Halfhead

A terrifying serial killer thriller set in the gritty Glasgow of the near future, from theauthor of the Logan McRae series Glasgow, not too far in the future. A new punishment has been devised for the perpetrators of serious crimes, one that not only reduces the prison population, but also benefits society at large. The process is known as halfheading: the offender's lower jaw is removed and they are lobotomized, then put to work as cleaners in municipal areaswhere they serve as a warning to all. But it seems one halfhead procedure wasn't quite successfulsix years after her surgery, Dr. Fiona Westfield "wakes up" surrounded by the butchered remains of a man she has just brutally killed. As her mind slowly begins to return, she sets out on a quest for vengeance. William Hunter, Assistant Section Director of the Networka military wing of the policeis soonthe trail of the killer. But before long the investigation leads back to a terrible tragedy in his own past, as well as to a terrifying conspiracy to sow violence and misery among Glasgow's most vulnerable citizens. Review 'Slick, gruesome and brutally intelligent, this is bare knuckles thriller-writing.' Michael Marshall 'Compelling' SFX Praise for Stuart MacBride: 'Riveting and gruesome' Telegraph 'Grim, gritty and great fun' Daily Sport 'Stuart MacBride goes straight for the jugular with a tight, thrilling novel' Glasgow Herald 'The action is fercious and the pace unrelenting' Northern Echo About the Author Stuart MacBride is the author of the Logan McRae books, which include Cold Granite , Dying Light , and Flesh House . He won theInternational Thriller Writers' Best Debut Novel for Cold Granite and theTheakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award three times. Glasgow, not too far in the future. A new punishment has been devised for the perpetrators of serious crimes – one that not only reduces the prison population but also benefits society at large. The process is known as halfheading: the offender's lower jaw is removed and they are lobotomized. They are then put to work as cleaners in municipal areas like hospitals, where they serve as a warning to all that crime doesn't pay.But for one halfhead, it seems the lobotomy hasn't quite succeeded. Six years after her surgery, Dr Fiona Westfield 'wakes up' surrounded by the butchered remains of a man she has just brutally killed. As her mind slowly begins to return, she sets out on a quest for vengeance.William Hunter, Assistant Section Director of the 'Network' – a military wing of the police – attends the crime scene left behind by the newly awakened halfhead. Sherman House is a run-down concrete housing development full of undesirables and Hunter and his team quickly find themselves in a firefight with the locals.With the help of old comrades and a new friend in the form of prickly but attractive Detective Sergeant Josephine Cameron, Will gets on the trail of the killer. But before long the investigation leads back to a terrible tragedy in his own past, as well as to a terrifying conspiracy to sow violence and misery among Glasgow's most vulnerable citizens. Terrifying serial killer thriller set in the gritty Glasgow of the near future, from the bestselling author of the Logan McRae series. There are worse things than the death penalty... They call them halfheads: convicted criminals, surgically mutilated and lobotomized by the State, then sent out to do menial jobs in the community so everyone will know what happens when you break the law. There are no appeals, no reprieves, and no one ever comes back. Until now. Dr Fiona Westfield, one of the most prolific serial killers Glasgow has ever seen, is waking up. Surrounded by blood and death and darkness. William Hunter has risen through the ranks since putting Westfield away; now he's Assistant Network Director, in charge of police actions. But a routine murder investigation is about to embroil him in an appalling conspiracy. The vast connurb blocks on Glasgow's deprived south side are ready to explode. Eleven years ago the VR riots killed millions – now someone wants to start them all over again. And Will is being dragged back into a past he desperately wants to forget... They call them halfheads: convicted criminals, surgically mutilated and lobotomized by the State, then sent out to do menial jobs in the community so everyone will know what happens when you break the law. There are no appeals, no reprieves, and on one ever comes back. Until now. Dr Fiona Westfield, one of the most prolific serial killers Glasgow has ever seen, is waking up. Surrounded by blood and death and darkness. And she wants revenge. William Hunter has risen through the ranks since putting Westfield away; now he's Assistant Network Director, in charge of tech-crimes and police actions. But a routine murder investigation is about to embroil him in an appalling conspiracy. The vast connurb blocks on Glasgow's deprived south side are ready to explode. Eleven years ago the VR riots killed millions- now someone wants to start them all over again. And Will is being dragged back into a past he desperately wants to forget.--From back cover