The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney

What could be worse than your child disappearing? Liam McIlvanney’s The Good Father is an emotionally charged thriller that plunged me into every parent’s worst nightmare, the unexplained disappearance of a child. 

Set on the picturesque Aryshire coast of Scotland, the story follows Gordon and Sarah Rutherford who live in a house on the beach, in a close-knit seaside community. Their world is shattered when their 7 year old son Rory disappears without a trace. 

Liam masterfully captures the agonising passing of time in the aftermath, as the absence of a body keeps hope alive. The Rutherford’s lives don’t fall apart immediately, but there is a slow unravelling of hope. As the weeks and months pass with no answers, the novel explores how the tragedy ripples outwards, impacting friendships and testing their trust in the community. Who can you trust when everyone is a potential suspect? 

Instead of relying on melodrama, Liam creates tension through mindful character development, grounding the story in authentic emotional stakes. He expertly weaves suspense with a compassionate exploration of loss, guilt and resilience. When the unthinkable happens and everything is lost, the novel asks: do you allow it to break you or find the strength to begin again?

As the truth began to surface, I was further drawn into a world of suspicion and secrets, one where nothing is as it seems. The final outcome is truly unpredictable!If you were captivated by Adolescence on Netflix, you’ll appreciate The Good Father. Both are riveting, intelligent explorations of family tragedy, community suspicion and the unravelling of everyday life after unthinkable loss.

The Good Father is a standout psychological thriller from the international award winning New Zealand crime writer. Liam McIlvanney was born in Scotland and studied at the universities of Glasgow and Oxford. His first book, Burns the Radical, won the Saltire First Book Award and subsequent crime novels have earned him accolades. He is Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies at the University of Otago. He lives in Dunedin with his wife and four sons.

Reviewer: Andrea Molloy

Bonnier