A Bad, Bad Place

A sweeping debut crime novel about the far-reaching effects of a murder on a community in Glasgow. An epic story of resilience, redemption and love. Everyone''s talking about Janey Devine... Glasgow, 1979. Towerblock-wean Janey is out for a walk on an abandoned railway with her dog, Sid Vicious, when she finds the body of a woman - and her innocent childhood ends in a shocking moment of trauma. Janey''s nana, Maggie, is distraught, especially when the corpse turns out to be a local hardman''s lassie. Janey claims she can''t remember what she saw that day, but the police think she''s hiding something, and they''re not the only ones. Maggie wont rest until she knows Janey is safe, but she''s got secrets of her own, right bad ones too. As fear stalks the community, Janey starts to remember things she shouldn''t. And Maggie can''t help but wonder if the daughter she loves will ever return to her - or if someone will take Janey away forever.

About the author

As a passionate advocate of lifelong learning, Frances was delighted to graduate age 60 with MLitt (Distinction) Creative Writing from Glasgow University. In 2023, she won Bloody Scotland/ Glencairn Crime Short Story Competition and the first chapters of her debut novel, A Bad, Bad Place, won Highly Commended in Moniack Mohr Emerging Writer 2024.

Frances grew up in North Glasgow, and credits the people of Possilpark and Milton as her writing inspiration. She still lives in Glasgow with her family, and likes libraries and punk rock.

Product details

• Authors: Frances Crawford, Crawford Frances
• Publisher: Bantam UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 12.02.2026
• EAN: 9780857508003
• ISBN: 978-0-85750-800-3
• No. of pages: 384
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 240 mm x 40 mm
• Subjects: Fiction > Suspense; Crime & mystery, FICTION / Thrillers / Psychological, FICTION / Thrillers / Crime, FICTION / Thrillers / Suspense, Narrative theme: Social issues, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Crime and mystery: women sleuths, Central Scotland, Thriller: serial killers, Thriller: organised crime