The Longest Shadow

Gus Thoroughgood #3

by R.J. Mitchell

THE LONGEST SHADOW begins atop Scotland's Wallace Monument where a skeleton from DS Thoroughgood's past threatens to put a stop to his future. The third instalment in the DS Thoroughgood series of Scottish crime thrillers sees Angus Thoroughgood in pursuit of a suspect he believes to be the psychotic leader of a vicious gang wanted for abduction and murder. Taking to the streets of Glasgow's West End, these famous streets are the stage for a high-octane pursuit that will leave the reader gasping for breath - but does Thoroughgood have the right man? With the case still wide open, Thorughgood's complicated love life drags him into the battle for the control of the Roxburgh Whisky dynasty. Tensions build towards a nail-biting crescendo as Thoroughgood works to identify the killer intent of wiping out Scotland's most famous whisky family. With the finger of guilt pointed at a powerful Triad leader, clues from a 70-year-old war-time diary lead Thoroughgood to realise nothing as it seems. However, with the charms of Victoria Roxburgh clouding his judgement, Thoroughgood is dragged into a fight to the end with a ruthless foe whose identity shocks them both. The Longest Shadow sees author RJ Mitchell drawing from his 12 years of experience as a Glasgow police officer utilising his knowledge of the city and its history to his advantage in this thrilling third chapter of the DS Thoroughgood series.

184 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2013

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Longest Shadow’ is the third instalment in the DS Thoroughgood series and it’s just as enjoyable and high octane as the first two. It opens with Gus having a day trip out to the Wallace Monument but ends up having to fight for his life. Typical Gus huh. The next day him and Hardie are given the case in which a gang is going round and targeting butcher shops and making away with all their stock, much to the amusement of the rest of the detectives. But nothing ever turns out to be an easy case with these two. They take on the case just as the gang hit a farmers shop and kill the owner and kidnap his wife.

Whilst in his personal life Gus is still seeing Vanessa Velvet who is rescued in the last book, but he is struggling with her fame. However, he agrees to accompany her to a charity event she is hosting along with the Roxburgh family. He is soon embroiled with their drama as well. The younger son has been poisoned, the business is merging with the triad and some war diaries show the Grandfather was not the war hero they all believed him to be.

What I love about this series is since I’m a Glasgow gal I can visualise so much of the book without trying, I can see where influences has come for places and events and I can feel a genuine love for the city and it’s people. The police procedural aspects of the books are also on point, well you would expect that of someone who worked there for 12 years, but that gives the series the authenticity that so many strive for and fail. Plus the characters feel as if you could walk into The Chip and find them standing at the bar and have a chinwag with them. I’m pleased that in this book Gus is managing to start to move on from the events in the first book. It would have become quite stale if he was always mooning away for that character. However, I have come to realise that the real love story is actually between Gus and Hardie. They would literally do anything for each other and it’s lovely to see that as a reader.

There is actually a fourth DS Thoroughgood story but it is set when he first joins the police. So please excuse me while I go off to read that. Also there better be a fifth instalment coming soon!

[Janet Emson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was is third in the Gus Thoroughgood series and the first one I have read.

The story opens with priest heading to a local landmark. It soon becomes apparent that all is not as it seems with this man of the cloth.

D.S Gus Thoroughgood is called in to investigate a seemingly boring case involving robberies occurring in butchers throughout Glasgow. However things aren't as simple as they seem when one robbery goes fatally wrong. Thoroughgood is in a race against time to find the perpetrators and rescue a kidnapped woman.

Meanwhile a whiskey dynasty is facing financial ruin and it looks like the only way to save themselves is to go into partnership with the Triad. Soon these two worlds collide.

There are a number of references to the other books in the series which weren't always in context. As I haven't read these other books it did distract me from the story at times.

The story is action packed and the pace doesn't seem to let up. There is a car chase fitting of any Hollywood movie and a number of different story lines.

I would have liked to have more background regarding the central characters as I didn't feel I got a good sense of Thoroughgood and his colleagues but this again may be because I had not read the others in the series.

I would like to thank the publishers for providing me with a review copy of this book.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third book in a series from author R.J. Mitchell featuring DS Gus Thoroughgood, and his partner Kenny Hardie. This high octane mystery thriller is one wild ride from the very first page up to and, including it's concluding page ! Thoroughgood and Hardie battle an assortment of fierce opponents. From Polish gangsters, to an Irish hit man, and Chinese Triad. As in the first two books of this outstanding series, Gus struggles within his personal life with current girlfriend Vanessa. Gus is just not meant to overcome the death of the one real love of his life. Packed with action and some pretty unexpected twists this book does not fail to delight. Hollywood would do well to make all 3 of Mitchell's 'Gus Thoroughgood' books into movies! I was certainly sad to arrive at the ending. Now addicted to this series, and cast of characters I'm in withdrawl until the next one comes out ! 5 stars out of 5 without a doubt. A much needed wild ride to be taken with R.J. Mitchell and Co. Do not miss this series. You'll be addicted as am I !

[Gary Lawrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is easy to read but to be honest is a bit far fetched. I know it's is fiction but I look at least for an element of accuracy in process etc. Also, the attitude of the characters to women is more akin to 1970s policing than modern day !!!! The plot to be honest was a bit simplistic and it was pretty obvious from early in the book who was responsible. Overall I won't be rushing back to read another and I would rate it alongside Quintin Jardine in terms of its realism or lack of it.

[David Gilchrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

All action, thrill a minute, but not as good as the previous two books