Scottish crime writer Lindsay (The Endings Man
) makes his U.S. debut with a quirky tale that works best as a character study. When 18-year-old Harry Glass is fired after a week at his new Glasgow factory job, he impulsively jumps in his boss's car and drives away, even though the boss's wife is in the front seat. So begins the unorthodox love affair between Harry and Eileen Morton, a woman 20 years his senior whom he'll eventually marry. The pair travel to Edinburgh and Aberdeen, chased by violent men convinced that something in the car is worth killing for. Stuck for a time with a mysterious couple in the Highlands who are less than forthright about their pasts, Harry and Eileen try to stay one step ahead of their pursuers while navigating their own burgeoning relationship. Since Harry, the book's narrator, reveals at the start that Eileen dies in old age, thriller fans should be prepared for a low level of suspense. (Apr.)
