Overview

Paperboy is the follow-up crime novel featuring DCI Alison “Ally” McCoist, newly promoted but no less disliked in Glasgow’s police scene. When Chuck Gardner, owner of a paper-shredding business, stumbles on scandalous documents and a rat-nibbled corpse under a flyover, they are drawn into gangland clashes and police corruption.

Writing & Voice

We found McSorley’s writing darkly comic and gritty, mixing gruesome violence with sharp Glaswegian humour. The tone balances procedural momentum with grotesque character moments, and the dialogue carries an authentic local rhythm that keeps the tension both funny and unsettling.

Content & Perspective

The novel follows both McCoist and Chuck as they navigate gang conflicts, gambling debts, and police politics. As scandalous paperwork and violent clashes surface, their choices reflect both personal survival and the murky ethics of law enforcement. Glasgow itself becomes a backdrop that shapes how characters act and react.

Themes

Paperboy explores corruption, survival, and the absurdity of violence. It looks at how loyalty and self-interest overlap in crime and policing, and how humour can sit next to brutality. We were struck by the way bleak situations are leavened with black comedy without losing narrative drive.

What Worked

• Energetic blend of procedural crime and black British humour.
• Compelling lead pair with distinct motivations.
• Vivid Glaswegian setting that enriches mood.

Minor Quibbles

• Its graphic violence and coarse language may not suit every reader.
• Some plot turns lean into genre tropes rather than surprise.

Final Thoughts

We found Paperboy filthy, funny, and sharp edged, using Glasgow humour and corruption to keep its violence biting while never letting the absurdity soften the damage.

Rating: ★★★★☆ / 5