Promotional Information

One of the biggest literary debuts of 2020, dark secrets lie at the heart of this haunting and powerful bestselling novel set in the Scottish Highlands

About the Author

Francine Toon grew up in Sutherland and Fife. Her debut novel, Pine, won the 2020 McIlvanney Prize, was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and longlisted for the Highland Book Prize and the Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award. Her poetry, written as Francine Elena, has appeared in The Sunday Times, The Best British Poetry 2013 and 2015 anthologies (Salt) and Poetry London, among other places. She lives in London and works in publishing.

Reviews

A literary gothic thriller to chill the marrow
*Guardian*

[A] simmering gothic thriller
*Daily Mail*

(A) pacey horror-tinged novel ... Even with the strange and supernatural goings-on in the woods, it’s the rage and grief and darkness of grown-ups that’s the biggest mystery of all
*Telegraph, Best First Novels of 2020*

The novel's strength is its evocation of bleak landscapes and complex characters
*Sunday Times*

Splicing small-town domestic drama with grisly mystery and occult thrills, it’s a cleverly crafted debut
*Metro*

One of the standout debuts of the year
*Irish Independent*

As gripping as any boxset
*Sunday Times Scotland*

This haunting debut is a must-read for fans of eerie gothic fiction
*The Skinny*

An evocative read which will keep you guessing
*Sunday Independent*

Pine is a thrill of a book
*i-D*