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Keith Calder #4
Fair Game
When Ray Grass died he left an estate worth millions, a valuable collection of firearms and a will full of his own mischievous sense of fun. He had been an enthusiastic sportsman and when the fatal accident enquiry brought in a verdict of accidental death, due to his carrying a loaded gun while climbing a fence, his neighbours and acquaintances shook their heads sadly at the folly of rich bachelors.
But for some of his friends such carelessness was uncharacteristic, so reluctantly (but with an eye on the gun collection) Keith Calder agreed to accompany the solicitor, Enterkin, to Grass’s estate and make his own enquiries.
Once Calder learnt the detailed facts of the ‘accidental’ death, he knew the verdict had been wrong and set about trying to prove the truth. Not an easy task, since he was surrounded by a large number of people who, in very individual and bizarre ways, would benefit hugely from Grass’s death.
He discovered that one of the policemen on the case shared his doubts. As they piece together the events of the death they find more than one murder and run into grave danger.
But for some of his friends such carelessness was uncharacteristic, so reluctantly (but with an eye on the gun collection) Keith Calder agreed to accompany the solicitor, Enterkin, to Grass’s estate and make his own enquiries.
Once Calder learnt the detailed facts of the ‘accidental’ death, he knew the verdict had been wrong and set about trying to prove the truth. Not an easy task, since he was surrounded by a large number of people who, in very individual and bizarre ways, would benefit hugely from Grass’s death.
He discovered that one of the policemen on the case shared his doubts. As they piece together the events of the death they find more than one murder and run into grave danger.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1982
About the author
Gerald Hammond
103 books20 followersGerald Hammond, (Gerald Arthur Douglas Hammond) son of Frederick Arthur Lucas (a physician) and Maria Birnie (a nursing sister) Hammond; married Gilda Isobel Watt (a nurse), August 20, 1952; children: Peter, David, Steven. Education: Aberdeen School of Architecture, Dip. Arch., 1952. He served in the British Army, 1944-45. Although born in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, he worked in and retired to the country he most loved, Scotland.
He also writes under the names of Arthur Douglas and Dalby Holden. He was an architect for thirty years before retiring to write novels full-time in 1982. He has written over 50 novels since the late 1960s.
His novels center around guns, shooting, hunting, fishing, and dog training.
He also writes under the names of Arthur Douglas and Dalby Holden. He was an architect for thirty years before retiring to write novels full-time in 1982. He has written over 50 novels since the late 1960s.
His novels center around guns, shooting, hunting, fishing, and dog training.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 1, 2021
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine mystery and a new dog
February 16, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
This volume four in Gerald Hammond's Keith Calder mysteries has more mystery to it than some of the other volumes. Actually there are two mysteries. Was a crime committed and if so, who did it? As usual, Calder uses his wits to escape danger from a ruthless and dangerous criminal. Unusually, he gets considerable help in unraveling the mystery from an unexpected source.
The series continues to entertain while engaging in brief, gentle but serious discussion of conservation, the shooting sports and dogs. To me, it wouldn't be Keith Calder without a good dog or two.
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine mystery and a new dog
February 16, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
This volume four in Gerald Hammond's Keith Calder mysteries has more mystery to it than some of the other volumes. Actually there are two mysteries. Was a crime committed and if so, who did it? As usual, Calder uses his wits to escape danger from a ruthless and dangerous criminal. Unusually, he gets considerable help in unraveling the mystery from an unexpected source.
The series continues to entertain while engaging in brief, gentle but serious discussion of conservation, the shooting sports and dogs. To me, it wouldn't be Keith Calder without a good dog or two.
June 9, 2018
Ray Grass was a mischievous prankster when he was still alive and his macabre sense of humor is still very much in play by making it a compulsory requirement for the beneficiaries of his largesse to do a final dance to his slightly sadistic tune at his memorial service. His generosity would benefit a lot of people and organizations as provided for in his will, one of them is his own murderer who saw fit to expedite his permanent sojourn into the afterlife in order that such provision is fulfilled. Grass's demands to his legatees are so hilarious and the legatees themselves are quite a collection of characters with their own quirks and eccentricities that the reader may yet find herself/himself deeply invested in following Keith Calder's deductions as to who is the most likely killer of the bunch. I think this is brilliant in the sense that the twist and surprise ending would boil down to the most basic of motives after all ~ desperate need.
February 17, 2019
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine mystery and a new dog
February 16, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
This volume four in Gerald Hammond's Keith Calder mysteries has more mystery to it than some of the other volumes. Actually there are two mysteries. Was a crime committed and if so, who did it? As usual, Calder uses his wits to escape danger from a ruthless and dangerous criminal. Unusually, he gets considerable help in unraveling the mystery from an unexpected source.
The series continues to entertain while engaging in brief, gentle but serious discussion of conservation, the shooting sports and dogs. To me, it wouldn't be Keith Calder without a good dog or two.
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine mystery and a new dog
February 16, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
This volume four in Gerald Hammond's Keith Calder mysteries has more mystery to it than some of the other volumes. Actually there are two mysteries. Was a crime committed and if so, who did it? As usual, Calder uses his wits to escape danger from a ruthless and dangerous criminal. Unusually, he gets considerable help in unraveling the mystery from an unexpected source.
The series continues to entertain while engaging in brief, gentle but serious discussion of conservation, the shooting sports and dogs. To me, it wouldn't be Keith Calder without a good dog or two.
October 16, 2020
Excellent read.
The author has a true gift for fleshing out the characters in his books in such a way that you feel like you know them! The books that make up the Keith Calder series are fast paced and riveting. A must read series, especially for gun enthusiasts such as myself.
The author has a true gift for fleshing out the characters in his books in such a way that you feel like you know them! The books that make up the Keith Calder series are fast paced and riveting. A must read series, especially for gun enthusiasts such as myself.
January 2, 2026
I'm re-reading this series in chronological order and it's not until this 4th book in the series that I feel it's come into its own. This series like many "mystery" series are character and setting based. The mysteries are always somewhat meh but it's the characters and the setting that's captivating. In this case, it's Keith Calder the gunsmith and his supporting characters (who are all more or less complete now), Scottish life, dogs, shooting and the subject of game, land and animal ecology.
Spoilers ahead. Ray Grass is a Scottish tycoon who accidentally shot himself while climbing over a stile on his own land. Ralph Enterkin (his lawyer and one of Calder's coterie) is to settle his estate and he has hired Calder to help for his expertise on guns and land use. Calder immediately suspects something is wrong when he looks into the "accident". What happens next is the usual whodunit plot of looking at who benefits from Grass's death and who the killer is.
How this book stands out from other whodunits with the same plot is its uniqueness which I have already mentioned above: we have the Scottish setting and characters (cops, tenants, farmers and staff) who are well fleshed and full of life, gun talk, dog talk, game talk, shoot talk and a discourse on the benefits of a well run shooting estate which is more beneficial to the land. This last recurring theme is repeated many times throughout the series. On top of that we have Hammond's sense humor which permeates throughout as well.
To be honest, I read the series more for the characters than the plots and the more I get into the series the more I'm invested in them. I'm on book 5 now. I highly recommend this book not just to mystery readers but those who like a good read, as well as game shooting and its paraphernalia.
Spoilers ahead. Ray Grass is a Scottish tycoon who accidentally shot himself while climbing over a stile on his own land. Ralph Enterkin (his lawyer and one of Calder's coterie) is to settle his estate and he has hired Calder to help for his expertise on guns and land use. Calder immediately suspects something is wrong when he looks into the "accident". What happens next is the usual whodunit plot of looking at who benefits from Grass's death and who the killer is.
How this book stands out from other whodunits with the same plot is its uniqueness which I have already mentioned above: we have the Scottish setting and characters (cops, tenants, farmers and staff) who are well fleshed and full of life, gun talk, dog talk, game talk, shoot talk and a discourse on the benefits of a well run shooting estate which is more beneficial to the land. This last recurring theme is repeated many times throughout the series. On top of that we have Hammond's sense humor which permeates throughout as well.
To be honest, I read the series more for the characters than the plots and the more I get into the series the more I'm invested in them. I'm on book 5 now. I highly recommend this book not just to mystery readers but those who like a good read, as well as game shooting and its paraphernalia.
February 24, 2021
When Ray Grass died and left an estate worth millions and a collection of valuable guns, and the attorney in charge of settling the estate, requests Keith Calders assistance to provide his expert opinion on the guns.
Grass apparently died when his gun went off in his face while climbing over a fence, however, Keith doubts the substance of the accident, since Grass was a very careful gunman.
After Keith learns the facts pertaining to the death, he sets about to prove that Grass was inn fact murdered.
A very good read.
Grass apparently died when his gun went off in his face while climbing over a fence, however, Keith doubts the substance of the accident, since Grass was a very careful gunman.
After Keith learns the facts pertaining to the death, he sets about to prove that Grass was inn fact murdered.
A very good read.
April 4, 2026
Completely hooked on this series. Love the characters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews