Dundee, December 1919 Big Aggie’s girls are much in demand in her notorious house of pleasure. When Lily, one of her most popular girls is savagely killed it sparks off a mystery with wide-reaching consequences. Why was Lily killed? Was it a crime of passion or something more calculated? And what secrets was Lily hiding? Dundee’s first policewoman, Kirsty Campbell, thinks it’s more than a crime of passion. She’s keen to prove herself to DI Jamie Brewster by cracking the case. To find the killer, she must unravel Lily’s secrets – but it’s only when her own life is in danger that she learns others hide secrets too. It is a tortuous trail where Kirsty faces danger before the mystery is solved.
death of a doxy by Chris longmuir. Lily Petrie is found dead by Aggie West. Kirsty Campbell is a policewoman. kirsty and Brewster her partner are on the case. a fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters. I don't normally read historic but this one I couldn't put it down. love to read how police deal with murder and crime scene. 5*.
A new author to me and I loved this book, despite not having read the previous two books in this series. The setting in Dundee in 1919 felt so real. The author cleverly wove the story, creating mystery and multidimensional characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I am going to miss Kirsty Campbell, Brewster, Hamish Geordie and even AggieThe characters are really well developed and there is plenty of scope for the futures. I have loved this series and really look forward to seeing another quite soon.
It was when I was at a gathering of readers and writers and bloggers that I was lucky enough to win a copy of Death of a Doxy by Chris Longmuir. The author is a delightful lady and excellent company, so it was with a great deal of excitement that I began reading her novel.
Death of a Doxy is set in and around Dundee in 1919. The main character is Kirsty Campbell who represents the first WPC in Dundee, Scotland. Indeed, the book is dedicated to Jean Forsyth Thomson, the real first WPC in Dundee. This novel deals with the investigation of the murder of Lily, the most popular prostitute in Biig Aggie's house. Kirsty and her boss DI Jamie Brewster must find out why Lily was murdered and by whom.
I very much enjoyed this book, particularly as it is set in a part of Scotland with which I am familiar. The historic aspects of the setting were also described. It is a good story that moves along nicely. I would highly recommend Death of a Doxy if you enjoy crime thrillers, especially with a historical twist. I look forward to reading more books by Chris Longmuir.
When Lily Petrie is found bludgeoned to death in Big Aggies popular house of pleasure. In December 1919 in Dundee Scotland. Aggie is immediately the main suspect as it was her who found the body and she was covered in blood. Having been arrested Aggie refused to speak to anyone other than Kirsty Campbell Dundee’s first policewoman. Detective Inspector Jamie Brewster took Kirsty to the crime scene before she spoke to Aggie. After speaking to Aggie Kirsty was positive Aggie was innocent but the DI knew better and as they investigated Lilys death they discovered she had many secrets, was her death a crime of passion or did one of her many secrets hold the key to solving the murder? I absolutely loved this book being from Dundee And life cling in a similar property not a brothel it brought back so many childhood memories. Got to admit I did wonder if it was my family. Definitely recommend it and will be looking for Chris Longmuirs other books.
This is the 3rd book following Kirsty Campbell, Dundee’s first policewoman set in 1919.
I haven’t read the previous two books but that was no detriment to the reading enjoyment.
A well written book, a brutal murder of a prostitute is usually just forgotten after the initial enquiry but Kirsty and the lead Detective, Brewster, follow up and find more than just murder.
Kirsty is a go ahead woman, suffering from the usual prejudices of being a woman and in the police force just after WWI. She wants to be an independent woman and prove that she can hold her own against any policeman.
This is a great read, a murder mystery with a few twists and turns and surprises along the way with nice touches of people’s personal lives thrown in to give the book more substance.
A delightful historical mystery that I really enjoyed as it combined two of my favourite genres.. historical fiction and mystery. Kirsty's struggles to be taken seriously and acknowledged as a policewoman were a reminder of how far women have managed to progress. Her investigation into the murder of Lily Petrie, who was one of the girls staying in Big Aggie's pleasure house, gives her the opportunity to be more than a statement taker and she gives it her all, even putting herself in grave danger in the process. There is plenty of action and it was interesting to read about the police techniques in a time when the facilities available today weren't even on the radar.
This was an good novel. I hadn't read the previous two novels in the series, which meant that there were some unanswered questions about the past of the main character, but it did not stop me enjoying the book. I am now interested to read the first two in the series. I particularly liked the insight into the main character's struggle as the first female policewoman in Dundee and the issues this created. The historical detail and setting helped to bring the novel to life. Overall, an enjoyable crime detective novel where the police begin by investigating the death of a prostitute, and are sent on a journey through blackmail, murder and family secrets.
Not to be confused with the Nero Wolfe book of the same name! Again, the historical background is very well done, as is the portrayal of early 20th. century Dundee. I enjoyed the story and it was very thoroughly wound up at the end. I'm not sure if there are more Kirsty Campbell books or not, but I would probably read them.
Stil und Handlungsaufbau sind deutlich besser als in #2 "Devil's Porridge". Am Ende rutscht die Geschichte allerdings wieder arg ins Groschenroman-Niveau. Deus-ex-machina auftauchende nette, reiche Erbtanten, die auch noch zufällig gleich um die Ecke wohnen, sind nicht so leicht zu schlucken.
Ich frage mich, wie realistisch Kirstys aufmüpfiges, schnell beleidigtes, trotziges Verhalten ist? Nach meiner Vorstellung dürfte den Pionierinnen in Männerdomänen sehr wohl bewusst gewesen sein, dass sie sich jeden kleinen Schritt der Akzeptanz hart verdienen müssen. Daher waren diplomatisches Verhalten und ruhige Kompetenz sicherlich die beste Strategie. Für mich ist Kirstys Verhalten oft kindisch und überemotional - genau die fiesen weiblichen Klischees, die auf die "echten" Heldinnen kaum zutreffen dürften.
Trotz des sentimentalen Gedöns werde ich im Kirsty-Campbell-Universum weiterlesen, weil ich den historischen Kontext sehr faszinierend finde. Sollte sich allerdings eine halbplatonische Liebesbeziehung mit Brewster anbahnen (wofür es alarmierende Anzeichen gibt)... das ist dann mehr als ich aushalten kann! (Bin ich die einzige, der die Kinnlade runterfällt bei der Vorstellung, dass 1919 ein vorgesetzter Offizier mit seinem weiblichen Constable Hand-in-Hand durch die Straßen rennt??? Das dürfte doch selbst in den 60ern noch völlig undenkbar sein???)
I found the setting of an icy cold 1919 Dundee, Scotland, fascinating and was glad it was the dogged Kirsty Campbell working in a police force that really preferred not to take her seriously and not me! The story is interesting and the plot is grim and gripping. If like me, you read historical mysteries to learn about different times and places while enjoying a good mystery then this book is for you!