Win a copy of Can You Solve The Murder? by Antony Johnston in this week's Fabulous book competition
Step into a detective's shoes when you arrive at Elysium wellness retreat to find the body of a local businessman – and a host of suspects and motives!
1
10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition.
To win a copy, enter using the form below by 11:59pm on June 14, 2025.
For full terms and conditions, click here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Viewers say they're ‘hooked' on ITV detective drama Karen Pirie
ITV 's detective series Karen Pirie has returned for its second season after a three-year wait, starring Lauren Lyle as the titular detective. The new season sees DI Karen Pirie investigating a cold case from 1984 concerning the kidnapping of an oil magnate heiress and her son, which is reopened after a body is discovered. Viewers have largely praised the crime series for its engaging storylines and for portraying a 'normal' detective who is not traumatised or grumpy. Lauren Lyle, the lead actress, noted that the show often surprises audiences by not conforming to typical ITV detective drama expectations. Despite the positive reception, some viewers expressed frustration regarding the frequent and lengthy commercial breaks during the broadcast.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
AFL star writes a book about life in the big league featuring players who abuse drugs and get kicked out of clubs - and the VERY rude title says it all
Former Sydney Swans star Brandon Jack has given footy fans a glimpse into the lives of what it's like to be a player on the fringe of an AFL side's first-grade team with his new fictional novel. Jack, 31, is an Australian author, journalist, and a former professional footy player. He played for the Swans between 2013 and 2017, making 28 appearances in footy's top flight, before being delisted by the club. Following the conclusion of his footy career, Jack turned to literature, winning an award after he published his memoirs, detailing what life is like playing pro footy back in 2021. Now, he has published his first novel, entitled 'Pissants'. The fictional book delves into the lives of AFL players contracted to a fictional and unnamed club, but are stuck on the outskirts of the first team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brandon Jack (@brandonjackk) It is a crude and confronting tale about the inner workings of a club, with Jack revealing that even he did not like some of the themes included in the book, but included them to keep the authenticity of what life is like at the top level. 'There are things the characters say, and things that they do, that I disagree with. When I tried to change it, it felt really fake,' he told The Guardian. 'It felt like it lost energy. Because with my experience of the football world, I know that beneath what you see on the field and in the interviews, it's all a little bit dark.' Sport runs in the family for Jack, with his father, Garry, enjoying a distinguished career in rugby league's top flight, winning 22 caps for the Kangaroos between 1984 and 1988. He also made 244 appearances for the Balmain Tigers. The characters in 'Pissants' have nicknames like Fangs, Mud, Shaggers and Big Sexy. The book sheds a light on the extent these players will go to establish themselves as a key member of the squad, from lewd inside jokes, themes of loyalty and bizarre team rituals. The group don't play all that often, instead issuing their resentment to those playing in the first grade side. The bitter players make their own rules. They kidnap a team-mates dog, abuse painkillers during sponsor events and get chucked out of nightclubs. 'The Pissants group, that core group of players that we follow, are unknowingly staring out into the void searching for meaning,' Jack explains. 'They're at their footy club, and they're getting nothing back. They're not wanted, they're not needed. So they're experiencing a kind of existential dread of: 'What is my purpose?', which they funnel through their rituals and drinking games. 'They're creating and cultivating their own meaning in the universe. That's how a lot of us operate.' The unique and innovative book explores themes of masculinity and fragility, with many of the characters putting up a front to mask emotions of loneliness and alienation. Jack adds that the humour, which shines through the book, is something he is grateful for. He adds that the comedy elements in the book also 'capture what was for me a pretty dark place at times.' 'I'm at a point now where I realise there were things in [that experience] which were seriously funny,' he told ABC. 'The reason for all my searching was that I just wanted somebody else around, to be connected. 'To be able to write this in a way that conveys both of those things was important.' One other big theme he explores in the novel is the topic of bullying. The 'Pissants' bond by the abuse they subject members of the group to. From Kangaroo Courts to cruel pranks, the group is ruthless when it comes to their team-mates. Jack says that this is very strong in footy clubs, but adds that in-jokes are also a big deal. 'Sometimes, you really want to be in on the joke, even if it's at your expense, because the alternative is loneliness, and that's almost a worse fate,' he adds to ABC. 'That's why, in my mind, these players are engaging the way they are. I think they're looking for some sort of meaning and connection to other people, and that's the way they get it.' After hanging up his boots, Jack doesn't miss playing at the top level. Instead, he revealed he's moved on from the sport, revealing that it had taken him some time to get back into running. 'It took me a while post-footy to just enjoy going for a run,' Jack said to The Guardian. 'But I've found the joy in putting the runners on, putting headphones in and just going at a slow pace, far less intense than I used to. 'Sometimes I find myself creeping up when it's meant to be an easy 5km run, sometimes I end up flogging myself. There's something I still like about knowing what my mind and body can do.'
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Inside the filming locations behind season 2 of ITV crime drama Karen Pirie
MURDER-MYSTERY favourite Karen Pirie is back for season two as another unsolved murder case is unearthed. The whodunnit is set and filmed in Scotland, with its incredible scenes of breathtaking coastal lines and historic villages lending the series an eerie quality. 2 What is Karen Pirie about? The gritty cop drama is produced by Line of Duty bosses and follows Detective Inspector Karen Pirie, freshly promoted after the events of series one. Based on crime writer Val McDermid 's novels, the new series is adapted from the Scottish novelist's 2008 page-turner, A Darker Domain. In the second season, Karen is put in charge of an infamous cold case from the 80s that has gained fresh scrutiny from senior police, the media, and the victim's relatives. In 1984, Catriona Grant, the daughter of a wealthy local oil tycoon, was abducted, along with her infant son. The ransom notes that followed stirred up a huge press storm, but the culprits were never traced and neither Catriona nor her son were seen again. But when, in the present day, a body is found with an undeniable link to the historic crime, Karen and her team must discover the truth under intense personal and professional pressure. Here's a list of where some scenes were filmed: The kidnapping scene – Kinghorn, Fife Karen Pirie opens with the dramatic kidnapping scene that the series revolves around. 2 Oil tycoon heiress Catriona and her infant son Adam meet up with close friend Bonnie. They grab fish and chips, before taking in the views of the coast from Kinghorn station. But when they all bid farewell, Catriona and Adam are bundled into a car and abducted. These scenes were filmed on the streets of Kinghorn, a coastal town in Fife, with additional footage captured in the nearby town of Inverkeithing. The hostages scene – the Luss Estate in Loch Lochmond This location is featured across both timelines, with viewers first seeing Karen investigate the remote cottage where Catriona and Adam were held, before later flashback scenes showing Catriona and her abductors in a fierce showdown. The Highland estate on the banks of Loch Lochmond has previously featured in Black Mirror and Netflix's The Outlaw King. How to survive TRNSMT 2025 The romantic scene – The Citizen in Glasgow In the present day, Karen has her own struggles to deal with outside of the murder case. She's grappling with her relationship with police colleague Phil, as the pair struggle to keep work and romance separate. In the opening episode, the pair head to Glasgow's The Citizen bar and restaurant for a date. The police station scenes – Glenrothes police station When she's not travelling across Scotland to investigate the crime, Karen can be found in the police station, regrouping with her colleagues on the case. The police station scenes were filmed at the real Glenrothes police Station in Fife. The fateful scene – Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom Legendary music venue the Barrowland also features in season 2. In one of the flashback scenes, we see pals Catriona and Bonnie head out to a nightclub to blow off some steam, where the former meets a shady character who becomes pivotal to her abduction plot. Iconic music venue Barrowland set for major overhaul THE Barrowlands is set for a major upgrade of its iconic neon illuminated facade. The music venue in Glasgow's east end is one of the most iconic in the UK, featuring legendary performancs from Scottish acts such as Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Big Country and Simple Minds. The firm that owns the premises as well as the Barras Marketplace, Margaret McIver Ltd, has lodged plans with the city council to upgrade the front of the building. The proposals include adding two LED displays above the Gallowgate entrance, as reported by the BBC. The renowned neon signage was originally installed in 1982. The Barrowland Ballroom was first opened as a dance hall by Maggie McIver on December 24, 1934. Other world-famous musicians who have played to audiences over the decades include Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Oasis, and U2. The showdown scene – Caiplie Caves, Anstruther The Caiplie Caves are used as a filming location for dramatic scenes as the series reaches its climax. In the present day, Karen and her colleagues inspect the caves, and find a vital clue to solving the mystery. In the past, there's a tense showdown between Catriona's abductors and her family members. The investigation scenes – Malta As the investigation comes to a head and secrets from 40 years ago are uncovered, Karen and her team head to Malta to pursue a suspect. Filming took place in Malta's capital, Valletta, with its historic 16th-century buildings and coastal views giving an idyllic contrast to the harrowing murder case. Who is in the Karen Pirie cast? Lauren Lyle returns as Detective Inspector Karen Pirie. It's been a busy year for the actress having also appeared in Toxic Town and The Bombing of Pan Am 103. Chris Jenks (Sex Education) stars as DC Jason 'Mint' Murray, with Zach Wyatt (The Witcher: Blood Origin) as Karen's boyfriend and colleague, DS Phil Parhatka. James Cosmo (Braveheart) plays oil tycoon Sir Broderick Grant, while Julia Brown (The Last Kingdom) is victim Catriona Grant, daughter of Sir Broderick. When is Karen Pirie season 2 released? The second series of Karen Pirie started at 8pm on ITV on Sunday, July 20. There are three episodes in the series, with the remaining two airing on Sunday, July 27 and Sunday, August 3. All episodes are available to stream on ITVX.
