It was a death that touched the hearts of book lovers across the world. The final novel penned by best-selling author Iain Banks was released last Thursday, just 11 days after his death, which came following a battle against cancer.

Tragically, the novel is made all the more poignant in that the disease that took Banks’ life plays as a key plot point to the story.

"The Quarry" describes the final few weeks in the life of Guy, a man in his 40s battling with terminal cancer who is being cared for by his son Kit.

Banks passed away on the 9^th of June at the age of 59 and asked his publisher to bring forward the book’s release date after telling fans about his illness.

"Reading this book, one is hit again and again with the fact - tragic and astonishing in equal measure - that Banks didn't know he was dying until he'd almost finished the first draft, that the cancer that was the subject matter of his novel would soon become the urgent subject matter of his life," wrote Alex Preston in the Guardian.

The Scottish writer, who completed his first, unpublished novel at the age of 16, will always be remembered for his dark humour, captivating plots and beautifully written stories.

May he rest in peace.