Ghost Notes

A heart attack at a funeral, blackmail, murder, grief bots, affairs, the power of music and ghosts of every kind, who threaten the Skelfs’ very existence. The Skelfs are back in another gripping, heartfelt and irresistible mystery. ‘One of the finest crime series out there. I remain a happily hopeless Skelfaholic’ Mark Billingham ‘The persistence of love in the Skelf household is reassuring and life-affirming’ The Times‘A brilliant addition to one of my favourite series in any genre’ James Oswald‘The Skelfs feel like family … Edinburgh’s favourite family, bringing darkness and delight’ Val McDermid______The Skelf women have been keeping their heads down, running the family’s funeral directors and private investigation businesses. But when a woman collapses at her husband’s funeral and is saved by Dorothy, she finds herself drawn into the murky world of ‘grief tech’ – a booming new industry that creates digital avatars of the dead. Jenny’s latest case – a simple blackmail job for an old school friend – quickly spirals into chaos as the woman’s tangled love life pulls Jenny towards dangerous old habits. Meanwhile, Hannah and her wife, Indy, are confronted by the unexpected arrival of Indy’s ex-boyfriend, claiming to be dying and eager for the Skelfs to arrange his funeral. But his arrival uncovers more ghosts from the past, and threatens to upend everything they’ve built. As their cases collide and their personal lives spiral, the Skelfs face danger from all sides. How far will they go to protect one another, and what will it cost to finally silence the ghosts?Warm, tense and full of heart, Ghost Notes is another masterful instalment in Doug Johnstone’s award-winning, addictive Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever…__________Praise for The Skelfs series:**SHORTLISTED for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year****SHORTLISTED for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel**‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction’ Sarah Hilary‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ Daily Express‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly‘An addictive blend of Case Histories and Six Feet Under’ Chris Brookmyre‘Thrilling, atmospheric’ Kate Rhodes‘Cleverly weaves in family and intrigue’ Helen Fields‘A noir heavyweight’ Willy Vlautin‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times‘Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail‘Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale’ Herald Scotland‘One of the greats of Scottish crime fiction’ Luca Veste‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly

• Publication date: 13 August 2026
• Page count: 276
• Dimensions: Height 196 mm; Width 130 mm; Thickness 19 mm
• Publisher: Orenda Books
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN-13: 9781917764377