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Inspector McLevy #3
A Trick of the Light: An Inspector McLevy Mystery 3
The third in David Ashton's series of McLevy books, A Trick of the Light sees McLevy team up with Arthur Conan Doyle to pursue a ruthless killer. It is 1860 and a Confederate officer, Jonathen Sinclair, arrives in Edinburgh with a sheaf of money to purchase a blockade-runner from Clydeside shipbuilders. He is betrayed to the Union forces and brutally shot dead by their secret agents. The money vanishes. This incident sets the scene for more foul play in another pacy McLevy thriller.
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2009
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173 people want to read
About the author
David Ashton
106 books31 followersDavid Ashton (born 10 November 1941 in Greenock) is a Scottish actor and writer. Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, 1964–67, he has acted in a wide variety of film, television, theatre and radio roles. He has also developed a parallel career as a writer of fiction, film and television screenplays and plays for theatre and radio. His radio play The Old Ladies at the Zoo, which starred Peggy Mount and Liz Smith, won the Radio Times Drama Award in 1985.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 5, 2024
An enjoyable, albeit mixed, mystery read. 3.5/5 stars.
This entry in the Inspector McLevy series saw us back with our guys investigating a couple of mysteries. I was immediately intrigued, both because we know the mysteries will tie together eventually, but also because we had a character in one of my favorite authors: Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle. We meet him before he writes Sherlock Holmes, as he bonds with McLevy, and becomes an inspiration for our aforementioned detective. I enjoyed Doyle's role in the story, although it was a bit on the nose in some sections.
The mysteries were relatively well written overall, and while it became quite obvious in the last third, the resolution worked well that it didn't ruin my enjoyment. McLevy is such a unique character, and the way he investigates crimes along with his constable Mulholland is very fun to read. They are a duo who you wouldn't expect to work well together, but somehow do. We start with a smaller crime in a simple theft, and then we expand upon that with the introduction of murder. The murder feels so far removed from the theft, and it ended up being quite sadistic in the end. Mulholland being back in his usual role was such a refresher from the last book which was full of boneheaded decisions. The interplay between Roach, McLevy, and Mulholland is so fun to read.
The writing continues to be fantastic. Leith feels like a living, breathing character. I can always feel like I'm there in the streets with McLevy, even if I haven't even been to the beautiful country of Scotland (yet!). The dialogue, and characters are well written. The prose feels digestible, but wonderful at the same time. It's quite easy to get sucked into the world, and you forget you are reading a story. I've read a lot of historical mystery, but Ashton is certainly one of the best writers out of all of them.
My major issues with the book are similar to the last book. We spend time with other characters who are not bad, but make really silly decisions for what feels like no other purpose than to fill out the world more and involve McLevy in some way. Sometimes they can be used to further McLevy's character growth. But most of the time, it feels contrived and forced. It involves the same characters, and the same type of sub stories that I just roll my eyes and have to power through it. In both book two and this one, it significantly brought down my enjoyment, especially because they have such a big role in the overall story. Some may enjoy these, but I did not.
So, while the mysteries were solid, there was a bit of a predictable reveal and too much time spent with frustrating side stories that pulled down my overall enjoyment. I would certainly recommend this series for fans of historical mysteries. McLevy is such a well written and unique character, it's worth even some of the mixed nature of the books.
Quick hits:
+ Our main characters are back to their usual roles and they're fantastic.
+ The writing stays wonderful.
+ The side characters were written really powerful.
- The mystery got too predictable.
- Too much time spent with silly side stories that felt contrived and forced.
This entry in the Inspector McLevy series saw us back with our guys investigating a couple of mysteries. I was immediately intrigued, both because we know the mysteries will tie together eventually, but also because we had a character in one of my favorite authors: Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle. We meet him before he writes Sherlock Holmes, as he bonds with McLevy, and becomes an inspiration for our aforementioned detective. I enjoyed Doyle's role in the story, although it was a bit on the nose in some sections.
The mysteries were relatively well written overall, and while it became quite obvious in the last third, the resolution worked well that it didn't ruin my enjoyment. McLevy is such a unique character, and the way he investigates crimes along with his constable Mulholland is very fun to read. They are a duo who you wouldn't expect to work well together, but somehow do. We start with a smaller crime in a simple theft, and then we expand upon that with the introduction of murder. The murder feels so far removed from the theft, and it ended up being quite sadistic in the end. Mulholland being back in his usual role was such a refresher from the last book which was full of boneheaded decisions. The interplay between Roach, McLevy, and Mulholland is so fun to read.
The writing continues to be fantastic. Leith feels like a living, breathing character. I can always feel like I'm there in the streets with McLevy, even if I haven't even been to the beautiful country of Scotland (yet!). The dialogue, and characters are well written. The prose feels digestible, but wonderful at the same time. It's quite easy to get sucked into the world, and you forget you are reading a story. I've read a lot of historical mystery, but Ashton is certainly one of the best writers out of all of them.
My major issues with the book are similar to the last book. We spend time with other characters who are not bad, but make really silly decisions for what feels like no other purpose than to fill out the world more and involve McLevy in some way. Sometimes they can be used to further McLevy's character growth. But most of the time, it feels contrived and forced. It involves the same characters, and the same type of sub stories that I just roll my eyes and have to power through it. In both book two and this one, it significantly brought down my enjoyment, especially because they have such a big role in the overall story. Some may enjoy these, but I did not.
So, while the mysteries were solid, there was a bit of a predictable reveal and too much time spent with frustrating side stories that pulled down my overall enjoyment. I would certainly recommend this series for fans of historical mysteries. McLevy is such a well written and unique character, it's worth even some of the mixed nature of the books.
Quick hits:
+ Our main characters are back to their usual roles and they're fantastic.
+ The writing stays wonderful.
+ The side characters were written really powerful.
- The mystery got too predictable.
- Too much time spent with silly side stories that felt contrived and forced.
January 28, 2020
Another great book, interweaving three crimes seamlessly. As before, a real person, this time Arthur Conan Doyle, is a major character in the novel. McLevy becomes, in part, the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. The American Civil War and spiritualism provide a backdrop to the action. There’s a surprising twist at the end, adding irony to the brew. The writing is excellent and characterisation superb. McLevy is, of course, at the heart of the action and his relationships with Jean Brash, Roach, Mulholland and Ballantyre are complex but believable. It’s a very warm and cheering book, despite the murders!
January 26, 2019
This is a very difficult book to summarize because it had so many plots running through it, although all are drawn together and the mysteries solved at the end, including one none are aware of until the actual ending. Most history buffs will be aware that the South sought to get aid from the UK during the War Between the States but generally that is about all. This novel goes into more depth about that, with a Confederate officer in Scotland seeking to buy ships to run the Northern blockades. Readers may wonder how that will reflect in a murder 18 years later and the appearance of an American psychic, but in the end, it does. Throw in a young physician named Conan Doyle who attaches himself to Inspector McLevy, and you've a deep, dark and very disturbing mystery that is full of irony as a story in which some of the villains aren't so villainous and the victims may just have gotten what they deserved.
McLevy gets more human with each story and in this one, he's at his most implacable in his pursuit of justice and his most vulnerable yet as he again is attracted to a woman involved in one aspect of a crime.
There's also more involvement with Constables Mulholland and Ballentyne, as well as Lieutenant Roach in this one. One poignant moment: When the port-wine birthmarked Ballentyne hopefully asks the psychic if she can bring about cures as Lord Jesus did.
Looking forward to the next entry.
This novel was purchased by the reviewer and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
McLevy gets more human with each story and in this one, he's at his most implacable in his pursuit of justice and his most vulnerable yet as he again is attracted to a woman involved in one aspect of a crime.
There's also more involvement with Constables Mulholland and Ballentyne, as well as Lieutenant Roach in this one. One poignant moment: When the port-wine birthmarked Ballentyne hopefully asks the psychic if she can bring about cures as Lord Jesus did.
Looking forward to the next entry.
This novel was purchased by the reviewer and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
September 2, 2019
A first class mystery starring some very delightful characters including Arthur Conan Doyle and possibly his inspirations for Sherlock Holmes (Inspector MsLevy ) as well as Ms Adler ! The dark undercurrents and chilling ambience in sinister Edinburgh of the Victorian era form the backdrop for a spectacular tale with a superb ending. The tale is a dark one, even so there are quite a few flashes of humour and wordplay is very artistic - highly recommended for the period mystery buffs!
February 16, 2018
A good enough Edinburgh crime caper, featuring Arthur Conan Doyle and Spiritualism, and McLevy finally gets Jean Brash in a cell, but he's not happy about it. Again my pet peeve comes into play - these new covers. I don't know who that skinny sophisticat is meant to be, but it's certainly not Inspector Mclevy!
April 2, 2019
I enjoyed this book. Setting is Edinburgh in the second half of the 19th Century. Good story although you can see the end coming a long way off, the details and the Scots language mak it weel worth while, forbye.
May 16, 2019
Great story
What a page turner. Inspector McLevy has his plate full with burglary, spiritualist and murder. How is it all solved; well that leds to a darn good read and surprises. Did not see the ending coming. Must read.
What a page turner. Inspector McLevy has his plate full with burglary, spiritualist and murder. How is it all solved; well that leds to a darn good read and surprises. Did not see the ending coming. Must read.
July 29, 2021
Great series. Inspector McLevy meets Arthur Conan Doyle. Nefarious affairs ensue. Delightful and deadly characters. Enjoy! Remember to shop your local, independent bookstores. They need your support.
July 28, 2022
Book 3 in the Detective McLevy series features the Scottish detective working several seemingly disparate cases. The appearance of a young Arthur Conan Doyle, an aspiring writer, adds much to the story.
January 31, 2019
I just couldn't get into this third book in the series. Not sure I will continue.
October 15, 2019
Engaging. More like a Dickens but mystery weaving through the continents
July 1, 2020
Really liked this book. Will read the others in the series.
January 27, 2021
Rank
Lieutenant (American Police rank) is synonymous with Inspector (British Police rank, ergo McLevy and Roach are of the same rank.
Lieutenant (American Police rank) is synonymous with Inspector (British Police rank, ergo McLevy and Roach are of the same rank.
June 2, 2021
Another page turner!
I love the humor, the complexity of the mystery and the flesh and blood characters! What a joy to experience!
I love the humor, the complexity of the mystery and the flesh and blood characters! What a joy to experience!
July 22, 2021
McLevy meets Arthur Conan Doyle while investigating a home robbery. When a gruesome murder takes place, McLevy asks Conan Doyle for assistance.
September 19, 2024
Getting very similar these McLevy books,Arthur Conan Doyle makes an appearance in this one. Only one left in the series so I’ll have to read it.
June 8, 2013
This was an interesting book for me, having recently read Inspector James McLevy's autobiography and having listened to the author's radio plays about the detective. Knowing the radio series a little, I could hear Brian Cox and Siobhan Redmond as McLevy and Jean Brash, which brought the characters more to life for me. There was also one incident that was clearly and unashamedly derived from an incident McLevy recorded in his autobiography. In the end, though, his book is a different animal to either.
The writing itself is a beautiful mixture of lyrical and intelligent verbosity and auld Scots patter. It doesn't talk down to you and assumes by the context that you'll get the meaning of any given word (be that Scottish slang or a unnecessarily literary word). And, as a Scot living in England, it was nice to be exposed to my native tongue. But some of the focus of that writing was lazy. A Victorian detective story set in Edinburgh where a young man barging into the station introduces himself as Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle? Predictable. That on meeting the young man, the heroic detective would make a Sherlockian series of deductions about him that astound and amaze young Doyle? Seen it before. That the young man would form an attachment to a pretty but distant young woman with the surname Adler? Yawn. That Doyle tells the detective that while he will not base his fiction on him, he has been inspired by some of the detectives doings and manners? Didn't need spelling out by that point. I feel like Ashton let himself (and the real James McLevy) down by being so obvious.
As to the rest of the story, it was easy to guess young Miss Adler's connection to the story told in the prologue and who she really was. The side story of Jean's deadly rivalry was fun for someone who knows the character, but you never felt any tension. I could easily tell where the story was headed and you knew McLevy would save the day. And the smaller, burglary case felt like it was only shoe-horned in to provide an entry for Doyle and someone who could later turn out to be the surprise unknown witness McLevy needed to tie the other case up in a neat little bow (and Ashton needed to give an otherwise predictable story an actual twist).
Because I enjoythe radio series and feel the characters could be so much better, I will probably give another McLevy novel a chance somewhere down the line. But I really do think Ashton could have done better on this one.
The writing itself is a beautiful mixture of lyrical and intelligent verbosity and auld Scots patter. It doesn't talk down to you and assumes by the context that you'll get the meaning of any given word (be that Scottish slang or a unnecessarily literary word). And, as a Scot living in England, it was nice to be exposed to my native tongue. But some of the focus of that writing was lazy. A Victorian detective story set in Edinburgh where a young man barging into the station introduces himself as Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle? Predictable. That on meeting the young man, the heroic detective would make a Sherlockian series of deductions about him that astound and amaze young Doyle? Seen it before. That the young man would form an attachment to a pretty but distant young woman with the surname Adler? Yawn. That Doyle tells the detective that while he will not base his fiction on him, he has been inspired by some of the detectives doings and manners? Didn't need spelling out by that point. I feel like Ashton let himself (and the real James McLevy) down by being so obvious.
As to the rest of the story, it was easy to guess young Miss Adler's connection to the story told in the prologue and who she really was. The side story of Jean's deadly rivalry was fun for someone who knows the character, but you never felt any tension. I could easily tell where the story was headed and you knew McLevy would save the day. And the smaller, burglary case felt like it was only shoe-horned in to provide an entry for Doyle and someone who could later turn out to be the surprise unknown witness McLevy needed to tie the other case up in a neat little bow (and Ashton needed to give an otherwise predictable story an actual twist).
Because I enjoythe radio series and feel the characters could be so much better, I will probably give another McLevy novel a chance somewhere down the line. But I really do think Ashton could have done better on this one.
June 19, 2014
Chapter one did nothing for me, in fact if I was in the habit of abandoning books I might have done so at that point but fortunately I carried on.
I found the first half of the book difficult to love. I would put it down then pick it up after a while by which point I had forgotten what was happening. Yet through all that the strength of McLevy's character kept me going and soon the plot picked up and several threads were carefully woven together.
By the time I got to the end I think I'd done a bit of a Lizzie Bennett and feel ashamed of how I first felt about it.
I highly recommend this book. I'll definitely be reading the others now.
I found the first half of the book difficult to love. I would put it down then pick it up after a while by which point I had forgotten what was happening. Yet through all that the strength of McLevy's character kept me going and soon the plot picked up and several threads were carefully woven together.
By the time I got to the end I think I'd done a bit of a Lizzie Bennett and feel ashamed of how I first felt about it.
I highly recommend this book. I'll definitely be reading the others now.
July 17, 2012
One of the Inspector McLevey series (3 so far). Set in teh criminal underbelly of Victorian Edinburgh. Ashton creates a very atmospheric picture of what life was like for the criminal element in Edinburgh and Leith. Converted to a very successful radio series featuring Brian Cox as McLevey ( The actor not the astrophysicist!)
February 4, 2013
The third of the Mclevy novels by David Ashton. I've enjoyed all three of these novels. McLevy is an interesting character the interactions between the characters are entertaining, and Edinburgh is well described.
This novel featured a spiritualist, a family grudge,a relic of the American Civil War, and a young Arthur Conan Doyle.
This novel featured a spiritualist, a family grudge,a relic of the American Civil War, and a young Arthur Conan Doyle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2013
Edinburgh murder mystery set in 1881.
I found the writing style to be overblown and the use of slang / dialect meant it was difficult to follow the story.
If this book had followed the writing style of Arthur Conan Doyle, very concise and every word supplying the reader with meaning, it would have been a much better book.
I found the writing style to be overblown and the use of slang / dialect meant it was difficult to follow the story.
If this book had followed the writing style of Arthur Conan Doyle, very concise and every word supplying the reader with meaning, it would have been a much better book.
August 6, 2012
Truth be told: I wasn't really all that impressed by this novel. I found the plot to be pretty obvious from the get-go, none of the central characters to be all that interesting, and the phonetic spelling of pronunciation to be rather off-putting.
Perhaps I'm just not the target audience?
Perhaps I'm just not the target audience?
October 15, 2013
My favourite so far. Inspector McLevy is a very interesting character, this time we had several plots interwoven and several murders too. This time Arthur Conan Doyle was brought into the tale and also the mild mannered copper Ballintyne who gives a lighter side to the story.
October 15, 2013
This murder mystery is set in Edinburgh in the late 19th century is full of twists and turns. Once you get used to the local dialect you will enjoy this book as it is a different approach from the usual murder mystery .
December 29, 2013
One of the particular little pleasures of writing a period mystery is that you get to incorporate famous real people into your story without risking lawsuits. Thus Arthur Conan Doyle can show up here. But he seems a smidge gratuitous. I mean the story didn't really need his contribution.
June 12, 2015
I have so far really enjoyed the Inspector McLevy series. I find them engaging and they have enough conspiracy and mystery to keep me interested. I found this book a little more predictable than the first but otherwise a great read.
July 16, 2016
Excellent yarn that includes not only the redoubtable McLevy, but spins a wonderful tale of how Author Conan Doyle met Sophia Adler and who served as the inspiration for the consulting detective! Highly recommended!
January 25, 2013
My favorite of the series so far. Ashton now has a firm handle on the interactions among his characters. A fun historical mystery.
February 24, 2013
Scotland - Edinburgh
May 30, 2013
This series by Ashton has been excellent
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews