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Chris Brookmyre, The Ships Cat and Tide Lines

Chris Brookmyre on his new novel, Quite Ugly One Evening, which marks 30 years since he first wrote about his protagonist, journalist Jack Parlabane.

Thirty years ago, in 1996, Chris Brookmyre published his debut novel, Quite Ugly One Morning, establishing him as one of the country鈥檚 leading crime writers. Over his career, Chris has won multiple awards, including the McIlvanney Prize twice, and sold over two million books in the UK alone. Thirty years on, he鈥檚 once again revisiting the protagonist of his debut, Jack Parlabane, about whom there鈥檚 now a whole series of novels. His new book is Quite Ugly One Evening, and he joins Len to tell her more.

Robert Robertson, the lead singer of folk-pop band Tide Lines, chats about their catchy new single, Alright. The band are currently celebrating a decade together, and there鈥檚 news of the very special final gig of the current tour, which is happening in Glasgow in September.

And Alex Howard will be along to talk about his new novel, The Ship鈥檚 Cat, in which a stray called Archie stows away and travels the Med and beyond by sea. It鈥檚 been described as 鈥楾he Odyssey - with cats.鈥�

30 minutes

Music Played

  • Tide Lines

    Alright

Broadcast

  • Thu 7 May 2026 15:30