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This month, we’re stepping into the fog‑choked streets of wartime Glasgow and recommending the fierce new crime classic, Gunner, by Alan Parks. First published in 2025 and now gaining recognition as a compelling blend of historical thriller and noir, Gunner introduces us to a different kind of operative – one forged in the brutal crucible of the Second World War.
OVERVIEW
It is 1941 and the titular Joseph Gunner has returned to his hometown after being injured on the front lines in France. His arrival coincides with the Luftwaffe bombing of his city. The places and people have changed, some unrecognizably so, although some things never change: he has barely stepped off the train in Glasgow when he is approached by his old boss, Detective Inspector Drummond. Gunner was a policeman (or ‘polis’) before the war and now Drummond needs his help with a new case. A body has been found in the bomb wreckage, one not killed by the Luftwaffe, but rather mutilated and disfigured. So begins a mystery that will take Gunner through rubble-strewn streets, grimy but steadfast pubs and into the prisoner of war camps – where an even greater, and stranger, mystery awaits.
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Fans of Ian Fleming will appreciate Gunner’s link to real‑world intrigue: Joseph Gunner’s story is partly inspired by real events from wartime Glasgow, including the mysterious flight of Rudolf Hess in 1941. Just as Fleming drew on his own intelligence experience to shape James Bond, Alan Parks weaves historical fact with thrilling fiction, creating a world where danger and secrecy feel entirely real.
It’s a rare glimpse into a world where courage and survival aren’t just literary devices, they were the reality for those living under constant threat. For readers who love James Bond, this is the kind of historical spy fiction that makes the danger tangible.
THEMES TO CONSIDER
– War and trauma. How do Gunner’s physical and emotional wounds shape his every decision?
– Power and corruption. What happens when espionage meets street‑level brutality, and friend and foe aren’t always distinguishable?
– Identity under pressure. How are we tested when the world is at its most dangerous?
– History as character. The Blitz isn’t just a backdrop, how does it permeate and shape the story?
REVIEWS
The Guardian – ‘A gritty, immersive, genuine page‑turner … meticulously researched.’
The Times – ‘One of the greatest Scottish writers‘
Peter James – ‘Great storytelling … a vivid sense of place and time.’
Vaseem Khan – ‘A lean, mean, and ruthlessly readable thriller.’
Andrew Taylor – ‘A superb thriller with a gripping, constantly surprising plot.’
ABOUT ALAN PARKS
Alan Parks is an acclaimed Scottish crime writer whose award‑winning novels are praised for their realism, rich atmospheres and complex characters. With Gunner, he blends historical depth with a gripping thriller sensibility, giving readers a world both vividly realized and relentlessly suspenseful. He is also the author of the Harry McCoy thrillers, which feature a world-weary and morally-questionable detective stomping around 1970s Glasgow, which is where Parks works and lives now. Before beginning his writing career, Parks worked for twenty years in the music industry.
We hope you enjoy Gunner. Follow our social channels for discussions, highlights, and more.
