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Scabby Queen

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Scabby Queen

By: Kirstin Innes
Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron
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About this listen

‘Gripping and moving. A literary triumph’ Nicola Sturgeon

‘A humane and searching story’ Ian Rankin

‘Kirstin Innes is aiming high, writing for readers in the early days of a better nation’ A.L. Kennedy

A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR • A SCOTSMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR

Three days before her fifty-first birthday Clio Campbell – one-hit wonder, political activist, lifelong love and one-night-stand – kills herself in her friend Ruth’s spare bedroom. And, as practical as she is, Ruth doesn’t know what to do.

As the news spreads around Clio’s collaborators and comrades, lovers and enemies, the story of her glamorous, chaotic life spreads with it – from the Scottish Highlands to the Genoa G8 protests, from an anarchist squat in Brixton to Top of the Pops. Sifting through half a century of memories and unanswered questions, everyone who thought they know her is forced to ask: who was Clio Campbell?

©2020 Kirstin Innes (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited City Life Elections & Political Process Europe Fiction Genre Fiction Great Britain Political Politics & Government Urban Women's Fiction Funny Highlander

Critic reviews

"Kirstin Innes is aiming high, writing for readers in the early days of a better nation." (A.L. Kennedy, author of Serious Sweet)

"Kirstin Innes has written a fat, firecracker of a book, revolving around the suicide of Clio Campbell, a Glasgow chanteuse, whose story emerges through the voices of friends, acquaintances, enemies and journalists with space to fill. It’s about women and silence, oddballs and adventurers and stupid mistakes; about ‘no need to worry about me’ Scottishness and 'getting by’ as practised by every culture on earth. Best of all, it’s about joy and hope and the pressing need to seize the day while one can." (Janice Galloway, author of The Trick Is to Keep Breathing)

"Totally immersive and gloriously polyphonic." (Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water Cure)
All stars
Most relevant
Chapters in a girl’s and woman’s life back and forth in her history as others knew her, so well narrated that I pity those who read instead of listen.

The story of a complex woman, beautifully told

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Brilliant, complex story about a very complex character. Fantastically narrated. Amazingly well observed and well written.


Go for it

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loved it. stunning language that made me really notice and try to memorize. a scribble of red hair!

stunning. brilliant

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I loved this book and felt quite bereft when I finished it. The way you should feel after a book has fulfilled its promise. The characters were realistic but not lovable; plot creative but not predictable and the ending was satisfying. This novel is SOOOOO worth a credit. Treat yourself!

Superb! Great characters and tremendous story

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This is a powerful book which highlights many social issues through its vocal, assertive, complex and flawed heroine. I loved how different portraits of her were painted by the significant people in her life, but I think it would have been even more effective for me had I read the physical book, so I could flip back and forth to follow the circumlocutory nature of the story structure.
Cathleen McCarron is in my top 5 favourite Audible narrators and I couldn't disagree more with those who have criticised her performance. She gave each character a credible voice and personality and brought the book to life.

Great writing, structure not suited to audiobook

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