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Douglas Skelton
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Crow Bait (Davie Mccall) Paperback – September 20, 2014

by Douglas Skelton (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 361 ratings
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They’ll all be crow bait by the time I’m finished...Jail was hell for Davie McCall. Ten years down the line, freedom’s no picnic either. It’s 1990, there are new kings in the West of Scotland underworld, and Glasgow is awash with drugs.Davie can handle himself. What he can’t handle is the memory of his mother’s death at the hand of his sadistic father. Or the darkness his father implanted deep in his own psyche. Or the nightmares…Now his father is back in town and after blood, ready to waste anyone who stops him hacking out a piece of the action. There are people in his way.And Davie is one of them.Tense, dark and nerve-wracking... a highly effective thriller.THE HERALDThis is crime fiction of the strongest quality.CRIMESQUAD.COMA gory and razor-sharp crime novel from the start, Douglas Skelton’s Crow Bait moves at breakneck speed like a getaway car on the dark streets of Glasgow.THE SKINNYSkelton has been hiding from his talent for long enough. High time he shared it with the rest of us.QUINTIN JARDINEPRAISE for Blood CityThe city’s dark underbelly complete with knives, razors, guns and gangs...DAILY MAILYou follow the plot like an eager dog, nose turning this way and that, not catching every single clue but quivering as you lunge towards a blood-splattered denouement.DAILY EXPRESSThe Glasgow of this period is a great, gritty setting for a crime story, and Skelton’s non-fiction work stands him in good stead… he’s taken well to fiction… the unexpected twists keep coming.THE HERALD
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Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 4
    Davie McCall
  2. Print length
    224 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Luath Press Ltd
  5. Publication date
    September 20, 2014
  6. Dimensions
    5.35 x 0.67 x 8.27 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1910021296
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1910021293
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Luath Press Ltd (September 20, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1910021296
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1910021293
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.35 x 0.67 x 8.27 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 361 ratings

About the author

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Douglas Skelton

Douglas Skelton

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Douglas Skelton has published 12 non fiction books, 12 contemporary crime thrillers and 2 historical thrillers. He has been a bank clerk, tax officer, shelf stacker, meat porter, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), reporter, investigator and editor.

His first thriller BLOOD CITY was published in 2013.

The gritty thriller was the first in a quartet set on the tough streets of Glasgow from 1980 onwards. It was followed by CROW BAIT, DEVIL'S KNOCK and finally OPEN WOUNDS, which was longlisted for the first McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2016.

His two Dominic Queste thrillers, THE DEAD DON'T BOOGIE and TAG - YOU'RE DEAD lightened the tone but didn't skimp on thrills.

He followed this with his New York-set chase thriller THE JANUS RUN in 2018.

THUNDER BAY, a dark and atmospheric tale of secrets, lies and murder, was published to great acclaim by Polygon in 2019. It was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for 2019. The series continued with THE BLOOD IS STILL, A RATTLE OF BONES ( longlisted for the McIlvanney in 2022) and WHERE DEMONS HIDE. All four titles have been released on audio by Isis Publishing. Entries in the series are available in the US in print and audio through Arcade CrimeWise, while translation rights have been sold to as Germany, Denmark, Greece and Sweden.

The 5th in the series, CHILDREN OF THE MIST, has now been published.

He also has a new series of historical adventure thrillers featuring gambler, thief and secret agent Jonas Flynt, beginning with AN HONOURABLE THIEF (2022, CANELO, longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2023) and A THIEF'S JUSTICE (Canelo 2023).

Douglas is often recruited by documentary makers to contribute to true crime shows on TV and radio and is a regular on the crime writing festival circuit.

He takes part in comedy shows with other crime writers. To date he has written three Carry on Sleuthing plays in which he also appears along with Caro Ramsay, Michael J. Malone, Theresa Talbot, Pat Young and Lucy Cameron, with occasional guests Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Neil Broadfoot.

He is also one quarter of Four Blokes in search of a Plot, along with Gordon Brown, Mark Leggatt and Neil Broadfoot. This is a fun show in which they invited the audience to give them a murder weapon and a protagonist. They then take it in turns to create a crime story (usually developing into something wild and wacky) while also answering audience queries about the craft.

His one man event, You the Jury, invites audiences to deliver verdicts on real life but heavily disguised cases from around the world. In 2019 the format was extended into a court drama, thanks to the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, within Stirling Sheriff Court played to three sell-out houses during the Bloody Scotland festival.

He was, with bestselling author Denzil Meyrick, a regular on the SBOOKS podcast.

Author Web Page:

https://http://www.douglasskelton.com/

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
361 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ashrae
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Follow Up
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2015
When I read and reviewed the first in this series a few months ago I said that this opener hit the ground running, providing a bucket load of action which didn't let go until the last page. Well, this follow-up continues right where that left off.
We pick up Davie McCall on his release from prison. He has been there a little while longer than expected and we learn why and what has been happening to him and the other characters over the past 10 years in flashback. Enough of the story from the first book is explained in this one so that the reader can follow it well enough but, to be honest, to really get the best from this book, to really get under the skin of the characters and understand the motives behind what they do, you really should read Blood City first.
This book, like the first, is written in the vernacular but this didn't put me off as there was little that couldn't be worked out from context and the rest was easily looked-up. The descriptive passages of Glasgow and the surrounding areas were all very visual to me and added to rather than distracted from the story.
And the pacing of the book, well, it was full of action from the get go. The only let up for the reader was when there was suspense rather than hard-boiled action - not really much of a breather!
This time we see more of Davie's childhood, we meet his father and where Davie is a bad boy but with morals, his father is downright nasty with a pretty gruesome agenda. As a baddie, I loved him!
And the ending, just when I thought it was all sewn up neatly - wham! Didn't see that coming. Can't wait to find out where this takes Davie next...

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One person found this helpful
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col2910
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable series entry
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2022
Crow Bait is the second in Douglas Skelton’s four book Davie McCall series. It’s a series I’m now three books into, but it’s also one I’ve come at ass-backwards. I read Open Wounds the last one first. Followed it up a couple of months after (both in 2016) with the first Blood City. Then left a gap of about six years – just long enough to forget my previous encounters with Davie – before cracking on with the second – Crow Bait.

Crow Bait is mainly concerned with Davie and his dad and a long anticipated, long feared inevitable reunion.

Prior to this event we have …. prison life, freedom, a reconnection with friends and a former lover, a murder, taunts and escalations, encounters with the police – both bent and straight and a revisiting of events with the history of Davie’s sad family life and the reasons behind his incarceration.

Most of Davie’s associates are in the criminal life. He doesn’t feel it is something he is suited to after ten years in prison, but his options are limited. We have plenty of secrets, alliances and power struggles. A lot of the fraternity spend time looking over their shoulders, fearful of what might happen with McCall Jr back on the streets and possibly picking away at the narrative regarding who killed his mentor. We have schemers and plotters, none more so than Danny McCall. Whatever path Davie chooses, he needs to face his father first.

Took me a while to get into this, but once I did I was flying.

Great story, intriguing characters. Am I alone in finding criminals and their antics more interesting than ordinary Joe lifestyles?

4 stars from 5

In addition to the other Skelton - McCall books I’ve read, I’ve also enjoyed the 3rd from his Rebecca Connolly series – A Rattle of Bones. Another series of his which I decided not to start at the beginning!

Read – July, 2022
Published – 2014
Page count – 233
Source – purchased copy
Format - Kindle
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Homeburd
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great read
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2016
As someone who worked in the Gorbals in the early 90's this was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me. The characters are all too real and the Glasgow humour is all spot on. Great book, read it in a day, and I'm moving straight on to book 3.
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Top reviews from other countries

Peter Jennow
5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous suspense
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
Superb characterisation and story telling - the final outcome was as awful as it was surprising. Looking forward to the next one.
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col2910
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable series entry
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
Crow Bait is the second in Douglas Skelton’s four book Davie McCall series. It’s a series I’m now three books into, but it’s also one I’ve come at ass-backwards. I read Open Wounds the last one first. Followed it up a couple of months after (both in 2016) with the first Blood City. Then left a gap of about six years – just long enough to forget my previous encounters with Davie – before cracking on with the second – Crow Bait.

Crow Bait is mainly concerned with Davie and his dad and a long anticipated, long feared inevitable reunion.

Prior to this event we have …. prison life, freedom, a reconnection with friends and a former lover, a murder, taunts and escalations, encounters with the police – both bent and straight and a revisiting of events with the history of Davie’s sad family life and the reasons behind his incarceration.

Most of Davie’s associates are in the criminal life. He doesn’t feel it is something he is suited to after ten years in prison, but his options are limited. We have plenty of secrets, alliances and power struggles. A lot of the fraternity spend time looking over their shoulders, fearful of what might happen with McCall Jr back on the streets and possibly picking away at the narrative regarding who killed his mentor. We have schemers and plotters, none more so than Danny McCall. Whatever path Davie chooses, he needs to face his father first.

Took me a while to get into this, but once I did I was flying.

Great story, intriguing characters. Am I alone in finding criminals and their antics more interesting than ordinary Joe lifestyles?

4 stars from 5

In addition to the other Skelton - McCall books I’ve read, I’ve also enjoyed the 3rd from his Rebecca Connolly series – A Rattle of Bones. Another series of his which I decided not to start at the beginning!

Read – July, 2022
Published – 2014
Page count – 233
Source – purchased copy
Format - Kindle
Report
f mccormick
5.0 out of 5 stars It is absolutely brilliant, I loved it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is the second in the Davie McCall series and what a sequel! It is absolutely brilliant, I loved it. It jumps on 10 years from Blood City and takes up Davie's story from his release from prison. He is now 28 and the world has changed since he was imprisoned at the age of 18. Drugs have taken over the city as predicted,and guns are more freely available, leading to a increase in the level of violence. This book was even better than the first one I felt, as we got a better understanding of Davie by learning more about his family life. It's certainly true what they say, you can't pick your family! I liked the way the characters from the first book were developed, the police officers Donovan and McKnight were really brought to life in this book.
Excellent book, and what an ending! Just when you thought you knew where it was going......!
One person found this helpful
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Mrs J R Millard
3.0 out of 5 stars what happened to the missing pages
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
I would have given five stars but for the fact there was nine pages missing from this book, I reached page eighty eight the following page went to ninety seven I was enjoying the book till then I did finish it and even bought the follow up Devils Knock which I was very good.
Douglas Skelton is an author to follow.
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Pensioner Power.
4.0 out of 5 stars A Mean City
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
I thought Blood City would be a hard act to follow but Mr Skelton has produced a follow-up every bit as good as the first book in the series.
Crow Bait continues Davie McCall's journey through the Glasgow underworld and his growing awareness of his place in it. It is all the more chilling for the unfairness of the characters day to day life, an ordinariness punctuated by shocking acts of callous violence.
An outstanding read and would have been a five star but for my slight disappointment with the ending, although it does set up book three very well.
I think Danny McCall, Davie's father, is one of the most chilling villains of recent fiction. Thank you Douglas Skelton.
One person found this helpful
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