Out of Darkness

DCI Lorimer #21

by Alex Gray

***Your favourite Scottish returns in brand new mystery in the Sunday Times bestselling series***

PRAISE FOR ALEX GRAY

warm-hearted, atmospheric . . . with a very interesting twist' ANN CLEEVES

'An exciting procedural' SUNDAY TIMES

'Convincing Glaswegian atmosphere and superior writing' THE TIMES

'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH

'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL

'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Ebooks, Scotland, Fiction, Mystery

432 pages, Hardcover

Published July 2, 2024

About the author

Alex 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.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent Scottish police procedural, with also an international twist included, is the 21st volume of the amazing and realistic "DSI Lorimer" series.

At the start of the book you'll find two phrases, one taken from Isaiah Chapter 9 Verse 2, and one from Verdi: Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5.

This book has again been very well researched by the author, and her sources can be found within the Acknowledgements.

Storytelling is brilliant, all characters come splendidly to life in this tale about corruption, stranglehold over someone, missing crime money and murder, while the crimes in this story are divided between Glasgow and Harare, Zimbabwe (formerly known as Rhodesia).

DSI Lorimer, soon to be celebrating his 50th birthday, and his wife Maggie decide to go on holiday to Zimbabwe, with the hopeful possibility to find Daniel Kohi's mother, Janette, but during their stay they will come into some serious trouble of their own because to Kohi's lethal enemy in Zimbabwe, while in Glasgow PC Kohi and his flatmate, the elderly Mrs Netta Gordon are having serious troubles of their own, relating for PC Kohi about his secret identity which is found out by a certain jailbird in HMP Barlinnie, and for Netta Gordon its about missing money from a robbery from long ago, and these cases in Glasgow will be successfully investigated by DI Diana Miller and newly promoted DI Molly Newton, but all these cases are strongly linked with each other in the end.

What is to follow is an intriguing and gripping police procedural, with newly promoted DI Molly Newton and DI Diana Miller taking care of things in Glasgow, while after some lethal threats Lorimer will finally take care of business in locating and helping Mrs Janette Kohi so she can leave Zimbabwe, and all this is brought to us with a great storyline and with a superbly worked out plot, and so making everyone feeling very satisfied in the end.

Highly recommended, for this is another sublime addition to this tremendous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Heartfelt Return To Light"!

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 21 in the Detective Superintendent Lorimer series. A great addition to the series with DS Lorimer on holiday in Africa. A previous storyline that has run through the series ( don’t want to give too much away !) comes to an end ! Recommend !

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Morag · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel Kohi has been a very likeable and positive presence in this series for many books. Out of Darkness revolves round the reason Daniel left Zimbabwe. The story involves many bad people (one in particular) and a sudden decision of Lorimer and Maggie to holiday in Zimbabwe.
I did not like the ending. As in many of Alex Gray's novels, there is a sudden event which brings the story to a tidy closure. It's a bit irritating!! However, it's not all bad!!
Worth a read if you have enjoyed any of the others.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Für Maggie und Will Lorrimer geht ein langgehegter Traum in Erfüllung: die beiden können endlich wieder gemeinsam in Urlaub gehen. Zu oft ist ihnen Wills Arbeit dazwischengekommen, aber jetzt klappt es sogar zu seinem 50. Geburtstag. Sie beschließen, eine Safari in Simbabwe zu machen. Damit können sie das Angenehme mit dem Nützlichen verbinden und ihrem Freund und Kollegen Daniel Kohi einen Gefallen tun und seine Mutter besuchen.

Nachdem er aus seinem Heimatland flüchten musste, hat Daniel in Glasgow nicht nur eine neue Heimat, sondern auch Freunde, eine Arbeit und auch eine neue Liebe gefunden. Aber er kann weder in seine Heimat zurück noch Kontakt mit seiner Mutter aufnehmen, denn die Männer, die ihn damals töten wollten, sind immer noch auf der Suche nach ihm. Eines Tages taucht der neue Mieter von Daniels alter Nachbarwohnung bei ihm auf und bringt ihm seine Post. Einige Tage später ist er das Opfer in einem Mordfall, den Daniel untersucht. Ein Zufall?

Auch im Urlaub von Will und Maggie verläuft so wie geplant. Will kann seinen Beruf nicht zuhause lassen und so fallen ihm immer wieder Beweise der Korruption auf, die Daniel damals aufdecken wollte. Die Männer, die damals Daniels Frau und seinen Sohn ermordet haben, kommen ihm immer näher und bringen ihn und Maggie in Gefahr.

Dieses Mal hatte ich den Eindruck, als ob Alex Gray zu viel wollte. Sie erzählt Daniels Geschichte nicht nur weiter, sondern berichtet auch aus seiner Vergangenheit. Die wiederum hat mit dem zu tun, was Maggie und Will in Simbabwe erleben. Hier sie für meinen Geschmack zu oft den Zeigefinger, um auf die Zustände im Land aufmerksam zu machen. Nicht, dass ich das falsch finde. Allerdings tritt dadurch der Kriminalfall in den Hintergrund und wird für mein Empfinden zu oberflächlich abgehandelt. Auch die Verbindung zum Mord in Glasgow wird nicht schlüssig aufgedeckt. Auf mich wirkt es so, als ob sie Daniels Geschichte zu Ende erzählen wollte und der Rest nur das Drumherum ist. Für mich war das zu wenig.

[Charlotte Pawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 21 in the long running series about Scottish detective DSI Lorimer. On the journey of a lifetime for his birthday to Zimbabwe DSI Lorimer will find more than he bargained for with police corruption. He will get closer to the wildlife than is healthy.
In Scotland ex Zimbabwe policeman PC Kohi’s past will put everyone in danger someone is out for revenge.
Plenty going on in this story with plenty of characters to identify if this is your first look at this series you would enjoy the story more with reading previous books in this series.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Jane Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like Alex Gray’s books and have read most of them. This one is where Lorimer and his wife Maggie go off to Zimbabwe on a holiday and how it’s all tied up to Daniel Kohi, their friend and colleague at home. You can feel the African sun coming through and they have several adventures along the way of course. Need to go and catch up with the ones I haven’t read.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favourite but a good mystery that kept me hooked and turning pages.
A mix of Zimbawe and Scotland parts, danger, holidays that could be deadly.
Well plotted, it kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Julie Goodfellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waited a while and it didn’t disappoint

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic read, DSI Lorimer takes a long anticipated break to Zimbabwe and it’s not long before he’s confronted with a suspicious death. Meanwhile Daniel Kohi continues to forge a future for himself in Glasgow and also finds himself embroiled in a crime which is very close to home.

Thanks to Netgalley for access to the arc.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is freezing cold in Glasgow so to celebrate Detective Superintendent William Lorimer’s fiftieth birthday; his wife Maggie suggests they take an extended holiday somewhere warm. They settle on Zimbabwe, the birthplace of their refugee friend and former Zimbabwean police inspector Daniel Kohi. Daniel was forced to flee his country after his undercover investigations into police corruption were exposed and his home burnt whilst it contained his wife and son.

Daniel is now well established in Scotland: he is a constable with Police Scotland, has a relationship with DS Molly Newton and shares a flat with his wonderfully endearing, elderly friend, Netta Gordon. Netta’s coded correspondence with Daniel’s mother, Janelle, is the only contact Daniel has with his homeland as he, too, was believed to have been killed in the fire that obliterated his family. Unfortunately, corrupt police and politicians in Zimbabwe get wind of Daniel’s presence in Glasgow and once again he becomes a target for their revenge.

On their dream holiday in Zimbabwe, Lorimer and Maggie run into serious danger after they try, unsuccessfully, to visit Daniel’s mother. Already fearful for the safety of Janelle, when attempts are made to kill them between their trips to see the animals and birds roaming wild in isolated parts of the country, the Lorimers soon realise that they have also become targets.

Back in Glasgow the picture is further complicated when former criminal associates of Netta’s ne'er-do-well husband attempt to break into the Daniel and Netta’s flat and then start killing each other. DI Diana Miller and DS Newton try to untangle events as they seek to determine the connections between Daniel’s current enemies and Netta’s husband’s murky past.

Although this story leaves you in no doubt about the serious problems of police brutality and corruption in Zimbabwe, some of the locations are so lovingly described that, if it wasn’t for all the nefarious happenings, you could easily imagine that you were simply reading the journal of an enthusiastic traveller. Out of Darkness, is a well plotted, easy to read, entertaining and engrossing book that, like its predecessors in the Lorimer series, carries you seamlessly along with its characters from start to finish.
------
Reviewer Angela Crowther
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of Darkness is number twenty-one in the long-running Scottish crime series featuring DSI Bill Lorimer. Usually, the action takes place in Glasgow or further afield in northern Scotland. This time the narrative is split between Glasgow and Zimbabwe as Lorimer and his wife Maggie take a well-earned holiday to celebrate his fiftieth birthday. Lorimer had become friendly with Daniel Kohi, a refugee and former police inspector from Zimbabwe, a few years before, and was pleased that he was now a probationer in Police Scotland and doing well. As Daniel’s mother had not written in a while, the Lorimers planned to check in or her to set Daniel’s mind at rest.
In the previous book, Questions for a Dead Man, Kohi came into contact with someone from his home country, later arrested and sent to prison, who recognised him and spread the word back home that Daniel was not dead (he was presumed to have died in the house fire that killed his wife and son). This puts him in grave danger. It also makes Bill and Maggie a target when they arrive in Zimbabwe, as the corrupt police officer Daniel was trying to expose still wields a lot of power.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints so we get a rounded picture and understand what is going on. As there is a lot of backstory involved, it would be better to go back to book eighteen, Before the Storm, in the series (where Daniel Kohi makes his first appearance) at the very least, or a lot of things will not make sense. This far into a well-established crime series, the characters are like old friends and it’s always a pleasure to catch up with them. I love this series for its strong sense of place, but here it was interesting to visit Zimbabwe and get an idea of the country Daniel had left behind. It’s not often that we see a relaxed Bill Lorimer enjoying the birds and wildlife, but even here he could not leave his detective’s instinct behind. I have been a big fan of this series from the beginning and have already pre-ordered the next one which I look forward to reading next year. Thanks to Sphere and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

[Cidney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well thiis is the paperback edition by Sphere with 385 pages published 2024 and not the paperback one about to be published by Sphere again I think with 432 pages on 25 February 2025!!! Strange isn't the word really.

Detective Superintendent William Lorimer's 50th birthday is in the new year and his wife Maggie has booked a surprise event for him. They are to go to Zimbabwe on a safari. She hasn't told him yet. Daniel Kohi, recently escaped from there when he had reported his superior officer in the Zimbabwean police for corruption, only for his house to be burnt down and his wife and 2yr old son to die in the fire. He barely escaped with his life and got to England and then Scotland and joined the Scottish police force as a junior officer and was working his way up the ranks to become the equivalent of a detective inspector again. In the meantime he was living in Glasgow with his mother's penfriend and his new girlfriend. But big troubles and the safety of his life are about to hang in the balance.

It's a book set partly in Scotland where they are busy fighting a crime wave which relates to the safety of Daniel's life and also the safety of his mother the only one of his family left and she cannot get out of Africa. It's also partly set in Zimbabwe where the Lorimers are now on a 3wk safari, and their lives too are in jeopardy when they arrive at the house where Daniel's mother lives only to be told by the blind lady who lives next door that someone came and took her away in a car a week ago.

It's a complicated story spanning two different countries and both have crime wave troubles. I wasn't keen on this book, have read a couple, but for me there's something not that appealling about William and Maggie Lorimer, they seem a rather a much older couple heading to retire who belong to a different era a few decades ago and not in the present day. They are rather a boring couple. I tend to read the books where Rosie the pathologist and Dr. Soloman Brightman, who becomes the police psychologist and profiler, appear. Now they are much more the interesting pair.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest in Alex Gray's gritty Glasgow series featuring DSI William Lorimer, this has him approaching his 50th birthday, and amidst the cold and freezing winter months, he and his writer/teacher wife, Maggie, make the decision to have a long earned extended holiday. They choose to spend it in Zimbabwe, a beautiful country with its stunning landscapes, teeming birdlife, breathtaking wildlife and insects. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to drop in on Janelle, the mother of PC Daniel Kohi, with his traumatic background, having lost his wife and son. He escaped Zimbabwe for Scotland, still in danger from corrupt police, who believe he died in the deadly fire too.

Kohi is in a relationship with soon to be DI Molly Newton, and shares a home with the wonderful, elderly Netta Gordon, whose past life we learn more of, her troubled marriage with a now deceased husband, often in prison. Netta has been writing to Janelle, but there is concern after a period of not hearing from her. There is a suspicious mugging and murder, does it point to Netta's past or to Daniel, have others become aware that he is still alive? DI Diana Miller investigates, helped by Molly. Lorimer finds himself on a busman's holiday, as Janelle appears to be missing and in danger. Meanwhile, the Lorimers encounter a wise shaman, murders that are covered up, which William is frustrated by, having no jurisdiction in Zimbabwe, and so much more.

Gray manages to renew and revitalise this series with skill, the creation and development of her wonderful characters, along with her intricate plotted storylines, and here we are in Zimbabwe in all its vibrant glory, with its murder, mayhem, abuse of power. We gain greater depth in our understanding of Daniel, what he went through and we get to know his mother, along with the community and environment she lived in. A brilliant addition to a terrific series, a tense and suspenseful crime read, so gripping and captivating! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of Out of Darkness, the twenty-first novel to feature Detective Superintendent William Lorimer, set in Glasgow and Zimbabwe.

Lorimer and his wife, Maggie, decide on a holiday in Zimbabwe to celebrate his fiftieth birthday, but it is all plain sailing as they get caught up in the trouble their friend PC Daniel Kohi fled. He has not lost his troubles when a man he doesn’t know visits his flat and is murdered a few hours later. DI Miller, investigating the murder finds links not only to Daniel’s past but to that of his lodger and friend, the elderly Netta Gordon.

I thoroughly enjoyed Out of Darkness which simultaneously brings a sense of familiarity with the Glasgow setting and a touch of the exotic in Zimbabwe. The author provides enough description of Glasgow in February to make anywhere sound exotic in comparison (and that’s the voice of experience) but the descriptions of Zimbabwe are excellent with the heat, noise, scenery and wildlife.

The novel is told from various points of view, which is a little confusing initially, but I soon settled in to the characters and who was who. I think that this approach gives the reader a wider perspective on events, but not all of them as the author has a few tricks up her sleeve for the latter stages. It is essentially a novel of revenge, carried out with great ineptitude by a host of dim bulbs, and interesting in how it plays out. I was glued to the pages. There is never a dull moment and plenty of relief as the intended victims escape another plot. There are twists and some neat ironies so it is an absorbing read.

It was nice to see Lorimer and Maggie having a real holiday and taking a slightly more relaxed attitude to life, ok, relaxed in between the various escapades and brushes with danger. My favourite character is the indomitable Netta, a wee Glasgow wummin who brings a real sense of the town and the people.

Out of Darkness is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Alex and NetGalley for allowing me to read Out of Darkness before the publication date.
The storylines take place in Glasgow and Zimbabwe and because of the locations, is a real change from the previous books in the Lorimer series. It is an easy read yet there is a sense of changes afoot.

The people who helped Daniel Kohi to escape from Zimbabwe also set a false narrative in which all but a few people believed that Daniel had died in the fire which had killed his wife and child.

Now word has reached Augustus Ncube, a prisoner in HMP Barlinnie, that Daniel is alive and living in Glasgow. Ncube seeks to have him killed by local thugs. As Daniel shares a flat with Netta Gordon, this draws the elderly lady into their sights.

William’s 50th birthday takes place during their trip to Zimbabwe and he will soon be eligible to retire. Meanwhile, Maggie’s second career as an author is taking off and there is a sense that the school would be happy to bring in newly qualified teachers.
The trip soon becomes a busman’s holiday for William, who finds himself powerless as he faces the corruption which is rife in the country.

There will be plenty of secrets revealed in the course of the book and just a smidgen of humour.
Or perhaps in this case, karma is a better word.

The well-established younger characters have been given the scope to grow into more responsible, senior roles in this book, without Lorimer looking over their shoulder.

Alex has created a superb character in Netta Gordon, as we gradually learn more about the difficulties which she has encountered and overcome.
The pride which Netta shows in even the simplest of things in the flat which she shares with Daniel is positively endearing.
The description of the beautiful safari lodge and the infinity pool transport the reader to hotter climes.

[Chrissie Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Gray Book #21 in the Lorimer series which I've been enjoying for many years now (after first buying a copy while in England at a charity shop and have been hooked ever since!)....while in England last October I stumbled upon this book in hardcover in a charity shop for 1 Pound...1 Pound and what a find! We continue on with PC Daniel Kohi who is happily living in a lovely flat with his dear friend Netta and he's in love with Molly and she with him and lovely that is! Lorimer and his lovely wife Maggie are off on an adventure/safari to South Africa to celebrate our DSI's 50th birthday and to hopefully meet Daniel's mother. Of course treachery is afoot and we end up meeting many characters both in Scotland and South Africa. It is almost a bit daunting keeping track of all the bad guys here and there and who is what and how they all fit in but it does come together and just makes for another excellent story in this most enjoyable series in the life and times of DSI William Lorimer. Always recommend as a good read (and I'd like to say this jacket design is just beautiful and my favorite!)

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

You would have thought that book 21 in a series would be feeling a little stale but this is absolutely not the case and whilst I have only read a few in this series (I know, I must have been living under a rock!), the ones I have, can be read as standalones quite successfully as this one can but, as with all series, you do lose a bit of the backstory and character development.

Full of excellent characters, an intriguing storyline set in Glasgow and Zimbabwe and with twists and turns throughout, this is an excellent addition to the series and the way the author describes the setting in Zimbabwe made me feel like I wanted to be there experiencing the noises, the scenery, the wildlife but not the dodgy Police!

I thoroughly enjoyed this and would very much recommend it to everyone and I must thank the author, Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent addition to this fantastic series.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lorimers go to Zimbabwe, the country where their friend Daniel Kohi was born. And had to make a quick exit from due to corruption within the Zimbabwe police force. What could possibly go wrong??

I have read quite a few of the books in this series and I really like it. The Lorimers are nice people and DSI Lorimer is a very good police officer.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and the Lorimers find themselves caught up in events that are orchestrated by a very nasty piece of work. Someone who has influence in two different countries......

There are some lighter moments in this book as well and the descriptions of the wildlife in Zimbabwe are amazing. I wish I could see some of these animals for myself. I also enjoyed the relationship between the Lorimers, they are clearly a very good team.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Group UK.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first I have read by this author. Starting a series so late (number 21) is probabily not to be recommended, but I did enjoy it and will try and catch up with the rest of the books at some time. DSI Lorimer is the main detective, but he was on holiday for much of this book. The main detective here is Daniel Kohi, who himself hails from Zimbabwe . The book is told from different viewpoints and takes place in Glasgow and Zimbabwe. I had to get used to the writing and the characters, all new for me. I enjoyed the linked plots and sub-plots , though solving the crimes was more about confessions and talking rather than piecing together different strands of evidence. I"m never very keen on writing in dialect but that is a small part of this book.
Glad to have discovered a new writer and I look forward to reading more. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Oundle Crime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of DSI William Lorimer series and this is the latest. As Lorimer's career has advanced the books seem to have got less gritty but Alex Gray does write a good mystery. This is set in Zimbabwe, where Lorimer and his wife travel to go on a safari holiday, while hoping to also meet with their friend Daniel Kohi’s mother. A few years earlier, Kohi, a police inspector, had had to flee Zimbabwe after the murder of his family and he's now living in Glasgow, working as a police constable. Somehow people in Zimbabwe have discovered he's not dead and know he has connections to the Lorimers, so they are now firmly in their sights. It’s all tied in with drugs and corruption (police and politicians) and although not the best Lorimer story the descriptions of Zimbabwe were evocative and I enjoyed reading it.
Review by: Cornish Eskimo, Oundle Crime

[Anne Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve followed Alex Gray since her first book. I really like the Lorimer series. This one isn’t set in Glasgow but in Zimbabwe for most of it. I loved the descriptions of the Zimbabwean countryside, the animal noises , the heat and the instant nightfall - brought back memories of a trip to South Africa many years ago. I have missed the last three books ( not available on my library app Libby! ) so some of this story wasn’t as familiar. I will rectify that asap. There are a lot of characters to keep in mind and the story moves about quite a lot. A definite pleasure to read , though I am worried that Lorimer is nearing retiral age. Thank to NetGalley and the publishers for a prepublication ebook in return for an honest review.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent addition to the series

This book is a slight change from the rest of the series.

This is for two reason the first is that it is split between Zimbabwe where the Lorimers are and Glasgow where Daniel & Molly are. Secondly I think it’s the first full book in the series which does not include Solomon Brightman, who is missed despite the book being except excellent.

The author brings the two parts of the story together as the protagonists are in danger from the elements in Zimbabwe after they are are advised of Daniel being in Glasgow, where a name from his past tries to cause trouble from gaol.

The descriptions of the scenes and wildlife in Zimbabwe are a bonus addition to the series, however as with every series where you catch up with the author. Quickly reading the book means you are now having to wait for the next instalment!

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my 1st time exploring this series and I really enjoyed it! I liked the writing title and the scene set in Zimbabwe was just perfect! You could almost feel the sun and hear the insects chirping. Not have g read previous, I was lost regarding a few backstories and such and I did take a while to remember who was was as there's a pot of characters and jumping about. Overall, even as a standalone it worked well but I'd definitely have gotten more out of it had I read the rest of the series! Which I am now off to do

[Miki Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

With no big cases going on, DSI Lorimer and Maggie plan a trip to Zimbabwe to celebrate his 50th birthday.
Meanwhile in Scotland, Daniel is unaware that word has filtered back to ZImbabwe that he isn't dead and that his "grave" has been dug up.
His mother has fled and no one seems to know where she is, especially the bad guys.
Lorimer and Maggie try to visit Mrs Kohi, but discover she is not there, but appears to have left in a hurry. They also don't realise that they have been marked for an "accident" by the corrupt cop responsible for the deaths of Daniel's wife and child.
The book flits between Africa and Scotland telling the two different parts of the story.
A nice read with some nice descriptions to make the reader want to travel to Africa.

[John MacLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Darkness,the latest book in the excellent DSI
Lorimer series maintains the very high standards of the previous novels.There is a real sense of the challenges of crime fighting in Glasgow,with the city described very accurately,in its good and bad sides.This time part of the story takes place in Zimbabwe,the homeland of PC Kohi,who had been forced to flee from there to Scotland ,to escape the corrupt police and political figures responsible for the deaths of his wife and son.
The fast paced tales on both continents,makes for gripping,entertaining reading that I’d recommend.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than I expected the book was a gift for Christmas. Alex Gray is clearly a prolific writer and I’ve seen her books on the shelves.her writing style is a bit twee and annoying for me with little self explanations from her characters which for me keep jolting the reading flow. However the plot was brilliant and the characters themselves are fully formed and realistic. I could see her work as Sunday night TV Galway between death in paradise and Vera I’ll definitely read another one.

[Lesley Mcauliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

DS Lorimer and his wife Maggie take a holiday to Zimbabwe,the home of their friend and fellow police officer Daniel Kohi.
I think you would have to be familiar with other Lorimer books to understand some of this book.
Daniel’s mother is still in Zimbabwe and her life is in danger. The ever vigilant Lorimer gets involved in corrupt goings on to help her.
I didn’t enjoy this as much as other Alex Grey books set in Scotland.
I suppose it was a change, maybe Lorimer will retire soon!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the two books preceding this 21st book of the series prior to selecting this one. Glasgow/Zimbabwe settings. I cannot determine if I will read further as I found this book difficult (somewhat tedious) at times. But I had some heavy life activities to work through. Others here have described the plot so I won't try.

Currently just 99 cents from Amazon for the kindle so I took advantage of that sale. That's how I roll.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is an excellent series by Alex Gray, featuring Detective Lorimer and his wife, Maggie. I highly recommend starting with book 1 and reading the whole series as it is one of the best in the genre. The latest episode is set between Glasgow and Zimbabwe and is an easy 5* from me! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading a review I decided to read this book as the genre appeals despite it being #21 in a series I had not read any previous instalments.
Whilst this book did not have much about DCI Lorimer I got a sense of him.
Ordered #1 to see how it all began...
This book was somewhat long and in need of editing.