for True Glasgow By J Ferguson on 25 April 2014 A book that is difficult to lay down. Rich in language and ideas , its an emotional ride through 60’s Glasgow. Its at times harrowing it is at times hilarious and in some cases generates guilty laughter(should you really be laughing) but is also deeply moving and tears at your emotional muscles. Detailed descriptive, geographically accurate and above all a fantastic plot which I will not give away. Its fascinating and refreshingly original in style and addictive. Its difficult to find authentic Glasgow voices telling a story that is Glasgow through and through.

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Run John Boy Run The Irn Bru of Scottish Fiction By Scott Imrie on 10 October 2014 I actually loved this book. A fantastic follow on from Parly Road. I felt a wee bit harsh giving Parly Road 4 stars, but now it lets me give this a 5 ! This book continues with the characters from Parly Road and gives you great insight into what makes many of them tick the way they do. At the same time as the main characters are developed and you understand some of the events that brought this mad mixture together there is an awesome continuing story of the misadventures of Johnboy, Tony, Paul, Skull and some new characters thrown in to develop a love / hate relationship with. The way this and the previous book were written sucks you into Glasgow of the 60’s – I’m not from there but can picture all of this vividly. Like the first book this is an adventure that is sometime hilarious, harsh and heartbreaking. I labelled the first book “un-put-downable” and this one just forces you to pick it back up an see what happens next. After the end of book one I had to get book Run Johnboy Run opened up to see what happened and it didn’t disappoint. I maybe can’t write a good book review, but Ian Todd can write a good book ! Over to you Mr. Todd, 5/5 and looking forward to the next instalment. Look for the Facebook page to get a great idea of what these books are about and some incredible pictures of where it is all set.

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The times they are a’changing By Linda Richardson on 13 November 2016 This book, the third in the Parly Road series is set monthly in the north west of Scotland and features Paul more than the other Mankys. Paul has had a breakdown and is sent to recuperate with an old couple who live on a croft, not far from Culrain Castle. Paul finds the slower pace of life healing but he still feels the need to fight against what he sees as his oppressors, namely the Duke of the castle and his family and staff. Having read the previous two books I felt that this was the best yet and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next in the series.

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The Mattress By PKW Elgin on 8 March 2015 The Mattress brings us back to the reality of Glasgow city gang life, After a memorable visit to the highlands with Paul, ‘Wan Eye’ (the lovable one eyed collie dog), and many new and very interesting characters in book 4, it takes little while to adjust to reading about how time has advanced the activities of the Manky gang. This is real gangland warfare. No holds barred. Brutal at times. Scenes describing how ‘The Big Man ‘encourages’ people to tell him what he must be told are not for the squeamish reader. This is fiction, maybe, but the author is including a social history of Glasgow at in the 1970’s, and from my memory of the newspapers then, these book occurrences could mirror fact. With gangs there must be the inevitable police. Police are ordinary people doing ordinary things with their lives, until they put their uniform on. All of the police characters introduced to the reader in this book bring with them humour, dedication to duty, frustration with authority (the boss has got it wrong again), a little hardness, cynicism, down right nastiness, ambition, and also likeableness. I liked in particular two interview scenes described in great detail. One was the Assistant Governor for Polmont Young Offenders Institution being interviewed for the position of Governor of Barlinnie Prison. The other at Polmont when the Chaplain tries to get into the mind of Johnboy Taylor. regarding especially his views on religion. These passages are well handled by the author. There will be different views on how the story ends. It certainly builds up to a good ‘will it happen or not? Will I cheat and read the last page? I enjoyed the book very much. All of the journals so far have been excellent. I look forward to Journal 5 ‘The Wummin’.

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The Wummin’ I love them. By PKW Elgin on 29 May 2015 ‘The Wummin.’ God’s creatures put into Glasgow at a time of poverty, hardship, and in the main, drink worshiping men. How did they possibly create an existence for themselves and their families? Ian’s fictional storey gives the answer. Each cared for the other. They shared their worries, miseries, troubles, and good times and when banding together in a common cause showed true determination to make their point. Some of the ladies are known from the previous journals and refreshingly new faces are introduced. The dialogue used by the author (Glasgae Patter) is brilliant. From the ‘Wummins’ simplistic reasoning of a problem to downright humour was at times more than a reading pleasure. It was humour and wit at it’s best. The early occasion in the story where Helen goes with Issy to buy a coffin is outrageously funny and as a plot for a TV comedy show, with Scot’s actors, it would be real entertainment. There are many other things in the book with which the author keeps the readers interest constantly alive, but because of my age and having knowledge of the times written about, one thing is obvious and that is within the fictional story line there is the strong presence of a sad social history. A really captivating read. Loved it.

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A Great read, gripping stuff, sad yet lots of laughs x By Ann McPherson on 2 August 2015 This was a great book. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out what was going to happen to the Mankys. Having read all the previous books in the Glasgow Chronicles I was pleased to have been able to catch up with the Mankys and their new pursuits. I had a wee tear (of happiness) when Johnboy & Senga finally admitted their love to each other, it was a long time in coming. So looking forward to the next book The Silver Arrow and I’m hoping for a good life & good times ahead for Johnboy & Senga and all the Mankys. Just hope they continue to outwit the ‘cops’ and the bad boys. I want a soppy ending !!!!!! Just saying !! xx Cannot recommend Ian Todd’s books enough.

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Spicy Haggis Supper By Scott Imrie on 1 February 2016 I absolutely horsed through this…. I wasn’t paying attention to my Kindle telling me how much I had left to go, I knew I was getting near the finish but denied it – I didn’t want this book to end. Is this Ian’s ‘Trainspotting’ ? Why not ? Irvine Welsh’s characters that centre around Trainspotting, Porno, Filth etc were in my mind the first real bad boys of Scottish modern fiction – well this Manky lot and the associated hard men, corrupt police and councillors and all the other characters that come and go all the way through this series of books has got to ignite a debate on which end of the M8 do the hardest, baddest, funniest characters come from. But you know what, it doesn’t really matter if it’s salt ‘n’ sauce or salt ‘n’ vinegar you would have on your spicy haggis supper, whatever end of the M8 you think the winner of a Todd v Welsh square go would come from, these characters are giants of Scottish fiction that both authors weave their own experiences (and memories ?) into. Anyway, enough of the amateur literary lesson, what about the book ? So, avoiding spoilers again, the book races on from the cliff-hanger at the end of Dumfries. The plot is probably the most complex out of the whole series, and you get the sense that Ian has literally put everything into this, and enjoyed doing it. There’s tragedy, deviousness, corruption, craziness and laughs in bucketloads all the way through this book. I really don’t want to give away any of the plot, if you’ve read the earlier books you’re in for a treat, if you are thinking about buying this but haven’t read the earlier books then stop yourself, get the whole series queued up on your Kindle and drop out of society for a couple of weeks and binge read the lot ! Mr. Todd, I take my hat off to you !

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Elvis The Sani Man… this newest book from Ian Todd I was not disappointed. Once again a rollercoaster of emotions By patricia healy on 11 October 2016 Having eagerly awaited this newest book from Ian Todd I was not disappointed. Once again a rollercoaster of emotions. I was immersed in the characters joy, heartaches and fears. I love the way their lives unfold and how stories from previous books weave together. Fabulous to meet the new characters and getting to know more about the old faithful’s. I would love to see these novels on the screen too. Who would play what character? Looking forward to more novels Mr Todd. Thank you for bringing the joy of reading back into my life.

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Tartan Special By Scott Imrie on 5 March 2017 Another absolute belter Mr Todd. It’s a split between Tartan Special sign and Tennents Lager cans from the 70’s / 80’s 😉 Loved this from start to finish – was watching ‘Growing Up In Scotland’ last week with Townhead and Springburn in the 60’s – 80’s featured; the film emphasising how well your narrative describes the setting of these books. For first time readers go back to the start and read the series – you’ll no’ regret it. These stories are so compelling it is surely only be a matter of time before STV or the new BBC Scotland channel seriously consider making a series out of these books. Ken Stott for the Big Man and James Cosmo for Wan Bob. Nominations for JBT and the Mankies welcome….. As for as Scottish (semi) fiction goes Rebus and Begbie have got contenders.

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