What do you think?
Rate this book
DCI Lorimer #3
Shadows of Sounds
When George Millar, the City of Glasgow’s orchestra leader, is brutally murdered in his dressing room before a performance, his colleagues are shocked. As the show goes on, DCI Lorimer and psychologist Solomon Brightman uncover a series of irrevocably tangled relationships between the orchestra members. Millar had been involved in a series of homosexual relationships and was well known for playing his lovers off against one another – but were his controversial dalliances really enough to incite cold-blooded and calculated murder?
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
104 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gray
88 books346 followersAlex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. She worked as a folk singer, a visiting officer in the DSS and an English teacher. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 18, 2024
This Scottish police procedure novel is the 3rd volume of the very realistic and entertaining "DCI Lorimer" series.
Storytelling is wonderful, all characters, good or bad, are very believable and lifelike, while the storyline and resulting plot are superbly worked out.
This crime novel is situated in and around Glasgow, with a special mention for the City of Glasgow Concert hall, as the place where two horrendous murders will take place.
The first one who's murdered is George Millar, the City of Glasgow's Orchestra leader, and his murder is committed due to his indifferent behaviour towards fellow gays, as well as his dodgy dealings in stolen musical instruments and his supply/use of drugs.
Not long after his death, Karen Quentin-Jones is also killed under suspicious circumstances, but the perpetrator is not to be found and thus still on the loose.
With time running out, with his wife Maggie in Florida teaching and the festive holidays on their way rapidly and DCI Lorimer very keen to be there on time, he and his team of police officers, and also with the help of psychologist Solomon Brightman and pathologist Rosie Fergusson, are hard pressed to solve these cases of murder, but eventually they will succeed to catch the killer and at the same time to save some lives in the meantime.
What is to follow is a human and fast-flowing police procedure, with as I said before a great storyline and a very emotional ending, that will make this book altogether a very satisfying read.
Very much recommended, for this is, so far, another great addition to this fabulous series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "A Very Engaging Murderous Sound"!
Storytelling is wonderful, all characters, good or bad, are very believable and lifelike, while the storyline and resulting plot are superbly worked out.
This crime novel is situated in and around Glasgow, with a special mention for the City of Glasgow Concert hall, as the place where two horrendous murders will take place.
The first one who's murdered is George Millar, the City of Glasgow's Orchestra leader, and his murder is committed due to his indifferent behaviour towards fellow gays, as well as his dodgy dealings in stolen musical instruments and his supply/use of drugs.
Not long after his death, Karen Quentin-Jones is also killed under suspicious circumstances, but the perpetrator is not to be found and thus still on the loose.
With time running out, with his wife Maggie in Florida teaching and the festive holidays on their way rapidly and DCI Lorimer very keen to be there on time, he and his team of police officers, and also with the help of psychologist Solomon Brightman and pathologist Rosie Fergusson, are hard pressed to solve these cases of murder, but eventually they will succeed to catch the killer and at the same time to save some lives in the meantime.
What is to follow is a human and fast-flowing police procedure, with as I said before a great storyline and a very emotional ending, that will make this book altogether a very satisfying read.
Very much recommended, for this is, so far, another great addition to this fabulous series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "A Very Engaging Murderous Sound"!
February 1, 2015
Another really good mystery by Alex Gray! The motive for the murder of George Millar turns out to be far more complicated than it might first seem. Turns out that the Glasgow orchestra is seething with passions, drugs, and crime and everyone seems to have secrets in their past that all have a potential connection to the crime. A great whodunit!
June 1, 2017
**Spoilers**
This book has a lot going on, a lot of characters, side story-lines, and warm human moments, all intertwined around a fascinating double murder... but sadly not a drop of brilliant or engaging detective work! What a shame!
All in all, the book is alright. I certainly enjoyed the premise, murder in the orchestra! And there were endearing moments between Lorimer and Flynn that I enjoyed.
However, having such a huge suspect pool (the entire orchestra and everyone working around them) made the book a bit of a slog. It was hard to connect with the characters, mostly presented in snippets, and hard to engage with the actual mystery, it felt like there were always too many unknown variables. Perhaps that was part of the point? To cause the reader to feel positioned as a detective might be positioned, wading in murky waters? Distracted by lots of personal things while trying to solve a crime? Could that be the point?
Maybe I have been too much influenced by TV, but it bothered my that the detectives didn't check the phone lines after each of the killings. Karen's phone call would have tipped them off quickly, I believe.
It was also too much of a coincidence for me that the 2nd body was found because of a freak flood due to early snow. It had nothing to do with any kind of great, admirable detective work.
Finally, the solving of the crime also had nothing to do with any kind of great detective work. If the murderer hadn't gone crazy and attempted two more (less well-planned) murders, no great insight on the part of the detectives would have revealed him and he would have killed two more and then died himself in a fire. Under those circumstances, it was hard,as a reader, to feel like saying "Hoorah!" with admiration directed towards Detective Lorimer. He came across as grumpy, mopey and like his head wasn't in the game.... Well, who could blame him with his wife gone off to Florida... a strange side story that detracted from the joy of pure mystery. However, it did also add a sort of soft, sweet human aspect that was enjoyable.
I didn't at all fathom the use of the Solomon Brightman character. His constant grinning and his inner-musings about the various suspects didn't seem to help the case along. Lorimer's own instincts and inner musings were not less clear than Brightman's, they both asked themselves similar questions. I thought the point of using a psychologist was to have more clarity about human behavior. Lorimer didn't need Brightman. It was all just kind of.. eh....
I also didn't understand the point of the scene between Chris and Tina in the cafe, drinking foamy cappuccinos and Chris thinks he sees someone he recognizes out of the corner of his eye... but no...
Again, a scene that didn't help the mystery along, or provide any relevant clues.
Once again, Tina and Chris in the kitchen, when Tina tells Chris that she is his sister and Simon is eavesdropping... I couldn't fathom how Simon could have gotten the impression from that conversation that Tina was pregnant with Chris' baby, or from the Christmas card, either. It was so convoluted!
Finally, anyone who has had anything to do with drug-addicts and/or people who have lived on the street will have found Flynn's miraculous and complete turn-around to a probably functional, working person, in a matter of weeks, a little bit too ideal. However, the romantic in me wanted to LOVE it and think, "Well, why not?" So that part of the story was also sweet, albeit unbelievable.
This book has a lot going on, a lot of characters, side story-lines, and warm human moments, all intertwined around a fascinating double murder... but sadly not a drop of brilliant or engaging detective work! What a shame!
All in all, the book is alright. I certainly enjoyed the premise, murder in the orchestra! And there were endearing moments between Lorimer and Flynn that I enjoyed.
However, having such a huge suspect pool (the entire orchestra and everyone working around them) made the book a bit of a slog. It was hard to connect with the characters, mostly presented in snippets, and hard to engage with the actual mystery, it felt like there were always too many unknown variables. Perhaps that was part of the point? To cause the reader to feel positioned as a detective might be positioned, wading in murky waters? Distracted by lots of personal things while trying to solve a crime? Could that be the point?
Maybe I have been too much influenced by TV, but it bothered my that the detectives didn't check the phone lines after each of the killings. Karen's phone call would have tipped them off quickly, I believe.
It was also too much of a coincidence for me that the 2nd body was found because of a freak flood due to early snow. It had nothing to do with any kind of great, admirable detective work.
Finally, the solving of the crime also had nothing to do with any kind of great detective work. If the murderer hadn't gone crazy and attempted two more (less well-planned) murders, no great insight on the part of the detectives would have revealed him and he would have killed two more and then died himself in a fire. Under those circumstances, it was hard,as a reader, to feel like saying "Hoorah!" with admiration directed towards Detective Lorimer. He came across as grumpy, mopey and like his head wasn't in the game.... Well, who could blame him with his wife gone off to Florida... a strange side story that detracted from the joy of pure mystery. However, it did also add a sort of soft, sweet human aspect that was enjoyable.
I didn't at all fathom the use of the Solomon Brightman character. His constant grinning and his inner-musings about the various suspects didn't seem to help the case along. Lorimer's own instincts and inner musings were not less clear than Brightman's, they both asked themselves similar questions. I thought the point of using a psychologist was to have more clarity about human behavior. Lorimer didn't need Brightman. It was all just kind of.. eh....
I also didn't understand the point of the scene between Chris and Tina in the cafe, drinking foamy cappuccinos and Chris thinks he sees someone he recognizes out of the corner of his eye... but no...
Again, a scene that didn't help the mystery along, or provide any relevant clues.
Once again, Tina and Chris in the kitchen, when Tina tells Chris that she is his sister and Simon is eavesdropping... I couldn't fathom how Simon could have gotten the impression from that conversation that Tina was pregnant with Chris' baby, or from the Christmas card, either. It was so convoluted!
Finally, anyone who has had anything to do with drug-addicts and/or people who have lived on the street will have found Flynn's miraculous and complete turn-around to a probably functional, working person, in a matter of weeks, a little bit too ideal. However, the romantic in me wanted to LOVE it and think, "Well, why not?" So that part of the story was also sweet, albeit unbelievable.
February 14, 2012
I am all over the place with this series, and I don't think that's helping my enjoyment of these books one little bit. Nor, mind you, is the line blazoned all over the front cover 'Glasgow's Answer to Ian Rankin'.... sorry, but that's setting the bar just a tad on the high side isn't it....? So high that you can't help feeling that, as a reader, you're going to be looking for reasons to jiggle that bar. Mind you, from memory, there was something similar screaming from the front cover of the last book in the series I read - which also did not live up to the expectation set.
There's something, unfortunately somewhat unmemorable about SHADOWS OF SOUNDS. Whilst reasonably competently plotted somehow the storyline doesn't quite fire with the assurance, or firmness of many recently read Scottish crime fiction tales. The character of Lorimer is developing a little (the last in the series I read seemed to have him more of a bit player), but somehow he's still grey. When writing this review, I notice that my notes on the book include how hard it is to draw an assured enough portrait of the man to aid recollection.
Not, I hasten to add, did I particularly dislike the book, or resent the time taken to read it. I just don't have much of a memory of it, and during the reading, I couldn't seem to get past the idea that if this is Glasgow's answer to Rankin and Edinburgh, Glasgow's not as edgy as I thought it was.
There's something, unfortunately somewhat unmemorable about SHADOWS OF SOUNDS. Whilst reasonably competently plotted somehow the storyline doesn't quite fire with the assurance, or firmness of many recently read Scottish crime fiction tales. The character of Lorimer is developing a little (the last in the series I read seemed to have him more of a bit player), but somehow he's still grey. When writing this review, I notice that my notes on the book include how hard it is to draw an assured enough portrait of the man to aid recollection.
Not, I hasten to add, did I particularly dislike the book, or resent the time taken to read it. I just don't have much of a memory of it, and during the reading, I couldn't seem to get past the idea that if this is Glasgow's answer to Rankin and Edinburgh, Glasgow's not as edgy as I thought it was.
January 2, 2024
Meine Meinung von 2013:
Kurz vor einem Konzert wird George Millar, der erste Geiger des City of Glasgow Orchesters, ermordet. Trotz des schrecklichen Vorfalls findet das Konzert wie geplant statt. Ein Alptraum für die Ermittler, denn mögliche Spuren sind durch die vielen Menschen im Konzertsaal und hinter der Bühne so gut wie zerstört. Wie gut, dass zumindest ein Mitglied des Orchesters bereit ist, die Wahrheit über den Toten zu sagen. Und da ist noch Flynn, der junge Obdachlose, der seinen Platz vor dem Haupteingang hat und der das Opfer gut kannte. Trotzdem sind die Ermittlungen für DCI Lorrimer alles andere als leicht. Besonders als ein zweiter Mord passiert und es auf einmal so aussieht, als ob der Täter aus den Reihen des Orchesters kommt.
Als George Millar ermordet wird, scheint zuerst keiner die Wahrheit über den Toten sagen zu wollen. Vielmehr machen alle Zeugen mehr oder weniger die gleiche Aussage: der Tote war beliebt und seine Homosexualität war kein Problem für seine Kollegen. Nur die zweite Geigerin macht eine andere Aussage. Trotz ihrer Offenheit hat Lorrimer das Gefühl, als ob sie mehr weiß als sie sagt. Kurze Zeit später wird auch sie ermordet. Die Ermittlungen scheinen ins Leere zu führen. Auch die Ehefrau des Ermordeten kann ihnen weder neuen Hinweise zu geben, noch kommt sie als Täterin in Frage, weil sie ihren Mann so akzeptierte, wie er war und mit ihm einen guten Freund verloren hat.
Der junge Flynn scheint die einzige heiße Spur zu sein. Er hat mehr gesehen, als ihm klar ist und ist deshalb in Gefahr. Um ihn zu beschützen, greift Will zu ungewöhnlichen Methoden: er nimmt den Jungen bei sich auf. Seit seine Frau Maggie ihr Jahr in den USA angefangen hat, fühlt er sich einsam und so ist es nicht ganz uneigennützig, dass er dem jungen Mann sein Gästezimmer anbietet und ihn so von der Straße holt.
Im Verlauf der Ermittlungen bieten sich viele mögliche Motive. Will Lorrimer und der Psychologe Solly Brightman müssen mehr als einmal feststellen, dass sie sich auf einem falschen Weg befinden und den Fall neu überdenken. Der wirkliche Täter wie auch das Motiv kommen für mich überraschend, wenn sich auch vorher etwas in dieser Richtung angedeutet hat. Wie immer erzählt die Autorin viel von den Menschen, die durch das Verbrechen berührt werden, ohne die Ermittlungen aus den Augen zu lassen.
Meine Meinung aus 2024:
Die Krimis von Alex Gray funktionieren auch beim zweiten Mal. Im Vergleich zu den neueren Teilen der Reihe spielt der hier in einem relativ kleinen Umfeld und mit wenigen Charakteren. Wenn man die neueren Teile kennt, ist es spannend zu sehen, wie sie sich im Lauf der Reihe entwickelt haben.
Maggie ist in diesem Teil beruflich in Florida. Ohne sie fehlt nicht nur Will etwas, auch ich habe sie vermisst. Sie steht zwar meistens im Hintergrund, hat aber trotzdem in diesem Teil eine Lücke hinterlassen. Flynn tritt hier zum ersten Mal auf, ich hatte schon fast vergessen, wie lange er dabei ist.
Der Fall ist gut durchdacht. Auch wenn die Ermittlungen am Anfang ein bisschen zäh sind, waren sie nie langweilig. Das Ende war ein wenig dramatisch, auf das Stilmittel verzichtet die Autorin in den späteren Teilen. Die älteren Teile der Reihe sind anders als die neuen, aber nicht schlechter.
Kurz vor einem Konzert wird George Millar, der erste Geiger des City of Glasgow Orchesters, ermordet. Trotz des schrecklichen Vorfalls findet das Konzert wie geplant statt. Ein Alptraum für die Ermittler, denn mögliche Spuren sind durch die vielen Menschen im Konzertsaal und hinter der Bühne so gut wie zerstört. Wie gut, dass zumindest ein Mitglied des Orchesters bereit ist, die Wahrheit über den Toten zu sagen. Und da ist noch Flynn, der junge Obdachlose, der seinen Platz vor dem Haupteingang hat und der das Opfer gut kannte. Trotzdem sind die Ermittlungen für DCI Lorrimer alles andere als leicht. Besonders als ein zweiter Mord passiert und es auf einmal so aussieht, als ob der Täter aus den Reihen des Orchesters kommt.
Als George Millar ermordet wird, scheint zuerst keiner die Wahrheit über den Toten sagen zu wollen. Vielmehr machen alle Zeugen mehr oder weniger die gleiche Aussage: der Tote war beliebt und seine Homosexualität war kein Problem für seine Kollegen. Nur die zweite Geigerin macht eine andere Aussage. Trotz ihrer Offenheit hat Lorrimer das Gefühl, als ob sie mehr weiß als sie sagt. Kurze Zeit später wird auch sie ermordet. Die Ermittlungen scheinen ins Leere zu führen. Auch die Ehefrau des Ermordeten kann ihnen weder neuen Hinweise zu geben, noch kommt sie als Täterin in Frage, weil sie ihren Mann so akzeptierte, wie er war und mit ihm einen guten Freund verloren hat.
Der junge Flynn scheint die einzige heiße Spur zu sein. Er hat mehr gesehen, als ihm klar ist und ist deshalb in Gefahr. Um ihn zu beschützen, greift Will zu ungewöhnlichen Methoden: er nimmt den Jungen bei sich auf. Seit seine Frau Maggie ihr Jahr in den USA angefangen hat, fühlt er sich einsam und so ist es nicht ganz uneigennützig, dass er dem jungen Mann sein Gästezimmer anbietet und ihn so von der Straße holt.
Im Verlauf der Ermittlungen bieten sich viele mögliche Motive. Will Lorrimer und der Psychologe Solly Brightman müssen mehr als einmal feststellen, dass sie sich auf einem falschen Weg befinden und den Fall neu überdenken. Der wirkliche Täter wie auch das Motiv kommen für mich überraschend, wenn sich auch vorher etwas in dieser Richtung angedeutet hat. Wie immer erzählt die Autorin viel von den Menschen, die durch das Verbrechen berührt werden, ohne die Ermittlungen aus den Augen zu lassen.
Meine Meinung aus 2024:
Die Krimis von Alex Gray funktionieren auch beim zweiten Mal. Im Vergleich zu den neueren Teilen der Reihe spielt der hier in einem relativ kleinen Umfeld und mit wenigen Charakteren. Wenn man die neueren Teile kennt, ist es spannend zu sehen, wie sie sich im Lauf der Reihe entwickelt haben.
Maggie ist in diesem Teil beruflich in Florida. Ohne sie fehlt nicht nur Will etwas, auch ich habe sie vermisst. Sie steht zwar meistens im Hintergrund, hat aber trotzdem in diesem Teil eine Lücke hinterlassen. Flynn tritt hier zum ersten Mal auf, ich hatte schon fast vergessen, wie lange er dabei ist.
Der Fall ist gut durchdacht. Auch wenn die Ermittlungen am Anfang ein bisschen zäh sind, waren sie nie langweilig. Das Ende war ein wenig dramatisch, auf das Stilmittel verzichtet die Autorin in den späteren Teilen. Die älteren Teile der Reihe sind anders als die neuen, aber nicht schlechter.
September 10, 2023
This was very good as it was set in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and was about an orchestra member who was murdered. Fascinating insights into the orchestral and choral world which I know so well and have sung at the Concert Hall several times so backstage is known to me too. The story was good, obviously enhanced for me by the comments about the orchestra and sopranos - I didn’t realise that Alex Gray sang with a choir. Whether she still does I don’t know and is she a soprano or an alto lol? Hard to say from the comments but I’m guessing a soprano. Great fun and an easy read.
June 19, 2018
A murder in the strange little world that a classical orchestra lives in. High flyers, intrige and affairs all tangled up in a bit of deceit, international instrument theft and good old-fashioned love & hate. Meanwhile the DCIs wife has left the 50s - and the country to do some self-realization.
February 22, 2022
Somewhat slow
November 8, 2008
puff on cover says "Glasgow's answer to Rankin".
No.
Sub Taggart at best.
No.
Sub Taggart at best.
July 24, 2020
Just really poor
February 17, 2020
When two musicians from the Glasgow Royal Concert Orchestra are murdered at the Hall, DCI Lorimer and his team are overflowing with people to interview, suspects and evidence that doesn't produce a killer over months of investigation. His boss Super Mitchison who gives the team nothing but grief is hit with stress and is put on leave, moving Lorimer into acting Super to add to his load. George Millar and Karen Quentin-Jones were first and second violin, and both had secrets and complicated lives. George was involved in multiple homosexual relationships, with other members of the orchestra, and Karen had two children by another of the individuals involved with the Hall, C. Maurice Drummond, leader of the chorus, during affairs of the past. Her husband is aware that his daughter is by another because he found out that he is sterile. But he loves her and moves on, even giving her a very expensive violin that turns out to be stolen. George in addition to his liaisons was part of an organization that dealt in stolen musical instruments. He and a number of the other members were also cocaine users. Both of the murder victims were killed with musical instrument parts, one a percussion hammer, the other strangled with a harp wire.
But love gone very wrong is the motive in the end, as the killer goes after the two children of Quentin-Jones as revenge. As part of the investigation, Lorimer finds himself offering his home as refuge to a young homeless man who had been involved in providing drugs for the members, and then, in running had been hit by a van and badly hurt. Flynn is redeemable and William is drawn to helping him. Another excellent story with plenty of interesting side information about music and fascinating characters. The season of Christmas provides an air of festivities, and Lorimer and Maggie's mother travel to Florida for the holiday, giving Bill and Maggie the opportunity to rekindle their love. Peaceful ends.
But love gone very wrong is the motive in the end, as the killer goes after the two children of Quentin-Jones as revenge. As part of the investigation, Lorimer finds himself offering his home as refuge to a young homeless man who had been involved in providing drugs for the members, and then, in running had been hit by a van and badly hurt. Flynn is redeemable and William is drawn to helping him. Another excellent story with plenty of interesting side information about music and fascinating characters. The season of Christmas provides an air of festivities, and Lorimer and Maggie's mother travel to Florida for the holiday, giving Bill and Maggie the opportunity to rekindle their love. Peaceful ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2022
"Shadows of Sounds" is a police procedural murder mystery set present day Glasgow Scotland. Chief Inspector Bill Lorimer heads the police investigation of two murders of leading musicians of the City of Glasgow orchestra. The killings at first seem unrelated, except for the orchestra connection, but as things progress some sordid connections emerge: cocaine use, trafficking in stolen stolen musical instruments and serial gay affairs. Lorimer is assisted by a psychologist profiler, Dr. Solly Brightman, who is a friend as well as a colleague. He is dealing with personal issues arising from his wife taking a temporary teaching position in the United States and an immediate superior officer with a chip on his shoulder. The artistic temperament of the orchestra members who are the obvious suspects in both killings challenges the increasing complex investigation. These characters balance those on the police side to provide a diverse cast for the story. It's set against the background of Glasgow in the fall and early winter, and the ins and outs of the daily running of an orchestra.
Taken together, this is an informative and entertaining whodunnit set in an interesting background. It's obviously one of a series, but it can be read on its own as a standalone.
Taken together, this is an informative and entertaining whodunnit set in an interesting background. It's obviously one of a series, but it can be read on its own as a standalone.
August 7, 2020
What on earth is going on in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, as the City of Glasgow Orchestra, rehearse and play their Christmas concerts. Not one murder but two and as DCI Lorimer investigates, many of the members of the orchestra have secrets which are exposed.
I enjoyed this novel but in my opinion it was not Alex Gray's best. As with all her books set in Glasgow, I love that her stories take place in and around landmarks, buildings, streets and restaurants familiar to me and I would say that she is one of my favourite authors.
I enjoyed this novel but in my opinion it was not Alex Gray's best. As with all her books set in Glasgow, I love that her stories take place in and around landmarks, buildings, streets and restaurants familiar to me and I would say that she is one of my favourite authors.
Read
August 17, 2023When George Millar, the City of Glasgow’s orchestra leader, is brutally murdered in his dressing room before a performance, his colleagues are shocked. As the show goes on, DCI Lorimer and psychologist Solomon Brightman uncover a series of irrevocably tangled relationships between the orchestra members. Millar had been involved in a series of homosexual relationships and was well known for playing his lovers off against one another – but were his controversial dalliances really enough to incite cold-blooded and calculated murder?
Great.
Great.
August 24, 2024
DCI Lorimer #3. What I have found with these earlier ones is that they drag a bit. Always around 300 pages, and would have been better at say 250.
And, as we know, no Sherlock without Watson, no Poirot without Hastings, and no Lorimer without Dr. Brightman, whether he's needed or not. The psychologist didn't seem to be really needed here - they have to pay him don't they? What about the budget? Times are hard, and money's scarce.
We have a typical helter skelter ending, which is also becoming a fixture in this series.
Rating 3.0.
And, as we know, no Sherlock without Watson, no Poirot without Hastings, and no Lorimer without Dr. Brightman, whether he's needed or not. The psychologist didn't seem to be really needed here - they have to pay him don't they? What about the budget? Times are hard, and money's scarce.
We have a typical helter skelter ending, which is also becoming a fixture in this series.
Rating 3.0.
September 17, 2025
One of the earlier Lorimer novels which I'd never read before.
When both the first and second violinists of the City of Glasgow Orchestra are murdered within days of each other, police investigations uncover all sorts of secrets which other members of the orchestra hadn't suspected. Faced with a huge list of potential suspects including both the entire orchestra and chorus, Lorimer faces a race against time if he is to solve the case in time to fly to the USA to spend Christmas with his wife, currently on a teaching exchange in Florida.
A good, original, fast moving plot.
When both the first and second violinists of the City of Glasgow Orchestra are murdered within days of each other, police investigations uncover all sorts of secrets which other members of the orchestra hadn't suspected. Faced with a huge list of potential suspects including both the entire orchestra and chorus, Lorimer faces a race against time if he is to solve the case in time to fly to the USA to spend Christmas with his wife, currently on a teaching exchange in Florida.
A good, original, fast moving plot.
July 25, 2017
If you like realistic crime thrillers featuring a consistent detective then there is not much to dislike in the DCI Lorimer series, set in Glasgow and written by Alex Gray.
Shadows of Sounds centres on the murder of notorious Orchestra Leader George Millar.. Lorimer has to unravel the many relationships George was involved in and work out who murdered him and why. No big surprises but an easy satisfying read.
Shadows of Sounds centres on the murder of notorious Orchestra Leader George Millar.. Lorimer has to unravel the many relationships George was involved in and work out who murdered him and why. No big surprises but an easy satisfying read.
October 11, 2020
Shadows of Sounds by Alex Gray - Good
We are back in Glasgow with DCI Lorimer and Solly Brightman as the City of Glasgow's orchestra leader is murdered in the concert hall just before the start of a performance! He has a tangled love life and is involved in all sort of dodgy dealings which seem to include most of the main players in the orchestra (sorry, pun not intended).
An intriguing plot with some very strange murder weapons. Good page turner.
We are back in Glasgow with DCI Lorimer and Solly Brightman as the City of Glasgow's orchestra leader is murdered in the concert hall just before the start of a performance! He has a tangled love life and is involved in all sort of dodgy dealings which seem to include most of the main players in the orchestra (sorry, pun not intended).
An intriguing plot with some very strange murder weapons. Good page turner.
January 19, 2021
Having a vague notion that the bumf on the back indicated I might have read this before, it wasn't until about page 100 that I realised I had, many years ago. Having read most of the Lorimer novels since then I trust I can be forgiven for this. Anyway, I didn't recall exactly how it panned out so carried on reading Shadow of Sounds. Reminded me why I like the Lorimer series and must read the others again. Good solid Glasgow based crime story.
December 22, 2019
Glasgow, police procedural, easy read. Definitely not a "threat to Inspector Rebus" as the cover of the version I was reading said, but entertaining nonetheless. The orchestra as murder scene is interesting. The detective, Lorimer, is probably the most attractive thing about these books, and the question mark, if it is one, over his marriage with his wife away in the US for a year.
May 28, 2022
The third entry into the DCI Lorimer series begins with the murder of a Glasgow orchestra leader and focuses on the investigation into it and while it was a interesting read with a few good sub plots, it did seem to drag a bit and, ironically, an ending that seemed a bit rushed! That said there are some great characters, decent twists and red herrings and I'll certainly continue with the series.
June 11, 2023
Fairly good detective novel by an author I’d never heard of. Set in Edinburgh it was good to be on familiar turf. It progresses nicely from being slow and banal to a twisting turning mystery with a dramatic surprising end and all the time interweaving lovely peripheral characters into the story. Not the best I’ve read
April 8, 2019
I always enjoy this series but this one took me longer to get into and I found myself less interested in the characters. Possibly her later ones are better? Regardless of this, I shall continue to read the series until I’ve finished.
July 25, 2021
Getting better
This book in the series was better than the previous books. More believable characters, plot was muddled, especially the ending. All in all enough to order the next book.
This book in the series was better than the previous books. More believable characters, plot was muddled, especially the ending. All in all enough to order the next book.
July 31, 2021
This is book number 3 in the DCI Lorimor series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, there were a few times I had to back track to remember which character was who and what their story was. It got a bit confusing, but it was a good story! Can't wait to find number 4!
April 28, 2024
An exciting detective novel, set in Glasgow, about the murder of an orchestra leader. With enough twists and turns to keep you reading it's 300 pages, this novel was a fun distraction, if nothing more.
December 15, 2017
Another good read in this series.
March 19, 2019
Absolutely brilliant growing to love these characters
July 26, 2019
Solid crime drama. The lives of Lorimer & Maggie are as intriguing as the storyline.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews