Shortlisted for Saltire Fiction Book of the Year 2016

'A celebration of what it is to be human' Spectator

Murdo, a teenager obsessed with music, dreams of a life beyond home. His recently widowed dad, Tom, stumbles towards the future, terrified of losing what remains of his family. Both are in search of something as they set out from rural Scotland on a journey to the American South.

"A brilliantly understated tale about coming of age, grief and the folk music of the American deep south . . . poignant and beautiful *****" - * Daily Telegraph *

"A delight . . . The best thing [Kelman] has written" - * Scotsman *

"Another masterpiece from one of our best writers" - * Guardian *

"Strange and beautiful . . . Kelman gives us visceral vernacular, Joycean stream of consciousness, wry humor, old resentments and painful memories, all in counterpoint to the music on and off stage . . . A celebration of what it is to be human" - * Spectator *

"Beautiful. Dirt Road is about coming of age, grief and the folk music of the American deep south" - * Daily Telegraph *

"Draws you like a magnet" - * Herald Scotland *