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Inspector Torquil McKinnon #4
Flotsam & Jetsam: What secrets will be washed ashore ...?
Scottish detective Torquil McKinnon is back! Perfect for fans of LJ Ross and Faith Martin…
The once idyllic island of West Uist had turned deadly…
The Scottish Hebrides
The Flotsam & Jetsam TV show has gained a cult following throughout Scotland by highlighting that money can be made from the debris that washes up onto remote beaches.
But for the locals at West Uist the search for hidden riches turns into something much more sinister…
The death of a noted scientist, the discovery of a half-drowned puppy and the suggestion of police negligence leads Inspector Torquil McKinnon to investigate.
Is there truth behind the rumours? Can Torquil clear the name of the local police force?
Or will more damning secrets be washed ashore …?
FLOTSAM & JETSAM is the fourth crime thriller in the detective series featuring Inspector Torquil McKinnon: an action-packed police procedural full of suspense.
"Keith Moray gives a delightful mystery tale and at the same time a fascinating look at the island folk of West Uist, a fictional island in the Hebrides. I found the culture almost as riveting as the murders and in all enjoyed the book tremendously." Frank Roderus, double WWA Spur winning author
INSPECTOR TORQUIL MCKINNON MYSTERY SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Gathering Murders
BOOK TWO: Deathly Wind
BOOK THREE: Murder Solstice
BOOK FOUR: Flotsam & Jetsam
BOOK FIVE: Death In Transit
The once idyllic island of West Uist had turned deadly…
The Scottish Hebrides
The Flotsam & Jetsam TV show has gained a cult following throughout Scotland by highlighting that money can be made from the debris that washes up onto remote beaches.
But for the locals at West Uist the search for hidden riches turns into something much more sinister…
The death of a noted scientist, the discovery of a half-drowned puppy and the suggestion of police negligence leads Inspector Torquil McKinnon to investigate.
Is there truth behind the rumours? Can Torquil clear the name of the local police force?
Or will more damning secrets be washed ashore …?
FLOTSAM & JETSAM is the fourth crime thriller in the detective series featuring Inspector Torquil McKinnon: an action-packed police procedural full of suspense.
"Keith Moray gives a delightful mystery tale and at the same time a fascinating look at the island folk of West Uist, a fictional island in the Hebrides. I found the culture almost as riveting as the murders and in all enjoyed the book tremendously." Frank Roderus, double WWA Spur winning author
INSPECTOR TORQUIL MCKINNON MYSTERY SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Gathering Murders
BOOK TWO: Deathly Wind
BOOK THREE: Murder Solstice
BOOK FOUR: Flotsam & Jetsam
BOOK FIVE: Death In Transit
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
577 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Keith Moray
26 books45 followersPen name of Keith Moray Souter, also writes as Keith Souter and Clay More.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 30, 2018
First and foremost, a large thank you to Keith Moray and Sapere Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Keith Moray returns to the Hebrides, where he recounts another Scottish police procedural/mystery full of local flavouring and helping to renew the reader’s love of Torquil McKinnon. West Uist is abuzz with the news that a Scottish antiques show has come to the island to broadcast a fortnight of programmes. Flotsam and Jetsam will launch with a local legend, Dr. Digby Dent, in hopes of shedding light on the man’s expertise in midges. When he doses himself with ‘liquid courage’ before appearing on television, things go awry and he is forced to spend some time in police custody. Upon his release, Dent attempts to make his way home, only to be found dead the following morning by one of the West Uist constables. Meanwhile, Torquil comes across a wee dog, strapped to a board while he is out piping one morning, sure that this was an attempt to rid the owner of the burden of responsibility. Incensed, Torquil will stop at nothing to find out who might have committed such a horrible act, though he is also busy with this investigation into Dr. Dent, which soon turns into an act of murder. Who might have struck down this local legend and are there others who are in danger? West Uist Police are on high alert and Torquil cannot rest until both his cases are resolved, which will be a feat unto itself, especially with his superiors barking orders. Moray brings readers another wonderful tale, sure to keep the reader enthralled until the final page-turn. Those who have enjoyed this series will surely enjoy this instalment, as well as any reader who enjoys a mystery with a true Scottish flavour.
When the publisher approached me to read and review early novels in the series, I was hooked. This novel was more of the same, taking me back into the rural Scottish community Moray developed. Torquil McKinnon is a character that many readers can enjoy, though has not become too one-dimensional so as to become boring. Torquil mixes a dedication to his job as leader of the constabulary with a strong connection to the locals, many of whom cross his path throughout this piece. Showing his softer side, Torquil exemplifies his connection to his canine friend and longing to be reunited with his bonnie lass. The handful of new, secondary characters proves to entertain the reader throughout this story, which presents the reader with some interesting social issues, both educational and entertaining. The various characters add humour and banter for the reader, but there is also a sinister aspect that helps propel the mystery perspective throughout. The story itself is quite well crafted, keeping the narrative flowing well, a bounce back from a less than stellar third novel. Longer chapters should not deter the reader, as the narrative flows well and keeps the reader hooked throughout. While some may be familiar with ‘big city’ and tangential police procedurals, the reader can enjoy this close-knit story that fills the pages with Scottish lore! I’ll gladly read the rest of this series, if only to learn more about McKinnon and the West Uist community.
Kudos, Mr. Moray, for this refreshing read. Perfect for my holiday time, as the story does not let up until the final page.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Keith Moray returns to the Hebrides, where he recounts another Scottish police procedural/mystery full of local flavouring and helping to renew the reader’s love of Torquil McKinnon. West Uist is abuzz with the news that a Scottish antiques show has come to the island to broadcast a fortnight of programmes. Flotsam and Jetsam will launch with a local legend, Dr. Digby Dent, in hopes of shedding light on the man’s expertise in midges. When he doses himself with ‘liquid courage’ before appearing on television, things go awry and he is forced to spend some time in police custody. Upon his release, Dent attempts to make his way home, only to be found dead the following morning by one of the West Uist constables. Meanwhile, Torquil comes across a wee dog, strapped to a board while he is out piping one morning, sure that this was an attempt to rid the owner of the burden of responsibility. Incensed, Torquil will stop at nothing to find out who might have committed such a horrible act, though he is also busy with this investigation into Dr. Dent, which soon turns into an act of murder. Who might have struck down this local legend and are there others who are in danger? West Uist Police are on high alert and Torquil cannot rest until both his cases are resolved, which will be a feat unto itself, especially with his superiors barking orders. Moray brings readers another wonderful tale, sure to keep the reader enthralled until the final page-turn. Those who have enjoyed this series will surely enjoy this instalment, as well as any reader who enjoys a mystery with a true Scottish flavour.
When the publisher approached me to read and review early novels in the series, I was hooked. This novel was more of the same, taking me back into the rural Scottish community Moray developed. Torquil McKinnon is a character that many readers can enjoy, though has not become too one-dimensional so as to become boring. Torquil mixes a dedication to his job as leader of the constabulary with a strong connection to the locals, many of whom cross his path throughout this piece. Showing his softer side, Torquil exemplifies his connection to his canine friend and longing to be reunited with his bonnie lass. The handful of new, secondary characters proves to entertain the reader throughout this story, which presents the reader with some interesting social issues, both educational and entertaining. The various characters add humour and banter for the reader, but there is also a sinister aspect that helps propel the mystery perspective throughout. The story itself is quite well crafted, keeping the narrative flowing well, a bounce back from a less than stellar third novel. Longer chapters should not deter the reader, as the narrative flows well and keeps the reader hooked throughout. While some may be familiar with ‘big city’ and tangential police procedurals, the reader can enjoy this close-knit story that fills the pages with Scottish lore! I’ll gladly read the rest of this series, if only to learn more about McKinnon and the West Uist community.
Kudos, Mr. Moray, for this refreshing read. Perfect for my holiday time, as the story does not let up until the final page.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
June 12, 2018
I have enjoyed all five books in this series. The characters are well drawn and consistent; the plots are interesting and the killers are not obvious. However, it is the sense of place that keeps drawing me back. Each time I pick up one of these novels it feels like returning to an inviting and familiar place--murders not withstanding. The magic of West Uist reminds me of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series--my favorite of all time. The setting is a reflection of the characters who are every day people whom it is easy to care about.
In general, Keith Moray is a good writer which makes all of the difference to me. A detective story can have the most interesting and exciting plot ever, but if the writing itself is no good, I won't finish the book
My only criticism is that in an effort to make each of these a stand alone novel, Moray's descriptions of certain people and places becomes redundant by the fourth book. For example, the description of the news editor's office seemed to be cut and pasted from previous novels in the series. Bear in mind that I read all four books within a two week span. I did notice less repetition in the Book 5, and I will be watching out for book 6.
In general, Keith Moray is a good writer which makes all of the difference to me. A detective story can have the most interesting and exciting plot ever, but if the writing itself is no good, I won't finish the book
My only criticism is that in an effort to make each of these a stand alone novel, Moray's descriptions of certain people and places becomes redundant by the fourth book. For example, the description of the news editor's office seemed to be cut and pasted from previous novels in the series. Bear in mind that I read all four books within a two week span. I did notice less repetition in the Book 5, and I will be watching out for book 6.
June 11, 2019
Fourth in the series of Torquil McKinnon tales. Torquil, Morag, Ewan and The Drummond twins are the Police Force on West Uist. This rag tail bunch of law officers manage to oversea crime on the island from petty theft right through to Murder. McKinnon is the boss and directs/uses the skills of his team to follow the trails left by villains from those carrying out antique theft to those committing murder. In this tale the death of a local eccentric and the discovery that an earlier death was in fact a murder combine to give the team some varied and interesting leads to follow. Visitors from “the mainland” seem to be the suspects however all is not as simple as it seems. This is the fourth of this series that I have read and enjoyed discovering the idiosyncrasies and characteristics of the team. Will look to read book five now.
June 29, 2018
An unusual but good read
This book started out kind of how I imagine West Uist, slow paced & with officers mainly dealing with gossiping, neighbour drama & petty crime but there was that constant undercurrent of something big bubbling away below the surface preparing to reach boiling point explode unbeknownst to the main characters. And when it does reach boiling point, it sure does not disappoint! There’s unexpected plot twists galore that have you gripped & unable to put the book down. If you have enjoyed other books in this series it’s a great read that allows you to connect with the characters & learn more about their personal lives.
This book started out kind of how I imagine West Uist, slow paced & with officers mainly dealing with gossiping, neighbour drama & petty crime but there was that constant undercurrent of something big bubbling away below the surface preparing to reach boiling point explode unbeknownst to the main characters. And when it does reach boiling point, it sure does not disappoint! There’s unexpected plot twists galore that have you gripped & unable to put the book down. If you have enjoyed other books in this series it’s a great read that allows you to connect with the characters & learn more about their personal lives.
May 7, 2018
A great adventure. Lots of murder and mayhem on the tiny island of Uist. Very busy police as they try to solve the mystery in the this story. Island mysteries are always interesting. The tension between the inhabitants and the incomers and the lack of crime solving facilities as the police personnel have to solve the crimes with good old fashioned investigative skills. Great characters but so much whisky consumed!
May 10, 2018
Lollipop good!!
This series is good beyond words. I am really mad to have read them all now and have to wait. Mysteries are my favorite genre, and these hit all the high spots!
Plots absorbing with neat twists and turns! Characters winning, endearing, making you want to really get to know them! Setting unusual and interesting, described with incredible detail.
Oh I want the next book!
This series is good beyond words. I am really mad to have read them all now and have to wait. Mysteries are my favorite genre, and these hit all the high spots!
Plots absorbing with neat twists and turns! Characters winning, endearing, making you want to really get to know them! Setting unusual and interesting, described with incredible detail.
Oh I want the next book!
May 22, 2018
Series Just Gets Better and Better!
I’m always looking for new Scottish, Irish and British mysteries. This book, the 4th in the series is quite good. I love all the main characters and the eccentric ones too. This one had three crimes and it was nice to see how it all worked out. Now I have to wait until June 7th for the next book! I cannot wait to see what is in store for Torquil McKinnon, Ewan, Moran, the twins, Caleb, etc. I am sure it will be another great mystery!
I’m always looking for new Scottish, Irish and British mysteries. This book, the 4th in the series is quite good. I love all the main characters and the eccentric ones too. This one had three crimes and it was nice to see how it all worked out. Now I have to wait until June 7th for the next book! I cannot wait to see what is in store for Torquil McKinnon, Ewan, Moran, the twins, Caleb, etc. I am sure it will be another great mystery!
April 25, 2020
Another great story
I do love the setting of these novels . Small island community with interesting characters . As the author writes in his post word, he loves the old fashioned police work required to solve murders, the golf course , bagpipes . I won't describe the whole plot as it covers many bases . Needless to say it is a fun read in spite of the murders . The characters are terrific .
I do love the setting of these novels . Small island community with interesting characters . As the author writes in his post word, he loves the old fashioned police work required to solve murders, the golf course , bagpipes . I won't describe the whole plot as it covers many bases . Needless to say it is a fun read in spite of the murders . The characters are terrific .
September 29, 2022
Very enjoyable as expected, the mysteries were good and well told, however, I found the end a bit rushed. Every storyline was wrapped up but it all happened boom, boom, boom, done. It felt like the author was a bit over it and I was a little disappointed. Particularly with the storyline involving the dogs and the thefts. It would have been nice to hear more of Ewan's case, he is a good character but very much a side character who could be more involved in this one.
February 9, 2023
This is book 4 in the series and another enjoyable read. I love the setting and the characters and things feel so laid-back and yet here we have some murders, abandoned dogs, and a drugs connection.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read , almost a cozy type book in feel , but a welcome break from the more grittier stories I've been reading lately. If you want a more laidback crime series, this is the series for you. Looking forward to catching up now on the later books.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read , almost a cozy type book in feel , but a welcome break from the more grittier stories I've been reading lately. If you want a more laidback crime series, this is the series for you. Looking forward to catching up now on the later books.
January 22, 2023
I love this series set on the fictional island of West Uist. The characters are so well drawn and are people you can care about, flaws and all. A terrific plot with plenty twists and turns to keep you guessing, break ins, a couple of murders, a cold case, a rescue dog and even romance. This has been my favourite one so far. Brilliant ending - I didn't see that coming at all.
May 23, 2018
Rather nice read
This is a pleasant series. Some surprises, good characters, and rather makes me want to go visit the land of some of my ancestors (rather explains some height differences - 5'4"-6'8" - in my family!)
This is a pleasant series. Some surprises, good characters, and rather makes me want to go visit the land of some of my ancestors (rather explains some height differences - 5'4"-6'8" - in my family!)
July 28, 2018
Another great book in this series. Like the county of Midsomer, West Uist has more than its fair share of murders. Engrossing stories and plots and likeable characters - those on the right side of the law that is.
August 5, 2018
Quick read
The good ones go quickly! I like this series but as my HS English always said, fiction is the willing suspension of disbelief, or something like that. This little town has the highest crime rate in Scotland!
The good ones go quickly! I like this series but as my HS English always said, fiction is the willing suspension of disbelief, or something like that. This little town has the highest crime rate in Scotland!
September 4, 2018
I Really Enjoy This Series
This series reminds me of the Hamish MacBeth TV show. I really love the characters and the setting. The mysteries are well thought out, not cookie cutter, or boring. I’ll read them as long as Keith Moray keeps writing them!
This series reminds me of the Hamish MacBeth TV show. I really love the characters and the setting. The mysteries are well thought out, not cookie cutter, or boring. I’ll read them as long as Keith Moray keeps writing them!
May 9, 2018
I have now read four of this series, all being very good. Great characters and made to work well together.
June 3, 2018
Very good story!
June 15, 2018
In my personal view these books just keep getting better
July 7, 2018
Still bemused if this is really awful. Hilarious or drivel. It is though strangely compelling only as an island buff.
July 7, 2018
Full of action
A really fast moving story with lots of action and plenty of twists along the way. The usual great characters keep you gripped a d you cannot put it down.
A really fast moving story with lots of action and plenty of twists along the way. The usual great characters keep you gripped a d you cannot put it down.
October 2, 2018
An enjoyable book, nice narrative style, a good pack of characters.Definitely Keith Moray is an author woth following
December 17, 2018
My first book of the series and I was not disappointed. I'll certainly be searching out other books in the series.
March 11, 2019
I think this may be the best book so far in this series. I suspect that I am more focused on the lives of the continuing characters than I am on the plot.
April 4, 2021
Pretty good.
April 16, 2021
Another intriguing story line, interspersed with some funny situations. There is also an addition to the team with four legs.
December 12, 2021
Wonderfully entertaining tale of crime and characters in the Hebrides.
November 4, 2024
West Uist. A year ago the body of a student was discovered drowned. But now the island is experiencing a series of burglaries, a nearly drowned puppy and another death.
An entertaining and well-written modern mystery with its likeable characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series
An entertaining and well-written modern mystery with its likeable characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series
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May 12, 2018Exciting love following these characters..thank you for the chance to enter the world of Torquil and team .
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews