The Reckoning

by Maureen Myant

'Once again a must-read from Maureen assured storytelling, detectives with depth and humanity, all with an undercurrent of mordant Scottish humour.' JENNIE ENSOR, author of SILENCED

When a successful businessman is left for dead in a tenement close, police in Glasgow are flummoxed. Who could want him dead? His wife has a strong financial motive but the decoding of a mysterious inscription on his forehead points to a motive of revenge.

Then a second body is found, horribly mutilated, also bearing a message. DS Mark Nicholson and DCI Alex Scrimgeour fear they may have a potential serial killer on their hands. Their fears are realised when two more murders turn out to be connected.

Can Mark keep his mind on the job for long enough to work out how exactly these deaths are related to each other? He has enough worries of his own, what with juggling work, being a single parent to two-year-old Gus and now his boss Alex is edgy and distracted. He’s hiding something, but what?

With the help of DC Megan Webster, Mark vows to catch the twisted killer before they strike again but are they on the right path? Is the killer hiding in plain sight after all?

The gripping fifth book in the Glasgow Southside crime series by CWA shortlisted author Maureen Myant is prefect for fans of JD KIRK and SIMON MCCLEAVE, blending Scottish police procedural with dramatic domestic noir, and a peppering of dark humour.

PRAISE FOR THE SERIES

'Stunning.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An author I'm happy to recommend.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Engrossing and twisty.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Another cracker of a story.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Another page turner.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2026

About the author

Maureen Myant has had six novels published to date. Her first novel was historical fiction set around the destruction of the village of Lidice in Czechoslovakia following the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. She has now turned to crime and her crime novels are set in the southside of Glasgow where she lives. She is currently writing the fifth in the series. In addition to these, she has written a standalone suspense novel, What Lies Beneath, which is set in a snowbound house at Christmas. Maureen was a psychologist by profession but has now retired to concentrate on writing. She studied creative writing at the University of Glasgow gaining an MLitt and PhD.

Reviews

[Monika Armet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man is found badly injured in a tenement close in Glasgow. He’s transferred to a hospital but dies from his injuries. The police find letters etched onto his forehead.

This peculiar case falls into DS Mark Nicolson’s lap. He’s freshly back from his suspension and he’s rearing to go.

Mark is trying to solve the case while navigating his complicated personal life: raising his little son, Gus, while hoping to get back with his wife, Karen.

Then, two more bodies turn up, also related to the case…

I love this series of books, and this one didn’t disappoint! It’s the fifth book in the Glasgow Southside Crime Series. It can be enjoyed as a standalone but I’d urge you to read the previous books.

Maureen Myant knows how to write a great thriller: we have a captivating plot and flawed but relatable characters.

I was racing through the pages of the book, trying to uncover the link between the murders. This one is Myant’s best book to date.

I can’t wait for another book in the series.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Rachel Sargeant]

This fifth book in the Glasgow Southside Crime Series is another demanding investigation for DCI Alex Scrimgeour and DS Mark Nicholson. Once again both are distracted by their various domestic woes as the body count rises. This time Mark takes the lead in a challenging serial killer case while also dealing with a private mystery of his own.

Part thriller, part police procedural with Scottish grit and humour, this is a solid go-to crime series.

[Peter Fleming · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A dying man mumbles the name Isaiah Tenfrey, mysterious carvings on foreheads, notes that bear warnings and hit list make for a cracking tale of bloody revenge. It’s dark and blurs morality; the more that is revealed sympathy for killer and their brand of street justice increases, but only to a point.

This is a story of failings within the care system, that is clear when it is revealed that a murder victim owns a children’s home and six care homes. The investigation is driven by crimes of the past, the solving of which will lead them to the current killer and their list. Initial good reports don’t stand up to scrutiny, it transpires that poor standards, neglect and abuse have been hidden. This makes for uncomfortable, unsettling passages as might be anticipated, though these are written with great empathy. It takes a hard heart not to feel the suffering and psychological damage caused to children. These crimes of the are sadly all too true in life, as the establishment repeatedly seems incapable of learning from the mistakes of the past.

Alex is behaving uptight and grumpy, much like in the past, before the new caring and content man that being reunited with the daughter he lost has brought about. The warning signs are there; approach at your peril. It transpires Alex has a problem that many men have, though some are reluctant to face up to it. Now it’s Mark’s opportunity to support Alex in return for the help he has given. Their developing friendship, almost a father and son relationship, is an unexpected delight and for me reason enough to read the stories.

Mark it seems is never out of trouble, a new lady takes a shine, but deep down what Mark really wants is to reconcile with his ex and the children. The complication being his affair with Suzanne, the sister of a murderer, with whom he had a son who he now brings up. Suzanne has cancer and has disappeared from their lives, leaving a box to be opened at a future date, if she doesn’t return by then or dies before. That’s mysterious enough, then he gets a glimpse of what he thinks is her in the street…

The story moves along at a brisk pace, not dwelling too long on the darker elements. The interludes of Alex and Mark’s problems prevent it from getting ahead of itself, adding their own touch of mystery to a gripping manhunt. This is one novel you are not going to want to put down, so don’t start it late at night.

Sins of the past are revisited with bloody revenge, in a crime fiction story with the human touch.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve already read books by Maureen Myant, then you’ll know just how good an author she is and how brilliantly she creates a gripping thriller. Her latest book “The Reckoning”, is another example of her well-crafted storytelling and once again, had me hooked from the very first page.
Featuring DCI Alex Scrimgeour and his team, headed by DS Mark Nicholson, we’re thrown into another perplexing case. This time, a potential serial killer is leaving clues carved into the foreheads of their victims. Biblical messages point towards a motive of revenge but just what is driving the killer and how far will they go to carry out their plans?
With Alex distracted by recent test results that require further medical investigation and Mark trying to balance life as a single parent to a two-year-old while still dealing with the aftermath of an affair that rocked his marriage, both men have plenty going on in their personal lives. But can they put everything aside and catch this determined killer before they continue on their path of vengeance?
I’ve said before how polished and accomplished Maureen Myant’s writing is but it seems to go from strength to strength, both in its articulation and in the originality of her thriller ideas. She certainly knows how to keep readers engaged and guessing and if you haven’t read any of her books before, where have you been? You certainly won’t be disappointed. As for me, I’ll once again be waiting with bated breath for the next book in this Glasgow South Side series!

#TheReckoning - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Karen · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading the books published by Hobeck Books and I have loved all of Maureen Myant’s books that I have read to date.
The latest of her novels, The Reckoning, has a great cover that makes you want to read it #, along with the intriguing tagline ‘They tore your life apart, now you’re going to do the same to them.’
This is Glasgow Southside Crime Series Book 5 and we are back following the police team we know and love including DS Mark Nicholson and DCI Alex Scrimgeour – two characters I absolutely adore, flaws and all - and DC Megan Webster also plays a big part in this story.
The story begins when an expensively-dressed man is found dead after knocking on the door of a house in Glasgow. When he is examined by police, they find he has had letters and numbers engraved into his forehead. Who he is and why would someone do that? The police set out to solve the mystery.
It’s the start of a fascinating case for the police, as things happen and clues are found and – well, I can’t tell you too much, as it would spoil it. I do suggest you read it yourself, because it’s a wonderful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, reading the last few chapters in one go, because I was desperate to find out who was behind the crimes and why.
I would recommend reading Maureen’s novels in order so you get the back stories of the recurring police characters, but they can be read as standalones too.
Highly recommended.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A badly injured man bangs on a front door for help but sadly dies the next day in hospital. There’s no identification on him but there are strange marks carved into his forehead. DCI Alex Scrimgeour, DS Mark Nicholson and the rest of the team need to find out who the man is, what the markings mean and a motive for the murder. Soon afterwards another body is found, again with markings carved into her forehead. Having identified the two victims, the team can’t find a connection between the two nor a motive for the murders.

We, the readers, have a head start on the police team as we hear the start of the story from an unknown person, which gives a hint as to the motive. More disclosures in the story lead us to the connection between the victims and strengthen the motive but, like the police, we have no idea of the identity of the likely murderer.

Full of twists, blind alleys, red herrings and lots of lies, the team must do a lot of digging to find the truth and the evidence so they can start to build the case. Not easy when the higher ups are demanding a rapid solution and arrest, or else! Meanwhile, running in the background of the investigation we learn more about events in the personal lives of Alex, Mark and their respective families.

A really intriguing read, full of misdirections – recommended.

Thanks to Hobeck Books for an ARC for my honest review.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of this series and never hesitate when a new one is released.
This time a businessman knocks on someone's door as he lays dying, and its up to the team to discover who he is and why he was killed.
This is interspersed with the ongoing situation with Mark, his young son Gus, and the uncertain situation surrounding Gus's mother. There is also a side story with Alex to add another a layer of tension.
The story and the way it unfolds is brilliant, and there are some chapters from the killers point of view.
It features the poor way children who were the victims of parental regret were treated, and the home one of the kids ends up in is the sort of place that makes me angriest of all, not least because I know such places still exist with the disgusting, rich, fat cat creeps abusing their power.
Anyway... the tension properly ramps up towards the end and takes a little twisty turny to the finale, keeping you on your toes and wrong footing you more than once.
The only bad thing about having finished is I know it will be another long wait until the next!

[Debbie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Glasgow, this is the 5th book in the series featuring detectives Nicholson, Webster and boss Scrimageur. This time there is a potential serial killer with a penchant for leaving biblical messages on the bodies on the loose.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold but this is dish served at absolute zero. Full of darkness with a very disturbing theme this is no cosy crime but a gritty, realistic and somewhat frightening tale of predatory behaviour towards some of our most vulnerable people.
Although part of a series, this book works perfectly as a stand alone and I think perfect for these darker nights which reflects the underlying theme of the book. The characters are written in such a way that makes me empathise with them and want to know more about what lies ahead for them. A great read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you Maureen

[Carole Gourlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and to quote an old adage: revenge is a dish best eaten cold. I just love it when horrible people get their comeuppance.

Once again this is a fabulous read and thoroughly enjoyable. I do enjoy Maureen’s books, they’re well written and keep me wanting more.

My thanks to Maureen and Hobeck Books for the ARC.