To the Dogs - by Louise Welsh

About the Book

"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 Friés. 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. As the pressure mounts, Jim discovers he is more like his father than he thought. The question is, how far will Professor Jim Brennan go to save the life he built?"--Dust jacket.

Book Synopsis

A darkly comic, gritty novel from the award-winning writer of The Cutting Room, exploring organised crime, institutional corruption and moral compromise in Glasgow

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 frise. 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.

As the pressure mounts, Jim discovers he is more like his father than he thought. The question is, how far will Professor Jim Brennan go to save the life he built?

Review Quotes

Praise for Louise Welsh: Welsh tells the stories that nobody else dares--VAL McDERMID

Compelling and assured. [Welsh's] portrayal of Jim Brennan, of a good man in conflict, is as authentic as it is chilling--CARO RAMSAY

Highly entertaining-- "Daily Telegraph"

Richly layered, gloriously carnal, bursting with patter and irresistibly seductive'--CHRIS BROOKMYRE

Superbly drawn and exquisitely written-- "Daily Mail"

To the Dogs is easily the best of Welsh's recent crime novels. I simply could not put it down--ALEX GRAY

Welsh sparkles once more, taking us on a deep dive into Glasgow's criminal hinterland, as one man's moral compass spins out of control. A cracking read--KAREN CAMPBELL

About the Author

Louise Welsh is an award-winning author of ten novels. The Cutting Room, her debut novel, won the Crime Writers' Association John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award and the Saltire First Book of The Year Award. In 2018, she was named the Most Inspiring Saltire First Book Award winner by public vote. She is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow. In 2022 she published The Second Cut, which was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize for Crime Book of the Year and named by The Times as their Crime Book of the Year.

@louisewelsh00