Wendy just wants to be a poet. So how comes she's on the run after an art heist?
'May well be the best book I've read in years' – Peter May
An aspiring writer from the Southside of Glasgow, Wendy is in a rut. She tries to brighten her call-centre job by shoehorning as many long words as possible into conversations with customers. But her manager isn't amused by that and, after a public dressing-down, Wendy walks out.
Jobless and depressed, she finds consolation in a surprise friendship with another disgruntled ex-colleague, wild-child painter Cat, who encourages her to live more dangerously. It's just what Wendy needs and it's also brilliant for her creative juices. But a black cloud is about to overshadow this new-found liberation, as well as to put Wendy on the wrong side of the law.
Fresh, insightful and funny, as well as unflinchingly honest about the tougher side of life, Kenny Boyle's debut novel takes us deep into the psyche of a likeable misfit who treads a fine line between reality and fantasy – and just wants the world to see her true self.
Genre: Thriller
'May well be the best book I've read in years' – Peter May
An aspiring writer from the Southside of Glasgow, Wendy is in a rut. She tries to brighten her call-centre job by shoehorning as many long words as possible into conversations with customers. But her manager isn't amused by that and, after a public dressing-down, Wendy walks out.
Jobless and depressed, she finds consolation in a surprise friendship with another disgruntled ex-colleague, wild-child painter Cat, who encourages her to live more dangerously. It's just what Wendy needs and it's also brilliant for her creative juices. But a black cloud is about to overshadow this new-found liberation, as well as to put Wendy on the wrong side of the law.
Fresh, insightful and funny, as well as unflinchingly honest about the tougher side of life, Kenny Boyle's debut novel takes us deep into the psyche of a likeable misfit who treads a fine line between reality and fantasy – and just wants the world to see her true self.
Genre: Thriller
Praise for this book
"A bittersweet paean to friendship, art and making your mark, with a sharp line in patter and a big heart." - Alan Bissett
"From the first line, The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock has a kind of gleeful playfulness at its heart, a light sense of humour applied even to heavy material. Immediate and engaging, it will resonate with anyone who ever wanted to escape everyday life." - Rodge Glass
"A charming, funny and unique story that tackles tough issues with a gentleness and poignancy that really resonated with me." - Clare Grogan
"A brilliant, big-hearted book about art, friendship, mental illness and the power of poetry and storytelling." - Mandy Haggith
"Funny, intelligent and insightful. Kenny Boyle is a singular voice." - P K Lynch
"Playful, witty and poignant - a refreshing new voice in Scottish literature." - Kevin MacNeil
"Very different and engagingly unique. Kenny Boyle is bristling with talent, and this may well be the best book I've read in years." - Peter May
"A fresh and fascinating debut novel, full of vivacity and wit. Kenny Boyle is a born storyteller. Prepare to be unsettled and surprised." - Donald S Murray
"Funny, heart-breaking and compassionate. Kenny Boyle deals with difficult subjects with great insight and a light touch. If you have ever dreamed of escape and of living life with no safety harness, this is the book for you." - Catherine Simpson
"From the first line, The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock has a kind of gleeful playfulness at its heart, a light sense of humour applied even to heavy material. Immediate and engaging, it will resonate with anyone who ever wanted to escape everyday life." - Rodge Glass
"A charming, funny and unique story that tackles tough issues with a gentleness and poignancy that really resonated with me." - Clare Grogan
"A brilliant, big-hearted book about art, friendship, mental illness and the power of poetry and storytelling." - Mandy Haggith
"Funny, intelligent and insightful. Kenny Boyle is a singular voice." - P K Lynch
"Playful, witty and poignant - a refreshing new voice in Scottish literature." - Kevin MacNeil
"Very different and engagingly unique. Kenny Boyle is bristling with talent, and this may well be the best book I've read in years." - Peter May
"A fresh and fascinating debut novel, full of vivacity and wit. Kenny Boyle is a born storyteller. Prepare to be unsettled and surprised." - Donald S Murray
"Funny, heart-breaking and compassionate. Kenny Boyle deals with difficult subjects with great insight and a light touch. If you have ever dreamed of escape and of living life with no safety harness, this is the book for you." - Catherine Simpson
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