Pray for the Dying

Bob Skinner #23

by Quintin Jardine

'After what happened, none of us can be sure we're going to see tomorrow'

The killing was an expert hit. Three shots through the head, as the lights dimmed at a celebrity concert in Glasgow. A most public crime, and Edinburgh Chief Constable Bob Skinner is right in the centre of the storm, as it breaks over the Strathclyde force.
The shooters are dead too, killed at the scene. But who sent them?
The crisis finds Skinner, his private life shattered by the shocking end of his marriage, taking a step that he had sworn he never would. Tasked by Scotland's First Minister with the investigation of the outrage, he finds himself quickly uncovering some very murky deeds...The trail leads to London, where national issues compromise the hunt. Skinner has to rattle the bars of the most formidable cage in the country, and go head to head with its leading power brokers . . . a confrontation that seems too much, even for him. Can the Chief solve the most challenging mystery of his career . . . or will failure end it?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Audiobook

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2013

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid police procedural, with particular emphasis on the ‘procedural’. I cannot recall reading a novel so relentlessly bogged down in description of every aspect of a crime and how it is investigated and solved. The plot was decent, though somewhat tied up in conspiracy and political aspects that didn’t excite me much. The characters were well-rounded but often a little flat - I suspect as number twenty-something in the series, the author is a little tied down in terms of his recurring themes and people. I would also have liked a bit more humour, more colour, more quirkiness. As it was, it felt very middle of the road - I’ve read a lot worse, but it doesn’t compare IMHO with McBride, Oswald, Mina, Brookmyre and Robertson. More like Val McDermid and Ian Rankin, not really my kind of Scots crime novel.

[Val Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Pray for the Dying by Quintin Jardine on a hotel exchange table while my husband and I were on holiday in Portugal. I really enjoy the Bob Skinner books by Quintin Jardine and was really pleased to find it. Jardine is a Scottish author who was born in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland and educated before reading law at the University of Glasgow. He worked as a journalist, government information officer, political spin-doctor and media relations consultant, before deciding to find a job that was more in touch with reality. Thus, he took to the creation of crime fiction and has been very successful at this. His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He re-married to Eileen, a Geordie lady from the North-East of England and enjoys a happy extended family of four adult kids, two magic grandchildren.

The Bob Skinner novels are set mainly in Edinburgh, and are built around the adventures of the city’s wholly fictional chief constable, labelled early on by the publishers, Headline, as ‘Britain’s toughest cop’. There are at least twenty-three Skinner books in publication, from the fledgling Skinner’s Rules, nominated in 1993 for the John Creasey Award for best first crime novel of the year, to this Number One best-seller, Pray for the Dying.

Pray for the Dying starts with three shots through the head, as the lights dimmed at a celebrity concert in Glasgow. A most public crime, and Edinburgh Chief Constable Bob Skinner is right in the centre of the storm, as it breaks over the Strathclyde force. The killing was an expert hit. The shooters are dead too, killed at the scene. This book followed directly on from the previous book, Funeral Note reviewed here: https://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.co..., and answers the what, why and wherefores that arise with the conclusion of that one. It more necessary than normal to have read the earlier book. I do not want to give away any of the plot because it might spoil the story for you. Suffice to say, it is the normal Skinner fare which one either enjoys or hates. I am firmly in the first camp and always look forward to each new offering. I call them character mysteries wherein the story revolves around the personality, life and actions of the main character and the mystery is secondary. Though Skinner and his band of police officer are fixtures no-one is safe from Jardine’s pen and this always adds a touch of concern for ones favourite characters.

This book is a great read and I am not going to go into plot or events in depth because I opened the first page of the story and the author expertly directs the reader’s attention. If you have not read Quinton Jardine’s Skinner books give them a look. If you do not fancy reading from the series from the start Funeral Notes and Pray for the Dying stand alone well very well and are worth the time spent reading them. I highly recommend this book. This series is excellent, if you like the sort and this installment was one of the top ten.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not start with this novel. It continues straight on from the previous book.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel. Jardine's plots get more far fetched all the time, but you buy into them and just enjoy seeing where he will go next

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pray For The Dying is really the second half of Funeral Note and would not, I imagine, be much of a read if you haven't read Funeral Note. Bob has moved to Strathclyde Police as temporary Chief so he has a new cast of people to work with which works well as Mr Jardine has probably taken the Edinburgh characters as far as he can. It will be interesting to see what comes next. I can't really say too much about the plot as it is so intertwined with Funeral Note and don't want to give anything away if you haven't read it. Suffice to say Bob tangles with MI5 and various politicians in his bid to find the person behind a contract killing and there are enough twists and turns to keep most readers turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it seems to me that the balance between Bob's home and work life is nicely judged - enough work to keep the reader engrossed in the plot and enough home to round out the character and make him a bit more likeable than a straight procedural would make him. I recommend this book as a great read on top of Sgt Dan Provan's patter.

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author ... and actually, I didn’t read it but I listened to the MP3 audio version. Since it’s #26 in the Skinner stories, I obviously had no history of the main character, Bob Skinner, now Acting Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police. He is tasked with discovering who commissioned the murder of Toni Fields, his predecessor. She was gunned down most precisely at the theatre and her murderers were in turn killed as they were fleeing the scene by Bob and his MI5 counterpart. But who was behind the hit and why? I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the man reading had such excellent delivery all the characters became very real to me. I will seek out other books by Jardine.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The killing was an expert hit. Three shots to the head at a charity concert in Glasgow, and Edinburgh Chief Constable Bob Skinner is there to witness the storm as it unfolds. The shooters are dead too, killed at the scene. But who sent them?

Still reeling from the abrupt end of his marriage, Skinner is tasked with investigating the outrage, and quickly uncovers some very murky deeds....and a fourth body. As the trail leads to London, he's forced to go head to head with some of the country's most formidable power brokers...Can the Chief solve the most challenging mystery of his career...or will failure end it?

******************************

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. 3.5 stars.
Skinner is forced into the position of Chief Constable of Strathclyde after Toni Field the former CC was assassinated at a theatre performance. As usual suspect characters and Skinner’s unorthodox methods reveal MI5 involvement and also closer to home her sister’s. He splits with his politician wife and reunites with Sarah Grace, mother of his children. However the author could do with a character’s chart especially when suddenly one that was mentioned barely at the beginning of the book turns up at the end! Ending a bit convoluted and to be honest not sure why he let the sister go even though she was guilty.

[Laraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. This was book #23 in Jardine's excellent Bob Skinner mysteries. They are all consistently good reads with good character building and interesting storylines. This was another good one.
Two hit men assassinate a powerful woman at a concert in Edinburgh and both are killed at the scene. Bob needs to find out who ordered the hit and who was the intended target and why was she killed. Bob also has to deal with the end of his marriage and starting a new job. A couple of interesting new characters are introduced, which I enjoyed and hope to continue reading about them. A very good read with some interesting twists and turns along the way.

[Ian Petrie]

Another excellent read with Bob Skinner stretching his wings in several different directions. It would have got 5 stars but for one word:murmured, itself murmured far too often. "I'm not complaining" I murmur. Annoying, isn't it?

[Ljohnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

More twists, more marital issues and another great mystery. Skinner almost meets his match but does solve the casein the end.

[Marilyn Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I love the characters in Quintin’s Bob Skinner series. The story leaves you guessing with its twists and turns. Always waiting on his next book.

[John Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it was a interesting read.

[Lyn Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of murder mystery and found this hard to read with so much police procedures and the unnecessary personal drama but in saying that, a good read towards the end

[Christopher Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a return to form for Jardine.
It was written in a more traditional format and closed off the story that started in the previous book well.
All in all a good read.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio book version.
Enjoyable twists

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, almost like a complete reboot to series.

[Lenore Pettinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun reading in the crime drama series.

[Wendy Hearder-moan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't very far into this book when I realized I had read it before, but since I couldn't remember much about it, I persevered. Much later, when it got really complicated, with MI5 playing a major role, I decided I had essentially erased it from memory. The ending, when it finally arrives, seems to come out of left field.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

How have I only now found this author?

An excellent book which I read with my west of Scotland accent. Bob Skinner was born just a few miles from me, very likely in the same year! I was like a wean in a sweetie shop.

That aside the story is believable, the characters as flawed as anyone else and the outcome...yep...I can see it rolling out that way.

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 23 in the Bob Skinner series. As usual this book has been gripping from the moment I started reading it.. twists and turns all the way through it that leave you guessing right to the end. Fantastic book.... well worth reading

[Letsread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 23 in the Bob Skinner series. As usual this book has been gripping from the moment I started reading it.. twists and turns all the way through it that leave you guessing right to the end. Fantastic book.... well worth reading

[G Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is excellent, if you like the sort and this installment was one of the top ten. I call them character mysteries wherein the story revolves around the personality, life and actions of the main character and the mystery is secondary.

[Anne Erskine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but surely Strathclyde police would have vetted their prospective Chief constable a bit more than they seem to have done.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant - a truly fantastic read

[Geri Barry-openshaw]

I love the Skinner series best and this book is a great example of a real page turner. Always keeps me guessing!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope this isn't the last of Bob Skinner. What would I do without a good book.

[Kieran Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book, however I thought it was a bit confusing at times to determine what was going on. Would still recommend it though, enjoyed it a lot.

[Aileen Milligan]

Excellent read, usual good story with Scottish humour thrown in for good measure.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a while since I read a book in the Bob Skinner series and I had forgotten how good they are.