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DI Alec McKay #3
Their Final Act
DI Alec McKay is back.
Jimmy McGuire, a washed-up comic, is found dead on the streets of Inverness, his body garroted. Back in the 1990s, McGuire had been half of a promising double-act until his partner, Jack Dingwall, was convicted of rape.
Soon after, a second corpse is found in an abandoned industrial site on the edge of the Moray Firth. The body has been there for some days and has also been garroted. The victim turns out to be a former musician turned record producer, who had also been the subject of rape allegations.
Meanwhile, DI Alec McKay and DCI Helena Grant are still wrestling with the fallout from one of their recent cases following an acquittal.
As the body count rises, the police think they have the killer in their sights. But McKay is concerned that the evidence is too neat so when he realises there will be a final victim, he fears that time is running out …
Also available in the best-selling DI Alec McKay Series:Candles and Roses
Death Parts Us
Alex Walters is a critically-acclaimed and best-selling crime and thriller author. The DI Alec McKay Series will appeal to fans of authors like Ann Cleeves, Peter May and Helen Fields.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 5, 2018
3.5 stars
October 3, 2025
DI Alec McKay is back, and I have to admit, I approached The Black Isle like a kid opening a second helping of haggis—curious, slightly wary, but unable to resist. Let’s be honest: I adored the first two books in the series. Absolutely gobbled them up. So naturally, I dove into this third installment with the same gusto… and came up feeling like I’d gotten a little more gravy than meat.
First off, the positives, because let’s get those out of the way. Walters can write a Scottish countryside that makes you want to pack your bag and simultaneously pack a small survival kit. The landscapes, the sunsets, the Black Isle itself—it’s gorgeous and atmospheric. The murders are brutal but not gratuitous, and our grumpy, sarcastic DI Alec McKay remains the kind of lovable, rule-bending curmudgeon you root for even when he’s sticking his nose where it shouldn’t go. DS Ginny Horton and DCI Helena Grant are back too, and yes, they continue to ground the chaos. Jane’s subplot with domestic abuse recovery adds a serious and thoughtful layer to the story, handled sensitively, which earns serious kudos.
Now the quibbles, and oh, where do I start? This one didn’t quite flow the way I expected. It’s like taking a scenic train ride, but halfway through someone switched the timetable and now you’re stopping at stations that don’t seem to exist. The narrative hops between crime scenes, Jane’s farm retreat, and Alec’s personal life in a way that feels… a little jarring. You keep turning the pages because the story does converge beautifully in the end, but it’s a more winding path than the previous books.
And yes, trigger warning: we have the harrowing topics of rape and abuse. It’s handled well, but don’t kid yourself—the typical 1-star review crowd will be shaking their fists at the mere mention of adult themes. To those reviewers: maybe society’s discomfort isn’t Walters’ fault. He’s writing reality with grit, not creating a bad Sunday crossword puzzle.
Still, the mystery is solid, with enough twists and red herrings to make you mutter “oh for crying out loud” at least twice per chapter. Alec’s attempts at personal reconciliation and juggling his grumpy charm with life’s chaos are endearing, but at times his inner monologue feels like a detour we didn’t really need. And Netta Munro, the former celebrity-turned-farm-host, is… well, she’s fine, just not quite as compelling as our main cast.
So, 3 stars. Not because it’s bad—far from it. This is like getting a slightly overcooked haggis: still very tasty, but missing the perfect balance of texture and punch you got in the first two books. Fans of Alec McKay will still enjoy it, but don’t expect the seamless, page-turning magic of Candles and Roses or Death Parts Us.
In short: still worth reading, still gripping, still Walters. But, my head shook more than once. Here’s hoping book four gets back on track and lets Alec waltz through the Black Isle like the charming, grumpy hero we’ve come to love.
First off, the positives, because let’s get those out of the way. Walters can write a Scottish countryside that makes you want to pack your bag and simultaneously pack a small survival kit. The landscapes, the sunsets, the Black Isle itself—it’s gorgeous and atmospheric. The murders are brutal but not gratuitous, and our grumpy, sarcastic DI Alec McKay remains the kind of lovable, rule-bending curmudgeon you root for even when he’s sticking his nose where it shouldn’t go. DS Ginny Horton and DCI Helena Grant are back too, and yes, they continue to ground the chaos. Jane’s subplot with domestic abuse recovery adds a serious and thoughtful layer to the story, handled sensitively, which earns serious kudos.
Now the quibbles, and oh, where do I start? This one didn’t quite flow the way I expected. It’s like taking a scenic train ride, but halfway through someone switched the timetable and now you’re stopping at stations that don’t seem to exist. The narrative hops between crime scenes, Jane’s farm retreat, and Alec’s personal life in a way that feels… a little jarring. You keep turning the pages because the story does converge beautifully in the end, but it’s a more winding path than the previous books.
And yes, trigger warning: we have the harrowing topics of rape and abuse. It’s handled well, but don’t kid yourself—the typical 1-star review crowd will be shaking their fists at the mere mention of adult themes. To those reviewers: maybe society’s discomfort isn’t Walters’ fault. He’s writing reality with grit, not creating a bad Sunday crossword puzzle.
Still, the mystery is solid, with enough twists and red herrings to make you mutter “oh for crying out loud” at least twice per chapter. Alec’s attempts at personal reconciliation and juggling his grumpy charm with life’s chaos are endearing, but at times his inner monologue feels like a detour we didn’t really need. And Netta Munro, the former celebrity-turned-farm-host, is… well, she’s fine, just not quite as compelling as our main cast.
So, 3 stars. Not because it’s bad—far from it. This is like getting a slightly overcooked haggis: still very tasty, but missing the perfect balance of texture and punch you got in the first two books. Fans of Alec McKay will still enjoy it, but don’t expect the seamless, page-turning magic of Candles and Roses or Death Parts Us.
In short: still worth reading, still gripping, still Walters. But, my head shook more than once. Here’s hoping book four gets back on track and lets Alec waltz through the Black Isle like the charming, grumpy hero we’ve come to love.
September 26, 2018
So I’m back with DI Alec McKay and his team, this time they’re dealing with the death of a washed up comedian Jimmy McGuire who was garrotted and dumped on the street in Inverness. They think it’s random until a second body turns up…
I discovered this series last year with the book Death Parts Us, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. This is the third in series, while it can be read as a stand alone, I would highly recommend that you read the first book Candles and Roses, which I personally haven’t, because it is heavily referenced throughout after the acquittal of main suspect in the case.
The story is split between Alec’s investigation and a young woman named Jane who has escaped domestic abuse and is now trying to move on with her life. Jane is offered a place on a farm to help her rehabilitate but it seems too good to be true. Her host Netty Munro seems friendly and a gracious host but Jane can’t help feeling something is off especially with the addition of Elizabeth another woman sent from the abuse centre.
Alec is still his same grumpy, sarcastic self who enjoys putting himself in danger but in the book there’s the nice edition of a possible reconciliation with his wife Chrissie (we’ll have to see how that goes in the next book!).
What else I loved about this book is the beautifully described Scottish countryside, combining that with brutal murder makes an interesting dynamic and also says that no matter how lovely a place looks you never know what horrors are lurking underneath!
I will also give a trigger warning as it does cover the harrowing subjects of rape and abuse but it is handled by the author very sensitively.
Now I have to be honest, it did take me a little bit of time to actually get into the book, just because I had not read Candles and Roses and didn’t quite understand what they were going on about but it didn’t spoil my overall experience of the book.
Their Final Act is a gritty police procedural, with plenty of intriguing characters which kept me guessing until the end.
I discovered this series last year with the book Death Parts Us, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. This is the third in series, while it can be read as a stand alone, I would highly recommend that you read the first book Candles and Roses, which I personally haven’t, because it is heavily referenced throughout after the acquittal of main suspect in the case.
The story is split between Alec’s investigation and a young woman named Jane who has escaped domestic abuse and is now trying to move on with her life. Jane is offered a place on a farm to help her rehabilitate but it seems too good to be true. Her host Netty Munro seems friendly and a gracious host but Jane can’t help feeling something is off especially with the addition of Elizabeth another woman sent from the abuse centre.
Alec is still his same grumpy, sarcastic self who enjoys putting himself in danger but in the book there’s the nice edition of a possible reconciliation with his wife Chrissie (we’ll have to see how that goes in the next book!).
What else I loved about this book is the beautifully described Scottish countryside, combining that with brutal murder makes an interesting dynamic and also says that no matter how lovely a place looks you never know what horrors are lurking underneath!
I will also give a trigger warning as it does cover the harrowing subjects of rape and abuse but it is handled by the author very sensitively.
Now I have to be honest, it did take me a little bit of time to actually get into the book, just because I had not read Candles and Roses and didn’t quite understand what they were going on about but it didn’t spoil my overall experience of the book.
Their Final Act is a gritty police procedural, with plenty of intriguing characters which kept me guessing until the end.
September 29, 2018
Their Final Act by Alex Walters
DI Alec McKay #3
Garroting is not a nice way to die but for some reason people are beginning to turn up dead due to a wire being wrapped around their necks that is then pulled tight to cut off their lives. Into the first murder of a perhaps past his prime comedian steps McKay and his team and as each new murder occurs they pursue the killer. As they search they unearth dark secrets and reasons for violence that are behind the murders. In addition to the murder solving McKay and his wife are working toward getting back together after being separated for a bit of time and that adds personal interest to the story.
Coming into this series at the end, I assume this is the end at least of one thread that began in book one, might have been difficult if I had not read the synopses of the preceding books. This book stands alone and wasn’t difficult to follow though the import and impact of the unveiling of who is behind the murders might mean more to those who have read the previous books.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more work by this author? Yes
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
DI Alec McKay #3
Garroting is not a nice way to die but for some reason people are beginning to turn up dead due to a wire being wrapped around their necks that is then pulled tight to cut off their lives. Into the first murder of a perhaps past his prime comedian steps McKay and his team and as each new murder occurs they pursue the killer. As they search they unearth dark secrets and reasons for violence that are behind the murders. In addition to the murder solving McKay and his wife are working toward getting back together after being separated for a bit of time and that adds personal interest to the story.
Coming into this series at the end, I assume this is the end at least of one thread that began in book one, might have been difficult if I had not read the synopses of the preceding books. This book stands alone and wasn’t difficult to follow though the import and impact of the unveiling of who is behind the murders might mean more to those who have read the previous books.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more work by this author? Yes
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
September 29, 2018
A Tense Thriller set on The Black Isle..McKay is Relentless ...And brilliant
When Jimmy McGuire an ageing comedian is found dead (garroted)..DI Alex McKay and DS Ginny Horton have their work cut out for them..When just days later a man walking his dog finds another body..it's Ginny Horton who calls it in..and it looks as though it's the same killer..DCI Helena Grant wants answers..Meanwhile three young women have arrived at Muir Farm..a safe haven, Almost like a retreat after living at a centre for abused women..After everything the women have been through , this place is like Heaven..and the woman who runs it Netta Munro..is herself a minor celebrity...who once played to packed out theatres...then one day gave it all up to buy the farm...For McKay though this is just the beginning of his problems as the bodies are mounting up..A killer is out there on a mission..A case that has been closed is still playing on his mind...and he just wants to get his life in order , get back his estranged wife...and find this killer who it seems hasn't quite finished what they started...And in the Beautiful Black Isle...where the sunsets are golden ...where tourists abound in the summer...A killer is hiding...in plain sight...watching, waiting..and ready to strike...Having read Candles and Roses by Alex Walters I'm sure I along with all his other readers whooped to hear there was to be another in the series...And so worth the wait....Walters writing makes The Black Isle in all its beauty come alive...with a few bodies littered along the way...And once again Brilliant storytelling..
When Jimmy McGuire an ageing comedian is found dead (garroted)..DI Alex McKay and DS Ginny Horton have their work cut out for them..When just days later a man walking his dog finds another body..it's Ginny Horton who calls it in..and it looks as though it's the same killer..DCI Helena Grant wants answers..Meanwhile three young women have arrived at Muir Farm..a safe haven, Almost like a retreat after living at a centre for abused women..After everything the women have been through , this place is like Heaven..and the woman who runs it Netta Munro..is herself a minor celebrity...who once played to packed out theatres...then one day gave it all up to buy the farm...For McKay though this is just the beginning of his problems as the bodies are mounting up..A killer is out there on a mission..A case that has been closed is still playing on his mind...and he just wants to get his life in order , get back his estranged wife...and find this killer who it seems hasn't quite finished what they started...And in the Beautiful Black Isle...where the sunsets are golden ...where tourists abound in the summer...A killer is hiding...in plain sight...watching, waiting..and ready to strike...Having read Candles and Roses by Alex Walters I'm sure I along with all his other readers whooped to hear there was to be another in the series...And so worth the wait....Walters writing makes The Black Isle in all its beauty come alive...with a few bodies littered along the way...And once again Brilliant storytelling..
April 13, 2025
Loving this series like the pace between police procedure and action. Good solid characters now built and endearing
September 25, 2018
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I was delighted to be able to review this book, I have loved the author's previous books in the series and I can say now I've read this one it has the same excellent writing style and fascinating characters.
I would say that this is fine to be read as a stand alone but if the other books interest you, they are definitely worth checking out!
I loved the plot line for this one, it was well developed and you felt as though you were transported right to the crime scenes with them. The story is well paced and it made for a completely gripping page turner - I loved it!
Five stars from me, another fantastic book by this author - very highly recommended and can't wait to see what he releases next!!
I was delighted to be able to review this book, I have loved the author's previous books in the series and I can say now I've read this one it has the same excellent writing style and fascinating characters.
I would say that this is fine to be read as a stand alone but if the other books interest you, they are definitely worth checking out!
I loved the plot line for this one, it was well developed and you felt as though you were transported right to the crime scenes with them. The story is well paced and it made for a completely gripping page turner - I loved it!
Five stars from me, another fantastic book by this author - very highly recommended and can't wait to see what he releases next!!
August 4, 2022
Terceiro volume da saga DI Alec McKay, que continua a entusiasmar-me.
Ainda faltam mais três volumes, que mal posso esperar por devorar.
Mais uma série de homicídios inexplicáveis e a resposta a uma questão deixada em aberto no primeiro volume.
Ainda faltam mais três volumes, que mal posso esperar por devorar.
Mais uma série de homicídios inexplicáveis e a resposta a uma questão deixada em aberto no primeiro volume.
January 28, 2021
Another excellent installment
Having just read the first two in the Alec McKay series I decided to follow on immediately with this 3rd one, and I am incredibly pleased I did, because this one very nicely wraps up some intrigue about the ending of the first one – Candles and Roses. It starts off with the usual unexplained death – a garroting, which produces a very easily discovered body in an alleyway by a night club. Clearly McKay and his team are concerned but believe it to be a random killing or, at worst, a one off. However, as is always the way, things take a turn for the worse and more bodies turn up giving the police a headache and a likely serial killer to catch. At the same time, we learn about a group of young women who are re-homed from a women’s shelter to a local farm where the owner wants to help them make a new life for themselves. Right from the start it becomes clear that everything is not as it seems and as the story moves on, we begin to have doubts as to what is really going on.
Like the previous three books in this series, it is beautifully written, fast paced, and full of twists, turns, red herrings and plenty of intrigue – all things that keeps the reader turning the page long past the point where they should go to sleep. I love the characters – McKay may be grumpy, but he is well intentioned and, without realising it he is quite a lovable DI. His DS, Ginny Horton, returns having recovered from the traumas of their last case and the boss, Helena Grant, continues to keep McKay under control, as best she can. This is a fantastic series of books and I found that as soon as I finish one, I want to move on immediately to the next – which is something I very rarely do and is more proof that Alex Walters is such an excellent author. I can honestly say that I highly recommend these novels to anyone who likes crime novels.
Having just read the first two in the Alec McKay series I decided to follow on immediately with this 3rd one, and I am incredibly pleased I did, because this one very nicely wraps up some intrigue about the ending of the first one – Candles and Roses. It starts off with the usual unexplained death – a garroting, which produces a very easily discovered body in an alleyway by a night club. Clearly McKay and his team are concerned but believe it to be a random killing or, at worst, a one off. However, as is always the way, things take a turn for the worse and more bodies turn up giving the police a headache and a likely serial killer to catch. At the same time, we learn about a group of young women who are re-homed from a women’s shelter to a local farm where the owner wants to help them make a new life for themselves. Right from the start it becomes clear that everything is not as it seems and as the story moves on, we begin to have doubts as to what is really going on.
Like the previous three books in this series, it is beautifully written, fast paced, and full of twists, turns, red herrings and plenty of intrigue – all things that keeps the reader turning the page long past the point where they should go to sleep. I love the characters – McKay may be grumpy, but he is well intentioned and, without realising it he is quite a lovable DI. His DS, Ginny Horton, returns having recovered from the traumas of their last case and the boss, Helena Grant, continues to keep McKay under control, as best she can. This is a fantastic series of books and I found that as soon as I finish one, I want to move on immediately to the next – which is something I very rarely do and is more proof that Alex Walters is such an excellent author. I can honestly say that I highly recommend these novels to anyone who likes crime novels.
November 3, 2018
The body of an almost washed up comedian is found early one morning on the streets of Inverness. DI McKay and DS Ginny Horton are quickly sent to the scene. They learn that the comedian had been garroted. They also learn that he had been part of a double act in the 1990s and his partner had been sent to jail charged with rape.
Soon after another body is found on an abandoned industrial site, killed in the same way as the comedian. But what ties these two murders together? It transpires that this victim, a former musician turned record producer, had also been accused of rape. Is this the connection?
Meanwhile McKay and his boss, DCI Helena Grant are coping with the fallout from an earlier case - Candles and Roses. While that case has been closed unsuccessfully to their way of thinking, they have to concentrate on the case at hand.
Soon more bodies are discovered, having been killed in the same fashion; but apart from a link to show business, they are getting nowhere with finding who the murderer or murderers are.
Again from this author, there is another story running parallel to this and it is only very near the end that we see where the stories impact upon each other, and once again, we are shown what a good thriller and mystery writer Alex Walters is.
This is book No 3 in the Alec McKay series. Did you read my review of the earlier book Candles and Roses? This is a continuation of where the earlier book left off and it answers some of the questions left hanging at the end of that book. Ths latest book is well written, the characters are all well rounded and believable and we feel for them. We even get an insight, small though it is, into McKay's private life.
I recommend this book as a very good read.
Soon after another body is found on an abandoned industrial site, killed in the same way as the comedian. But what ties these two murders together? It transpires that this victim, a former musician turned record producer, had also been accused of rape. Is this the connection?
Meanwhile McKay and his boss, DCI Helena Grant are coping with the fallout from an earlier case - Candles and Roses. While that case has been closed unsuccessfully to their way of thinking, they have to concentrate on the case at hand.
Soon more bodies are discovered, having been killed in the same fashion; but apart from a link to show business, they are getting nowhere with finding who the murderer or murderers are.
Again from this author, there is another story running parallel to this and it is only very near the end that we see where the stories impact upon each other, and once again, we are shown what a good thriller and mystery writer Alex Walters is.
This is book No 3 in the Alec McKay series. Did you read my review of the earlier book Candles and Roses? This is a continuation of where the earlier book left off and it answers some of the questions left hanging at the end of that book. Ths latest book is well written, the characters are all well rounded and believable and we feel for them. We even get an insight, small though it is, into McKay's private life.
I recommend this book as a very good read.
September 14, 2018
4.5 out of 5 for this. A serial killer thriller, this is book number 3 in the DI Alec McKay series and essentially takes the reader back to the first book Candles and Roses where the ending was left a little open to speculation as to the guilt of Elizabeth Hamilton. Without giving too much away, this story is the continuation and explanation of the events of book 1, together with the vicious garrotting of several victims along the way. As the bodies mount up Alec and the other members of the team there unravel motives apparently set firmly in the past until the shocking ending is revealed. I must admit I never knew Inverness and the surrounding area was so dangerous!! It does work as a stand alone but I would recommend reading in order. And I recommend them all!!
February 25, 2022
3.5 - This final book in the Alec McKay series pulls together all of the dangling issues and unfinished business created in books one and two. Very complex relationships and a lot of events (along with a lot of bodies) made this book somewhat of a chore for me. Enough so that I reduced my 4 by a half point.
Good plot with plenty of twists. Alex Walters does a good job of directing the reader down different paths to solve the mystery (all of which I got somewhat or completely wrong) and in the end springs a completely different yet a well-founded solution.
For those that like to keep track of a lot of characters and a lot of events that need to be noted, this is the book series for you. Enjoy!
Good plot with plenty of twists. Alex Walters does a good job of directing the reader down different paths to solve the mystery (all of which I got somewhat or completely wrong) and in the end springs a completely different yet a well-founded solution.
For those that like to keep track of a lot of characters and a lot of events that need to be noted, this is the book series for you. Enjoy!
September 25, 2018
sometimes an author keeps something up their sleeve to flourish later with a TA DA and Alex Walters does this with book 3 in the D.I Alec McKAY series. Following on from his first novel Candles and Roses he brings Elizabeth back into contact with Alec so if you've not read the first novel you might find this one a bit confusing to start but get through the first couple of chapters and you wont be disappointed.
Once you get into the flow of the book and flow it does from one crime scene to the next till it all ebbs together to give you an unexpected twist of a whodunit.
So whether its your first or third time with this author you will enjoy this outing with D.I Alec McKay.
Once you get into the flow of the book and flow it does from one crime scene to the next till it all ebbs together to give you an unexpected twist of a whodunit.
So whether its your first or third time with this author you will enjoy this outing with D.I Alec McKay.
September 10, 2018
Having read the first two books in this fine series I was very much looking forward to Their Final Act, and I was not disappointed! Although this can be read as a stand-alone, I was glad that I was familiar with Alec McKay and this book's predecessors as there are many references to past cases. The writing is very good, the protagonists fascinating and the story telling engrossing. The themes are topical, among them sexual abuse and the need for refuges, and Alex McKay has his work cut out discovering the link between a number of garrotted corpses! Hopefully not his final act!
November 13, 2018
I'm a sucker for a serial killer novel and I'm even more of a sucker for one that's written well, with believable characters and a convincing and complex story line. Walters' characters are well rounded and believable and that just holds the story up. I love the links back to previous cases and i love the irascibility of Alec Mackay. The complexities of the plot with Elizabeth's storyline as well as that of the murdered comedian is inspired. Five stars from me.
November 28, 2018
Amazing
What a great way to finish the Det. Alex McKay series. It was great that it tied into the first book in the series and completed the story and that it was finally closure. I'm pleased that I read the books in order but I'm sure that this book works just as well as a stand alone book.
Some real twists and turns and parts the keep you wondering and turning the pages desperate to find out the truth.
Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book..
What a great way to finish the Det. Alex McKay series. It was great that it tied into the first book in the series and completed the story and that it was finally closure. I'm pleased that I read the books in order but I'm sure that this book works just as well as a stand alone book.
Some real twists and turns and parts the keep you wondering and turning the pages desperate to find out the truth.
Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book..
July 27, 2021
Full of twists and turns.
Another great story. I needed to keep my focus, trying to work out how this one was going. It had me flummoxed. Brilliant story telling plus great narration, McKay's choice of language catching me out but not in a negative way. Looking forward to reading and listening to the next in the series.
I hope Alex will continue with this series, it really works.
Another great story. I needed to keep my focus, trying to work out how this one was going. It had me flummoxed. Brilliant story telling plus great narration, McKay's choice of language catching me out but not in a negative way. Looking forward to reading and listening to the next in the series.
I hope Alex will continue with this series, it really works.
August 14, 2023
I have submitted this review after listening to the audiobook of this title. (Audible Membership)
This is the continuing saga that Candles and Roses was the first instalment.
Now we find that someone is strangling individuals, all with show business backgrounds.
Of course, DI Alec McKay has his ideas on what is taking place, it's a matter of getting the powers that be to support him and finding the evidence to also show that there is a gang of unscrupulous people preying on under-age girls.
This is the continuing saga that Candles and Roses was the first instalment.
Now we find that someone is strangling individuals, all with show business backgrounds.
Of course, DI Alec McKay has his ideas on what is taking place, it's a matter of getting the powers that be to support him and finding the evidence to also show that there is a gang of unscrupulous people preying on under-age girls.
September 28, 2018
Love number three in this series, two separate stories are being told chapter by chapter and you are kept guessing the connection until just about halfway through the book then POW it all comes together. It held my attention, all the way through, a very good crime thriller that could be read as a stand-alone but in my opinion best read in order.
October 5, 2018
DI Alec McKay is still shadowed by the acquittal of the suspected perpetrator from his last case, but now he needs to focus on a series of garrottings, with victims from the world of washed-up entertainers.
Meanwhile, after their experiences of domestic abuse, Jane and Elizabeth have found safety in the home of benefactor Netty Munro, along with existing resident Alicia. Their lives seem perfect there, but is it all too good to be true?
I love DI McKay – his acerbic grumpiness renders him real – and I value how Alex Walters gives his female characters strong roles, while (in this novel particularly) also acknowledging their vulnerabilities and fears without making them appear weak.
Meanwhile, after their experiences of domestic abuse, Jane and Elizabeth have found safety in the home of benefactor Netty Munro, along with existing resident Alicia. Their lives seem perfect there, but is it all too good to be true?
I love DI McKay – his acerbic grumpiness renders him real – and I value how Alex Walters gives his female characters strong roles, while (in this novel particularly) also acknowledging their vulnerabilities and fears without making them appear weak.
December 2, 2019
What an excellent series. I loved the way this cleared up any doubts that were left in your mind at the end of Candles and Roses but didn’t detract from it if you had read it. I was feeling sad that it was the last of Alec McKay then found that there is a fourth. So that is what I will be reading next.
March 21, 2021
I’m enjoying this series and this third book, although it referenced book one a lot, could still be read on its own. For me it was quite satisfying to read more about Elizabeth’s story which settled some of the questions I’d still had. Nice to find out more about a place I’m hoping to visit too.Looking forward to the next one.
February 10, 2024
Really enjoyed this, although not as much as the previous book.
I do enjoy the fact that I can’t pin down the killer precisely like I can with a lot of other books.
The Scottish sarcasm still made me chuckle and the relationship between Alec and Chrissy is so sweet and made me want to cheer out loud.
I do enjoy the fact that I can’t pin down the killer precisely like I can with a lot of other books.
The Scottish sarcasm still made me chuckle and the relationship between Alec and Chrissy is so sweet and made me want to cheer out loud.
September 25, 2018
Another great offering in this series which is beginning to establish itself as one with great promise. The characters are really developing well and the storyline is fast paced and cleverly worked through different strands.
May 5, 2019
Another great story
Another great story in the series with all the usual characters.Great follow up to the previous book and the ending leaves you wondering and hoping that there will be a follow up.
Another great story in the series with all the usual characters.Great follow up to the previous book and the ending leaves you wondering and hoping that there will be a follow up.
May 15, 2021
This book #3 in the DI Alec McKay series. I enjoyed the 1st two and purchased the remaining books in the series. That was a good decision, Their Final Act is the best yet. Excellent plot, interesting characters and great location.
Starting Expiry Date (book #4) today.
Starting Expiry Date (book #4) today.
November 11, 2024
A very good read
Alex is up to his neck with killings, but unusual ones. I liked how the twists and turns provided more suspense and intrigue. It was difficult at times to work out who was the guilty party and who was innocent.
Alex is up to his neck with killings, but unusual ones. I liked how the twists and turns provided more suspense and intrigue. It was difficult at times to work out who was the guilty party and who was innocent.
September 25, 2018
Interesting plot and well thought out
January 19, 2019
Read the series in order.
Read all three in three days.
Read all three in three days.
February 10, 2019
Brilliantly addictive
Another great read keeping you hooked from the beginning.l particularly liked how if you had read the previous book gave you inside information.
Another great read keeping you hooked from the beginning.l particularly liked how if you had read the previous book gave you inside information.
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