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DCI Lorimer #6
Glasgow Kiss
Eric Chalmers is one of the most popular teachers at Muirpark Secondary School in Glasgow. Gentle and kind, he is the person the students come to when they want to confide in someone. So when precocious teenager Julie Donaldson accuses Chalmers of rape, the school goes into shock. How could a deeply religious family man like Chalmers do anything like that? With some students and teachers supporting Julie, and others standing by Chalmers, life at Muirpark is far from harmonious. And then things get much worse - Julie Donaldson goes missing, and the police are called in.
For DCI William Lorimer, this is the second missing persons case in a week. He's been having sleepless nights about a toddler who has been missing for several days - with each day, the likelihood of her being found alive diminishes. Julie's disappearance adds a further burden to Lorimer's already overstretched workload.
With hope fading, it becomes a breakneck race against time to find both missing girls.
For DCI William Lorimer, this is the second missing persons case in a week. He's been having sleepless nights about a toddler who has been missing for several days - with each day, the likelihood of her being found alive diminishes. Julie's disappearance adds a further burden to Lorimer's already overstretched workload.
With hope fading, it becomes a breakneck race against time to find both missing girls.
432 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2009
102 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gray
87 books348 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 106 reviews
January 12, 2025
First of all I would like to mention that this book is a very entertaining crime novel that is also the 6th volume of the wonderfully researched and realistic "DCI Lorimer" series.
At the beginning of the book you'll notice a phrase from Psalm 27 Verse 1, in connection to this crime story.
Like to follow it up by saying that the author's storytelling is superb, while also all characters come vividly to life in this tale about child abduction and schoolgirl murders.
The story is once more situated in Glasgow, and DCI Lorimer and his team will have to deal with the adduction of a young girl, named Nancy Fraser, and the murder of a young schoolgirl, named Julie Donaldson, a schoolgirl from Muirpark Secondary School, the school where Maggie, Lorimer's wife, is teacher English.
The death of Julie Donaldson, pupil of Muirpark Secondary School, is the accelerator to eventually more buried corpses of young girls in a Glasgow Park, and in a race against time DCI Lorimer and his team must find the perpetrator of these horrendous killings, while at the same time his promise to Kim Fraser, Nancy's young mother, of finding her little girl will eventually reach a lucky break, followed by a definite rescue operation.
What is to follow as a whole is an exciting and captivating crime novel, with realistic scenes and lifelike people's reactions, that will make this story a very believable police crime tale, where time and hope go hand in hand in the attempts to save a young girl from abduction and catch the perpetrator of the devious murders.
Very much recommended, for this is a splendid addition of the remarkable series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "A Gripping Lethal Kiss"!
At the beginning of the book you'll notice a phrase from Psalm 27 Verse 1, in connection to this crime story.
Like to follow it up by saying that the author's storytelling is superb, while also all characters come vividly to life in this tale about child abduction and schoolgirl murders.
The story is once more situated in Glasgow, and DCI Lorimer and his team will have to deal with the adduction of a young girl, named Nancy Fraser, and the murder of a young schoolgirl, named Julie Donaldson, a schoolgirl from Muirpark Secondary School, the school where Maggie, Lorimer's wife, is teacher English.
The death of Julie Donaldson, pupil of Muirpark Secondary School, is the accelerator to eventually more buried corpses of young girls in a Glasgow Park, and in a race against time DCI Lorimer and his team must find the perpetrator of these horrendous killings, while at the same time his promise to Kim Fraser, Nancy's young mother, of finding her little girl will eventually reach a lucky break, followed by a definite rescue operation.
What is to follow as a whole is an exciting and captivating crime novel, with realistic scenes and lifelike people's reactions, that will make this story a very believable police crime tale, where time and hope go hand in hand in the attempts to save a young girl from abduction and catch the perpetrator of the devious murders.
Very much recommended, for this is a splendid addition of the remarkable series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "A Gripping Lethal Kiss"!
July 25, 2022
3.5
Overall enjoyable police procedural, my first in the series, but did not impact the storyline. Enjoyed the setting in an area which is familiar to me but the comparison with Ian Rankin was unjustified.
Overall enjoyable police procedural, my first in the series, but did not impact the storyline. Enjoyed the setting in an area which is familiar to me but the comparison with Ian Rankin was unjustified.
February 9, 2011
I agree with a couple of other reviewers of this book when they said that this book does not encapsulate Glasgow like it claims to. Indeed, the only reason this book caught my eye in the shop where i bought it in the first place was the exciting prospect of a mystery set in my own hometown, but this novel could have been set anywhere. The only effort made by the writer to capture Glasgow is through the use of local dialect and geography, which, shockingly enough for someone supposedly from the city, isn't even 100% accurate.
Add to this the horrific writing, one-dimensional characters and terrible plot development, and i am genuinely miffed as to how this book ever got published in the first place. The first main event of the story is when a 15-year-old schoolgirl accuses her Religious Education teacher, Eric Chalmers, of rape. Cue immediate witch-hunt by the media and determined rubbishing of the claims by nearly everyone associated with the school, teachers and pupils alike, which lasts for the rest of the novel. Days later, Julie Donaldson is found murdered in the wooded area of a park, and soon other bodies are found in similar circumstances. The race is on to catch the killer, or at least it should be, but no real sense of urgency ever develops in this book.
A sub-plot about a missing child also emerges and is never really developed properly or handled with the care and sensitivity such a matter should be.
Most of the narrative of the novel is spent focussing on the viewpoint of the wife of the leading detective in the case and fellow colleague of Eric Chalmers, that he must be innocent because he is her friend and a nice person, and another sub-plot about a boy called Kyle who has to deal with the early release of his violent father from jail.
There isn't even any real mystery to the story as I felt that this, along with every other issue raised in the novel was handled in a cold, callous manner, perhaps in the imperosnal way to be expected from a murder mystery, but what gets me is that this book thinks it is humanising its characters and treating them with respect.
Needless to say, i will not be picking up any of the other titles in this series!
Add to this the horrific writing, one-dimensional characters and terrible plot development, and i am genuinely miffed as to how this book ever got published in the first place. The first main event of the story is when a 15-year-old schoolgirl accuses her Religious Education teacher, Eric Chalmers, of rape. Cue immediate witch-hunt by the media and determined rubbishing of the claims by nearly everyone associated with the school, teachers and pupils alike, which lasts for the rest of the novel. Days later, Julie Donaldson is found murdered in the wooded area of a park, and soon other bodies are found in similar circumstances. The race is on to catch the killer, or at least it should be, but no real sense of urgency ever develops in this book.
A sub-plot about a missing child also emerges and is never really developed properly or handled with the care and sensitivity such a matter should be.
Most of the narrative of the novel is spent focussing on the viewpoint of the wife of the leading detective in the case and fellow colleague of Eric Chalmers, that he must be innocent because he is her friend and a nice person, and another sub-plot about a boy called Kyle who has to deal with the early release of his violent father from jail.
There isn't even any real mystery to the story as I felt that this, along with every other issue raised in the novel was handled in a cold, callous manner, perhaps in the imperosnal way to be expected from a murder mystery, but what gets me is that this book thinks it is humanising its characters and treating them with respect.
Needless to say, i will not be picking up any of the other titles in this series!
January 28, 2015
I am always impressed by the strong character building in Gray's writing. He creates memorable people and little vignettes of life that ring true. In this story, Lorimer is on the hunt for a srangler and a woman who has abducted a child. He and his fellow officers manage to solve both cases through careful investigation. Gray's writing seems very realistic in his portrayal of police work. An excellent whodunit!
January 26, 2020
This is the first Alex Gray novel I have read. I could not put it down! As a lover of Ian Rankin I gave this a try and do not regret it. I will be going back to the start of the series and look forward to reading more of Alex's work.
October 11, 2022
My god I hated this.
What was the point in the Nancy storyline?
What was the point in the Kyle storyline?
Did the teacher actually do anything inappropriate with Julie?
Why was it a race against time to find Julie and Nancy when Julies body is found a couple hours later?
And how the f does an underground train in GLASGOW go down "another underground tunnel"
Hated it.
What was the point in the Nancy storyline?
What was the point in the Kyle storyline?
Did the teacher actually do anything inappropriate with Julie?
Why was it a race against time to find Julie and Nancy when Julies body is found a couple hours later?
And how the f does an underground train in GLASGOW go down "another underground tunnel"
Hated it.
June 2, 2015
Not read any of these before but it made for a well paced crime thriller. I'm not sure it really deserves comparison with Rebus but it was a good "holiday" and I'd read another I think. It does seem odd to me that the policeman that this series is about doesn't feature strongly in this story and, frankly, is one of the weaker characters. 3.5/5 for pace maybe.
September 29, 2022
Der Religionslehrer Eric Chalmers ist an seiner Schule sehr beliebt. Deshalb glaubt zuerst keiner den Beschuldigungen einer seiner Schülerinnen. Keiner kann sich vorstellen das dieser freundliche Mann ein Mädchen vergewaltigt haben soll. Auch Julies Verhalten spricht eigentlich gegen Erics Schuld. Aber dann verschwindet das Mädchen. DCI William Lorrimer wird mit dem Fall betraut, obwohl oder vielleicht auch weil er in dieser Sache ein persönliches Anliegen hat denn seine Frau unterrichtet an der gleichen Schule. Bald gibt es einen zweiten Verdächtigen: Kyle, einen Mitschüler Julies. Auch wenn er bis jetzt noch nicht negativ aufgefallen ist so spricht doch seine Familiengeschichte gegen ihn. Bilder einer Überwachungskamera zeigen ihn und Julie in Glasgow und wie sich die beiden streiten, kurz bevor sie verschwindet. Dann wird Julie ermordet aufgefunden und plötzlich scheint alles für Eric Chalmers als Täter zu sprechen.
Wie schnell ein Leben zerstört werden kann muss Eric Chalmers am eigenen Leib erfahren. Er wird bis zur Klärung der Vorwürfe vom Unterricht suspendiert und von einigen seiner Kollegen schon als Täter abgestempelt. Als Julie gefunden wird ist auch sein Haus nicht mehr der sichere Hafen, den er sich wünscht. Die Polizei durchsucht sein Haus, Unbekannte werfen seine Fenster ein und langsam scheinen auch seine Kollegen an seine Schuld zu glauben.
Kyle ergeht es ähnlich. Seit sein Vater aus dem Gefängnis entlassen wurde wohnt er wieder bei dem gewalttätigen Mann obwohl der mehr als einmal sagt, dass er ihn nicht für seinen leiblichen Sohn hält. Obwohl er eigentlich ein guter Schüler ist kann er sich zuhause nicht mehr konzentrieren, weil er in ständiger Angst lebt. Als auch er verdächtig wird hat er niemanden, der zu ihm hält.
In den Krimis von Alex Gray geht es nicht nur um die Tat. Vielmehr stehen die Charaktere im Vordergrund. Das geht manchmal zu Lasten des Falls. So habe ich es auch hier empfunden. Die Geschichte wird aus verschiedenen Blickwinkeln erzählt, auch der Täter kommt zu Wort. Allerdings bleiben trotz der unterschiedlichen Erzählperspektiven für mich einige Fragen offen. Ich habe keinen Einblick in Julies Motive bekommen. Wie es mit Eric Chalmer weitergeht, als Ehemann und Vater, aber auch als Lehrer, bleibt offen. Auf diese Fragen hätte ich mir eine Antwort gewünscht, dann wäre die Geschichte für mich rund gewesen. Aber auch so hat mir das Buch gut gefallen.
Ich lese die Reihe um Will Lorrimer seit über zehn Jahren und sie funktioniert immer noch für mich. Auch, wie in diesem Fall, beim zweiten Lesen.
Wie schnell ein Leben zerstört werden kann muss Eric Chalmers am eigenen Leib erfahren. Er wird bis zur Klärung der Vorwürfe vom Unterricht suspendiert und von einigen seiner Kollegen schon als Täter abgestempelt. Als Julie gefunden wird ist auch sein Haus nicht mehr der sichere Hafen, den er sich wünscht. Die Polizei durchsucht sein Haus, Unbekannte werfen seine Fenster ein und langsam scheinen auch seine Kollegen an seine Schuld zu glauben.
Kyle ergeht es ähnlich. Seit sein Vater aus dem Gefängnis entlassen wurde wohnt er wieder bei dem gewalttätigen Mann obwohl der mehr als einmal sagt, dass er ihn nicht für seinen leiblichen Sohn hält. Obwohl er eigentlich ein guter Schüler ist kann er sich zuhause nicht mehr konzentrieren, weil er in ständiger Angst lebt. Als auch er verdächtig wird hat er niemanden, der zu ihm hält.
In den Krimis von Alex Gray geht es nicht nur um die Tat. Vielmehr stehen die Charaktere im Vordergrund. Das geht manchmal zu Lasten des Falls. So habe ich es auch hier empfunden. Die Geschichte wird aus verschiedenen Blickwinkeln erzählt, auch der Täter kommt zu Wort. Allerdings bleiben trotz der unterschiedlichen Erzählperspektiven für mich einige Fragen offen. Ich habe keinen Einblick in Julies Motive bekommen. Wie es mit Eric Chalmer weitergeht, als Ehemann und Vater, aber auch als Lehrer, bleibt offen. Auf diese Fragen hätte ich mir eine Antwort gewünscht, dann wäre die Geschichte für mich rund gewesen. Aber auch so hat mir das Buch gut gefallen.
Ich lese die Reihe um Will Lorrimer seit über zehn Jahren und sie funktioniert immer noch für mich. Auch, wie in diesem Fall, beim zweiten Lesen.
May 31, 2017
I’m grateful Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours offered me the opportunity to review Alex Gray’s Glasgow Kiss. You see I’d never read an Alex Gray book. I am now hooked!
Glasgow Kiss, #6 in the DCI Lorimer Series, is well written, filled with clear character development, and suspense. As part of a series, the first question is usually whether the book can be read as a stand-alone. The answer here is definitely a YES!
With two plots running simultaneously through the book, with a minor third also appearing from time to time, a reader would perhaps get lost. That is not the case with Gray’s management of her plot line. I was at a loss at times to understand the need for the second and especially the third. Yet I wasn’t writing the book and left that to Alex Gray’s discretion.
In the area of characterization, I found the characters to be realistic, engaging, and plausible. There were times when I felt as if I could feel pulses surge, hearts beat harder, and anxiety surface on the page. Excellent characterization doesn’t always come easy to authors, but obviously Gray has a gift for doing it well.
All in all, I recommend Glasgow Kiss to those who love a good mystery, well-written and populated with believable characters. I found the pace to be comfortable, and each page turned quickly and easily. A book that is hard to put down.
***
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for making this book available for my review.
Glasgow Kiss, #6 in the DCI Lorimer Series, is well written, filled with clear character development, and suspense. As part of a series, the first question is usually whether the book can be read as a stand-alone. The answer here is definitely a YES!
With two plots running simultaneously through the book, with a minor third also appearing from time to time, a reader would perhaps get lost. That is not the case with Gray’s management of her plot line. I was at a loss at times to understand the need for the second and especially the third. Yet I wasn’t writing the book and left that to Alex Gray’s discretion.
In the area of characterization, I found the characters to be realistic, engaging, and plausible. There were times when I felt as if I could feel pulses surge, hearts beat harder, and anxiety surface on the page. Excellent characterization doesn’t always come easy to authors, but obviously Gray has a gift for doing it well.
All in all, I recommend Glasgow Kiss to those who love a good mystery, well-written and populated with believable characters. I found the pace to be comfortable, and each page turned quickly and easily. A book that is hard to put down.
***
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for making this book available for my review.
May 1, 2020
Great read from start to finish
March 29, 2024
Love Alex gray as an author but feel like now I’ve read a few of his they are quite predictable
May 26, 2017
This book reminded me of watching a detective show from the UK. I did have a hard time figuring out what the "words" some of the people who have strong accents were saying, but it did add a feel of authenticity to the story.
February 14, 2025
Standard Alex Gray / DCI Lorimer quality.
July 27, 2014
One other reviewer commented on the inaccuracy of the publisher's blurb - this book does not bring Glasgow to life in the way Rankin has portrayed Edinburgh.
Apart from a good knowledge of the city's streets and districts (and their implied messages of social status, wealth and safety that everyone familiar with the city will appreciate), I found this story could have been more or less anywhere. The beauties (and the ugliness) of the Glaswegian accents have largely been ignored with a few exceptions and while that at least makes the book intelligible it does also make it less believable. Maybe the author should have trusted her readers a little more to be able to understand a bit more of the local colour than she gives them.
The characters are a little American for my tastes. The super handsome / super wholesome RE teacher; the fit, kind and effective detective; the good, loyal teacher/wife. A good story but where was the Glasgow in all of this?
Apart from a good knowledge of the city's streets and districts (and their implied messages of social status, wealth and safety that everyone familiar with the city will appreciate), I found this story could have been more or less anywhere. The beauties (and the ugliness) of the Glaswegian accents have largely been ignored with a few exceptions and while that at least makes the book intelligible it does also make it less believable. Maybe the author should have trusted her readers a little more to be able to understand a bit more of the local colour than she gives them.
The characters are a little American for my tastes. The super handsome / super wholesome RE teacher; the fit, kind and effective detective; the good, loyal teacher/wife. A good story but where was the Glasgow in all of this?
March 19, 2020
This was a more difficult story for me to get attached. Maggie Lorimer, DCI Lorimer's wife plays an integral part of this installment as the initial issue of rape by a teacher in her school starts the story.
Eric Chalmers, the religious education teacher is handsome and an especially pleasant and well-liked man. But when Julie Donaldson thinks she is in love with him, and he rebuffs her advances she decides to get revenge and accuses him of rape. She then stays away from classes and goes into Glasgow to shop and play, and to flirt. She runs into Kyle Kerrigan with whom she had gone out briefly, and he accuses her lying, thereby getting them arguing on CCTV. So immediately there are two suspects when she is found dead.
At this same time the unit is dealing with the abduction of a three year old girl, Nancy Fraser, her mother a single and unemployed. In the process of looking for her there is another body discovered near the spot where Julie is found. Then a third body suggests that there may be a serial killer out there. Solly Brightman begins to look at a profile, and he doesn't believe that Chalmers is the one they are after. Certainly Kyle is not considered for all three killings.
The internal nastiness of the teachers who were jealous of Chalmers popularity spreads, the involvement of a nasty reported out move on the edge of outright accusation, the encouragement of a relative of Julie Donaldson to vandalize Chalmers home and frighten his wife and newborn, the brutal abuse of Kyle Kerrigan's criminal father all factor into the suspense and creative development of this distasteful tale. Maggie and Sandie, her friend, are loyal to Eric and she is particularly upset by the effect of the accusation and murder on her students. The ongoing contentious relationship with the DCI and incompetence of Detective Superintendent Mark Mitchison is also disturbing, given the commendation that has been presented to Lorimer following his last case resolution.
The solutions of these two difficult cases is well done and satisfying, with the further development of Lorimer as a person and as a policeman, and the understanding of William and Maggie's relationship.
Eric Chalmers, the religious education teacher is handsome and an especially pleasant and well-liked man. But when Julie Donaldson thinks she is in love with him, and he rebuffs her advances she decides to get revenge and accuses him of rape. She then stays away from classes and goes into Glasgow to shop and play, and to flirt. She runs into Kyle Kerrigan with whom she had gone out briefly, and he accuses her lying, thereby getting them arguing on CCTV. So immediately there are two suspects when she is found dead.
At this same time the unit is dealing with the abduction of a three year old girl, Nancy Fraser, her mother a single and unemployed. In the process of looking for her there is another body discovered near the spot where Julie is found. Then a third body suggests that there may be a serial killer out there. Solly Brightman begins to look at a profile, and he doesn't believe that Chalmers is the one they are after. Certainly Kyle is not considered for all three killings.
The internal nastiness of the teachers who were jealous of Chalmers popularity spreads, the involvement of a nasty reported out move on the edge of outright accusation, the encouragement of a relative of Julie Donaldson to vandalize Chalmers home and frighten his wife and newborn, the brutal abuse of Kyle Kerrigan's criminal father all factor into the suspense and creative development of this distasteful tale. Maggie and Sandie, her friend, are loyal to Eric and she is particularly upset by the effect of the accusation and murder on her students. The ongoing contentious relationship with the DCI and incompetence of Detective Superintendent Mark Mitchison is also disturbing, given the commendation that has been presented to Lorimer following his last case resolution.
The solutions of these two difficult cases is well done and satisfying, with the further development of Lorimer as a person and as a policeman, and the understanding of William and Maggie's relationship.
January 9, 2018
I really wanted to love this book because it is set in Glasgow—a city I know and love. Apart from references to specific streets in Glasgow and the occasional use of some local dialect (which felt forced), this book could have been set anywhere.
The book tells the story of a 15-year-old girl, Julie Donaldson, who accuses one of her teachers of rape. After making these claims, she goes missing and is found dead in the woods a couple of days later. While investigating Julie’s murder, two more bodies are found and presumed to be linked to this case. There is also a subplot about a missing toddler. (This subplot was underdeveloped and unnecessary for plot advancement.)
The story is told from the third person perspective of various characters (at least seven in total). The shift from perspective to perspective is very quick—every couple of pages or less—which was hard to keep track of at times. Another downside of so many perspectives was that the reader was given too much insider information to leave room for true suspense. The killer wasn't threaded into the rest of the plot particularly well, so if you like to try and figure out who the killer is based on hints provided throughout the story, this isn't the book for you.
On the whole, I felt a huge disconnect between the reader and the characters, the characters themselves, and the plot and subplot. There was a lot going on in this story, and none of it seemed to connect fluidly. Additionally, there were substantive errors throughout the novel and, if I’m being picky, I wasn’t a fan of the typesetting.
The book tells the story of a 15-year-old girl, Julie Donaldson, who accuses one of her teachers of rape. After making these claims, she goes missing and is found dead in the woods a couple of days later. While investigating Julie’s murder, two more bodies are found and presumed to be linked to this case. There is also a subplot about a missing toddler. (This subplot was underdeveloped and unnecessary for plot advancement.)
The story is told from the third person perspective of various characters (at least seven in total). The shift from perspective to perspective is very quick—every couple of pages or less—which was hard to keep track of at times. Another downside of so many perspectives was that the reader was given too much insider information to leave room for true suspense. The killer wasn't threaded into the rest of the plot particularly well, so if you like to try and figure out who the killer is based on hints provided throughout the story, this isn't the book for you.
On the whole, I felt a huge disconnect between the reader and the characters, the characters themselves, and the plot and subplot. There was a lot going on in this story, and none of it seemed to connect fluidly. Additionally, there were substantive errors throughout the novel and, if I’m being picky, I wasn’t a fan of the typesetting.
May 18, 2017
I have enjoyed reading the DCI Lorimer series. This is the sixth in the series but can be appreciated without having read the previous novels. Gray did a good job of holding my interest by including two cases Lorimer is working on. One is a child abduction while the other is a missing person, soon found to be a victim of murder. The two cases were distinct and did not confuse the plot.
The strength of this Lorimer novel is the character development. I enjoyed learning more about Lorimer's wife, Maggie, and her teaching. Her minor involvement in the murder case is supplemented with important events in other characters. A well liked teacher is falsely accused of rape and we see what effect that has on his life and career. A student has a father who has just been released from prison and we read how the young man deals with that troubling influence.
The novel takes place in Scotland and Gray frequently has characters speaking local dialect. I found that to be somewhat distracting. That was a minor issue in an otherwise good novel.
This is a good police procedure novel that has much character emphasis. There is essentially no suspense. I recommend this novel to those who would enjoy a novel of methodical investigation taking place in Scotland.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The strength of this Lorimer novel is the character development. I enjoyed learning more about Lorimer's wife, Maggie, and her teaching. Her minor involvement in the murder case is supplemented with important events in other characters. A well liked teacher is falsely accused of rape and we see what effect that has on his life and career. A student has a father who has just been released from prison and we read how the young man deals with that troubling influence.
The novel takes place in Scotland and Gray frequently has characters speaking local dialect. I found that to be somewhat distracting. That was a minor issue in an otherwise good novel.
This is a good police procedure novel that has much character emphasis. There is essentially no suspense. I recommend this novel to those who would enjoy a novel of methodical investigation taking place in Scotland.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
April 14, 2019
Read Like a Man #1
So, fired up by reading Doris Lessing's feminist masterpiece, the last book on my beautiful bag list (see previous reviews), I sought out a new book project. In true feminist style, I, erm, decided to read books that linked with the, um, men in my life. OK, look, if Lessing can make her feminist tome all about men, I can make my feminist book project all about men, right?! 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. The book was pretty bad though.
So, fired up by reading Doris Lessing's feminist masterpiece, the last book on my beautiful bag list (see previous reviews), I sought out a new book project. In true feminist style, I, erm, decided to read books that linked with the, um, men in my life. OK, look, if Lessing can make her feminist tome all about men, I can make my feminist book project all about men, right?! 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. The book was pretty bad though.
June 6, 2019
one word: average. Not bad enough to put down but not great so that one keeps reading into the night. It as good enough to keep reading till one finishes it without eliciting strong reaction. I do not know what made it so average: too many school scenes, school descriptions, school life? Not enough police procedure work? not logical steps in the investigation? not enough clues as to the murderer to make a parallel reading interesting? the description of characters that were put forward without being actually important in the story? all the above, but it is not as bad as it sounds. I just seemed that it needed a little effort to be a very good story! One last thing: I have the impression that the writer imitated (was inspired???) by Elizabeth George in the Rosie - Solomon couple but she can't write like George whose -almost - every book is a masterpiece in storytelling, psychology, character building.
June 25, 2020
The first of Alex Gray's books I have read and a very enjoyable and gripping read it was too! So much so that I have started another.
Page turning story set in Glasgow with believable characters and excellent local knowledge which helped bring the story to life. Two crimes are being investigated simultaneously. There's a conflict of interests as the DCI in charge of one of the cases has to investigate a friend and colleague of his wife's. She is and English teacher at the local high school.
Alex Gray adds realism to her world through her own experiences of being a teacher and of living in Glasgow all her life.
Part of a series about the same police department(s) but I don't think it's necessary to read them in order, although might be fun to learn the story arc of the main characters and to learn of their personal lives.
I am delighted to have discovered a new author I can look forward to getting to know.
Page turning story set in Glasgow with believable characters and excellent local knowledge which helped bring the story to life. Two crimes are being investigated simultaneously. There's a conflict of interests as the DCI in charge of one of the cases has to investigate a friend and colleague of his wife's. She is and English teacher at the local high school.
Alex Gray adds realism to her world through her own experiences of being a teacher and of living in Glasgow all her life.
Part of a series about the same police department(s) but I don't think it's necessary to read them in order, although might be fun to learn the story arc of the main characters and to learn of their personal lives.
I am delighted to have discovered a new author I can look forward to getting to know.
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August 17, 2023Eric Chalmers is one of the most popular teachers at Muirpark Secondary School in Glasgow. Gentle and kind, he is the person the students come to when they want to confide in someone. So when precocious teenager Julie Donaldson accuses Chalmers of rape, the school goes into shock. How could a deeply religious family man like Chalmers do anything like that? With some students and teachers supporting Julie, and others standing by Chalmers, life at Muirpark is far from harmonious. And then things get much worse - Julie Donaldson goes missing, and the police are called in. For DCI William Lorimer, this is the second missing persons case in a week. He's been having sleepless nights about a toddler who has been missing for several days - with each day, the likelihood of her being found alive diminishes. Julie's disappearance adds a further burden to Lorimer's already overstretched workload. With hope fading, it becomes a breakneck race against time to find both missing girls.
Great.
Great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
Julie Donaldson has a schoolgirl crush on Eric Chalmers, one of her teachers. Chalmers, happily married with a new baby, rejects her declaration of love , whereupon Julie accuses him of rape. Suspended from his job, hounded by the press, and given no help by his church minister father, Eric feels his world collapsing. When Julie is found murdered, DCI Lorimer and his team focus on Chalmers as their prime suspect because of the rape allegation. Lorimer's wife Maggie , a colleague of Eric's and Julie's teacher, strongly believes in his innocence. As the case progresses other suspects come into the picture, and the team must search for concrete evidence before they can make an arrest. An absorbing read , with very realistic descriptions of the varied reactions of Eric Chalmers' school colleagues.
May 29, 2018
I enjoyed this book far more than the previous one. It links the lives of DCI Lorimer and Maggie, his wife as her school is at the centre of the storyline. A disturbing storyline involving the disappearance and murder of a young person, and the presumed guilt of her teacher. I felt for Eric Chalmers from the start as it was obvious that he was going to be placed at the heart of the story with Julie clearly having an obsession, as young girls can over good looking young teachers. Poor Kyle being dragged into it too, but what a maturity he showed in dealing with his part in this. An approachable police officer is good to see - Lorimer is a great character and I am looking forward to catching up with the next story in the series.
August 3, 2018
I was disappointed in this. The plot is pretty lame, and the resolution relies on that annoying device of a previously unknown perpetrator. The writer was an English teacher in a Scottish school (as am I) and the use of a school is at least very realistic, full of self consciously realistic references to specific year groups and what poem was being taught. But the characters were all very one-dimensional, so right from the start there was no tension. The two potential murderers were so obviously good guys, lacking any edge or complexity that might make them guilty or even real. And I found the writing very clunky. Ironically, it read like a piece of writing done by one of the main character's pupils, full of clunky, clichéd lines. I really wanted to like this, and I didn't.
April 3, 2018
I received Glasgow Kiss in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
I have never read any of the other William Lorimer novels, but after reading this one I would be open to it. I found Glasgow kiss to be an intriguing thriller that tied many different stories together to get to get the big picture. I have read some reviews saying it wasn't an accurate portrayal of Glasgow and since I've never been there I have no opinion on that, but if you are like me and know nothing about Glasgow this was a good read.
I liked Glasgow Kiss over all and would recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating thriller centering around a serial killer.
I have never read any of the other William Lorimer novels, but after reading this one I would be open to it. I found Glasgow kiss to be an intriguing thriller that tied many different stories together to get to get the big picture. I have read some reviews saying it wasn't an accurate portrayal of Glasgow and since I've never been there I have no opinion on that, but if you are like me and know nothing about Glasgow this was a good read.
I liked Glasgow Kiss over all and would recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating thriller centering around a serial killer.
June 27, 2022
Alex Gray has written a clever, insightful and exciting story that catches out the reader by also being truly moving at times. I docked a couple of stars as I felt some of the relationships were filler and under-developed although that may be more to do with this being one of a series in which I guess the inter-relationships may have been made clearer and also because the villain is a bit stereotyped with motives that don't really add up to much. Local flavour is enhanced by good use of Glasgow dialect but never developed enough to give a true sense of place. Anyway, that's the negatives - what's left is well worth picking up and being read at speed. Enjoy!
August 28, 2024
Glasgow Kiss by Alex Gray - Good
Another outing for DCI Lorimer with a little assistance from his psychologist colleague Dr Solomon Brightman.
A teacher at Maggie Lorimer's school is accused of rape. If that isn't bad enough, the girl then disappears. It's a race against time to find out what has actually happened to the girl and to catch the culprit...and maybe clear the teacher's name. It doesn't help that Lorimer is already searching for a missing toddler, snatched from outside her home. Can he really juggle both cases to a successful conclusion?
This is the sixth in this series and they are still fresh and interesting. Nice pacy read.
#review
Another outing for DCI Lorimer with a little assistance from his psychologist colleague Dr Solomon Brightman.
A teacher at Maggie Lorimer's school is accused of rape. If that isn't bad enough, the girl then disappears. It's a race against time to find out what has actually happened to the girl and to catch the culprit...and maybe clear the teacher's name. It doesn't help that Lorimer is already searching for a missing toddler, snatched from outside her home. Can he really juggle both cases to a successful conclusion?
This is the sixth in this series and they are still fresh and interesting. Nice pacy read.
#review
February 9, 2025
It's been a while since I read any Alex Gray so I felt it was time for some more DCI Lorimer and book six of the series and I'm very glad I did as this was, in my opinion, the best so far. Lorimer's wife Maggie, and the school where she teaches, play a big role as a pupil accuses a teacher of rape and a male pupil struggles to adapt at home as his brutal father is released from prison. Add a couple more storylines to the mix, one connected and one not, and you have a really interesting set of whodunnits and did-he-do-it plus the varied reactions to those close to the school and accused teacher. A really strong addition to the series.
June 24, 2019
I do like these books. I like the characters and the plots are largely interesting. This one wasn't one of the best. It was interesting that the story had lots of Lorimer's wife and her connection with the action. I did guess the villain was not either of the red herrings. One thing I did wonder was why teachers and Lorimer himself noted that the boy Kyle was being savagely beaten by his 'Father" but no one did anything about it. Isn't it mandatory in politically correct Scotland to report this stuff? Sense of place is good.
April 30, 2021
I am not particularly crazy about detective stories where the perpetrator is some shadowy “he” who is not identified until near the end and whose motivation is some aberration in his own mind that only a psychological can unravel, and only partly at that. Having said that, I do enjoy the Lorimers, both Maggie and her detective husband, and this book had enough other interesting characters, like Kyle and Eric, to keep me engaged.
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