6 ran

Daniella Coulstoun #2

by Morgan Cry

Pod słońcem Hiszpanii rozgrywa się wyjątkowo mroczna historia

Sześć ran kłutych i zdecydowanie więcej powodów do zmartwień...

Daniella Coulstoun przeprowadziła się z deszczowego Glasgow do słonecznego El Descaro na Costa Blanca, by z pomocą przyjaciół prowadzić pub Se Busca odziedziczony po matce. Spełnienie marzeń? Nie do końca. Przyjaciele to dysfunkcyjna grupka imigrantów, którzy mają swoje za uszami. Pub zaś wygląda jak obskurny bunkier - bez okien i odrobiny gustu w kwestii wystroju. Nie jest to też miejsce, w którym człowiek czuje się bezpiecznie, bowiem w dramatycznych okolicznościach w jego piwnicy zostaje znalezione... ciało znanego londyńskiego gangstera. Podejrzenia padają na Daniellę. W końcu znała denata i obwiniała go o śmierć matki... Aby oczyścić się z zarzutów, musi odnaleźć prawdziwego zabójcę. Czy to właściciel konkurencyjnego pubu albo któryś ze zwariowanych bywalców Se Busca? A może w grę wchodzą gangsterskie porachunki? I czy Daniella jest gotowa poznać prawdę?

Genres: Thriller

460 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2021

About the author

Morgan Cry is the ex-pat alias of Gordon Brown, a Scottish crime writer with 9 novels to his name. Leaving the dark alleyways of tartan noir and heading for the Spanish sunshine, Morgan Cry debuted with a cracking tale of murder, intrigue, and a daughter flung right in at the deep end with her mother's secrets in 'Thirty-One Bones' and Daniella returns in a 'whodunnit' in the sun - 'Six Wounds' - 'It's Murder When You are Innocent.'

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Helen Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an action-packed, super fast read. Set in the sunshine, with a really good cast of unique characters and a kick-ass but funny protagonist, it's got everything you need for bookish escapism. Loved it! Particularly recommend for those boarding a plane to anywhere and jetting off. Ultimate "down time" reading.

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Początek zapowiadał się dobrze, ale im dalej szlo, tym jakoś mniej wiarygodnie się robiło. Nie była to zła książka, zarówno ten tom, jak i poprzedni fajnie umilił mi czas, ale jak dla mnie ta seria jest po prostu przekombinowana i zabrakło mi bohaterów, z którymi faktycznie mogłabym się zżyć albo chociaż polubić ich na tyle, żeby bardziej interesowało mnie to, co działo się w książce. Nie zostaliśmy co prawda przyjaciółmi, ale prawie poczułam hiszpańskie słońce na twarzy, więc nienajgorzej :)

[Suze Clarke-Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

We first met Daniella in 2020's Thirty-One Bones when she inherited Se Busca, a run down bar on the Costa Blanca, from her estranged mother. The bar came with its own patrons, a ragtag bunch of expats with some colourful histories. Things have been ticking over for a wee while but get a while lot worse when a body turns up in the pub cellar. On top of that, with Daniella not up to speed with her Spanish, business accounts, local feuds and, generally, just how things work, she feels the expats, including her lover, are trying to edge her out. And there are others who are trying harder and with far less subtlety. She's in for a rough ride...

Six Wounds opens with a crash, bang, wallop and doesn't really let up until the end. For those new to this particular slice of Spanish heaven the scene setting is wonderful. The sunshine, fiestas, holidaymakers... And the gaudy, tacky seediness of Se Busca (and one of two other places), Daniella's mother's fusty apartment - it's so easy to visualise all of it. And the characters, well... The expats are a colourful bunch - an ex pop star,  a racing driver, models, an ex accountant and a businessman whose lives in El Descaro have been equally colourful. The jury is still out for me on some of them but I'm not George's biggest fan and I generally like Zia, most of the time anyway! A big shoutout for Saucy's sober moment! There are some fresh characters too, most notably Carl Stoker, not a man I'd like to offend in any way. Daniella is a brilliant character - whilst she doesn't hold the sway her mother did, she doesn't stand for any nonsense and will fight to hold her own. She's fiery, though, and that does get her into some bother. 

Morgan Cry has given us some great local rivalries and customs - I loved the idea of The Steal, although I sympathised with poor Danielle about it. And there is the parade and the planned race - I loved all the wee details adding to our picture of Daniella's new life. 

Six Wounds is a sun-soaked, action-packed thriller which grabs you at the get go and pulls you along for the ride. The storyline is spot on, the pacing is perfect, the rising tension occasionally lightened by sunshine and humour. Throw in a smart, sassy protagonist and a colourful supporting cast and you have a fabulous romp of a book. I said the same about the last one but this one too is far more fun than it has any right to be! Highly recommended. 

[❃ུ۪ ❀۪wiktoria ❁ུ۪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

powiem tak... that was unexpected 😯

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable and exciting read. Loved reading a crime story set in the sun with some wonderful, relatable characters. I shall look forward to reading more stories about Daniella and the gang as and when Morgan Cry writes them and the publisher gets them published!

[misia♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

fajna rozrywka. momentami była nieco nudna, domyśliłam się większości intryg i zakończenia (ponadto zakończenie rozwiązało się BARDZO szybko) ale tak czy inaczej jeśli ktoś ma ochotę na hiszpański kryminał z wątkami gangsterskimi, to fajna pozycja.
3.25/5 ⭐

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I might have just found a new favourite author! Now I have heard about Gordon for quite a while now - I think I may even have some of his books in my ever-expanding tbr pile but I just hadn't gotten around to them. What a mistake that was!!! I have been pushed for time lately for blogging and I was reading this last night when I was scrolling Facebook and up pops his author chat for the UK crime book club - serendipity. It was such fun, so go check it out. Indeed just check out the group in general as it's fabulous!

Anyway, back to Gordon. This book has a wee sprinkle of weegie magic to it. As I hadn't read the first book I was finding my way in the first couple of chapters and thought this all sounds like Glasgow in the sun! Then when I heard Gordon’s chat I realised that ‘Six Wounds’ is his voice. It oozes his personality - witty, oh so clever, plays and twists upon the themes of ‘Costa del Crime’, has a heart of gold and is a solid piece of crime fiction. Better than solid, it's something special. It drops stunning visuals as you read, has an amazing host of characters in Daniella and the Ex-Patriots and is truly a great homage to the whodunit genre of yesteryear. Agatha Christie gets name-dropped far too often in pr marketing for crime authors - so and so is the new Agatha Christie… But in this case it's clear that Gordon loves this era of crime fiction, subtle references both in the book and the chat last night alludes to this. Plus, he does manage to pull off a spectacular whodunit. It even had me fooled at times. Thankfully, unlike some Christie books, you do have an inkling of what's going on. Or do you? I feel like there should be the Eastender’s ‘duff duff’ now.

‘Six Wounds’ was thoroughly entertaining and had me laughing out loud, which is rare for me. It was such the pick up I needed - I am currently playing the horrible is it covid or a cold game, so having some west coast humour and a dose of sunshine was a tonic indeed. Every single character was perfectly drawn, not too much of a cliche but enough that you recognise them. Daniella is a tour de force of a protagonist with a strong voice, highly intelligent, and a vulnerable side that juxtaposes superbly with that steely fierce core and I can tell there will be a lot of character development and background still to come! Please say there is more to come… Daniella may be the central force but Zia, Gordon, Saucy, The Twins and Skid are just as finely drawn. Indeed I can imagine Zia watching Eurovision tomorrow and his scathing and catty remarks.

I'm not even going to talk about the plot as I don't want to ruin it for anyone but I know you will enjoy it. If you do end up wanting to read more after this book, Gordon did mention that if you go to the publisher's website you can read some short stories featuring Daniella. He has also co wrote with the fabulous Douglas Skelton a novella featuring Daniella in her old life in Glasgow.

He is also having a book launch at Waterstones in Glasgow in June which I am going to go to and I might even bring him a bottle of Irn Bru extra!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Wounds is the second in the Daniella Coulstoun series, following on from Thirty-One Bones which was published in 2020.

I went in to this one cold, I've not read the first book, but honestly, it doesn't matter (although I do intend to catch up on it soon). The author is very clever, he gives the reader the back story, without flooding us with too much information. Every now and again we get a snippet from the past and it is excellently done. The story flows really well.

This is a cracking read! I read it in just about one sitting, totally engrossed in Daniella's life, running a decidedly dodgy bar in Costa Blanca, Spain. It's not just the actual bar that is questionable though, the co-owners and the customers are all incredibly colourful characters too, most of them have dubious pasts and the majority of them are still up their eyes in trouble.

Daniella inherited the bar from her estranged mother. They'd not been in touch for years, and whilst Daniella was working in an insurance call centre in the UK, her mother was creating her empire. An empire of heavies, thieves and strays.

Daniella is now well established as the main shareholder in the bar, she's in a new relationship and is discovering the 'joys' of being a bar owner in Spain. However, not everyone is happy about her being in charge; not the other owners, some of the clientele and certainly not the owners of a neighbouring bar.

One explosive and frightening night, Daniella's bar explodes. Literally. The doors come crashing down, furniture is smashed, there are holes in the walls and the floors ..... and a dead body is found in the cellar. This is serious. The dead man is a well-known gangster and Daniella soon finds herself in the frame for his murder.

What follows is an action-packed romp of a story, there's some really dry humour in amongst the deaths and the threats and it's a fabulous read. I was glued to it, I really enjoyed the character creation so much. The author is so very skilled in bringing his characters to life, they feel so real.

Gripping and pacy, a real roller-coaster of a read. Highly recommended.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the Thirty-One Bones, the first book in the Daniella Coulstoun series, so given the opportunity to read Six Wounds I couldn’t say no. After the issues she had when she first took over the bar from her mother Daniella was looking forward to a bit of normality. When the body of Pat Ratte is found murdered in the cellar of her bar, Daniella soon finds herself the number one suspect. Added to this she is being warned by bookie Carl Stokes to basically get out of town. With the police chief breathing down her neck, she takes it upon herself to prove her innocence and find out the real perpetrator. What she doesn’t know is if she can rely on her boyfriend and her fellow ex-pat business partners to stand by her and help her.
I have to say if I was Danielle I probably would have sold up ages ago and got out of the pub business as it really does seem more trouble than its worth. She certainly does have a steely determination bordering on blind stubbornness when met with people telling her what she should and shouldn’t do that you can’t help but admire. She has taken on the mantle of pub landlady and head of the ex-pats a little unwillingly as she has some big shoes to fill, a fact that some think they can take advantage of. Once again they seem to be sabotaging themselves and the business without even trying thanks to some shifty work from the deceased and Carl Stokes. If only they were as clever as some of the gang think they are then maybe all their problems would go away.
This series plays well into the stories of the Costa del Crime and the characters that the author has created have you grinning at times and groaning with frustration at others. With old scores to settle and pub rivalries as an added bonus this is a brilliant addition to the series that will have you willing Danielle to come out on top. The only question you will be left with is will this be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and have her heading back to the UK and a little stability or will we get to see what Danielle and co get embroiled in next?

[Rich B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second outing for Daniela Coulstoun and her new life running her dead mum’s pub, the Se Busca in the fictional town of El Descaro on the Costa Blanca. Enjoyed reading this, nice dry humour to it and fun characters. Worth a read if you enjoyed the first book.

The characters are all well-written and relatable. Daniela makes a likeable lead, and there’s a good mix of secondary characters (the so-called Ex-Patriots) who add a lot of humour and colour to the story.

Of those though, we only really get a good insight into Zia, now Daniela’s boyfriend with most of the others only coming in for a few scenes and chapters. Assuming the series continues, it’d be interesting to get to know them better in future books.

The scene setting also works well. Lots of references to the Spanish way of life mixing with the British slightly seedy expat crowd who frequent the bar.

The story mainly involves the efforts of a local bookie / crime boss trying to take over the reins of the town, as the body of the current crime boss turns up in the cellar of the pub. This puts Daniela in peril, as evidence starts to mount up that she is somehow involved.

It’s a neat enough idea, though there’s a few plot holes and character actions which don’t quite make sense. It’s not quite as tense or dramatic as it could have been. That’s probably the only downside to the story. A couple of times you question why certain characters do the things they do, when there were easier / obvious ways they could have solved their problems.

That aside, it was still a fun, easy read with enough to make it above average. The ending felt open enough for the story to continue, and would definitely look out for more adventures from the team at Se Busca.

[Surjit Parekh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts about Morgan Cry’s Six Wounds keeps you engrossed and makes you feel the turbulence while you’re seated reading it comfortably. It’s edgy, fast-paced, engaging and serves you with right kind of suspense and thrill that won’t disappoint. Writer Morgan Cry shows his writing experience once again, he is convincing and effective. This book deserves an applause, especially for the story. Morgan Cry’s Six Wounds has a fantastic gripping story that will keep you hooked till the very end. The initial half will give you a thrilling experience and the next half will give you a detailed investigation. The story of Morgan Cry’s Six Wounds begins with Daniella Coulstoun has recently moved to the Costa Blanca. When the dead body of a prominent London gangster is discovered in the cellar of her bar she quickly becomes the number one suspect. With the police closing in, the local expats turning on her and a psychotic rival to the dead gangster in the background, Daniella knows she needs to nail the real killer, and fast. Hats off to Morgan Cry for writing such a great thriller. this book will keep you glued to your seats from start to finish. Morgan Cry’s Six Wounds is surly to be big. I would like to say a big thank you to author Morgan Cry, Publishers Polygon Books and Anne Carter from Random Things Tours, for kindly sending me a gifted copy for me to read and review this book has blown me away. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥💥💥

[Angi Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel full of wry, dark humour, grit and violence, secrets and lies. And for these reasons it’s brilliant.

Daniella, who is brisk and brusque is there after her mother’s death. The customers, workers and police all seem to be holding their cards close to their chest and all appear, at best dodgy. At worst downright deathly dangerous.

But who exactly is in a plot to get rid of Daniella? Little pieces of the puzzle are given slowly. This is a heady cocktail of the sunshine life in Spain, with a criminal underbelly pulsating with hidden poison. I absolutely loved it. The past is given in tiny crumbs leading you along the pathway to the explosive finale.

I have met characters like these, well some of them at least, and the description is spot on. I haven’t read the first book, but I do have it on my shelf now and intend to remedy that as soon as I can! This is a must read for summer.

With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.

[Keith Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was a blindingly good read! A searing tale of crime and corruption in the broiling expat community in a Spanish resort on the Costa Blanca. This was my first taste of the protagonist, Daniella Coulston, but it won't be my last as I'll be adding the first book in this series (31 Bones) to my TBR pile.
The story trips along at a breakneck pace, but what really makes this book stand out are the characters and the narrative. It's gritty, aggressive and (at times) violent but without going too far over the top. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable distraction.

[Tworząc Dialogi · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3,5/5

Niełatwo było się wciągnąć w opowieść. Format pisania jest nieco inny od pierwszej części (brak retrospekcji do policyjnego przesłuchania). Zbrodnia dużo ciekawsza, ale zachowanie bohaterów bywało do podważenia. Jest kilka przypominajek z pierwszego tomu, więc nie ma konieczności czytać jednej książki za drugą. Generalnie w miarę ok, chociaż wciąż nie czuje tego klimatu gorącej Hiszpanii.

[Deborah Masson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan Cry possesses that rare magic of being able to tell a dark tale with light humour.

So great to be back with Daniella - a woman who just can’t seem to shake trouble.

A breakneck speed read that explodes on to the first page - literally - and doesn’t let up.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful

[Karen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book in the series and thoroughly enjoyed it but although this book was a sequel I thought it was even better.
I enjoyed reading it so much that I didn’t want the story to end.

[Natalia Lisińska · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5
najgorszy ‚kryminal’ jaki w zyciu czytalam