A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford #ABadBadPlace @franapunk999 @TransworldBooks #ScottishFiction

 

What happened to the dog walker who found the body?

Glasgow, 1979.

Twelve-year-old Janey won’t take her dog, Sid Vicious, for a walk. Not anymore. It’s Sid’s fault she found the murdered woman.

Janey claims she can’t remember what she saw at the abandoned railway, but the police think she’s hiding something. And they’re not the only ones interested.

Fear and rumour rip through the tight-knit community of Possilpark. Janey and her nana, Maggie, are dragged into the hunt for a murderer. And Maggie’s struggle to keep her beloved granddaughter safe becomes ever more desperate.

Because Janey’s memories can’t stay hidden forever.

And neither can the killer…

A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford was published on 12 February 2026 by Bantam Books. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review. 

Frances Crawford’s A Bad, Bad Place is a striking and memorable debut that lingers long after the final page. Set in Glasgow in 1979, it opens with a chilling premise: twelve-year-old Janey discovers a murdered woman while out walking her dog. From that moment, the story unfolds into a tense and compelling exploration of fear, memory and community, all set against the gritty backdrop of Possilpark.

Frances Crawford places her characters firmly at the heart of the narrative. The novel moves between the perspectives of Janey and her grandmother Maggie, giving readers two very different lenses through which to experience the unfolding events. Janey’s viewpoint is especially powerful; her confusion, fear and stubborn silence feel authentic, and the way her memories surface slowly adds a constant undercurrent of tension. In contrast, Maggie’s chapters bring warmth, resilience and a fierce determination to protect her granddaughter. Their relationship anchors the novel emotionally and gives the story real depth.

The supporting cast helps bring Possilpark to life, creating a vivid sense of a tight-knit community where rumours spread quickly and everyone seems to know everyone else’s business. Crawford captures that atmosphere beautifully; the suspicion, the whispers, the unease that settles in once violence enters a place that feels so familiar.

The story builds steadily rather than racing along, this allows the mystery to deepen. The focus isn’t simply on solving the crime but on the ripple effects it has within the community, particularly on a child who has seen something she cannot quite process. This slower burn approach works well, creating a sense of mounting dread as Janey’s hidden memories threaten to surface.

One of the most distinctive elements of the novel is Crawford’s use of Glaswegian dialect, I often struggle with this. It does take a little time to settle into, but once you do, it adds authenticity to the novel. The dialogue feels natural and makes the setting seem even more vivid.

A Bad, Bad Place is an atmospheric, character-driven crime novel that stands out for its voice, its sense of place, and its emotional core. A confident and impressive debut, recommended by me. 

As a passionate advocate of lifelong learning, Frances was delighted to graduate age 60 with MLitt (Distinction) Creative Writing from Glasgow University. 

In 2023, she won Bloody Scotland/ Glencairn Crime Short Story Competition and the first chapters of her debut novel, A Bad, Bad Place, won Highly Commended in Moniack Mohr Emerging Writer 2024.

Frances grew up in North Glasgow, and credits the people of Possilpark and Milton as her writing inspiration. 

She still lives in Glasgow with her family, and likes libraries and punk rock.

X @franapunk999