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One Last Dram Before Midnight: The Complete Collected D.C.I. Daley Short Stories
Bringing together six short stories – two of which are previously unpublished – One Last Dram Before Midnight is the perfect Christmas gift for fans of Denzil Meyrick. These tales take us from Jim Daley's early days pounding the beat in Glasgow as a young constable to a light-hearted whisky smuggling romp involving Hamish and some ghostly pipers.
Includes four previously eBook exclusive 'Single End', 'Two One Three', 'Dalintober Moon' and 'Empty Nets and Promises'.
Includes four previously eBook exclusive 'Single End', 'Two One Three', 'Dalintober Moon' and 'Empty Nets and Promises'.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2017
27 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Denzil Meyrick
37 books527 followersDenzil Meyrick was a Scottish bestselling novelist. Prior to that, he served as a police officer with Strathclyde Police then a manager with Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll. Since 2012 Denzil Meyrick had worked as a writer of Scottish crime fiction novels. He was also an executive director of media production company Houses of Steel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 17, 2018
3.5★s for me. Thoroughly enjoyable!
”Daley had seen many men change; some for the better, many for the opposite.”
”As he gazed down at the city, it was almost as though it was staring back into his soul.”
I stumbled upon Denzil Meyrick by accident, and what a lucky find this was! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this little gem of short stories set around the mean streets of Glasgow, and the outlying seafront village of Kinloch. The beauty of the stories are that we first meet Jim Daley as a young constable just starting out, in the mid-1980s. There are no mobile phones or other technological contraptions to take our focus away from people having to listen to their instinct and use plain old common sense to solve crimes.
Jim Daley & his colleague and best mate Brian Scott find themselves in all sorts of situations and scrapes. The police aren’t without their obnoxious characters, and the crims aren’t all bad, some of them being small time fishermen (with a grudge).
While there is seriousness in the stories, there’s also much underlying humour which is so subtle, it amused me no end. Plenty of wry one liners and confusion due to Brian often misunderstanding the meaning of words – look out for these! A beauty is where Brian Scott was about to meet his maker in a disused warehouse. Luckily for him, Jim Daley found him just in time…
” ‘Brian!’, shouted Daley, rushing to his friend’s side. The stricken man looked up, squinting into the torch light, and moved his lips. ‘Brian, what is it? What are you trying to say?’ urged Daley, fearing the worst He leaned close into Scott’s face to try and hear what he was saying. ‘Have you got an fags on you, big man. I’m fair gasping here.’ “
I’m going to continue with the DCI Daley series, as this collection has whet my appetite to return to Glasgow.
”Daley had seen many men change; some for the better, many for the opposite.”
”As he gazed down at the city, it was almost as though it was staring back into his soul.”
I stumbled upon Denzil Meyrick by accident, and what a lucky find this was! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this little gem of short stories set around the mean streets of Glasgow, and the outlying seafront village of Kinloch. The beauty of the stories are that we first meet Jim Daley as a young constable just starting out, in the mid-1980s. There are no mobile phones or other technological contraptions to take our focus away from people having to listen to their instinct and use plain old common sense to solve crimes.
Jim Daley & his colleague and best mate Brian Scott find themselves in all sorts of situations and scrapes. The police aren’t without their obnoxious characters, and the crims aren’t all bad, some of them being small time fishermen (with a grudge).
While there is seriousness in the stories, there’s also much underlying humour which is so subtle, it amused me no end. Plenty of wry one liners and confusion due to Brian often misunderstanding the meaning of words – look out for these! A beauty is where Brian Scott was about to meet his maker in a disused warehouse. Luckily for him, Jim Daley found him just in time…
” ‘Brian!’, shouted Daley, rushing to his friend’s side. The stricken man looked up, squinting into the torch light, and moved his lips. ‘Brian, what is it? What are you trying to say?’ urged Daley, fearing the worst He leaned close into Scott’s face to try and hear what he was saying. ‘Have you got an fags on you, big man. I’m fair gasping here.’ “
I’m going to continue with the DCI Daley series, as this collection has whet my appetite to return to Glasgow.
January 1, 2018
I’m a huge fan of Denzil Meyrick and this collection of short stories certainly doesn’t disappoint. Some are set in Glasgow at the beginning of Jim Daley’s career in the police and also that of his colleague Brian Scott. Others are set in the village of Kinloch and feature some other well known characters such as Hamish. I could happily dip into these time and again. As ever the wry Scottish humour of Brian Scott and his one liners had me laughing out loud! Brilliant! Highly recommended
September 19, 2017
A collection of short stories involving DCI Daley
This is another new author for me and I did expect to be completely lost when reading stories about characters that I had never heard of but the beauty of these stories, apart from the good writing, is that it made me get to know not only the main two characters, DCI Jim Daley and his best friend and second-in-charge DS Brian Scott, but also perfectly set the scene where the events happened.
This is a collection of seven short stories mostly about DCI Daley and his early days in the police force pounding the streets of Glasgow. Most of the stories centre around the town and people of Kinloch and the writing is such that you are able to envisage the place so well. Scotland is such a beautiful country but the weather and the people are what really make it the place it is.
There are so many brilliant characters scattered throughout these tales and as they are set in different periods of time you get to learn about how different things were not only in the police force but also how people’s perceptions have changed over the years.
They are also so varied; one is regarding two characters in Kinloch, Hamish and Sandy who become caught up with a Russian trawler when they are trading illicit whiskey, and another is regarding an ancient necklace that has been in the local museum for years but is now being moved to London. We learn about various good and bad members of the police force, all of whom, I imagine have featured in the longer novels. The final story about Libyan refugees moving to the village is so up-to-date but again shows how the people are able to move with the times and adapt to new situations.
I certainly did not feel that I needed to read any of the previous novels to get to know DCI Daley but, of course, I now feel that I want to!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
This is another new author for me and I did expect to be completely lost when reading stories about characters that I had never heard of but the beauty of these stories, apart from the good writing, is that it made me get to know not only the main two characters, DCI Jim Daley and his best friend and second-in-charge DS Brian Scott, but also perfectly set the scene where the events happened.
This is a collection of seven short stories mostly about DCI Daley and his early days in the police force pounding the streets of Glasgow. Most of the stories centre around the town and people of Kinloch and the writing is such that you are able to envisage the place so well. Scotland is such a beautiful country but the weather and the people are what really make it the place it is.
There are so many brilliant characters scattered throughout these tales and as they are set in different periods of time you get to learn about how different things were not only in the police force but also how people’s perceptions have changed over the years.
They are also so varied; one is regarding two characters in Kinloch, Hamish and Sandy who become caught up with a Russian trawler when they are trading illicit whiskey, and another is regarding an ancient necklace that has been in the local museum for years but is now being moved to London. We learn about various good and bad members of the police force, all of whom, I imagine have featured in the longer novels. The final story about Libyan refugees moving to the village is so up-to-date but again shows how the people are able to move with the times and adapt to new situations.
I certainly did not feel that I needed to read any of the previous novels to get to know DCI Daley but, of course, I now feel that I want to!
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
January 19, 2018
Wow what a collection of stories.... I felt like a kid with a bag of sweets each time I read a story it just got better and better. What a delight.
June 26, 2021
Short fiction, all but one of the stories featuring Meyrick’s series characters DCI Daley and DS Scott. Ironically, the one that doesn’t involve them - the novella ‘Empty Nets and Promises’ - is the single best thing in the book, a marvellous shaggy dog story set in a small Scottish fishing village that comes across as ‘Whisky Galore’ meets ‘Dr Strangelove’ with a dash of the supernatural thrown in for good measure.
March 18, 2020
I enjoyed the DCI Daley stories, but the short stories at the beginning of the book were difficult to get through.
September 20, 2023
Easy listening but variable content. I think DCI Daley is better in novel length plots
February 13, 2024
** Should Read as 4.5 STARS!**
This delightful DCI Daley collection contains six short stories and one novella.
At the end of the book you'll notice some important "Notes" concerning all these lovely stories.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters come vividly to life within these captivating short stories, while Glasgow, Kinloch and several other places are also wonderfully pictured by the author.
The only novella, Empty Net and Promises, which is set in 1968, is about the fishermen Sandy Hoynes and young Hamish, the latter will play an important part in the main series, and their adventure with Russians, Americans and their illicit whisky plot.
Two short stories, the first one called "Two One Three" is situated in 1986, and is featuring a young Jim Daley as a cop on-the-beat, first working under Sergeant John Donald, a man with dark secrets and who will come to a certain end in the main series, but later on recruited by DI Burns of CID and who will be his mentor for life, to investigate the murder of a young woman, while the second "Single End", which is situated in 1989, will have DC Brian Scott in very serious trouble and with DC Jim Daley coming to the rescue after an anonymous tip-off.
Four others, "Dalintober Moon", "One Last Dram Before Midnight", "Silent Man" and "Strangers" are situated during the main series, and we'll see DCI Jim Daley and his friend and colleague DS Brian Scott fighting ghosts from the past, searching for a silent man and try to tackle the case of the elusive historical necklace in Kinloch and surroundings.
What is to follow is an exciting and captivating kind of short stories, with Jim Daley and his friend Brian Scott from past to present, and together they will solve cases in their own kind of way, accompanied with their own kind of banter and determination.
Very much recommended, for this is a superb addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this novel: "A Wonderful Collection Of Short Stories"!
This delightful DCI Daley collection contains six short stories and one novella.
At the end of the book you'll notice some important "Notes" concerning all these lovely stories.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters come vividly to life within these captivating short stories, while Glasgow, Kinloch and several other places are also wonderfully pictured by the author.
The only novella, Empty Net and Promises, which is set in 1968, is about the fishermen Sandy Hoynes and young Hamish, the latter will play an important part in the main series, and their adventure with Russians, Americans and their illicit whisky plot.
Two short stories, the first one called "Two One Three" is situated in 1986, and is featuring a young Jim Daley as a cop on-the-beat, first working under Sergeant John Donald, a man with dark secrets and who will come to a certain end in the main series, but later on recruited by DI Burns of CID and who will be his mentor for life, to investigate the murder of a young woman, while the second "Single End", which is situated in 1989, will have DC Brian Scott in very serious trouble and with DC Jim Daley coming to the rescue after an anonymous tip-off.
Four others, "Dalintober Moon", "One Last Dram Before Midnight", "Silent Man" and "Strangers" are situated during the main series, and we'll see DCI Jim Daley and his friend and colleague DS Brian Scott fighting ghosts from the past, searching for a silent man and try to tackle the case of the elusive historical necklace in Kinloch and surroundings.
What is to follow is an exciting and captivating kind of short stories, with Jim Daley and his friend Brian Scott from past to present, and together they will solve cases in their own kind of way, accompanied with their own kind of banter and determination.
Very much recommended, for this is a superb addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this novel: "A Wonderful Collection Of Short Stories"!
July 25, 2021
One Last Dram Before Midnight is a brilliant collection of short stories linked to the DCI Daley series. I say linked because whilst a good number to tie back to DCI Daley and DS Scott, there is one in there which is very much Hamish's story, set long before Daley and Scott had even heard of Kinloch.
It was nice to get these small tasters of Daley and Scott outside of their full length adventures, providing some more background to the pair in their earlier days on the beat and their first steps into the world of the Detectives. Seeing Scott caught in the crossfires of a less than orthodox investigation and Daley cultivating his long held feud with Donaldson just added more to my enjoyment of the stories as a whole. I listened to the audiobook version and they all kept me completely amused and entertained during a particularly tedious and data heavy shift at work.
If you are a fan of the series, or you just want to hear try a little taster of Daley, Scott and Hamish before diving into the full length books, then this is definitely a book I'd recommend. With half a dozen stories to choose from they make the perfect lunch break filler and are guaranteed to have you smiling, as well as keeping you on tenterhooks.
It was nice to get these small tasters of Daley and Scott outside of their full length adventures, providing some more background to the pair in their earlier days on the beat and their first steps into the world of the Detectives. Seeing Scott caught in the crossfires of a less than orthodox investigation and Daley cultivating his long held feud with Donaldson just added more to my enjoyment of the stories as a whole. I listened to the audiobook version and they all kept me completely amused and entertained during a particularly tedious and data heavy shift at work.
If you are a fan of the series, or you just want to hear try a little taster of Daley, Scott and Hamish before diving into the full length books, then this is definitely a book I'd recommend. With half a dozen stories to choose from they make the perfect lunch break filler and are guaranteed to have you smiling, as well as keeping you on tenterhooks.
August 9, 2020
This is a book of short stories about the protagonist of Mr Meyrick's police stories, DCI Daley of Kinlock on the West cost of Scotland.
I read the first two in 2015 and 2016 without leaving any notes.
Two One Three (Daley's badge number) and Single Ends are set in Glasgow covering how and when Daley met his old friend DS Brian Scott and how Scott used his background to help the police. I found that the first didn't really establish a clear sense of time but I like the story. The second was rather disturbing as Scott had a very risk assignment. It was fun to see how the friendship between the two men was forged.
The remaining stories are visiting more familiar territory, Kinloch in the present. As always, I enjoyed the stories of the little village and its characters. In particular, One Last Dram before Midnight was familiar and comfortable and enjoyable, not exploring new territory. However, The Silent Man is a bit different and is a good little Christmas story if you are looking for one and Strangers is a little gem of a story touching on current affairs as well as timeless truths.
A good little book especially if you have read some of the novels.
I read the first two in 2015 and 2016 without leaving any notes.
Two One Three (Daley's badge number) and Single Ends are set in Glasgow covering how and when Daley met his old friend DS Brian Scott and how Scott used his background to help the police. I found that the first didn't really establish a clear sense of time but I like the story. The second was rather disturbing as Scott had a very risk assignment. It was fun to see how the friendship between the two men was forged.
The remaining stories are visiting more familiar territory, Kinloch in the present. As always, I enjoyed the stories of the little village and its characters. In particular, One Last Dram before Midnight was familiar and comfortable and enjoyable, not exploring new territory. However, The Silent Man is a bit different and is a good little Christmas story if you are looking for one and Strangers is a little gem of a story touching on current affairs as well as timeless truths.
A good little book especially if you have read some of the novels.
May 26, 2021
I'm not a reader of short stories. Better to read in full - that's my view. But I definitely AM a regular reader of Denzil Meyrick and his DCI Daley series.
In between now and the new Book 9 in the Daley series, I thought I'd try this to see if short stories by one of my favourite writers would be any better.
And the answer to THAT is a great big YES!
If you've never read Meyrick before, or, like me, are in between one Daley and the next, then this is DEFINITELY for you! Hell, even if you don't fit either of those categories, this is for you! So much action, characters, suspense, humour in one volume!
Get it! You won't be sorry!
In between now and the new Book 9 in the Daley series, I thought I'd try this to see if short stories by one of my favourite writers would be any better.
And the answer to THAT is a great big YES!
If you've never read Meyrick before, or, like me, are in between one Daley and the next, then this is DEFINITELY for you! Hell, even if you don't fit either of those categories, this is for you! So much action, characters, suspense, humour in one volume!
Get it! You won't be sorry!
June 11, 2021
I can't get enough of Daley, Scott and the residents of Kinloch, so was pleased to find this collection of short stories. I'm not always a fan of short stories, but there isn't a bad one amongst these. We hear about Jim's first day in CID and how he met Brian Scott. We learn about Hamish as a younger man, and how he almost managed to start WW3 aboard a Russian trawler!
The stories may be short, but they're still action packed, and all the usual humour is there. As with the other books in this fab series, they are read by the wonderful David Monteath who brings every one of the characters to life.
The stories may be short, but they're still action packed, and all the usual humour is there. As with the other books in this fab series, they are read by the wonderful David Monteath who brings every one of the characters to life.
August 28, 2023
I always find it difficult to rate short story collections. not my favourite genre and I ordered this on line I didn't realise it was short stories as I had wanted to read one of this writer's novels being set in Scotland. I found the first two dire, especially the second one when there were endless references to bride to be in her mid thirties, finding it difficult to get a husband because of her large bottom. This irritated and found distasteful. All the other stories were ok but took a long time to get into. good for xmas of the series to bget a back story to th e protagonists but there are better things set in Scotland.
July 22, 2019
I don't see many short stories in the police procedural genre, so this collection, of some old favourites and some new, was a rare pleasure. Meyrick is a master of pacing, and these stories flow beautifully, never slow, but never so fast that impact is lost. I was particularly impressed with the final story, Strangers, which highlighted the plight of the newly arrived refugee (or really any immigrant) with feeling, but without any of the mawkishness which spoils the general run of Christmas stories.
November 14, 2019
This cheerful collection of six short stories of DCI Daley and DS Brian Scott cover their early days on the Force in Glasgow as well as their time in the small village of Kinloch. While Daley always plays the straight man, Scott and the townsfolk of Kinloch are entertainingly fun or whacky. The novels have been getting bleaker over time so it’s a refreshing change to get some happier stories. I usually find short stories too short and therefore unsatisfying, but each of these is substantial enough in their own right.
April 7, 2021
I’m a big fan of this series and currently on book 6 so thought I would read this collection before moving on any further.
And pleased I did as this series of stories, really fresh out Daley and Scott, aswell as Hamish are really are a fantastic addition to the series from an author who I rate extreme highly.
I think even within reading the series your could pick these up but I highly recommend you read the whole series.
A wonderful journey kinloch, both past and present, full of Meyrick’s gritty and no holds bars stories but as ever with a Brillant cutting wit.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
And pleased I did as this series of stories, really fresh out Daley and Scott, aswell as Hamish are really are a fantastic addition to the series from an author who I rate extreme highly.
I think even within reading the series your could pick these up but I highly recommend you read the whole series.
A wonderful journey kinloch, both past and present, full of Meyrick’s gritty and no holds bars stories but as ever with a Brillant cutting wit.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
January 12, 2019
A selection of short stories which are actually quite long featuring characters from the pen of Denzil Meyrick. They contain humour, nostalgia and are told in my native Scottish language. Overall they kept me occupied while doing household chores but I must confess I prefer the authors longer books and sadly I've listened to all that audible has :(
I found the sound level perfect as was the narration.
I found the sound level perfect as was the narration.
August 1, 2019
Great collection of ‘ crime’ stories but more quirky and comical than the main DCI Daley series. All our favourite characters are here in and around Kinloch and some are present day and some have a fair amount from the character’s past.
Some genuine laugh out loud moments- very welcome on a 10 hour drive! This Scot is worth reading, team his books up with David Monteath’s narration and you have a winner!
Some genuine laugh out loud moments- very welcome on a 10 hour drive! This Scot is worth reading, team his books up with David Monteath’s narration and you have a winner!
August 14, 2019
I am not usually one for short stories HOWEVER I could not resist any book written by Denzil Meyrick & I was not disappointed when the stories came to an end. Great little reads!!! Nice to see Hamish was back & as always nothing surprises me with his character, even Santa I can definitely recommend to Denzil fans or even as an intro to the series. Well done & thank you Denzil!!
January 20, 2018
Liked this book of short stories. This filled in some of the time before the start of the series. Also up to date stuff covering issues that are so true in Scotland at the moment.
Good read for me as I was not feeling great and needed something that was in nice bite size bits.
Good read for me as I was not feeling great and needed something that was in nice bite size bits.
May 27, 2019
I like the Daley series but am no fan of short stories. Some of these were pretty good but needed some "fleshing out" and a few couldn't really "get" me, en particular where there was no real involvement by the police force and not really any "policing" to be done.
October 22, 2020
Audible version, read by David Monteath.
I love DCI Jim Daley and DS Brian Scott, and all the wonderful characters in Kinloch.
great short stories giving background to all the characters.
i could happily listen to David Monteath for a long time!!
I love DCI Jim Daley and DS Brian Scott, and all the wonderful characters in Kinloch.
great short stories giving background to all the characters.
i could happily listen to David Monteath for a long time!!
April 15, 2021
Really enjoyable short stories involving the people of Kinloch giving us a better understanding of their past.
Daley and Scott are great characters. There was a lovely Christmas story too.
Just love the characters and setting.
Daley and Scott are great characters. There was a lovely Christmas story too.
Just love the characters and setting.
August 11, 2021
This is a collection of six short stories all relating to Denzil Meyrick's DCI Daley series. I enjoyed listening to these short stories by audiobook, which contained all the local characters in Kinloch. Gosh never a dull moment for DCI Daley and his sidekick Brian Scott.
Well worth a listen to.
Well worth a listen to.
August 15, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. This is a set of short stories, all of which are prequels to the actions and events of the series proper. Some of the stories are better than others, but I love the DCI Daley stories so much I want to read all of them
April 22, 2024
I have now read everything based in Kinloch and am feeling a little bereft. I enjoyed meeting the characters in different settings and stages of life. The writing is amazing and the audible narration has me howling with laughter. Now what will I start reading next?!
June 21, 2024
Does what it says on the tin. If you’ve read any of the DCI Daley books you’ll know most of the characters. If not you’ll be reaching for the novels. In fact I’m about to start the series from the beginning by re reading Whisky From Small Glasses.
September 24, 2024
The compendium One Last Dram Before Midnight contains 7 stories. 5 have been published as ebooks or exclusives - Dalintober Moon - A DCI Daley short story, Empty Nets and Promises - A Kinloch novella , Two One Three - A Constable Jim Daley short story, Single End - A DCI Daley short story, Strangers - A DCI Daley short story and two new stories - One Last Dram Before Midnight - A DCI Daley short story, The Silent Man - A DCI Daley short story.
In The Silent Man, a Grampa wanders away from his home for the last 5 years. His young grandson helps Daley and Scott solve his disappearance. A Christmas story.
In The Silent Man, a Grampa wanders away from his home for the last 5 years. His young grandson helps Daley and Scott solve his disappearance. A Christmas story.
November 2, 2024
Well That's One Last Dram Before Midnight by Denzil Meyrick done, loved these short stories of Kinloch, especially The Silent Man, this one hit home so much. Have loved all the Daley & Scott series, if anyone hasn't read these, I suggest you do 😊
December 13, 2017
I enjoyed reading the collection of short stories, in particular the one relating how the two policemen, Shaw and Delaney first worked together.
An excellent read.
An excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews