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Jimmy Dreghorn #1
Sull'orlo del baratro
Un serial killer che non si ferma. Un detective che non si arrende. 1932. La città di Glasgow, in piena Depressione, è lacerata da tensioni sociali e religiose, infestata dalla corruzione e ostaggio di feroci gang armate di mazze e rasoi che dettano legge nei quartieri e scatenano violente risse per strada. La polizia cerca di mantenere l’ordine come può, guidata dal nuovo capo Percy Sillitoe, inglese tutto d’un pezzo fermamente deciso a contrastare la criminalità con pugno di ferro. Quando il genero di uno dei costruttori navali più ricchi della città viene trovato nelle acque del fiume Clyde con la gola tagliata, il caso viene affidato a Jimmy Dreghorn, primo detective cattolico in forza alla polizia di Glasgow, e al suo partner Archie McDaid, corpulento e serafico uomo delle Highlands. Le indagini si riveleranno più pericolose del previsto e Dreghorn dovrà fare i conti con un passato che credeva di essersi lasciato alle spalle e che torna a bussare prepotentemente alla sua porta... Due detective affiatati, dai metodi spicci e pronti a menare le mani all’occorrenza, un cadavere che svelerà crimini agghiaccianti e un assassino spietato che non si ferma davanti a un sordido viaggio che ci trascina nel cuore marcio e sofferente di Glasgow, dove la fame e l’ingiustizia la fanno da padrone. Tra inseguimenti, pestaggi e rasoiate, Dreghorn e McDaid scopriranno il volto più sanguinoso della città. Sull’orlo del baratro, esordio del fumettista scozzese Robbie Morrison, è un romanzo dalla struttura perfetta, in grado di unire una prosa incisiva che procede con grande ritmo a una narrazione vivida che non lesina scene cruente e momenti di pura azione. «Robbie Morrison serve una deliziosa fetta di noir gangster anni Trenta ambientato nelle strade cupe e sudicie, fradicie e selvagge di Glasgow quando era la seconda città dell’Impero. Peaky Blinders incontra William McIlvanney in questa lettura davvero appassionante». Adrian McKinty «L’avvincente ritratto di una città oscura e pericolosa. Non vedo l’ora di trascorrere altro tempo con Jimmy Dreghorn e Archie McDaid. Un esordio agghiacciante e brutale, ma anche profondamente commovente e, soprattutto, scritto in maniera incredibile». Mark Billingham «Una versione di Peaky Blinders ambientata a Glasgow, con bande criminali che si azzuffano per strada e conflitti familiari che si inaspriscono sempre di più. Una storia oscura e potente». «The Sunday Times»
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
January 21, 2021
Religious sectarianism has been rife in Scotland for centuries, and the centre of it all was in Glasgow.
The Glasgow gangs of the 1920s and 1930s were widely viewed as fighting gangs rather than as criminal gangs in any wider sense.
Confrontations between gangs and police officers frequently followed police attempts to take gang members into custody. For example, in July 1939, a major disturbance erupted in the Gorbals as the Beehive Boys and the South Side Stickers reportedly joined forces to confront police officers who were taking two prisoners to the police station. '
This then is the backdrop, to ‘Edge of the Grave’, where the Glasgow police force (with its religious bigotry and corruption) were distrusted by the public in general, and by the gangs in particular.
Detective Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn, and his colleague Detective Sergeant Archie McDaid, of the Special Crimes unit, are investigating a vicious serial killer who’s stalking the streets of Glasgow. McDaid is a former Olympic wrestler and a giant of a man, whilst Dreghorn is less than average height and referred to by McDaid as Inspector Shortarse!
The story begins with the discovery of the body of Charles Geddes - a member of one of the richest families in Glasgow, and from there it takes the reader into some dark and seedy corners of the city, from the razor gangs, (and in particular, ‘The Billy Boys’ and their vicious leader, Billy Grievson), to the prostitution, the private clubs, and the corruption in high places.
This is a very graphic, violent, and bloody tale, with some particularly brutal scenes, but it’s brilliantly told, and the amusing banter between Greghorn and McDaid do help to lighten the mood. Definitely look forward to more from Robbie Morrison. Highly recommended.
* I was invited to read Edge of the Grave by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
The Glasgow gangs of the 1920s and 1930s were widely viewed as fighting gangs rather than as criminal gangs in any wider sense.
Confrontations between gangs and police officers frequently followed police attempts to take gang members into custody. For example, in July 1939, a major disturbance erupted in the Gorbals as the Beehive Boys and the South Side Stickers reportedly joined forces to confront police officers who were taking two prisoners to the police station. '
This then is the backdrop, to ‘Edge of the Grave’, where the Glasgow police force (with its religious bigotry and corruption) were distrusted by the public in general, and by the gangs in particular.
Detective Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn, and his colleague Detective Sergeant Archie McDaid, of the Special Crimes unit, are investigating a vicious serial killer who’s stalking the streets of Glasgow. McDaid is a former Olympic wrestler and a giant of a man, whilst Dreghorn is less than average height and referred to by McDaid as Inspector Shortarse!
The story begins with the discovery of the body of Charles Geddes - a member of one of the richest families in Glasgow, and from there it takes the reader into some dark and seedy corners of the city, from the razor gangs, (and in particular, ‘The Billy Boys’ and their vicious leader, Billy Grievson), to the prostitution, the private clubs, and the corruption in high places.
This is a very graphic, violent, and bloody tale, with some particularly brutal scenes, but it’s brilliantly told, and the amusing banter between Greghorn and McDaid do help to lighten the mood. Definitely look forward to more from Robbie Morrison. Highly recommended.
* I was invited to read Edge of the Grave by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
January 15, 2021
This is the first in what I hope is a historical crime series set in the mean, violent, dangerous and battered Glasgow of 1932 by Robbie Morrison, featuring the unforgettable DI Jimmy Dreghorn, ably assisted by the man mountain that is DS Archie McDaid, a former Olympic wrestler. The Glasgow depicted is instantly recognisable from the likes of Craig Russell's Lennox, set in the 1950s and the more recent Alan Parks and 1970s Glasgow in his DI Harry McCoy series. Glasgow here is particularly hard hit by the Depression, with the consequent unemployment, discontent and desperate poverty, littered with government and business corruption, bent police officers, riven with sectarian gangs, a police force unable to control the brutality and killings until the appointment by the Glasgow Corporation of Percy Joseph Sillitoe as Chief Constable who comes in with every intention of hitting the gang culture hard with specially selected police teams, which include Dreghorn and McDaid.
In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we become acquainted with Dreghorn's childhood, the bullying that leads to him taking up boxing, and being picked by Sir Iain Lockhart, the shipbuilder, to join the sportmen he is sponsoring and training at Kelpie House, until matters came to a head over his relationship with Lockhart's daughter, Isla. He, like virtually all who served, is changed for good by his soul destroying experiences in WW1 at the Battle of the Somme, serving under Captain Rory Lockhart, Isla's brother. Dreghorn's history plays a key part of the harrowing case he comes to be charge of, the murder of the son-in-law of Iain Lockhart, Charles Geddes is discovered with his throat cut in the dirty waters of the River Clyde, putting Jimmy back in the orbit of the powerful and influential Lockharts. In return for crucial information from Billy Grievson, leader of a Protestant gang, Dreghorn agrees to find his sister, Sarah, which leads him to the orphan Trinity Village, which unexpectedly begins to connect with his complicated and dangerous murder inquiry.
Morrison writes a atmospheric murder mystery in which a serial killer runs rampant in Glasgow in this blend of fact and fiction with some real life characters from the time, although he does on occasion play fast and loose with the facts. The highlight for me are his skills in characterisation, showcased with Dreghorn, McDaid, and the likes of Theodore 'Teddy' Levin, Billy, and Ellen, the WPC on the police team. This is not a read for the faint hearted, the heartbreaking tragedies, some involving children, and the brutality and violence will put off some readers. This is a dark, disturbing and intensely riveting, blood soaked historical crime read which I loved, with its rich descriptions and details of the period, portraying the social norms and attitudes of the time, and which I recommend highly. Many thanks to PanMacmillan for an ARC.
In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we become acquainted with Dreghorn's childhood, the bullying that leads to him taking up boxing, and being picked by Sir Iain Lockhart, the shipbuilder, to join the sportmen he is sponsoring and training at Kelpie House, until matters came to a head over his relationship with Lockhart's daughter, Isla. He, like virtually all who served, is changed for good by his soul destroying experiences in WW1 at the Battle of the Somme, serving under Captain Rory Lockhart, Isla's brother. Dreghorn's history plays a key part of the harrowing case he comes to be charge of, the murder of the son-in-law of Iain Lockhart, Charles Geddes is discovered with his throat cut in the dirty waters of the River Clyde, putting Jimmy back in the orbit of the powerful and influential Lockharts. In return for crucial information from Billy Grievson, leader of a Protestant gang, Dreghorn agrees to find his sister, Sarah, which leads him to the orphan Trinity Village, which unexpectedly begins to connect with his complicated and dangerous murder inquiry.
Morrison writes a atmospheric murder mystery in which a serial killer runs rampant in Glasgow in this blend of fact and fiction with some real life characters from the time, although he does on occasion play fast and loose with the facts. The highlight for me are his skills in characterisation, showcased with Dreghorn, McDaid, and the likes of Theodore 'Teddy' Levin, Billy, and Ellen, the WPC on the police team. This is not a read for the faint hearted, the heartbreaking tragedies, some involving children, and the brutality and violence will put off some readers. This is a dark, disturbing and intensely riveting, blood soaked historical crime read which I loved, with its rich descriptions and details of the period, portraying the social norms and attitudes of the time, and which I recommend highly. Many thanks to PanMacmillan for an ARC.
May 6, 2023
This is a well constructed story set in 1932 Glasgow, with wonderful historic bites and a fascinating social commentary which evokes a dangerous and violent city. The depressing aspect of sectarianism continually bubbles away. A compelling read with gallus humour throughout.
July 14, 2024
A fantastic debut from Robbie Morrison featuring two excellent central characters as they fight crime and their own demons, in 1930's Glasgow.
Bleak and gritty, The Edge of The Grave gives the reader an unflinching portrayal of the city : the poverty, sectarianism,crime,corruption, and violence of the gangs along with the sense of injustice that all this entails.
Really well written and a great read. I'm moving straight onto the next one.
Bleak and gritty, The Edge of The Grave gives the reader an unflinching portrayal of the city : the poverty, sectarianism,crime,corruption, and violence of the gangs along with the sense of injustice that all this entails.
Really well written and a great read. I'm moving straight onto the next one.
March 4, 2021
Edge of the Grave is the first instalment in a gritty, violent and atmospheric historical crime series, featuring vividly portrayed and memorable Detective Inspector James Dreghorn. It's 1932 in Depression-era Glasgow and the political and social climate is dire due to depleted resources courtesy of the war. The population is suffering due to an unemployment epidemic, abject poverty, growing disillusionment and corruption in the police ranks, government and businesses, too. The police force of Glasgow – a city swarming with razor gangs, and riven by religious fundamentalism and sectarian division – needs strong leadership to restore law and order. Chief Constable Percy Sillitoe, an Englishman who famously modernised the force and attacked corruption at every level, is appointed by the Glasgow Corporation to bring the crime and brutality that was rampant in the city under control. Charles Geddes, son-in-law of Sir Lockhart – one of Glasgow’s wealthiest shipbuilders – is found floating in the River Clyde with his throat cut from ear to ear. With surgical precision the tendons and windpipe have been severed almost to the spinal column, his beautiful widow Isla asks for DI James Dreghorn to lead the investigation. Bullied as a wee boy, Dreghorn was spotted by Sir Iain who ran a boxing school for ‘the Black Squad’, whom he was training and sponsoring at Kelpie House and got to know Isla very well. Now, with his hulking, pipe-playing subordinate ‘Bonnie’ Archie McDaid, a former Olympic wrestler, Dreghorn enters into an uneasy contract with Protestant gangleader and nemesis Billy Grieveson.
In exchange for vital information, and becoming an informant, Dreghorn agrees to help find his sister, Sarah Catherine Grieveson, who he hasn't seen for 18 years. Sarah had gotten pregnant while Billy was serving an 18-month prison term. The investigation takes Jimmy from ‘Trinity Village’, a purpose-built late-Victorian hamlet in the Renfrewshire countryside about thirteen miles outside of Glasgow, a charitable institution set up for orphaned and unwanted children where Sarah could've had the baby discreetly and then had it adopted, to the murkier parts of Glasgow’s underworld to find out who wanted Charles Geddes dead and why. The two cases begin to look as though they may converge and Dreghorn must ascertain what the connection is between a complex, dangerous and brutal murder and the disappearance of Sarah. More will die before he finds out. This is a scintillating and richly atmospheric murder mystery set against the dark and disturbing backdrop of Glasgow in the 1930s. Real historical characters people the plot of this richly-coloured novel – among them the ex-footballer pathologist Willie Kivlichan, and Benny Parsonage of the Glasgow Humane Society who retrieved hundreds of the living and the dead from the Clyde. Robbie Morrison also weaves in such events as the Quintinshill rail disaster, the worst ever in Britain, and paints a vivid portrait of early 20th-century Glasgow in all its raucous lawlessness. And now the populace has another issue to deal with: the prowling of a serial killer. A riveting, chilling and enthralling read, this is a beautifully written debut. Highly recommended.
In exchange for vital information, and becoming an informant, Dreghorn agrees to help find his sister, Sarah Catherine Grieveson, who he hasn't seen for 18 years. Sarah had gotten pregnant while Billy was serving an 18-month prison term. The investigation takes Jimmy from ‘Trinity Village’, a purpose-built late-Victorian hamlet in the Renfrewshire countryside about thirteen miles outside of Glasgow, a charitable institution set up for orphaned and unwanted children where Sarah could've had the baby discreetly and then had it adopted, to the murkier parts of Glasgow’s underworld to find out who wanted Charles Geddes dead and why. The two cases begin to look as though they may converge and Dreghorn must ascertain what the connection is between a complex, dangerous and brutal murder and the disappearance of Sarah. More will die before he finds out. This is a scintillating and richly atmospheric murder mystery set against the dark and disturbing backdrop of Glasgow in the 1930s. Real historical characters people the plot of this richly-coloured novel – among them the ex-footballer pathologist Willie Kivlichan, and Benny Parsonage of the Glasgow Humane Society who retrieved hundreds of the living and the dead from the Clyde. Robbie Morrison also weaves in such events as the Quintinshill rail disaster, the worst ever in Britain, and paints a vivid portrait of early 20th-century Glasgow in all its raucous lawlessness. And now the populace has another issue to deal with: the prowling of a serial killer. A riveting, chilling and enthralling read, this is a beautifully written debut. Highly recommended.
March 8, 2024
My husband and I both enjoyed this Scottish police procedural set in the early 1930s. It has a delightful touch of the gangster noir of the Depression era and draws heavily on the men's WWI experiences as Detective Jimmy Dreghorn and his giant of a partner, 'Bonnie' Archibald McDaid, investigate the murder of the son-in-law of one of Glasgow's wealthiest shipbuilders. The story takes us to the grittiest mean streets of Glasgow, controlled by razor-wielding gangs, as well as into the mansions and board rooms of the uber wealthy, where things might be just as dirty but are dressed up in finer clothes.
May 21, 2021
3.5 Stars!
My review is published in the June edition of goodREADING magazine.
A great debut with some great characters.
My review is published in the June edition of goodREADING magazine.
A great debut with some great characters.
October 17, 2023
Book Review
Edge of the Grave
Robbie Morrison
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
An immersive historical police procedural that evolves into a mystery-thriller, capturing the atmosphere and contradictions of 1930s Scotland. It’s a gritty street tale seen through the eyes of Detective Inspectors Jimmie Dreghorn and Archie McDaid. The Great War and the Spanish Flu pandemic have taken their toll on society, further exacerbated by the worldwide Depression. Widespread street gangs terrorize citizens who are already grappling with poverty and unemployment.
Alcoholism and discontent are rampant, fueling a climate of fear and violence. The gap between the rich and the poor widens, and religious differences play a significant role in the ongoing strife, even dividing the street gangs by religion. People are afraid to admit if they are a ‘Billy’ or a ‘Tim.’ The prevalent Protestants support the Rangers Football Club, while the subjugated Roman Catholics root for the Celtic F.C. It’s a time of polarization and strife, with rampant street crime. A new direction is needed, and Glasgow appoints a new Chief Constable, Sillitoe, a man with radical ideas who is not a yes-man. He forms a special unit of 12 hand-picked officers known for their prowess and stature, unafraid to use force when necessary. He also overhauls the forensic department. This anti-gang division becomes a fast response team composed of the fittest and toughest, dubbed by the Scottish press as the ‘Tartan Untouchables,’ likened to FBI agent Eliot Ness’s unit countering Al Capone and the gangsters of the twenties.
Jimmie and Archie are part of this team but present a somewhat comical pair when seen together. Jimmie, a complex man of contrasts and contradictions, stands at just five feet eight inches but possesses the body and skill of a boxer. Archie is the tallest and largest man on the force, having won a bronze medal for wrestling in the 1924 Paris Olympics and holding the title of Scottish Police Heavyweight Champion of 1928. What they share is an unwavering belief in obtaining justice. They are faced with two major cases in their debut tale. First, they respond to a tenement in the aftermath of a domestic abuse case involving twenty-six-year-old Peggy Bryce, who has been badly beaten by her husband, Thomas Bryce. Tragically, Peggy’s son, Tommy, lies dead in the corner of the room, having been mercilessly thrown into a radiator.
During their immediate interrogation of neighbors, they learn that Thomas did not consider Tommy his own son and often returned home drunk and combative. As they search for Thomas Bryce, they encounter many other relevant characters that link the present to the past.
In the second major case, they are called to the scene where a man’s lifeless body is discovered face-down in the Clyde River, his throat brutally slit down to the spinal cord. He is dressed as a man of means, and his wallet and pocket gold watch remain undisturbed, ruling out robbery as a motive. His business card identifies him as Charles Geddes, the son-in-law of Sir Iain Lockhart, one of the city’s largest and wealthiest shipyard owners. The investigation takes them through the dark underbelly of the crime world, involving prostitution, gambling, and other heinous street crimes. They also cross paths with Sir Iain himself, as well as his beautiful daughter Isla, the ‘grieving widow,’ and her older brother Rory, a rich playboy known for his irresponsibility and rumored affairs with starlets.
Numerous flashbacks shed light on Jimmie’s youth, upbringing, and the events leading to his current persona, providing context to his prior relationship with the Lockhart family.
Robbie Morrison proves to be an exceptional storyteller, weaving a complex narrative with multidimensional characters placed in severely compromised situations. This twisted narrative presents many unexpected events that lead to escalating suspense and intrigue, culminating in an exciting denouement. I would have loved to experience the Scottish dialect in an audio version of this tale. I can’t wait to devour the next Jimmie Dreghorn tale, apparently already written and awaiting publication. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Group – Ballantine for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
.... Published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com .....
April 11, 2021
It’s 1932 in Glasgow and the sectarian gang wars are in full blossom. The recession is beginning to ease and shipbuilding in the Clyde River is picking up. A body of a murder socialite is found in the river. Inspector Dreghorn is asked by the wife of the deceased to investigate the crime. This request is made as the wife and the family of the murdered have had a relationship with the detective prior and during WW I.
A good historical fiction mystery with lots of action and violence. Great descriptions of events and places in the city of Glasgow, even though a lot of liberty has been taken with the facts. The author admits so in the acknowledgement section of the book. The number of characters is large and hard to keep track of.
A good historical fiction mystery with lots of action and violence. Great descriptions of events and places in the city of Glasgow, even though a lot of liberty has been taken with the facts. The author admits so in the acknowledgement section of the book. The number of characters is large and hard to keep track of.
September 29, 2021
A dark slice of Tartan Noir set in 1930's Glasgow and featuring Glasgow police detectives Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid. A searingly brutal story written with a savage swagger and definitely not for the nervous. A remarkable debut crime novel from Robbie Morrison who, I'm delighted to say, has a second book about Dreghorn and McDaid due out in 2022. Can't wait!
(Thanks to my Goodreads friend Paromjit whose review of the book led me to read it)
(Thanks to my Goodreads friend Paromjit whose review of the book led me to read it)
November 20, 2021
Anyone looking to enjoy a good murder-mystery and at the same time discover the reason why Glasgow has earned it's violent reputation as 'no mean city' should look no further. Excellent, if bleak, stuff. Look forward to the next in the series.
June 25, 2021
have sat down a few times trying to write any kind of coherent review of Edge Of The Grave, and have failed miserably, so lets go for the short and sweet. First, this is an absolute shoo-in for my Top Ten of the Year, as I was completely blown away by not only the way that Morrison so assuredly immerses us in this turbulent era of Glasgow’s history, but also the affecting blend of raw masculine emotion and violence, with moments of extreme poignancy that permeate the book. Several times I re-read certain passages, as Morrison’s use of beautifully expressive language and images is captivating, working perfectly in tandem with the rough hewn speech of some of his characters, and moments of extreme and bloody violence.
The central partnership of police officers Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid works perfectly within the structure of the plot, and adds empathy and ribald humour to the book, particularly as we begin to discover more about Dreghorn’s dark past, but also how his professional and personal relationship with McDaid begins to soften some of his rough edges, and opens him up to a growing sense of trust trust and friendship. I think the plotting was masterful, and although running to a longer page count than most crime fiction, for me there was not a superfluous word or expression. Absolutely one of the best books I have read this year, packed with history, atmosphere, drama and sterling characterisation, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The central partnership of police officers Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid works perfectly within the structure of the plot, and adds empathy and ribald humour to the book, particularly as we begin to discover more about Dreghorn’s dark past, but also how his professional and personal relationship with McDaid begins to soften some of his rough edges, and opens him up to a growing sense of trust trust and friendship. I think the plotting was masterful, and although running to a longer page count than most crime fiction, for me there was not a superfluous word or expression. Absolutely one of the best books I have read this year, packed with history, atmosphere, drama and sterling characterisation, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
January 21, 2022
This started so well I thought I´d found a new good series-good characters (policemen under Sillitoe) , Glasgow 1932,good sense of place,politics,and a murder-but it went downhill midway. I have several main objections:
1-It seems the author couldn´t stop himself and threw everything and the kitchen sink in: corruption, child abuse, incest, gangs,politics, extortion, gambling,a sociopath,backstories galore (the boxing, the rail catastrophe,the war,court martials and I´m sure there were more). It got to be too much for a single book;frequently, less is more.
2-stretching believability: in a city where "everybody knows each other",a brother never ever crosses paths with his long lost sister? Even when they´re both in the less salubrious trade? Just an example.
3- the tropes, the clichés,the repetitions: the culprit delaying the hero´s murder in order to "explain". Rich girl/poor boy romance. Hero who takes beatings, slashings,boiling water thrown at him and keeps on.The constant references to McDaid´s height (we get it already!)
4- the predictability and the low punches.
So, sadly,no new series for me. Let´s go look for a good one.
1-It seems the author couldn´t stop himself and threw everything and the kitchen sink in: corruption, child abuse, incest, gangs,politics, extortion, gambling,a sociopath,backstories galore (the boxing, the rail catastrophe,the war,court martials and I´m sure there were more). It got to be too much for a single book;frequently, less is more.
2-stretching believability: in a city where "everybody knows each other",a brother never ever crosses paths with his long lost sister? Even when they´re both in the less salubrious trade? Just an example.
3- the tropes, the clichés,the repetitions: the culprit delaying the hero´s murder in order to "explain". Rich girl/poor boy romance. Hero who takes beatings, slashings,boiling water thrown at him and keeps on.The constant references to McDaid´s height (we get it already!)
4- the predictability and the low punches.
So, sadly,no new series for me. Let´s go look for a good one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2023
I want to thank NetGalley for the early review of this book. I am in awe of the authors ability in writing. I forgot I was reading it felt like I was there, and also feeling like I was watching a movie after reading the action scenes. I was completely swept away by this Crime Novel. Probably the best mystery, thriller, suspense novel I have ever read. I have read plenty too. This book is about Scotlands version of the untouchables, during the heightened gang wars of Scotland during the depression era. A murder in a wealthy family, the secrets behind the wealthy family, the criminal activity at an orphanage, and how the gangs of Glasgow all fit together in this crime that actually turns Into many crimes and more murders. How the top detectives in a new unit go through hell and almost lose their lives getting to the bottom of everything. This novel is a fast read not wanting to put it down. It's exciting, and thrilling. With a lot of action packed into it. Towards the end there is a lot of wow factor after everything gets solved, things and people you would not expect in the end. I highly recommend this book. I also recommend someone make this into a movie. Kudos to the author. 👏
March 21, 2021
Great historical crime fiction. Gangs, murders, mayhem, all amongst this gritty historical context. Great characters. I loved the style of storytelling with the time jumps and periods. Small criticism is that info dumps at times could become a little slow. Otherwise a great novel
October 3, 2023
Harsh underbelly of 1930’s Glasgow!
Heart stopping historical criminal murder investigation set in Glasgow in early 1930’s going back to First World War in 1913.
Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid are part of a new Special Crime Squad, (under an English commander) put together to combat the various gangs and murders, graft and corruption that’s spreading throughout the city
Dreghorn, an ex boxer and army sergeant, has been asked to head a murder inquiry into the death of the Charles Geddes, son-in-law to the most powerful ship builder in Glasgow, Sir Iain Lockhart. Geddes is also brother-in-law to Rory Lockhart whom Dreghorn fought with, shoulder by shoulder in the trenches.
His investigation will take him from rival gangs, to Trinity Village, a home for pregnant girls, and back to the Lockhart family and to the daughter of the house, Isla, his first love.
His search circles, always circling around the links of the now and of the past.
Incredibly raw and sad as we witness lives suffered in poverty and squalor, and equally as damning, those who don’t.
An exposition of the various faces of humanity.
As Morrison explains in his notes, Dreghorn is a man of”contrasts and contradictions: passionate and romantic, yet cynical and pragmatic when need be; good-humored and possessed of a lust for life, yet brooding and taciturn when faced with injustice; tough, yet tender and caring; patriotic and politically aware, yet distrustful and disdainful of those who hold power; and always punching above his weight.”
A man made for this environment. A man who comes off as tough, and yet time and time again understands how innocence is lost and how people come to be as they are, except when there are no excuses.
I’m so looking forward to the next in the series!
A Random House-Ballantine ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
Heart stopping historical criminal murder investigation set in Glasgow in early 1930’s going back to First World War in 1913.
Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid are part of a new Special Crime Squad, (under an English commander) put together to combat the various gangs and murders, graft and corruption that’s spreading throughout the city
Dreghorn, an ex boxer and army sergeant, has been asked to head a murder inquiry into the death of the Charles Geddes, son-in-law to the most powerful ship builder in Glasgow, Sir Iain Lockhart. Geddes is also brother-in-law to Rory Lockhart whom Dreghorn fought with, shoulder by shoulder in the trenches.
His investigation will take him from rival gangs, to Trinity Village, a home for pregnant girls, and back to the Lockhart family and to the daughter of the house, Isla, his first love.
His search circles, always circling around the links of the now and of the past.
Incredibly raw and sad as we witness lives suffered in poverty and squalor, and equally as damning, those who don’t.
An exposition of the various faces of humanity.
As Morrison explains in his notes, Dreghorn is a man of”contrasts and contradictions: passionate and romantic, yet cynical and pragmatic when need be; good-humored and possessed of a lust for life, yet brooding and taciturn when faced with injustice; tough, yet tender and caring; patriotic and politically aware, yet distrustful and disdainful of those who hold power; and always punching above his weight.”
A man made for this environment. A man who comes off as tough, and yet time and time again understands how innocence is lost and how people come to be as they are, except when there are no excuses.
I’m so looking forward to the next in the series!
A Random House-Ballantine ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
June 25, 2021
have sat down a few times trying to write any kind of coherent review of Edge Of The Grave, and have failed miserably, so lets go for the short and sweet. First, this is an absolute shoo-in for my Top Ten of the Year, as I was completely blown away by not only the way that Morrison so assuredly immerses us in this turbulent era of Glasgow’s history, but also the affecting blend of raw masculine emotion and violence, with moments of extreme poignancy that permeate the book. Several times I re-read certain passages, as Morrison’s use of beautifully expressive language and images is captivating, working perfectly in tandem with the rough hewn speech of some of his characters, and moments of extreme and bloody violence.
The central partnership of police officers Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid works perfectly within the structure of the plot, and adds empathy and ribald humour to the book, particularly as we begin to discover more about Dreghorn’s dark past, but also how his professional and personal relationship with McDaid begins to soften some of his rough edges, and opens him up to a growing sense of trust trust and friendship. I think the plotting was masterful, and although running to a longer page count than most crime fiction, for me there was not a superfluous word or expression. Absolutely one of the best books I have read this year, packed with history, atmosphere, drama and sterling characterisation, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The central partnership of police officers Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid works perfectly within the structure of the plot, and adds empathy and ribald humour to the book, particularly as we begin to discover more about Dreghorn’s dark past, but also how his professional and personal relationship with McDaid begins to soften some of his rough edges, and opens him up to a growing sense of trust trust and friendship. I think the plotting was masterful, and although running to a longer page count than most crime fiction, for me there was not a superfluous word or expression. Absolutely one of the best books I have read this year, packed with history, atmosphere, drama and sterling characterisation, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
March 29, 2022
Gritty, evocative, and absorbing!
Edge of the Grave is a riveting, slightly gothic tale set in Glasgow in the 1930s at a time when the city was bustling, shipbuilding was the booming industry, poverty was rampant, religious segregation was common, and for retired WWI vet, Detective Jimmy Dreghorn and his fierce partner Archie McDaid ongoing gang violence and vicious murders had to be solved by pounding the pavement, using hunches, intuition, instincts, intelligence, and a little roughing up as needed.
The prose is raw and intense. The characters are complex, flawed, and resourceful. And the plot, including all the subplots, seamlessly intertwine and unravel into a gripping tale of life, loss, duty, deception, manipulation, greed, corruption, mayhem, and the realities of policing in the early twentieth century.
Overall, Edge of the Grave is a dark, menacing, promising debut by Morrison that does a beautiful job of interweaving historical times and compelling fiction into a sinister, suspenseful mystery that is deliciously atmospheric and highly entertaining.
Thank you to PGC Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Edge of the Grave is a riveting, slightly gothic tale set in Glasgow in the 1930s at a time when the city was bustling, shipbuilding was the booming industry, poverty was rampant, religious segregation was common, and for retired WWI vet, Detective Jimmy Dreghorn and his fierce partner Archie McDaid ongoing gang violence and vicious murders had to be solved by pounding the pavement, using hunches, intuition, instincts, intelligence, and a little roughing up as needed.
The prose is raw and intense. The characters are complex, flawed, and resourceful. And the plot, including all the subplots, seamlessly intertwine and unravel into a gripping tale of life, loss, duty, deception, manipulation, greed, corruption, mayhem, and the realities of policing in the early twentieth century.
Overall, Edge of the Grave is a dark, menacing, promising debut by Morrison that does a beautiful job of interweaving historical times and compelling fiction into a sinister, suspenseful mystery that is deliciously atmospheric and highly entertaining.
Thank you to PGC Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2021
Edge of the Grave by Robbie Morrison is a dark historical crime novel set in Glasgow, 1932. A city still recovering from the World War and the Great depression; split by religious division, ravaged by poverty and swarming with violent razor gangs.
The story begins with a horrific domestic murder before working its way to the actual plot - Charles Geddes, son-in-law of one of the city's wealthiest shipbuilding dynasty, is found floating in the River Clyde with his throat cut. His beautiful widow Isla Lockhart asks for DI James Dreghorn to lead the murder case, with his able assistant DS Archie McDaid, a former Olympic wrestler.
The narrative goes back and forth in time, with Inspector Dreghorn having an extensive history with Isla. Throughout the novel, the entwined relationships between Dreghorn and the other members of the wealthy Lockhardt family, are revealed. Also, in return for information from Billy Grievson, leader of a Protestant gang, "The Billy Boys", Dreghorn agrees to find his sister, Sarah, which leads him to dark and seedy corners of the city - prostitution, trafficking, the private clubs, and the corruption in high places.
This is a very graphic, violent, and bloody tale, with some particularly brutal scenes, but it’s brilliantly told, and the amusing banter between Greghorn and McDaid do help to lighten the mood. Excellent Atmospheric Read.
The story begins with a horrific domestic murder before working its way to the actual plot - Charles Geddes, son-in-law of one of the city's wealthiest shipbuilding dynasty, is found floating in the River Clyde with his throat cut. His beautiful widow Isla Lockhart asks for DI James Dreghorn to lead the murder case, with his able assistant DS Archie McDaid, a former Olympic wrestler.
The narrative goes back and forth in time, with Inspector Dreghorn having an extensive history with Isla. Throughout the novel, the entwined relationships between Dreghorn and the other members of the wealthy Lockhardt family, are revealed. Also, in return for information from Billy Grievson, leader of a Protestant gang, "The Billy Boys", Dreghorn agrees to find his sister, Sarah, which leads him to dark and seedy corners of the city - prostitution, trafficking, the private clubs, and the corruption in high places.
This is a very graphic, violent, and bloody tale, with some particularly brutal scenes, but it’s brilliantly told, and the amusing banter between Greghorn and McDaid do help to lighten the mood. Excellent Atmospheric Read.
February 1, 2025
All the blurbs and endorsements on the cover really play up the gangland aspect of this mystery novel set in 1930s Glasgow. The novel is definitely gritty and violent, featuring not only gangs, but corruption, prostitution, incest, blackmail, poverty, war, sectarian feuds, you name it. Morrison has done his research, and (based primarily tours and museums I went to on a recent visit to Glasgow) I'd say his portrait of the city is pretty accurate. It was a hard time for Glasgow, with war looming, industries failing, and poverty everywhere. There is also a dark humor, a kind of "if you don't laugh, you'll cry" defense mechanism that is common to most of the characters.
Despite the dark elements, I wouldn't class this book with hardboiled detective fiction. It's still at heart a classic procedural with a cast of suspects and a detective who solves the case and restores order, at least for the moment. Police detective Jimmy Dreghorn lacks the desultory nature of the true hardboiled detective, who just sort of drifts through the case and lets the solution reveal itself. Dreghorn also could not be called an antihero by any stretch of the imagination. He might bend the rules on occasion, but he's ultimately an energetic, moral, and (perhaps unrealistically for the times) enlightened protagonist. All of this is what really makes the book work for me—I'm open to a different and dark setting, but I still like a classic mystery at the end of the day.
Despite the dark elements, I wouldn't class this book with hardboiled detective fiction. It's still at heart a classic procedural with a cast of suspects and a detective who solves the case and restores order, at least for the moment. Police detective Jimmy Dreghorn lacks the desultory nature of the true hardboiled detective, who just sort of drifts through the case and lets the solution reveal itself. Dreghorn also could not be called an antihero by any stretch of the imagination. He might bend the rules on occasion, but he's ultimately an energetic, moral, and (perhaps unrealistically for the times) enlightened protagonist. All of this is what really makes the book work for me—I'm open to a different and dark setting, but I still like a classic mystery at the end of the day.
November 19, 2022
Brutal but brilliant. The murder mystery is enveloped in a thoroughly well-researched and dramatised world of gang crime and class division in Glasgow in the 1930s. Dreghorn and McDaid are a perfect paring. Loved it.
March 23, 2021
Detective Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn is a bit of a novelty. He is the first Catholic officer in a police force primarily made up of Protestants*. Jimmy has a no-nonsense approach to policework and will happily bust a few heads to get results. When a mutilated body washes up near a shipyard, he is given the task of uncovering the culprit. Between chapters, there are flashbacks of Jimmy’s life before the Great War as well as his time in the trenches. In modern parlance, I suspect we would probably describe Jimmy as suffering from something akin to post-traumatic stress. He has seen so much blood and death it has fundamentally changed his outlook on life. The only thing that keeps him going is a tenacity fuelled by copious amounts of booze and cigarettes. I got the distinct impression that if Jimmy didn’t have his job, he would likely already be dead. For me, the best detectives are the ones who are barely functioning human beings. They are so driven by the need to make sense of their world it makes following their journey utterly fascinating
One of the novel’s many highlights was Jimmy’s partner, ‘Bonnie’ Archie McDaid. A strapping Highlander, McDaid is the polar opposite of Jimmy. Where DI Dreghorn is a pugnacious scrappy little fighter, McDaid is a man mountain. Away from his job, Jimmy lives an almost monastic existence while McDaid has a family waiting at home. They complement one another and you see that with the easy camaraderie they share.
There is something deliciously lurid about Morrison’s vision of Glasgow. Just below the wafer-thin veneer of civility is a city rife with corruption. Everywhere there is prostitution, gangland violence, social problems and political manoeuvring. It’s hardly a surprise when tensions boil over and bad things happen. Historically, there was so much money and heavy industry in and around Glasgow it was considered Britain’s second city. Morrison’s novel is set just after that period and you can see evidence of the rot beginning to set in. this is a city moving from boom to bust. The Great Depression has burst the post-war economic bubble and the shipyards on the Clyde aren’t the hive of activity they once were. With low employment, slum housing and sectarian gangs stalking the streets, violence has become the norm. The powers that be make the decision that they will fight fire with fire. Jimmy and his colleagues are compared more than once to The Untouchables, and this seems entirely apt. They will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Morrison peppers the narrative with some cracking colloquiums that I can confirm are all one hundred per cent accurate. You can’t beat a bit of slang to give your characters that extra air of authenticity.
On an entirely personal note, I was extremely pleased to see mention of a village very close to my childhood home. I guess that’s one of the many reasons why I enjoy crime fiction set in the west coast of Scotland. Weird though it may sound, it always makes me feel a little homesick and misty-eyed for ‘the auld country’.
This debut kept me enthralled from the first page. The plot keeps getting darker and darker, and by the novel’s climax you really want to see Jimmy dish out some justice. Robbie Morrison’s evocative storytelling places the reader right in the heart of the action. Things get pretty grim, but that’s what held my attention. I had to know how things were going to turn out.
*Take it from me, in Glasgow in that time period this would have been a huge deal. There are still people to this day who bang on about the importance of religion and football in the town.
One of the novel’s many highlights was Jimmy’s partner, ‘Bonnie’ Archie McDaid. A strapping Highlander, McDaid is the polar opposite of Jimmy. Where DI Dreghorn is a pugnacious scrappy little fighter, McDaid is a man mountain. Away from his job, Jimmy lives an almost monastic existence while McDaid has a family waiting at home. They complement one another and you see that with the easy camaraderie they share.
There is something deliciously lurid about Morrison’s vision of Glasgow. Just below the wafer-thin veneer of civility is a city rife with corruption. Everywhere there is prostitution, gangland violence, social problems and political manoeuvring. It’s hardly a surprise when tensions boil over and bad things happen. Historically, there was so much money and heavy industry in and around Glasgow it was considered Britain’s second city. Morrison’s novel is set just after that period and you can see evidence of the rot beginning to set in. this is a city moving from boom to bust. The Great Depression has burst the post-war economic bubble and the shipyards on the Clyde aren’t the hive of activity they once were. With low employment, slum housing and sectarian gangs stalking the streets, violence has become the norm. The powers that be make the decision that they will fight fire with fire. Jimmy and his colleagues are compared more than once to The Untouchables, and this seems entirely apt. They will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Morrison peppers the narrative with some cracking colloquiums that I can confirm are all one hundred per cent accurate. You can’t beat a bit of slang to give your characters that extra air of authenticity.
On an entirely personal note, I was extremely pleased to see mention of a village very close to my childhood home. I guess that’s one of the many reasons why I enjoy crime fiction set in the west coast of Scotland. Weird though it may sound, it always makes me feel a little homesick and misty-eyed for ‘the auld country’.
This debut kept me enthralled from the first page. The plot keeps getting darker and darker, and by the novel’s climax you really want to see Jimmy dish out some justice. Robbie Morrison’s evocative storytelling places the reader right in the heart of the action. Things get pretty grim, but that’s what held my attention. I had to know how things were going to turn out.
*Take it from me, in Glasgow in that time period this would have been a huge deal. There are still people to this day who bang on about the importance of religion and football in the town.
December 18, 2020
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a free Advanced Review copy of this book.
Robbie Morrison is a debut author, and Edge of the Grave is tagged as historical fiction and myster&thriller. I do love a good myster/thriller read, so I looked forward to this book.
Sadly, it failed to deliver on its promise of mystery and thriller, and instead, page after page read like a history lesson.
During the parts where the author told a story, the old Glasgow of the 1930s came alive for me. The timeline switches between the First World War and the present of the early 1930s. I found all of this fascinating. The world building gets a solid four stars from me. However, because of the constant detours into the history lessons, I never did connect with any of the characters. Just when I found myself getting into the flow and ejoying myself, I hit yet another info dump, which interrupted the whole thing. Too soon, I found myself skimming through the read.
Such a shame, as this book has such great promise. Take the following line, for example, which stood out for me wonderfully ...
The squat man beside him was smiling, or, more accurately, leering, displaying smoker's teeth that weren't so much stained with nicotine as blowtorched.
All in all, not a bad first effort, but it needs some polishing. I offer 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for rating purposes.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
Robbie Morrison is a debut author, and Edge of the Grave is tagged as historical fiction and myster&thriller. I do love a good myster/thriller read, so I looked forward to this book.
Sadly, it failed to deliver on its promise of mystery and thriller, and instead, page after page read like a history lesson.
During the parts where the author told a story, the old Glasgow of the 1930s came alive for me. The timeline switches between the First World War and the present of the early 1930s. I found all of this fascinating. The world building gets a solid four stars from me. However, because of the constant detours into the history lessons, I never did connect with any of the characters. Just when I found myself getting into the flow and ejoying myself, I hit yet another info dump, which interrupted the whole thing. Too soon, I found myself skimming through the read.
Such a shame, as this book has such great promise. Take the following line, for example, which stood out for me wonderfully ...
The squat man beside him was smiling, or, more accurately, leering, displaying smoker's teeth that weren't so much stained with nicotine as blowtorched.
All in all, not a bad first effort, but it needs some polishing. I offer 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for rating purposes.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
February 6, 2024
This is a procedural set in two periods, World War I and 1932. It is set in Glasgow and tells the tale of murders, child molestation, blackmail and hoodlumism, which is also a description of the general Glasgow area during the depression. The cast of characters were around for both periods and appeared to know each other well. I found it to be slow reading, partly because of the era and partly because of the convoluted relationships between the protagonists and the antagonists, yet I found it to be a remarkable novel with an unforgettable climax. Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for an ARC for an honest review.
April 29, 2022
A gritty murder mystery set in Glasgow which alternates between the pre war era and the early 1930s. An interesting point in history as post war the old enmities between catholics and protestants are still hostile and gang warfare is prevalent. Two murders occur right from the off with one being a lawyer with associations to a prominent family and the other a youngster. Jimmy Dreghorn is charged with investigating the murders. He crosses paths with the wealthy of the city, dangerous crime lords and faces internal challenges within the police force.
I liked the main character Jimmy Dreghorn. A classic no nonsense detective who is strong in a fight and is hardened by the first world war. The alternation with the past allows you to get a complete picture of his nature with what made him who he is. Ably assisted by the unit that is Mcdaid they are seemingly indestructible but must have a few scars to show for it.
The storyline line was good but I found took a while to truly get going. This I felt was because of the throwbacks although this acted to offer subtle clues and develop to the crescendo. At one point the book just took off with action coming thick and fast which was enthralling. Although I felt that one character didn’t quite get their comeuppance which was a bit frustrating. This goes to show how the author created strong feelings.
An period in history that is filled with turmoil and uncertainty where all is not as it seems. Strong storyline and wide array of interesting characters.
I liked the main character Jimmy Dreghorn. A classic no nonsense detective who is strong in a fight and is hardened by the first world war. The alternation with the past allows you to get a complete picture of his nature with what made him who he is. Ably assisted by the unit that is Mcdaid they are seemingly indestructible but must have a few scars to show for it.
The storyline line was good but I found took a while to truly get going. This I felt was because of the throwbacks although this acted to offer subtle clues and develop to the crescendo. At one point the book just took off with action coming thick and fast which was enthralling. Although I felt that one character didn’t quite get their comeuppance which was a bit frustrating. This goes to show how the author created strong feelings.
An period in history that is filled with turmoil and uncertainty where all is not as it seems. Strong storyline and wide array of interesting characters.
January 8, 2022
3.5
Edge of the Grave is a remarkable and savage debut crime novel set to the dark, and gritty backdrop of 1930s Glasgow. It's graphic, violent, bloody, and certainly has some pretty brutal scenes. In fact, it features one of the best scenes I've read in a crime novel to date. This is also a novel that, didn't quite strike me as a debut, since it didn't suffer from the usual hiccups that debut novels do.
However, despite this, I did feel that it was a little slow to get going. When I picked up this novel I was promised 'a serial killer who can't stop' and okay, sure, I got that. But, that only really started gaining traction around the second half of the novel. Slow burns are great, don't get me wrong, but if I'm promised a serial killer, the bodies gotta stack up a lot faster than this.
Since finishing this book, I've learned that there's going to be another story featuring Dreghorn, a fact that I'm quite happy about, since I rather liked him as a character. Now that I know to temper my expectation towards the pacing of the story, I'm sure I'll enjoy the second one even more.
Edge of the Grave is a remarkable and savage debut crime novel set to the dark, and gritty backdrop of 1930s Glasgow. It's graphic, violent, bloody, and certainly has some pretty brutal scenes. In fact, it features one of the best scenes I've read in a crime novel to date. This is also a novel that, didn't quite strike me as a debut, since it didn't suffer from the usual hiccups that debut novels do.
However, despite this, I did feel that it was a little slow to get going. When I picked up this novel I was promised 'a serial killer who can't stop' and okay, sure, I got that. But, that only really started gaining traction around the second half of the novel. Slow burns are great, don't get me wrong, but if I'm promised a serial killer, the bodies gotta stack up a lot faster than this.
Since finishing this book, I've learned that there's going to be another story featuring Dreghorn, a fact that I'm quite happy about, since I rather liked him as a character. Now that I know to temper my expectation towards the pacing of the story, I'm sure I'll enjoy the second one even more.
September 11, 2023
This is a gripping historical mystery, set in Glasgow, in 1932. It follows two detectives, Dreghorn and McDaid in their investigation to find the killer of the son-in-law of a wealthy and prominent family, found floating in the River Clyde. Their search for the killer reveals the darkest side of Glasgow at that time, filled with murders, violent gangs, prostitution, bribery and more. The book is set both at the time of the investigation and flashes back to Dreghorn's early life and World War I experience. Through the characters he has created, Robbie Morrison has captured violence of the time and the treatment of women, children and the poorer classes, as well as the tragedies World War I. It is, at times, extremely graphic, and definitely gave me pause at some points. It is a mystery that is full of plot twists that held my interest from the start, and a historical fiction that brings vividly to life that time in history, with excellent author's notes at the end. I enjoyed the book and the history. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary copy from the publisher, through Netgalley. The opinions of my review are my own.
November 27, 2023
Gripping
This was a great police procedural/mystery/psychological thriller/historical fiction. I couldn't help reading to myself in a (probably horrifically bad) Scottish accent.
This was a great police procedural/mystery/psychological thriller/historical fiction. I couldn't help reading to myself in a (probably horrifically bad) Scottish accent.
October 1, 2021
A serial killer is on the loose in 1932 Glasgow and it’s up to Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn to solve it. But Jimmy shares a connection with the first victims family and it may come back to haunt him. Can Jimmy survive?
Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel winner for 2021, this is a cracking read, think Peaky Blinders and the Untouchables in 1932 Glasgow. It’s gritty and it covers the sectarian issues that troubles Glasgow. Will look forward to more.
Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel winner for 2021, this is a cracking read, think Peaky Blinders and the Untouchables in 1932 Glasgow. It’s gritty and it covers the sectarian issues that troubles Glasgow. Will look forward to more.
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