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DCI Daley #7
A Breath on Dying Embers
Who can you trust?
When the luxury cruiser, hastily renamed Great Britain, berths in Kinloch harbour, the pressure is on DCI Jim Daley. The UK Government are taking a high-powered group of businessmen and women on a tour of the British isles, golfing and seeing the sights, as part of a push for global trade. But when one of the crew goes missing, and an elderly local ornithologist disappears, will the pressure become too great?
The arrival of a face from the past, sends Daley's world into a tailspin. And the lives of the passengers and crew of SS Great Britain, as well as the country's economic future are in jeopardy. DS Brian Scott comes to the fore, and replete with a temporary promotion, is once more - most reluctantly, in his case - back at sea.
Daley faces a life and death struggle, but is this his last throw of the dice?
When the luxury cruiser, hastily renamed Great Britain, berths in Kinloch harbour, the pressure is on DCI Jim Daley. The UK Government are taking a high-powered group of businessmen and women on a tour of the British isles, golfing and seeing the sights, as part of a push for global trade. But when one of the crew goes missing, and an elderly local ornithologist disappears, will the pressure become too great?
The arrival of a face from the past, sends Daley's world into a tailspin. And the lives of the passengers and crew of SS Great Britain, as well as the country's economic future are in jeopardy. DS Brian Scott comes to the fore, and replete with a temporary promotion, is once more - most reluctantly, in his case - back at sea.
Daley faces a life and death struggle, but is this his last throw of the dice?
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2019
133 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Denzil Meyrick
37 books527 followersDenzil Meyrick was a Scottish bestselling novelist. Prior to that, he served as a police officer with Strathclyde Police then a manager with Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll. Since 2012 Denzil Meyrick had worked as a writer of Scottish crime fiction novels. He was also an executive director of media production company Houses of Steel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 3, 2019
Oh my. I adore Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Jim Daley books. From the very first book I was captivated by the fictional town of Kinloch and its wonderfully created settings and characters. I have binge read this series, mostly listening via audiobook (narrated by the excellent David Monteath) and loved every single one.
With A Breath on Dying Embers, I read a hard copy, but was still able to hear all those marvellous voices in my head as I read. What makes these books quite so special (and gentle reader, they are very special indeed) is the depth of characterisation. I feel as if I know all of these people, from the principal characters of DCI Daley and DS Brian Scott, through to Annie the hotel owner and barkeep through to Hamish, the elderly fisherman whose sixth sense comes to the fore in this novel.
The settings come alive in Meyrick’s outstanding descriptive prose and there’s no lack of contemporary issues in this authentic portrayal of west coast town living.
A Breath on Dying Embers is the latest in the series. While you can of course, read it as a stand-alone, please do read the whole series from the beginning. The time will be well spent and very well rewarded, because you will come to love these characters; it is impossible to do otherwise. They are so finely drawn and acutely well observed, they feel like friends; people you know and have grown to love, for all their flaws, difficult relationships and sometimes their eccentricities.
In the latest book in the series, the Kinloch force finds itself severely tested. Chief Inspector Carrie Symington has her work cut out liaising with MI5 over security for a high profile visit by the hastily renamed #SS Great Britain to Kinloch waters, carrying a plethora of high powered foreign visitors on an important trade mission; part of the Government’s attempts to strike new trade deals with key strategic businesses abroad. As part of their wooing, the Government is showing the best of what Scotland and the UK has to offer, and Kinloch is a port of call on their itinerary.
Symington has to call on Brian Scott to step up. While Brian is equal to the task, she has no doubt, his hatred of anything to do with boats makes him a reluctant participant in this endeavour, but he is keen to show his wife, Effie, that Kinloch is a place where she can live and they be happy, and that is at the forefront of his mind as he prepares to step off solid ground and once more step gingerly onto the floating ship.
As ever, nothing goes quite as smoothly as Carrie and the Government would like and soon the police force finds itself chasing not only those behind the disappearance of a local ornithologist, but also suspected terrorists intent on inflicting serious damage to the trade delegation aboard the SS Great Britain.
In a tense and dramatic book, Symington, Daley and Scott will find themselves battling their deadliest foes yet, and with a number of complex, layered personalities to deal with, will have their work cut out to show that they are equal to the task at hand.
As ever with this series, there is more than one front to fight on, and the domestic lives of our characters is also to the fore as they track the perpetrators they are after.
Among the myriad reasons I love this series is the humour and the banter that reaches out and grasps the reader tightly in its embrace. There is an exceptional sense of warmth, love and laughter amidst a dark and gritty police procedural that makes this an authentic and compelling read and one where you care enormously what happens to each and every one of these returning characters.
There’s darkness, and there’s an awful lot of gut roaring laughter and light too, making for an exceptional read. There are themes that will strike a chord with everyone who reads it. Meyrick’s gift is to write visceral prose in a way that hits home and feels all too real and to combine it with superb, layered, plotting.
I don’t want to spoil it by revealing more, but I will honestly say that I found this book, in particular, an emotional and gut wrenching read and utterly, completely, unmissable.
If you haven’t read any of this series, what are you waiting for? If you know the series, you will find it completely transfixing; compelling and heart breaking.
Verdict. Reader, I cried. There’s no greater compliment than that from me.
With A Breath on Dying Embers, I read a hard copy, but was still able to hear all those marvellous voices in my head as I read. What makes these books quite so special (and gentle reader, they are very special indeed) is the depth of characterisation. I feel as if I know all of these people, from the principal characters of DCI Daley and DS Brian Scott, through to Annie the hotel owner and barkeep through to Hamish, the elderly fisherman whose sixth sense comes to the fore in this novel.
The settings come alive in Meyrick’s outstanding descriptive prose and there’s no lack of contemporary issues in this authentic portrayal of west coast town living.
A Breath on Dying Embers is the latest in the series. While you can of course, read it as a stand-alone, please do read the whole series from the beginning. The time will be well spent and very well rewarded, because you will come to love these characters; it is impossible to do otherwise. They are so finely drawn and acutely well observed, they feel like friends; people you know and have grown to love, for all their flaws, difficult relationships and sometimes their eccentricities.
In the latest book in the series, the Kinloch force finds itself severely tested. Chief Inspector Carrie Symington has her work cut out liaising with MI5 over security for a high profile visit by the hastily renamed #SS Great Britain to Kinloch waters, carrying a plethora of high powered foreign visitors on an important trade mission; part of the Government’s attempts to strike new trade deals with key strategic businesses abroad. As part of their wooing, the Government is showing the best of what Scotland and the UK has to offer, and Kinloch is a port of call on their itinerary.
Symington has to call on Brian Scott to step up. While Brian is equal to the task, she has no doubt, his hatred of anything to do with boats makes him a reluctant participant in this endeavour, but he is keen to show his wife, Effie, that Kinloch is a place where she can live and they be happy, and that is at the forefront of his mind as he prepares to step off solid ground and once more step gingerly onto the floating ship.
As ever, nothing goes quite as smoothly as Carrie and the Government would like and soon the police force finds itself chasing not only those behind the disappearance of a local ornithologist, but also suspected terrorists intent on inflicting serious damage to the trade delegation aboard the SS Great Britain.
In a tense and dramatic book, Symington, Daley and Scott will find themselves battling their deadliest foes yet, and with a number of complex, layered personalities to deal with, will have their work cut out to show that they are equal to the task at hand.
As ever with this series, there is more than one front to fight on, and the domestic lives of our characters is also to the fore as they track the perpetrators they are after.
Among the myriad reasons I love this series is the humour and the banter that reaches out and grasps the reader tightly in its embrace. There is an exceptional sense of warmth, love and laughter amidst a dark and gritty police procedural that makes this an authentic and compelling read and one where you care enormously what happens to each and every one of these returning characters.
There’s darkness, and there’s an awful lot of gut roaring laughter and light too, making for an exceptional read. There are themes that will strike a chord with everyone who reads it. Meyrick’s gift is to write visceral prose in a way that hits home and feels all too real and to combine it with superb, layered, plotting.
I don’t want to spoil it by revealing more, but I will honestly say that I found this book, in particular, an emotional and gut wrenching read and utterly, completely, unmissable.
If you haven’t read any of this series, what are you waiting for? If you know the series, you will find it completely transfixing; compelling and heart breaking.
Verdict. Reader, I cried. There’s no greater compliment than that from me.
June 7, 2019
A Breath on Dying Embers' by Denzil Meyrick
Jim Daley and Brian Scott are like a fine cask whisky. They improve each and every year. What a fabulous read, compelling to the very end. For me the best in the series so far. I found some laugh out loud moments and others reaching for the tissues. The ending was unexpected and I did not see it coming.
Jim Daley and Brian Scott are like a fine cask whisky. They improve each and every year. What a fabulous read, compelling to the very end. For me the best in the series so far. I found some laugh out loud moments and others reaching for the tissues. The ending was unexpected and I did not see it coming.
July 25, 2019
I have been waiting patiently on this latest Daley novel and I was not disappointed at all. This series is just consistently excellent. The setting, the characters and the topical fast paced plot had me hooked from the first page. Set in the beautiful town of Kinloch we find DCI Daley struggling with work and personal issues which affect his health. Not least of these is the unexpected return of his wife Liz and young son James. The marvellous Brian Scott gets an unexpected promotion. It was a masterstroke to make more of Brian’s character although DCI Daley is there in the background. The plot involves Government operatives, potential terrorists, a missing crewman and the death of a local birdwatcher. The various plot strands are all skilfully woven together to make this a tense and thrilling read. Brilliant dialogue and the earthy humour of Brian Scott with some laugh out loud moments are a welcome break from the increasing tension as events draw to a climax. I think this is possibly my favourite of the series although I have loved them all. I have particularly liked the way the characters develop and with each book we learn more of their backstories. And what an ending!! I really didn’t see that coming at all. It’s a cliff-hanger … now how long do we have to wait until the next book.
September 23, 2022
Kinloch welcomes the great and the good, allegedly, as the UK Government hold a trade mission on a luxury cruise ship. But when people start to go missing, suspicion rises that this might not be a safe haven, but Jim Daley has his own problems.
Another great read from Denzil Meyrick. Jim Daley’s story takes an interesting turn in this book and it will be fascinating to see how this develops in future stories.
Another great read from Denzil Meyrick. Jim Daley’s story takes an interesting turn in this book and it will be fascinating to see how this develops in future stories.
June 19, 2024
A very good mystery. A great cliffhanger. I enjoyed the humour laced through the book.
September 14, 2019
Oh dear!
I've really enjoyed ALL of Denzil Meyrick's books to date, and I think all I've given five stars to.
Recently I remember seeing that either a TV version or movie version was being planned.
I wonder if this is to be it.
This is definitely NOT your typical DCI Daley story. For a start, he is pretty much out of it from the start with his heart condition. A Daley-lite story you might say. That leaves Brian Scott, of all people, as Acting DI! And actually he does a good job!
But then Meyrick has brought back Daley's wife, Liz. Well, I suppose she had to come back at some stage to try and win him back. Does she succeed? Not completely, but in the end she will do I'm sure.
And then there's the whole international feel of the thing. Kinloch goes global! A big, important cruise liner full of the rich come to save Britain from the unspoken thing that is Brexit. Not really necessary if you ask me.
And the red herring(s). The distraction of the, apparently, ISIS-related terror plot that goes wrong which was, in the end, a non starter. And I really don't know why the character from that was continued throughout the story to the end. One big distraction from the, "bigger picture"!
In the end, it seemed to come down to one big international incident averted plus one local act of "revenge" and how they came together. Except that they didn't really!
Yes, we had notable contributions from Annie, Hamish et al, but you get the feeling they just didn't fit.
And then the big finish from Daley himself and where THAT might take us for the next book.
Overall, a big movie production feel for, once again, small Kinloch. And Denzil Meyrick writing like he is Harlam Cobain or someone similar. It's NOT what he does best and I hope the next book is back to more down-to-earth Kinloch!
I've really enjoyed ALL of Denzil Meyrick's books to date, and I think all I've given five stars to.
Recently I remember seeing that either a TV version or movie version was being planned.
I wonder if this is to be it.
This is definitely NOT your typical DCI Daley story. For a start, he is pretty much out of it from the start with his heart condition. A Daley-lite story you might say. That leaves Brian Scott, of all people, as Acting DI! And actually he does a good job!
But then Meyrick has brought back Daley's wife, Liz. Well, I suppose she had to come back at some stage to try and win him back. Does she succeed? Not completely, but in the end she will do I'm sure.
And then there's the whole international feel of the thing. Kinloch goes global! A big, important cruise liner full of the rich come to save Britain from the unspoken thing that is Brexit. Not really necessary if you ask me.
And the red herring(s). The distraction of the, apparently, ISIS-related terror plot that goes wrong which was, in the end, a non starter. And I really don't know why the character from that was continued throughout the story to the end. One big distraction from the, "bigger picture"!
In the end, it seemed to come down to one big international incident averted plus one local act of "revenge" and how they came together. Except that they didn't really!
Yes, we had notable contributions from Annie, Hamish et al, but you get the feeling they just didn't fit.
And then the big finish from Daley himself and where THAT might take us for the next book.
Overall, a big movie production feel for, once again, small Kinloch. And Denzil Meyrick writing like he is Harlam Cobain or someone similar. It's NOT what he does best and I hope the next book is back to more down-to-earth Kinloch!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2019
Frustrating
I have such mixed feelings about this book. There were some brilliant twists and great humour, the story was interesting but somehow I found myself getting bored with it and just wanting to skip pages to move on. I a!so get fed up with the portrayal of some members of the secret service as a!says being arrogant etc. It just gets tedious.. I also wondered about the reality of Daley doing what he did at the end of the bok especially when he would have so many resources available and that he would be so unthinking of his little boy. The latter incidentally seems a very awkward 'addition' as the author doesn't seem to know at times what to do with bim! The poor little lad seems unusually compliant being handed around to different strangers!! All in all, just aggravating that I found what should have been a fascinating read just tedious at times - sorry!
I have such mixed feelings about this book. There were some brilliant twists and great humour, the story was interesting but somehow I found myself getting bored with it and just wanting to skip pages to move on. I a!so get fed up with the portrayal of some members of the secret service as a!says being arrogant etc. It just gets tedious.. I also wondered about the reality of Daley doing what he did at the end of the bok especially when he would have so many resources available and that he would be so unthinking of his little boy. The latter incidentally seems a very awkward 'addition' as the author doesn't seem to know at times what to do with bim! The poor little lad seems unusually compliant being handed around to different strangers!! All in all, just aggravating that I found what should have been a fascinating read just tedious at times - sorry!
July 18, 2024
I did enjoy the book but it is getting a little repetitive and silly. Jim Daley is morose, private life in tatters, wife pops up and causes chaos and their poor little boy gets passed around or is napping, I am surprised social services have not been contacted. Brian Scott is a loyal man but his humorous antics are wearing thin. I will persist with the series but maybe need a longer break before I read book 8.
The plot in this book was complicated but I had decided who the potential terrorist was, however I had not correctly identified the initial murderer, which was extremely gruesome.
The plot in this book was complicated but I had decided who the potential terrorist was, however I had not correctly identified the initial murderer, which was extremely gruesome.
February 29, 2020
I have already preordered the next book due out in July, what a great series/author.
October 21, 2020
Didn't want to keep reading for fear of what would happen!!! Brilliant!!
April 7, 2024
Audio book. As always with this series, this was an enjoyable listen. Several times we both laughed out loud. The plot was complicated as usual and we didn’t suspect the final twists. Daley’s personal life continues to be miserable and he is once again off work. He managed to be a bit useful in this investigation but his actions in the last chapter rather guarantee he will still be on the sidelines in the next instalment.
September 29, 2020
This was a convoluted plot in this book. In fact I wasn’t that interested in the plot compared to the drama that is Daley’s life right now. His estranged wife is a piece of work for sure and while I’m very sorry for Liz Daley she is completely manipulative. Daley’s life right now is a train-wreak. By the end of the book I was sick of both him and Liz and consider them to be terrible parents.
As with all of these books its a good job that DS Scott is around to lighten the mood. In fact I would love a story that features him and Acting DS Potts.
In the next book I hope Daley pulls himself out of his little boy lost mood and sorts himself out. He is a grown man and should be able to take care of himself given that.
He was disappointing in this book. Also can we get rid of Liz. I detest her. 🤦🏼♀️
As with all of these books its a good job that DS Scott is around to lighten the mood. In fact I would love a story that features him and Acting DS Potts.
In the next book I hope Daley pulls himself out of his little boy lost mood and sorts himself out. He is a grown man and should be able to take care of himself given that.
He was disappointing in this book. Also can we get rid of Liz. I detest her. 🤦🏼♀️
January 28, 2020
Denzil Meyrick seems to be a sadist. He gives the main character a slut of a wife who treats him like shit for years and fucks him over again and again. Even after their separation she is continuing to make his life a misery.
This is outrageous.
Hamish and his big cat are the only characters in the books of Denzil Meyrick I appreciated.
The betraying bitch wife and this spineless Detective are upsetting. I skipped the pages to see what happens at the end of the book: This fool of a man destroys his life completely for her. What a bad read, what a miserable man, what a ridiculous story.
Why does the author lets this man suffer like this? I deteste this book.
This is outrageous.
Hamish and his big cat are the only characters in the books of Denzil Meyrick I appreciated.
The betraying bitch wife and this spineless Detective are upsetting. I skipped the pages to see what happens at the end of the book: This fool of a man destroys his life completely for her. What a bad read, what a miserable man, what a ridiculous story.
Why does the author lets this man suffer like this? I deteste this book.
February 23, 2020
I did not enjoy this book. The constant switching of characters' utterances between (supposedly) broad (Glaswegian Scottish) and understandable English grates. The stereotypical class divisions exist throughout and the plot is very thin, with improbable twists which are simply diversions away from this slender thread. Additionally, if anyone in Police Scotland is as worryingly unintelligent as D. S. Scott, then we citizens have little hope of crime statistics or race relations improving. No more D.C.I. Daley for this reader.
September 29, 2019
A Twist in The Tail!
Enthralling book which kept the pages turning to discover what was happening to my favourite characters! Lots of twists and turns throughout the book! Another fantastic book and can’t wait for book 8 to be published next year.
Fantastic with the many twists and turns to keep you engaged and trying to predict the next move!
Enthralling book which kept the pages turning to discover what was happening to my favourite characters! Lots of twists and turns throughout the book! Another fantastic book and can’t wait for book 8 to be published next year.
Fantastic with the many twists and turns to keep you engaged and trying to predict the next move!
August 19, 2019
Read for the location the accents and to a lesser degree the characters who are so so. The story was far fetched and more so than his previous efforts. Or possibly not. Would persist with the series for probably no good reason apart from knowing them all now. Now read series 1-7
June 12, 2020
I have really enjoyed the previous 6 books of this series, however this one was a big step down in quality. Felt there was quite a bit of padding, for example we know Hamish and Annie bicker endlessly but we don’t really need pages and pages of it. Hopefully the next book will be back on form
November 7, 2020
I really enjoyed the previous DCI Daley books but this was disappointing. What has the author done to Daley, he is a spineless shadow of his former self. Not sure I would be reading anymore.
June 16, 2020
A breath on dying embers
An exciting storyline helps A Breath of Dying Embers keep a quick pace. Sometimes the DCI Daley series has felt slow. Not this time. Having the multiple suspects, rather than a traditional cat and mouse chase adds some dynamism. When the story began, I was concerned that this would dilute the plot. It could have been a case of too many threads and not enough yarn. However, that doesn't happen. The plot hangs together remarkably well.
The terrorist plot is laid out nicely. We have several possible candidates for the leader. We have the disenfranchised Irishman, who we presume may want revenge against the British. We have the strict Muslim who we suppose maybe the standard radical. Then there are various other trails to follow. Could it be someone wanting to undermine British trade without any interest in extremism at all and just using terrorists as a useful tool? Honestly, only one thing bothered me about this; would an international trade delegation really spend several days moored in a remote Scottish fishing village? It's fun, don't get me wrong, but the idea of a German titan of the industry getting drunk with Hamish at The County Hotel is laughable.
However, I was delighted that this time the crime was not just another murder. I've wanted Meyrick to branch out into other aspects of CID life for a while. This fits the bill.
Liz's return to his life and a health scare help to humanise Daley. For several novels now he has risked falling into the stereotypical "gruff Scottish detective" mould. However, she remains quite an unlikeable character. Not really from a personality standpoint and because of her actions but more because she doesn't feel finished. She doesn't make sense as a character. She flips between different personality traits so rapidly that I would be worried she had a quite severe mental illness if I knew her. I am aware that these traits are somewhat accurate for a person going through the events that Liz is in this book. But it doesn't quite "feel" right.
DS Scott's promotion to acting DCI is a fun little plot point. However, the continued portrayal of him as a bumbling idiot is getting tiresome. The reintroduction of Ella has been a welcome addition. She acts as the counterweight to his supposed uneducatedness.
Chief Superintendent Symington gets to show some of her personality off more in A Breath of Dying Embers. Parallels are drawn between her and Liz throughout the book, which is a novel technique. She is presented - to my mind - as being what Liz could have been had she chosen a different path in life. Of course, we also discover they share some of the same pains as well. Symington also has a pretty reckless disregard for the rules if we're honest. I'm not sure going against the explicit orders of the British Security Services would do your career much good in real life.
Reading the series a while after they've come out does remove some of the jeopardy from Daley's health issues. There is another in the series now out, so you never really feel like he can be in any real danger. But that's the fault of the reader I suppose, not the writer.
An exciting storyline helps A Breath of Dying Embers keep a quick pace. Sometimes the DCI Daley series has felt slow. Not this time. Having the multiple suspects, rather than a traditional cat and mouse chase adds some dynamism. When the story began, I was concerned that this would dilute the plot. It could have been a case of too many threads and not enough yarn. However, that doesn't happen. The plot hangs together remarkably well.
The terrorist plot is laid out nicely. We have several possible candidates for the leader. We have the disenfranchised Irishman, who we presume may want revenge against the British. We have the strict Muslim who we suppose maybe the standard radical. Then there are various other trails to follow. Could it be someone wanting to undermine British trade without any interest in extremism at all and just using terrorists as a useful tool? Honestly, only one thing bothered me about this; would an international trade delegation really spend several days moored in a remote Scottish fishing village? It's fun, don't get me wrong, but the idea of a German titan of the industry getting drunk with Hamish at The County Hotel is laughable.
However, I was delighted that this time the crime was not just another murder. I've wanted Meyrick to branch out into other aspects of CID life for a while. This fits the bill.
Liz's return to his life and a health scare help to humanise Daley. For several novels now he has risked falling into the stereotypical "gruff Scottish detective" mould. However, she remains quite an unlikeable character. Not really from a personality standpoint and because of her actions but more because she doesn't feel finished. She doesn't make sense as a character. She flips between different personality traits so rapidly that I would be worried she had a quite severe mental illness if I knew her. I am aware that these traits are somewhat accurate for a person going through the events that Liz is in this book. But it doesn't quite "feel" right.
DS Scott's promotion to acting DCI is a fun little plot point. However, the continued portrayal of him as a bumbling idiot is getting tiresome. The reintroduction of Ella has been a welcome addition. She acts as the counterweight to his supposed uneducatedness.
Chief Superintendent Symington gets to show some of her personality off more in A Breath of Dying Embers. Parallels are drawn between her and Liz throughout the book, which is a novel technique. She is presented - to my mind - as being what Liz could have been had she chosen a different path in life. Of course, we also discover they share some of the same pains as well. Symington also has a pretty reckless disregard for the rules if we're honest. I'm not sure going against the explicit orders of the British Security Services would do your career much good in real life.
Reading the series a while after they've come out does remove some of the jeopardy from Daley's health issues. There is another in the series now out, so you never really feel like he can be in any real danger. But that's the fault of the reader I suppose, not the writer.
August 16, 2021
This is the seventh installment of a Scottish crime series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jim Daley. I had not read any of the previous books, but had no trouble following the action.
The stories are set in the fictional coastal town of Kinloch, based on the author’s hometown of Campbeltown in Argyll, Scotland which was in fact originally known as Kinlochkilkerran. Campbeltown is an important center for Scotch whisky and a busy fishing port, and both of these industries are also common to the fictional Kinloch and feature prominently in the lives of the characters in the book.
Other aspects of Kinloch that apparently reflect the real place of Campbeltown are a small population and a strong sense of community. Everyone knows their neighbors and their neighbors’ business, which of course has both good and bad repercussions. Being located on a harbor means that new people do arrive from time to time, adding interest, and occasionally, crime.
The local police force is enlisted to help out with security for a three-day shore visit by the cruise ship Great Britain. The ship is carrying wealthy business people from across the world as part of the government’s attempt to bring more trade to Scotland. Or as Detective Sergeant Brian Scott characterizes it: “A bunch of overfed business types off on a jolly round Britain, playing golf and getting pished at the country’s expense.”
While there will be special protection in town from the Met and MI5, the government wants local police on the scene as well. As the visitors fan out across town, something could always go wrong, after all, and indeed, it soon does.
Before long all of the forces are investigating two suspected terrorists who seem to be hiding out in the surrounding hills and targeting the ship. Moreover, they clearly have confederates working on the inside, onboard the Great Britain. The race is on for Daley, Scott, and their Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington to figure out who is behind this threat and stop them before there are deadly consequences. But personal challenges are interfering in their investigation: Daley is having problems with his heart, and his wife Liz has gotten herself in a life-threatening situation.
Evaluation: For most of the book I was mainly enjoying the atmosphere and heavily-accented characters, believing the plot was fairly predictable. Then the twists started coming hot and heavy, and I was gobsmacked in the end. A fun read!
Rating: 3.5/5
The stories are set in the fictional coastal town of Kinloch, based on the author’s hometown of Campbeltown in Argyll, Scotland which was in fact originally known as Kinlochkilkerran. Campbeltown is an important center for Scotch whisky and a busy fishing port, and both of these industries are also common to the fictional Kinloch and feature prominently in the lives of the characters in the book.
Other aspects of Kinloch that apparently reflect the real place of Campbeltown are a small population and a strong sense of community. Everyone knows their neighbors and their neighbors’ business, which of course has both good and bad repercussions. Being located on a harbor means that new people do arrive from time to time, adding interest, and occasionally, crime.
The local police force is enlisted to help out with security for a three-day shore visit by the cruise ship Great Britain. The ship is carrying wealthy business people from across the world as part of the government’s attempt to bring more trade to Scotland. Or as Detective Sergeant Brian Scott characterizes it: “A bunch of overfed business types off on a jolly round Britain, playing golf and getting pished at the country’s expense.”
While there will be special protection in town from the Met and MI5, the government wants local police on the scene as well. As the visitors fan out across town, something could always go wrong, after all, and indeed, it soon does.
Before long all of the forces are investigating two suspected terrorists who seem to be hiding out in the surrounding hills and targeting the ship. Moreover, they clearly have confederates working on the inside, onboard the Great Britain. The race is on for Daley, Scott, and their Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington to figure out who is behind this threat and stop them before there are deadly consequences. But personal challenges are interfering in their investigation: Daley is having problems with his heart, and his wife Liz has gotten herself in a life-threatening situation.
Evaluation: For most of the book I was mainly enjoying the atmosphere and heavily-accented characters, believing the plot was fairly predictable. Then the twists started coming hot and heavy, and I was gobsmacked in the end. A fun read!
Rating: 3.5/5
March 14, 2024
This tremendous crime novel is the 7th volume of the amazing "DCI Daley" series, from the, in my honest opinion, somewhat underrated Scottish author, Denzil Meyrick.
At the end of the book you'll notice "A Note from the Author" with some interesting facts concerning this tale, while at the beginning there's a short phrase by Alexander Pope.
Storytelling is terrific, all characters are very believable and humanlike in their dealings with terrorism and murder as the main issues, and the storyline and resulting plot are wonderfully structured and executed by the author.
In this book we'll see DCI Jim Daley with serious health issues and working at a low level, while there is also his wife, Liz, with mental and physical problems, and so the acting DI Brian Scott and Detective Superintendent Carrie Symington are running the show, with the Security Services, Navy and Government forces also at the forefront too in this exciting thriller.
The tale has some background chapters from 1972 about a very young boy who witnesses horrors at his home town, and these horrors will be the basis for his present hate and antagonism towards the United Kingdom, resulting in some actions in an attempt to commit mayhem and murder.
The main actions will take place on board a luxury cruise ship Great Britain and in Kinloch, this last is a fictional town based on a place called Cambeltown on Kintyre, and these actions will include a drone attack by Cabdi and Maduma, and the sabotage of this cruise ship, a terrorism act with serious consequences, while at the same time a birdwatcher has gone missing and murdered, and these two calamities will somehow coincide with each other until to the final explosion where the real culprit will be revealed and dealt with, and this sensitive case as a whole hushed up by the British Government.
Highly recommended, for in my honest opinion this magnificent series is somewhat undervalued and that needs to change, so come on people grab and enjoy this fantastic book, and all the others, for it will be absolutely worth it, and to come back to this latest episode I would like to call it: "A Superb Dying Breath"!
At the end of the book you'll notice "A Note from the Author" with some interesting facts concerning this tale, while at the beginning there's a short phrase by Alexander Pope.
Storytelling is terrific, all characters are very believable and humanlike in their dealings with terrorism and murder as the main issues, and the storyline and resulting plot are wonderfully structured and executed by the author.
In this book we'll see DCI Jim Daley with serious health issues and working at a low level, while there is also his wife, Liz, with mental and physical problems, and so the acting DI Brian Scott and Detective Superintendent Carrie Symington are running the show, with the Security Services, Navy and Government forces also at the forefront too in this exciting thriller.
The tale has some background chapters from 1972 about a very young boy who witnesses horrors at his home town, and these horrors will be the basis for his present hate and antagonism towards the United Kingdom, resulting in some actions in an attempt to commit mayhem and murder.
The main actions will take place on board a luxury cruise ship Great Britain and in Kinloch, this last is a fictional town based on a place called Cambeltown on Kintyre, and these actions will include a drone attack by Cabdi and Maduma, and the sabotage of this cruise ship, a terrorism act with serious consequences, while at the same time a birdwatcher has gone missing and murdered, and these two calamities will somehow coincide with each other until to the final explosion where the real culprit will be revealed and dealt with, and this sensitive case as a whole hushed up by the British Government.
Highly recommended, for in my honest opinion this magnificent series is somewhat undervalued and that needs to change, so come on people grab and enjoy this fantastic book, and all the others, for it will be absolutely worth it, and to come back to this latest episode I would like to call it: "A Superb Dying Breath"!
September 26, 2019
The tiny little town of Kinloch on the peninsula of Scotland’s rugged west coast, comes to life with the arrival of the SS Great Britain, a luxury cruise ship playing host to some of the worlds richest and most influential business people. DI Jim Daley is in charge of over-seeing the policing arrangements. So, the last thing he needs is his ex-wife making a dramatic appearance, with his young son in tow. No wonder his health takes a turn for the worse and he finds himself out of action. Cue, DS Brian Scott, his trusty right-hand man.
The story presents a good interplay between the locals, some gullible, others downright scheming, and the interlopers. Add to the mix two shifty Somalians and the back-story of a young Irish boy whose family suffered in the midst of the Northern Ireland conflict and it’s clear all is not as it seems.
The characters are well written, and despite the large number of them, they are portrayed strongly enough that I never found it confusing or difficult to distinguish between them.
The heavy vernacular was, well, heavy. I didn’t mind it, though some times I thought it did go a little overboard (no pun intended).
However, I did think relegating DI Daley to a bit-part and letting DS Scott take centre stage did impact on the story detrimentally. Scott, a plain-speaking man who tells it as it is, is almost comedic in his bumbling ways. Daley, the brainy one, watches from the side-lines, wrapped up in his home-life and health.
The book is easy to read, humorous and there are, underneath it all, crimes that need to be solved. I did enjoy it, but thought the balance a little out of kilter between the tension and the humour. It wouldn’t put me off reading more by this author though, as I do enjoy his overall style of writing and the fact that he can reveal such a complex plot so subtly.
The story presents a good interplay between the locals, some gullible, others downright scheming, and the interlopers. Add to the mix two shifty Somalians and the back-story of a young Irish boy whose family suffered in the midst of the Northern Ireland conflict and it’s clear all is not as it seems.
The characters are well written, and despite the large number of them, they are portrayed strongly enough that I never found it confusing or difficult to distinguish between them.
The heavy vernacular was, well, heavy. I didn’t mind it, though some times I thought it did go a little overboard (no pun intended).
However, I did think relegating DI Daley to a bit-part and letting DS Scott take centre stage did impact on the story detrimentally. Scott, a plain-speaking man who tells it as it is, is almost comedic in his bumbling ways. Daley, the brainy one, watches from the side-lines, wrapped up in his home-life and health.
The book is easy to read, humorous and there are, underneath it all, crimes that need to be solved. I did enjoy it, but thought the balance a little out of kilter between the tension and the humour. It wouldn’t put me off reading more by this author though, as I do enjoy his overall style of writing and the fact that he can reveal such a complex plot so subtly.
June 18, 2020
The double act of DCI Daley and Brian Scott should go down in time as one of the best since Adam & Eve. Scott's malapropisms make me laugh so much, and his view of the world is wonderful and special. It was great to spend some time with Mrs Scott. Ella had to be a certain type of person to put up with Brian, and she really shows us her worth in this book. Jim Daley's nemesis makes a return and Mr Meyrick manages to keep all us readers/listeners wondering how he will defeat this evil in his life. The huge ship and the dangerous villains trying to damage it and its passengers never stood a chance. Between Hamish's second sight, bickering with Annie, Ella's sharp tongue and Scott playing the fool, they could easily bring down any force they went up against. The humour is these books gets wittier and sharper with each and every outing. How good this series is for my constitution when one second I'm roaring with laughter and the next I'm cursing the baddies is anyone's guess. But I can tell you unequivocally, Denzil Meyrick's DCI Daley series is good for my heart and soul. With the stellar performance of David Monteath bringing the brilliant writing alive, these books were sent to save your life.
June 16, 2020
SOME SPOILERS
This was okay, although uncomfortable at the end with some police brutality (the guy was a rapist but anything with the police doing stuff like that, is a no). The plot line for this one is a government chartered cruise ship is docked at Kinloch, desperately trying to flog Brand UK to some rich international business people on a jolly. There’s evidence that there’s a terrorist threat but the government is going “la, la, la, I can’t hear you”.
This is not my most favourite murder series. I like the location but I think other series do location better, I do like the characters in the town of Kinloch and I like the bought in for the comedy effect character of DS Scott. The whole relationship thing between DI Daley and his wife is getting *yawn*, we get it, his wife is horrible, and this is just dragging out now.
I read most of this series in 2018, having run through a few crime series recently, I’ve been searching around for new books in crime series that I’d already started. There is another book in the series that I haven’t read yet but I don’t think I’m going to rush straight for it.
This was okay, although uncomfortable at the end with some police brutality (the guy was a rapist but anything with the police doing stuff like that, is a no). The plot line for this one is a government chartered cruise ship is docked at Kinloch, desperately trying to flog Brand UK to some rich international business people on a jolly. There’s evidence that there’s a terrorist threat but the government is going “la, la, la, I can’t hear you”.
This is not my most favourite murder series. I like the location but I think other series do location better, I do like the characters in the town of Kinloch and I like the bought in for the comedy effect character of DS Scott. The whole relationship thing between DI Daley and his wife is getting *yawn*, we get it, his wife is horrible, and this is just dragging out now.
I read most of this series in 2018, having run through a few crime series recently, I’ve been searching around for new books in crime series that I’d already started. There is another book in the series that I haven’t read yet but I don’t think I’m going to rush straight for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2019
The latest book in the DCI Daley series is out, and I'm not happy. Oh, it's an excellent read with lots of mystery and the Kinloch characters I love. But now I have to wait for the next book and I'm not a patient reader.
Jim Daley is dealing with a cruise liner of rich bigwigs that the British government has docked in Kinloch harbor to encourage them to invest in the UK. Meanwhile, Liz is causing trouble and people in town are disappearing. When Jim's health takes a turn for the worse, it's up to Brian Scott to step up and take over.
While I admire and respect Jim, I adore Brian and his wife Ella, so a book with lots of the Scotts' having dialogue works for me. They obviously adore each other. Brian's flights of conversation make me laugh. Hamish, Annie, and the rest of the Kinloch team also appear.
The mysteries pile on top of each other, and I admit the ending took me by surprise (actually, the different resolutions to several of the plotlines were shocking). This is such a good series, and I think this might be the best book so far.
Jim Daley is dealing with a cruise liner of rich bigwigs that the British government has docked in Kinloch harbor to encourage them to invest in the UK. Meanwhile, Liz is causing trouble and people in town are disappearing. When Jim's health takes a turn for the worse, it's up to Brian Scott to step up and take over.
While I admire and respect Jim, I adore Brian and his wife Ella, so a book with lots of the Scotts' having dialogue works for me. They obviously adore each other. Brian's flights of conversation make me laugh. Hamish, Annie, and the rest of the Kinloch team also appear.
The mysteries pile on top of each other, and I admit the ending took me by surprise (actually, the different resolutions to several of the plotlines were shocking). This is such a good series, and I think this might be the best book so far.
June 24, 2021
The UK Govt sponsors a cruise around the UK coastline packed with potential investor VIPs, including a duke and duchess - what could possibly go wrong?! Despite the accompanying warship, the local police are called in when extremists target the cruise ship as it docks in Kinloch harbour. With DCI Daley sidelined by health and family issues, CS Symington and DS Scott must shoulder the case. I didn’t feel this was Denzil Meyrick’s finest novel. I was unconvinced by many of the decisions made by the characters, they seemed highly unlikely and incautious. I’m not sure when this happened, but this series has gotten lighter and more slapstick in recent books: the focus was on the quirky villagers and the fanciful plot had very little sinister edge. The tone has moved from Rankin to MC Beaton and it’s hard to take seriously. It could be partially due to David Monteath’s audio narration (he also narrates Hamish Macbeth), I was amused by the villagers’ quick retorts and put downs, but the dialogue seemed lightweight. I’m hoping for a return to form in the next book.
August 8, 2022
This is book 7 of the series featuring DCI Daley and DS Scott and the series just keeps getting better.
We are back in the beautiful town of Kinloch where the cruise liner the Great Britain is in dock.
Jim Daley is struggling with his health and personal issues too.
Not least of these is the unexpected return of his wife Liz and young son James. This means DS Brian Scott gets an unexpected promotion to cover Jim's absence and so DS Scott and his wife Ella play more of a part and it's pure Glasgow patter and humour. Daley is there in the background. The plot involves Government operatives, potential terrorists, a missing crewman and the death of a local birdwatcher. It's a page turner which comes to a thrilling conclusion Some chapters are intense
but are interspersed with the humour of Brian Scott which make you laugh out loud.
Each new book reveals more about all of the characters including Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington. This book ends on a cliff hanger.
This is an excellent series with a great location, characters and plots.
We are back in the beautiful town of Kinloch where the cruise liner the Great Britain is in dock.
Jim Daley is struggling with his health and personal issues too.
Not least of these is the unexpected return of his wife Liz and young son James. This means DS Brian Scott gets an unexpected promotion to cover Jim's absence and so DS Scott and his wife Ella play more of a part and it's pure Glasgow patter and humour. Daley is there in the background. The plot involves Government operatives, potential terrorists, a missing crewman and the death of a local birdwatcher. It's a page turner which comes to a thrilling conclusion Some chapters are intense
but are interspersed with the humour of Brian Scott which make you laugh out loud.
Each new book reveals more about all of the characters including Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington. This book ends on a cliff hanger.
This is an excellent series with a great location, characters and plots.
January 26, 2020
A Breath on Dying Embers by Denzil Meyrick is the latest in the DCI Daley thriller series. This latest storyline has so many twists and turns, that I really didn’t see the final twists at all. The storyline focuses on a ship containing many VIP passengers who all or some, may invest in Britain and are watched over by all the major services. There follows a series of incidents that lead the police and some of the other services to believe that the ship is under attack by unknown assailants. Scott is seconded onto the ship, with his wife and some of the funniest lines are attributed to him in the book. Daley has a major health scare and his estranged wife, Liz makes an unwelcome appearance, with his son.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thought it may be Denzil Meyrick’s best book yet. There were so many twists and turns in the storyline that I did not see some of them coming.
Highly recommended.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thought it may be Denzil Meyrick’s best book yet. There were so many twists and turns in the storyline that I did not see some of them coming.
Highly recommended.
January 31, 2022
I have been reading the Daley books since they first came out and unusually have found my liking for them decreasing especially this book and the last.For a start the plots have become more and more over the top taking away the potential benefit of the Kintyre location.Secondly there is an increase in the volume of attempted humour which in my opinion doesn’t work especially as it is mostly centred in a rather uncomfortable way on the ‘eccentric ‘locals .
And that brings me to the third issue,that too many of the characters have not developed and remain very two dimensional-Hamish and Annie being two examples whom I liked to begin with but now just appear cardboard cutouts while even Jim Daley no longer convinces ,not least towards the end of the book..Disappointed to be writing thus as had hoped for more after my enjoyment of the first books
And that brings me to the third issue,that too many of the characters have not developed and remain very two dimensional-Hamish and Annie being two examples whom I liked to begin with but now just appear cardboard cutouts while even Jim Daley no longer convinces ,not least towards the end of the book..Disappointed to be writing thus as had hoped for more after my enjoyment of the first books
February 9, 2023
Plots and counterplots
A cruise ship with wealthy overseas businesspeople is docked in Kinloch to show off local businesses and attract orders and investment. The crew is supplemented by Royal Navy staff, high ranking civil servants and members of the intelligence services. There is narrative showing groups intending to attack the vessel and the narrative switches rapidly between the protagonists.
DCI Daley suffers serious health problems early in the book leaving the scene open to more action from Brian Scott. There is also a back story running featuring Daley's estranged wife.
The action is rapid and there are several twists and turns. The outcome was not one I expected. The narrative and switches are handled very well by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
A cruise ship with wealthy overseas businesspeople is docked in Kinloch to show off local businesses and attract orders and investment. The crew is supplemented by Royal Navy staff, high ranking civil servants and members of the intelligence services. There is narrative showing groups intending to attack the vessel and the narrative switches rapidly between the protagonists.
DCI Daley suffers serious health problems early in the book leaving the scene open to more action from Brian Scott. There is also a back story running featuring Daley's estranged wife.
The action is rapid and there are several twists and turns. The outcome was not one I expected. The narrative and switches are handled very well by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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