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Duty of Care

Someone is preying on Inverness's most vulnerable.

They know when their victims are alone. They know how to get inside their homes. And they've made sure nobody's brave enough to say a word.

No complaints. No witnesses. No crime anyone can prove.

Tyler's boss wants him back on traffic duty. The message from everyone else is even clearer: keep your nose out of it.

But doing what he’s told has never really been Tyler Neish’s strong point...

Journey back to the early days of PC Tyler Neish's police career in this second prequel novella to the multi-million selling DCI Jack Logan Scottish crime fiction series.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a novella of around 36,000 words, around half the length of an average DCI Logan Novel.

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2026

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About the author

J.D. Kirk

54 books1,985 followers
JD Kirk is the pen name of multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, and writer of comics, Barry Hutchison.

JD Kirk lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, two children, and a number of sturdy umbrellas. Despite writing from a young age, 'A Litter of Bones' is his first novel, and combines his love of the Highlands, crime thrillers, and cats.

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5 stars
748 (76%)
4 stars
188 (19%)
3 stars
42 (4%)
2 stars
5 (<1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Natalie Mackay.
271 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2026
‘Were you… were you just standing here with a load of blank paper, sir?’

4.5
95 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2026
Its a learning curve for Tyler

What a great way to find out about PC Tyler Neish, and how his career started
His nervousness shows as he tackles the extortion from the elderly, with the help from DSup. Hoon at the end dealing with the bad guys, and Tyler getting the all important evidence to convict them! Good to see how Tyler will progress in his police career.. roll on book 3, a 5🌟 read 👌
67 reviews
September 10, 2026
BRILLIANT

The beginnings of a beautiful relationship Tyler and Hoon. This book explains why Tyler can be so dim, the 2nd date obviously affected him for life. Glad to see Hoon in his magnificence and speaking so gently.
Profile Image for Cindy .
49 reviews21 followers
September 8, 2026
Tyler Neish is at it again

What a great second novella! Tyler gets into hot water again (what else do you expect?) Well written, perfect length and a perfect wee story. JD Kirk sure is good at what he does.
158 reviews
September 10, 2026
DUTY OF CARE

Absolutely loved this Tyler neish novella so good to hear hoon and his raging attitude again hope to hear some more from. Hoon again very soon lol 😂
408 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2026
Tyler neish novellas are a treat

This is an excellent Tyler prequel that reveals a great deal about his character - his naïveté, his moral compass, his selflessness. The dialog in this novella is, as usual in a JD Kirk novel, just wonderful, if occasionally wonderfully colo(u)rful. Some seriously laugh out loud moments and yes a cringe or two digesting Hoon’s verbal assaults. While this is a squarely a Tyler book, fans of JD Kirk’s books will love the emerging relationship (or not) with Hoon. It’s good to see characters like Ben emerging too.
Profile Image for Christine Rennie.
3,142 reviews42 followers
September 14, 2026
Duty of Care by J D Kirk

Duty of Care by JD Kirk is a Constable Tyler Neish novella and it is very entertaining. It shows Tyler in his early days as a police constable and how naive he was. It also shows Hoon in a different light, not quite as sweaty as he is in later years.
The storyline is about elder abuse and whilst the guilty were not dealt with through the courts, there was another way that they didn’t expect.
Highly recommended
20 reviews
September 13, 2026
All the emotions were in this book. As expected, I laughed, but I also cried tears of anger, felt frustration, sadness and joy. A great short story, that I read in a day, because I couldn’t wait to know what happened next.
The characters and relationships that I know will develop and intertwine further, were so cleverly portrayed. J.D. Kirk / Barry Hutchinson take a bow. My absolute favourite author, just wish you could write them as quickly as I read them.
Profile Image for Steven R. McEvoy.
4,031 reviews190 followers
September 8, 2026
I discovered the writing of J.D. Kirk in 2022, since then I have read over 50 volumes across three different pen names. I picked the first for a few reasons, but mainly because authors Alex Smith and JE Mayhew have both recommended the author and series. I am a big fan of Smith’s DCI Kett novels and Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. I have been hooked since that first read. Kirk also publishes under the names Barry Hutchison and Barry J, Hutchison. I have now read the first 19 in the DCI Logan series and all 4 in the Robert Hoon series, The first two in the DI Heather Filson series as well as stand-alone VIP exclusive short story.

I had no idea how addictive Kirk’s books would be or that like Mayhew and Smith, Kirk publishes under three different names. Kirk publishes children books as Barry Hutchison, and other adult fiction as Barry J. Hutchison. He has published over 200 books across the three pen names. If I had known that or I might not have picked up this first one. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. Being caught up now on his works as J.D. Kirk I will have to wait for each new one to come out, and this volume was well worth the weight.

The description of this novella is:

“Someone is preying on Inverness's most vulnerable.

They know when their victims are alone. They know how to get inside their homes. And they've made sure nobody's brave enough to say a word.

No complaints. No witnesses. No crime anyone can prove.

Tyler's boss wants him back on traffic duty. The message from everyone else is even clearer: keep your nose out of it.

But doing what he’s told has never really been Tyler Neish’s strong point...

Journey back to the early days of PC Tyler Neish's police career in this second prequel novella to the multi-million selling DCI Jack Logan Scottish crime fiction series.”

We are also informed this series:

“First Among the Dead is a standalone prequel novella following the early adventures of fan favourite character DC Tyler Neish from the DCI Jack Logan series, and the perfect introduction to the world and characters of bestselling Scottish crime fiction author, JD Kirk.”

And also thate:

“This is a novella of around 36,000 words, around half the length of an average DCI Logan Novel.”

Tyler Neish is a favourite character in the DCI Logan Books and in the Robert Hoon novels. This is part of his back story. He has been on the force for a while now, and he wants to make his mark. Unfortunately he to get in trouble a lot, maybe it is he is overly eager, maybe it is he is inept, or maybe he just can’t let go when something is not sitting right.

This story and series is very different than the rest of the series in that it goes back in time. It gives us a look at a still fairly green Neish. A much younger Detective Superintendent Robert Hoon, Chief Inspector Samuel ‘Snecky’ Grant, DI Ben Forde, and even Dave Davidson. So we encounter a number of the regulars and see them in a different light.

I read this in 2 sittings on consecutive days. Once it got going it was very hard to put down. This story takes place over a few days. Neish is given a Duty of Care call to check in on an elderly woman whom a support worker believes id being taken advantage of. There is bruising, and money going missing. Sums the care worker is withdrawing for her and other large withdraws. Aven after taking a serious beating Tyler just cannot let it go. And in steps …

To find out read this great novella. It is a great read, and I really hope Kirk releases more stories like this giving us more insight into Neish or even other members of the team. I love the three series written under the pen name J.D. Kirk and they are definitely Scottish Mysteries, or Scottish Police Crime novels. This story is not as dark or gritty as many written by Kirk, but it is a great expansion of the Scottish Crime novels he writes. A really good story I can easily recommend! Give it a read at Neish tried to figure out how he will handle his duty of care.
Profile Image for Brad Audiobibliophile.
748 reviews75 followers
September 12, 2026
Another brilliant prequel to the DCI Logan series featuring PC Tyler Neish in his early days on the force. It shows him in a slightly different light to his later DC status. Bob Hoon is his usual charming self. Great story, excellent narration, plenty of humour and laughs (mostly at Tyler's expense).
Profile Image for Mr Mark Hawksford.
386 reviews7 followers
September 18, 2026
Duty of Care -

I have read all the Logan and Hoon books, and thoroughly enjoyed them. They are normally pretty action packed, good stories and good humour. I was a little disappointed with the storyline of this book. It was quite a mundane and slow story. A bit of Hoon humour brightened it up in places. 3.75 out of 5 from me.
474 reviews7 followers
September 8, 2026
Duty of care ❤

Brilliant I love your books about young Tyler and better still with Hoon company short but great read I just hope you keep them coming until he joins up with the whole gang
9 reviews5 followers
September 9, 2026
Great read about Tyler and his early days

Love reading about Tyler, using his instincts. Hoon being his normal obnoxious self. These books are a great start to Tyler career and relationships
Profile Image for David Stimpson.
1,056 reviews16 followers
September 9, 2026
Fantastic

The second in The Tyler Neish Novelas. And Just as Good as the 1st. Tyler is a Brilliant Character and it's Great to read How His career started and to find out about the People He worked with.
3 reviews
September 11, 2026
Tell in love with this book

I absolutely loved this book. It rounds out Tyler Brian in a great way! I am so glad JD Kirk decided to write these books about the beginning of Neish's career
11 reviews
September 11, 2026
another excellent read

I love JDKirks books, you just feel you know the characters they are so real. The story flows so well that you are carried along engrossed in the pace. Looking forward to more of Tyler’s journey hopefully?
Profile Image for Lizzy.
21 reviews
September 12, 2026
Meeting Tyler

Tyler shows his inner detective, the storyline didn't disappoint, the beginning of a friendship that will continue to grow in Tyler's career and personal lifetime albeit a very strange but honest friendship.
Profile Image for Jane Wynne.
755 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2026
The second Tyler Neish novella. I am loving learning Tyler's start of his career and his interactions with Bob Hoon are marvellous. Tyler isn't as dense as we think, though he can be extremely daft at times.
Great!
Profile Image for Kenzie Leckie ✨.
299 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2026
This was a good short story. I always like reading from Tyler’s perspective and see him take initiative outwith the team that we know and love from Logan’s books.

It’s nice to see past members of the team and the dynamics before everything.

Profile Image for John Roberts.
526 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2026
A brilliant short novella catching up with Tyler in his uniform days. He really cares and that comes through in the DCI Logan series. If you read the Logan series why not catch up with Tyler in these novellas? Highly recommend!
4 reviews
September 15, 2026
Wonderful.

All your books are wonderful. I enjoy myself so much reading them. Thank you do not stop writing. I may never get a full night's sleep again as I can't seem to stop reading.
3 reviews
September 8, 2026
Tyler Neish

Great read as always hope there's more Tylers escapade soon.Hope there's a story about Hoon in the pipe
line as well.
52 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2026
great fun!

Classic Neish and Hoon! Fun read and characters that don’t disappoint Kirk fans. Some surprising depth hidden underneath the episodes of smiling at Tyler’s expense.
76 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2026
Tyler at his best

Loved it, finished in 2 sittings! Tyler, Hoon and Ben righting wrongs, just as it should be. More please soon.
71 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2026
Tyler at his best

Quick read. Good to see Hoon again. Tyler has always had backbone! Still a little dense but such a good heart. Fun read!
57 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2026
Any book by J D KIRK is a must to read and this one
was no exception.
Tyler at the start of his career with Hoon to “ give him advice “is funny serious and enjoyable.
3 reviews
September 11, 2026
Duty of care

Fast paced.good story. Love the dry humour! Just all round amazing.I w ok shed they did other stories from the detectives involved

Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews