Glasgow 1979.

12 year old Janey finds a woman's body on a railway line. She says she can't remember what she saw, but the police aren't convinced.

Janey's nana tries to keep her safe, but has secrets of her own.

Then Janey starts to remember...

Brilliant

What a brilliant and emotional book. A young girl called Janey is out walking her dog one morning and she lets him off the lead to explore near the disused rail tracks. She soon becomes aware that he has found something and, to her horror she sees it is the mutilated body of a young woman. Even already knowing she is dead, Janey holds her hand to comfort her whilst shouting for help.

A passing taxi driver comes to her aid and stays with her whilst waiting for the police. Sadly, we often hear about bodies being found by dog walkers but seldom, if ever, do we hear about the effects on the finder.

Janey is understandably disturbed and upset by what has happened with long lasting effects and she becomes obsessed with finding out more about the dead woman and who killed her.

A superb book.

I loved this quirky, well written debut. It has such a good heart and a propulsive story and the voice is so strong and unique. I also loved nan and Sid vicious. Although in essence this is a mystery (who dunnit) book it has some strong crime themes that really make you think about society and community but it also has models of humour which creates a nice contrast of light and shade. The murder mystery kept me guessing, but what will stay with me is how violence causes damage which has a lasting impact, not only to the victims but to the community as a whole. I also loved the sense of family and friendship weaved throughout the narrative.
Thank you for the arc and I would recommend.

I’ve DNF this book as I really couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening. The language used was hard to understand. Honestly I’ve never heard anyone use word ‘wee’ so many times as in the first few chapters of this book.

A new voice on the crime fiction scene is always interesting. Is this author going to follow traditional formulaic crime-writing or try a different style of storytelling? Is she going to rehash a version of the existing canon of Glasgow-set plots, such as those by Denise Mina and others, or is she going to give her narrative a totally new twist? So many questions, so many possibilities.

Crawford's writing voice and style are reminiscent of 'Shuggie Bain', by Douglas Stuart (2020) or 'This Bright Life', by Karen Campbell (2025). Apart from twelve-year-old Janey, the story's main protagonist, none of the characters are very likeable. Arguably, it's only Janey's youth and vulnerability that make her more sympathetic, having to negotiate, as she does, a complicated existence between her grandmother's overprotectiveness and being treated like an adult that she isn't yet by the rest of the world.

Beginning with the discovery of a mutilated body and continuing with a fairly linear plotline, this is a crime novel without much suspense, tension or false leads. Don't expect a fast-paced page-turner in the manner of a Rebus, Jack Reacher or Jimmy Pérez tale. Perhaps Crawford aims to follow the slower, more character-driven style of crime fiction I've come across once or twice before. Time will tell if this is the beginning of a new trend in crime fiction that lies somewhere in between fast-paced formulaic plots and what has become known as 'cosy crime' — a mixed metaphor if ever there was one.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

In Glasgow in the late seventies, 12-year-old Janey and her dog find a brutally murdered young woman by a disused railway line. The victim is the daughter of a local crime boss, and rumours soon start that she has been killed by a rival or because she knew too much, with both the police and the criminal element keen to find out what Janey knows. As her fearful grandmother Maggie tries to protect her, Janey hides a secret that could change everything. Told in alternate chapters through the voices of Maggie and Janey, their authentic voices add emotion, immediacy and lots of humour to what is a dark story. Despite being full of grief, loss and pain, the warmth of the impoverished yet vibrant community shines through. The portrayal of children, especially Janey, reminded me of similarly poignant yet very funny books “Angela’s Ashes” and “Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha”, which is praise indeed. The murder mystery kept me guessing, but what will stay with me is the sense that there are always ghosts that stay with you, that violence causes damage that has lasting impact, and that we all need people in our lives who will be with us when we are confronted by trauma and suffering.

What a fabulous read this was.
Janey see's something which leaves her traumatised and her grandmother struggling.
All set in the 1970's.
The characters were so real and the storyline left me thinking long after i had finished.
This was an easy five star read.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

A Bad, Bad Place is a hauntingly atmospheric debut that blends gritty crime fiction with emotional depth and a strong sense of place. Set in Glasgow in 1979, the story begins with twelve-year-old Janey Devine stumbling upon a murdered woman on an abandoned railway—a moment that shatters her innocence and sets off a chain of events that ripple through her family and community.

Frances Crawford crafts a compelling narrative that’s as much about trauma and memory as it is about solving a crime. Janey’s grandmother, Maggie, is a standout character—fierce, loving, and burdened by secrets of her own. Their relationship is the emotional heart of the novel, and it’s beautifully rendered with warmth and authenticity.

The writing is richly evocative, capturing the tension and fear that grips Possilpark as the mystery unfolds. Crawford doesn’t shy away from the darker corners of human experience, but she balances it with moments of humour, resilience, and tenderness. The pacing is steady, the characters feel lived-in, and the plot keeps you guessing without ever feeling contrived.

If you enjoy crime fiction with emotional resonance and a strong sense of community, A Bad, Bad Place is well worth your time. It’s clever, honest, and quietly powerful—a story that lingers long after the final page.

With thanks to Frances Crawford, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Written from the perspective of two unique and authentic characters – the traumatised child and her distraught grandmother – in a gritty, believable setting (putting me in mind of My Name Is Leon and Orangeboy), this novel is ideal for fans of literary crime novels that are grounded in realism.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Upon publication I will post this review and an extract from the blurb on my blog and on GoodReads to recommend it to readers..

This is a really unusual crime read, as it is told from the perspective of a pre teen girl who makes an horrific discovery when walking her dog one day. Her chapters are alternated with those of the grandmother who is raising her who doesn’t know how best to support her and keep her safe especially as the event makes them known to some of the more dangerous people in their local area.

I love the time setting of the end of the 1970s when life was very different then and the local community all know young Janey and what happened. The actions of the police then were very different to what would be acceptable these days and I loved the use of the local dialect as it really added to the voices telling the story.

I initially found myself very engaged in this however I did feel that it started dragging on after a while, it wasn’t short of low level action but it did feel as though it could have been shorter and still told the story well. The ending felt like a quick resolution in terms of Janey suddenly recalling events but I did like the dilemma her grandmother faced at the end and it left me wondering what path I would have taken to get justice. 7/10

This was such a unique perspective on crime fiction. Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.