On the face of it this was a well written book showing how far a father will go to protect his family but for some reason I just wasn’t feeling it. Struggled to finish and it seemed slow at times and I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters.

Thank you for letting me read this advance review copy. I found myself drawn into the story straight away. It brings into question the ethics of accepting funding and help from questionable sources in all aspects of life. The suspense started and built all the way through. Excellent read.

Jim’s son has got into some trouble with the law, how far will a father go to protect his family? Not very far apparently.

This book was not what I expected it to be. The blurb does not do this book justice, and I didn’t find the story interesting enough. A few bits of the book I skimmed over, and found some conversations with the characters to be quite bland and boring - and I often felt myself getting irritated trying to get to the end of the chapters.

The chapters themselves are a mixture of small and really long, I prefer smaller book chapters to have a break when I am reading.

I did like the writing of this book and how the writing flowed, I just found the story itself a little flat and lacklustre which made me want to stop reading a few times, but I saw it through to the end to give an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for giving me this ARC to review, however, on this occasion this book was not for me.

Gripping, complex and gritty!
A well written thriller about a man who will do anything to protect his. The writing of this book had me hooked in from the first chapter. Its descriptive an uou can easily find yourself in the book. Highly recommend reading this book!

Jim Brennan, a respected academic in line for promotion to the top job at his Glasgow university, finds his son's issues with drugs threaten to bring everything crashing down. To try and minimise the problem Jim has to get into bed with the "gangster" element with whom his father was involved many years previously.
So the stage is set and Louise Welsh can draw us in to a gripping story involving the dangerous side of Glasgow where no-one can be trusted and every deal comes with consequences.
This is excellent writing both in terms of plotline and depiction of place. Definitely worth a read.

Jim Brennan has worked hard for his life - a happy marriage, a loving daughter, a comfortable home, and the imminent prospect of taking over the top job at the university where he works as a professor of criminology. It's a far cry from his childhood on one of the city's most deprived and violent estates, living at the mercy of his father, a notorious local hardman. So when his son threatens to ruin everything by getting busted for selling drugs, Jim knows he will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo.

The premise intrigued me, but unfortunately I was underwhelmed by this one, which felt disappointingly pedestrian and under-developed for an established crime author like Louise Welsh.

Every character is either actively unlikeable (Jim's son Eliot, in contention for Scotland's sulkiest, most entitled middle class petty criminal) or made very little impression. Modest attempts at creating depth for characters such as Eddie Cranston, Eliot's lawyer, and his girlfriend, Becca, felt half-hearted and unimaginative, doing nothing to make them relatable or interesting.

Jim himself is an unsympathetic, vaguely drawn character. He is a renowned, published professor of criminology at a prestigious university, yet he seems to have little understanding of crime and criminals - he is consistently surprised by their behaviour and affronted by their requests - and it is unclear how he has managed to achieve such success in his career. He comes across as disingenuous and lacking in principles; he seems willing to assume any position which might serve his purpose and I finished the novel with no clear idea of his stance on any of the issues superficially covered in the story, such as the disappearance of a Chinese student who may have been critical of his country's government, and the controversy over whether or not the university should accept a donation from a Saudi Arabian royal. Indeed, I couldn't even say for sure whether or not Jim likes his own dog!

These subplots, as well as others concerning administrative corruption, range from dull but relevant to the plot to awkwardly forced into the narrative in an attempt to convince the reader that there are some broader, more important stakes at play than Jim's career and the fate of his awful son. Themes are hinted at and connections touched upon between characters who share similarities, but this all feels underdeveloped and as if the reader should fill in the blanks.

Overall, To the Dogs is a mediocre offering which brings nothing new to the table.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

Gritty, gripping, and complex. A story about a man that will do anything to protect his reputation and family.
I loved the style of writing and the description of the places: from the posh to the seediest in Glasgow.
A well plotted and well done thriller
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was an ok book. It was well written but I didn't feel much sympathy or like for the main character. I could see how someone could get themselves into a mess like he did, but just didn't care very much about him

I loved the premise of To the Dogs and that, combined with the Scottish setting, had my expectations pretty high for this crime novel. Luckily I can confirm it is every bit as gripping, tense and compelling as I’d hoped! The story follows Professor Jim Brennan, a rising star in the university he works at and son of a notorious Glaswegian hardman. Jim has done his best to escape his roots and the shadow of his, now deceased, father. However, when Jim’s son is arrested on drug charges, he finds himself forced to descend back into the world he did his utmost to distance himself from.

I found Jim utterly fascinating as a main character. To the Dogs is very much focused on Jim’s personal reckoning with his legacy and his realisation of how far he is willing to go to protect his family, and the life and career he has built for himself. This is a deftly plotted and genuinely unputdownable book, which looks at morality, fatherhood, corruption and violence set in a modern and gritty Glasgow that uncovers both the dark and the idealistic sides of a city dripping in character. I loved every minute of Jim’s journey into darkness and retribution, as he fights to keep his reputation and more importantly, his family, safe. I couldn’t recommend this outstanding piece of crime fiction more highly and will be adding Louise Welsh to my list of auto-buy authors. A very easy five stars.

Having really enjoyed Louise Welsh's The Second Cut, I was predisposed to be equally impressed by To The Dogs. However, I felt it never really gained the momentum of the previous thriller. Jim is a University of Glasgow professor, married to an architect, Maggie, father to two children and relatively prosperous. His son, Eliot, is a wastrel who becomes involved in selling drugs and makes some serious enemies. When Eliot is arrested and put on remand, Jim tries hard to help him and becomes embroiled in the seedy underworld of drug dealers. Add to this a (slightly) bent solicitor employed to get Eliot the lowest possible tariff, a dubious property developer/builder attempting to get a lucrative contract through Jim's connections at the University, plus mysterious communications regarding an apparently 'disappeared' Chinese student in Beijing, who Jim might or might not have met during a work-related visit to China, and we have a number of strands, all of which tempt Jim to break the law to varying degrees. The book is really about how close to the wind even the most scrupulous of us might sail, were circumstances right. Jim has pulled himself up by his bootstraps to escape his poor background and brutal and criminal father. He finds himself facing up to the fact that perhaps the apple does not fall far from the tree after all, when his family and a prestigious promotion are threatened.
This is competently written, sufficiently absorbing but ultimately lacks the gritty quirkiness of her previous novels.

Thank you Netgalley, Louise Welsh and Canongate for this arc of To the Dogs.

First of Louise's Novels and really enjoyed this gritty, Scottish novel. The narrative has some great dark humour which makes me gel with the characters more. The family dymantic between Jim and has family makes for some realistic character building. I love that you get some broad Scottish dialog which gives the feeling of being in Glasgow.

The narrative itself is well thought out and executed with some great twisty turns. This books is atmospheric, down to earth, gritty and pushes some limits that Jim may take to save the life he built. Will he cross them lines?

Louise Welsh’s “To the Dogs” takes a familiar premise – a high-flying professional with a dark past forced to confront it when his family is threatened – and gives it a Scottish noir twist. Jim Brennan, vice principal of a prestigious university, seems to have it all: a successful career, a beautiful family, and a carefully curated public image. But beneath the surface lurks a secret – a youth steeped in crime and violence.

When Jim’s son, Elliot, is arrested on drug charges, those ghosts come crashing back. Blackmailed by figures from his past, Jim is forced to make a Faustian bargain: protect his family by doing their dirty work, or risk losing everything he’s built.

The plot itself is ok, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. However, “To the Dogs” doesn’t break new ground and some of the plot points are predictable. Additionally, the pacing can drag at times, particularly in the middle sections.

Overall, “To the Dogs” is a solid, if unspectacular, thriller.

*thank you to netgalley, the publisher @canongatebooks and the author for gifting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. all opinions and views within this review are my own🖤

plot summary: Jim Brennan is flying high. Against all odds, he is a big man at the university, tipped for the head job and an office at the top of the ivory tower. He has a beautiful, accomplished wife and two healthy children. But for every person who’s watched his progress and wanted to hitch a lift, there’s someone else desperate to drag him back down. When his son Elliot is arrested on drugs charges, Jim is approached by men he thought he had left safely in his past. Their demands threaten his family, students and reputation. The question is, how far will Professor Jim Brennan go to save the life he built?👀

this book was not when i expected when going into it. i have never read from this author but i really enjoyed their writing style and found it flowed easily and was quick to read! i thought this book was going to give me all my favourite dark academia vibes but unfortunately that was not the case. despite the plot being extremely intriguing, i found that it sometimes slowed down in pace🔍

furthermore, i found that for me there was no connection to the characters and so despite the high stakes, i was not on the edge of my seat like others who may have connected more to the characters in the novel✨

if you’re a fan of family drama and crime novels and are looking for something that is intriguing and complex without being too gory then i think this is one you’d really enjoy! i really liked the discussions around institutions and how they can be corrupt that was weaved throughout this story as it gave me a good insight into how these things can affect peoples lives and the decisions they make..💭

rating: ⭐️⭐️ (2 out of 5 stars)

although this was only a two star read for me, i think that there are so many people on here who would really enjoy this. i would say that the novel is very character driven and goes deep into who Jim is as a person🖊️

This is the first Louise Welsh book I’ve read, but after this one I will be checking out her back catalogue. The story here concerns Jim Brennan and his picture perfect family and work lives. Then their son is arrested and Brennan is thrust back into the seedy side that he worked hard to get away from. A violent father did not understand his son’s commitment to learning and books. But Brennan escaped the life fate had marked out and is a hugely successful academic at Glasgow University.

The plot is complex with lots of characters but Ms Welsh handles them adroitly and the names are different enough that they’re easy to keep separate. Brennan makes a few stupid decisions and choices but the portrait of a man who’ll do anything for his family is well drawn.

I liked the setting, I went to university in Glasgow many years ago (although I was at Strathclyde) and I enjoyed the contrast with town and gown. Ms Welsh is an excellent writer and I will be looking out for other novels, especially if she writes another with Brennan.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Louise Welsh is one of those authors I always look out for new titles from - I first read The Cutting Room about twenty years ago and was delighted to get my hands on The Second Cut to revisit those characters in modern times. She has a brilliant way of writing in an informative and detailed way, properly bringing her characters and their world to life for the reader sometimes in a very visceral way.

To The Dogs is a shift from the Cut world to academia, where we meet Professor Jim Brennan. He's a local boy done good, worked hard to escape his difficult upbringing in poor surroundings to get where he is now. His wife is a successful architect and they have a good life so things should be sweet - but his son has ended up in prison and seems to be intent on exactly the kindof life Jim has worked so hard to leave behind.

There are various twists and turns throughout the story to keep you engaged and I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in Jim's world. My only quibble was around a secondary storyline around a Chinese student - I didnt feel it really added much to the overall story, although this is just my opinion. It didn't detract from my overall enjoyment and I think lots of people will thoroughly enjoy this!

Twenty year old Eliot Brennan had the kind of life that most kids dream about, wealthy, successful parents a good education, in fact everything to give him a good start in life, but here he was in prison on drugs charges.
Professor James Brennan, Eliot's father, had been brought up in a home with a violent, criminal father, a father who thought nothing of beating both Jim and his mother, however, Jim had pulled himself up by his boot straps, worked his socks off, obtained a good degree, married a successful architect, had two children and was almost at the pinnacle of his career, the top job at the university was almost in his grasp.
The author has illustrated so well the pressure and strain of a university professor, Jim had so many plates spinning, trying desperately to keep them in the air, fighting for funding for a new building, fighting his colleagues re the ethics of the source of donations, trying to trace a Chinese student who had disappeared.
Jim adored his wife and children but really didn't have much time for home life........... Until that phone call.
Because of his upbringing, Jim had tried to live a moral life, he knew that he made a difference to his students lives, he had high principles until.........
Once it became known that Eliot was in trouble old " friends " came out of the woodwork but who were his friends and which of them had their own agenda? When Jim's family were threatened his principles went out of the window, he was torn but he would break the law, he would kill to keep his family safe.
The author has indicated really well how one indulged youth, whose parents take their eye off the ball,
Can cause so much far reaching devastation and ruin so many lives.
I Received a free copy of this book, thank you Net Gallery and my review is voluntary

I thoroughly enjoyed reading To The Dogs by Louise Welsh. It’s a real page turner with characters who come to life as the reader gets to know them. It’s a pacy and engaging read following one man’s path to protect his family. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

My thanks to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read it and share a review.

I had never read her work before but this is so, so good. As the character of main protagonist Jim develops, we learn deftly placed elements of his background which begin to make the plotting understandable. The agony of having an erstwhile son making his own criminal errors effects his marriage but then to extricate himself and family he faces his erstwhile, long gone, father's rival. I suppose I found his wife, mother of his son, Maggie, a tad thinly-drawn but the layers of his life are endlessly intriguing and that makes up for it. Very smart, good writing .. grips you ..

What an interesting book this is, all about a man who almost escapes his childhood until it catches up with him. Then he discovers who he really is and what a truly corrupt society we all live in.

The tale is well put together and I was thoroughly enjoying the detail, happily turning the pages wanting to know what was next and then the story-telling just ended and I found myself looking at the acknowledgements!!! Pity really as I was expecting it to continue because there was certainly more to be said.

Oh well, maybe there will be a part 2.

My thanks to Canongate for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘To the Dogs’ by Louise Welsh.

The protagonist of Welsh’s latest is Jim Brennan. His career as Professor of Criminology is going well and he is tipped for the top job when the current Principal retires. He has a beautiful and accomplished wife and two healthy children. He’s done well given that his father had been a Glaswegian hard man and Jim had grown up far from the privilege he enjoys today.

Then his son, Eliot, is arrested on drugs charges and it soon appears that he is in well over his head. Jim is approached by the type of men that he thought he had left safely in his past. Soon their demands threaten his family, students and reputation. Jim may have placed distance between himself and his father’s legacy, yet as the pressure increases, he discovers that he is more willing than he imagined to protect the life he has built.

Like many of Welsh’s works I found this primarily a character-led novel; though at times it erupts into moments of shocking action that contrasts with the apparent normality of the Professor’s academic life.

While I didn’t find Jim a particularly likeable lead character, I could appreciate the distance that he had travelled from his childhood to the present day where he finds satisfaction in the intellectual aspects of criminology.

In addition, he clearly loved his son no matter how much he had messed up. His daughter, Sasha, was a lot younger at only eleven though the baddies made a big mistake threatening the girl and his wife, Maggie, as it definitely brought out the Professor’s more primal side.

Overall, I consider that ‘To the Dogs’ is a well written literary thriller that explores the borderlands between the gritty streets and the ivory towers of academia as well as touching on organised crime and political corruption.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.