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DCI Brendan Moran #1-3
The Irish Detective: DCI Brendan Moran: A Three-Book Box Set (1-3)
FREE short story included.
Black December
DCI Brendan Moran, world-weary veteran of 1970s Ireland, is recuperating from a near fatal car crash when a murder is reported at Charnford Abbey.
Creatures Of Dust
An undercover detective goes missing and the body of a young man is found mutilated in a shop doorway. Is there a connection? Returning to work after a short convalescence, DCI Brendan Moran's suspicions are aroused when a senior officer insists on freezing Moran out and handling the investigation himself.
Death Walks Behind You
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.
Black December
DCI Brendan Moran, world-weary veteran of 1970s Ireland, is recuperating from a near fatal car crash when a murder is reported at Charnford Abbey.
Creatures Of Dust
An undercover detective goes missing and the body of a young man is found mutilated in a shop doorway. Is there a connection? Returning to work after a short convalescence, DCI Brendan Moran's suspicions are aroused when a senior officer insists on freezing Moran out and handling the investigation himself.
Death Walks Behind You
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.
DCI Brendan Moran series eBook categories
Mystery Series
Crime Thrillers
Thrillers and Mysteries Best Sellers
Thrillers 100 Must Reads
Thriller Detective Series
- GenresMystery
823 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2015
About the author
Scott Hunter
23 books64 followersScott 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 28, 2015
The first THREE novels in the popular DCI Brendan Moran crime series in ONE omnibus.
BLACK DECEMBER (BK 1)
DCI Brendan Moran is recuperating from a severe auto accident which caused severe head injuries. As a result, he can't sleep much nights and during the day he can fall asleep anytime he sits still for more than a moment or two.
Moran is called to the scene of a murder at a Chapel. Bad enough that the poor man had his throat cut, but he was found laying on top of bones .. human bones ...old bones.
His job is to find the connection between the new murder ...and the old.
CREATURES OF DUST (BK 2)
DCI Moran is back after a short convalescence following a previous auto accident. The body of a man is found mutilated in the doorway of a shop. Is this the body of an undercover detective that is missing?
There seems to be a mounting cover-up as a higher-up cuts Moran out of the investigation to handle it himself.
DEATH WALKS BEHIND YOU (BK 3)
DCI Moran is on a well-deserved break. But his mini-vaction is cut short by the disappearance of an American tourist.
Village residents don't take kindly to outsiders, making Moran's investigation harder than usual. What secrets are they harboring?
The Brendan Moran books are very well-written. The fast-paced action keeps the reader turning pages at a rapid pace.
Moran is a man of many layers. He has health issues which don't seem to deter him in his investigations. He's honest and upstanding and he has a line he won't cross ..even though he comes close from time to time. He's a bit of a loner, having no woman in his life ..although there are several who have an eye on him.
Secondary characters pop in and pop out, always leaving behind an impression of their importance to the story. Some are exactly what you see ... some are anything but. There are always lies and secrets to swim through to get at the truth.
Although this author has written other books, it is this series which caught my eye and my attention. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys re-visiting the 70s and takes pleasure in crime fiction.
BLACK DECEMBER (BK 1)
DCI Brendan Moran is recuperating from a severe auto accident which caused severe head injuries. As a result, he can't sleep much nights and during the day he can fall asleep anytime he sits still for more than a moment or two.
Moran is called to the scene of a murder at a Chapel. Bad enough that the poor man had his throat cut, but he was found laying on top of bones .. human bones ...old bones.
His job is to find the connection between the new murder ...and the old.
CREATURES OF DUST (BK 2)
DCI Moran is back after a short convalescence following a previous auto accident. The body of a man is found mutilated in the doorway of a shop. Is this the body of an undercover detective that is missing?
There seems to be a mounting cover-up as a higher-up cuts Moran out of the investigation to handle it himself.
DEATH WALKS BEHIND YOU (BK 3)
DCI Moran is on a well-deserved break. But his mini-vaction is cut short by the disappearance of an American tourist.
Village residents don't take kindly to outsiders, making Moran's investigation harder than usual. What secrets are they harboring?
The Brendan Moran books are very well-written. The fast-paced action keeps the reader turning pages at a rapid pace.
Moran is a man of many layers. He has health issues which don't seem to deter him in his investigations. He's honest and upstanding and he has a line he won't cross ..even though he comes close from time to time. He's a bit of a loner, having no woman in his life ..although there are several who have an eye on him.
Secondary characters pop in and pop out, always leaving behind an impression of their importance to the story. Some are exactly what you see ... some are anything but. There are always lies and secrets to swim through to get at the truth.
Although this author has written other books, it is this series which caught my eye and my attention. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys re-visiting the 70s and takes pleasure in crime fiction.
August 10, 2023
A compelling compendium
This compendium of three books introducing DCI Brendan Moran aka The Irish Detective, is a good way to gauge if you are interested in reading more in the series.
There is a back story to our DCI which plays out mostly in the first book, but is essential to understand why he is a DCI in the Thames Valley and not in Ireland. His Irish connection is most relevant in the first book, but not so much in the sequels. To be honest, his Irishness is not really a critical part of the books. Maybe he is a little more affable and jovial than the average English DCI..
As in most good police procedurals there are a couple of sub-plots. The stories were quite plausible until the third book, Death Walks Behind You, which really stretched the realms of credibility for me. The author makes a big deal about a female DCI from Down Under and how tough she is because apparently it is tough Down Under. As someone who lives Down Under I can attest to the fact we don't have anything as bonkers as some of the scenarios in this book.
That observation aside, DCI Moran is a likeable fellow, who must have been a cat in his previous life. He's already used up a few lives in these three books. There is also a high attrition rate of detectives. Does this really happen in real life policing?
The characters are often fairly stereotypical. Good cop, bad cop. And the usual dose of Mr. Plod.
I enjoyed the first book, the second even more, however the third was a bit over the top for me. On balance I have given the compendium four stars. The writing is easy to read, the dialogue is good. Plenty of descriptive writing to set the scenes. Some fairly gruesome stuff but on the whole not nightmare material. A bit of love interest to make our DCI seem human, as most of the time he is defying the odds of survival.
This compendium of three books introducing DCI Brendan Moran aka The Irish Detective, is a good way to gauge if you are interested in reading more in the series.
There is a back story to our DCI which plays out mostly in the first book, but is essential to understand why he is a DCI in the Thames Valley and not in Ireland. His Irish connection is most relevant in the first book, but not so much in the sequels. To be honest, his Irishness is not really a critical part of the books. Maybe he is a little more affable and jovial than the average English DCI..
As in most good police procedurals there are a couple of sub-plots. The stories were quite plausible until the third book, Death Walks Behind You, which really stretched the realms of credibility for me. The author makes a big deal about a female DCI from Down Under and how tough she is because apparently it is tough Down Under. As someone who lives Down Under I can attest to the fact we don't have anything as bonkers as some of the scenarios in this book.
That observation aside, DCI Moran is a likeable fellow, who must have been a cat in his previous life. He's already used up a few lives in these three books. There is also a high attrition rate of detectives. Does this really happen in real life policing?
The characters are often fairly stereotypical. Good cop, bad cop. And the usual dose of Mr. Plod.
I enjoyed the first book, the second even more, however the third was a bit over the top for me. On balance I have given the compendium four stars. The writing is easy to read, the dialogue is good. Plenty of descriptive writing to set the scenes. Some fairly gruesome stuff but on the whole not nightmare material. A bit of love interest to make our DCI seem human, as most of the time he is defying the odds of survival.
November 1, 2022
First Omnibus of Books1-3, DCI Brendan Moran by Scott Hunter. The first book, Black December, is reviewed as a separate book.
The 2nd book, Creatures of Dust, focuses on a policeman who is injured in Book 1 in the line of duty at a monastery. He now blames Moran and is deranged. He suffers a cognitive break. The story is about his attempts to seek revenge for his injuries. There is a drug ring in the mix and lots of action. Moran doesn’t believe the policeman is violent so he doesn’t see him as a suspect in the murders even though members of his team keep seeing the policeman in the places where the murders occur. It is another well written book.
Book 3 Death Walks Behind You has Moran on holiday after the solving of the revenge and drug murders in Book 2. He takes a week away to a village to enjoy the quiet and solitude. He almost winds up dead. The village is under the control of the family in the manor house. They are protecting a secret and are suspicious of strangers. Moran, of course, stumbles on the disappearance of another tourist. When told to let it go and let the local police handle it, he can’t. So, he gets involved and while his team is hunting down another murder situation in London, he is looking for the missing person in the village. It is another action packed mystery where all loose ends are wrapped up. Now it’s time to start Book 4.
The 2nd book, Creatures of Dust, focuses on a policeman who is injured in Book 1 in the line of duty at a monastery. He now blames Moran and is deranged. He suffers a cognitive break. The story is about his attempts to seek revenge for his injuries. There is a drug ring in the mix and lots of action. Moran doesn’t believe the policeman is violent so he doesn’t see him as a suspect in the murders even though members of his team keep seeing the policeman in the places where the murders occur. It is another well written book.
Book 3 Death Walks Behind You has Moran on holiday after the solving of the revenge and drug murders in Book 2. He takes a week away to a village to enjoy the quiet and solitude. He almost winds up dead. The village is under the control of the family in the manor house. They are protecting a secret and are suspicious of strangers. Moran, of course, stumbles on the disappearance of another tourist. When told to let it go and let the local police handle it, he can’t. So, he gets involved and while his team is hunting down another murder situation in London, he is looking for the missing person in the village. It is another action packed mystery where all loose ends are wrapped up. Now it’s time to start Book 4.
May 23, 2024
Part of a fabulous series from an accomplished author and multi talented author - every book a compulsive and absorbing read and never disappointing. It is based in Reading, Berkshire, but encompasses other areas in England and Ireland as well as the reader observes. Brendan’s career go from strength to strength.
Part of a brilliant and not to be missed series in which the main character, Brendan Moran, will not only impress you but will endear you to him. Each book in this wonderful series - starting with his introduction case - Black December, at the start of his career, leads you through his extremely gripping career right up to the latest book, due out at the end of May 2024 - In The Key Of Death. I have followed the entire series and am looking forward to this latest edition.
Whilst every story can be read as a stand alone, it is such a brilliant series that I can truly recommend starting with book 1. As the series progresses, stories will sometimes make reference to previous cases but this does not mean that it spoils each story in any way.
You may like to try one of his his stand alone books which has been one of my personal favourites - The Trespass which I has read and re-read, it is that good. Discover this author and you will not b disappointed as his story telling is up there with the best.
Part of a brilliant and not to be missed series in which the main character, Brendan Moran, will not only impress you but will endear you to him. Each book in this wonderful series - starting with his introduction case - Black December, at the start of his career, leads you through his extremely gripping career right up to the latest book, due out at the end of May 2024 - In The Key Of Death. I have followed the entire series and am looking forward to this latest edition.
Whilst every story can be read as a stand alone, it is such a brilliant series that I can truly recommend starting with book 1. As the series progresses, stories will sometimes make reference to previous cases but this does not mean that it spoils each story in any way.
You may like to try one of his his stand alone books which has been one of my personal favourites - The Trespass which I has read and re-read, it is that good. Discover this author and you will not b disappointed as his story telling is up there with the best.
October 28, 2018
After having read Silent as the Dead by Scott Hunter, I chose his first book, The Irish Detective. It was not as good but it was still engaging and full of compelling characters.
This is not a single story, but a series of three short stories. DCI Brendan Moran displays his characteristic invulnerability to injury and exhaustion and manages to endure all sorts of captivities, injuries, and emotional upsets. Not only that, but his assistant endures similar things. One thing you have to say about Scott Hunter is that he has no reservations about killing off the good guys. Just when you think truth and honor will prevail because the good guys always win, another one goes down.
These books are engaging, exciting, and often unpredictable. Will DCI Moran ever find a woman to love who does not die or commit a mortal crime before their love blossoms? I'll have to read the next one to find out....
This is not a single story, but a series of three short stories. DCI Brendan Moran displays his characteristic invulnerability to injury and exhaustion and manages to endure all sorts of captivities, injuries, and emotional upsets. Not only that, but his assistant endures similar things. One thing you have to say about Scott Hunter is that he has no reservations about killing off the good guys. Just when you think truth and honor will prevail because the good guys always win, another one goes down.
These books are engaging, exciting, and often unpredictable. Will DCI Moran ever find a woman to love who does not die or commit a mortal crime before their love blossoms? I'll have to read the next one to find out....
January 24, 2024
I'd drop these novels to 2 1/2 if I could.
I bought this package of Hunter's first 3 Irish Detective books when on special on amazon, then wasted several days reading them.
The first in the series was so forgettable that I have no idea what it was about, the second had an astonishing body count of (I think) 14, and five of those were police officers of various ranks. The third, I finished last night. I stopped counting the bodies at around 8. There were numerous gravely injured characters (again mostly police officers), a frankly unbelievable story line involving landed gentry, their secretive villagers and a bog, and a literally incredible amount of dodgy and seriously corrupt police officers.
Hunt obviously likes to keep the action happening, with little regard to any subtleties or in fact any accurate police procedures, but I prefer a little more finessing in my murder mysteries.
I bought this package of Hunter's first 3 Irish Detective books when on special on amazon, then wasted several days reading them.
The first in the series was so forgettable that I have no idea what it was about, the second had an astonishing body count of (I think) 14, and five of those were police officers of various ranks. The third, I finished last night. I stopped counting the bodies at around 8. There were numerous gravely injured characters (again mostly police officers), a frankly unbelievable story line involving landed gentry, their secretive villagers and a bog, and a literally incredible amount of dodgy and seriously corrupt police officers.
Hunt obviously likes to keep the action happening, with little regard to any subtleties or in fact any accurate police procedures, but I prefer a little more finessing in my murder mysteries.
January 31, 2020
This omnibus comprises the first three books in this series, so be prepared to spend some time in England following the pursuits of Brendan Moran and his coppers, er, detective inspectors, constables, sergeants, et al. Since I enjoyed the storytelling and the characters, this was not a difficult task for me. Some really nasty criminals in this collection, so if you're squeamish, I suggest you leave the covers closed.
June 23, 2025
I was excited to discover a new detective,and Irish at that. But i was sorely disappointed. I could not even finish the third book. The number of deaths or traumas that happen to people close to our central character is unbelievable. Even worse, his taste in women seems to be incredibly poor ,such that they end up as hostages or dead. If you can’t believe it, the tension is gone. Very disappointing.
May 12, 2017
Perhaps 3.5 stars. I liked the detective, but so many killings.... My issues may have been the result of reading three novels all in a row. Whatever my reservations about gratuitous violence, the stories deliver a wonderful sense of place.
January 16, 2020
I hadn't read Scott Hunter before, but I very much enjoyed these three books about DCI Brendan Moran, aka the Irish Detective. I do feel a little sorry for the police detectives that work over, with and under him though. They sure do have their troubles.
July 20, 2020
Scott Hunter is always a good read
Just when you think there is no way our Brendan finds the way. This boOk contains interesting characters, good plot development, and is fin besides.
Just when you think there is no way our Brendan finds the way. This boOk contains interesting characters, good plot development, and is fin besides.
July 27, 2020
Great new series for me!
Really has a plot and character development that is amazing. Would recommend reading number two before number three. Lots of background in 2. keeps you guessing till the end. ....WOW
Really has a plot and character development that is amazing. Would recommend reading number two before number three. Lots of background in 2. keeps you guessing till the end. ....WOW
January 10, 2021
Irish settings with Murder
I read all 3 novels and loved them So many plot twists and character surprises. Kept me guessing until the last chapters. Highly recommend for those who love police procedurals and murder mysteries
I read all 3 novels and loved them So many plot twists and character surprises. Kept me guessing until the last chapters. Highly recommend for those who love police procedurals and murder mysteries
April 22, 2023
Satisfyingly Complete
I like the way Hunter paces his stories. Just enough background without boredom, his stories move along well. I love how he ties up loose threads so you’re left feeling satisfied.
I like the way Hunter paces his stories. Just enough background without boredom, his stories move along well. I love how he ties up loose threads so you’re left feeling satisfied.
September 25, 2025
Loved these books, so many unexpected things happening. The chapters will fly by, I didn’t want to put it down. Not like a detective TV show where you can predict the ending in the first 15 minutes, these books hold you and you have to read on
November 14, 2021
love European detectives some of the best reading
October 25, 2023
New author, enjoyed this collection
May 10, 2020
An enjoyable set that I will keep on my shelf for a long while!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews