Dundee, Scotland’s fourth-largest city on the North Sea coast, may not boast the best weather, but it has a rich history that draws interest. Known as the city of “jute, jam, and journalism,” Dundee has a storied past, from its jute industry to its role in maritime exploration. It is also the birthplace of Succession’s Logan Roy, and today, with the V&A Museum’s Scottish branch, it is known as one of the “Coolest Little Cities in Britain,” according to GQ. Amid the city’s modernization, however, crime fiction remains a prominent theme.
The Dundee variant of Scotland’s Tartan Noir genre stands as an intriguing blend of the city’s gritty past and its contemporary allure.
Malcolm Archibald’s Detective Watters Series
A key figure in historical crime fiction, Malcolm Archibald has penned multiple novels centered on Dundee’s industrial past. His Detective Watters series, set in the 1860s, explores the city’s darker side. In The Fireraisers (2019), Detective Sergeant George Watters investigates the burning of a local mill, leading to a mysterious death on a trade ship. Murdered on the 13th (2020) takes Watters and his team to a local golf course where a banker is found murdered, with suspects ranging from illicit prizefighters to prostitutes, all part of Dundee’s Victorian underworld. In The Scuttlers (2021), Watters tackles a series of burglaries, and Not a Pukka Gentleman (2022) sees him investigating child kidnappings linked to a traveling circus and an illegal gambling den.
The term “pukka,” now commonly used in British English to mean excellent, traces its origins to Hindi, reflecting the historical ties between Britain and India during the colonial era, a time when Dundee thrived through the jute industry.
Catriona McPherson’s Dandy Gilver Mysteries
Catriona McPherson’s Dandy Gilver mysteries take a different approach, with 16 books set mainly in 1920s Perthshire, though The Mirror Dance (2021) introduces a chilling mystery set in Dundee. The story centers on a murdered puppeteer, with the investigation revealing secrets hidden within girls’ magazines produced by Doig’s Publishers. The Dandy Gilver series offers a glimpse into post-WWI Scotland, but The Mirror Dance is one of the few novels to focus on Dundee.
Chris Longmuir’s Dundee Crime Series
A darker side of Dundee comes to life in Chris Longmuir’s Dundee Crime series. Starting with Night Watcher (2013), the series follows DS Bill Murphy as he hunts a killer targeting unfaithful women. Dead Wood (2014) dives deeper into the city’s criminal underworld, while Missing Believed Dead (2013) delves into internet predators. The most recent installment, Web of Deceit (2022), portrays a violent gang war that rocks Dundee as DS Murphy investigates the death of a nightclub dancer. Longmuir’s books are noted for their vivid portrayal of a gritty, crime-ridden Dundee.
Wendy H. Jones’ DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries
Wendy H. Jones’ DI Shona McKenzie series explores Dundee’s modern-day underbelly. In Killer’s Countdown (2014), Shona, a former Royal Navy officer, returns to Dundee and investigates a killer targeting the city’s residents. Subsequent books see Shona solving gruesome murders linked to the city’s churches, body parts dumped at scenic spots, and even a case involving New Orleans’ bayous. In Killer’s Cure (2023), Shona faces the mysterious deaths of women patients in local hospitals. Throughout the series, Dundee’s landmarks and the surrounding Angus County are intricately woven into the stories.
Alexander McGregor’s True Crime Exploration
For those interested in real-life cases, local journalist Alexander McGregor’s The Law Killers: True Crime from Dundee (2022) examines some of the city’s most notorious criminals, including a serial killer and a pair of father-and-son murderers. McGregor’s exploration of Dundee’s true crime history reveals chilling tales from the city’s past.
Hania Allen’s Polish Detective Series
Finally, Hania Allen offers a fresh perspective with her Polish Detective series, featuring DI Dania Gorska, a Polish officer transplanted to Dundee’s specialist crime division. In The Polish Detective (2018), Gorska investigates bizarre killings in which victims are brutally murdered and displayed in strange ways. Over subsequent books, such as Clearing the Dark (2019) and Family Business (2020), Gorska confronts local gangs and uncovers connections between past and present criminal cases. The Maze (2024) sees Gorska returning to Dundee to investigate a suspicious death, all while navigating the complex dynamics of the city’s underworld. Through her outsider’s eyes, Allen provides a unique perspective on Dundee’s criminal landscape.
Conclusion
Dundee, with its complex history and evolving culture, serves as a rich backdrop for crime fiction. Whether exploring its gritty industrial past or its contemporary criminal underworld, authors like Malcolm Archibald, Catriona McPherson, Chris Longmuir, Wendy H. Jones, Alexander McGregor, and Hania Allen bring the city’s dark side to life, cementing Dundee’s place in Scotland’s literary landscape.
