What do you think?
Rate this book
DCI Lorimer #1
Never Somewhere Else
When a series of young women are discovered strangled and mutilated in a Glasgow park, it is up to DCI Lorimer to find their killer. He enlists the services of Dr Solomon Brightman, a psychologist and criminal profiler.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
294 people are currently reading
1756 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gray
87 books348 followersAlex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. She worked as a folk singer, a visiting officer in the DSS and an English teacher. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
April 12, 2017
On the front of the paperback edition to this book it boldly states that "Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Ian Rankin evokes Edinburgh" This is a disgraceful statement to be pointed at the good name of Rankin and the god amongst crime detectives John Rebus. Reading "Never Someone Else" can only be compared to viewing a rather poor episode of Murder She Wrote starring the ever youthful Angela Lansbury. The crime market is awash with wannabe Rankinists and yet seemingly the author of this story is a well respected and revered past winner of Scottish Association of Writers' Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing....whatever that is....
DCI Lorimer has been tasked with the unenviable job of unmasking a vicious killer who has mutilated and scalped three women leaving their bodies to be discovered in St Mungo's park. To help him understand the mind of the perpetrator he requests the services of psychologist Sol Brightman. Lorimer is probably the most characterless detective I have ever encountered there is nothing enthusiastic or appealing about him...and surely a DCI should be bold and charismatic in order to instil enthusiasm in the officers under his command. Even his English teacher wife Maggie finds him unpredictable and boring, they rarely communicate and she never knows what time to expect his presence at home...if at all. We learn little about the inner Lorimer, his interests: does he like music? does he have a weakness for alcohol? does he prefer the company of other women? He is uninteresting and dull and it is surely only a short time before his long suffering Maggie departs in tears closely accompanied by a disillusioned reader! For crying out loud, dear author, this is the first in a supposedly exciting crime series and yet nothing is done to expose the mind of the lead player...leaving him as a dull soulless pathetic individual......you get the picture I didn't like him!
Any reader of crime will know that the villain will always make an appearance in the story before he is unmasked and it is always fun to try to second-guess this individual. It was a relatively simple process to successfully select the killer in such a poorly written novel. Undoubtedly the later books in the series will gradually expose the inner thoughts of" Mr very very dull and boring DCI" but I will certainly not be reading and will be planning my escape with the lovely perplexed Maggie...........
DCI Lorimer has been tasked with the unenviable job of unmasking a vicious killer who has mutilated and scalped three women leaving their bodies to be discovered in St Mungo's park. To help him understand the mind of the perpetrator he requests the services of psychologist Sol Brightman. Lorimer is probably the most characterless detective I have ever encountered there is nothing enthusiastic or appealing about him...and surely a DCI should be bold and charismatic in order to instil enthusiasm in the officers under his command. Even his English teacher wife Maggie finds him unpredictable and boring, they rarely communicate and she never knows what time to expect his presence at home...if at all. We learn little about the inner Lorimer, his interests: does he like music? does he have a weakness for alcohol? does he prefer the company of other women? He is uninteresting and dull and it is surely only a short time before his long suffering Maggie departs in tears closely accompanied by a disillusioned reader! For crying out loud, dear author, this is the first in a supposedly exciting crime series and yet nothing is done to expose the mind of the lead player...leaving him as a dull soulless pathetic individual......you get the picture I didn't like him!
Any reader of crime will know that the villain will always make an appearance in the story before he is unmasked and it is always fun to try to second-guess this individual. It was a relatively simple process to successfully select the killer in such a poorly written novel. Undoubtedly the later books in the series will gradually expose the inner thoughts of" Mr very very dull and boring DCI" but I will certainly not be reading and will be planning my escape with the lovely perplexed Maggie...........
August 16, 2015
Exciting beginning to a new series and a new author to me!
DCI Lorimer has taken on a case involving three young women who are discovered strangled and scalped and left in a Glasgow Park. He turns to Dr. Solomon Brightman, a psychologist and criminal profiler, much against his wishes. He thinks that Dr. Solomon is almost too eager to become involved in these murders.
These are gruesome murders, with the antagonist keeping the scalps as trophies, reminiscent of the 1800 battles of the Native Americans.
It takes a homeless man to find the connections among the victims, and Dr. Brightman finds himself lucky to have survived an assault with his hair intact. When a news reporter and his photographer start turning up and releasing confidential information, DCI Lorimer goes ballistic and more people die.
The action was a bit slow, but steady, in the very beginning, but picked up rapidly the more I read. I particularly enjoy new series and learning about all the major characters. I think the back stories make for great reading .. and this one met all my expectations.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
DCI Lorimer has taken on a case involving three young women who are discovered strangled and scalped and left in a Glasgow Park. He turns to Dr. Solomon Brightman, a psychologist and criminal profiler, much against his wishes. He thinks that Dr. Solomon is almost too eager to become involved in these murders.
These are gruesome murders, with the antagonist keeping the scalps as trophies, reminiscent of the 1800 battles of the Native Americans.
It takes a homeless man to find the connections among the victims, and Dr. Brightman finds himself lucky to have survived an assault with his hair intact. When a news reporter and his photographer start turning up and releasing confidential information, DCI Lorimer goes ballistic and more people die.
The action was a bit slow, but steady, in the very beginning, but picked up rapidly the more I read. I particularly enjoy new series and learning about all the major characters. I think the back stories make for great reading .. and this one met all my expectations.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
January 8, 2023
When a series of young women are discovered strangled and mutilated in a Glasgow park, it is up to DCI Lorimer to find their killer. He enlists the services of Dr Solomon Brightman, a psychologist and criminal profiler. This is the first book of the DCI Lorimer series. It is compared to Ian Rankin’s Rebus series set in Edinburgh as it is set in Glasgow. The book is paced a bit slow in the beginning but it takes off in the middle of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, as I have a feeling the books will get better and better. If you like suspense with your mystery, then you will love this book.
May 9, 2017
The copyright says this was written early this century but it felt to me that it came straight from the 1950s - complete with that era's enlightened view of ethnic, religious or cultural minorities. The 'foreign-looking' Jewish psychological expert starts discussing redskin warrior braves almost immediately he's introduced, so you know you're in for some profound insights into the human condition.
It's overwritten, tedious and devoid of believable or remotely interesting characters. The baddie is signalled fairly obviously despite some cack-handed attempts at throwing in red herrings; there's a weird, paedophile story ineptly tacked on and the denouement seems to come about because they had written the requisite number of pages so they stopped. Perhaps I was so bored I only read half the pages but there seemed to be some large plot holes - I certainly wasn't going to bother tracking back to see what I'd missed.
The author apparently read an Introduction to Psychology textbook, understood maybe 30% and then decided to create a forensic profiler as a character based on all that expert knowledge.
Someone else (also a 1-star rating) mentions how unremittingly dull the detective is - which certainly reflects my response to him - but he's also extraordinarily dense. All of the police officers in this book are slow on the uptake and the author basically says (repeatedly) that DCI Lorimer's success as a police officer is down to his steely blue eyes causing crims to fess up. But it's OK, don't worry about him never doing any actual police work - we know he's a deep-thinker because he keeps mithering on about art so we know it will all work out in the end.
Godawful.
It's overwritten, tedious and devoid of believable or remotely interesting characters. The baddie is signalled fairly obviously despite some cack-handed attempts at throwing in red herrings; there's a weird, paedophile story ineptly tacked on and the denouement seems to come about because they had written the requisite number of pages so they stopped. Perhaps I was so bored I only read half the pages but there seemed to be some large plot holes - I certainly wasn't going to bother tracking back to see what I'd missed.
The author apparently read an Introduction to Psychology textbook, understood maybe 30% and then decided to create a forensic profiler as a character based on all that expert knowledge.
Someone else (also a 1-star rating) mentions how unremittingly dull the detective is - which certainly reflects my response to him - but he's also extraordinarily dense. All of the police officers in this book are slow on the uptake and the author basically says (repeatedly) that DCI Lorimer's success as a police officer is down to his steely blue eyes causing crims to fess up. But it's OK, don't worry about him never doing any actual police work - we know he's a deep-thinker because he keeps mithering on about art so we know it will all work out in the end.
Godawful.
January 20, 2020
Pretty run of the mill crime novel with an obvious killer but liked DCI Lorimer and Doctor Soloman Brightman. Nice pacing and lots of action. All in all a decent read and have a feeling this series will get better and better.
January 4, 2017
This is the first book in the DCI Lorimer series by Alex Gray. It is a police procedural set in Glasgow.
Lorimer is on the trail of a killer who disfigures his victims in a unique way. The pace of the book is frantic and keeps you turning the pages and second guessing yourself. You think you have solved the crime only to realise you have swallowed another Red Herring. Lorimer will obviously be compared to Ian Rankin's Rebus. But Glasgow and Edinburgh are two completely different cities and they are two different detectives. This book was written in 2002 and though it has taken me awhile to get round to it, I will be reading the rest of the series ASAP. Well done Alex. You have whetted my appetite and I look forward to more.
Lorimer is on the trail of a killer who disfigures his victims in a unique way. The pace of the book is frantic and keeps you turning the pages and second guessing yourself. You think you have solved the crime only to realise you have swallowed another Red Herring. Lorimer will obviously be compared to Ian Rankin's Rebus. But Glasgow and Edinburgh are two completely different cities and they are two different detectives. This book was written in 2002 and though it has taken me awhile to get round to it, I will be reading the rest of the series ASAP. Well done Alex. You have whetted my appetite and I look forward to more.
August 3, 2014
Easy reading, much like reading a Peter Robinson book. First time I have read this author and I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
April 4, 2023
Setting: Glasgow, Scotland.
This is the first book in a crime series featuring DCI William Lorimer.
When the strangled and mutilated bodies of three young women are found dumped in a local park over a short period of time, the police struggle to establish a motive for the crimes or any link between the victims. At his boss's insistence, DCI Lorimer calls on the services of a psychologist, Solomon Brightman, to provide a criminal profile of the killer. What is initially an uneasy alliance becomes a better working relationship as each learns to appreciate the strengths of the other. When a homeless man is found in the park, which has been closed to the public, the interview with him reveals some interesting leads....
This was a good 'first in a series' - good characters, setting, storylines and back stories for the major players. Although I thought I had worked out who the killer was by about halfway through the book (which proved to be correct in the end), this didn't detract from my enjoyment particularly and I am pleased that I have others in the series on my TBR shelf - 8/10.
This is the first book in a crime series featuring DCI William Lorimer.
When the strangled and mutilated bodies of three young women are found dumped in a local park over a short period of time, the police struggle to establish a motive for the crimes or any link between the victims. At his boss's insistence, DCI Lorimer calls on the services of a psychologist, Solomon Brightman, to provide a criminal profile of the killer. What is initially an uneasy alliance becomes a better working relationship as each learns to appreciate the strengths of the other. When a homeless man is found in the park, which has been closed to the public, the interview with him reveals some interesting leads....
This was a good 'first in a series' - good characters, setting, storylines and back stories for the major players. Although I thought I had worked out who the killer was by about halfway through the book (which proved to be correct in the end), this didn't detract from my enjoyment particularly and I am pleased that I have others in the series on my TBR shelf - 8/10.
May 26, 2020
Hackneyed, simple phrases, awful and cheap expressions. What a bad writing! 5th graders would do better!
If it is so easy to sell books, I write my own crime novel as of tomorrow. My English is certainly not better than hers. Only I have the excuse that I am foreigner and my English skills I have learned in my German school when I was a kid.
The poor narrator of the book. He does his best but I imagine that he cringes every second sentence and curses his profession while reading this trivial stuff.
If it is so easy to sell books, I write my own crime novel as of tomorrow. My English is certainly not better than hers. Only I have the excuse that I am foreigner and my English skills I have learned in my German school when I was a kid.
The poor narrator of the book. He does his best but I imagine that he cringes every second sentence and curses his profession while reading this trivial stuff.
April 24, 2022
I wanted to like this one but it just was not good. I didn't see why a psychologist was brought onto the investigation. His help did not solve the case or catch the culprit. Plus, I think the killer is in one scene and then is later revealed to be the culprit. This story was more about Lorimer and everyone else just took up space.
August 2, 2019
Tried twice ... not happening. “Redskin warriors”?? Not only am I annoyed that I paid for this book, I refuse to recycle it. Straight into the trash.
April 23, 2024
Very dry.
I heard Lorimer referred to as Scotland’s favourite detective. Whoever said that hasn’t met Jack Logan!
Go read JD Kirk instead.
I heard Lorimer referred to as Scotland’s favourite detective. Whoever said that hasn’t met Jack Logan!
Go read JD Kirk instead.
October 22, 2018
Set in Glasgow, “Never Somewhere Else” is a fast-paced, thriller that opens with three brutally murdered young women, their bodies dumped in St. Mungo’s Park. With the only clue gleaned from a homeless man sleeping in the park and frustrated with the lack of progress in the grizzly murders DCI Bill Lorimer not only enlists the aid of Dr. Solomon (Solly) Brightman a psychologist and criminal profiler, but has the crimes re-enacted on “Crimewatch”, hoping to elicit information from the public.
Intensity and suspense build quickly with the thwarted attack on Alison Gridley, on her way home from her karate club; the death of a man in a burned-out ambulance; and a break-in at Solly Brightman’s apartment. Well-developed and intriguing, the emotional temperature of the plot heats up when DCI Lorimer goes ballistic after sensitive information about the ongoing investigation is released by an ambitious reporter and his photographer as well as acquiesced in an interview with Solly. Realistic, the investigation taking dips and turns as the suspect list is narrowed down, the plot progresses smoothly to a confrontation at the end that provides a surprising identity to a vicious killer.
Among the host of compelling characters is DCI Bill Lorimer the attractive and happily married detective who loves his job much to the frustration of his wife. Fair-minded, intense and often short-tempered the detective is relentless in his pursuit of justice for the victims. Amiable, thirty-two-year-old Dr. Solomon Brightman, a professor of psychology reveals a single-minded approach in his profile of the killer. He quickly becomes a trusted associate of Lorimer’s and unmarried, develops a fondness for forensic pathologist Rosie Fergusson. Yet it’s the cocky, dangerous, arrogant bravado of the killer that adds a chill to the tension in this murder mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed the locale, the characters and plot of “Never Somewhere Else” and won’t hesitate to look for other books in the “Lorimer” series.
Intensity and suspense build quickly with the thwarted attack on Alison Gridley, on her way home from her karate club; the death of a man in a burned-out ambulance; and a break-in at Solly Brightman’s apartment. Well-developed and intriguing, the emotional temperature of the plot heats up when DCI Lorimer goes ballistic after sensitive information about the ongoing investigation is released by an ambitious reporter and his photographer as well as acquiesced in an interview with Solly. Realistic, the investigation taking dips and turns as the suspect list is narrowed down, the plot progresses smoothly to a confrontation at the end that provides a surprising identity to a vicious killer.
Among the host of compelling characters is DCI Bill Lorimer the attractive and happily married detective who loves his job much to the frustration of his wife. Fair-minded, intense and often short-tempered the detective is relentless in his pursuit of justice for the victims. Amiable, thirty-two-year-old Dr. Solomon Brightman, a professor of psychology reveals a single-minded approach in his profile of the killer. He quickly becomes a trusted associate of Lorimer’s and unmarried, develops a fondness for forensic pathologist Rosie Fergusson. Yet it’s the cocky, dangerous, arrogant bravado of the killer that adds a chill to the tension in this murder mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed the locale, the characters and plot of “Never Somewhere Else” and won’t hesitate to look for other books in the “Lorimer” series.
August 4, 2024
I had really high hopes for this book, given the cover page compared it to Rebus, but was a bit disappointed by the time I finished.
I struggled to get into the book and felt no longing to get to the end, so it took much longer to read than I'd usually be!
I found the main character, DCI Lorimer, a bit dull... there was nothing overly appealing or memorable about him. And even his wife didn't appear very excited by him!!
The case being considered - the murder and mutilation of young women - could have been solved by police alone, but they brought in Dr Solomon Brightman, a psychologist, in the role of "criminal profiler" which felt unnecessary. He was an okay character though.
I wasn't keen on the writing style, but couldn't necessarily tell you why. Although, if I read that someone rolled/raised their eyes "to the heavens" once, I read it 300 times!
I found the story difficult to follow at times and parts of it just felt a bit disconnected.
I struggled to get into the book and felt no longing to get to the end, so it took much longer to read than I'd usually be!
I found the main character, DCI Lorimer, a bit dull... there was nothing overly appealing or memorable about him. And even his wife didn't appear very excited by him!!
The case being considered - the murder and mutilation of young women - could have been solved by police alone, but they brought in Dr Solomon Brightman, a psychologist, in the role of "criminal profiler" which felt unnecessary. He was an okay character though.
I wasn't keen on the writing style, but couldn't necessarily tell you why. Although, if I read that someone rolled/raised their eyes "to the heavens" once, I read it 300 times!
I found the story difficult to follow at times and parts of it just felt a bit disconnected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2022
Read for my book group and before I start I must point out my least favourite genre of book is crime. The reason for this is I just don't like reading about this type of grisly crime and I don't find police procedures interesting. This was both of those, grisly and full of Chief Inspector Lorrimer's approach to solving the mystery aided by Dr Solomon Brightman psychology professor from the university. I found the first half of the book dreary almost gave up. I did find the sense of place interesting, as although I have only been to Glasgow once I knew the landmarks were real. I quite liked the fact that it was written in a way that made you suspect different characters at different points. Although I don't watch crime dramas on TV I have watched a few and this was like reading the plot of one. We only saw characters from an outside point of view and it was quite cinematic in the descriptions of places and people to help you picture the scene.
May 28, 2025
New detective series based in Glasgow, recommended by Margaret who instantly ordered the rest of the series when she read this one. The detective is Detective Chief Inspector Lorrimor, working with a Jewish (not sure of the relevance) academic psychologist. Macabre murders of three young women are the starting point for the case which takes unexpected turns. The city of Glasgow is alive and almost a character in this atmospheric detective story which has real narrative drive.a good read but I didn’t really engage with the detective team.
September 2, 2019
Saw this book in the Glasgow airport. I had never heard of this series, but decided to give it a go.
Pretty vanilla serial-killer-police-procedural. I enjoyed the setting having just been to Glasgow, but this doesn't necessarily stand out above other procedurals. Perfectly good for what it is.
Pretty vanilla serial-killer-police-procedural. I enjoyed the setting having just been to Glasgow, but this doesn't necessarily stand out above other procedurals. Perfectly good for what it is.
January 5, 2026
did not finish
October 13, 2013
I was really excited as I read further and further into this first book by Alex Gray. I've always enjoyed the Ian Rankin series with Rebus, including the BBC show about this character. In NEVER SOMEWHERE ELSE, that same intertwining relationship between detective and psychologist/profiler comes into play wonderfully.
Detective Inspector Lorimer is an attractive, happily married man who spends way too much time investigating his cases, according to his wife. But that probably won't change anytime soon because of shortfalls in the Glasgow, Scotland's budget. Dr. Solomon Brightman is a well liked college professor of psychology. Though younger than Lorimer, he soon becomes a trusted associate as his theories seem to play out correctly in his help with police investigations. Unmarried, Brightman and intriguing pathologist, Rosie Fergusson, seem to have an interesting affinity for each other. This team looks to be a very interesting combination for many more mysteries!
In this book, women are being strangled with a bicycle chain, scalped, mangled, and then placed in St Mongo Park. Is this a serial killer, or someone wanting one girl killed without a motive being detected? The art world, journalists, photographers, and pedophiles all come into play as the police try to find this sadistic murderer before he murders again. I really enjoyed the journey with everyone involved, as the evidence and clues became evident within this book! Thrilled to have found this new series by Alex Gray!
Detective Inspector Lorimer is an attractive, happily married man who spends way too much time investigating his cases, according to his wife. But that probably won't change anytime soon because of shortfalls in the Glasgow, Scotland's budget. Dr. Solomon Brightman is a well liked college professor of psychology. Though younger than Lorimer, he soon becomes a trusted associate as his theories seem to play out correctly in his help with police investigations. Unmarried, Brightman and intriguing pathologist, Rosie Fergusson, seem to have an interesting affinity for each other. This team looks to be a very interesting combination for many more mysteries!
In this book, women are being strangled with a bicycle chain, scalped, mangled, and then placed in St Mongo Park. Is this a serial killer, or someone wanting one girl killed without a motive being detected? The art world, journalists, photographers, and pedophiles all come into play as the police try to find this sadistic murderer before he murders again. I really enjoyed the journey with everyone involved, as the evidence and clues became evident within this book! Thrilled to have found this new series by Alex Gray!
December 10, 2018
This is the first book by Alex Gray set in Glasgow, my home city, with DCI Lorimer and Dr Soloman Brightman as the main characters.
The investigation surrounds the death and mutilation of three young women found in a Glasgow park. DCI Lorimer is an old fashioned cop believing in age old police methods and is reluctant to accept the services of a psychologist and criminal profiler, Dr Brightman. Lorimer has his way of doing things and Brightman his and its interesting to see the relationship between these two and how the relationship bumps along while they are both looking for the same thing, the sadistic killers of these girls. The investigation leads the police through the streets of Glasgow, and aspects of the underbelly of the city, through twists and turns to reach a final conclusion.
As I said this is the first book of the series and I’m glad that it’s not the last, Alex Gray is in fact still writing these books as we speak and I’m looking forward to see where she takes the characters.
Definitely a book I’d recommend to lovers of crime or Glasgow based books, Glasgow always does seem to come through as its own character in many books and this one is no different.
The investigation surrounds the death and mutilation of three young women found in a Glasgow park. DCI Lorimer is an old fashioned cop believing in age old police methods and is reluctant to accept the services of a psychologist and criminal profiler, Dr Brightman. Lorimer has his way of doing things and Brightman his and its interesting to see the relationship between these two and how the relationship bumps along while they are both looking for the same thing, the sadistic killers of these girls. The investigation leads the police through the streets of Glasgow, and aspects of the underbelly of the city, through twists and turns to reach a final conclusion.
As I said this is the first book of the series and I’m glad that it’s not the last, Alex Gray is in fact still writing these books as we speak and I’m looking forward to see where she takes the characters.
Definitely a book I’d recommend to lovers of crime or Glasgow based books, Glasgow always does seem to come through as its own character in many books and this one is no different.
Read
January 31, 2018This is the first DCI Lorimer novel. I have binge read all the novels on Kindle and am eagerly awaiting the last two to become available. Set in Glasgow, the novels feature DCI Lorimer, his wife Maggie, psychological profiler Solomon Brightman and forensic pathologist Dr Rosie Fergusson. The back story of these four characters is very satisfying to follow so do read the books in order.
April 18, 2019
I had great hopes for this book because it is set in Glasgow, where I lived for a long time, and I looked forward to experiencing a feel of the city. However, I didn't feel anything. For me, at least, the characters were cardboard, and the atmosphere was completely missing. All the same, I recognise it was his first try, so I may try another one some day.
July 5, 2021
Interesting
My biggest problem was when the author was building the characters, the storyline just hung there and when the plot was being advanced, the character of the characters kind of hung there. See if this improves in book two.
My biggest problem was when the author was building the characters, the storyline just hung there and when the plot was being advanced, the character of the characters kind of hung there. See if this improves in book two.
May 4, 2010
Fans of Rebus will enjoy Lorimer. Gray read a bit faster than Rankin, AND I got to explore the streets of Glasgow! I will definitely be returning for more crime solving with Glasgow's finest!
December 20, 2018
DNF.
Parts were ok, but the writing style through me off. Different perscpectives felt choppy and when I realized I didn’t care or feel invested in a sngle character, I had to walk away.
Parts were ok, but the writing style through me off. Different perscpectives felt choppy and when I realized I didn’t care or feel invested in a sngle character, I had to walk away.
February 22, 2020
I have found a few of Alex Gray’s more recent books a bit disappointing. However, I know she can write excellent novels, so when I found this earlier book, Never Somewhere Else, on sale, I picked it up, only to discover that this is the first book in the author’s DCI Lorimer series and I enjoyed it.
DCI William Lorimer has been tasked with the unenviable job of unmasking a vicious killer who has mutilated and scalped three women leaving their bodies to be discovered in St Mungo’s park, Glasgow, Scotland. These are gruesome murders, with the antagonist keeping the scalps as trophies, reminiscent of the 1800 battles of the Native Americans.
To help him understand the mind of the perpetrator he requests the services of psychologist Sol Brightman. Lorimer is a detemined DCI who instils trust in the officers under his command. His wife, Maggie, is an English teacher. She finds his routine annoyingly unpredictable and she never knows what time to expect his presence at home…if at all.
Ultimately, it takes a homeless man to find the connections among the victims, and Dr. Brightman finds himself lucky to have survived an assault with his hair intact. When a news reporter and his photographer start turning up and releasing confidential information, DCI Lorimer goes ballistic and more people die.
This is a gripping debut to the series and I am really glad to have caught up with it, all be it belatedly. If you enjoy tartan noir and good crime fiction, Never Somewhere Else is well worth a read.
The Author
Alex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. She worked as a folk singer, a visiting officer in the DSS and an English teacher. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing.
Val Penny
DCI William Lorimer has been tasked with the unenviable job of unmasking a vicious killer who has mutilated and scalped three women leaving their bodies to be discovered in St Mungo’s park, Glasgow, Scotland. These are gruesome murders, with the antagonist keeping the scalps as trophies, reminiscent of the 1800 battles of the Native Americans.
To help him understand the mind of the perpetrator he requests the services of psychologist Sol Brightman. Lorimer is a detemined DCI who instils trust in the officers under his command. His wife, Maggie, is an English teacher. She finds his routine annoyingly unpredictable and she never knows what time to expect his presence at home…if at all.
Ultimately, it takes a homeless man to find the connections among the victims, and Dr. Brightman finds himself lucky to have survived an assault with his hair intact. When a news reporter and his photographer start turning up and releasing confidential information, DCI Lorimer goes ballistic and more people die.
This is a gripping debut to the series and I am really glad to have caught up with it, all be it belatedly. If you enjoy tartan noir and good crime fiction, Never Somewhere Else is well worth a read.
The Author
Alex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. She worked as a folk singer, a visiting officer in the DSS and an English teacher. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing.
Val Penny
November 16, 2017
This is the second crime novel I’ve read in a row about the brutal murders of women. I am going to have to read something much more light-hearted next. Both of these incidentally were written by women, I don’t know if there is any significance in that, and it was only halfway through the second one that I realised myself.
Anyway, this particular book was a good enough crime thriller. It was nothing special, but it was an interesting police procedure whodunit nonetheless. I guessed who the murderer was before the end simply by the old tried and tested method of choosing someone that just seemed unlikely. I’m not sure that proves the plot was quite as good as something written by Agatha Christie, but I did still enjoy the book, but perhaps more for the story itself rather than the intellectual challenge of working out who the hidden killer was. Set in Glasgow it would interest anyone with an interest in the city. I’ve only visited twice, but have visited both the Glasgow School of Art (before the fire) and the House for an Art Lover which were both in the story and which made it slightly more interesting for me personally.
So overall, no complaints but nothing special I’m afraid. I may read another from the series but given that there are so many similar crime novels about, I’m not sure I would go out of my way to find one.
Anyway, this particular book was a good enough crime thriller. It was nothing special, but it was an interesting police procedure whodunit nonetheless. I guessed who the murderer was before the end simply by the old tried and tested method of choosing someone that just seemed unlikely. I’m not sure that proves the plot was quite as good as something written by Agatha Christie, but I did still enjoy the book, but perhaps more for the story itself rather than the intellectual challenge of working out who the hidden killer was. Set in Glasgow it would interest anyone with an interest in the city. I’ve only visited twice, but have visited both the Glasgow School of Art (before the fire) and the House for an Art Lover which were both in the story and which made it slightly more interesting for me personally.
So overall, no complaints but nothing special I’m afraid. I may read another from the series but given that there are so many similar crime novels about, I’m not sure I would go out of my way to find one.
December 22, 2023
It is an intriguing and captivating story, but for those who enjoy a slower read. The prologue really sets the mood - a perfect hook, really. I'll be honest by telling me a character thinks they're unattractive and makes me think the opposite, especially when they're a Scottish ex rugby player. This is very much romanticising police officers, which makes me sad, but I will forever be ACAB in real life, but sometimes gritty crime dramas are needed. The book is very lyrical, and it's not my ideal format of writing but works well for this book. The changing of character perspective adds dimension to the story, although when this happens, I usually struggle to follow the plot but not so much this time. The first mention of Davey's photography exhibition made me go EW, and a person's first instinct is always right. Getting to halfway was a slog, probably more like a chore. However, the second half saw many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting but it's still quite slow - like I definitely want to find out what happens and am reading the last 100 pages much quicker but it's not exactly a gripping story, especially the last 30 pages which became the speed round. The more you get into the book, the more you like Lorimer - his slightly banterous personality begins to shine. My favourite thing is the unbiased Scottish favouritism, which is undoubtedly true, plus the slang does good things for my heart.
May 31, 2018
Never Somewhere Else by Alex Gray - Good
The first of the DCI Lorimer books and it was on my wishlist for sometime until my Bookcrossing Secret Santa sent it to me. Originally added after hearing the author talk about another in the series at the BookFest. Of course, I couldn't start mid-series!
Young women are being murdered in Glasgow (so very Taggart!). Strangled, scalped, then left in a local park. The MO never changes, but there is no pattern to the victims. It seems they could have been anyone.
DCI Lorimer is frustrated by lack of progress and, against his better judgement, agrees to consult Dr Solomon Brightman a psychologist and criminal profiler. From then on, this is a pretty standard bit of Tartan Noir as they race against time to catch the killer before he claims another victim. What isn't standard, is the quality of the writing. Nicely done and just as readable as a Rebus novel or any of the other new Scottish crime books I've read of late.
Will happily work my way through the series.
The first of the DCI Lorimer books and it was on my wishlist for sometime until my Bookcrossing Secret Santa sent it to me. Originally added after hearing the author talk about another in the series at the BookFest. Of course, I couldn't start mid-series!
Young women are being murdered in Glasgow (so very Taggart!). Strangled, scalped, then left in a local park. The MO never changes, but there is no pattern to the victims. It seems they could have been anyone.
DCI Lorimer is frustrated by lack of progress and, against his better judgement, agrees to consult Dr Solomon Brightman a psychologist and criminal profiler. From then on, this is a pretty standard bit of Tartan Noir as they race against time to catch the killer before he claims another victim. What isn't standard, is the quality of the writing. Nicely done and just as readable as a Rebus novel or any of the other new Scottish crime books I've read of late.
Will happily work my way through the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews