Denise Mina, in Conversation

Scottish crime writer Denise Mina recently talked with Patrick Millikin from The Poisoned Pen about her novels and social issues. The Less Dead was triggered by actual crimes that happened in Glasgow. You can order a copy of the book through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2EjTFgH

Millikin says he stayed up the night before to read The Less Dead. Here is the description of the book.

In this shocking new thriller from the author of the “blazingly intense” Reese Witherspoon book club pick and national bestseller Conviction, a woman in crisis finds herself on the hunt for her own mother’s murderer (A. J. Finn).

She thought she was finding her birth mother.
Now she’s searching for a killer.

Dr. Margo Dunlop is at a crossroads. Her adoptive mom just passed away, and Margo misses her so much she can’t begin to empty the house-or, it seems, get her brother on the phone. Not to mention she’s newly single, secretly pregnant, and worried about her best friend’s dangerous relationship. In an effort to cheer herself up she goes in search of her birth mother. Instead she finds Nikki, her mother’s sister. Aunt Nikki isn’t what Margo expects, and she brings upsetting news: Margo’s mother is dead. Worse, she was murdered years ago, and her killer is still at large-and sending Nikki threatening letters.

Margo is torn. Should she stay out of this mess, or try to find justice? But then Margo receives a letter, too. Someone out there has been waiting and watching, and in Margo sees the spitting image of her mother…

Darkly funny and deeply affecting, The Less Dead is a sharply modern new thriller from the bestselling author of Conviction, and a surprisingly moving story of daughters and mothers, secrets and choices, and how the search for the truth-and a long-hidden killer-will lead one woman to find herself.

*****

You’ll want to watch the discussion of the book, The Less Dead, class, criminal justice, and social issues.