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Shadow Man
Two brutal killings rock Inverness, and bring ex-Met Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler the biggest challenge of his career...
The body of the queen of daytime TV, Morven Murray is discovered by her sister, Anna, on the morning of her wedding day. But does Anna know more about the murder than she's letting on?
Police informant Kevin Ramsay's murder looks like a gangland-style execution. But what could he have stumbled into that was dangerous enough to get him violently killed?
Mahler has only a couple of weeks to solve both cases while dealing with his mother's fragile mental health. But caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, is ex-Met DI Lukas Mahler hunting one killer, or two?
The body of the queen of daytime TV, Morven Murray is discovered by her sister, Anna, on the morning of her wedding day. But does Anna know more about the murder than she's letting on?
Police informant Kevin Ramsay's murder looks like a gangland-style execution. But what could he have stumbled into that was dangerous enough to get him violently killed?
Mahler has only a couple of weeks to solve both cases while dealing with his mother's fragile mental health. But caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, is ex-Met DI Lukas Mahler hunting one killer, or two?
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2017
58 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Kirk
9 books60 followersMargaret Kirk writes ‘Highland Noir’ Scottish crime fiction, set in and around her home town of Inverness.
Her debut novel, Shadow Man, won the Good Housekeeping First Novel Competition in 2016. Described as ‘a harrowing and horrific game of consequences’ by Val McDermid, it was published in 2017 by Orion.
Margaret is also the writer of several award-winning short stories, including The Seal Singers, which has been published in translation in Germany, and Switzerland.
Her debut novel, Shadow Man, won the Good Housekeeping First Novel Competition in 2016. Described as ‘a harrowing and horrific game of consequences’ by Val McDermid, it was published in 2017 by Orion.
Margaret is also the writer of several award-winning short stories, including The Seal Singers, which has been published in translation in Germany, and Switzerland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
September 16, 2017
We can add another great addition to the canon of Scottish crime writers in Margaret Kirk. This appears to be the first in a series set in Inverness featuring DI Lukas Mahler. Lukas has returned to Inverness after working at the Met in London, his mother's health is fragile and he wants to keep a close eye on her. He is feeling rather morose after attending the funeral of Raj, a friend and cop he worked with in London. On his return, with an overstretched and underfunded police service, his boss, DCI June Wallace, has him heading two murder inquiries. Police informant Kevin Ramsey has been run over multiple times and a well known TV presenter, Morven Murray, has been brutally slain in a hotel. Morven was preparing for her wedding to ex-footballer, now entrepreneur, Ross. Anna Murray, the estranged sister of Morven has just arrived from San Diego, where she works as an academic.
15 years ago a killer throws a young woman, Janis Miller, off a balcony to her death at a student party in Glasgow. In the present, Lukas is running himself ragged looking into the murder of Morven with Fergie and his team as they delve into her life and search for possible motives. There is heavy pressure on him given the fame of the victim. A kitchen hand, Donnie Stewart, a man with drink problems, has gone missing and both Anna and Ross had arguments with Morven. It soon becomes clear that the ambitious Morven was not popular with those she worked with. Unable to express her grief for her sister, a guilt ridden Anna takes it upon herself to look for the killer by closely examining Morven's life. With his professional life interrupted by the needs of his mother, Lukas finds leads scarce and his headaches increase when a further murder takes place. Finally Lukas finds himself listening to his gut instincts which suggest a suspect that seems to be impossible. As he follows his hunch, Anna finds herself in grave danger.
This is an atmospheric and well plotted story with a great location in Inverness. I think it is entirely possible that the reader might guess the killer, but this in no way prevents enjoyment of the story. I liked the pacing, and found it a gripping and tense read. The character of Lukas has grit, courage, determination and compassion. His care of his mother who has mental health issues after being attacked in the past raises the stresses in his life. I hope to see the return of Anna in future books as I think she and Lukas complement each other well and there just might be a spark of something in their relationship. A wonderful and entertaining read that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
15 years ago a killer throws a young woman, Janis Miller, off a balcony to her death at a student party in Glasgow. In the present, Lukas is running himself ragged looking into the murder of Morven with Fergie and his team as they delve into her life and search for possible motives. There is heavy pressure on him given the fame of the victim. A kitchen hand, Donnie Stewart, a man with drink problems, has gone missing and both Anna and Ross had arguments with Morven. It soon becomes clear that the ambitious Morven was not popular with those she worked with. Unable to express her grief for her sister, a guilt ridden Anna takes it upon herself to look for the killer by closely examining Morven's life. With his professional life interrupted by the needs of his mother, Lukas finds leads scarce and his headaches increase when a further murder takes place. Finally Lukas finds himself listening to his gut instincts which suggest a suspect that seems to be impossible. As he follows his hunch, Anna finds herself in grave danger.
This is an atmospheric and well plotted story with a great location in Inverness. I think it is entirely possible that the reader might guess the killer, but this in no way prevents enjoyment of the story. I liked the pacing, and found it a gripping and tense read. The character of Lukas has grit, courage, determination and compassion. His care of his mother who has mental health issues after being attacked in the past raises the stresses in his life. I hope to see the return of Anna in future books as I think she and Lukas complement each other well and there just might be a spark of something in their relationship. A wonderful and entertaining read that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
October 23, 2017
Well written and intriguing debut here from Margaret Kirk – set in Inverness, one of the main strengths of this novel is that setting and putting it firmly into the minds of the reader, using the character driven narrative to keep things engaging.
Mahler is a police detective I got right on board with. Challenged in some but not all of the usual ways, he is a little like a fish out of water, dealing with two murders and a mother who is mentally unstable. The mystery elements are strongly atmospheric, with a few little twists and turns along the way – the supporting cast all come with their own little foibles and overall this was an extremely steady and confident start to a new police procedural series.
The ending works well both as a conclusion and a continuation, there are some characters other than Mahler that I’m hoping to meet again in book two – I have no problem recommending this and I will absolutely look forward to the next story and revisiting Inverness once more.
Smart and compelling, top notch crime fiction.
Mahler is a police detective I got right on board with. Challenged in some but not all of the usual ways, he is a little like a fish out of water, dealing with two murders and a mother who is mentally unstable. The mystery elements are strongly atmospheric, with a few little twists and turns along the way – the supporting cast all come with their own little foibles and overall this was an extremely steady and confident start to a new police procedural series.
The ending works well both as a conclusion and a continuation, there are some characters other than Mahler that I’m hoping to meet again in book two – I have no problem recommending this and I will absolutely look forward to the next story and revisiting Inverness once more.
Smart and compelling, top notch crime fiction.
January 29, 2020
3.5 stars
November 27, 2017
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
I've definitely found a promising new series in The Shadow Man. Because the characters seemed to well-rounded and convincing, I thought this might be a well-established series, but it seems to be either a stand alone or - hopefully - the first in a new series. If so, I'll certainly be reading more.
The Shadow Man effectively combine mystery, grittiness and police procedure with just the right pacing and level of drama.
The characters are great - I really liked protagonist DI Luke Mahler and Anna, who wasn't part of the police but who we also followed as the case unfolded. I liked that there were two main characters who showed different perspectives to the investigation. The characters were well-rounded and interesting too, and it was interesting to read a good portion of the story from the perspective of someone who had nothing to do with the police. The Shadow Man features lots of seemingly unconnected people who all came together as the novel continued, which I also really liked.
The setting is also great (pre-Scottish referendum Inverness) - and I liked the atmosphere that the setting conjured up. It's a testament to Margaret Kirk's writing that I could really imagine myself there, seeing as the only place I've ever visited in Scotland is Edinburgh.
Overall I'd highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great new Detective series which is both entertaining and realistic. I'd definitely like to read more about Luke and Anna!
Many thanks to Orion for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
I've definitely found a promising new series in The Shadow Man. Because the characters seemed to well-rounded and convincing, I thought this might be a well-established series, but it seems to be either a stand alone or - hopefully - the first in a new series. If so, I'll certainly be reading more.
The Shadow Man effectively combine mystery, grittiness and police procedure with just the right pacing and level of drama.
The characters are great - I really liked protagonist DI Luke Mahler and Anna, who wasn't part of the police but who we also followed as the case unfolded. I liked that there were two main characters who showed different perspectives to the investigation. The characters were well-rounded and interesting too, and it was interesting to read a good portion of the story from the perspective of someone who had nothing to do with the police. The Shadow Man features lots of seemingly unconnected people who all came together as the novel continued, which I also really liked.
The setting is also great (pre-Scottish referendum Inverness) - and I liked the atmosphere that the setting conjured up. It's a testament to Margaret Kirk's writing that I could really imagine myself there, seeing as the only place I've ever visited in Scotland is Edinburgh.
Overall I'd highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great new Detective series which is both entertaining and realistic. I'd definitely like to read more about Luke and Anna!
Many thanks to Orion for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
December 2, 2017
What a fabulous debut novel this is! And well worthy of that cover quote from Scottish crime queen Val McDermid. Shadow Man won the Good Housekeeping First Novel Award in 2016 and after reading it I can quite understand why. It takes a lot for me to take a chance on a new police procedural series so if you’re like me and looking for a debut that brings something a little bit special to the genre then you need to check out Shadow Man. It’s a beautifully written book that deserves a huge amount of success.
Set in Inverness, this atmospheric mystery started to raise my blood pressure within the first few pages – although possibly the reference to my least favourite road in the UK, the A9, could have been a contributing cause to that! I have to admit to having had some very scary journeys on that road! But, having lived in that picturesque part of Scotland for some months, it was refreshing to discover a police procedural set within the area and it was brought to life perfectly by Margaret Kirks expressive and descriptive narrative.
Ex-Met detective Lukas Mahler was an intriguing character with the author drip feeding us his backstory whilst still managing to hold back enough so that the reader is keen to uncover more information about him. His work and personal life were evenly balanced so that we were able to build up our opinions of him based on a wide range of interactions. And I really liked him!!! His was a rather methodical approach to solving the mystery of who murdered daytime television star Morven Murray but he wasn’t above bending the rules when it suited him either especially when his police senses got that “tingle”!
There was actually an old fashioned murder mystery feel to Shadow Man as it built up its list of suspects to be investigated but the inclusion of the seedier side of the criminal fraternity in Inverness kept it current and culturally relevant. Which leads me onto saying how much I enjoyed the authors use of the Scottish Yes/No referendum as a backdrop here, weaving the threads of the passionate political debate into the plotline, touching all the characters and creating discussions just as it did back in 2014.
This really is a top notch crime thriller, full of intricate twists with a disturbing insight into the mind of a cold blooded killer through an unnamed narrator. I did work out who was responsible but that didn’t impact on my enjoyment one little bit! I became completely gripped by both the characters and the storyline and was very disappointed when it came to an end. Scottish crime fiction has a new rising star and I can’t wait to see what Margaret Kirk comes up with next for DI Mahler!
Highly recommended by me!
Set in Inverness, this atmospheric mystery started to raise my blood pressure within the first few pages – although possibly the reference to my least favourite road in the UK, the A9, could have been a contributing cause to that! I have to admit to having had some very scary journeys on that road! But, having lived in that picturesque part of Scotland for some months, it was refreshing to discover a police procedural set within the area and it was brought to life perfectly by Margaret Kirks expressive and descriptive narrative.
Ex-Met detective Lukas Mahler was an intriguing character with the author drip feeding us his backstory whilst still managing to hold back enough so that the reader is keen to uncover more information about him. His work and personal life were evenly balanced so that we were able to build up our opinions of him based on a wide range of interactions. And I really liked him!!! His was a rather methodical approach to solving the mystery of who murdered daytime television star Morven Murray but he wasn’t above bending the rules when it suited him either especially when his police senses got that “tingle”!
There was actually an old fashioned murder mystery feel to Shadow Man as it built up its list of suspects to be investigated but the inclusion of the seedier side of the criminal fraternity in Inverness kept it current and culturally relevant. Which leads me onto saying how much I enjoyed the authors use of the Scottish Yes/No referendum as a backdrop here, weaving the threads of the passionate political debate into the plotline, touching all the characters and creating discussions just as it did back in 2014.
This really is a top notch crime thriller, full of intricate twists with a disturbing insight into the mind of a cold blooded killer through an unnamed narrator. I did work out who was responsible but that didn’t impact on my enjoyment one little bit! I became completely gripped by both the characters and the storyline and was very disappointed when it came to an end. Scottish crime fiction has a new rising star and I can’t wait to see what Margaret Kirk comes up with next for DI Mahler!
Highly recommended by me!
October 2, 2017
All of my reviews can be found at: https://hookedfrompageoneblog.wordpre...
Shadow Man is the start of what I hope will be a thrilling new crime series. This was a really enjoyable read and I’m sure that Margaret Kirk is a name that we’ll be hearing a lot from in the future.
DI Lukas Mahler has transferred from the Metropolitan police to the local branch in his hometown of Inverness. Police informant Kevin Ramsay has been killed in a brutal attack. Lukas heads up the inquiry to find his killers but a short while after he arrives in Inverness, TV star, Morven Murray has been found murdered in her hotel room on the morning of her wedding day. Inverness has never known anything like it. Are the police dealing with one killer or two?
DI Lukas Mahler is a fantastic new addition to the crime writing world. He was an intriguing character to get to know and I’m keen to find out more about him, Margaret Kirk certainly has me hooked; I’m interested to find out more about his past work with the met, which I hope will feature in later books. His mother’s story was also a good sub-plot and I found parts of it heartbreaking at times.
Margaret Kirk’s writing is outstanding; I particularly liked the description that she uses for Inverness, a part of Scotland which I have always wanted to visit.
This is an excellent debut novel from Margaret Kirk, an author who I will definitely be looking out for in the future. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.
Shadow Man is the start of what I hope will be a thrilling new crime series. This was a really enjoyable read and I’m sure that Margaret Kirk is a name that we’ll be hearing a lot from in the future.
DI Lukas Mahler has transferred from the Metropolitan police to the local branch in his hometown of Inverness. Police informant Kevin Ramsay has been killed in a brutal attack. Lukas heads up the inquiry to find his killers but a short while after he arrives in Inverness, TV star, Morven Murray has been found murdered in her hotel room on the morning of her wedding day. Inverness has never known anything like it. Are the police dealing with one killer or two?
DI Lukas Mahler is a fantastic new addition to the crime writing world. He was an intriguing character to get to know and I’m keen to find out more about him, Margaret Kirk certainly has me hooked; I’m interested to find out more about his past work with the met, which I hope will feature in later books. His mother’s story was also a good sub-plot and I found parts of it heartbreaking at times.
Margaret Kirk’s writing is outstanding; I particularly liked the description that she uses for Inverness, a part of Scotland which I have always wanted to visit.
This is an excellent debut novel from Margaret Kirk, an author who I will definitely be looking out for in the future. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.
November 1, 2017
Shadow Man by Margaret Kirkwood is published by Orion Books, 2nd November 2017 and I received an advanced reading copy in return for an honest review.
When I was approached by the author and asked to review a crime book set in Inverness I immediately said yes!! I live in Aviemore which is 25 miles south of the city of Inverness but I was actually born in Inverness and growing up on the Isle of Lewis, Inverness was the equivalent of the Emerald City of Oz to us…. Beautiful, shiny and full of people! So a dark subject matter in my favourite Scottish city? Bring it on.
Like many crime novels we have a victim (or two) and a main police detective. So far, so cliched you may say but not so. What I really loved about our main character, Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler, is that he isn’t the stereotypical tortured detective who connects all the dots straight away while drowning some inner misery in drink/drugs/chocolate (maybe that one is just me) and I actually felt like he could be someone from your circle of friends that you go to the pub with. While the book moves along at some pace, we see a little of his homelife and background but the whole story isn’t revealed in this book and it’s nice that his ‘tortured past’ isn’t dumped on us in one go taking away from the main story. You feel like you are still using all your attention on the crime(s) committed and working out that puzzle.
But if you’re anything like me, you won’t see it coming. I was genuinely thrown by the revelation of the culprit and I felt that it could have been any number of the main characters. Those characters were all really well developed and by the end of the book felt as familiar as the landmarks of Inverness that were so accurately described. The settings and geography of the area are all laid out so that someone with no knowledge of the environment would be able to envisage it all quite nicely.
I haven’t gone into any detail about the actual storyline of the book here, except to say it’s a crime novel, and I don’t intend to, but trust me when I say it is a great book which will keep you reading and thinking right to the end.
I’m really looking forward to reading more from Margaret Kirk in the future and would highly recommend this book to fans of Peter May, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid etc.
When I was approached by the author and asked to review a crime book set in Inverness I immediately said yes!! I live in Aviemore which is 25 miles south of the city of Inverness but I was actually born in Inverness and growing up on the Isle of Lewis, Inverness was the equivalent of the Emerald City of Oz to us…. Beautiful, shiny and full of people! So a dark subject matter in my favourite Scottish city? Bring it on.
Like many crime novels we have a victim (or two) and a main police detective. So far, so cliched you may say but not so. What I really loved about our main character, Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler, is that he isn’t the stereotypical tortured detective who connects all the dots straight away while drowning some inner misery in drink/drugs/chocolate (maybe that one is just me) and I actually felt like he could be someone from your circle of friends that you go to the pub with. While the book moves along at some pace, we see a little of his homelife and background but the whole story isn’t revealed in this book and it’s nice that his ‘tortured past’ isn’t dumped on us in one go taking away from the main story. You feel like you are still using all your attention on the crime(s) committed and working out that puzzle.
But if you’re anything like me, you won’t see it coming. I was genuinely thrown by the revelation of the culprit and I felt that it could have been any number of the main characters. Those characters were all really well developed and by the end of the book felt as familiar as the landmarks of Inverness that were so accurately described. The settings and geography of the area are all laid out so that someone with no knowledge of the environment would be able to envisage it all quite nicely.
I haven’t gone into any detail about the actual storyline of the book here, except to say it’s a crime novel, and I don’t intend to, but trust me when I say it is a great book which will keep you reading and thinking right to the end.
I’m really looking forward to reading more from Margaret Kirk in the future and would highly recommend this book to fans of Peter May, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid etc.
August 21, 2017
Thank you netgalley and Orion publishing for the pleasure of reading this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Detective Mahler is on the case of a murder of a local tv darling. The case is impeded by the sister, the fiancé, other conniving coppers and Mahler's personal problems with his mother. After reading 'perfect remains' and the buzz around that I was hopeful that Shadow Man would be of the same level and without a doubt it's exceeded that.
For me personally being from Inverness I could envisage the places and put myself in the locale and this made it much more enjoyable for me! I need book 2 very soon please!
Detective Mahler is on the case of a murder of a local tv darling. The case is impeded by the sister, the fiancé, other conniving coppers and Mahler's personal problems with his mother. After reading 'perfect remains' and the buzz around that I was hopeful that Shadow Man would be of the same level and without a doubt it's exceeded that.
For me personally being from Inverness I could envisage the places and put myself in the locale and this made it much more enjoyable for me! I need book 2 very soon please!
July 21, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Although I was a little worried by the hallmarks of a budding romance novel - tall, handsome, damaged hero, short, pretty, damaged heroine - the mystery did take center stage. There were several twists, and although you will eventually figure out who the killer is, there are some red herrings dragged across the path. Ms. Kirk has a nice turn of phrase, and can inject bits of humor into the story of a couple gruesome murders without it seeming forced. I look forward to the next installment.
January 21, 2018
This crime novel is set in my home town so this was part of the attraction in reading it. Having been away for 14 years, it was lovely to 'hear' the dialects and phrases used by folks living in the Highland of Scotland as well as bring back memories of well known pubs and streets. That apart, I really enjoyed the book, there were some good characters and the plot kept me turning the pages.
December 26, 2017
A tv presenter is found brutally murdered just days before her wedding. DI Lukas Mahler of Inverness Constabulary is tasked with investigating. This was a fantastic debut and I do hope it's the start of a series. Would recommend for fans of Val McDermid and Stuart MacBride.
December 8, 2017
Excellent debut from Margaret Kirk. Believable compelling characters, a fast-paced plot and a wonderful sense of place. The writer captures Inverness perfectly, at its best and its worst. A real treat to read something so well-written and set in your home town. A worthy winner of the GH award. Already looking forward to the next installment.
January 16, 2018
Well, I have to say that I’m really impressed with this introduction to a new detective series.
An exciting & intriguing storyline that draws the reader in, is coupled with a well thought out and likeable detective. Good character backgrounds give the story depth and the character development is excellent.
All round a good solid start to what promises to be a good police procedural series.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
An exciting & intriguing storyline that draws the reader in, is coupled with a well thought out and likeable detective. Good character backgrounds give the story depth and the character development is excellent.
All round a good solid start to what promises to be a good police procedural series.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2018
A great debut novel - tightly plotted, with an interesting detective character. The Inverness setting is well described, and gives the setting a unique flavour, distinct from the usual big city landscapes of Scottish noir. Highly recommended.
March 25, 2024
Recently, I've been finding myself choosing certain books according to their settings, and this was the case with Margaret Kirk's Shadow Man. I have a marked fondness for Inverness, Scotland, and it was wonderful to be able to visit again through the pages of this book-- especially when one of the scenes is set in Leakey's Bookshop.
The setting isn't the only strong part of this book. I enjoyed the mystery, too, and Kirk has created an interesting cast of characters. Lukas Mahler, formerly of the Metropolitan Police in London, has an emotionally fragile mother, hence his return to Inverness. He's heard every joke possible about his surname, and he's well aware of his reputation among the other police officers: "He has, after all, his reputation to consider. Most of his junior colleagues assume he gets his nourishment by rising from his tomb to feast on the blood of the living, and he sees no reason to disabuse them of the notion."
His boss is DCI June "Braveheart" Wallace who has a Hannibal Lecter smile. His DS is Fergie who drives a memorably smelly car, and "Skivey Pete" is a well-known slacker. Even though Mahler dislikes Pete for his constant shirking of his duties, he does recognize that the young man has certain investigative talents.
The setting, the story, and the characters in this first book of the series will be bringing me back for more. I'm looking forward to visiting Inverness again (but I'll be staying out of Fergie's car).
The setting isn't the only strong part of this book. I enjoyed the mystery, too, and Kirk has created an interesting cast of characters. Lukas Mahler, formerly of the Metropolitan Police in London, has an emotionally fragile mother, hence his return to Inverness. He's heard every joke possible about his surname, and he's well aware of his reputation among the other police officers: "He has, after all, his reputation to consider. Most of his junior colleagues assume he gets his nourishment by rising from his tomb to feast on the blood of the living, and he sees no reason to disabuse them of the notion."
His boss is DCI June "Braveheart" Wallace who has a Hannibal Lecter smile. His DS is Fergie who drives a memorably smelly car, and "Skivey Pete" is a well-known slacker. Even though Mahler dislikes Pete for his constant shirking of his duties, he does recognize that the young man has certain investigative talents.
The setting, the story, and the characters in this first book of the series will be bringing me back for more. I'm looking forward to visiting Inverness again (but I'll be staying out of Fergie's car).
March 22, 2022
I gave up on this book due to the ongoing use of coarse language.
June 9, 2019
I do loves me a little bit of Tartan Noir. Let's face it, any kind of noir keeps me happy, but dress it in a kilt and top if off with a Scottish accent and I'm doubly happy. Okay. Maybe forego the kilt in favour of trousers, but otherwise, I'm there. It's not often I get to read a cracking series set up in Inverness so delving into the world of Lukas Mahler and his colleagues came as an absolute treat.
This book is full of intrigue and mystery. Returning home for her sister's wedding, nothing could prepare Anna for what she is about to find when she goes to her sister, Morven's, suite the next morning. Morven's murder is brutal enough, but with her being such a well known figure, it adds an extra layer of pressure to the investigation, not making life any easier for Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler. Which is absolutely brilliant for us as readers, as who wants an easy to solve murder mystery anyway?
What I really liked about this book is the way in which the author sets the scene so perfectly that you feel as though you are right there. Be it the grounds of a grand country estate, the narrow winding roads up to the remote highlands, or even just the centre of Inverness, Margaret Kirk has created such a vivid landscape that it just made me feel a part of the action. I've been to the city a few times on business and even I recognised some of the areas being described, and understood the different pace of life that Mahler and his team were working in compared to your typical inner city murder mystery. Murder is out of place in Inverness, and two murders in quick succession, likely by the same perpetrator is unheard of. This contrast just adds another layer of tension to a story already brimming with it.
I loved the characters in this book, especially Mahler, and I can see him quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. He has a very complicated personal life which we really just scratch the surface of in this book, but his protective nature towards his mother is really quite touching, if a little stained at times, and it really helps you bond with him as a character. Mahler is partnered with family man Detective Sergeant Iain Ferguson, or Fergie, and finds himself in regular conflict with Detective Sergeant Karen Gilchrist, who is ambitious and keen to prove her worth by solving a hit and run style execution and resentful of Mahler being made SIO. The pair keep him on his toes and provide perfect balance. I look forward to learning more about all of them as the series progresses. It's a strong team, all with flaws and quirks, but not a single character out of place or overplayed.
The story itself is tense and atmospheric, the murders quite chilling. Motives are not exactly clear from the start and the author keeps the reader on the hook by interjecting the action with scenes told from the killer's point of view. It keeps their identity hidden, but leaves us asking all kinds of questions and bringing new suspects to the fore with each page turn. Morven was not a well liked woman, no matter how popular a TV star she may have been, and with so many people on her world having motive to murder her, it's hard to tell just who it is right up until the end. I had my suspicions, but you'll need to read for yourself to see if you can work it out.
Now one of the things that worked well in this book was the chemistry between Anna and Mahler. It wasn't too overt, just a frisson of tension between them. They are two very different people from very different worlds but when you scratch beneath the surface it is clear that they share more in common than they might have realised. They seem to bring out the best and worst in each other, but the attraction is there, keeping readers on the hook right up until the end. Loved it.
All in all, a cracking start to the series, full of brilliant characters, atmosphere, tension and mystery. I can't wait to get stuck into book two now. Thankfully, it is already in my TBR so I won't have to!
May 12, 2018
I enjoyed this a lot. Margaret Kirk is a new writer to me and this seems to be her first book. Looking forward to the next one already!
Set in Inverness which is a place I have actually been to a few times, so recognised some of the locales.
Very much a police procedural but very well written with an excellent cast of characters with DI Mahler very good. He clearly has a complex back story but not much was explained in this book so, I guess, it will be in future books. Only slight issue was I guessed who the perpetrator was some time before the end but did not greatly spoil the overall story.
Set in Inverness which is a place I have actually been to a few times, so recognised some of the locales.
Very much a police procedural but very well written with an excellent cast of characters with DI Mahler very good. He clearly has a complex back story but not much was explained in this book so, I guess, it will be in future books. Only slight issue was I guessed who the perpetrator was some time before the end but did not greatly spoil the overall story.
January 16, 2020
Debut is a police procedural set in a distinctive town - this time Inverness. I did snigger when I read the line about the Inverness Underworld.
Margaret has done her homework on how these books work. A main character - Lukas Mahler. Others have said he has a well developed backstory. I must have missed it. I know he has been down in London and called back to the Highlands as he is missing it and needs to look after an elderly parent. Apart from that, no other traits, no other hobbies mentioned. He just works. At least he is not another recovering alcoholic (Rebus) but it would have been nice if he had an interest outside of work (Banks and his music).
A murder of a well known TV personality - who has to be based on Lorraine, surely. On the eve of her wedding day. Another less known crim is on the run and meets a sticky end. On the Ness Islands. She does well with her locations and local intel.
Red Herrings. All wrapped up in 339 pages. A touch generic but I will move onto the 2nd book and see where how Lukas develops.
Margaret has done her homework on how these books work. A main character - Lukas Mahler. Others have said he has a well developed backstory. I must have missed it. I know he has been down in London and called back to the Highlands as he is missing it and needs to look after an elderly parent. Apart from that, no other traits, no other hobbies mentioned. He just works. At least he is not another recovering alcoholic (Rebus) but it would have been nice if he had an interest outside of work (Banks and his music).
A murder of a well known TV personality - who has to be based on Lorraine, surely. On the eve of her wedding day. Another less known crim is on the run and meets a sticky end. On the Ness Islands. She does well with her locations and local intel.
Red Herrings. All wrapped up in 339 pages. A touch generic but I will move onto the 2nd book and see where how Lukas develops.
January 8, 2018
A promising debut novel from Margaret Kirkwood, in what appears to be first in a series. Set in Inverness featuring Inspector Lukas Mahler who has returned to his home town from the Met. A brutal murder of a TV personality and the gangland killing of an informant keep the under staffed team stretched to the limit. The sense of place is beautifully evoked and the characters and their interactions believable and tangible. I look forward to seeing Mahler develop as he deals with the ghosts from his past, both personal (abusive father) and from his professional (death of a close friend and colleague).
I held back on another star as I figured out who committed the murder very early on and so it lacked tension for me. However, I look forward to visiting DI Lukas Mahler on his next case.
I held back on another star as I figured out who committed the murder very early on and so it lacked tension for me. However, I look forward to visiting DI Lukas Mahler on his next case.
April 18, 2018
It's hard to believe that this is Margaret Kirk's first novel. She tells a good story and plants little seeds along the way which gives a sense of satisfaction when everything comes together. When I read fiction, I like to get to know the people and Shadow Man doesn't disappoint. The characters, and their relationships with each other, seem real. This, along with a few short passages where we get to see inside the head of the murderer, made the book, for me, hard to put down. I really hope there is going to be another one.
July 23, 2019
This was a 100% punt from Newcastle Noir. And a real (and relieved) pleasure. Not only for its excellent setting - I've been travelling the A9 since 1980 and am reasonably familiar with Inverness, having stayed there many times, but this gave a good grounding of other aspects of the place. In addition the writing was good, the characters long-term promising and the plot of this well worked.
May 22, 2019
Fantastic! When I saw it won the Good Housekeeping novel competition I had to read it. I don’t normally read crime but I really enjoyed this. Great characters, gripping story, a nice blend of grit and dark humour.
February 10, 2018
Well written and engaging debut novel, it captures the Inverness/highland culture perfectly. Looking forward to the next in what will hopefully be a series.
April 17, 2018
I enjoyed reading Shadow Man and look forward to the next book in the series.
October 3, 2018
A fine debut. Terrific grasp of the setting and bodes well for further outings for the protagonist.
June 20, 2022
A new author / series for me. Enjoyed it, without being totally blown away. Solidly written, but with a few rough edges.
On the plus side, enjoyed the Inverness setting. The author does a good job of scene-setting, and giving you a feel for what life’s like in this Highland city. You can almost smell the fresh air (and rain) coming off the page.
The writing style is crisp and easy to follow, and there’s some decent humour and local dialogue to enjoy.
The main plot involves the murder of Morvern Murray, a local TV celebrity. She was about to be married, but is found in her hotel room brutally stabbed. Her sister Anna, has just come back from the US for the wedding, and she’s the focal point of much of the story. The suspects are mainly those around the family there for the wedding, and a local kitchen porter who’s disappeared.
Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler is the lead investigator on the case. He’s just returned to Inverness having worked as a detective down in London. Much of the book follows him re-orienting himself to the very different way of life in the Highlands, including his elderly mother.
He’s assisted by a couple of Detective Sergeants, and there’s also a secondary murder to investigate where a police informant has been brutally run over.
It’s mostly a by-the-numbers police procedural as they question suspects and find out who was behind the murder. The ending was OK, though it wasn’t too much of a surprise. And it did involve one of the characters putting themselves in danger by driving to a remote location with no phone signal, which seems to happen a lot in these types of books.
The one thing I didn’t enjoy so much was that there were a lot of loose ends and half-started story lines which were left unresolved. Suspect these will get picked up in future books, but got to the end with lots of questions.
For example, there’s references to a former police partner committing suicide down in London that’s not clearly explained. References to Mahler’s father and some sort of violent past. And references to a mysterious crime boss, who only appears right at the very end. One loose end I could have lived with, but three felt a bit unsatisfying.
Saying that, will still likely get round to the next book as there was enough in this book to make me think it will be a decent read.
On the plus side, enjoyed the Inverness setting. The author does a good job of scene-setting, and giving you a feel for what life’s like in this Highland city. You can almost smell the fresh air (and rain) coming off the page.
The writing style is crisp and easy to follow, and there’s some decent humour and local dialogue to enjoy.
The main plot involves the murder of Morvern Murray, a local TV celebrity. She was about to be married, but is found in her hotel room brutally stabbed. Her sister Anna, has just come back from the US for the wedding, and she’s the focal point of much of the story. The suspects are mainly those around the family there for the wedding, and a local kitchen porter who’s disappeared.
Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler is the lead investigator on the case. He’s just returned to Inverness having worked as a detective down in London. Much of the book follows him re-orienting himself to the very different way of life in the Highlands, including his elderly mother.
He’s assisted by a couple of Detective Sergeants, and there’s also a secondary murder to investigate where a police informant has been brutally run over.
It’s mostly a by-the-numbers police procedural as they question suspects and find out who was behind the murder. The ending was OK, though it wasn’t too much of a surprise. And it did involve one of the characters putting themselves in danger by driving to a remote location with no phone signal, which seems to happen a lot in these types of books.
The one thing I didn’t enjoy so much was that there were a lot of loose ends and half-started story lines which were left unresolved. Suspect these will get picked up in future books, but got to the end with lots of questions.
For example, there’s references to a former police partner committing suicide down in London that’s not clearly explained. References to Mahler’s father and some sort of violent past. And references to a mysterious crime boss, who only appears right at the very end. One loose end I could have lived with, but three felt a bit unsatisfying.
Saying that, will still likely get round to the next book as there was enough in this book to make me think it will be a decent read.
November 1, 2017
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I liked it, was a good story. 49% was when I figured out who the killer was. I like how the author tried to lead you one way. But come on? Any good crime reader knows the most likely suspect, is just a trap. That being said I had some issues with the story.
Too many names. I had difficulty keeping track of who was who. Two different murder cases adds a lot to the plate. This is most likely just an issue for me alone. The formatting seemed off; big spaces all over the place. Dialogue mixed in with the story and not kept on separate lines. Hopefully this was just an issue with the reviewer’s copies. Or I just got extremely unlucky with my copy.
Why does it say in the blurb she was killed on the morning of her wedding day? 189 of 3919 – ‘The wedding’s only two days away..’ Its the next day she is killed. 200 – ‘near legendary ability to avoid hard work Donna looks…’ (missing a .) 1063 – Burnt out van (it was a 4×4.) 1470 – ‘ Yes, I was in (‘ placed wrong). 1936 – impaitentlooking (needs a space) (Sorry I go anal with mistakes.)
That’s a lot of errors for a Netgalley book no? Specially when your asking for people to review the book.
The characters were all real people, they weren’t one layered or unrealistic. With having a cop based book, you have to get gritty and into the meat of things. It what adds layers to the story. Plus makes you relate to them, and want them to find the killers. All in all, it was a good solid story. It all made sense, nothing was over the top or glorified.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
I liked it, was a good story. 49% was when I figured out who the killer was. I like how the author tried to lead you one way. But come on? Any good crime reader knows the most likely suspect, is just a trap. That being said I had some issues with the story.
Too many names. I had difficulty keeping track of who was who. Two different murder cases adds a lot to the plate. This is most likely just an issue for me alone. The formatting seemed off; big spaces all over the place. Dialogue mixed in with the story and not kept on separate lines. Hopefully this was just an issue with the reviewer’s copies. Or I just got extremely unlucky with my copy.
Why does it say in the blurb she was killed on the morning of her wedding day? 189 of 3919 – ‘The wedding’s only two days away..’ Its the next day she is killed. 200 – ‘near legendary ability to avoid hard work Donna looks…’ (missing a .) 1063 – Burnt out van (it was a 4×4.) 1470 – ‘ Yes, I was in (‘ placed wrong). 1936 – impaitentlooking (needs a space) (Sorry I go anal with mistakes.)
That’s a lot of errors for a Netgalley book no? Specially when your asking for people to review the book.
The characters were all real people, they weren’t one layered or unrealistic. With having a cop based book, you have to get gritty and into the meat of things. It what adds layers to the story. Plus makes you relate to them, and want them to find the killers. All in all, it was a good solid story. It all made sense, nothing was over the top or glorified.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
July 30, 2023
The writing style in this book is clear and straightforward, making it easy to follow. I appreciated the humor and local dialogue elements that added some enjoyment to the story.
The murder of Morvern Murray, a local TV celebrity, sets the main plot in motion. Her sister, Anna, who returned from the US for the wedding, becomes a central figure in the investigation. The suspects are primarily those present for the wedding and a missing local kitchen porter.
DI Lukas Mahler leads the investigation after returning to Inverness from working in London. Throughout the book, we see him adjusting to the different pace of life in the Highlands and dealing with family matters.
The story mainly follows the standard police procedural format, with the detectives questioning suspects and uncovering clues. The resolution of the case was decent, though not particularly surprising. However, I couldn't help but notice a common trope where characters put themselves in danger without cell phone coverage.
The book left some loose ends and unresolved storylines, which may be addressed in future books. This left me with lingering questions by the end.
Overall, "Shadow Man" is a solid police procedural with engaging elements and an enjoyable writing style. While the ending was satisfying, the book could benefit from addressing some of the unresolved plot points in future instalments.
The murder of Morvern Murray, a local TV celebrity, sets the main plot in motion. Her sister, Anna, who returned from the US for the wedding, becomes a central figure in the investigation. The suspects are primarily those present for the wedding and a missing local kitchen porter.
DI Lukas Mahler leads the investigation after returning to Inverness from working in London. Throughout the book, we see him adjusting to the different pace of life in the Highlands and dealing with family matters.
The story mainly follows the standard police procedural format, with the detectives questioning suspects and uncovering clues. The resolution of the case was decent, though not particularly surprising. However, I couldn't help but notice a common trope where characters put themselves in danger without cell phone coverage.
The book left some loose ends and unresolved storylines, which may be addressed in future books. This left me with lingering questions by the end.
Overall, "Shadow Man" is a solid police procedural with engaging elements and an enjoyable writing style. While the ending was satisfying, the book could benefit from addressing some of the unresolved plot points in future instalments.
December 13, 2017
Morven Murray is a tv personality and an Inverness local lass. When she is discovered brutally murdered on the day before her wedding the cast of suspects quickly becomes dry. Her estranged sister has travelled home from America for the wedding and feels compelled to stay on until the crime is solved. The detective in charge, Mahler, has recently transferred from London and is keen to make his mark. Meanwhile there are undercurrents at play in the Inverness underworld that may or may not be linked.
At its heart this is a very standard police procedural and whilst not the best, it does show some promise. The murderer is flagged up very early and the final few scenes just seem a little excessive in terms of creating a plot device and exciting ending for the sake of it. however for a debut novel it bodes well for the future
At its heart this is a very standard police procedural and whilst not the best, it does show some promise. The murderer is flagged up very early and the final few scenes just seem a little excessive in terms of creating a plot device and exciting ending for the sake of it. however for a debut novel it bodes well for the future
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