Stray Shot

Keith Calder #13

by Gerald Hammond

In Stray Shot, the latest installment in this popular series, Simon joins forces with Calder, as the two investigate a dognapping that rapidly turns ugly. When Simon’s dog is stolen during a hunt, and another disappears on the same day, at first it seems just a freak incident; but when one dog reappears, only to be stolen again—along with some samples of a revolutionary new shotgun cartridge—it becomes clear that something more foul is afoot. As Simon traces the scent across the Atlantic, and dognapping turns to murder, Keith Calder finds himself embroiled in a mystery that takes all his wits, and those of Simon as well, to solve. Praise for Gerald “This delightful mystery introduces a bemused Englishman to the colorful residents of the Scottish countryside. Hammond deftly builds his characters using a light touch; his firm sense of place and time unveil Scotland through the eyes of a newcomer.” — Publishers Weekly “The oddball likability of Scottish rural eccentrics has been a constant in the Keith Calder mysteries, producing a combination of quirky charm and unsentimental warmth akin to that in Bill Forsyth’s films (Local Hero, Gregory’s Girl, et al.). . . . Finding a meticulously plotted mystery hidden beneath the local color should surprise no one familiar with the previous Calder tales.” — Booklist Born in 1926, Gerald Hammond lived in Scotland, where he retired from his profession as an architect in 1982 to pursue his love of shooting and fishing and to write full time. After his first novel, Fred in Situ, was published in 1965, Gerald became a prolific author with over 70 published novels. Most of his novels were published under his own name, but he also wrote under the pseudonyms Arthur Douglas and Dalby Holden.

Genres: Mystery

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 1988

About the author

Gerald 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.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millions at stake

In this 13th volume of the Keith Calder mysteries, Keith has developed a new, lead-free shotgun shell which is potentially worth millions. Naturally bad guys want to steal the invention. The action stretches from Scotland to Italy to Texas. Simon not only narrates this one but plays an active part in the story.

[Viva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead. I won't explain the characters and the setting as this series should be read from book 1. This is the second book in the series to star Simon Parbitter as the main character. He is an English author who moved to the Scottish lowlands when his uncle died and left him a cottage there. Apparently the author decided to change POVs to change the series around a little.

Parbitter is an averred anti-gun and anti-shoot person who I believe is bought into the series to turn the average reader into an enthusiast or at least knowledgeable about game hunting. By this book, Parbitter has been somewhat turned around and he is convinced by Calder to be a picker-up at a shoot. At the shoot, his dog (Boss, a labrador) goes missing. Boss returns a day later and Parbitter is accosted by and shot at by Reece who had stolen the dog.

It turns out that Calder and a nearby technology outfit had been experimenting with a protective case for steel shot. This was happening because lead shot was being phased out due to its toxicity and steel shot could not be used without a protective case due to its hardness being damaging to the insides of shotguns. Reece had stolen a sample of this case which had been hidden inside a bone which Boss had accidentally managed to steal during the shoot.

In any case Reece managed to recover the sample and flew with it to Texas where he was going to sell the design to American ammo companies. Parbitter was then convinced to fly over to catch him. Part of my low score for this book is due to the caricature of Texans portrayed. I guess it could be forgiven due to the era and forgivable for people who had never met any Texans, truly the Texans came across as Merry Melodie (the cartoons) Texans in manners of looks and speech and Texas felt like it was as big as a small village.

[Mrs. Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stray shot

Lots of action, a dog stealing a bone, kidnapping, a visit to the USA, explosions and electronic wizardry, a posse of retired Texans all combine to make this a real page turner.

[Linda N Leath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun!

I have read two books with Simon as the lead character and they have been delightful. Fun characters, a really evil bad guy and a smart young lady. I recommend!!!