The Good Neighbours

More about the book

Cath is a photographer aspiring to go freelance while working in a record shop to make ends meet. Her manager, Steve, believes her photography resembles detective work, revealing overlooked details. As she embarks on a new project photographing murder houses, Cath returns to the Isle of Bute, her childhood home, for the first time since leaving for Glasgow at eighteen. The island is deeply woven into her identity, filled with memories of her old home, her childhood friend Shirley Craigie, and the tragic familicide committed by John Craigie, Shirley's father. Upon arriving at the Craigie house, Cath discovers it is now occupied by Alice Rahman, a Financial Analyst who left London seeking solace from city life. Their unusual connection leads them to reexamine the Craigie murder. Within the walls of the Craigie house, Cath begins to uncover unsettling truths about John Craigie, including his obsession with Richard Dadd's work and local fairy folklore. This narrative explores the complexities of the past, the fallibility of memory, and how myths shape our understanding of human experiences.