Liam McIlvanney Kicking Off World Tour for Latest Thriller The Good Father

On 27 June 2025, Liam McIlvanney kicked off his world tour for his latest thriller, The Good Father.

Internationally acclaimed author Liam McIlvanney took his gripping new psychological thriller, The Good Father, on a world tour that began on 17 June in Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature. The launch event, hosted in the Dunedin City Library’s Dunningham Suite and introduced by poet, essayist, and academic Dr Lynley Edmeades, marked the start of a 22-stop literary journey spanning five countries.

Liam’s latest novel, published by Zaffre Books, had already drawn glowing praise. Described as “heart-stopping and heart-rending” by Val McDermid, “a masterpiece that will stay with you long after the last page” by Neil Broadfoot, and “beautifully written… easily one of the finest crime novels I’ve read in a very long time” by C.M. Ewan, The Good Father was hailed as Liam’s best novel yet.

Following the Dunedin premiere, Liam travelled to Melbourne for an event on 27 June with literary editor Jason Steger. He then headed to the Northern Hemisphere for a series of appearances in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland, joined by a cast of celebrated writers including Val McDermid, Lesley McDowell, Neil Broadfoot, Craig Robertson, and David F. Ross. The tour also included stops at literary festivals such as Helensburgh Book Festival, Tidelines Festival in Irvine, and Bute Noir.

The tour concluded with an international flourish in Hong Kong on 7 August at Club 1880.

Audiences had the opportunity to hear Liam as he launched his tour, delving into the world of The Good Father and discovering what made his writing so compelling.