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DI Pereira & DS Bain #1
Cold Cuts
Revenge is a dish best served ... sliced.
The new cold meat option in the sandwich shop isn't chicken, and it isn't pork. It's Kevin Moyes, missing for two weeks, now presumed dead.
The Serious Crime Unit are notified, and the hunt for the macabre butcher takes detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain to the meat-processing factory where the human flesh entered the food chain. They are followed by a media frenzy, with Pereira's boss demanding immediate results. But while the factory is clean and no one is talking, some of the players have gone missing, people are still dying, and the butcher's work is not yet done.
COLD CUTS introduces DI Pereira and DS Bain, Glasgow detectives on the trail of a killer through a sordid underworld of deceit, vengeance and murder.
Tartan Noir never tasted so delicious.
The new cold meat option in the sandwich shop isn't chicken, and it isn't pork. It's Kevin Moyes, missing for two weeks, now presumed dead.
The Serious Crime Unit are notified, and the hunt for the macabre butcher takes detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain to the meat-processing factory where the human flesh entered the food chain. They are followed by a media frenzy, with Pereira's boss demanding immediate results. But while the factory is clean and no one is talking, some of the players have gone missing, people are still dying, and the butcher's work is not yet done.
COLD CUTS introduces DI Pereira and DS Bain, Glasgow detectives on the trail of a killer through a sordid underworld of deceit, vengeance and murder.
Tartan Noir never tasted so delicious.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 9, 2017
Cold Cuts is my first book by Douglas Lindsay but I have already sought out his other novels to read as I loved this one so much. He is definitely my newest favourite author and I want to read everything he has wrote.
SYNOPSIS - Revenge is a dish best served ... sliced.
The new cold meat option in the sandwich shop isn't chicken, and it isn't pork. It's Kevin Moyes, missing for two weeks, now presumed dead.
The Serious Crime Unit are notified, and the hunt for the macabre butcher takes detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain to the meat-processing factory where the human flesh entered the food chain. They are followed by a media frenzy, with Pereira's boss demanding immediate results. But while the factory is clean and no one is talking, some of the players have gone missing, people are still dying, and the butcher's work is not yet done.
COLD CUTS introduces DI Pereira and DS Bain, Glasgow detectives on the trail of a killer through a sordid underworld of deceit, vengeance and murder.
Tartan Noir never tasted so delicious.
Firstly, it was very easy to get into and the suspense starts right at the beginning and continues right until the end. The chapters are a perfect length and the style of writing is excellent and simple to follow. It is plotted to perfection and at no point is it boring or slow. Due to some gore this may not be a book for the squeamish, for me I liked this aspect as it sets the story apart from other crime novels.
I enjoyed each characters traits especially Pereira who is a capable copper and her relationship and interaction with Bain was a delight, they worked very well together. There was enough information about Pereira and Bain, just the right amount and I look forward to learning more about them both in the rest of the series.
I love that Lindsay has broached the serious subjects of workplace discrimination, racism and gay rights in the book. The diversity in a joy to behold, I am so glad that writers are using characters that are diverse as it reflects real life and has been a long time coming. Lindsay lightens the mood throughout using black/dry humour and this balanced out against the grisly aspects with great success - tartan noir at it's very best.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book, a fantastic read in my opinion.
I would like to thank Bastei Entertainment/Douglas Lindsay and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
SYNOPSIS - Revenge is a dish best served ... sliced.
The new cold meat option in the sandwich shop isn't chicken, and it isn't pork. It's Kevin Moyes, missing for two weeks, now presumed dead.
The Serious Crime Unit are notified, and the hunt for the macabre butcher takes detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain to the meat-processing factory where the human flesh entered the food chain. They are followed by a media frenzy, with Pereira's boss demanding immediate results. But while the factory is clean and no one is talking, some of the players have gone missing, people are still dying, and the butcher's work is not yet done.
COLD CUTS introduces DI Pereira and DS Bain, Glasgow detectives on the trail of a killer through a sordid underworld of deceit, vengeance and murder.
Tartan Noir never tasted so delicious.
Firstly, it was very easy to get into and the suspense starts right at the beginning and continues right until the end. The chapters are a perfect length and the style of writing is excellent and simple to follow. It is plotted to perfection and at no point is it boring or slow. Due to some gore this may not be a book for the squeamish, for me I liked this aspect as it sets the story apart from other crime novels.
I enjoyed each characters traits especially Pereira who is a capable copper and her relationship and interaction with Bain was a delight, they worked very well together. There was enough information about Pereira and Bain, just the right amount and I look forward to learning more about them both in the rest of the series.
I love that Lindsay has broached the serious subjects of workplace discrimination, racism and gay rights in the book. The diversity in a joy to behold, I am so glad that writers are using characters that are diverse as it reflects real life and has been a long time coming. Lindsay lightens the mood throughout using black/dry humour and this balanced out against the grisly aspects with great success - tartan noir at it's very best.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book, a fantastic read in my opinion.
I would like to thank Bastei Entertainment/Douglas Lindsay and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2017
COLD CUTS is a treat for those who not only like crime thrillers, but like looking at the start of a brand new series. This series features DI Aliya Pereira and DS Bain, Glasgow detectives.
Kevin Moyes has been missing for weeks. Part of him has finally shown up ... as a new kind of cold meat in a sandwich shop. Made me think of SPAM, the canned 'meat'. I suppose we could call it the 'other' white meat.
The Serious Crime Unit is called and Pereira and Bain are on there way. The hunt for this killer takes them through to a meat-processing plant, looking for clues how the human flesh got delivered to the shop.
And how many other deliveries have their been? How many stores have received this 'surprise' meat?
Mr. Moyes is not the only person gone missing. Makes you wonder where the next body is found.
I enjoyed meeting the new characters ... professionally and personally. Pereira is a single mom trying not to feel guilty about all the time she doesn't spend with her children. Bain is fairly new and trying to show that he is worthy of being a part of the Serious Crime Unit.
This is well written with a unique killer and notable characters. Look out for the twists and turns and the very surprising ending. I look forward to the next in the series .... THE JUDAS FLOWER.
Many thanks to the author, be-ebooks / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Kevin Moyes has been missing for weeks. Part of him has finally shown up ... as a new kind of cold meat in a sandwich shop. Made me think of SPAM, the canned 'meat'. I suppose we could call it the 'other' white meat.
The Serious Crime Unit is called and Pereira and Bain are on there way. The hunt for this killer takes them through to a meat-processing plant, looking for clues how the human flesh got delivered to the shop.
And how many other deliveries have their been? How many stores have received this 'surprise' meat?
Mr. Moyes is not the only person gone missing. Makes you wonder where the next body is found.
I enjoyed meeting the new characters ... professionally and personally. Pereira is a single mom trying not to feel guilty about all the time she doesn't spend with her children. Bain is fairly new and trying to show that he is worthy of being a part of the Serious Crime Unit.
This is well written with a unique killer and notable characters. Look out for the twists and turns and the very surprising ending. I look forward to the next in the series .... THE JUDAS FLOWER.
Many thanks to the author, be-ebooks / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 15, 2017
An author I have long admired and collected but never really read. Cold Cults marks a new police series from this author and too good an opportunity to pass up.
DI Pereira and DS Bain are the detectives chosen to head up this new police procedural series based in Glasgow.
I have always loved crime set in Scotland and so that is a winner for me; that this first case starts on Millport is also a plus having been there. The cop team is very important, so we have a female DI and and male as her junior. That she is also Indian and unmarried is also added into the mix but the backstory is for later books. We do learn that she relies a lot on her Mother for childcare and she often works late. Her boss is moving on and she had yet to meet his replacement.
Meanwhile she has been given a case where human remains have ended up in the food chain.
I enjoyed the logic and pace of the investigation; the plot was outrageous at times but Bain enters into this side of the story by imagining the case becoming a Cohen Brothers movie.
Quite dark at times with hints at the modern world we live in regarding mobile phones.
Not overtly graphic but well told that you imagination did a lot of the work for the author.
The menace that certain characters bring was also well written and gave the story that extra lift and an uneasy smile on your face.
A promising start and good to know that the next book is due out as well to cement this new series.
DI Pereira and DS Bain are the detectives chosen to head up this new police procedural series based in Glasgow.
I have always loved crime set in Scotland and so that is a winner for me; that this first case starts on Millport is also a plus having been there. The cop team is very important, so we have a female DI and and male as her junior. That she is also Indian and unmarried is also added into the mix but the backstory is for later books. We do learn that she relies a lot on her Mother for childcare and she often works late. Her boss is moving on and she had yet to meet his replacement.
Meanwhile she has been given a case where human remains have ended up in the food chain.
I enjoyed the logic and pace of the investigation; the plot was outrageous at times but Bain enters into this side of the story by imagining the case becoming a Cohen Brothers movie.
Quite dark at times with hints at the modern world we live in regarding mobile phones.
Not overtly graphic but well told that you imagination did a lot of the work for the author.
The menace that certain characters bring was also well written and gave the story that extra lift and an uneasy smile on your face.
A promising start and good to know that the next book is due out as well to cement this new series.
September 26, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bastei Entertainment for an advance copy of Cold Cuts the first novel to feature DI Pereira and DS Bain of the Glasgow Police.
Pereira and Bain get sent to Millport on the Island of Great Cumbrae to investigate a sandwich shop serving up pieces of Kevin Moynes instead of the expected pork. Fortunately distribution isn't widespread but it leads back to the processing plant where people are keeping secrets.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Cuts. It is novella length so it is the straightforward tale of a less than straightforward investigation but it packs a punch. Obviously the subject matter suggests that it may not be for the faint hearted but there is a black humour to it that amused me. I am familiar with the locations mentioned which adds to the enjoyment - I'm not sure that I have read a book where Millport features so prominently and not a bike in sight (cycling round the island is a rite of passage up here).
I like the characters DI Pereira is known to her colleagues as the box ticker - Asian bisexual - and while her new boss DCI Cooper is at pains to point out that he has nothing against her but he doesn't approve of positive discrimination she wishes it has worked for her! She's feisty. DI Bain is not as developed but seems to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of trivia which provides some amusing moments.
Cold Cuts is a short, entertaining read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Pereira and Bain get sent to Millport on the Island of Great Cumbrae to investigate a sandwich shop serving up pieces of Kevin Moynes instead of the expected pork. Fortunately distribution isn't widespread but it leads back to the processing plant where people are keeping secrets.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Cuts. It is novella length so it is the straightforward tale of a less than straightforward investigation but it packs a punch. Obviously the subject matter suggests that it may not be for the faint hearted but there is a black humour to it that amused me. I am familiar with the locations mentioned which adds to the enjoyment - I'm not sure that I have read a book where Millport features so prominently and not a bike in sight (cycling round the island is a rite of passage up here).
I like the characters DI Pereira is known to her colleagues as the box ticker - Asian bisexual - and while her new boss DCI Cooper is at pains to point out that he has nothing against her but he doesn't approve of positive discrimination she wishes it has worked for her! She's feisty. DI Bain is not as developed but seems to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of trivia which provides some amusing moments.
Cold Cuts is a short, entertaining read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 26, 2017
DI Pereira and DS Bain are on the trail of a killer - but not just any killer. This one actually slices up the victims, packages up their body parts, and distributes them for public consumption. To describe this scenario as disgusting is hardly necessary, but I've read other horror stories that were more graphic, so this wasn't the worst problem for me in the book, although I found it rather tasteless (pun intended).
The book is short, a bit more than novella length, and I count this as a blessing. There was very little in which to engage the reader, aside from the gory basis of the story. None of the characters were developed; we know very little about the detectives on the case, and less about the suspects. However, I get the feeling that this was intentional on the part of the author, Douglas Lindsay, and although I didn't care for this aspect, I believe there are others who like this type of storytelling. I would have enjoyed knowing more about DI Pereira, particularly, including her background as a detective, and more about her personal life, about which the author drops tantalizing hints, but never follows up on. I suspect these facts will be fleshed out (sorry, punning again!) in future sequels, but I wanted more info up front.
The ending was just that: an ending. I said aloud, "Really? This is it?" as I read the last paragraph. Then I realized that this book would be a perfect TV show. In fact, it reads exactly like a crime show. Little time to develop characters, the case is presented, the detectives find a few clues and close the case. And the dialogue (which, by the way, was my favorite part of the book), was quick and witty at times. The ending was a perfect ending to a crime TV show. Boom. Case closed with a bit of creepiness hanging on there at the end.
I won't be reading any more of this series, but I have no doubt others will enjoy it. For those of you who choose to read it, dig in with relish. And maybe some salt and pepper.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bastei Entertainment for an ARC for my honest review.
The book is short, a bit more than novella length, and I count this as a blessing. There was very little in which to engage the reader, aside from the gory basis of the story. None of the characters were developed; we know very little about the detectives on the case, and less about the suspects. However, I get the feeling that this was intentional on the part of the author, Douglas Lindsay, and although I didn't care for this aspect, I believe there are others who like this type of storytelling. I would have enjoyed knowing more about DI Pereira, particularly, including her background as a detective, and more about her personal life, about which the author drops tantalizing hints, but never follows up on. I suspect these facts will be fleshed out (sorry, punning again!) in future sequels, but I wanted more info up front.
The ending was just that: an ending. I said aloud, "Really? This is it?" as I read the last paragraph. Then I realized that this book would be a perfect TV show. In fact, it reads exactly like a crime show. Little time to develop characters, the case is presented, the detectives find a few clues and close the case. And the dialogue (which, by the way, was my favorite part of the book), was quick and witty at times. The ending was a perfect ending to a crime TV show. Boom. Case closed with a bit of creepiness hanging on there at the end.
I won't be reading any more of this series, but I have no doubt others will enjoy it. For those of you who choose to read it, dig in with relish. And maybe some salt and pepper.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bastei Entertainment for an ARC for my honest review.
October 16, 2017
This book had plenty of gore and a bit of a mystery, but it felt like I was just thrown into the story already in progress and was quickly finished with the barest of details in between.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
October 3, 2017
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
I like this book. Before writing this review, I went to Amazon to find more! and pre-ordered the next in this series.
This was a short, easy and entertaining read for me. Yes, it was about a gory and grisly murder (s). But that was balanced with a nice, dry humor The main characters were interesting and well-balanced, yet not without personalty and their individual "quirks".. Quirks a fine -- we've all got them, but so often these days I find the story gets lost in the "quirks". Not so with Cold Cuts. The story was detailed enough that it made sense, but not so detailed as to slow it down. I am looking forward to the further adventures of Pereira and Bain!
I like this book. Before writing this review, I went to Amazon to find more! and pre-ordered the next in this series.
This was a short, easy and entertaining read for me. Yes, it was about a gory and grisly murder (s). But that was balanced with a nice, dry humor The main characters were interesting and well-balanced, yet not without personalty and their individual "quirks".. Quirks a fine -- we've all got them, but so often these days I find the story gets lost in the "quirks". Not so with Cold Cuts. The story was detailed enough that it made sense, but not so detailed as to slow it down. I am looking forward to the further adventures of Pereira and Bain!
September 28, 2017
4 and 1 / 2 stars
DI Aliya Pereira is looking over a statistical report while DS Marc Bain is rattling on about the United States’ space program. DI Pereira gets called into DCI Parker’s office. They have a new case. Thirty-one year old Kevin Moyes who has been missing for two weeks has finally turned up – in a sandwich meat package.
Taking a ferry to Millport, they question the owner of the shop where part of Kevin was found. They comb the little town of Millport searching for other eateries that received meat from distributor MeatLux. From there they travel to the meat packing plant. They interview relatives, friends and acquaintances of Kevin Moyes. They pick up a tip about a traveling salesman named Dirk. They track down his wife and speak to her.
When Pereira and Bain happen upon the killer in an abandoned warehouse with her latest kill, they are surprised. As is the reader. But our story is not over yet. Chantelle, Kevin’s girlfriend, and her creepy four-year old son still have a part to play in our little drama.
I don’t know exactly what to say about this book. I confess to inappropriately laughing at parts. Fortunately, I was home alone. This book is very well written and plotted. The suspense starts out immediately and continues throughout the book. The chuckle factor decreased as the book went on. I liked the relationship between Pereira and Bain. They make a very good team, with Bain’s nattering on about inconsequential factoids a delight. Sufficient information was given about the main characters’ backgrounds as to make them interesting, but not so much that it intruded on the story. This is my first Douglas Lindsay novel, but it won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to check out his other books. Very well done, Mr. Lindsay!
I want to thank NetGalley and be-ebooks/Bastei Entertainment for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read and enjoy.
DI Aliya Pereira is looking over a statistical report while DS Marc Bain is rattling on about the United States’ space program. DI Pereira gets called into DCI Parker’s office. They have a new case. Thirty-one year old Kevin Moyes who has been missing for two weeks has finally turned up – in a sandwich meat package.
Taking a ferry to Millport, they question the owner of the shop where part of Kevin was found. They comb the little town of Millport searching for other eateries that received meat from distributor MeatLux. From there they travel to the meat packing plant. They interview relatives, friends and acquaintances of Kevin Moyes. They pick up a tip about a traveling salesman named Dirk. They track down his wife and speak to her.
When Pereira and Bain happen upon the killer in an abandoned warehouse with her latest kill, they are surprised. As is the reader. But our story is not over yet. Chantelle, Kevin’s girlfriend, and her creepy four-year old son still have a part to play in our little drama.
I don’t know exactly what to say about this book. I confess to inappropriately laughing at parts. Fortunately, I was home alone. This book is very well written and plotted. The suspense starts out immediately and continues throughout the book. The chuckle factor decreased as the book went on. I liked the relationship between Pereira and Bain. They make a very good team, with Bain’s nattering on about inconsequential factoids a delight. Sufficient information was given about the main characters’ backgrounds as to make them interesting, but not so much that it intruded on the story. This is my first Douglas Lindsay novel, but it won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to check out his other books. Very well done, Mr. Lindsay!
I want to thank NetGalley and be-ebooks/Bastei Entertainment for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read and enjoy.
October 23, 2017
Actually 4.5 stars.
I am a bit fan of this author and have been since about 2011 when I first read the Barney Thompson series, followed more recently by Jericho and Hutton as well as a few stand alones. This one marks the beginning of a new series starring DI Pereira and DS Bain from the serious crime squad working out of Glasgow. It is only really a novella by length and so breaks the trend of using the first in series to set up and define the characters and setting, rather we drive straight in on a case and get a bit of everything and not enough of anything for me to make a complete decision as to whether this will be a series for me to avidly follow initially. That said, I did enjoy this book and have enjoyed every book by this author thus far so chances are good that I will be a fan of this new series in time.
So, there's this sandwich shop in Millport and they receive a delivery of meat. Nothing new there, apart from the fact that one of their orders has been substituted (queue home delivered shopping sympathy moans). Not being 100% sure what meat it is, they decide to accept it and sell it anyway. Trouble is, as the blurb explains, it isn't pork and it isn't chicken. Turns out, it's missing person Kevin Moyes. DI Pereira is given the case, along with trusty sidekick DS Bain, with new DI Cooper keeping a bit of a close eye on her. He thinks that she has only got her position in the police because she is a box ticker's dream hire being an Asian, bisexual single mum; the result of positive discrimination. Anyway, our two intrepid investigators trace the dodgy meat back to the distributors and then further back, identifying the meat processing plant; the suspected point of origin. All this taking place interspersed with Bain's wide array of trivial facts and figures, injected at poignant times giving the occasional moment of hilarity. Black humour anyone?
The plot itself is intriguing and really contains a bit of everything. Too much to mention here, and definitely too spoilery to give any details. It is also very well worked out. Not too much is revealed too early. Indeed, the book will have you guessing right until the last page and probably beyond as the penny finally drops.
Pereira and Bain work well as a combination. Chalk and cheese really but they complement each other very well. They remind me a bit of a straightman and a stooge at times with their banter and irreverent conversational topics but this in turn balances out what is a rather grisly series of crimes that have been committed. It's very much tongue in cheek at times. And funny, often very funny, mostly when it shouldn't be but hey, that's black humour for you.
The other characters are all an eclectic mix of weirdos. Each with a part to play in the whole story but individually, definitely people you would want to avoid at all costs. Creepy does not really do them justice!
Being very familiar with this author's work and knowing what I was getting into having read his other works, I knew I was in for a treat as soon as I read the synopsis. And I wasn't disappointed. Yes, I would have liked a bit more background, yes I would have probably preferred the author to stick to the traditional way of starting a new series, introducing his characters and all, but you know what, this author has always coloured outside the lines for me and I guess I should have expected something like this being as he has towed the line for his previous two series (Hutton and Jericho) starting both these off in the more traditional way.
All in all a different but very enjoyable series opener. I see that there is a second in series up for pre-order already. One with a much higher page count. I've enjoyed my introduction to our motley
crew in this, dare I call it, "taster", so I am definitely looking forward to a more "meatier" second course! (sorry, not sorry)
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I am a bit fan of this author and have been since about 2011 when I first read the Barney Thompson series, followed more recently by Jericho and Hutton as well as a few stand alones. This one marks the beginning of a new series starring DI Pereira and DS Bain from the serious crime squad working out of Glasgow. It is only really a novella by length and so breaks the trend of using the first in series to set up and define the characters and setting, rather we drive straight in on a case and get a bit of everything and not enough of anything for me to make a complete decision as to whether this will be a series for me to avidly follow initially. That said, I did enjoy this book and have enjoyed every book by this author thus far so chances are good that I will be a fan of this new series in time.
So, there's this sandwich shop in Millport and they receive a delivery of meat. Nothing new there, apart from the fact that one of their orders has been substituted (queue home delivered shopping sympathy moans). Not being 100% sure what meat it is, they decide to accept it and sell it anyway. Trouble is, as the blurb explains, it isn't pork and it isn't chicken. Turns out, it's missing person Kevin Moyes. DI Pereira is given the case, along with trusty sidekick DS Bain, with new DI Cooper keeping a bit of a close eye on her. He thinks that she has only got her position in the police because she is a box ticker's dream hire being an Asian, bisexual single mum; the result of positive discrimination. Anyway, our two intrepid investigators trace the dodgy meat back to the distributors and then further back, identifying the meat processing plant; the suspected point of origin. All this taking place interspersed with Bain's wide array of trivial facts and figures, injected at poignant times giving the occasional moment of hilarity. Black humour anyone?
The plot itself is intriguing and really contains a bit of everything. Too much to mention here, and definitely too spoilery to give any details. It is also very well worked out. Not too much is revealed too early. Indeed, the book will have you guessing right until the last page and probably beyond as the penny finally drops.
Pereira and Bain work well as a combination. Chalk and cheese really but they complement each other very well. They remind me a bit of a straightman and a stooge at times with their banter and irreverent conversational topics but this in turn balances out what is a rather grisly series of crimes that have been committed. It's very much tongue in cheek at times. And funny, often very funny, mostly when it shouldn't be but hey, that's black humour for you.
The other characters are all an eclectic mix of weirdos. Each with a part to play in the whole story but individually, definitely people you would want to avoid at all costs. Creepy does not really do them justice!
Being very familiar with this author's work and knowing what I was getting into having read his other works, I knew I was in for a treat as soon as I read the synopsis. And I wasn't disappointed. Yes, I would have liked a bit more background, yes I would have probably preferred the author to stick to the traditional way of starting a new series, introducing his characters and all, but you know what, this author has always coloured outside the lines for me and I guess I should have expected something like this being as he has towed the line for his previous two series (Hutton and Jericho) starting both these off in the more traditional way.
All in all a different but very enjoyable series opener. I see that there is a second in series up for pre-order already. One with a much higher page count. I've enjoyed my introduction to our motley
crew in this, dare I call it, "taster", so I am definitely looking forward to a more "meatier" second course! (sorry, not sorry)
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 28, 2017
Investigating a case of how human meat has gotten into the food chain, are Detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain. Kevin Moyes has been missing 2 week when he turns up on someones pork sandwich. Nice!
The book has mystery and gore but no more than any other book i've read, the human meat side of it although it made me go yuck and not want to get a sandwich from anywhere doesn't put you off reading the book.
It felt like something was missing to me, (and I don't mean salad cream with the sandwich) maybe it was just a little to short, maybe a few more chapters could of ironed out the story a little so it felt less rushed.
It was an interesting read, I liked the idea behind how things were found and traced and how we got to the conclusion. I'm going to say it was to short, as I can't say I hated the book, but I cant say I thoroughly enjoyed it. it's a down the middle 3/5 from me.
I have noticed that there is now a book 2, and i'm intrigued as to how that one will be that I probably will purchase it to find out.
The book has mystery and gore but no more than any other book i've read, the human meat side of it although it made me go yuck and not want to get a sandwich from anywhere doesn't put you off reading the book.
It felt like something was missing to me, (and I don't mean salad cream with the sandwich) maybe it was just a little to short, maybe a few more chapters could of ironed out the story a little so it felt less rushed.
It was an interesting read, I liked the idea behind how things were found and traced and how we got to the conclusion. I'm going to say it was to short, as I can't say I hated the book, but I cant say I thoroughly enjoyed it. it's a down the middle 3/5 from me.
I have noticed that there is now a book 2, and i'm intrigued as to how that one will be that I probably will purchase it to find out.
August 11, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
DI Pereira and DS Bain of the Glasgow Police found it that sandwich shop that sold some sandwiches having the meat of some Kevin Moynes then the mystery began…The story-line was good, I wasn’t able to guess what’s going to happen…Still, this book has too many up and down for me…Several times I found my self just staring at words without understanding(Short book of 98 pages)…I had to push my self-many times to continue reading…Sometimes I really enjoyed it…Maybe It was the way of writing that wasn’t able to hold me.
Only thing I like about this book is DS Bain’s character.
DI Pereira and DS Bain of the Glasgow Police found it that sandwich shop that sold some sandwiches having the meat of some Kevin Moynes then the mystery began…The story-line was good, I wasn’t able to guess what’s going to happen…Still, this book has too many up and down for me…Several times I found my self just staring at words without understanding(Short book of 98 pages)…I had to push my self-many times to continue reading…Sometimes I really enjoyed it…Maybe It was the way of writing that wasn’t able to hold me.
Only thing I like about this book is DS Bain’s character.
March 29, 2018
Cold Cuts by Douglas Lindsay
Book #1: DI Pereira & DS Bain Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4/5 stars
**MINI-REVIEW**
The Bottom Line: I can’t say I devoured (HA! Pun intended!) this book, but I can say I appreciated the read. Lindsay uses this novella-length read to introduce two new characters, DI Pereira and DS Bain, as they work a strange case involving dismembered human bits and cold cuts. Because of the shortened length of the book, the case moves quickly yet not so quickly as to lose anything in the reading. DI Pereira is by far the most senior of the police pairing so much of the background information revolves around her; while Pereira is interesting, I would have liked to have had more (an equal amount) information about DS Bain as he seems to be the far quirkier of the two. As I neared the end of the book, I was absolutely certain of the identity of the big bad and I was partly correct. That partial certainty is what had me upping my star rating and that upping didn’t come until the very last page! Yes, Cold Cuts has a creepy surprise twist at the end that had me all shivery and wanting to sleep with the lights on 😊 In all, I would recommend this read, but not a top of the TBR read; it’s a good (not great) introduction to two new characters that need more time and space to grow.
Book #1: DI Pereira & DS Bain Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4/5 stars
**MINI-REVIEW**
The Bottom Line: I can’t say I devoured (HA! Pun intended!) this book, but I can say I appreciated the read. Lindsay uses this novella-length read to introduce two new characters, DI Pereira and DS Bain, as they work a strange case involving dismembered human bits and cold cuts. Because of the shortened length of the book, the case moves quickly yet not so quickly as to lose anything in the reading. DI Pereira is by far the most senior of the police pairing so much of the background information revolves around her; while Pereira is interesting, I would have liked to have had more (an equal amount) information about DS Bain as he seems to be the far quirkier of the two. As I neared the end of the book, I was absolutely certain of the identity of the big bad and I was partly correct. That partial certainty is what had me upping my star rating and that upping didn’t come until the very last page! Yes, Cold Cuts has a creepy surprise twist at the end that had me all shivery and wanting to sleep with the lights on 😊 In all, I would recommend this read, but not a top of the TBR read; it’s a good (not great) introduction to two new characters that need more time and space to grow.
November 15, 2017
Revenge is a dish best served ... sliced.
The new cold meat option in the sandwich shop isn't chicken, and it isn't pork. It's Kevin Moyes, missing for two weeks, now presumed dead.
The Serious Crime Unit are notified, and the hunt for the macabre butcher takes detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain to the meat-processing factory where the human flesh entered the food chain. They are followed by a media frenzy, with Pereira's boss demanding immediate results. But while the factory is clean and no one is talking, some of the players have gone missing, people are still dying, and the butcher's work is not yet done.
COLD CUTS introduces DI Pereira and DS Bain, Glasgow detectives on the trail of a killer through a sordid underworld of deceit, vengeance and murder.
My thoughts:
This is my first time reading any thing by this author, and while the story is pretty good , I do have to say some of the characters where a bit strange and creepy.
With that said I would like to think NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this story in a change for my honest opinion.
Update :
After trying to read book 2 last night, I realized that this was actually a 3 star book for me and that I won't be going on with this series.
The new cold meat option in the sandwich shop isn't chicken, and it isn't pork. It's Kevin Moyes, missing for two weeks, now presumed dead.
The Serious Crime Unit are notified, and the hunt for the macabre butcher takes detectives Aliya Pereira and Marc Bain to the meat-processing factory where the human flesh entered the food chain. They are followed by a media frenzy, with Pereira's boss demanding immediate results. But while the factory is clean and no one is talking, some of the players have gone missing, people are still dying, and the butcher's work is not yet done.
COLD CUTS introduces DI Pereira and DS Bain, Glasgow detectives on the trail of a killer through a sordid underworld of deceit, vengeance and murder.
My thoughts:
This is my first time reading any thing by this author, and while the story is pretty good , I do have to say some of the characters where a bit strange and creepy.
With that said I would like to think NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this story in a change for my honest opinion.
Update :
After trying to read book 2 last night, I realized that this was actually a 3 star book for me and that I won't be going on with this series.
December 2, 2017
Douglas Lindsay's Cold Cuts is the opener for a police series involving the characters Pereira and Bain.
Cold Cuts tells the story of what happens when human flesh is discovered as the filling in a sandwich served up by a small sandwich shop. The press kick up a storm and the pressure is on to solve the case.
There are plenty of leads to follow as well as the responsibility to contain any further incidents of people entering the food chain.
The theme itself is pretty dark and you might think it couldn’t become any more sinister than cannibalism. If you’ve read any Douglas Lindsay in the past (and I hope, for your sake, that you have), you’ll realise that he’s able to delve much further into the disturbing than that. The final lines are enough to chill the warmest bones. The dish is served up with a Scottish twang and dashes of humour to add seasoning to the entertainment.
This one’s a quick and gripping read. As bait for the follow on, it should lure many a fish to the hook. Put another way, the flesh of Kevin Moynes' thigh is the perfect appetiser for the main course.
Cold Cuts tells the story of what happens when human flesh is discovered as the filling in a sandwich served up by a small sandwich shop. The press kick up a storm and the pressure is on to solve the case.
There are plenty of leads to follow as well as the responsibility to contain any further incidents of people entering the food chain.
The theme itself is pretty dark and you might think it couldn’t become any more sinister than cannibalism. If you’ve read any Douglas Lindsay in the past (and I hope, for your sake, that you have), you’ll realise that he’s able to delve much further into the disturbing than that. The final lines are enough to chill the warmest bones. The dish is served up with a Scottish twang and dashes of humour to add seasoning to the entertainment.
This one’s a quick and gripping read. As bait for the follow on, it should lure many a fish to the hook. Put another way, the flesh of Kevin Moynes' thigh is the perfect appetiser for the main course.
November 15, 2017
Loved this book! I am a huge fan of Douglas Lindsay and was delighted to discover he had started writing a new crime series. This one is the first in the DI Pereira and DS Bain series and features a killer who disposes of their victims by chopping them up and putting them into the food chain.
This is a pretty short story which introduces us to the main characters and contains the author's trademark black humour which really appeals to me. Set in and around Glasgow, this is probably the first book I have read to heavily feature my home town of Cumbernauld which was great fun!
Grisly goings on, some brilliant villains with typical Glasgow patter and a strong thread of black humour, everything I need for a crime novel, fantastic!
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
This is a pretty short story which introduces us to the main characters and contains the author's trademark black humour which really appeals to me. Set in and around Glasgow, this is probably the first book I have read to heavily feature my home town of Cumbernauld which was great fun!
Grisly goings on, some brilliant villains with typical Glasgow patter and a strong thread of black humour, everything I need for a crime novel, fantastic!
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
February 25, 2018
RATING: 3.5
Cold Cuts sounds like one dark and gruesome book. And it kinda is. Good thing it is a short one and the fast pacing and interesting storyline managed to get me hooked until the end. Since the book is really short, more like a novella, there’s not a lot of details to the story and not a lot of background story about the main characters Pereira and Bain. Perhaps more details about the main characters will be addressed in the next book since it's the first book of a new series. Despite the lack of information, though, the author still managed to execute a good story. Enough mystery to pique your interest till the last page. All in all, it is a well-written mystery. Unpredictable and surprising twist.
Cold Cuts sounds like one dark and gruesome book. And it kinda is. Good thing it is a short one and the fast pacing and interesting storyline managed to get me hooked until the end. Since the book is really short, more like a novella, there’s not a lot of details to the story and not a lot of background story about the main characters Pereira and Bain. Perhaps more details about the main characters will be addressed in the next book since it's the first book of a new series. Despite the lack of information, though, the author still managed to execute a good story. Enough mystery to pique your interest till the last page. All in all, it is a well-written mystery. Unpredictable and surprising twist.
September 13, 2018
I don't know who of you ever read a short story in Roald Dahl's book Kiss Kiss? If you have you will know what I mean. I was both revolted and intrigued by the manner that the murderer disposed of the bodies. Well, I will say no more. Don't want to spoil the delicious anticipation. But have to admit thatI was thoroughly surprised at the ending.
I loved this book. If I can have one gripe it is about the length. Too short. I was just getting into the flow of things and it ended. I hope this was a warm up for more books to follow.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I loved this book. If I can have one gripe it is about the length. Too short. I was just getting into the flow of things and it ended. I hope this was a warm up for more books to follow.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 22, 2017
Pereira and Bain are asked to investigate human flesh found in processed meat delivered to a sandwich shop. This was a great (if revolting) set-up. Basically a police procedural, we learned a little about Pereira's home life (although not as much as in the second instalment, which I have already read). She is also confronted with a new boss, who believes she has only made DI because she is "an Asian single mother lesbian".
I thought it was well done; the storyline moved quickly and logically and Kingdom was an excellent character. I'm deducting a star because it ended so abruptly.
I thought it was well done; the storyline moved quickly and logically and Kingdom was an excellent character. I'm deducting a star because it ended so abruptly.
March 26, 2019
I thought the story line was very weak. Major crime like that committed and the response in the story was muted and unrealistic
The plot was just too simple and they got to the answers far too quickly
The plot was just too simple and they got to the answers far too quickly
October 28, 2023
I like this author, so I was not surprised to find I enjoyed this book. There is a little yuck-factor in the story, but that makes it good. I was kind of surprised when the murderer was revealed, and yet there was more! Good read.
February 12, 2018
Very much an introduction to new characters. The story was okay but setup and characters will make me try the next one.
April 25, 2018
Lindsay is one of my favorite authors, really love the edgy Thomas Hutton series and have read and enjoyed a few Barney books as well as the quirky but very good Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite! so a chance to start a new series was something I looked forward to and this does not disappoint. Cold Cuts, while only a novella, does a good job of introducing us to main characters Pereira (single mother struggling to have a home life while having a demanding job with unpredictable hours) and Bain (younger, but eager protégé). pretty gruesome crime in this one as body parts turn up in the meat at a local deli. great cast of supporting characters and suspects in this one, Lindsay does his usual great job with acerbic wit and one liners. so a decent mystery as well as good character development with Pereira as she puts up with old timers in positions of authority who look down on her sex and ethnicity. Lindsay does a great job with this and I look forward to reading the new full length novel with these characters. thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy, 4 stars.
June 5, 2019
New author for me but will probably read more. Four stars only because it was more like a novella than a full story.
April 9, 2022
Really a 3.5
This book sort of plodded along but not in a bad way, kept me interested, the ending was a little thought provoking
This book sort of plodded along but not in a bad way, kept me interested, the ending was a little thought provoking
November 9, 2017
'Cold Cuts' might not be a ground breaking crime book, but it is none the less an enjoyable read with some pleasing diversity in main characters and a very fast moving plot. We follow our main character DI Pereira and her partner Detective Bain as they tackle a case in which the victim is packaged up and delivered as meat products. As they delve deeper into the case the whole narrative takes a disturbing turn with more victims emerging, more suspects to consider and more at stake. as Pereira is pressured to solve the case and the press wants answers. While it was very simply written and follows a straightforward storyline, it was such an enjoyable read-very much like an episode of Law and Order SVU. You see the start of the investigation, get to know more about the victims and the suspects, there is some character development of the detectives and then with a slight twist the killer is captured. At the end you can sit and read it in one sitting and then walk away with closure.
What I Liked
Aliya Pereira- I really liked Aliya as a main character. While we don't know too much about her by the end of the book, what we do know makes us become invested in her. As a person of colour, single mother and bisexual we see her have to deal with discrimination in the workforce as one of the few female detectives while trying to solve the case. Once I saw her stand up to her new supervisor at the beginning of the book and her skills as a detective I instantly liked her and enjoyed following her throughout the story.
Easy to follow story and a creepy twist- Like I mentioned in my summary, it was not a complex or cutting edge book. It was however very easy to follow and the writing was simple and straightforward at telling the story and conveying the main plot points. The creepy twist at the end was unexpected and left me with a little something to think about after I had finished it.
Modern Setting- The crime books I normally read are set in the past and I found it very entertaining to see the hints of a more modern setting in this one. There were small references to recent video games, social media and a how we are a very technologically inclined society. It just added a little something to the story and I appreciated it.
What I Didn't Like
Not much focus on the main selling point of the book- Cold Cuts was a fun book to read, but I really wanted them to play up the main focus of the book ; people being murdered, packaged and distributed to the people. The story could have gotten a lot darker and really focus on this ideas as it really could have amped up the plot.
Unnecessary change of POV- While I had no problem with the writing style most of the book (apart from it being very simple and straight forward) we did get some weird changes of POV towards the end of the book. The majority of the book follows DI Pereira throughout the course of the investigation, but one or two chapters follow one of the suspects. It was very out of place and I would have liked it if it was either not included or more heavily included.
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