Death Walks Behind You

DCI Brendan Moran #3

by Scott Hunter

DCI Brendan Moran's last minute break in the West Country proves anything but restful as he becomes embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of an American tourist.

Does the village harbour some dark and dreadful secret? The brooding presence of the old manor house and the dysfunctional de Courcy family may hold the answer but Moran soon finds that the residents of Cernham have a rather unorthodox approach to the problem of dealing with outsiders.

As Moran is drawn deeper into Cernham's mysterious past a cold-blooded execution in Berkshire plunges deputising DI Charlie Pepper into a maelstrom of murder, double cross and treachery ...

Praise for the DCI Brendan Moran series:

'The story grabbed me from the start and never let up until the final pages, taking me through perfectly credible and well orchestrated twists and turns throughout.'

'Well written, a good solid story, with believable main characters. I like Moran's human frailty, and though this particular tale is bleak and harsh, it rhymes well with Moran's own problems. A good read all round.'

'A well-planned, well-written novel ... the second book I have read by this author ... the writer has a fertile imagination and an attractive narrative style.'

'I have read both of the books in this series and they are an excellent read. very good story lines and fast paced. Looking forward to more.'

Omnibus edition coming soon!

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2015

About the author

Scott Hunter was born in Romford, Essex. His writing career was kick-started after he won first prize in the Sunday Express Short Story Competition. He divides his time between writing and drumming. He has recorded with internationally renowned rock band 'Jethro Tull' and appeared in concert with 70's popsters 'Mungo Jerry'.

He is currently working on his thirteenth novel and has recently published 'The Cold Light of Death', number eight in the very popular DCI Brendan Moran crime series. 'Black December', the first DCI Brendan Moran novel, has also been released in audiobook format.

He was long listed for the Times/Chicken House Children's Novel Competition for 'The Ley Lines of Lushbury' and won the Sunday Express Short Story Competition a few years back for his historical entry set in the English Civil War. His second novel, 'The Trespass' is a top 20 Amazon Bestseller. He has recently been shortlisted for the 2016 Crime Writers Association (CWA) Margery Allingham short story competition.

Scott Hunter lives in Berkshire with his wife Katherine and his two youngest children

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that I'm done with DCI Moran books for a while, everyone he has any association with is either incarcerated, infirmed or dead. There is a tad bit of overkill (literally) in the books.

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like these Brendan Moran books, but the stories sure are hard on police officers. It is wonder that they have any left to investigate anything.

[Darcie Stanton · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Probably the “best” of the three books, or I just got use to the writing style.

[Maddie Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Taking a break from the DCI Moran books; have found the first three unbelievable, with the hero of the hour always escaping death while his team of police officers have been bumped off, along with relatives and love interests.
Disappointed as I had read positive reviews about “The Irish Detective,” however the first three books did not meet expectations. Time to retire…..

[Becky Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Brendan Moran mystery I have read, and it is the best one yet.

Moran is a flawed person, but that is OK. He is trying to take a little time off to rest up after a harrowing case involving a nasty drug operation, so he rents a cottage. Unfortunately, the cottage is in a village that has a few serious problems concerning feudal traditions and loyalty to the squire.

Push comes to shove, and Moran discovers a corpse that disappears, which forces him to confront the reigning matriarch, who makes Cruella de Ville look like a Sunday School teacher. I won't even mention her two sons, who are even worse. Luckily, Moran has an excellent team back at the Thames Valley Constabulary, and they help him out while dealing with the vicious remnants of the drug operation.

Lots of action and a few truly nasty bits of family debauchery.

Great ending to the trilogy.

[Tom S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #3 about Brendan Moran, an Irishman who is a detective in England. Interesting capers.

[rebecca O. webber · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my third and last of the dci Brendan Moran series. The author, Scott Hunter, came up with one storyline and repeats it to the point where you know it’s time to blow up a few police officers. It is gratuitously violent and chauvinistic. The only two likable characters are DI Pepper and the dog, Archie.

[David Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy this series, despite it being more violent than most of the detective series I typically read. A lot of my enjoyment has to do with Hunter's character development of DCI Brendan Moran and his faithful, built-like-a-bull sidekick SDI Robert Phelps - as well as his other characters, some of whom seem to be taking on larger roles as the series develops (such as DI Charlie Pepper).

The plot in each of these three books has picked up not longer after the previous one. As you know, I stick to jacket descriptions/marketing blurbs in these reviews to avoid spoilers - so here's the one for this novel:

"DCI Brendan Moran's last-minute break in the West Country proves anything but restful as he becomes embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of an American tourist.

Does the village harbor some dark and dreadful secret? The brooding presence of the old manor house and the dysfunctional de Courcy family may hold the answer. But Moran soon finds that the residents of Cernham have a rather unorthodox approach to the problem of dealing with outsiders.

As Moran is drawn deeper into Cernham's mysterious past, a cold-blooded execution in Berkshire plunges DI Charlie Pepper into a maelstrom of murder, double cross and treachery."

Hunter spins this plot into an interesting thriller, although the body count is once again incredibly high. It's not that I mind the violence per se, it's just that some of the characters that get killed are not insignificant. So, I find myself trying not to get too attached to any character I think the author will knock off in a few chapters!

But this is bothering me less and less as I get more familiar with the series, which I'll definitely continue. (I've already purchased the 4th entry - "Silent as the Dead" - and will buy 5, 6, 7...when I finish it.)

[Casey Mullin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many characters! I had to start keeping a list when I realized I was losing track of them all and forgetting who is who. When the "big plot twist" of Matthew being the De Courcy's half-brother happened, I wasn't like "OMG I didn't see that coming," it was instead, "Wait, who's Matthew?"

Didn't love that Linda and Blanche's disappearances and deaths fell into the background, especially when Linda's abduction was the first chapter. Also, did we ever find out what happened to all her dogs? Killed I assume? I get that their storylines were to show how Rufus tracked, hunted, tortured, and killed the women each year, and Blanche's death proved the De Courcys will cover their tracks and keep people quiet, but it felt glanced over. Also Matt/Matthew's role - Moran never followed up with him again after Matt's obvious uncaring attitude toward his wife Linda's disappearance. Why wasn't he more upset at Rufus for targeting and killing his wife? Linda was confidence Matt would never stop looking for her - was he really as caring as he seemed or was it just a mask? Either way, he was married to her, so he should care somewhat that she was killed, especially by his half-brother... right?

Felt like those storylines weren't as well-examined or delved into as much as I would have liked. Love DCI Moran, Charlie, and other characters though, and hope to keep seeing more sides of them in future books!

[Shirley Hartman-Rozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

DCI Brendan Moran goes on holiday to a small village to recover from the trauma of a previous book and, of course, he enters a nightmarish atmosphere of death, torture, and mayhem from the Lord of the Manor and family. Charlie left in charge in Moran’s absence moves into Stephen Banner’s home to ensure safety from the drug lords and enforcers she helped put away in said previous book—and into her own nightmare she enters. It was an interesting book but I found that there were too many plots and characters of which to keep track.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

As usual, lots of action and unexpected outcomes. Moran makes an attempt at taking a holiday, which almost immediately puts him at the heart of another mystery. DI Pepper attempts to hold the fort while he's away but the aftermath of their drug related case nearly decimates what's left of the team. Great characters and settings make this a satisfying read.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

DCI Brendan Moran is taking a well earned break, although that is soon interrupted when a women is found dead, then promptly goes missing. He is soon knee deep in a mystery going back years. Meanwhile, his team is dealing with the fall out from the drugs bust, as an assassin comes to town. Good book, that moves along nicely as both story lines unfold.

[Lexine · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Brendan Moran!

Another good man struggling with the gray areas of justice and morality, Moran takes us to some bloody gruesome and riveting cases. Clear your calendar before you begin this one!

[E'Who'Reads'a'Thousand'Mysteries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This high quality mystery is loaded with edge of your seat suspense. The Secret behind the mystery grabbed my attention from page one. The outdoors mystery is so vibrant, you can feel the fog floating in the bog.

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has become and addicting series, love the main Character DCI Moran. The plots are complex and tax many different twists and turns keeping you turning the pages. Although each book stands on its own, may help reading them in order to become familiar with the characters and their interacton.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read. I'm glad I read all the books in order as they do occasionally refer back to an earlier book.

[Mary Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it- really like the hero- human as well as smart.

[Mrs B E Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Series is a must read and highly recommended.

[Ellie Concannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death walks Behind You

A real page turner. Enjoyed it right up to the end. Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writer. Suspenseful. Too many bodies.

[Lucretia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a thing is restful about this continuing saga of the huge drug ring! I am getting these books now but they seem unnecessarily cruel.

[Jan Patten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and fast moving! Excellent writing and fine character development! Unusual detective story but thoroughly fine!!

[Glenda Bettin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Brad Audiobibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook is the third in the DCI Brendan Moran series and is once again narrated by the excellent Aubrey Parsons. The story has plenty of action and some very violent encounters. The author does like to kill, maim or otherwise traumatise the police officers in these books to the point that they become less believable. It follows the same formula as the previous two books. Hopefully the next will change things up a bit.

[Glyn Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry no 3 in the series did not float my boat as they say, it is to far fetched in the extreme. Compared to the first two in the series its nowhere near as good as those, lets hope no 4 is better.

[Stacy Moll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has two stories going at once and both were had you wondering if there would be anyone left for the author to write about in a future book.

[Brian W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I like that the author keeps introducing new characters, but miss some of the original ones. Even with that, this story moves at a bisk pace, keeping the reader interested from the first page.

[Bruce Retallack · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last of a three-book omnibus, this followed exactly the same pattern as the first two. Some people never learn, least of all the hero. I may try another book by this author, but I'll be careful to make sure it doesn't just follow in the path of his earlier ones.

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I thought this book was a bit better than the first two. The format is one used often in mysteries when two different and mostly unrelated stories are told by alternating between them.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot go wrong reading Scott Hunter novels. 5 stars.