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A Fine House in Trinity
Joseph Staines, an unemployed chef, has left Edinburgh with the tallybook of the late debt collector, Isa Stoddart. Her son Lachie thinks Stainsie killed her, but Lachie has apparently committed suicide. To his surprise, Stainsie is the sole beneficiary of Lachie’s will and has inherited a dilapidated mansion. Isa’s debtors and the local priest who paid Stainsie to leave town want him gone. A certain young mum, Marianne (whose uncle, Wheezy, is Stainsie’s drinking buddy) does too, and his old school-friend, Detective Sergeant Jamieson, wants to interrogate him about the deaths. Why are the lawyers lying to him, and who’s the bruiser asking about him down the pub?
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2016
8 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Kelly
7 books37 followersLesley has worked in the public and voluntary sector for the past twenty years, dabbling in poetry and stand-up comedy along the way.
She has won a number of writing competitions, including the Scotsman's Short Story award in 2008. 'A Fine House in Trinity' was long-listed for the McIlvanney Award for the best Scottish crime novel in 2016.
Her next novel, 'The Health of Strangers' will be published by Sandstone Press in June 207.
She lives in Edinburgh with her husband and two sons.
She has won a number of writing competitions, including the Scotsman's Short Story award in 2008. 'A Fine House in Trinity' was long-listed for the McIlvanney Award for the best Scottish crime novel in 2016.
Her next novel, 'The Health of Strangers' will be published by Sandstone Press in June 207.
She lives in Edinburgh with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 14, 2023
audiobook. This is an entertaining read where we join dodgy alcoholic Stainsie in his quest to solve a murder before he’s next for the chop. Stainsie is brought to life as we look back on his childhood and his grandfathers story. A few colourful characters add to the enjoyable humour throughout.
August 22, 2016
I was fortunate enough to be chosen this year as a Bloody Scotland reader and this book was one of five given to me to read in exchange for an honest review. A big thanks from me for that, as OMFG it was a gem of a read!!!
Set in Trinity, this book had a real 1940’s feel, at times, for me – and I loved that! Full of woe, past mistakes, regret, justice, the righting of wrongs – to name but a few of the themes, you are really drawn into the mood/atmosphere of this book. And for a debut novel…WOW…this really stood out for me.
The plot was fast-paced, gritty and full of twists that kept me on my toes. I loved how the story was revealed through the main characters recollections of the past.
The characters in this book really leapt off the page for me. Particularly the main character, Joseph Staines –OMG this guy is trouble with a capital T! The backstory was fabulous and cleverly written. Staines is the type of guy you really should not like – a criminal, drugs & alcohol a daily staple and a bit of a rogue. But, he is not one to let things go and when questions about his ex-employer’s death as well as his friend’s suicide come up …well he just cannot leave it alone. Marianne was also a great character – vulnerable but with a strength of character shown only to a few. She really grew on me. I also thought DS Jamieson was a relatable character — on the right side of the law, but grew up with Staines, so almost torn – does he trust him? Does he help him? Well, you will just have to read this book to find out!
The wit, fantastic banter and revelations were bloody brilliant so this piece of #TartanNoir was a definite winner for me! I was thrilled to hear that it was long listed for the Mcllvanney prize as it definitely deserves it. Do I recommend it? You bet you arse I do!! I will definitely be reading more from this author! To grab a copy for yourself, head over to amazon and click click click! Doooooo it!!!
Set in Trinity, this book had a real 1940’s feel, at times, for me – and I loved that! Full of woe, past mistakes, regret, justice, the righting of wrongs – to name but a few of the themes, you are really drawn into the mood/atmosphere of this book. And for a debut novel…WOW…this really stood out for me.
The plot was fast-paced, gritty and full of twists that kept me on my toes. I loved how the story was revealed through the main characters recollections of the past.
The characters in this book really leapt off the page for me. Particularly the main character, Joseph Staines –OMG this guy is trouble with a capital T! The backstory was fabulous and cleverly written. Staines is the type of guy you really should not like – a criminal, drugs & alcohol a daily staple and a bit of a rogue. But, he is not one to let things go and when questions about his ex-employer’s death as well as his friend’s suicide come up …well he just cannot leave it alone. Marianne was also a great character – vulnerable but with a strength of character shown only to a few. She really grew on me. I also thought DS Jamieson was a relatable character — on the right side of the law, but grew up with Staines, so almost torn – does he trust him? Does he help him? Well, you will just have to read this book to find out!
The wit, fantastic banter and revelations were bloody brilliant so this piece of #TartanNoir was a definite winner for me! I was thrilled to hear that it was long listed for the Mcllvanney prize as it definitely deserves it. Do I recommend it? You bet you arse I do!! I will definitely be reading more from this author! To grab a copy for yourself, head over to amazon and click click click! Doooooo it!!!
March 8, 2017
I saw this author, give a reading from this novel, at Noir at the Bar in Edinburgh. And it struck a chord with me.
This is Lesley's debut novel and I hope they're more to come. This is a fast, edgy and funny read. It is two stories running concurrently.
Joseph Staines returns to Leith and finds himself in trouble with the local gangsters.......police and an unconventional priest.
The second story tells of his younger days, with brother Colin and friend Lachie, who just happens to be connected to the above said gangsters.
He develops a friendship with Lachie that he is still trapped in thirty years later.
Joseph left town with a stolen tallybook, but two suspicious deaths and surprise inheritance lures him back.
No-one is pleased to see him. The debtors want him gone, the police have questions and a mysterious stranger is asking questions.
The writing is top notch. The tale well told and the ending satisfying.
I look forward to more stories from this author and I urge you to read this novel!
This is Lesley's debut novel and I hope they're more to come. This is a fast, edgy and funny read. It is two stories running concurrently.
Joseph Staines returns to Leith and finds himself in trouble with the local gangsters.......police and an unconventional priest.
The second story tells of his younger days, with brother Colin and friend Lachie, who just happens to be connected to the above said gangsters.
He develops a friendship with Lachie that he is still trapped in thirty years later.
Joseph left town with a stolen tallybook, but two suspicious deaths and surprise inheritance lures him back.
No-one is pleased to see him. The debtors want him gone, the police have questions and a mysterious stranger is asking questions.
The writing is top notch. The tale well told and the ending satisfying.
I look forward to more stories from this author and I urge you to read this novel!
March 31, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel from Lesley Kelly in no small part because large sections are set, despite the title, in Leith where I was born and brought up. Joseph Staines is the protagonist and quite frankly someone I'd probably avoid in real life. He's a hard drinker, has dabbled in drugs and is well known to the local police force. And yet, somehow, Lesley Kelly has made him a really likeable character. He recently left Edinburgh in a hurry with the 'tally book' (record of debts) owned by the deceased Isa Stoddart. The Stoddarts were a feared family in the area collecting protection money from the local businesses. Joe was a childhood friend of Lachie Stoddart, Isa's rather unpleasant son, but now he too has died and Joe has come back to meet the family lawyers who have some rather surprising news for him.
This was a really gripping book and quite unusual in that the crime is being investigated by a rather dodgy character rather than the police. Joe's own life is in danger if he can't figure out who really killed Isa Stoddart and why. It is darkly funny and I particularly enjoyed the chapters of the book looking back at Joe's childhood and how he grew up. I think they are the reason why he is so likeable, because the reader gets to know him as a wee boy and understands the events which make him the adult he becomes. His dad was a great character and I had a lot of time for him, trying his best for his boys in difficult circumstances. There were a lot of memorable characters in the book including the wonderfully named Wheezy, the priest Father Paul and the very scary Meikle.
If you want a twist on the crime novel with a large helping of Scottish humour, this is the book for you. A very entertaining fast-paced debut novel. I'm looking forward to reading more by Lesley Kelly and rather hope that Stainsey might feature again!
This was a really gripping book and quite unusual in that the crime is being investigated by a rather dodgy character rather than the police. Joe's own life is in danger if he can't figure out who really killed Isa Stoddart and why. It is darkly funny and I particularly enjoyed the chapters of the book looking back at Joe's childhood and how he grew up. I think they are the reason why he is so likeable, because the reader gets to know him as a wee boy and understands the events which make him the adult he becomes. His dad was a great character and I had a lot of time for him, trying his best for his boys in difficult circumstances. There were a lot of memorable characters in the book including the wonderfully named Wheezy, the priest Father Paul and the very scary Meikle.
If you want a twist on the crime novel with a large helping of Scottish humour, this is the book for you. A very entertaining fast-paced debut novel. I'm looking forward to reading more by Lesley Kelly and rather hope that Stainsey might feature again!
April 20, 2016
A crackingly funny 4.5 stars! Great tartan noir!
Meet Joseph Staines, the original loveable rogue with a twinkle in his eye and a nose for trouble, a man devoid of all willpower when it comes to the lassies and a drop of the hard stuff! Returning to Leith just six weeks after disappearing with a stolen tallybook Staines had planned to be in and out of his home town in twenty-four hours all the while keeping his head down. What changes this is his appointment with Bell Muldoon Solicitors and the news a certain Ms Spencely delivers that he is the sole beneficiary of Lachlan Stoddart's will. This is news to Stainsie but the added information that the death of Lachie's much feared mother, Isa Stoddart, settled a considerable sum on Lachie is another surprise. Staines ears prick up when he finds out that this is in form of an partially completed investment conversion of a large Victorian house into a block of flats in York Road. York Road means the Trinity area of Edinburgh, where the serious old-money luxury can be found and suddenly things are looking a whole lot brighter! There is just one little problem, namely that all over the scheme everyone is falling over themselves to give Stainsie's name to DS Jamieson as the prime suspect behind the demise of Isa Stoddart and the fact that the stolen tallybook was the property of Mrs Stoddart is not making things look good for Stainsie. Returning to Leith, Joseph Staines finds himself with no option but to discover what really happened to Isa and Lachie Stoddart and thereby prove his own innocence in the process.
Firstly, rewind a little and consider who is to blame for the current state of Stainsie's life. You guessed it, grandfather Joe, if this wasn't already apparent enough! Whilst Josef Wiśniewski wouldn't renounce his heritage as a Pole to find accommodation or work, at the first sign of a lassie who took his fancy he was happy to adopt an altogether more English sounding moniker when he became Joseph Staines in 1948. This seemingly insignificant detail thereby sentenced his grandson to a lifetime of Lachie as a best mate due to the virtue of the Staines and Stoddart surnames nestling alongside each other in the alphabet and this explaining the seating position on the very first day of school. Lachie Stoddart, you may ask? Yes, gangsters son with none of the brains or brute force of his elders and with a family behind every racket going on warranting a Polis force in Leith all of their very own!
Interspersed with the details of Stainsie's days in Leith carrying out his own investigations are snapshots of some of the defining moments of his lifetime which can go some way to explaining his predicament and provide readers with a potted history of the reliably unreliable Joseph Staines. From his first day at school and the unfortunate seating position, through to his marriage and life working as a chef on a cruise ship all the way through to the where he has currently wound up - and he isn't too proud to admit to the odd mistake along the way. The plot is so tightly constructed and knits together brilliantly and the historical snapshots give readers a real connection with the protagonist and the character of Stansie.
Joseph Staines has all the makings of a noir protagonist; his life is characterised by disorder and his dissatisfaction with where he has found himself is evident in his 'bear with a sore head' approach to life. His scepticism of the Polis has become ingrained through his dealings with them and he is no stranger to the culture of turning a blind eye, having grown up in communities where the law is regarded as 'flexible'. Yet what makes Staines such a great creation is his own personal moral code and the knowledge that whilst he might commit the odd indiscretion along the way he has a limit. Stainsie is a substantial character and I would certainly be amenable to hearing more from him. Kelly has fleshed him out well and through this novel you really get a sense of what makes him tick and feel that you understand his motivations. Wonderfully Lesley Kelly makes her readers care about a man who starts A Fine House in Trinity at odds with the world and emerges through every scrape, bruised and battered, but still with a conscience which overrides everything else.
A Fine House in Trinity is filled with a cast of colourful characters wandering the streets of Leith and it provides a great insight into the varied social demographic that Leith is home to. Kelly has a brilliant eye for characterisation and everyone of her characters makes an impression, some distinctive trait lodging in the minds of readers, most impressively with Wheezy Murphy, DS Danny Jamieson and Father Paul.
Razor sharp Scottish wit is suffused throughout and this makes A Fine House in Trinity a very sweet shot of noir crime fiction. This cleverly constructed romp around Leith will have readers grinning from ear to ear and some of the turns of phrase deserve a standing ovation in themselves. In the hands of Lesley Kelly everything slots neatly into place and It is hard not to find yourself vying for Stainsie every step of the way! A Fine House in Trinity bristles with wit from start to finish, this is a stunning debut from Lesley Kelly.
Now, how about the Freedom of the City for Stainsie?!
Meet Joseph Staines, the original loveable rogue with a twinkle in his eye and a nose for trouble, a man devoid of all willpower when it comes to the lassies and a drop of the hard stuff! Returning to Leith just six weeks after disappearing with a stolen tallybook Staines had planned to be in and out of his home town in twenty-four hours all the while keeping his head down. What changes this is his appointment with Bell Muldoon Solicitors and the news a certain Ms Spencely delivers that he is the sole beneficiary of Lachlan Stoddart's will. This is news to Stainsie but the added information that the death of Lachie's much feared mother, Isa Stoddart, settled a considerable sum on Lachie is another surprise. Staines ears prick up when he finds out that this is in form of an partially completed investment conversion of a large Victorian house into a block of flats in York Road. York Road means the Trinity area of Edinburgh, where the serious old-money luxury can be found and suddenly things are looking a whole lot brighter! There is just one little problem, namely that all over the scheme everyone is falling over themselves to give Stainsie's name to DS Jamieson as the prime suspect behind the demise of Isa Stoddart and the fact that the stolen tallybook was the property of Mrs Stoddart is not making things look good for Stainsie. Returning to Leith, Joseph Staines finds himself with no option but to discover what really happened to Isa and Lachie Stoddart and thereby prove his own innocence in the process.
Firstly, rewind a little and consider who is to blame for the current state of Stainsie's life. You guessed it, grandfather Joe, if this wasn't already apparent enough! Whilst Josef Wiśniewski wouldn't renounce his heritage as a Pole to find accommodation or work, at the first sign of a lassie who took his fancy he was happy to adopt an altogether more English sounding moniker when he became Joseph Staines in 1948. This seemingly insignificant detail thereby sentenced his grandson to a lifetime of Lachie as a best mate due to the virtue of the Staines and Stoddart surnames nestling alongside each other in the alphabet and this explaining the seating position on the very first day of school. Lachie Stoddart, you may ask? Yes, gangsters son with none of the brains or brute force of his elders and with a family behind every racket going on warranting a Polis force in Leith all of their very own!
Interspersed with the details of Stainsie's days in Leith carrying out his own investigations are snapshots of some of the defining moments of his lifetime which can go some way to explaining his predicament and provide readers with a potted history of the reliably unreliable Joseph Staines. From his first day at school and the unfortunate seating position, through to his marriage and life working as a chef on a cruise ship all the way through to the where he has currently wound up - and he isn't too proud to admit to the odd mistake along the way. The plot is so tightly constructed and knits together brilliantly and the historical snapshots give readers a real connection with the protagonist and the character of Stansie.
Joseph Staines has all the makings of a noir protagonist; his life is characterised by disorder and his dissatisfaction with where he has found himself is evident in his 'bear with a sore head' approach to life. His scepticism of the Polis has become ingrained through his dealings with them and he is no stranger to the culture of turning a blind eye, having grown up in communities where the law is regarded as 'flexible'. Yet what makes Staines such a great creation is his own personal moral code and the knowledge that whilst he might commit the odd indiscretion along the way he has a limit. Stainsie is a substantial character and I would certainly be amenable to hearing more from him. Kelly has fleshed him out well and through this novel you really get a sense of what makes him tick and feel that you understand his motivations. Wonderfully Lesley Kelly makes her readers care about a man who starts A Fine House in Trinity at odds with the world and emerges through every scrape, bruised and battered, but still with a conscience which overrides everything else.
A Fine House in Trinity is filled with a cast of colourful characters wandering the streets of Leith and it provides a great insight into the varied social demographic that Leith is home to. Kelly has a brilliant eye for characterisation and everyone of her characters makes an impression, some distinctive trait lodging in the minds of readers, most impressively with Wheezy Murphy, DS Danny Jamieson and Father Paul.
Razor sharp Scottish wit is suffused throughout and this makes A Fine House in Trinity a very sweet shot of noir crime fiction. This cleverly constructed romp around Leith will have readers grinning from ear to ear and some of the turns of phrase deserve a standing ovation in themselves. In the hands of Lesley Kelly everything slots neatly into place and It is hard not to find yourself vying for Stainsie every step of the way! A Fine House in Trinity bristles with wit from start to finish, this is a stunning debut from Lesley Kelly.
Now, how about the Freedom of the City for Stainsie?!
November 18, 2022
Although I enjoyed the book, I wasn't wholly satisfied with the ending.
There were several questions left unanswered.
I'll check to see if there is a sequel, as despite him being a rather shifty character, I would be keen to see what happens to Staines.
There were several questions left unanswered.
I'll check to see if there is a sequel, as despite him being a rather shifty character, I would be keen to see what happens to Staines.
November 17, 2022
Found this book by chance in library and again it's set in my homecity and was really enjoyable read
Read
July 5, 2016With thanks to Sandstone Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. This review first featured in Lothian Life on the 2nd July 2016. http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/2016/07/...
"I sit on the bench for a minute and stare up at the statue of Queen Victoria. In this light she bears more than a fleeting resemblance to Isa Stoddart. Neither of them were ever amused."
A Fine House in Trinity by Lesley Kelly, is an entertaining twist on the traditional mystery. When Joseph Staines returns to Edinburgh after a six week absence, no one is pleased to see him. He’d been given a large sum of money in exchange for making the feared Isa Stoddart’s tally book, and himself, disappear. But when he receives a call from a Miss Spencely telling him that he’s the sole beneficiary to the Stoddart estate, he knows he’s made the right decision. The only trouble is that he’s not the only one with his eye on the inheritance.
The Stoddart family ran a renowned criminal empire in Edinburgh. Their matriarch, Isa, took over the business after her husband, Guthrie, mysteriously disappeared. When she’s murdered, everything is left to their son, Lachie. But Lachie’s death quickly follows, leaving many to believe that Staines—Lachie’s right hand man—is the killer. Isa’s many debtors now fear for their lives.
But Staines hasn’t just returned for the money. Everyone he knows is in Edinburgh and he’s spent most of his life in the city. A life which has been fueled by drink, drugs and a general sense of apathy. Will Staines redeem himself and make good on his promise to find Isa’s killer, thereby freeing the lovely Marianne, or will he fail as usual?
Written in first person and alternating between past and present, Kelly skillfully shows us who Staines once was, and who he hopes to be, if only he can summon up the courage.
A Fine House in Trinity is a compelling mystery brimming over with sharp wit, keen observation and peppered throughout with fascinating titbits of Leith history.
"I sit on the bench for a minute and stare up at the statue of Queen Victoria. In this light she bears more than a fleeting resemblance to Isa Stoddart. Neither of them were ever amused."
A Fine House in Trinity by Lesley Kelly, is an entertaining twist on the traditional mystery. When Joseph Staines returns to Edinburgh after a six week absence, no one is pleased to see him. He’d been given a large sum of money in exchange for making the feared Isa Stoddart’s tally book, and himself, disappear. But when he receives a call from a Miss Spencely telling him that he’s the sole beneficiary to the Stoddart estate, he knows he’s made the right decision. The only trouble is that he’s not the only one with his eye on the inheritance.
The Stoddart family ran a renowned criminal empire in Edinburgh. Their matriarch, Isa, took over the business after her husband, Guthrie, mysteriously disappeared. When she’s murdered, everything is left to their son, Lachie. But Lachie’s death quickly follows, leaving many to believe that Staines—Lachie’s right hand man—is the killer. Isa’s many debtors now fear for their lives.
But Staines hasn’t just returned for the money. Everyone he knows is in Edinburgh and he’s spent most of his life in the city. A life which has been fueled by drink, drugs and a general sense of apathy. Will Staines redeem himself and make good on his promise to find Isa’s killer, thereby freeing the lovely Marianne, or will he fail as usual?
Written in first person and alternating between past and present, Kelly skillfully shows us who Staines once was, and who he hopes to be, if only he can summon up the courage.
A Fine House in Trinity is a compelling mystery brimming over with sharp wit, keen observation and peppered throughout with fascinating titbits of Leith history.
January 21, 2017
I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel A Fine House in Trinity by Lesley Kelly a nice twist to have the crime investigated by the rather dubious Stainsie instead of the police. What an unlikely ‘hero’ Stainsie is! His back story is revealed to us in a series of flashbacks and for all his dodgy dealings and bad decisions he really is rather likeable! The book is fast paced and kept me reading with no real idea how it was going to pan out. The dialogue is entirely realistic with lashings of dark Scottish humour. Wonderful stuff! Stainsie had disappeared from Edinburgh with a bit of money and a ‘tallybook’ containing the names of those who owed money to one Isa Stoddart, moneylender and debt collector. He returns home and discovers he has been left a house in the Trinity area of town. What follows is a fine tale of Stainsie’s attempts to stay ahead of enemies and to unravel the truth behind the deaths of Isa Stoddart and her son Lachie ( Stainsie’s childhood friend) He is helped in his task by a fine supporting cast of characters, my favourite being Wheezie. What a fine first novel. I do hope this is the start of a series.
February 29, 2020
Joe Staines is down on his luck. But are things about to change for the better when he inherits a house in Trinity from his friend Lachlan Stoddart, who has committed suicide? Well …no. Stainsie’s bad luck started the day he befriended Lachlan as a wee laddie in primary school. In the absence of a queue of other school kids wanting to be his pal, Stainsie made do with Lachie and enjoyed the benefits of a friend with a swanky home, cinema-sized TV and the latest video games. But Lachie’s dad, Guthrie Stoddart, was head of a money-lending empire with a strict, thug-enforced debt collection policy.
The only person more ruthless than Guthrie Stoddart was his wife, Isa, who took over the family business when Guthrie disappeared.
Since school days, Stainsie has tried to distance himself from the Stoddarts, but fate keeps bouncing him back into their orbit. Now Isa has been murdered, possibly by Stainsie’s on-off girlfriend Marianne, and the house in Trinity, inherited from Lachie, has a skeleton in the closet (literally).
Stainsie’s only hope of cutting free of the family for good is to solve the mysteries of all three Stoddart-related deaths. But that means staying ahead of Isa Stoddart’s vengeful henchmen.
This is a rollicking read with dark and deadpan Scottish humour reminiscent of Stuart MacBride. Hapless Stainsie had me turning the pages with a grin on my face.
The only person more ruthless than Guthrie Stoddart was his wife, Isa, who took over the family business when Guthrie disappeared.
Since school days, Stainsie has tried to distance himself from the Stoddarts, but fate keeps bouncing him back into their orbit. Now Isa has been murdered, possibly by Stainsie’s on-off girlfriend Marianne, and the house in Trinity, inherited from Lachie, has a skeleton in the closet (literally).
Stainsie’s only hope of cutting free of the family for good is to solve the mysteries of all three Stoddart-related deaths. But that means staying ahead of Isa Stoddart’s vengeful henchmen.
This is a rollicking read with dark and deadpan Scottish humour reminiscent of Stuart MacBride. Hapless Stainsie had me turning the pages with a grin on my face.
December 3, 2017
A very good debut novel from Lesley Kelly with good modern Scottish humour thrown into this tale of murders, money, families and debt. It carries along at a brisk pace never letting you lose interest. Another fine addition to tartan noir. On a pedantic note I was amused at one of the characters whose father, apparently, had played in the premier league in the 1950s. Hmm. Not questioned by anybody, not even the main protagonist who would know that the premier league (in Scotland) did not exist until the mid-70s. Slap on the wrist for the author.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
March 23, 2024
Did not finish - I seek out books written by women because I'm tired of reading about misogynist men, and unfortunately I could not make it past the second chapter thanks to the way Staines (and others) thinks and behaves.
August 10, 2017
Uncomplicated, fast paced, grim but also quiet humorous Scottish crime novel.
January 15, 2018
Excellent - summons up the real feeling of the place and time
January 18, 2019
This story just didn't grab me although I liked the premise and the setting. I found the characters were not all plausible - some seemed too cliched.
September 13, 2020
DNF- not my cup of tea.
April 8, 2021
Bumped this up to 3 stars because, although it wasn't for me, there was nothing wrong in the writing of it; I just didn't appreciate the somewhat slapstick comedy.
March 17, 2022
Past and present well mixed, enjoyed it.
October 27, 2020
A Fine House in Trinity is another one from the bag of tartan noir novels I glommed from the Edinburgh bookfest website. It's far from perfect, but enjoyable in its use of the Scottish patois -- and especially in the story of how it got written. It's by a first-time author who manages to bring up two kids and serve as a case office in the city health department. I probably won't read another of her books, but certainly wish her well ...
May 14, 2016
Joseph Staines is one of the most realistic lead characters I have encountered for ages. He is flawed, cowardly in the face of danger and generally not as well liked as he may like to believe. He is also strangely endearing, frequently amusing and has a really well developed back story which makes A Fine House in Trinity a really fun read.
‘Stainsie’ had left Edinburgh was a pocketful of money and the ‘tallybook’ of debtors names who owed money to one of Edinburgh’s more notorious debt collectors, Isa Stoddart. But now he has returned after just a short time away and finds himself bequeathed something rather unexpected. Unfortunately for Stainsie there are not many people pleased to see him return and those that are looking for him are people he would rather avoid.
A Fine House is a story which pans out over the course of a week (with frequent flashbacks to give us the wonderful backstory which allows us to see how Staines finds himself in his current predicament). The narrative is really well paced, I liked Staines, then I didn’t like him and then liked him again – flawed but a great ‘loveable rogue.’ There is loads of great dialogue to enjoy – Lesley Kelly does a fine job of allowing Edinburgh’s finest to shine through.
One of the strengths of A Fine House in Trinity is the supporting cast. Staines has a few allies to help him along the way and, through the flashbacks, we can get a glimpse of past acquaintances and how they shaped his life.
A Fine House in Trinity is a cracking debut from Lesley Kelly, it is definitely a book which merits your attention.
‘Stainsie’ had left Edinburgh was a pocketful of money and the ‘tallybook’ of debtors names who owed money to one of Edinburgh’s more notorious debt collectors, Isa Stoddart. But now he has returned after just a short time away and finds himself bequeathed something rather unexpected. Unfortunately for Stainsie there are not many people pleased to see him return and those that are looking for him are people he would rather avoid.
A Fine House is a story which pans out over the course of a week (with frequent flashbacks to give us the wonderful backstory which allows us to see how Staines finds himself in his current predicament). The narrative is really well paced, I liked Staines, then I didn’t like him and then liked him again – flawed but a great ‘loveable rogue.’ There is loads of great dialogue to enjoy – Lesley Kelly does a fine job of allowing Edinburgh’s finest to shine through.
One of the strengths of A Fine House in Trinity is the supporting cast. Staines has a few allies to help him along the way and, through the flashbacks, we can get a glimpse of past acquaintances and how they shaped his life.
A Fine House in Trinity is a cracking debut from Lesley Kelly, it is definitely a book which merits your attention.
October 4, 2017
I always enjoy reading novels set in Edinburgh. Thus was a worthwhile read, though not a page-turner as such. I'm guessing there will be a sequel.
April 29, 2016
A fast moving, witty tale about an alcoholic trying to solve a murder he's getting stuck in for - despite the fact he was in the cells, steaming. With his girlfriend, Marianne, worrying she could have killed the victim, our Stainsie, and Wheezy, the brains of the operation, try to discover who really did - and with most of Leith owing the redoubtable gangland matriarch Isa Stoddart money, there's plenty of suspects. On the way, we learn how Stainsie ended up in the gutter - and see if he can redeem himself, and start to climb out of it.
Full review coming shortly on crimeworm.WordPress.com.
Full review coming shortly on crimeworm.WordPress.com.
May 29, 2016
Edinburgh suburban crime story, switching from the present fast paced unravelling of a misplaced accusation of murder on an unreliable but likeable rogue and his poignant lifestory, which lays the story bare. Very funny, evocative sense of time, weaving interesting local and national history, with a strong sense of place and character. Really enjoyed it. Look forward to reading more.
June 11, 2016
I wanted to read this one as the house is set in York Road just up from where I live and has some beautiful villas in it from the 19th century. A lot of the book however is set in Leith and not Trinity. I quite enjoyed it, although it seemed to lag somehow and I couldn't quite connect with the characters alas. Still I always like books set in Edinburgh so perhaps the next one will be better.
May 2, 2016
Good, but an extra star for the Leith references
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