The Long List – Part 6

Alan Parks’ May God Forgive is a highly complex 70s gang tale that the Theakston’s long list may well lead to two awards for the same book after it won the McIlvanney prize at last year’s Bloody Scotland festival.



The story opens with a fire at a hairdressers, but who’s responsible for it? How does the opening death of the book and the many different stories tie in together to show the stressful world that led his protagonist to have to recover from a stomach ulcer, despite the fact that he was struggling not to drink?



The many elements of this book justify its entry, but there are several themes which may divide the crowd, so I’m not quite sure where it will end up on this year’s list and whether it will make the short list. I can see why it won the McIlvanney, though and if enough people vote for it there may be the strong chance of a double.












https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/May-God-Forgive-Audiobook/B09S1DPBHQ?ref=a_library_t_c5_libItem_B09S1DPBHQ_0&pf_rd_p=7e7340a8-8768-4798-a0ce-83f879c09110&pf_rd_r=7Z5FCV6KBPV0ZSYNHFTX&pageLoadId=sPS7fupALlPJVSYj&creativeId=14d6a1c2-a3f8-499b-900a-1ae788c317b1