Sometimes you come across a book that when you read it you are not just seeing words and sentences, you are absorbing them. You are feeling them, experiencing a kind of visceral reaction to what is being laid out in front of you. It's safe to say that Breakers, the latest offering from Doug Johnstone, is one of those books. This is more than just a story or a moralistic tale of the divide between the affluent and the impoverished citizens of Edinburgh. This is a story or survival, of love and of strength which stays with you long after you've turned that last page.
Breakers is the story of Tyler, one of Edinburgh's forgotten children. Living with a mother who is crippled by addiction, and fighting to ensure that his younger sister, Bean, stays safe, he is forced into a life of crime by his older half-siblings. It is a strange scenario that you are faced with as a reader, as Tyler joins his siblings in breaking into people's houses, robbing them of the possessions they have worked so hard for. You shouldn't feel any kind of sympathy for Tyler really - he is ultimately a thief - but Doug Johnstone manages to break down the walls which divide the readers sense of right and wrong very quickly and right from the start of the book I felt a kind of empathy for Tyler, got a real sense of the kind of young man he was trying to become, in spite of the influence of those around him.
Now it's safe to say that something goes horribly wrong very early on in the book, a simple B&E job turning violent and putting Tyler and his family in grave danger. Not only are they left trying to evade detection by the police, but also by the family of the home they broke into, a family who wield a lot of power on Edinburgh's streets and who are hell bent on revenge. It adds a real sense of threat to an already emotionally turbulent read and kept both the characters, and me as reader/voyeur, on edge from start to finish.
But far from simply being a tale about gangland retribution - hunter v hunted - this book takes a look at the relationships within Tyler's life. There is the strained kinship with his siblings, older brother Barry and their sister, Kelly. Barry and Kelly's relationship is twisted, scarred, repulsive even, making it very hard to read about, but not so much that it turns you off completely. The way in which Barry treats his family is shocking, but believable, his bullying ways symptomatic of the way in which he was raised. Barry is the exact opposite to Tyler, using threats and violence to coerce and control those around him. Kelly is weaker and held in Barry's thrall. Whilst I hated Barry from the start, I had mixed reactions about Kelly, part sympathy, part disgust although I felt no strong emotions about what befell either of them.
Tyler however - he's an entirely different matter. I liked Tyler, felt a real sympathy for him and an overwhelming desire to see him come good. In spite of his background, he was a strong and caring young man who would do anything for those he loved, especially his sister, Bean. Seeing how he looked out for her would melt even the hardest heart. Even his consideration for his mother, in spite of her flaws, showed how he had the potential to be more than his circumstances would dictate. And then there is his relationship with Flick, a girl from the other side of the city, their lives poles apart, and yet in spirit they are the same. They make an unlikely but welcome pair, blurring the lines which separate them due to class and prejudice.
Yes - on the surface, this is a book which forces readers to look beyond the gloss and the picture perfect views of Edinburgh that the tourist sees when they make their way up the Royal Mile. It makes you realise that just a few miles away from the overpriced lattes and tourist tat shops lies a whole community that is fighting to keep their place in a city which is becoming increasingly expensive to live in or even visit. That a single turn of a corner can take you from skid row to millionaires row, from fighting to survive to living the life of luxury. Doug Johnstone has painted both worlds so vividly, the narrative so effective, that you feel as though you are the heart of the action yourself, seeing what Tyler sees, feeling all that Tyler feels.
But it is more than this too. It is a story of survival. Of fighting for family, and of how far a young man, barely more than a child himself, will go to protect the ones he loves. Pulled from all sides, Tyler showed immense strength and he is a character it is going to take a while to forget. An emotionally charged, beautifully written and evocative book. Most definitely recommended.
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Top reviews from other countries
- JenMedBookLoverReviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2019
How far would you go to protect your family?
Verified Purchase - FictionophileReviewed in Canada on 30 October 2019
Memorable, well-written tartan noir. Highly recommended crime thriller!
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I was grabbed by the first few pages and enjoyed every minute of reading this novel. WOW!FictionophileMemorable, well-written tartan noir. Highly recommended crime thriller!
Reviewed in Canada on 30 October 2019
Although this is indeed a dark and gritty crime novel, I also found it to be heartbreaking in equal measure. Tyler and his little sister, Bean were such sympathetic characters that you couldn’t help but constantly wish that they could be removed from their disadvantaged environment and given the safety and security that they deserve.
Tyler adores his little sister and he not only provides for her, he tries to shield her from the ugliness and danger inherent in their environment.
The book is set in an Edinburgh that won’t be depicted on the tourist brochures. An Edinburgh riddled by crime and poverty which emphasizes the yawning divide between the social classes.
The character of Flick stood out in the book much like her car did in the seedier parts of Edinburgh. Altruistic, kind, and empathetic, Flick was a gem in Tyler’s life. In fact, besides his little sister Bean, she was the only good thing in Tyler’s desperate, grim, and bleak existence.
I loved Tyler. He was a truly good person born into one of the most dysfunctional families I’ve ever read about. Throughout, no matter what he did or was forced to do, I was rooting for him to endure and escape his horrible life.
This is a novel that I’ll remember for quite some time. One that will stand out in my memory years from now.
Written with skill, excellent characterization, and a firmly depicted sense of place, this crime novel is highly recommended by me. “Breakers” will definitely be on my ‘Best Reads of 2019’ list. I’m looking forward to reading more by this talented author.
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- Paul CReviewed in the United States on 17 June 2020
I highly recommend Breakers.
Verified Purchase - avidreaderReviewed in the United States on 30 June 2020
A good read
Verified Purchase - RavenReviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2024
A superb read
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