Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the blog tour for the Bloody Scotland book festival taking place in Stirling from 15th-17th of September.

There are a whole host of fascinating events taking place including one I am really looking forward to: Craig Russell and Liam McIlvanney.

One McIlvanney, two McIlvanney Prize winners, three McIlvanney Prizes between them. Two of Scotland’s – and crime fiction’s – finest talents join forces for an hour to discuss their approach to their work. Craig Russell’s dark, gritty plots and complex characters have gained an army of fans. He continues to push the boundaries of the genre and his latest, the masterful, Hollywood-set The Devil’s Playground is no exception. Liam McIlvanney has an enviable ability to create a sense of place and atmosphere through brooding and deeply evocative prose. His talents are on full show in The Heretic, the stunning follow-up to his award-winning novel The Quaker.

The event is taking place at the Albert Halls on Sunday at 1pm and tickets can be bought here.

If you want to take a look at the wide array of events happening over the weekend at Bloody Scotland, have a look at their full brochure here!

Now read on for my review of Craig Russell’s newest release – The Devil’s Playground.

Release Date: June 8th 2023
Publisher: Constable
Pages: 432
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this from my local Waterstones
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

A riveting 1920s Hollywood thriller about the making of the most terrifying silent film ever made, and a deadly search for the single copy rumored still to exist, from the internationally acclaimed author of The Devil Aspect .

1927: Mary Rourke—a Hollywood studio fixer—is called urgently to the palatial home of Norma Carlton, one of the most recognizable stars in American silent film. Norma has been working on the secret film everyone is openly talking about… a terrifying horror picture called The Devil’s Playground that is rumored to have unleashed a curse on everyone involved in the production. Mary finds Norma’s cold, dead body, and she wonders for just a moment if these dark rumors could be true.

1967: Paul Conway, a journalist and self-professed film aficionado, is on the trail of a tantalizing rumor. He has heard that a single copy of The Devil’s Playground —a Holy Grail for film buffs—may exist. He knows his Hollywood history and he knows the film endured myriad tragedies and ended up lost to time.

Review

Craig Russell’s The Devil’s Playground is a dark and enthralling tale that follows two timelines. In 1967 journalist Paul Conway is attempting to track down the only copy of The Devil’s Playground in existence – a silent film that was thought to be a cursed production with several tragic accidents and deaths linked to the film. Meanwhile, in 1927 Mary Rourke is a fixer for a Hollywood film studio – she does what she can to ensure the studio and its actors are never seen in a bad light. The studio is currently working on a film that is thought to be the most terrifying horror film ever made – The Devil’s Playground. When Mary discovers the body of the lead actress, she begins to wonder if there are any truths to the rumour that this is a cursed production.

The Devil’s Playground had me hooked right from that very first chapter. Russell has a way of creating really fascinating, gripping premises and this one was no exception. I very much found The Devil’s Playground difficult to put down, it was such a captivating story. I often found myself thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading it and the vivid and atmospheric writing style meant I was desperate to pick the book up at any opportunity. The story is exceptionally plotted and I loved the way the tension just climbed and climbed. The Devil’s Playground feels incredibly detailed and well researched – the sights and sounds of 1920s Hollywood really leaped off the page.

This story is full to the brim with mystery and its definitely a story that will keep you guessing. The characters were exquisitely crafted and I particularly liked Mary Rourke. The Devil’s Playground is a brilliant, captivating tale and if you’re looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this one is an absolute must read.