This is the kind of crime thriller that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. Borderline drags the reader into a world most of us would rather look away from – homelessness, drugs, and violence – and forces us to confront the people who survive in those shadows. It’s not comfortable, but it is very compelling. I found myself completely drawn to Rand Scott, a character who doesn’t fit the mould of your typical crime hero. Flawed, stubborn, and often treads that thin line between right and wrong, it’s what makes him so believable. Kirsty’s desperate search for her brother adds real emotional weight, balancing out the grit with something tender and human. What really stood out to me was how atmospheric this book is. The writing is sharp and immersive, painting scenes that made me feel as though I was standing right there—whether in a grim back alley or a room filled with tension ready to snap. It’s not a story that just entertains; it lingers, leaving you to mull over the choices people make when pushed to the edge. For me, there were moments when the pace dipped, but the strong character work and thought-provoking undercurrents pulled me straight back in. Borderline doesn’t just tell a crime story—it asks what happens when the system fails and how far people will go for justice, loyalty, or survival. My Verdict: Dark, raw, and surprisingly human, this is a thriller that grips as much with its atmosphere as with its action. A solid four-star read that left me thinking long after I turned the final page.

I’m not quite sure how I would describe Rand Scott, the protagonist and narrator at the heart of Graeme Cumming’s new series. Former Police Officer? Yes. Friend to the homeless? Without question – a task he and his partner in a local refuge, Hazard, take very seriously. Justice seeker …? Well, that is perhaps closer to the truth, although that is not an official title, more a role he seems to take on quite readily. But only for the right client and, often, the right price. He lives not a vigilante life, but then again, he doesn’t exactly operate within the law either. Which makes him exactly the right person for Kirsty Moore who is desperate to trace her missing brother. There is reason to believe he has been living amongst the homeless, a community Rand knows well. But Kirsty is not the only person looking for Johnny Moore, and that means trouble for Rand and a whole book load of action, excitement and tension for us readers – just how I like it. Wanted for the murder of a security guard during a botched robbery, being found by the police is the least of Johnny’s problems, as Rand will find out to his own cost, with numerous, sometimes painful, run ins with Johnny’s pursuers. I really liked Rand. He’s not your run of the mill character, not a former copper gone rogue, nor an unbelievably undentable action hero, with seemingly superhuman abilities to best the bad guys at every turn. He is decidedly human, but just happens to know a few tricks. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is the moral code by which he lives. Some might call it a touch ambiguous – vegan, the roots of which are explained throughout the course of the action, and defender of those who he feels need his protection, and yet willing to operate on the wrong side of the law when it will achieve whatever aim he has in mind, be that protecting Johnny, or seeking the funds to keep the refuge he has set up running, and helping helping the homeless find a new place in society. He runs in unusual circles, from Army Veteran, Hazard, who will definitely not be what you are expecting, to drug dealer to the slightly more elite Will, and he has someone on speed dial who will happily dispose of vehicles, no questions asked, and yet, everything he does seems to be for the greater good. Graeme Cumming has created a really compelling character with a really authentic voice whose company I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m glad this is the start of a series. The story itself is perfectly paced and packed with tension. There are many characters of the dubious variety that Rand comes into contact with, each with personality and behaviours that felt believable. Each new interaction brings about a new layer of conflict and jeopardy, but I like how the author has turned convention in its head, with the biggest threat coming from the kinds of people you might not expect. Put it this way, Rand is lucky that Hazard is on his side. I would not want to cross paths with them in a bad mood. The strong silent type, I really liked them too and look forward to seeing more in the future books. As for some of the other characters, the antagonists, the come from all walks of life but the most chilling come with the understated feeling of menace that just leeches off the page perfectly. The kind you know will prove to be the biggest thorn in Rand’s side. Graeme Cumming gets the balance between the overt danger and the quiet danger just right, which meant the story just flies along and I found myself completely glued to the action, wondering just what it would mean for Rand and, by extension, Kirsty and Johnny. The ending might not be quite what you expect, but it is perhaps the perfect way for this particular story thread to conclude, and to set us all up for what might come next. There is ongoing conflict between Rand and the police, particularly one character who had significant impact on his past which I can’t help but feel will escalate in the future. And with such a compelling narrative voice, that gritty noir style favoured in many private detective novels, with dry but astute observations by the central character, I can definitely say this is a book that really hit the spot. If you like your novels on the darker side, packed with tension, with brilliantly observed, intriguing, characters, give this a whirl. You won’t regret it.

Graeme Cumming has been on my radar for a while so I was pleased to finally be able to read his work. It was absolutely worth the wait! Borderline is a fast paced thriller with guns, fights and surveillance and I was on the edge of my seat wondering who would come out on top. The protagonist of Borderline is Rand Scott, a really interesting character whose back story is well developed without ever feeling like the information is too dry. He clearly has flaws, but overall I warmed to him and wanted him to succeed. Alongside the high octane story, Graeme Cumming also shines a light on some important issues in society, such as homelessness and addiction. I love how he writes about vulnerable people with such care and compassion, and this adds an extra layer of complexity to the characters in this novel as well as giving the reader some interesting things to think about I understand that Borderline is the beginning of a series. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing how the characters grow.