Covering a number decades this book uses the suicide of Clio to jump around the decades through a number of political upheavals using people she knew in those times as the catalyst. It is interesting to see how the world operated before social media. It did however remind me a lot of Espedair Street by Iain Banks.

Kirsten Inness’ Scabby Queen is a multilayered portrait of a fascinating woman who is infuriating and inspiring in turn; at times brutally insensitive, at times sweet, funny and compassionate. We meet Clio in death - just before her fifty first birthday, she has taken her life at her friend’s house. We are then shown Clio through the eyes of friends, lovers, political enemies and family. It’s a clever way of illuminating this contradictory character. Just when you’ve decided she’s unbearable, you are given a different perspective or an insight into why Clio is the way she is. Clio’s life takes I in the miner’s strike, Brexit, the G8 demos in Genoa, Scottish Independence. I called it a portrait, but that diminishes the strong narrative that drives this novel - not an easy feat with so many voices telling the story. It’s beautifully done.

Honestly, I felt that this book was too bleak. The prose was lovely, but it all just felt so heartless and miserable and depressing. I think this is partly my fault as a reader as I was expecting something more like Daisy Six, or Guitar Girl, and a bit more grrl power, but it was just more a sad story of someone's like falling apart slowly.

I’m sorry I hardly ever give up on a book but this one was not my cup of tea. I found the constant shifting of the various characters and timelines too confusing. I didn’t like any of the characters and therefore found it hard to invest in the book.

I’d been hearing about this book for absolutely months so I was thrilled when I was approved for the ARC.

Scabby Queen is the story of Clio Campbell, one-hit-wonder popstar and political activist, told through the eyes of people who knew her well, people who didn’t know her well, and “news articles” about her and her suicide.

I absolutely adored this book. I really took my time with it because I didn’t want it to be over. I think the style of narrative was absolutely perfect for telling this story. Who really knew Clio? Whose story about her do we trust and believe? Some characters we hear from a lot, such a Neil, a journalist who knew Clio, and Sammi, who looks back on her life as an activist with Clio. Others, like Adele, feature for only a chapter or so. They all add to the rich tapestry of this novel and of Clio’s story.

This novel is both political and beautifully written and I was so sad when it was over. I haven’t read Kirstin Innes’ precious novel but after this I will definitely be adding it to my to-read list!

A proportion of the book takes place in the U.K. over the last few years of political upheaval which made it feel very relevant and timely. I loved the use of real-life events to tell Clio’s story.

What a fantastic contemporary Scottish novel! Fair enough, you'll have to be prepared to be in it for the long haul, as this is not a short read. But what a story, and what a way to tell it! The choice of getting the reader to know Clio Campbell, the eponymous Scabby Queen, in all her glory and all of her worst moments, through the perspectives of the other characters is such a good shot. It makes for a complex though accessible narrative, the form reflecting brilliantly the content: nothing is as simple as it first may seem in this world. From the anti-poll tax protests to the Independence Referendum and Brexit, from Glasgow and London to the Western Isles, from the manipulation of facts by the media and the grimmest aspects of the music industry to a long tradition of British misogyny that is not easily shaken off, Kirstin Innes' new novel has it all covered. And the book is all the more convincing for its imperfect heroine, a Scabby Queen with a big heart and an insufferable character, driven as much by passion as by the hurt she's been put through. Hats off to Kirstin Innes for this gem, this joy of a political novel!

An enjoyable and different political novel. I found it very clever that when Clio dies in the first chapter, the recollections of her friends and acquaintances are used to help the reader understand her personality and also many recent political upheavals.
Thank you to netgalley and 4th estate for an advance copy of this book.

Since reading Innes' debut, Fishnet, a few years ago I've been eagerly awaiting more of her writing - and Scabby Queen did not disappoint!

One-time hit artist Clio(dhna) Campbell is found dead having taken her own life (not a spoiler, it's the very start of the book) and we, the readers, are brought on a journey through time and space (from 1974-2018, from the Scottish Highlands to a Greek island) uncovering the life of Clio Campbell.

We meet a multitude of characters, friends and associates from Clio's life, who not only allow us to piece together Clio's life, but also allow us into their stories too. At first I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to keep up, but I needn't have worried Innes executes this form of narrative with great care.

I like the way that newspapers articles, blog posts, etc were strewn in among the chapters, adding further perspectives on Clio's life.

Clio's 1990 Poll Tax protest hit, Rise Up, launched her fame, with activism, politics, and music the focusses of her life. I'm not sure there could be a better time for the release of this book, the political landscape we find ourselves in is perhaps even more worrisome that when Innes penned the novel. Clio gave me a wee fire in my belly, and I think we all need that right now!

On a personal note, I loved the inclusion of Gaelic in this novel, as well as the references to the traditional music scene. It might be a small thing but I think it shows a broader Scotland than just the Central Belt. The Robert Burns references made me realise how poor my burns knowledge is as a Scot!

This is a powerful, fiery novel that weaves issues of the past half century into a tale that I couldn't put down. I know I"m going to be thinking about Scabby Queen for quite some time.

Sorry this book was not my cup of tea. I was not expecting the strong views and I found it hard to keep reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I've said before that I've wanted to read more books about contemporary Scotland that aren't crime/romanticising the Highlands/unrelentingly gritty and dark. Well, in Scabby Queen by Kirsten Innes, I've found it!
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Her first book, Fishnet, was one that was always on a face-out in the Waterstones I used to work in, but I'd never read her writing until now. Scabby Queen focuses on Clio Campbell - from being a one-hit wonder in the 90s, to being a political activist, she is found dead in her friend's house a few days before her 51st birthday. Kirsten Innes shows Clio through the lens of her friends and acquaintances and various media clippings, presenting a multi-layered view of Clio's life, whilst still leaving plenty of gaps. This book does three things I always really like in books: highlights the vagaries of memory, chronicles events from different people's perspectives, and presents contemporary society in a very recognisable way. I can't speak for lots of the contexts of this book, but certainly I was really struck by the accuracy of loads of the parts that take place in Scotland, like the independence referendum. I wasn't particularly impressed by the writing itself - it was pretty standard and nothing really special - but where Scabby Queen really does shine is in the structure and the sheer breadth of the perspectives depicted in the book. There's a Greek yoga retreat and a 90s squat and a working-class Ayrshire mining village and a march against the Iraq war and so much more. By the end, it really does feel like Clio is a real person, who has lived a real life, and it's so refreshing to read a book mostly set in the country I grew up in that actually shows it for the complex place it is! Glasgow is also never once presented as grim, which is v rare in books (it's amazing, you should all visit). I feel like there's loads to say about Scabby Queen but anyway, I really liked this - 4 🌟

If this book has been written in chronological order it may have had a chance. Too many jumps from people to times that it was impossible to follow all the threads. You have a very angry one hit politically motivated singer and a bunch of people that she affects in her life. There are a lot of political rants and a lot of angst. A miss for me

I don't have much to say about this one; I thought it was fine. As a novel, Scabby Queen relies on its multiple--and many--perspectives to tell the story of Clio Campell, who we find out, in the first chapter of the book, has just committed suicide. But I don't know...I just didn't enjoy the constant shifting between the POVs so much. Some of them were one-offs and others were from recurring characters, but either way I grew weary. I also didn't particularly like the ending. I'm not very well-versed in activist issues, but something about the kind of activism that the end of the book puts forth didn't strike the right chord with me.

Not a bad book, by any means, but also not a great one.

Scabby Queen is utterly exquisite. It’s clever and poignant. It’s atmospheric and nostalgic. It’s political and punchy. The cast of characters is exceptional, with protagonist Clio Campbell shining through with her fiery personality, her extraordinary voice, her flaming red hair and slash of lipstick.

I loved the narrative structure of the book, how each section was told from the perspective of someone connected to Clio: from Neil to Donald, Ruth to Danny, Hamza to Sammi, as well as so many other fascinating and complex characters. Some loved and idolised her, others hated and envied her. Many felt these emotions all at once. Some knew her intimately and others judged her from afar. Some knew Clio her whole life, whereas others only met her briefly. Some characters feature several times throughout the novel, crossing paths with Clio at different stages of their lives, changing their opinions of her. Other characters only have one short section, one glimpse into her life. All these differing interpretations of Clio weave together to create a stunning character driven narrative. We learn about Clio through the perceptions of those around her. Assumptions are made about what she’s feeling and thinking, they misinterpret her expressions and actions, their opinions of her influence how they portray her. We don’t really get to view the world through Clio’s eyes, yet she is a vibrant, raw and three-dimensional character. She is uncompromising and passionate whist being riddled with insecurities. The complexity of her character is unveiled not through her dialogue, but through the subtleties of her expressions and the things she leaves unsaid. It’s a testament to Kirstin Innes’s writing that she can build such a vivid protagonist through the lens of other characters’ perceptions. Also integral to the structure of Scabby Queen is the way the text jumps backwards and forwards in time. We see Clio as a young woman navigating the music industry, and then suddenly we’re launched back into her childhood. One chapter might examine Clio in her forties, then the next takes us back to her teenage years. Through this non-chronological structure, layers of stories and experiences build to form Clio’s character. I loved that the details of her life unfolded in this way, as it made the narrative far richer and more complex. Sometimes Clio will be recounting a story that we later find out is false when we’re transported to that moment in her history and discover what really happened. Other times we struggle to empathise with her, then several chapters later we gain more of an insight into her past and so better understand her feelings and actions. People are shaped by their experiences: through the characters’ stories they paint the picture of Clio’s life, while demonstrating how they themselves have been shaped by her presence, her friendship, her love and ultimately her death.

I’ve tried my best, but no review I write will be able to do this outstanding novel justice. Scabby Queen has quickly become one of my favourite books and will stay with me for a long time.

Clio Campbell is a one hit wonder and political activist, who dies by suicide after turning 50. This is the story of her life, told through the eyes of those who knew, loved or hated her. It spans from her upbringing between two very different, separated parents in the midst of miners strikes and folk music in a Scotland stricken by Thatcherite politics, to her brief fame as a beautiful young pop star with an anti-poll tax rally cry, to her messy adult life struggling with the injustices of the world around her and the struggle to hold on to her music and sense of self. I adored the way pieces of her life slowly slotted together through the memories and experiences of those around her. At first the sheer number of characters and time periods were a mystery, but as it all came together I too loved and hated Clio for the impact she had on others, and the toll it took on herself. The cultural references and underlying story about a group of idealistic but often misguided squatters in London made this book so rich, and the story of Uncle/Godfather Donald really broke me. Clio is, ultimately, not a warm or likeable character, but when you understand what it was that drove her political rage and musical decisions, you can't help but feel some compassion for her. This book is a real gem.

Scabby Queen by Kirstin Innes is the story of child Folk prodigy, one hit wonder and activist Clio Campbell from birth to death and afterwards. Wherever Clio goes other people's lives are affected as she crashes through life driven by almost fanatical idealism and lack of compromise while underneath she is plagued by self-doubt and depression. Clio is both a driven menace to those who come into her orbit and a rather sad character wondering why most of those in her life (usually quite sensibly) eventually distance themselves from her.
This is a book that covers so much from Clio's early life as the darling of the Scottish Folk crowd when she first sings in public as a child through her brief stab at fame, disastrous relationships ,time spent with squatters and activists in London and eventually as someone either hailed as a nostalgic blast from the past or an embarrassing has-been depending on the prevailing point of view.
The characterisation is superb, Clio is often not remotely likeable then the reader empathises when once again she's burnt her bridges and finds herself alone or when another episode in her life is revealed and you see quite why she's the way she is. As in real life characters who seem awful show a softer side that they're hiding and sympathy for others crashes as the facade slips and something loathsome crawls out,reporter Neil for example who puts her on a pedestal but takes advantage when he gets the chance in possibly the saddest and most depressing sex scene ever written. He later takes advantage of their friendship in other ways and is a pretty loathsome character.
If you're not interested in politics then this won't be the book for you and the one flaw I found in what is an amazing piece of writing was that the characters often launch into speeches on their political views bordering on lectures and I started skimming after a while. The politics are an important part of the book ,the backbone of it in fact,but a bit of judicial editing wouldn't have gone amiss .
The ending is quite stunning and suddenly all kinds of things about Clio and her character are revealed that lift the scales from the reader's eyes.
A great book that will make you think,shudder at times and alternately sympathise and dislike Clio as she turns yet another life upside down as they enter her chaotic orbit at first thinking her almost messianic then seeing the flaws and hypocrisy. underneath all the brashness is a deeply flawed woman who is still the damaged child of her younger years.

Thanks to Kirstin Innes, 4th Estate and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the story of Clio Campbell, political activist, singer and one-hit-wonder. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that in the beginning of the novel, at nearly fifty one years old, Clio kills herself, in the spare room of her friend Ruth’s house. The novel then examines Clio’s life, through the eyes of those who knew her, and those who didn’t, and in so doing reveals a larger, political narrative. It’s an exploration of the life of a woman and her ‘value’ in the eyes of Society , but also of a different, better time, politically, and how we got to where we are now in post Brexit Britain.

This book was an incredible story based around a complex and interesting character. I loved the non-linear storyline, which shows how much one person can affect the world they live in and the people they encounter.

It's hard to put into words the sheer exuberant power of Scabby Queen. It's a novel about one person's life, and a celebration of the impact an individual can have on others and the world. It shows us where its protagonist came from, and it shows us how her influence continues to spread after her death. It also shows us the mistakes she made, the things she got wrong and the people she hurt – because that's life. And it's a feminist novel about activism, community and society (but not, lest that sound offputting, in a preachy way).

It opens with the suicide, at 51, of Clio Campbell, a minor celebrity (known for a hit anti-poll-tax song in 1991) and political activist. Jumping back and forth through the decades, the book employs a large cast of narrators to tell the story of Clio's life; some are close friends, others are people she met only once and very briefly. I often find that these kinds of stories reveal much more about the narrators than they do about the central character. Not so here: Clio bounds from the pages in full colour, brilliantly complicated, sometimes hard to like, but never less than 110% alive. It's her friends' and lovers' stories that remain incomplete. I mourned the loss of each character in turn; wished I could read a whole book about each and every one.

Particularly inspired is the perspective of Neil, a journalist with an unrequited crush on Clio, whose admiration eventually morphs into something uglier. Here, Innes gives us the best bad-sex scene since Kristen Roupenian's Cat Person, and goes one better: she tells it from the point of view of the man, yet the woman's experience rings through loud and clear. There's also Sammi, whose story I think is the most powerful – Sammi who is collateral damage in one of Clio's crusades, and who can never forgive her. I appreciated the inclusion of this viewpoint so much; I appreciated its openness, the way Innes lets Sammi go off and be her own person, rather than bending her story to fit Clio's.

A wonderful book, one I read hungrily, wishing there were hundreds more pages. Awe-inspiring writing of the kind that is both utterly accessible and tremendously meaningful. Really, truly loved it.

I loved Scabby Queen. Like a rougher, Scottish, political Daisy Jones & The Six. I grew up in the West of Scotland in the 1990s and this novel captured it all brilliantly. The politics, the accent, the fights, the family, the music. It was home. And God love Clio, whit a wummin.

This was a brilliant read. It's hard to find the words to describe how brilliant and enthralling is.
The style of writing, the weird and engrossing plot, the great characters: all these elements makes this story excellent and a great read.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.