Scabby Queen

I'm not sure what I was expecting, I'd never read a review or even the blurb on the back. I just saw the cover in Waterstones (other bookshops are available) and was intrigued. It wasn't THIS cover by the way, it was the orange one with the small silhouette seemingly oblivious to the great gaping white hole they've ripped open behind them.

I started off interested and intrigued. I like a Scottish novel too because of the whole “I've been there” and “ooh, I knew that/them” stuff. It was also set pretty much in my timeline (I'm a little younger though, thanks) and leant to the punky/rocky/grungy side of that era (when the front-woman just didn't give a flying fuck what anyone thought - think Shirley Manson and Justine Frischmann glowering at the camera on TOTP).

But all on all it was a bit flat, I got to the end with a “oh, was that it then” feeling. It wrapped up the ends neatly enough but I found I didn't care and then I was a bit disappointed. I could have maybe pushed this up to 7/10 but it was never going to be a 4⭐

I don't know if I liked the time-hopping, people-hopping style of the novel really. But it served a purpose. It doesn't matter who's writing, when or where, every page is full of HER. The impact she had on everyone, but we never really meet her, the real Clio. Just echoes, distilled from memories. We never get to see inside HER head or fully make our own minds up. I think I'd have hero-worshipped the socks of her.

I think they got that cover pretty much right, except I don't think our absent protagonist was ever oblivious. I think she'd have loved to rip open the world and let us all look underneath. I think she thinks that's what she did.

PS @KirstenInnes my primary school headteacher was Mrs McGrouther too and I also played Scabby Queen - whatever was the point of that game?