First, there’s Declan attending a creative writing class with a load of middle class pretentious types, having them not enjoy his more working class short story, and then him getting drunk afterwards. This brings him into conflict with a couple of local drug dealers, including a former friend who now acts like he doesn’t know him anymore. He ends up getting beaten up. The plot is incited when Declan, keen to impress a barmaid he has his eye on, gets into a drunken row with some gangsters which, ultimately, ends with him in hospital. There, his path crosses Cavani’s, as the star is visiting his sister, who struggles with drug addiction. This book is funny, heartwarming, touching, moving, smart and just brilliant in both terms of the plot and characters. I am still laughing at the ending, a true laugh out loud read. As I said, there is a focus on mental health, and especially the kind of poor mental health that comes out of modern life – I will leave you with the quote from the book that I felt most distilled what I’ve often tried to articulate:

Kevin Bridges on The Black Dog: Drug deaths no laughing Kevin Bridges on The Black Dog: Drug deaths no laughing

I was a bit hesitant coming into this book. With Scottish authors, particularly those from Glasgow, there can often be a tendency towards being overly reliant on Scottish vernacular. Whilst this can add to the authenticity of the story, ah hate when some wee writers hink its awrite tae write like this aw ra time. It can make a good story difficult to read, even those who have lived and worked in Glasgow. Declan dreams of becoming a writer. He knows he has it in him, he’s even signed up to a local art centre to take a writing course. His version of writing isn’t well received by his peers, it’s too visceral and leaves him feeling downtrodden. So, in typical Scottish fashion, he gets completely wasted. This leads to dire consequences and like all Scottish people the morning after – they vow to never drink again. An unexpectedly down-beat read. Not at all what I was expecting. Given it’s the author’s first proper novel, it gets the benefit of the doubt as being OK, as it had a few decent parts. However, I suspect if his name wasn’t already so well known, this wouldn’t have got published as it also had many flaws, and wasn’t much fun to read.

Some the observations made are bang on and further show that Kevin has far from forgotten where he is from I particularly like the c##t comment and irony about the westend. The more deeper observations about the male mental health struggle, the social mobility in our society, the moral issues of crime and general state of Scotland are subtle but make the point clear, this for me a real skill and is hard to achieve for even well established authors. Love Kev IN but this book is terrible. People want to like it because he is funny and likeable but it has virtually no plot.

The Black Dog by Kevin Bridges | Waterstones The Black Dog by Kevin Bridges | Waterstones

A life-affirming debut novel from one of Britain’s most-loved comedians, Kevin Bridges – exploring dysfunctional friendships, family, and how to face your problems head on. Immensely readable, fast moving and an insight into two sides of Kevin Bridges, I really enjoyed it. Kevin's warmth and wit shine through in his first novel. Never a dull moment and an array of engaging, quirky characters. A funny and absorbing read with some great insights into the world of negotiating being famous." - Jo Brand He has his pet Labrador for companionship and his best friend-turned-mentor, a pseudo-intellectual who works as a greenskeeper at the local municipal golf course, both of which help keep the worst of his anxieties at bay. But following a drunken row with local gangsters, Declan's worries threaten to spiral out of control. Like many comedians, Kevin Bridges has tried drugs. The comic, born in Clydebank near Glasgow, admits he smoked cannabis when he was younger, but swiftly adds: “People find it surprising I never tried cocaine or Ecstasy. I am the only person I know who never went through a phase like that. That was down to starting stand-up comedy so young: I was like a child on the circuit. People, other comics, were protective.” This book was written, like many from people who are not considered novelists, during the pandemic when many people had nothing else to whilst at home so I am not sure whether we will get any more from Mr Bridges but I certainly hope we do and I would love to follow Declan on his journey ahead.

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It’s understandable he might want to try a different persona as a writer. But the one he’s used comes across as self-indulgent and kinda dull. Like he’s trying too hard to show off his literary skills, and forgetting it’s story that readers want. And you don’t have to look too far to see parallels with this fiction and Bridges’ own life, from his own working-class roots in Clydebank to fame and acclaim in stand-up. Indeed, he’s spoken about his mental health struggles as part of the pre-publication publicity for this title. Kevin Bridges has made a name for himself as a stand-up comedian and grew up in Clydebank - so not technically Glasgow , but close enough to have a good understanding of the kindof lives described in this story. The are elements of humour but very much from the darker end of the spectrum, and some of the language and behaviour reflects the toxic masculinity and misogyny that can be rife in small town communities in the west of Scotland.

The Black Dog: The life-affirming debut novel from one of

It is all about searching within yourself to find out who you really are and the trials of living in a working class world. Kevin doesn’t add any glamour to it and it is quite raw storytelling.Nor is it a gangster novel, even though it’s partially set in the world of ne’er-do-wells. Instead it’s a multiple character study, conveyed with warmth, understanding and an optimism that even if circumstances seem bad, no conclusion is inevitable in life (even if Bridges does deploy coincidence to resolve things, it is at least credible coincidence).