 2026 by Orenda Books and is book seven in the Skelfs series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Virtual Book Tour 

I really enjoy crime fiction series, I'm a huge fan of fiction set in Scotland and Doug Johnstone is one of my all time favourite authors. Just the thought of a new Skelfs book is fabulous, but actually getting my hands on a copy and reading it is one of the best experiences ever. There are crime fiction series and then there's the Skelfs - with apologies to all of my other beloved series, but this one is my firm favourite. 

I remember clearly, reading the first chapter of the first Skelfs book; A Dark Matter, in 2019 and getting hooked. I am still a Skelfs addict, a Skelfaholic 

Once again, there are multiple turned down corners in my proof copy of Ghost Notes. This author can see right into the heart of me, as a reader. Some of his observations, especially from a woman's point of view are astonishingly sharp. Jenny's middle-age invisibility was one that really resonated with me, I really love the fact that his female characters are strong, forward thinking and empathic, but also with flaws and issues that shape them.

So, to the plot.  The opening scene is at a funeral, as it often is, and as is common with the Skelfs, an incident happens at that funeral that sparks off an investigation that plunges Dorothy into a whole new world.  There's a new industry - powered through AI - and providing digital avatars of dead people. This is supposed to be soothing, a way to deal with grief, but Dorothy discovers that, like most things, it's a murky, dark, dangerous place and needs to be stopped. 

Whilst Dorothy is dealing with tech giants and a grief stricken family, her daughter Jenny has taken on what seems to be a pretty simple case of blackmail. However, she too stumbles into something far bigger and before long there are dead bodies and also incredible temptation. 

And then there's Indy and the mysterious arrival of a blast from her past.  Her wife Hannah begins to wonder if she actually knows Indy at all, as more and more about her past is exposed.

This is not a long book, yet it contains so much. The author cleverly layers each plot by having each chapter narrated by one of the women. This works incredibly well, keeping the reader on their toes and maintaining interest in each strand of the novel. 

It's hard to find new words to describe this incredible series, after all, we are on book seven now so I've talked about it seven times.  It's fair to say that I have never ever been let down by this series and this author. His handling of modern day issues; the social injustices of the world, the realities of advanced technology,  and also the love and warmth of family is second to none. I adore this series and heartily recommend it. 

Doug Johnstone is the author of twenty novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while Black Hearts was shortlisted – and The Big Chill longlisted – for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year.

Three of his books – A Dark Matter, Breakers and The Jump – have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize. 

Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral home. He’s also been an arts journalist for 25 years. 

He is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. 

He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club and lives in Edinburgh

with his family.