An interesting book dealing with decisions and integrity, particularly of those in positions of power. Jim Brennan has overcome is rough beginnings, with a gangster-type father very free with his fists. He is now a respected member of academia, in line for promotion. Unfortunately his son hasn't made best use of the opportunities offered to him and has been arrested on a drugs charge ... not his first.

Jim will do anything to help and protect his family, but he is drawn into circumstances that are spiralling out of his control and he has to make some very tough choices about his future.

I really enjoyed this (having worked in universities myself) and thought the characters were well portrayed and really drew the reader in to understand their lives and choices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

<b>✰ 2.75 stars ✰</b>

<b><i>“It was the kind of thing people said, a turn of phrase, but he meant it. He was prepared to kill for his family. He would die for them too, if that was what it took to keep them safe.”</i></b>

A decent enough well-written thriller <i>To the Dogs</i> showcased the lengths a father would take to keep his family safe. Set in Glasgow, <I>To the Dogs</i> is a decent enough thriller about successful and well-respected university vice principal and professor, Jim Brennan and the lengths he would go to to keep his family safe, when his son, Elliot, gets caught up in the criminal underworld of drugs and deceit that inadvertently ties in with his own academic principles and the ghosts of his own father's dark past. 😥

<i>“No matter how much Jim despaired of his son, he would not abandon him.”</i>

Jim was a very meticulous and loyal father; a man with <i>'a willingness to go further than other men'</i>, he's determined to do what's right even at the stake of his own life, but never one to jeopardize his own family's safety. His love for his family was the driving force for many of his actions, and what impressed me was how he had a very good head on his shoulder. 👍🏻​ Despite how much trouble their son has given them in the past, he was ready to go the extra mile for him.

He made rational decisions, not to be swayed by his own emotions and strove to do the right thing. He had a strict conscience and he always fought to do the right and honest thing, which was very admirable of him, despite the severe chip on his shoulder of his own father's indecent criminal acts. The situation with his son, Elliot was heart-breaking to read, but oddly, very realistically portrayed, because truly one cannot fight the judicial system. Someone has to pay the price, even at the cost of their own time spent in prison. 😟

<i>“That’s the thing to do. Us guys have to stick together. What goes around comes around.”</i>

I do feel that the story dragged at points; aside from me being a bit under the weather, it shouldn't have taken me quite as long as it did to complete it. The pacing ​kinda meandered at certain points and it made my ​own mind w​onder what exactly was the point of including this certain point in the story. 🫤​ I did appreciate all the supporting characters; well-rounded and believable, and I liked that once the characters were introduced, there was a purpose to them - ​<b>they weren't just there​</b>.​ 👏🏻 ​I would have liked to have seen more of the relationship between Elliot and his parents. For a son who's ​<i>‘ been in trouble before, but never to this degree’​</i>, I would have liked to have seen how the family coped after this difficult trial that they had to endure.

The cover also really does a great job in portraying how alone Jim is in his decision​-making - ​he's tasked with a lot of pressure, but he kept a steady mind and outlook towards everything that he was confronted with. Each challenge brought him even deeper into a past he was hoping never to be a part of, and I appreciated how it gave him a chance to reflect on his relationship with his own father. The impossible responsibilities and his ability to find a way out of it with his smart and clever quick thinking was impressive. 🥺 It was interesting to note how what happened to his son indirectly coincided with his own university academics' and how the forces at work in the dark were so determined to influence his cause. I thought th​at was nicely done, but still not quite as impactful, because I think it just took a little too long to get to that point​ - especially when the ending felt rather abrupt and underwhelming. As my first go with this author's work, it wasn't entirely that bad a read, just not exactly a memorable one; still, it's one that I sincerely didn't mind taking a chance on.​

<i>*Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.</i>

A dark thriller set in the contrasting worlds of academia and the criminal underworld. The dark side of Glasgow. There are multiple layers to this story where Jim Brennan has tried to leave his past behind and rise above . How far will an outwardly respectable person go to protect their family .
The characters are well drawn whether they be likeable or despicable but I found trending slightly disappointing

Jim Brennan is a lecturer at a University in Scotland, married and has two children. Things are good for the family and life is easy until Elliot gets into trouble with drugs. Jim Brennan is living his best life. Although growing up with his father was tough, Jim has forged a beautiful life with his wife, two kids, his beautiful home and his career heading to the top.
However, when his son, Elliot, gets in trouble with the wrong people and drugs he ends up in prison, Jim soon realises that the life he left behind never really went away and that the ghost of his father still looms over him. Jim is desperate to help his son and looks into his father’s past and tries to find someone who will help to try and find out if the stories about his son’s involvement in drugs are true. The truth comes out and Elliot has messed up his life. I did find that the book was dragged out a little and feel that Jim was a character I could not get on with. Strong in some parts and weak in other ways. I did understand what he was trying to do to help his son but did not feel he went about this in the right way for me. An interesting book nevertheless and worth a read.

When criminology professor Jim Brennan finds himself caught up in the murky Glasgow underworld to save his son, he finds himself in situations and dealing with people he thought he had left far behind.

Putting his career on the line he finds himself further and further immersed and makes you question just how far you would go and what would you sacrifice for your family.

I thought this was a great story and really enjoyed the University setting. JIm was an excellent character - multi-layered, relatable and flawed. Would definitely be interested in reading more about him and his family.

Dark in places but lightened with moments of tenderness between the family and typical Glasgow humour.

As I’ve come to expect from Louise, the writing is excellent and the story really flowed making this a really quick read for me.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this immensely readable, gritty novel.

After some earlier works vastly different in plot and setting, this latest Louise Welsh novel is set in contemporary Glasgow. At the heart of it is Jim Brennan who is simultaneously a highly-regarded university vice principal and a despairing father of a son imprisoned on drugs dealing charges. As the novel unfolds, we learn of Jim’s backstory: his difficult childhood at the hands of a father involved with the criminal underworld, Jim’s steady rise to power in academia, and his relationships with his superficial wife Maggie and difficult son Elliott. Other reviewers have pointed out some extraneous subplots and anecdotal mistakes that do not concern me greatly, but what I would have really liked from a novel sited in such a prominent setting is a bit more exposure to the unique, distinctive setting that is Glasgow. Perhaps if the character of Jim Brennan is reprised in a future novel, this might be a possibility? Overall, this was a readable contemporary thriller, but perhaps not one of my favourite. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Cannongate for the free ARC I was gifted in exchange for this unbiased review.

Louise Welsh has a way of presenting a slightly seedier side of life, and To The Dogs is no different. Taking place in a world of higher education, our protagonist Jim Brennan is doing well. A high achiever in terms of bringing in money to the university, his career looks to be heading from strength to strength, and he's hoping to pull together funding from a former student to get a new building in place.

But his life is about to spiral out of his control.

First of all, his wayward son gets arrested, and the solicitor he gets hold of to help them seems to be very au fait with the seedier side of gangland. In China, one of his students has gone missing, and Jim isn't paying as much attention to one of his PhD students as he might.

Welsh pulls together the realities of modern-day academia, with its incessant reliance on wealthy overseas students paying for everything, and a general "don't ask too many questions" attitude towards where the money is coming from, with the grimness of gangs and organised crime. It all feels far too real, and Welsh writes believably about this world.

But there's a dark vein of humour running all the way through this book, so it's not entirely bleak. And some of the bumbling nocturnal activities are laugh-out-loud funny. The dodgy lawyer's "football team" - always on hand to help out, for example.

I always enjoy a new Louise Welsh title and this is no exception. Thoroughly recommended!

Although this wasn’t quite the dark academia I was expecting — more a murky shade of grey — it was still a gritty, gripping thriller, expertly plotted and with an intriguingly complex and troubled MC.

Meet Professor Jim Brennan, University of Glasgow vice-chancellor. A man made good from his squalid beginnings. With a beautiful wife and family, fancy house and car, and an eye on the top job, life couldn’t be more perfect.

But things can turn on a dime. And that’s exactly what happens here, as unforeseen events conspire to drag Jim back into the seedy underbelly of a world he thought he’d left far behind, threatening everything he’s achieved and aspires to.

For me, there is nothing tastier in thriller land than a twisty, plot-driven narrative combined with a compelling character arc. And here, Welsh balances the two with the skill of tightrope walker.

I was totally invested in Jim’s story, as his safe, ordered existence spiraled out of control. How he fought to manage the politics of his university role, while confronting the threats to his family. How his actions and the shadow of his long dead, Glasgow hardman father made him question his morality. And how the line between right and wrong got ever more blurred, the deeper he got sucked into the darkness of the city’s gangland.

Overall, I found this a propulsive, thrilling read; all the more so for being set in a city I know well, and which Welsh brings vividly to life in all its many facets. It was let down — only slightly — by a couple of subplots, which, while included no doubt to bolster the dark academia tag of the book, seemed to me to be rather superfluous

My first encounter with Welsh’s writing, but it certainly won’t be my last.

This is the first book I have read by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was excellent characterisation (none of the characters are particularly likable, which shows skill from the author in being able to me make feel this way), and a great deal of promise and anticipation. In fact, the first few chapters are gripping, and I was keen to read on. However, at around the half-way mark, the plot slowed right down, and I found myself struggling to care about the outcome for the host of characters. I was also surprised to read about a character ordering a Whooper from McDonald’s… The ending is somewhat abrupt but perhaps the intention is to carry on with a sequel? All in all, this book shows a lot of promise, but it’s just not for me.

In this cleverly plotted novel, Professor Jim Brennan's world takes an unexpected turn when his son, Eliot, is arrested on a drug charge. Jim, called away from a graduation ceremony in Beijing, quickly finds himself immersed in a complex web of crime, ethics, and family dynamics.

Jim's journey begins at the Fusilier, a haunt from his gangster father's past, where he encounters Eddie, an old schoolmate turned solicitor. What follows is a narrative that seamlessly weaves together straightforward crime with the ethical challenges of university funding. As Jim, a pleasingly complex character, navigates the morally ambiguous terrain of accepting funding from repressive regimes, the novel explores the intersection of academia and criminality.

The story unfolds at a rapid pace, contrasting the two worlds Jim inhabits—his respectable academic life and the murky underworld connected to his family's past. The ethical dilemmas and Jim's internal struggles add depth to the narrative, making it a compelling read even for those not typically drawn to crime fiction. Highly recommended for its nuanced exploration of morality, family, and the choices we make in the name of advancement and education.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Set in Glasgow, this book is about the respectable family of a university professor. Fairly soon in the book, it becomes known that both the father and son are /were involved in crime. How far will the parents go to protect their family.
There is plenty of action here and the descriptions mean that you feel the fear in this family and come to understand the decision making . I liked the writing style and the build up of suspense. It all seems gritty and realistic.
Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

I thought this book had a lot more potential than it delivered. The idea of a respected academic being dragged back to the criminal underworld of his upbringing through the actions of his drug dealing son was promising. I thought that the gossamer thin lines between respectability and disgrace were well-drawn and relatable but unfortunately the story was let down by a confusing and, in parts, unresolved plot (maybe leaving room for a sequel) and characters I didn’t much care for.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

As is to be expected from Welsh this is a complex and readable story confronting societal issues as much as those the characters are facing. The main character has his problems, stemming from his background and from his own actions. It is a journey we share as the plot twists and turns.
A change for Welsh but Glasgow is under the microscope again with the added setting of a higher education establishment.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Very tense, gritty, dark and disturbing, this tale of corruption, violence and family ties is absolutely gripping. Jim will do anything to protect his family but has his own demons and a very respectable career as a university vice chancellor to keep. Characters are excellent, plot is well crafted, excellent read.

Theis book explores the darker side of academia, where university funding is linked to corruption, and what happens when this world collides with the underworld of organised crime, drugs and violence. Jim Brennan, university VP, is the son of a criminal and also the father of one. The story will have you gripped from the very first line as his life spirals, his moral compass becomes more and more skewed and the worlds of his father, himself and his son become entwined for good.
One of my favourite reads of the year.

Well written and interesting crime story set in a Scottish University where not all is as it' should be.
Really enjoyed the story although a couple of the plot points are a little bit contrived.
The author does paint a great picture off life in a university with all of the highlights and the unfortunate flip side of tedious meetings for staff.
The main character is believable as the boy from the wrong side of town who had escaped and built a great new life.
Definitely worth a read if you like a good crime thriller.

A very enjoyable book with a slightly different story. It is not typical drug and gangland but much more subtle. The very end left me slightly confused but a good read nonetheless.
I look forward to reading more books by Welsh.

In proper Glasgow vernacular this book is a “brammer”.

I thought the characters and plot were superb! I could easily visualise a trip to the Fusilier for a wee drink.

Full of admiration for the main character Jim and also his wife. He managed to step away from a potentially violent lifestyle but it was always there in the background. Realistic!!

The plot and sub plots had many interesting layers - useful insight into Higher Education management issues too! Towards the end I felt the pace eased off. Luckily that meant I could breathe!

Looking forward to reading more books by the author Louise Welsh.

A gripping thriller that encompasses both the gritty badlands of Glasgow and the elite university. Well written with just enough menace to keep the reader engaged.

I was a huge fun of Louise Welsh’s The Cutting Room and The Second Cut, so I was really looking forward to this.
The characterisation is excellent, but the plot is very slow to get going and I found it very hard to get into.
Not a huge fan sadly.