The Silent House of Sleep
The First Dr Jack Cuthbert Mystery
by Allan Gaw
£9.99
- Paperback
- E-Book
Crime & thriller
Reviews
[A] brilliant depiction of a 1920s London haunted—and more—by the horrors and ramifications of World War One. The murder may be almost unspeakably heinous, but there is humanity here and a palpable sense of redemption beyond the dread
Ian Rankin
Wallops readers with a shocking yet credible twist long after the mystery seems resolved. Fans of Rennie Airth’s moody historical mysteries will love this
Publishers Weekly (Starred)
Heartbreaking and harrowing in equal measure. Dr Jack Cuthbert is a brilliant, damaged genius you’ll want to follow to hell and back
Pauline McLean, BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent
This murder mystery makes for compelling reading... Cuthbert himself is a finely conceived and drawn character
The Scotsman
The story weaves together the horrors of war, the lasting trauma on soldiers, a diabolical murder mystery, and the emotional journey of a damaged man striving to overcome his past and find justice. A superb series starter
Booklist (Starred)
We liked that Allan was trying to take the crime novel to new and interesting places. The central character perfectly expresses the damage of both the period and his environment, and the author’s pathology background was skilfully deployed in this highly original thriller
Tariq Ashkanani, author and Bloody Scotland judge
Deliciously dark, vividly visceral, heartbreakingly harrowing
Sharon Bairden
An outstanding whodunit with a difference... a compelling and memorable tale. What you find between the covers is a beautifully paced account of the forensic examination of the victims of a double murder by Scottish pathologist Dr Jack Cuthbert
Undiscovered Scotland
The first in Allan Gaw’s Dr Jack Cuthbert mysteries ... [has] a gritty historical edge
The Herald
The vivid and fascinating writing bringing these characters and cases to the page made us keep turning the pages
LoveReading, Series of the Month
One of the most exciting debut novels in years, with a central character who is utterly complex and compelling
Scots Whay Hae podcast
The novel was the winner of the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut Prize in 2024 and it’s easy to see why it won with its vivid descriptions, rich characters and engaging plot
LoveReading
the book is well-written and well-researched
Historical Novels Society
the novel's evocative historical setting adds to the sense of intrigue – and jeopardy,
The Ayrshire Magazine
I loved this mystery, slow burning and gripping. There’s a sense of doom, there’s a complex and damaged main character . . . vivid and well researched life of LGBT people and the medical procedures
Scrapping & Playing blog
Dr Jack Cuthbert is a compelling and comprehensive character in a beautifully crafted world that I am sure will only get richer in future novels. The Silent House Of Sleep is a novel to shout about
CrimeBookGirl
Excellently paced and full of tension
BooksbyBindu.com
A fascinating yet gritty historical mystery with complex and compelling characters
Ljwritesandreviews
About the Book
Winner of the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize
Death is a lonely business . . .
No one who meets Dr Jack Cuthbert forgets him. Tall, urbane, brilliant but damaged, this Scottish pathologist who works with Scotland Yard is the best the new DCI has seen. But Cuthbert is a man who lives with secrets, and he still battles demons brought back from the trenches.
When not one but two corpses are discovered in a London park in 1929, Cuthbert must use every tool at his disposal to solve the mystery of their deaths. In the end, the horrifying truth is more shocking than even he could have imagined.
The Author
Allan Gaw
Allan Gaw studied medicine at Glasgow University and trained as a pathologist. Having worked in the NHS and universities in the UK and the US, he took early retirement and now devotes his time to writing. His published non-fiction works include medical textbooks and magazine articles on topics as diverse as the thalidomide story, the medical challenges of space travel and the medico-legal consequences of the Hillsborough disaster.
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