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Arran islanders respond angrily when a girl dies in the fells. A subsequent death on the mainland is further cause for concern.

The conditions were terrible for a hike up Arran’s highest peak, Goat Fell, so why did a group of schoolgirls attempt it? One of the girls presses on when the others turn back; inappropriately dressed and unprepared, she meets her death.

After mountain rescue retrieve the body, various questions start to be raised. Inconsistencies in her companions’ accounts of events are exposed, and it turns out the victim may have been drugged.

The police investigation begins to centre on a suave, enigmatic Italian man who has made his home on the mainland. Having conquered more than a few hearts, it is his past record that troubles detective Charlie West.

When the body of another young woman is found, police move quickly. But have they got the right guy? And what is really driving these killings?

Full of nice twists, red herrings, deadpan humour, and based in an atmospheric setting, readers will love this book.

RANCOUR is the eighth Scottish murder mystery to feature detectives James Munro and Charlie West. It can be perfectly enjoyed as a standalone. Try it out now, and discover your next favourite crime fiction series.

The full list of books, in order of publication, is as follows:

1. SHE
2. AVARICE
3. ENMITY
4. DUPLICITY
5. TERMINUS
6. TALION
7. PERDITION
8. RANCOUR

All of these books are FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback. RANCOUR is coming out in paperback in time for Christmas.

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2018

1721 people are currently reading
357 people want to read

About the author

Pete Brassett

33 books183 followers
Pete Brassett is the author of the best-selling series of detective novels based in and around his native Scotland featuring James Munro and Charlie West.

Following the publication of his debut novel, 'Clam Chowder at Lafayette and Spring', Pete ventured into the world of crime fiction tackling issues like PTSD, religious scandal, and manic depression with the novels 'Kiss the Girls', 'Prayer for the Dying' and 'The Girl From Kilkenny', before moving onto subject matter a little closer to home.

The forging of the Munro and West relationship begins with a fractious encounter in east London where a dissolute West, struggling with personal problems and misogynistic colleagues, is mentored by Munro who, recognising her potential, hoodwinks her into joining him back in Scotland where she flourishes as a first-class, yet ultimately flawed, detective.

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5 stars
1,273 (45%)
4 stars
1,020 (36%)
3 stars
421 (15%)
2 stars
61 (2%)
1 star
29 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Eric_W.
1,954 reviews428 followers
March 22, 2019
This is the last in the series, which I, in my inimitable style read first instead of last. I suspect it would have been helpful to have beguin at the beginning. I liked the style of writing and the relationships between the characters and the Scottish idioms were a delight. The story was OK if a bit convoluted. I guess I'll go back and read the first, now.
Profile Image for Kathy.
3,873 reviews290 followers
January 22, 2019
Tried to escape to library and had to give up in the sleet and freezing rain with windshield wiper blades added to a list of something I must replace asap. I took comfort after arriving home safely in returning to this eighth book in the Munro West series. Now we readers must demand a 9th book since this one ends with Munro having a last meal with West before triple by-pass surgery.

There is just a simple, folksy spirit of fun in these murder mysteries and even though Munro is now retired he is always a few steps ahead of West, continuing to encourage and mentor her. In this book there are girls being drugged and killed. The person behind elaborate plotting believes someone else will be thoroughly set up for the crimes. One of the murders occurs on Isle of Arran.
Profile Image for P.R..
Author 2 books49 followers
April 2, 2021
This is the eighth book in the series about DI Munro and DS West, and I was aware that I might be missing a lot by not having read any of the others. Reviewers, however, felt that the book was able to be read as a standalone, so I went ahead. I wish I hadn't. The main problem I had with this book, and perhaps it's because I plunged into #8 unawares, was feeling like the outsider at a party. The entire team, led by both DI Munro - who has retired, yet mysteriously continues to lead the team - and DS West form a kind of clique to which I, as the reader, felt uninvited. Perhaps because of this I stopped concentrating, and the plot passed in a haze of 'team repartee' and a teasing out of solving the crime(s). By the end I'd lost interest and didn't really care who the murderer was. I quite liked DI Munro, and I imagine I've missed a lot of his life and career by joining at this late stage. However I don't think I will be reading volumes 1-7.

Three stars. Would I read it again? No, and I'm disappointed that this didn't live up to my expectations.
Profile Image for Laura Garner.
Author 21 books8 followers
January 10, 2020
When I read the first paragraph I almost gave up on this one because of the long, complex sentences. But I persisted -- love me some murderous Scots -- and I'm glad I did. The writing has a distinctive rhythm that works beautifully with the setting and its inmates. The mystery is good enough, but the characters really make this book a fun, engaging read. I loved the way they interacted, humorous, fallible, poignant and believable. I picked this one up as a freebie on BookBub and will definitely look into the other books in the series.
Profile Image for Sarah.
261 reviews13 followers
July 3, 2023
Full of twists, dry humour, and based in a picturesque atmospheric setting, this book is by far my favorite of the year! Not to mention it’s a Scottish murder mystery so it wins atomically with that tidbit.

Per the back of the book due to me being lazy today. “Arran islanders respond angrily when a girl dies in the fells. A subsequent death on the mainland is further cause for concern.
The conditions were terrible for a hike up Arran’s highest peak, Goat Fell, so why did a group of schoolgirls attempt it?

After mountain rescue retrieve the body, various questions start to be raised. Inconsistencies in her companions’ accounts of events are exposed, and it turns out the victim may have been drugged.

The police investigation begins to centre on a suave, enigmatic Italian man who has made his home on the mainland. Having conquered more than a few hearts, it is his past record that troubles detective Charlie West.

When the body of another young woman is found, police move quickly. But have they got the right guy? And what is really driving these killings?”
1,630 reviews
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October 2, 2020
4.16 · Rating details · 1,803 ratings · 71 reviews
Arran islanders respond angrily when a girl dies in the fells. A subsequent death on the mainland is further cause for concern.

The conditions were terrible for a hike up Arran’s highest peak, Goat Fell, so why did a group of schoolgirls attempt it? One of the girls presses on when the others turn back; inappropriately dressed and unprepared, she meets her death.

After mountain rescue retrieve the body, various questions start to be raised. Inconsistencies in her companions’ accounts of events are exposed, and it turns out the victim may have been drugged.

The police investigation begins to centre on a suave, enigmatic Italian man who has made his home on the mainland. Having conquered more than a few hearts, it is his past record that troubles detective Charlie West.

When the body of another young woman is found, police move quickly. But have they got the right guy? And what is really driving these killings?

Full of nice twists, red herrings, deadpan humour, and based in an atmospheric setting, readers will love this book.

RANCOUR is the eighth Scottish murder mystery to feature detectives James Munro and Charlie West. It can be perfectly enjoyed as a standalone. Try it out now, and discover your next favourite crime fiction series.

Good, but didn't finish it. The books are all very similar. Will read the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Roy Murry.
Author 11 books112 followers
March 17, 2020
RANCOUR

PETE BRASSETT

Review by Author Roy Murry

The statement 'A gripping murder mystery' is a true one. This story set on the west coast of Scotland was more than intriguing. It keeps the reader wanting more.

The characters Detective Inspector (Retired) James Munro and his prodigy DI Charlie West, a female in charge of solving two murders, combine in their way to get to the facts. He uses methods outside the box, and she follows the system using her guts.

The way the Scottish do things and the banter of the police group, according to Brassett's writing, shows a strong bonding among officers. The predominantly written dialogue is fun to read, like calling a woman, dearly, a "hen.'

The murder investigations seem to be going in the right direction. Then Munro pops in, and West sees them in a new light with a few little nudges from her ex-boss.

A book eight in this series, the plot, the characters, and the style read as a complete individual novel without using background information to update the reader. Therefore, I enjoyed the conversations, people, and a mystery with no clutter.

Brassett nicked it or in USA language - he nailed it.
Profile Image for Joyce.
1,832 reviews40 followers
July 13, 2021
221 Pages

4 stars

Four young women decide to hike the Goat Fell trail. The weather was awful and the girls were underdressed for such a venture. But only three came back.

The rescue services went to look for the missing girl and find her dead and nearly frozen. It is deemed an accident until the autopsy shows that she was murdered.

DI Charlie, DS Dougal, DC Duncan and retired DCI Munro are on the case. Why did the surviving three girls leave her?

The police have a strong suspect, an Italian man who is a schemer and has suspect relationships with young women - much younger than him.

When another young woman is killed, the tension increases. Both women were drugged. Was the Italian responsible for both deaths? Confusion reigns as more suspects are revealed. Some witnesses have been lying or withholding information.

A subplot runs through the book. It appears that Munro is seriously ill.

This is a well written and plotted novel as are all of Pete Brassett’s books. I truly enjoyed this quick read. The police team gets along so very well. It is very nice to see that there is no one who has major personal problems.

On to the next book!.
6 reviews
December 2, 2021
Two girls on the Isle of Arran have died of Roofie drug overdoses, but not sexually assaulted.

The lead female investigator, West, has a gift for following clues as interpreted by her gut. And this gift is encouraged by her mentor, Munro, (retired). They have a Father-Daughter friendship.

The family history of one of the dead girls and the current friends of the other girl, mix-up the motives and the clues until they are unrecognizable. Munro sees the path before West, and gently steers her towards thinking about the clues in a different light. He applauds her gift and encourages her even more than usual because he is facing heart surgery and perhaps death.

The book is full of Scottish colloquial expressions that will make the reader smile. And the policemen are just normal people, doing a good job as best they can, sometimes grumbling but mostly trying hard. I found it a pleasure not to have a lot of backbiting animosity in the ranks.

The ending is satisfying and each character’s motive believable. A delightful read.
Profile Image for M.
1,576 reviews
January 1, 2019
Dark Mystery Leavened By Munro’s Sense of Humor

Excellent police procedural with multiple threads cunningly interwoven, with twists and turns galore—including a biggie that I missed. Furthermore, I totally whiffed past one of the culprits!

The characters are well-developed, and there are several unexpected red herrings. Plus, the atmospheric settings are darkly Scottish, and the peculiar dialogue rings true.
I particularly enjoyed reading this DI James Munro murder mystery, because I was hooked by the compelling storyline and likable characters. I also liked DI Munro’s off-kilter sense of humor.

If you’re a fan of mysteries and/or police procedurals, I think you’ll appreciate the complex storyline.
172 reviews
January 4, 2019
Excellent detective story set on the west coast of Scotland south of Glasgow and around Glasgow itself. This time a murder on Goat Fell, Arran closely followed by more on the mainland. Munro is his usual acerbic, bluff, dour self but with increasing health problems. West her irascible self too leading her team to find the perpetrators. Dougal and Duncan are developing nicely as the junior members of the team especially as they gain experience and are given more opportunities to shine. The humour between the team members is wonderful and so real. The detecting well thought out, the red herrings sufficient and the ending satisfying. By book 8 many authors are flagging but Mr Bassett goes on gaining strength. More please.
239 reviews
December 12, 2019
Excellent

Another excellent novel by Pete Brassett set on the west coast of Scotland. The scene is set by a call out by the Arran mountain rescue team being called out to a rescue a lone female walker on Goat Hill, unfortunately they were too late and found her dead. However when her body is sent for autopsy they find Rohypnol in her blood stream suggesting she was given the drug without her knowledge. DI West and DC Reid arc sent to Arran to investigate her death and interview her three friends and the rescue team who found her. Meanwhile ex Detective James Munro is called by a friend to see if he can locate his daughter who gas gone missing whilst going to a concert. Can the cases be linked, this is a must for all fans of the police procedural.
Profile Image for Kerry Swinnerton.
130 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2019
Another fabulous..very Scottish..story.

I have enjoyed each of the Munro series and this one is no exception. I love the very “Scottishness” of the dialogue and the rawness of the story. The books move along at a good pace, no long draw out descriptions of irrelevant countryside, although we get a very good idea of the surroundings all the time. These appear to be real people and their strengths and foibles are quite acceptable.
Bring on the next book Pete, I for one, will be looking forward to it.
152 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2019
Favorite Murder Mystery

This series of murder mystery books can be read independently but I recommend you want to read in order to understand the character development. Munro is now in volunteer role with the murder squad. He unofficially is still the "boss". Munro goes off to investigate his friends missing daughter while the squad has a new murdered girl and suspicious characters mudding the waters in the latest whodunnit. It always takes me awhile to figure out the culprit, I do enjoy the chase! Keep the series moving forward!
1 review
March 14, 2020
Drifting

Couldn't finish this. Mind drifted constantly and had to make an effort to stay focused. Re-reading paragraphs all the time when I realized my mind was elsewhere. Police characters all seemed about the same, hard to distinguish one from the other. There's a lot of dialog, and it was hard to figure who was talking, or whether this even mattered. Never ending useless banter became irritating. Decided this was not for me and leaving - which I really hate to do. Sorry Pete, I know others enjoy your books.
26 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2019
Love Munro and all the characters in this series. Look forward to the new books coming out. Being an American, there are a few slang words I don't understand but it's easy figure them out. My only criticism with this book is i find it hard believe the killer of Jessica. Psychologically, in a fit of rage maybe but not in cold blood.

Waiting for the next one! Munro will have to be on his best behavior and I am sure Charlie will be on his back about it.
Profile Image for Fiona.
354 reviews4 followers
December 15, 2019
If you enjoy fast-paced crime mysteries that skim along the surface at breakneck speed you'll enjoy this. If you prefer books that slowing build the suspense and build the characters you may not feel fully satisfied. Generally well written with some witty observations but, I felt the writing style didn't lend itself to quite a complicated read with two interconnected cases on the go. With a simpler plot it would work far better. Will consider reading other books in the series.
170 reviews
January 5, 2020
A fun read for a murder

For me this was a fun read, and an excellent murder mystery. The fun was in the personalities of the characters. The excellence of the murder mystery was in the well timed twist and turns to the story. I look forward to reading this series from the beginning it should be great. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys great characters and a good mystery.
Profile Image for Mystic Miraflores.
1,402 reviews7 followers
February 1, 2020
I felt there was too much dialogue and too little action. Instead of the author showing/describing the action, he revealed it to the readers by having the policemen sit around and talk about the crimes. The descriptions of the characters were amusing, but this didn't save the book from its many faults. Another big fault in the book was the actions of Munro, who is supposed to be retired. Why is he still acting as a policeman? And even the public accepts him as if he were still an active-duty policeman! This was just unbelievable to me.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,254 reviews69 followers
March 15, 2020
Four young females start the climb up Goat Fell on Arran. When three of them turn back they seem unconcerned about their friend, and it is not until some hours later that the rescue team are called in. Unfortunately they find her dead. D.I. West and her team are called in to investigate with the unofficial help of retired James Munro.
An enjoyable mystery, likeable characters and an easy writing style make this and the rest of the books in the series an entertaining read.
26 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2021
I have read all the books in the series so far. They are a great quick read. This one left you guessing until the end. I just love Munro. Sometimes I find West irritating but she is still a good character. And of course Dougal and Duncan are very good too. I love getting and glimpse of Scottish life. Sometimes I picture myself visiting some of the places mentioned in the book, particularly the islands. Hopefully I will visit soon.
Profile Image for SANDY WARDROPE.
59 reviews
May 5, 2022
Close to home

I love this genre, this series has great dialogue, great plots real page turners for me. The fact that the setting is set right on my doorstep makes them all the more interesting, it is a good feeling when I read about places that are local for me. I my self is writing a crime novel set in North Ayrshire with the same sort of local places abounding. Anyway I want more of Munroe and Westy's endeavours, please Pete, please.
Profile Image for Mags Shaw.
132 reviews
February 9, 2025
Munro and West continue right to the last book in the series making lots of turns in the plot and providing several new assumptions and then surprising facts which change the direction of the story. Sorry to see the series end as I enjoy these two working together. Found a new release (book 10) in another series so hoping that will appease my large number of reads with Munro and West for awhile. Good read. VR, Mags
Profile Image for Andi Caissie.
199 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2019
Better and better

This series gets better with each installment. Munro, now retired, remains involved as a civilian volunteer with the police force. Charlie West continues to grow into her role as a leader and detective, helped along occasionally by a well-placed size 12; as Munro likes to say. I hope there will be more books in this series.
1,909 reviews18 followers
January 31, 2019
Terrific!

This series is outstanding! Exciting and interesting cases, wonderful police team, and plenty of suspects. Cases are always intricate, carefully plotted mystery, and totally unexpected conclusions. Police personnel are enjoyable, eccentric, and work very well as a team! Enjoy
1,632 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2019
The plot of this murder mystery was very interesting and really lead the reader down a lot of different paths only to have the solution be a big surprise. I would have rated the book higher but it is full of Scottish slang and a bit hard to follow. Had I not had a Scottish friend a lot of the dialog would have been lost on me.
Profile Image for Debbie Clark.
164 reviews
December 23, 2019
A Page-Turner

Search and Rescue is called to find a young girl gone missing while hiking up a local mountain. She’s found dead and murder is suspected. Meanwhile two other girls have gone missing on the same night after being seen leaving a local tavern. One is found dead and the other unconscious. Is there a connection?
Profile Image for Terry Slaven.
227 reviews2 followers
January 6, 2020
This fine mystery story was my companion on the seven hour flight from London to Boston, and kept me engaged throughout. It’s intriguing how seemingly unrelated storylines manage to intersect, and in this novel they do so in a manner — and with a twist — that keeps the reader fully attentive. As always, I enjoy the author’s style and insights to his characters, which are slowly revealed.
526 reviews6 followers
February 6, 2020
Rivetting

Another really unbelievably great story from the pen Pete Brassett. Retired D I Munro cannot give up the old way of life and is once again heavily involved in this murder mystery. D I West will be forever grateful for his encouragement and ? Assistance in solving this highly complicated puzzle of a case. A well worth read , as usual.
Profile Image for Hari Brandl.
515 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2020
This is a quite delightful book in a series of about 15, I believe, featuring two police-persons in Scotland. Not very deep, but entertaining and well organized. No plot twists out of the blue.
And I love the turns of phrase of the Scottish characters. Mr Brassett writes sprightly dialogue, and his way with dialect if facile and clever.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews

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