Stonemouth
A Novel

Name: Stonemouth
Brand: Blackstone Audiobooks
Availability: InStock
Author: Iain Banks
ISBN: 9781620641217

Author: Iain Banks

Narrator: Peter Kenny

Unabridged: 11 hr 5 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Published: 10/10/2012

Categories: Fiction, Suspense & Thriller

Synopsis

Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years, in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five-mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one it can seem to offer little more than sea fog, gangsters, cheap drugs, and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there is supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option, and as he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Tough, funny, fast-paced and touching, Stonemouth cracks open adolescence, love, brotherhood, and vengeance in a rite of passage novel like no other.

About Iain Banks

Iain Banks (1954–2013) was a Scottish author considered one of the most powerful, innovative, and exciting writers of his generation. He wrote mainstream fiction under the name Iain Banks and science fiction as Iain M. Banks. Following the publication and success of The Wasp Factory in 1984, he began to write full time. His first science fiction book, Consider Phlebas, was released in 1987, marking the start of the popular Culture series. His books have been adapted for theater, radio, and television. In honor of his science fiction work, an asteroid was named for him in 2013, and asteroid (5099) Iainbanks now resides in the main asteroid belt of the Sol system.

About Peter Kenny

Peter Kenny, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a talented and experienced actor, voice-over artist, singer, musician, and designer, with over twenty-five years of experience working in theater, film, television, and audio. He has achieved great critical acclaim for multicharacter recordings of audiobooks by authors such as Iain Banks, Christopher Priest, and Edmund St Aubyn.

Reviews

Goodreads review by karen on September 01, 2018

iain (m.) banks writes supersmart sci-fi books that "you wouldn't understand, karen." but he also wrote this, which i am proud to say i completely understand, and i really enjoyed. it is a crime thriller, set in a small town in scotland, which is presided over by two competing, but not actively warri......more

Goodreads review by Katerina on December 11, 2020

Stonemouth -- история о том, как парень возвращается в городок своего детства, из которого пять лет назад он был вынужден скоропостижно бежать при каких-то невыясненных, но очень драматических обстоятельствах. Несмотря на то, что город маленький, в нем, помимо шахтеров и сумасшедших пейзажей, есть ц......more

Goodreads review by Ben on October 06, 2012

I really like Iain M Banks (Iain Banks' sci-fi alter ego). I also love a lot of Iain Banks: The Wasp Factory, The Bridge and A Song of Stone especially. But I really am quite tired of Banks’ wordy, trendy, pharmaceutically-enlightened, politically-spot-on, smart-arse characters. As for the the plot........more

Goodreads review by Ellis on December 06, 2012

This book's plot revolves heavily around the unbelievable selfishness of man child Stewart Gilmour; why is he back in town making everyone angry after being forced to flee years earlier? Because, basically, he wants to be, although also because a dead guy wanted him at his funeral. Why did he cheat......more

Goodreads review by Andrew on May 29, 2012

The dialogue in this book is superb, I could see how it would translate into great TV or film. This is a thoroughly good yarn too; centred around a found man who skips town after upsetting a local crime family, the plot held my attention throughout, as did the love story which is the real meat of th......more

Quotes

“Begins with all the elements of a good noir: a protagonist in over his head, a moody setting, and an atmosphere of danger…[and] ends up more as a love story and a meditation on returning to one’s childhood home.” Library Journal

“Addictive, funny, and brilliantly observed.” Daily Mail (London)

“It’s tender, and funny, and heart-stoppingly exciting.” Times (London)

“Jocular, gritty, and smart-alecky, Stonemouth is very Iain Banks.” Sunday Independent (Ireland)

“This is Banks at his waspish, intelligent, nuanced best. His fans will give thanks.” Scotland on Sunday

“There is more than a shade of Pip and Estella in Stewart and Ellie, and to create an emotionally satisfying while intellectually convincing ending is a rare achievement.” Guardian (London)