Grime, Grit and a Fierce Heart
- Tracey Holland
- Dec 17, 2025
- 3 min read
BLURB
The Queen of Grime is about to pay. Big time.
Erin Flett is used to clearing up the sad debris of forgotten lives and tragic deaths. A crime and trauma scene cleaner from a deprived Edinburgh housing estate, she’s made a good life for herself and her daughter. But a secret from the past is about to catch up with her.
Ten years ago, Erin told a desperate lie with serious consequences. Now, someone else knows, and they’re determined to make Erin and her loved ones pay.
Following a terrifying late-night attack, the tension mounts until Erin doesn’t know who she can trust. As she struggles to keep her family safe, little does she realise just how close the danger is…
Queen of Grime is the first in a new series introducing Erin Flett, crime and trauma scene cleaner, and a rich cast of characters, set against the backdrop of the city of Edinburgh. With an occasional undertone of dark humour, it is a tale of family lies and family ties, friendships, secrets and loss.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Helen Forbes is an author of Scottish crime fiction. She lives in her home-town of Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands. Helen began by writing contemporary and historical fiction, with no intention of turning to crime. It was a chance remark at a writing group about one of her short stories that led to her debut police procedural novel, In the Shadow of the Hill, set in Inverness and South Harris, featuring Detective Sergeant Joe Galbraith. Madness Lies is book 2 in the DS Joe Galbraith series, set in Inverness and North Uist.
Helen has had two standalone crime thrillers published by Scolpaig Press. Unravelling, set in Inverness, was published in July 2021. Deception, set in Edinburgh, was published in January 2022.
Spoils of the Dead, a novella, was published in November 2022, and Queen of Grime, the first in a new series, was released in December 2022.
Helen would be delighted to hear from readers. Please contact her and join her mailing list on her website www.helenforbes.co.uk to get her author news and a free copy of the novella, Spoils of the Dead.
Review
Queen of Grime by Helen Forbes is a sharp, compelling crime novel that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. Forbes brings an original and fascinating protagonist to life in Erin Flett, a trauma scene cleaner whose work puts her on the edges of both society and human darkness. It is a world rarely explored in fiction, and Forbes handles it with confidence, empathy and a wickedly dark sense of humour.
What really stands out is the emotional depth beneath the grit. Alongside the crime and tension, this is a story about motherhood, resilience and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when life is messy in every sense of the word. The writing is vivid and assured, with a strong sense of place and characters that feel utterly real.
Bleak without being bleak for the sake of it, and compassionate without ever turning sentimental, Queen of Grime is an absorbing read and a powerful introduction to a distinctive voice in crime fiction. Highly recommended for readers who like their mysteries smart, grounded and unafraid to get their hands dirty.
LINKS TO BUY
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website - https://www.helenforbes.co.uk/
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Helen-Forbes/author/B00MNTNHQU
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