The Opposite of Lonely

The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unsettling, and warmly funny as ever! The Opposite of Lonely is the fifth installment in the unforgettable Skelfs series, and this time, danger comes from everywhere.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
Publisher: Orenda Books

A body lost at sea, arson, murder, astronauts, wind phones, communal funerals, stalking, and conspiracy theories … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unnerving, and warmly funny as ever!

'A terrific read with all of Johnston's trademark warmth and wicked wit in the latest gripping outing for this beguiling family.' A K Turner

'Some of the best female characters in crime fiction. Pitch-perfect balance of dark and light … disturbing, compassionate, and brilliantly funny.' Sarah Hilary

The Skelfs series just gets better and better! Outstanding characters and a gripping plot … Doug Johnstone is one of the greats of Scottish crime fiction.

Even death needs company…

The Skelf women are recovering from the cataclysmic events that nearly claimed their lives. Their funeral director and private investigation businesses are back on track, and their cases are as perplexing as ever.

Matriarch Dorothy looks into a suspicious fire at an illegal campsite and takes a grieving, homeless man under her wing. Daughter Jenny is searching for her missing sister-in-law, who disappeared in tragic circumstances, while grand-daughter Hannah is asked to investigate increasingly dangerous conspiracy theorists, who are targeting a retired female astronaut … putting her own life at risk.

With a body lost at sea, funerals for those with no one to mourn them, reports of strange happenings in outer space, a funeral crasher with a painful secret, and a violent attack on one of the family, The Skelfs face their most personal – and perilous – cases yet. Doing things their way may cost them everything…

Tense, unnerving, and warmly funny, The Opposite of Lonely is the hugely anticipated fifth instalment in the Skelfs series.

The Skelfs are a family of funeral directors and private investigators who are always on the lookout for strange and unusual cases. In this latest installment, they are faced with a series of perplexing and dangerous cases that test their skills and loyalty to each other.

One of the cases involves a body that is lost at sea, and the family must use all of their resources to find out what happened to it. They also investigate a series of arson attacks that are targeting local businesses, and they discover that there may be a connection between the two cases.

Another case involves a murder that takes place. The family must use all of their skills to investigate the crime and find out who is responsible. They also must deal with the emotional impact of the murder on the victim's family and friends.

In addition to these cases, the family also deals with a series of other challenges. They must deal with the loss of one of their own, and they must also deal with the emotional impact of the death on the rest of the family. They also must deal with the challenges of running their businesses, and they must also deal with the challenges of being a family.

Throughout the book, the Skelfs are faced with a series of moral dilemmas and ethical questions. They must decide whether to follow the law or to break it in order to solve the cases. They must also decide whether to put their own lives at risk in order to save others.

The book is filled with memorable characters, including Matriarch Dorothy, who is a strong and determined woman who is always willing to put her own life at risk in order to protect her family. She is also a skilled investigator who is always able to find the answers to the questions that she is asked.

Daughter Jenny is a talented and ambitious woman who is always looking for a way to improve her life. She is also a compassionate person who is always willing to help others.

Granddaughter Hannah is a young and talented investigator who is always willing to take risks in order to solve the cases. She is also a compassionate person who is always willing to help others.

The book is also filled with a series of interesting and exciting plot twists that keep the reader engaged and interested. The reader is never sure what is going to happen next, and the book is always filled with suspense and tension.

Overall, The Opposite of Lonely is a terrific read that is filled with warmth, humor, and suspense. It is a book that is sure to appeal to fans of crime fiction and family drama alike. The Skelfs are a family that is always willing to put their own lives at risk in order to protect each other, and they are a family that is always willing to help others. The book is a testament to the strength of family and the power of love.

Weight: 198g
Dimension: 198 x 128 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914585807