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DCI Lorimer #13
The Darkest Goodbye (William Lorimer) by Alex Gray
When an elderly woman is found dead at her home, newly fledged DC Kirsty Wilson is called to the scene. It appears that the woman had a mysterious visitor in the early hours of that morning - someone dressed as a carer, but with much darker intentions. It soon becomes obvious that this was not death by natural causes, in fact, it was murder. Before she can catch her breath, DC Wilson is thrown in at the deep end as another body turns up - this time it's a gruesome crime scene, the victim a well-known drug dealer from Glasgow's mean streets, and there's no question that this was a brutal execution.The two cases appear to have nothing in common, but when a second vulnerable person is murdered in their sleep, the police realise that it's only a matter of time before the next victim emerges and Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is called in to help DC Wilson investigate. This case is big and it's about to get more personal than either of them could have imagined...
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First published March 3, 2016
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About the author
Alex Gray
88 books345 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 9, 2025
**Read 4.5 STARS!**
This captivating, realistic and very human Scottish crime novel is the 13th episode of the now "Detective Superintendent (DSI) Lorimer" series.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a short phrase by Edwin Morgan, taken from "In the Snack-bar".
Storytelling is wonderful and pure, all characters are very realistic and lifelike in their dealings with life, crime and death, while also the atmosphere of Glasgow and the confrontation of good and bad are superbly captured by the author.
This book starts off with a prologue set in August with the killing of Francis Bissett, drug dealer and user, and this death is followed by the murder of an old prosperous by also dying woman, by using a needle containing morphine.
During the investigation of this unlawful killing, several similar murders will follow, and for our main protagonist in this tale DC Kirsty Wilson, daughter of the soon retiring DI Alistair Wilson, to show what she is made of, and while encountering various problems, until unravelling and solving these cases in a very satisfactory manner, but not completely as the story will show you, DC Kirsty Wilson will assisted by Detective Superintendent Lorimer and her mentor DS Len Murdoch, the latter a man with problems of his own to deal with.
What is to follow is a marvellous structured and researched police procedure, with a great storyline, and ending with a superbly executed plot, but where the main spider will remain elusive and free with the help of some unseen hands, but the minor spiders connected to all deaths will get caught and dealt with in the end.
Highly recommended, for this is another sublime addition to this brilliant series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "An Excellent Murderous Noir Tale"!
This captivating, realistic and very human Scottish crime novel is the 13th episode of the now "Detective Superintendent (DSI) Lorimer" series.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a short phrase by Edwin Morgan, taken from "In the Snack-bar".
Storytelling is wonderful and pure, all characters are very realistic and lifelike in their dealings with life, crime and death, while also the atmosphere of Glasgow and the confrontation of good and bad are superbly captured by the author.
This book starts off with a prologue set in August with the killing of Francis Bissett, drug dealer and user, and this death is followed by the murder of an old prosperous by also dying woman, by using a needle containing morphine.
During the investigation of this unlawful killing, several similar murders will follow, and for our main protagonist in this tale DC Kirsty Wilson, daughter of the soon retiring DI Alistair Wilson, to show what she is made of, and while encountering various problems, until unravelling and solving these cases in a very satisfactory manner, but not completely as the story will show you, DC Kirsty Wilson will assisted by Detective Superintendent Lorimer and her mentor DS Len Murdoch, the latter a man with problems of his own to deal with.
What is to follow is a marvellous structured and researched police procedure, with a great storyline, and ending with a superbly executed plot, but where the main spider will remain elusive and free with the help of some unseen hands, but the minor spiders connected to all deaths will get caught and dealt with in the end.
Highly recommended, for this is another sublime addition to this brilliant series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "An Excellent Murderous Noir Tale"!
May 13, 2022
A decent read but there were too many loose ends.
Points that I liked : A good premise, good characterisation, keeps you hooked on for almost 75% of the book
Points that I didn’t like : Lack of closure for so many sub plots, everything felt rushed after 353 pages (felt like the author was having a nice time writing until then and then realised that she needs to complete the book in the next 100 pages), trying to recreate how people from Glasgow speak got a little tiring to read at times
I don’t know if there is a part 2 of this book though the epilogue felt like there is a part 2. If there isn’t a part 2 then I need to ask why this book was written at all.
Points that I liked : A good premise, good characterisation, keeps you hooked on for almost 75% of the book
Points that I didn’t like : Lack of closure for so many sub plots, everything felt rushed after 353 pages (felt like the author was having a nice time writing until then and then realised that she needs to complete the book in the next 100 pages), trying to recreate how people from Glasgow speak got a little tiring to read at times
I don’t know if there is a part 2 of this book though the epilogue felt like there is a part 2. If there isn’t a part 2 then I need to ask why this book was written at all.
February 19, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for an advance copy of The Darkest Goodbye, the latest instalment in Ms Gray's Superintendent Lorimer series.
I have been reading this series for a few years so I was pleased to be offered an advance copy and desperate to get reading. It doesn't disappoint and I have spent today immersed in it (my husband made the dinner or else he wouldn't have been fed!).
The Darkest Goodbye opens with two very different murders, one a slashing and the other an injection of morphine. It then cuts to Kirsty Wilson's first day in CID where she attends both death scenes and a jewellery shop burglary - a baptism of fire - with her mentor Len Murdoch, a man battling his own problems. The slashing victim, Francis Bisset, is a drug dealer and the morphine death of terminally ill Jane Maitland is first assumed to be natural until the toxicology reveals dangerously high levels the drug. More deaths are discovered and suggest the existence of a euthanist.
What a great read it is. It has everything I like - a plot where I can't guess what is coming next and likeable, smart protagonists set in the linear framework of a police procedural. Giving Kirsty Wilson, an almost fresh face in the series, equal billing in the narrative is a clever move as it moves the series on to a younger generation and brings a new, less jaded perspective as we watch her learning through some hard and fast experiences. I hope we see more and more of her as the series continues as she is smart, resourceful and obviously going places.
As I may have mentioned I loved The Darkest Goodbye and read it one sitting (including during my dinner) because I couldn't put it down and I recommend it heartily as a good, absorbing read with a twisted plot and great characters.
I have been reading this series for a few years so I was pleased to be offered an advance copy and desperate to get reading. It doesn't disappoint and I have spent today immersed in it (my husband made the dinner or else he wouldn't have been fed!).
The Darkest Goodbye opens with two very different murders, one a slashing and the other an injection of morphine. It then cuts to Kirsty Wilson's first day in CID where she attends both death scenes and a jewellery shop burglary - a baptism of fire - with her mentor Len Murdoch, a man battling his own problems. The slashing victim, Francis Bisset, is a drug dealer and the morphine death of terminally ill Jane Maitland is first assumed to be natural until the toxicology reveals dangerously high levels the drug. More deaths are discovered and suggest the existence of a euthanist.
What a great read it is. It has everything I like - a plot where I can't guess what is coming next and likeable, smart protagonists set in the linear framework of a police procedural. Giving Kirsty Wilson, an almost fresh face in the series, equal billing in the narrative is a clever move as it moves the series on to a younger generation and brings a new, less jaded perspective as we watch her learning through some hard and fast experiences. I hope we see more and more of her as the series continues as she is smart, resourceful and obviously going places.
As I may have mentioned I loved The Darkest Goodbye and read it one sitting (including during my dinner) because I couldn't put it down and I recommend it heartily as a good, absorbing read with a twisted plot and great characters.
March 10, 2016
Kirsty is called to a death on her first day as a detective. A carer had called it in- but a neighbour had seen a carer leave very early the same morning and suspicions are raised. She has been assigned Len Murdoch as her mentor and she wonders whether he is going to be the best 'fit'. She comes from a police background.
I loved the way the characters stories entwined. She temporarily has another mentor that she knows well, when Len's wife dies. There are a spate of deaths that they begin to suspect are suspicious and need to be investigated. I loved the pace and the storyline- it had me drawn in wondering who was responsible and how quickly they were going to be able to find the link.
I am now keen to read more in this series. With many thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Net Galley for the chance to read this one and discover another author to add to my favourite list.
I loved the way the characters stories entwined. She temporarily has another mentor that she knows well, when Len's wife dies. There are a spate of deaths that they begin to suspect are suspicious and need to be investigated. I loved the pace and the storyline- it had me drawn in wondering who was responsible and how quickly they were going to be able to find the link.
I am now keen to read more in this series. With many thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Net Galley for the chance to read this one and discover another author to add to my favourite list.
February 6, 2017
A book which is set for the most part, in Scotland, yet the author someone seems to find it fitting to write half in Scottish dialect (for some characters) and half in English. Very annoying and somewhat pointless really. Plus Gray only seems to do this for the characters that are:
-Witnesses
-Suspects
-In lower paid occupations compared to the main characters.
Why?
That aside, it was a confusing read, lots of jumping around in chapters, introductions to main characters who then died or disappeared or weren't really mentioned later on with no real resolution at the end. Oh and there's a policeman who steals during crime scenes but it seems to be okay because his wife had a terminal illness and he needed to pay bills. There.
-Witnesses
-Suspects
-In lower paid occupations compared to the main characters.
Why?
That aside, it was a confusing read, lots of jumping around in chapters, introductions to main characters who then died or disappeared or weren't really mentioned later on with no real resolution at the end. Oh and there's a policeman who steals during crime scenes but it seems to be okay because his wife had a terminal illness and he needed to pay bills. There.
February 14, 2021
*Please be aware this review does contain a spoiler alert*
This book started off so well, and I was looking forward to reading the rest of it to find out how the story developed. Unfortunately, that early promise soon dissipated as the story slowly meandered towards a very unsatisfying ending, with the mastermind behind the assisted killings remaining unknown. There was a great premise of a story here, but the author failed to bring it all together in a coherent way. This is just a personal opinion, but I also found the mixture of Scottish and English dialect between the characters quite off-putting to the reading experience.
Maybe I came to this series on the wrong book, but after reading 'The Darkest Goodbye' I certainly won't be rushing back to read anymore.
This book started off so well, and I was looking forward to reading the rest of it to find out how the story developed. Unfortunately, that early promise soon dissipated as the story slowly meandered towards a very unsatisfying ending, with the mastermind behind the assisted killings remaining unknown. There was a great premise of a story here, but the author failed to bring it all together in a coherent way. This is just a personal opinion, but I also found the mixture of Scottish and English dialect between the characters quite off-putting to the reading experience.
Maybe I came to this series on the wrong book, but after reading 'The Darkest Goodbye' I certainly won't be rushing back to read anymore.
December 11, 2018
It is 13 in a series... i just wanted something to read on the plane 😀
It was easy to read. Not bad. Would pick up another at the front of the series
Set in scotland. Like that since we travelled there
It was easy to read. Not bad. Would pick up another at the front of the series
Set in scotland. Like that since we travelled there
January 30, 2023
An easy read with an interesting premise, but nothing to blow your socks off. Detective novels are not my favourite type of mystery, and it almost always has to do with characters. In this one, I felt like all the women were somehow in the backseat, even the FMC, and they all seemed to be somewhat infantilised and/or wimpy. I grew weary of Sarah's woe-is-me attitude. You'd think that prison would harden a person, but it seems like you can still come out a blubbering, self-pitying mess.
There was a lot of telling and not showing. Descriptors used instead of names often felt unnatural and kind of cringy, as did the characters' inner monologues. The ending felt underwhelming and had loose ends.
There was a lot of telling and not showing. Descriptors used instead of names often felt unnatural and kind of cringy, as did the characters' inner monologues. The ending felt underwhelming and had loose ends.
June 25, 2021
A decent murder mystery novel - definitely an improvement on the previous 2 of this set. Lorimer plays a back role to Kirsty Wilson, who is now a member of the CID despite only being a civilian witness to a murder literally 2 books ago ( stretching incredulity to breaking point somewhat). I look forward to reading the next one soon though.
December 2, 2017
Enjoying this series
March 6, 2018
Great read, did it in 2 sittings. Would have been one if real life had not interfered. Did not want to put it down.
June 13, 2022
Really enjoyed this book.
November 26, 2016
Before, I write my review I have a confession to make... I haven't read any of the other books in the series. Although to be fair, I didn't realise till half way though that it was part of a bigger series. Anyway, I will definitely read the previous ones as if The Darkest Goodbye is anything to go on then they will be absolutely brilliant as well.
DC Kirsty Wilson is fresh of the streets and has landed herself a new job as a DC, something she has wanted to be for years. She followed in her father's footstep and now that he is retiring she wants to make him as proud as he made her. Her first case is a robbery of a jewellery store, something that has been happening a lot around the city but it is her next case that is the one that she is unprepared for. Someone who is killing people unnoticed until now. All of the people have had illnesses that have impacted on their quality of life, it looks innocent enough until they find a high dose of a drug in on victim's blood.
So when a drug dealer is killed in Glasgow, nobody expects these two cases to be linked together until they realise that they are and that someone somewhere is pulling the strings to a much bigger plan and they need to find out who before it is too late and someone else dies unnecessary.
DS William Lorimer is the main character of the book, he works along side DC Wilson as they gather evidence to find out the real person behind the weird things happening. Although things take a strange turn when someone in his family becomes a victim to the mass murderer, he realises that this person will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Along side this story, there is another story about a nurse who works in the nursing home where a number of people had died due to the mass murderer. She has secrets of her own, ones that put her in prison years ago, only to be released recently. Her life has changed a lot, so when her past comes back to find her, she is unprepared for the events that will link her to the mass murderer.
I loved this book, it was fast paced and over before I knew it. I couldn't believe how fast I read it and now I have to wait ages for the next in the series. If you haven't read a book by Alex Gray before then you definitely should, she is an amazing writer who really digs deep into her work to give you the best story. I will definitely be read the next one, that is after I read this one again!
If I had to sum up this book in three words, they would be Dark, Unexpected and Thrilling.
DC Kirsty Wilson is fresh of the streets and has landed herself a new job as a DC, something she has wanted to be for years. She followed in her father's footstep and now that he is retiring she wants to make him as proud as he made her. Her first case is a robbery of a jewellery store, something that has been happening a lot around the city but it is her next case that is the one that she is unprepared for. Someone who is killing people unnoticed until now. All of the people have had illnesses that have impacted on their quality of life, it looks innocent enough until they find a high dose of a drug in on victim's blood.
So when a drug dealer is killed in Glasgow, nobody expects these two cases to be linked together until they realise that they are and that someone somewhere is pulling the strings to a much bigger plan and they need to find out who before it is too late and someone else dies unnecessary.
DS William Lorimer is the main character of the book, he works along side DC Wilson as they gather evidence to find out the real person behind the weird things happening. Although things take a strange turn when someone in his family becomes a victim to the mass murderer, he realises that this person will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Along side this story, there is another story about a nurse who works in the nursing home where a number of people had died due to the mass murderer. She has secrets of her own, ones that put her in prison years ago, only to be released recently. Her life has changed a lot, so when her past comes back to find her, she is unprepared for the events that will link her to the mass murderer.
I loved this book, it was fast paced and over before I knew it. I couldn't believe how fast I read it and now I have to wait ages for the next in the series. If you haven't read a book by Alex Gray before then you definitely should, she is an amazing writer who really digs deep into her work to give you the best story. I will definitely be read the next one, that is after I read this one again!
If I had to sum up this book in three words, they would be Dark, Unexpected and Thrilling.
July 23, 2017
I enjoy the crime novels that Alex Gray writes. She is surely the crown princess of Tartan Noir. The Darkest Goodbye is both tense and topical. It is the thirteenth book in Alex's DCI Lorimer's series and starts when young DC Kirsty Wilson, whose father is soon to retire from the force, is faced with two apparently unrelated deaths. Then another vulnerable person is murdered in their sleep, the police realise that it is only a matter of time before the next victim emerges and Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is called in to help DC Wilson investigate. Lorimer has worked with her father for years and DC Wilson respects him. She has less confidence in her appointed mentor, Len Murdoch.
This case is big and it is about to get more personal than either of DC Wilson or Lorimer could have imagined. The Darkest Goodbye opens with two very different murders, one a slashing and the other an injection of morphine. The slashing victim, Francis Bisset, is a drug dealer and the morphine death of terminally ill Jane Maitland is first assumed to be natural until the toxicology reveals dangerously high levels the drug. More deaths are discovered and suggest the existence of a euthanist.
Giving Kirsty Wilson, an almost fresh face in the series, equal billing in the narrative is a clever move as it moves the series on to a younger generation and brings a new, less jaded perspective as we watch her learning through some hard and fast experiences. I hope we see more and more of her as the series continues as she is smart, resourceful and clearly set to be going places.
I really enjoyed this crime novel and the topical plot. The Darkest Goodbye is darker than most Alex Gray novels, so, with that proviso, I recommend the fast paced police thriller.
Valerie Penny
This case is big and it is about to get more personal than either of DC Wilson or Lorimer could have imagined. The Darkest Goodbye opens with two very different murders, one a slashing and the other an injection of morphine. The slashing victim, Francis Bisset, is a drug dealer and the morphine death of terminally ill Jane Maitland is first assumed to be natural until the toxicology reveals dangerously high levels the drug. More deaths are discovered and suggest the existence of a euthanist.
Giving Kirsty Wilson, an almost fresh face in the series, equal billing in the narrative is a clever move as it moves the series on to a younger generation and brings a new, less jaded perspective as we watch her learning through some hard and fast experiences. I hope we see more and more of her as the series continues as she is smart, resourceful and clearly set to be going places.
I really enjoyed this crime novel and the topical plot. The Darkest Goodbye is darker than most Alex Gray novels, so, with that proviso, I recommend the fast paced police thriller.
Valerie Penny
March 1, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy.
This is the latest instalment in the Superintendant Lorimer series. New DC Kirsty Wilson begins her first day in CID, being mentored by DS Len Murdoch. Her first day is busy with 2 deaths and a robbery at a jewellery shop. We also meet Sarah Wilding, recently released from prison and wanting to settle back into normal life. There also appears to be more deaths across the city which are starting to look like murder rather than natural causes.
There are a lot of different stories and characters going on at once, and I found this confusing sometimes. I also felt that there were several characters introduced in some depth, but then by the end of the book they appear to have disappeared from the plot, and things that happened to them weren't mentioned again, whereas it would have been nice for their stories to have some sort of 'closure'.
This is the first book I have read from this series, and personally I felt I may have enjoyed the story more if I had read some of the others, so I could have some understanding of the characters and their relationships. The book started off well, but felt it seemed to lose my interest in the middle until right at the end when the plot was revealed.
I have only rated it 3 stars but would still recommend this if you are interested in crime books, particularly those set in the UK (this is set in Glasgow). You may want to read some of the previous books in the series first!
This is the latest instalment in the Superintendant Lorimer series. New DC Kirsty Wilson begins her first day in CID, being mentored by DS Len Murdoch. Her first day is busy with 2 deaths and a robbery at a jewellery shop. We also meet Sarah Wilding, recently released from prison and wanting to settle back into normal life. There also appears to be more deaths across the city which are starting to look like murder rather than natural causes.
There are a lot of different stories and characters going on at once, and I found this confusing sometimes. I also felt that there were several characters introduced in some depth, but then by the end of the book they appear to have disappeared from the plot, and things that happened to them weren't mentioned again, whereas it would have been nice for their stories to have some sort of 'closure'.
This is the first book I have read from this series, and personally I felt I may have enjoyed the story more if I had read some of the others, so I could have some understanding of the characters and their relationships. The book started off well, but felt it seemed to lose my interest in the middle until right at the end when the plot was revealed.
I have only rated it 3 stars but would still recommend this if you are interested in crime books, particularly those set in the UK (this is set in Glasgow). You may want to read some of the previous books in the series first!
August 12, 2018
I abandoned this book at 230 pages so if the ending got better I can’t comment on that, the main reason for abandoning this book was that I wasn’t enjoying it so I took a look at some other reviews to see if it was worth sticking it out and a lot of people comments suggested that a ‘church scene’ dragged on.... so I decided as I’d not got that far yet and I wasn’t enjoying it anyway I would quit.
The base of the good has good principles, a good Police story and euthanasia, which is not a story line I’ve seen before so initially as excited.
The main issue I had with this book is that there were too manga characters, I found myself flicking back to previous pages because I’d forgot who the book was talking about, maybe if you read this book in one hot this wouldn’t be a problem but I was reading a few chapters a day.
This book is also number 13 in a series but I felt like you wouldn’t need that background information from previous books for this one.
The base of the good has good principles, a good Police story and euthanasia, which is not a story line I’ve seen before so initially as excited.
The main issue I had with this book is that there were too manga characters, I found myself flicking back to previous pages because I’d forgot who the book was talking about, maybe if you read this book in one hot this wouldn’t be a problem but I was reading a few chapters a day.
This book is also number 13 in a series but I felt like you wouldn’t need that background information from previous books for this one.
March 26, 2024
OK, where to start ...
I hadn't read any of Alex Gray's work before picking this book up in a charity shop. I found out it was actually the 12th novel by this author, but no matter, I wanted to read it and decide whether to seek out all the others.
Well, I won't be bothering. I don't quit on books lightly, I tend to slog on to the end even if I'm not enjoying it. I got as far as chapter 12 with this one and couldn't face another sentence. It's going straight back to the charity shop.
I couldn't cope with Gray's insipid, cardboard cut-out characters, the dreary storyline, the uninspiring use of words. There was zero suspense, no oomph whatsoever. It was like wading through treacle. How do these books get published? Who decides this is worthy of a book deal?
If you like witty, sharp, clever and gripping books, avoid Alex Gray, or you WILL be disappointed.
I hadn't read any of Alex Gray's work before picking this book up in a charity shop. I found out it was actually the 12th novel by this author, but no matter, I wanted to read it and decide whether to seek out all the others.
Well, I won't be bothering. I don't quit on books lightly, I tend to slog on to the end even if I'm not enjoying it. I got as far as chapter 12 with this one and couldn't face another sentence. It's going straight back to the charity shop.
I couldn't cope with Gray's insipid, cardboard cut-out characters, the dreary storyline, the uninspiring use of words. There was zero suspense, no oomph whatsoever. It was like wading through treacle. How do these books get published? Who decides this is worthy of a book deal?
If you like witty, sharp, clever and gripping books, avoid Alex Gray, or you WILL be disappointed.
December 6, 2016
I have read most of the author's books and while I have never warmed to the main characters she has written some pretty good stories. However I really struggled to get into this book. When I started it I kept putting it down and unusually for me I started and finished two other books while I was still trying to get through this one. There is also some odd religious message in here as one of the minor characters finds God. Another odd thing is that it appears that one of the police is a thief but no one does anything. Finally at the end the killer is still at large even though the police have arrested many of the accomplices. A strange and unsatisfactory book all round.
January 22, 2017
Got two thirds of the way through. Started OK, but got increasingly irritated with it, not exactly sure why. Then the scene in church came and it got too much!
March 7, 2021
SPOILER ALERT
This installment of the Detective Superintendent Lorimer series introduces PC Kirsty Wilson, daughter of DCI Alastair, who is retiring, as a member of CID. She is thrown into the muck immediately as she is put with DS Len Murdoch on a jewelry store burglary, in which she witnesses Murdoch taking a expensive watch. She doesn't reveal it to anyone, though later Lorimer will question her about her experience with Murdoch after he has heard that he is known for lifting items form crime scenes.
The Jewelry theft is followed by a dead body in a tenement, well into decomposition. Then Murdoch has her take him to the hospital where is wife Irene later dies, having suffered from MS for years. While there she is approached by a nurse who tells her that there have been too many deaths on her ward, and that she is suspicious of Irene's death.
Thus begins the major case of one death after another in nursing homes, in which forensics show that they died of an overdose of morphine. We are also introduced to Sarah Wilding, who is being released from prison. She had been convicted of stealing drugs, for her brother, who told her he needed them for a dealer. Instead he took them and died of an overdose. Her parents blame her, and she is remorseful and unable to believe she deserves another chance. She is given a job at Abbey Nursing Home, taking care of patients who are totally incapacitated. She is then abducted and threatened and told she must take pictures of the personal information of the patients, or they will tell the owner of her background. She is befriended by Nancy Livingstone, a nurse, who also brings her to live in her elegant home. She is still pursued by the violent men who throw a stone through the stained glass window and Nancy solicits the help of the police.
One of the victims of the overdoes is Jane Maitland, who had over a million pounds in her estate and it is revealed had a "lost" son, who is found to claim the estate. In reality his real name is Michael Rogerson, and he has colluded with the attorney of the estate, Brain Abernethy. The team recognizes that they have a huge case on their hands. They are multiple of sites of the murders, and some common forensic evidence that links some of them. Solly Brightman is brought in to evaluate the issues and believes that money is driving the scheme. However, there is also someone involved who is enjoying the killing. When they catch the two men who threaten Sarah, they are closer, and then determine that a name in a email NUSS, means nurse shark, and they go after the nurse, Mary Milligan who had first approached Kirsty.
Creepy story, sad circumstances, including the cousin of Maggie Lorimer, and a complex and enjoyable tale. It is made more creepy when it ends without all the players being caught and one who gains pleasure from the killing is still providing "Quiet Release".
This installment of the Detective Superintendent Lorimer series introduces PC Kirsty Wilson, daughter of DCI Alastair, who is retiring, as a member of CID. She is thrown into the muck immediately as she is put with DS Len Murdoch on a jewelry store burglary, in which she witnesses Murdoch taking a expensive watch. She doesn't reveal it to anyone, though later Lorimer will question her about her experience with Murdoch after he has heard that he is known for lifting items form crime scenes.
The Jewelry theft is followed by a dead body in a tenement, well into decomposition. Then Murdoch has her take him to the hospital where is wife Irene later dies, having suffered from MS for years. While there she is approached by a nurse who tells her that there have been too many deaths on her ward, and that she is suspicious of Irene's death.
Thus begins the major case of one death after another in nursing homes, in which forensics show that they died of an overdose of morphine. We are also introduced to Sarah Wilding, who is being released from prison. She had been convicted of stealing drugs, for her brother, who told her he needed them for a dealer. Instead he took them and died of an overdose. Her parents blame her, and she is remorseful and unable to believe she deserves another chance. She is given a job at Abbey Nursing Home, taking care of patients who are totally incapacitated. She is then abducted and threatened and told she must take pictures of the personal information of the patients, or they will tell the owner of her background. She is befriended by Nancy Livingstone, a nurse, who also brings her to live in her elegant home. She is still pursued by the violent men who throw a stone through the stained glass window and Nancy solicits the help of the police.
One of the victims of the overdoes is Jane Maitland, who had over a million pounds in her estate and it is revealed had a "lost" son, who is found to claim the estate. In reality his real name is Michael Rogerson, and he has colluded with the attorney of the estate, Brain Abernethy. The team recognizes that they have a huge case on their hands. They are multiple of sites of the murders, and some common forensic evidence that links some of them. Solly Brightman is brought in to evaluate the issues and believes that money is driving the scheme. However, there is also someone involved who is enjoying the killing. When they catch the two men who threaten Sarah, they are closer, and then determine that a name in a email NUSS, means nurse shark, and they go after the nurse, Mary Milligan who had first approached Kirsty.
Creepy story, sad circumstances, including the cousin of Maggie Lorimer, and a complex and enjoyable tale. It is made more creepy when it ends without all the players being caught and one who gains pleasure from the killing is still providing "Quiet Release".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2025
DC Kirsty Wilson hat gerade den Aufstieg von der Streifenpolizistin zur Kriminalpolizei geschafft, als sie zu ihrem ersten Fall gerufen wird. Eine alte Dame wird tot aufgefunden. Auf den ersten Blick sprechen die Umstände für einen natürlichen Todesfall. Aber die Beobachtungen einer Nachbarin legen den Verdacht nahe, dass es sich bei dem Tod durchaus um ein Verbrechen handeln kann. Der zweite Fall ist dagegen eindeutiger: ein bekannter Dealer wurde hingerichtet. Wird sich Kirsty bewähren können?
Kirsty ist über Umwege zur Polizei gekommen. Obwohl ihr Vater selbst Polizist ist, hatte sie sich für eine andere Karriere entschieden. Nach dem Mord an einer Freundin beschloss sie aber, zur Polizei zu gehen. Die Entscheidung wurde sicherlich dadurch begünstigt, dass der ermittelnde Beamte damals DCI Will Lorrimer war, den sie sehr bewundert. Leider ist er ihr nicht als Mentor zugeteilt. Ihr Mentor ist ganz anders als Lorrimer. Er behandelt sie wie ein kleines Mädchen und schickt sie zum Teeholen, statt sie an den Tatort zu lassen. Schlimmer noch: Kirsty beobachtet etwas, was sie an der Integrität es Mannes zweifeln lässt.
Trotzdem lässt sie sich nicht unterkriegen. Sie hat einen guten Instinkt für die Fälle, denen sie zugeteilt ist und die Menschen, denen sie begegnet. Ein bisschen erinnert sie mich an den Will Lorrimer, den ich aus den ersten Büchern von Alex Gray kenne.
Kirstys Instinkt hat sie nicht getrogen. Je weiter sie den Tod der alten Dame untersucht, desto mehr erkennt sie die Sache über diesen Tod hinausgeht. Das Ausmaß dessen, was sie aufdeckt, ist schrecklich. Trotzdem wirkt die Geschichte zu keinem Zeitpunkt konstruiert. Im Gegenteil: in der Vergangenheit sind immer wieder ähnliche Fälle ans Licht gekommen.
Der Krimi von Alex Gray hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Er ist bis ins Detail durchdacht, es gibt keine Unstimmigkeiten. Lediglich das Ende war ein wenig zu hastig
Kirsty ist über Umwege zur Polizei gekommen. Obwohl ihr Vater selbst Polizist ist, hatte sie sich für eine andere Karriere entschieden. Nach dem Mord an einer Freundin beschloss sie aber, zur Polizei zu gehen. Die Entscheidung wurde sicherlich dadurch begünstigt, dass der ermittelnde Beamte damals DCI Will Lorrimer war, den sie sehr bewundert. Leider ist er ihr nicht als Mentor zugeteilt. Ihr Mentor ist ganz anders als Lorrimer. Er behandelt sie wie ein kleines Mädchen und schickt sie zum Teeholen, statt sie an den Tatort zu lassen. Schlimmer noch: Kirsty beobachtet etwas, was sie an der Integrität es Mannes zweifeln lässt.
Trotzdem lässt sie sich nicht unterkriegen. Sie hat einen guten Instinkt für die Fälle, denen sie zugeteilt ist und die Menschen, denen sie begegnet. Ein bisschen erinnert sie mich an den Will Lorrimer, den ich aus den ersten Büchern von Alex Gray kenne.
Kirstys Instinkt hat sie nicht getrogen. Je weiter sie den Tod der alten Dame untersucht, desto mehr erkennt sie die Sache über diesen Tod hinausgeht. Das Ausmaß dessen, was sie aufdeckt, ist schrecklich. Trotzdem wirkt die Geschichte zu keinem Zeitpunkt konstruiert. Im Gegenteil: in der Vergangenheit sind immer wieder ähnliche Fälle ans Licht gekommen.
Der Krimi von Alex Gray hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Er ist bis ins Detail durchdacht, es gibt keine Unstimmigkeiten. Lediglich das Ende war ein wenig zu hastig
December 5, 2017
Yet again I find myself at odds with most of the reviews as I wasn't impressed with this book at all.
I didn't realise that this was book 13 in a series when I began it. However, as the story opens with Kirsty Wilson beginning her time as a Detective Constable & as her mentor was also a new character, DS Murdoch, I didn't feel I was coming into a well established series & missing lots of back story - we were all new together! Sadly that's about the only positive thing I have to say about it. I'm not really sure why I didn't enjoy it. The pieces are all in place for a good story, indeed the subject of euthanasia is one that intrigues me but somehow it all struck me as a bit lacklustre, there was nothing that gripped me or had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't find the characters particularly credible. Murdoch's appearance seemed rather pointless, other than to nick a watch - a side story with a "conclusion" that fell flat, & have his wife die, what was his contribution to the story? Were we supposed to wonder whether he'd killed or had her killed? Well if so, a bit more intrigue would have helped! I didn't like the relationship between Lorimer & Kirsty either, rather than it coming over fatherly it just struck me as patronising & heading towards downright creepy.
With the exception of the church scene - overlong in my opinion - much of the story seemed rushed & while nothing really happened, the story still managed to eke itself out to 445 pages with an unsatisfactory ending & an epilogue that I could have done without.
I'd rate at okay simply as it didn't ever cross my mind not to finish it but I won't be reading any of the earlier dozen books in the series. Unlucky thirteen indeed.....
I didn't realise that this was book 13 in a series when I began it. However, as the story opens with Kirsty Wilson beginning her time as a Detective Constable & as her mentor was also a new character, DS Murdoch, I didn't feel I was coming into a well established series & missing lots of back story - we were all new together! Sadly that's about the only positive thing I have to say about it. I'm not really sure why I didn't enjoy it. The pieces are all in place for a good story, indeed the subject of euthanasia is one that intrigues me but somehow it all struck me as a bit lacklustre, there was nothing that gripped me or had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't find the characters particularly credible. Murdoch's appearance seemed rather pointless, other than to nick a watch - a side story with a "conclusion" that fell flat, & have his wife die, what was his contribution to the story? Were we supposed to wonder whether he'd killed or had her killed? Well if so, a bit more intrigue would have helped! I didn't like the relationship between Lorimer & Kirsty either, rather than it coming over fatherly it just struck me as patronising & heading towards downright creepy.
With the exception of the church scene - overlong in my opinion - much of the story seemed rushed & while nothing really happened, the story still managed to eke itself out to 445 pages with an unsatisfactory ending & an epilogue that I could have done without.
I'd rate at okay simply as it didn't ever cross my mind not to finish it but I won't be reading any of the earlier dozen books in the series. Unlucky thirteen indeed.....
April 14, 2019
Read Like a Man #3
With this reading project, in some weird, self-flagellating way, I decided to see if I could understand men better, in order to have more success at online dating. So I scanned my shelves for authors or particular books that interesting men on the dating website cited as their favourites, or were in some way connected with, or recommended by, actual men I knew (or would like to know better). Books that I already had, you understand; I certainly wasn't going to go out and buy new ones.
Apart from the Alex Grays; I did go out and buy the Alex Grays. Because of John. Sweet, weird John. We could've been brilliant together. And I still want to sing Time of the Season with you.
Unfortunately, this book was worse than the second Gray I read, though better than the first. And I feel bad saying that, because Alex Gray seems like a really lovely woman. But I'm not a fan of her books. My mum loves them though! Does that make it better?
With this reading project, in some weird, self-flagellating way, I decided to see if I could understand men better, in order to have more success at online dating. So I scanned my shelves for authors or particular books that interesting men on the dating website cited as their favourites, or were in some way connected with, or recommended by, actual men I knew (or would like to know better). Books that I already had, you understand; I certainly wasn't going to go out and buy new ones.
Apart from the Alex Grays; I did go out and buy the Alex Grays. Because of John. Sweet, weird John. We could've been brilliant together. And I still want to sing Time of the Season with you.
Unfortunately, this book was worse than the second Gray I read, though better than the first. And I feel bad saying that, because Alex Gray seems like a really lovely woman. But I'm not a fan of her books. My mum loves them though! Does that make it better?
Read
August 17, 2023When an elderly woman is found dead at her home, newly fledged DC Kirsty Wilson is called to the scene. It appears that the woman had a mysterious visitor in the early hours of that morning - someone dressed as a carer, but with much darker intentions. It soon becomes obvious that this was not death by natural causes, in fact, it was murder. Before she can catch her breath, DC Wilson is thrown in at the deep end as another body turns up - this time it's a gruesome crime scene, the victim a well-known drug dealer from Glasgow's mean streets, and there's no question that this was a brutal execution.
The two cases appear to have nothing in common, but when a second vulnerable person is murdered in their sleep, the police realise that it's only a matter of time before the next victim emerges and Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is called in to help DC Wilson investigate. This case is big and it's about to get more personal than either of them could have imagined...
Great.
The two cases appear to have nothing in common, but when a second vulnerable person is murdered in their sleep, the police realise that it's only a matter of time before the next victim emerges and Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is called in to help DC Wilson investigate. This case is big and it's about to get more personal than either of them could have imagined...
Great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2019
This book in the Lorimer series is a real page turner! It tells the beginnings of the young Kirsty Wilson as she follows her father into her career in CID as well as another young girl, Sarah Wilding, who has just been released from prison. The tale is that of a serial killer targeting folk who are either severely disabled or nearing the end of their days due to an incurable condition or age. Sarah, who lands on her feet when she obtains a nursing job in a residential home soon finds herself prey to some villains who are on the edge of the secretive group behind the killings and requires Lorimer's help along with Kirtsy Wilson. We soon find out that everything is not so clear cut and there are layers upon layers of the group behind the murders to investigate making for a very gripping, extremely well researched tale that extends into the next book in the series - Still Dark.
Read
March 7, 2025DCI Lorimer #13. Soon after starting this, I realised that I had read it some time ago, before I joined GR. I am recording it as a DNF, so no rating. I am leaving a short review, all of this to ensure I don't borrow it again.
If I were giving a rating, it probably would have been two or three stars. The story is messy and confusing with many POV changes. We meet a new team member, DC Kirsty Wilson, the daughter of DI Wilson, who is about to retire. She's the main police focus in this book. She's been given a "mentor", DS Murdoch, who turns out to be a real a*sehole, an obvious bully. She catches him pocketing an expensive watch at the arrest of a crim, but decides to say nothing to anyone. That was it for me.
I didn't enjoy this as much as some earlier ones in the series.
If I were giving a rating, it probably would have been two or three stars. The story is messy and confusing with many POV changes. We meet a new team member, DC Kirsty Wilson, the daughter of DI Wilson, who is about to retire. She's the main police focus in this book. She's been given a "mentor", DS Murdoch, who turns out to be a real a*sehole, an obvious bully. She catches him pocketing an expensive watch at the arrest of a crim, but decides to say nothing to anyone. That was it for me.
I didn't enjoy this as much as some earlier ones in the series.
August 2, 2018
I have enjoyed this series but found this book disappointing with its inaccuracies. A nurse able to return to nursing after doing time in prison! Qualified nurses are tightly controlled by the NMC and it would never happen. Also a lot of the language was dated and unhelpful, referring to people living with life-shortening illnesses as "sufferers" and "victims". Nobody wants to be constantly pitied, especially people trying to make the most out of their last days.
December 27, 2018
Quite like this series although I've only dipped into it as I come across the books, rather than reading in order. Glasgow, a happily married detective (!) with a sadness in his personal life (the loss of a baby and subsequent childlessness). Some themes which have appeared before reappear here - this definitely won't make you feel confident about what might happen to you in case of serious illness or life-limiting conditions. There's also quite a strong Christian thread.
May 7, 2019
The blurb compares this to Ian Rankin's Rebus novels, but sadly they're being a bit optimistic. The story clips along nicely but Kirsty is a bit wet and Lorimer to good to be true, as is one of the supporting cast. The Glasgow villains are one-dimensional and interchangeable and the main villain might as well be the Invisible Man for all the impression we get of him. DS Murdoch is the most interesting character. The religious themes are jarring.
July 7, 2020
2.5
I'm not sure why but I really struggled with this book and have not read much else because I like to finish books before moving on, i found it really hard to feel connected with any character and the amount of *character thinks this* *other character responds 'as if reading their mind'* got old quickly.
The final third or so picked up but the rest I personally found abit of a slog and was hard to get into, I'm sure it could be great for someone else as the story itself is solid.
I'm not sure why but I really struggled with this book and have not read much else because I like to finish books before moving on, i found it really hard to feel connected with any character and the amount of *character thinks this* *other character responds 'as if reading their mind'* got old quickly.
The final third or so picked up but the rest I personally found abit of a slog and was hard to get into, I'm sure it could be great for someone else as the story itself is solid.
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