BLOG TOUR: The Reckoning (Glasgow Southside Crime Series Book 5) - Maureen Myant

When a successful businessman is left for dead in a tenement close, police in Glasgow are flummoxed. Who could want him dead? His wife has a strong financial motive but the decoding of a mysterious inscription on his forehead points to a motive of revenge.

Then a second body is found, horribly mutilated, also bearing a message. DS Mark Nicholson and DCI Alex Scrimgeour fear they may have a potential serial killer on their hands. Their fears are realised when two more murders turn out to be connected.

Can Mark keep his mind on the job for long enough to work out how exactly these deaths are related to each other? He has enough worries of his own, what with juggling work, being a single parent to two-year-old Gus and now his boss Alex is edgy and distracted. He’s hiding something, but what?

With the help of DC Megan Webster, Mark vows to catch the twisted killer before they strike again but are they on the right path? Is the killer hiding in plain sight after all?

The gripping fifth book in the Glasgow Southside crime series by CWA shortlisted author Maureen Myant is perfect for fans of JD KIRK and SIMON MCCLEAVE, blending Scottish police procedural with dramatic domestic noir, and a peppering of dark humour.

 

What did I think?

Maureen Myant is an author whose books I read without reading the blurb as I love her books and I know it'll be a good one.  I absolutely love the Glasgow Southside Crime Series and although The Reckoning is book five you can definitely read it as a standalone.

I have read the series from the start so the police characters aren't new to me and I loved catching up with them to find out what's been going on in their eventful lives.  The crime in this instalment is a real page-turner as it's about revenge and it really is a dish that is best served cold.

It's actually heartbreaking to read the perpetrator's story as it shows how the social care system can fail at times and leave already vulnerable people with lasting scars.  The police really have a puzzler on their hands to untangle this one as the bodies start to mount up and they are struggling to work out the identity of the killer.

I simply couldn't read The Reckoning fast enough and read it in two sittings. I loved the crime storyline and also the personal stories of the main characters that kept me invested in the story and eager to read more.

Fast-paced, gripping and thrilling, The Reckoning is a perfectly plotted page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.  I love this series and can't get enough of it!  It's an easy five stars for this unmissable book.

I received a gifted paperback for the Hobeck Books blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Fallen (Glasgow Southside Crime Series Book 4) - Maureen Myant

An errant crisp packet is all that stands between DI Alex Scrimgeour being murdered on his way to work. Who would want Alex dead? Or was it perhaps a case of mistaken identity? If the bullet wasn’t meant for Alex, then who was it meant for and why?

Alex’s journalist daughter, Kate, newly in his life and now happily settled in the same city, is obsessed with finding out more about a spate of apparent teenage suicides in the city. What do the deaths have in common, if anything? And who are the two mysterious ‘friends’ claiming that some of the teenagers were suicidal despite their families believing otherwise?

Despite pressing domestic issues, Kate can’t let the matter go, plunging her into a potentially dangerous situation.

When his would-be killer turns up dead, Alex is forced to look further back into the past to discover what motivated the shooting. Who is behind the vendetta? Can they be stopped before the next attempt is more successful?

 

What did I think?

You're always guaranteed a good read with a Maureen Myant book and The Fallen is no exception.  It's the fourth book in the brilliant Glasgow Southside Crime Series and, whilst you could read it as a standalone, it's absolutely superb when read as part of the series.

I was hooked from the moment I picked this book up when an attempt is made on Di Alex Scrimgeour's life.  He's certainly a bit of an acquired taste but he doesn't know who could possibly want him dead.  I really like Alex and his personal life plays a big part in the book; I loved seeing the relationship blossoming with his daughter Kate which is in stark contrast to the relationship he has with his dour niece Gillian.

Kate is a journalist and she has sniffed out a story regarding some recent teen suicides.  The families don't believe their children would take their own lives and it's heartbreaking for them.  Kate thinks there's something off too but getting close to the truth puts her in danger and my eyes were on stalks as I was reading.

The suicide storyline is very dark and disturbing but it is written sensitively and respectfully.  There's a lot going on in the book to keep the pages turning rapidly as the myriad strands of the plot weave in and out of the vivid prose.

Gripping, thrilling and fast-paced, The Fallen is an outstanding instalment in a magnificent series.  Very highly recommended.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Eerie Exhibits - Victorial Williamson

Five unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

A room full of screaming butterflies.

An unsettling smile on the face of a carved sarcophagus.

A painting that draws its viewer into the disturbing past.

A stuffed bear that growls in the dead of night.

And a shell that whispers more sinister sounds than the sigh of the sea…

Dare you cross the threshold of the old Museum and view its eerie exhibits?

 

What did I think?

I do like to read spooky tales now and again so I thoroughly enjoyed Eerie Exhibits by Victoria Williamson.  

There are five stories in the book based on museum exhibits and although they are separate stories, some of the characters reappear.  They are very creepy tales and it reminded me a little of early Stephen King books where anything out of the ordinary could happen.  So prepare for the unexpected when you pick up this book but you will still be surprised by these eerie exhibits.

It's quite a short book at 225 pages and it's very easy to read so you could dip in and out of it or read it cover to cover.  It's almost like a virtual museum visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow as Victoria Williamson guides the reader through each gallery and tells her imagined story behind some very interesting exhibits.

Chilling, weird and entertaining, Eerie Exhibits is a creepy collection of spine-tingling short stories that will chill you to the bone.  A recommended read, especially for a dark and chilly night.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Amazon Canada

About the author:

A lifelong storyteller and daydreamer, Victoria Williamson is an author and teacher who has lived and worked in Africa, China, America and the UK.

Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.

After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.

A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.

Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.

Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.

Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.

You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com 

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Shame (Glasgow Southside Crime Series Book 3) - Maureen Myant

Glasgow

The cellar of a suburban bungalow has been hiding a dark secret. During building work, a skeleton is uncovered. DI Alex Scrimgeour and DS Mark Nicholson soon discover the remains have been there for sixty years. The owners of the house from that time, Richard and Doris Cavendish, are dead, but their daughter may still be alive.

Edinburgh

Edith Drummond is pleased to be back at work as a teacher after lockdown. She's a difficult woman with no friends but she's good at her job and the children love her. However, her Head Teacher, Olivia Waring, wants her to retire. Edith is determined to stay put, but their feud soon pales into insignificance when Edith receives a visit from the police.

Mark is sure Edith is hiding something, but he doesn't know what. His suspicion deepens when further remains are found at the bungalow in Glasgow, this time of a newborn baby. Despite dealing with his own personal problems, Mark is determined to get to the bottom of this bizarre case. Is there a link between the two crimes? Is the answer staring him In the face or is there more to the mystery than meets the eye?

 

What did I think?

The Shame is the third book in the Glasgow Southside Crime Series and although you can read it is a standalone and thoroughly enjoy it, it's absolutely brilliant when read as part of the series.  

The character development throughout the series is outstanding and I was as hooked by the continuation of their stories as I was by the actual crime they were investigating.  It's a rather grisly crime when the new owners of a home discover a skeleton in their basement so the police need to trace the previous occupants to identify the body and solve the crime.  

Edith Drummond was so ashamed of her past in Glasgow that she changed her name and moved to Edinburgh.  Edith is a difficult woman to love but she really did grow on me and I completely sympathised with her past family life and her present working life as a teacher.  I was so annoyed that the head teacher can't see what a brilliant teacher Edith is but instead is set on making Edith retire.  I was virtually fist bumping the air when Edith continued to stand up to her.

I am completely hooked by DS Mark Nicholson's story and although I do feel sorry for him, he made his bed so he has to lie in it.  Unfortunately for Mark, that bed is in his boss's flat as his wife threw him out after his affair.  DI Alex Scrimgeour is a bit of a teddy bear now that his own personal mystery has been solved but I really wouldn't be helping myself to his whisky if I was living in his flat!

As impossible to put down as it is to predict, The Shame is a cracking piece of crime fiction that had me on the edge of my seat and reading with my virtual running shoes on.  I already consider this to be one of my favourite crime series and The Shame proves that it is just getting better and better.  Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Deception - Maureen Myant

Her past was a lie. Dare she uncover the truth?

When Kate’s mother dies, a man turns up at the funeral claiming to be her uncle. Kate is mystified; her mother was an only child. She agrees to meet him but when she tells him more about herself, he disappears. It’s best to forget him and get on with the business of grieving but when she finds her own death certificate, she realises she can’t let it drop. Besides, there are the threatening phone calls and messages to her mother to consider…

Four hundred miles away in Glasgow, DI Alex Scrimgeour is haunted by memories of past crimes. Is he responsible for a miscarriage of justice? He’s already worried when Kate contacts him with her story. If she is who she thinks she is, it could ruin his entire career. Despite their mutual antipathy, only by working together will they understand the past and finally put old ghosts to rest. 

What did I think?

Absolutely brilliant!  That's how I'd describe The Deception in two words and those are the exact words I uttered when I turned the final page.  I thought Maureen Myant's previous novel, The Confession, was good but The Deception has the wow factor, in my opinion.

I loved virtually meeting up again with Alex Scrimgeour and Mark Nicholson, who we met in The Confession, but The Deception is a complete standalone novel as it's just the characters who link the two books.  Scrimgeour takes a front seat as we find out more about his past, both personal and professional.

It gave me goose bumps when Kate finds her own death certificate after her mother's death.  Not only that, but her mother appears to have been threatened with exposing her terrible secret - oh I love secrets, the darker the better!  Kate is naturally upset but she's determined to get to the bottom of who she really is...even if that means exposing a miscarriage of justice.  Scrimgeour was certain that he put the right man away until Kate's appearance throws that in doubt.

With more hooks than in a fisherman's tackle box, The Deception is a veritable page-turner and a completely unmissable novel.  I couldn't put it down and I can't recommend it highly enough.  I can't wait to see what Maureen Myant writes next, although she's set the bar pretty high with The Deception.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Dark Remains - William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin

In this scorching crime collaboration, bestselling author Ian Rankin and Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney join forces for the first ever case of DI Laidlaw, Glasgow's original gritty detective.

Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he's dead and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful friends, Carter's left behind his share of enemies. So, who dealt the fatal blow?

DC Jack Laidlaw's reputation precedes him. He's not a team player, but he's got a sixth sense for what's happening on the streets. His boss chalks the violence up to the usual rivalries, but is it that simple? As two Glasgow gangs go to war, Laidlaw needs to find out who got Carter before the whole city explodes.

William McIlvanney's Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw's first case. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started. In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow, and Laidlaw's relentless quest for truth.

What did I think?

I haven't read any William McIlvanney books before so when I saw this collaboration with Ian Rankin I just had to read it and what a gem it is.  It's dark, as the title suggests, but it's often humorous which makes it a well-balanced, highly entertaining novel.

The dark and dangerous streets of 1970s Glasgow are brought to life so vividly that I felt as if I was walking in DC Jack Laidlaw's shoes.  I absolutely loved Laidlaw - he really doesn't care what people think about him and he'll do whatever's necessary to get the job done.  

This is Laidlaw's first case and I am already chomping at the bit to read more.  I don't know how I haven't read any William McIlvanney novels before so thanks to Ian Rankin, McIlvanney will definitely pick up more new fans after reading The Dark Remains.

Flawless, gritty and gripping, The Dark Remains is a fantastic collaboration between two of Scotland's finest crime writers.  The writing is exceptional and completely seamless;  there's no way to tell where McIlvanney ends and Rankin begins.  I loved it - McIlvanney has a new fan here!

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the authors:

William McIlvanney is the author of the award-winning Laidlaw trilogy, featuring Glasgow’s original maverick detective. He died in December 2015.

Both Laidlaw and The Papers of Tony Veitch gained Silver Daggers from the Crime Writers’ Association, while the third in the series, Strange Loyalties, won the Herald’s People’s Prize.

The McIlvanney Prize, named in his honour in 2016, is awarded annually for the best Scottish crime novel of the year.

Ian Rankin is the number one bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series. The Rebus books have been translated into thirty-six languages and are bestsellers worldwide.

He is the recipient of four Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards, including the prestigious Diamond Dagger, and in 2002 he received an OBE for services to literature. He lives in Edinburgh.

@beathhigh  

ianrankin.net

Follow the tour:

The Cabinetmaker - Alan Jones

 

The Cabinetmaker, Alan Jones’ first novel, tells of one man’s fight for justice when the law fails him. Set in Glasgow from the late nineteen-seventies through to the current day, a cabinetmaker's only son is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs, who walk free after a bungled prosecution.

It’s young Glasgow detective John McDaid’s first murder case. He forms an unlikely friendship with the cabinetmaker, united by a determination to see the killers punished, their passion for amateur football, and by John’s introduction to a lifelong obsession with fine furniture.

This is the story of their friendship, the cabinetmaker’s quest for justice, and the detective’s search for the truth.

This unusual crime thriller contains some Glasgow slang and a moderate amount of strong language.

What did I think?

After reading Alan Jones' outstanding Sturmtaucher Trilogy, I am now on a mission to read everything else he has published.  The Cabinetmaker is his debut and it's a beautifully written police procedural/crime thriller.

Set in Glasgow, detective John McDaid is new to CID and doesn't quite fit into the team as he naturally wants to do everything by the book and that's not the way they catch criminals in this police force.  The police are beaten at their own game when Patrick McHare's murderers walk free from court.  I was so furious!  I can imagine this has happened many times in real life too.

Patrick's parents are left devastated but they demonstrate that life does go on because after all, what goes around comes around.  Through a shared love of football, John McDaid becomes friends with Patrick's father Francis (the cabinetmaker) outside of work and it isn't long before Francis starts showing John how to work with wood.  Although Patrick could never be replaced, John is almost a surrogate son to Francis and it's heartwarming to see their relationship grow. 

I love Alan Jones' attention to detail and his ability to write about any subject whilst holding the reader's attention; I didn't think I would ever find woodwork so fascinating.  The storyline is relatively slow paced after the court case but it's no less compelling and although I had an inkling as to what was happening, I was eager to see how it would all end and there were certainly still a few shocks and surprises in store for me.

Hugely enjoyable and incredibly well written, The Cabinetmaker is a very good debut and a great introduction to Alan Jones' writing.

Many thanks to Alan Jones for sending me a digital copy to read and review; all opinions are my own. 

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill - C.S. Robertson

 

DEATH IS NOT THE END. FOR GRACE McGILL IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

When people die alone and undiscovered, it's her job to clean up what's left behind - whether it's clutter, bodily remains or dark secrets.

When an old man lies undetected in his flat for months, it seems an unremarkable life and an unnoticed death. But Grace knows that everyone has a story and that all deaths mean something more.

A STAND-OUT NOVEL WITH A UNIQUE NARRATIVE VOICE AND AN UNGUESSABLE MYSTERY, YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO REMEMBER GRACE McGILL.

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, this must be one of the most unusual books I have ever read.  I've wanted to read a Craig Robertson book for a while but this is my first and what a book to start with.  It's shocking, surprising, intriguing, dark and so very clever.

I wasn't really sure how I felt about Grace McGill at first, because she's a loner and it's difficult to get to know her, but she's definitely a quirky character and as her story unfolded she became unforgettable.  Grace does the most horrifying job: cleaning up after dead bodies that have lain undiscovered for a period of time and although it didn't go into too many details, some of the vivid descriptions did make my stomach clench.  Her job shows Grace to be incredibly caring and respectful and when she notices some similarities in the deaths, she sets off to uncover a decades-old mystery from 1964.

This is a hugely entertaining novel with so much going on that I couldn't read it fast enough.  It's an intriguing double mystery with the deaths in present day Glasgow and the mysterious disappearance of Valerie Moodie on the Isle of Bute in 1964.  Grace turns from cleaner to detective as she attempts to find out what happened to Valerie...but someone knows she is getting close to unearthing this long buried secret and will do anything to stop her.

So unusual and completely unforgettable, The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill is a dark and addictive mystery.  Incredibly poignant at times, I struggled to hold back my tears on more than one occasion and I know that I will never forget Grace McGill.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour: