Louise Welsh's To The Dogs is a masterclass in storytelling. A page-turning read of deception and intimidation, I savoured every page of this novel. When the safety of Jim Brennan's son is compromised, he must choose to save his son, or the career he has fought hard for. I loved the characters in this novel - even though it was hard to root for them at times. A definite must-read for fans of crime fiction. 5 stars

Sadly this didn't work for me.
While the synopsis sounded like something I'd love. I found this slow and dragging at times.
I found it hard to get invested in the story or characters. There wasn't enough intensity or gripping moments.

Wow, this is such a captivating read. It is many years since I have read a Louise Welsh book but she has just pulled me back in again with this very powerful book. She write so convincingly I was almost back in Glasgow again.

Can we really escape our background? Jim Brennan is trying to get away from his gangster father's legacy with his role as a professor at the local university and the chance to become Vice Principal. But escape is not easy and when his son is drawn into a drugs scandal he will be sucked back and required to use all the skills he saw his father use to navigate the dangers,. Well constructed thriller, great characters and good pacing. Recommended!

This is a dark, gritty and uneasy thriller from Louise Welsh, set in Glasgow. Whilst I could say it’s set in the world of Academia, that’s not the only place this multifaceted thriller touches on.

A thriller that looks to tell the tale of how the moneyed solve their problems while being dragged down into darker waters.

Well written, decent plot and a premise and setting I’ve not read before. Good stuff but characters that are hard to like or connect with are the little let down,
.

Definitely read more by Louise Welsh.

Val McDermid's quote: "I doubt I'll read a better book this year" is what attracted me to this book. And it's a 5 star read for me, I found it captivating, propulsive and funny.

The book has a "wrong'un done good" trope, where a university professor, Jim Brennan, finds his memories of growing up with a violent criminal father infiltrating his comfortable middle class life when his son becomes involved in drug dealing.

The theme of so-called "class treason" is present throughout. So is the idea that you cannot escape nature, no matter how extremely you try to buck what's expected of you. Jim is a really brilliantly composed character. The reader accepts him as a good man at first, someone who has done all he can to lead a good life despite a tough start. He doesn't see himself as having any links to his past, but it's through others' reactions to him that we see how threatening he actually appears.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced crime thriller that explores what it means to be a man in a world with opposing standards of masculinity, or anyone who enjoys a "past coming back to haunt you trope". If you're interested in corruption in building procurement (quite a niche!), this one's also for you.

With thanks to Canongate and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great book, I loved it. The bits of “Scottishness” that permeate are brilliant. It is a different kind of story with some parts that make you squirm with agony over Jim’s dilemmas.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

To The Dogs is another excellent crime thriller by Louise Welsh. Jim Brennan has done extremely well for himself, against all of the odds. He has worked his way up to university vice principal in Glasgow, and is the likely candidate to be the next principal. Events beyond his control seem to conspire against him to stop his chances of achieving his goal of becoming principal and threaten to break up his happy family life. Can he achieve his work goal, retain his home life all without breaking his moral compass? How far will one person go to protect their family and their reputation?
A great read by Louise Welsh, definitely one of my favourite books by her.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Can criminality skip a generation? Jim Brennan’s father was a violent criminal, Jim’s son is a drug dealer, Jim is a University Professor of Criminology. He is internationally renowned, a Fellow of two Royal Societies, and a Vice Principal – a senior member of the University’s management. The University in question is clearly Glasgow, although this is never stated. Jim was born and brought up in a rough, grotty part of the city, a “snotty little swot” and frequent target for his father’s animosity, both verbal and physical, but has escaped from that to relative affluence and more salubrious surrounds, the rewards for his single-minded ambition. But in Glasgow the rough, the smooth, and the academic are never that far apart, so there are sections of the community who still remember him as “Big Jim’s” son. One such is Eddie, a local criminal lawyer who happens to have been at school with Jim. Despite, or perhaps because of, all the life advantages provided by Jim and his architect wife, Maggie, their son Eliot has always been trouble and now, at twenty-three, he has been jailed for breaking his bail conditions from an earlier arrest. More unfortunately, he was holding a large sum of money and a stash of drugs for some nasty people which he cannot return so is at risk. Against his better judgement, Jim hires Eddie as his son’s brief. Struggling to try and resolve his son’s problems, Jim is also beset by trouble’s of his own: the University has requested tenders for a new building and Jim is in charge of that process which entails dodgy construction firms; a former student, a Prince from Saudi Arabia, has offered a huge sum of money in exchange for his name on the building which has moral and ethical implications (another of Jim’s portfolio of committees; an external student at the University’s Chinese campus, which is part of Jim’s brief, has been ‘disappeared’ and Jim has been asked to help save him; his recent PhD student needs help with a post-doc application; and the Principal is ill and Jim is the front runner to replace him. How can this melange possibly be resolved to everyone’s (including the reader’s) satisfaction?
This is basically a crime thriller, although quite a lot of it is devoted to the intrinsic, i.e. not academic, problems of a University in the current financial, social, and ethical climate. This is a world which I inhabited until quite recently, and it feel quite accurate. Some of this seems more political statement than necessary background, but everything comes into play, all of it knits together and the ending is totally logical but very surprising. The writing is very good, although I’d have preferred a bit more Glaswegian dialogue in scenes where the action takes place between normal citizens as opposed to academics.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I love a good gritty crime thriller, and Louise Welsh delivers that in spades!

Once his son ends up in custody for drug charges, Jim Brennan, an esteemed Professor from Glasgow University has some stark choices to make not least of which - can he save his son without losing himself.

Somewhat inevitably, Jim soon finds that the murky past he tried to shrug off and leave behind is snapping at his heels and he has a difficult time attempting to balance all of the aspects of his life as they threaten to crash into each other.

As if the issues with his son weren't enough there are also some big politically driven issues at the University and poor Jim seems to be getting it from all sides as the story unfolds.

The author has created and dark and dangerous world within these pages and I really enjoyed this thriller.

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. Jim drives an Audi, and his dog is a pedigree bichon frisé. Not bad for the son of a hardman who grew up in a room and kitchen.

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.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s just a little different with believable characters and a well-paced story. It’s a book with everything, I found. The lead character is an academic with no detectives in sight. It’s about threat, and corruption but also about a family trying their best to keep safe in the modern and tainted world. It’s a great read.

To the Dogs straddles the line between political thriller and crime fiction, with just as many academic perils as there are death threats. I’ll admit that I was personally expecting more mafia violence over university debates, but I was still taken in by the muggy and corrupt streets Welsh paints. There’s conspiracy in every phone call, a slow unravelling of drama, and an attention to detail that hooked me on this author’s writing style.

Welsh also presents some solid characterization. Admittedly, the son drove me up the wall with his repeated stupidity and bad attitude to the point where I struggled to stay connected to the plot at first (keeping in mind that he is a major driving force of it). But we see these frustrations mirrored in Jim’s own irritation with him, creating a battle between the unconditional love of a parent and the desire to make his son lie in the bed he’s made for himself.

Then there’s an underlying friction between Jim and his wife; a slight disconnect with his daughter and students; the desire to have nothing to do with his father’s world; and a constant tension between staying true to his values and making sure he can protect as many people as possible. These things craft a well-rounded and intriguing main character you can become invested in – despite Elliot, I wanted Jim to succeed. Then Welsh forces him to undergo one life-altering event after another with so little time to recover that you can’t help but foster a connection of sympathy.

There are so many major plot events, however, that it starts to grow a little disjointed. This is a book with its fingers in too many pies – all these separate tragedies fall on Jim’s shoulders and the plot rushes to solve them all in the cleanest way possible. Some are brushed under the rug altogether. I would have preferred a narrower focus on one or two events, then a gradual unfolding of the chaos that entails. I believe Welsh has more than enough talent to draw tension from a slimmer plot, rather than throwing everything at the wall to up the stakes. As it stands though, Jim Brennan seems like a man with humorously bad luck and a fancy for calling taxies whenever he’s in a pinch.

Still, I’m glad I took a chance on this book and stuck with it, even after I wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall after one partially meeting between Elliot and his parents.

6/10 stars for excellent writing. I just wish the plot had more focus.

'To The Dogs' is a promoted as a gritty thriller set in Glasgow. Jim Brennan is a Professor of Criminology and vice- chancellor at Glasgow University despite his late father being a notable Glasgow hardman. His life begins to spiral out of control when his, in my opinion 'entitled', son becomes embroiled in the drugs scene and is subsequently arrested. The book starts well and includes some great Scottish banter but by half way through the pace slowed right down and I began to lose interest in some of the plot and characters. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an arc.

Louise Welsh writes a dark gritty Glaswegian thriller that showcases the distinctly different parts of the city and the links between them through the life of academic protagonist, ambitious Criminologist professor and vice-chancellor, Jim Brennan, who has climbed the ladder to carve a glittering career, despite his tough background, demonstrating an uncommon resilience. Tired and exhausted after arriving from Beijing, his hard won life, married to beloved architect wife, Maggie, is set to explode beyond his control, threatening everything he holds dear, his professional career, just as he is set to attain the top position of Principal, and his family, including his 11 year old daughter, Sasha. His surly, troubled, over-indulged, eldest son, Eliot, in his search for a get rich quick lifestyle, has just been arrested on drug charges that seems certain to lead to a prison sentence.

This brings the first of a number of figures from a past he had hoped he had left behind, Eddie Carston, who despite Jim's reservations, becomes Eliot's defence lawyer. It soon becomes clear that Eliot has more worries than he could have possibly imagined, but Jim loves his problematic son, there is nothing he will not do to protect his family as dangers and threats enter their lives. Throughout his life, Jim had hoped to have left his hard man, drunken, criminal and abusive father, Big Jim, who had mocked and derided his goal of achieving at school and his reading of books. However, the ghost of his father remains as he hears his voice in his head, his father would have know how to react to any crisis, as he tried to prepare his son for the harshness of life.

Welsh has created a terrific character in Jim, a man who has experienced the highs and lows of Glasgow life, and after desperately pulling away from his brutal, imprisoned father and those associated with him, is trapped in the quagmire of his past that refuses to let him go. You can feel for Jim as he tries to do the right thing wherever possible, but life is dealing him some heavy blows coming from a number of different directions. For example, he has to operate under the real life contemporary constraints when it comes to ethics in how universities operate, something not all his professional colleagues appreciate. This is a great crime read where Glasgow in all its varied faces makes for a central, larger than life character, both liberating and imprisoning, instrumental in shaping its people. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Best book I have read in a long time. This was a real page-turner and I was hooked right from the start. The characters felt so genuine and that is something I really love about a book. Could not recommend this more highly.

A great book by an author that is new to me. How was Jim who really had bettered himself get out of the predicament he found himself in? Jim’s son gets into deep water over drugs and his father finds himself caught up in the murky Glasgow scene. His whole life and family looked like they were going to be wrecked. The story kept my interest and the characters were well defined so I was able to engage with them. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thanks to Net Galley.

A Professor's life implodes.
This book is a real gem. Self-made Jim Brennan has a comfortable life with the likelihood of further advancement, but suddenly it all begins to call apart with family issues then work and even international issues.The book
The books book is set in Glasgow, though it isn't identified as such. In numerous occasions the dialogue and descriptions are colloquialisms. I didn't find that this interfered with my enjoyment of the book, and while for me they added to the realism, some readers might not agree.
The book is very well written and the acknowledgements confirm that a lot of research has gone into it. The story basically describes what happens when the earlier sideciry of a city and it's prison and it's academia collide.
The book is very well written and recommended.

Jim Brennan is flying high. Against all odds, his is a big man at the university, tipped for the head job and office at the top of the ivory tower. He has a beautiful, accomplished wife, and two healthy children. Jim drives an Audi, and his dog is a bichon frisé. Not bad for the son of a hardman who grew up in a room and kitchen. But it's not easy to escape the past. Certain people have been keeping an eye on Professor Jim Brennan. When his son Eliot is arrested on drug charges and lands in prison after breaking his bail conditions, J from the privileged to the deprived. Jim is approached by men he thought he had left behind. Their demands threaten his family, students and reputation.

This is a dark and gritty read. Set in Glasgow, we get a mixture of characters from the privileged to the deprived. Professor Jim Brennan's son is in prison for breaking his bail conditions. Jim is also the son of a hardman, but he has changed for the better. But this book shows how easy it is to cross the line from good to bad. I was pulled into this story after reading a few pages. Jim's life spirals out of control in this fast-paced read. This is a well-written, action-packed and has a gripping plot-line that's also suspenseful.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Cannongate and the author #LouiseWelsh for my ARC of #ThTheDogs in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, I was very invested in how Jim was going to get himself out of the predicament he had found himself in, being the son of a gangster was never the life Jim wanted but after some dubious decisions and wanting to protect his family this is where he found himself. You can't help but root for Jim even when he makes decisions you don't agree with. I just didn't enjoy the ending I felt things were still unresolved with a certain student and it just felt a bit rushed. All in all a great read and would thoroughly recommend

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.