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DI Munro & DS West #9
Penitent
When the known stalker of a young woman is arrested for her murder, it should be an open-and-shut case for DI Charlie West.A woman is found bludgeoned to death in a swimming pool. A pensioner who disappeared many moons ago turns up out of the blue. A cockeyed boxer has more success outside the ring than in it.What connects these events may or may not be the clue DI Charlie West is looking for to solve the latest murder on her patch.With her mentor James Munro recovering from heart bypass surgery, she will have to rely on her own wits and those of her trusted team to progress the investigation.But just when West has a likely suspect in custody and looks set to finally cut the apron strings, Munro returns to the scene – his enforced repose having done little to dent his appetite for the finer and richer things in life – with an oblique angle on the case.Has West got it right, or will her suspect go free and the investigation have to start from square one?PENITENT is the ninth standalone murder mystery in this bestselling series. It is FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback. The full list of books, in order of publication, is as SHE2. AVARICE3. ENMITY4. DUPLICITY5. TERMINUS6. TALION7. PERDITION8. RANCOUR9. PENITENT10. TURPITUDE11. HUBRIS12. PENURY13. RUSEAll of these books are FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2019
1374 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Pete Brassett
33 books184 followersPete 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 23, 2019
That's me caught up with Munro/West series, available through Kindle Unlimited.
The editing on this one was poorly done and it seemed a bit patchwork quilt in the telling, but I did enjoy Munro when he was active. Here he is supposed to be recovering from open heart surgery and is officially retired, but that can't stop him. West set him up in a quiet rental on Islay, but that didn't last when there were murders for his old squad to investigate.
The editing on this one was poorly done and it seemed a bit patchwork quilt in the telling, but I did enjoy Munro when he was active. Here he is supposed to be recovering from open heart surgery and is officially retired, but that can't stop him. West set him up in a quiet rental on Islay, but that didn't last when there were murders for his old squad to investigate.
July 16, 2021
192 pages
5 stars
Retired DCI James Munro is recovering from major heart bypass surgery. No, make that , he is supposed to be recovering. Instead, he is looking into the case of a woman found in a chimney.
Meanwhile, DI Charlie West and her team of DC Duncan and DS Dougal receive a call about a woman murdered and dumped in a swimming pool. They have several good suspects and focus on two. They both swear that it wasn’t them. The team feels one of them is not telling all he knows. He gets charged.
When Munro shows up at the office, he begins to ask questions about their suspects. Charlie gets confused and defensive. After much hard work and with Munro’s assistance, Charlie is surprised to learn that she was wrong. Well, there was some grain of truth in her theory.
This book is a great addition to the series. Mr. Brassett’s novels are short and can be read quickly. Perfect when one doesn’t have a lot of time. I truly enjoy his books. They are a delight to read.
5 stars
Retired DCI James Munro is recovering from major heart bypass surgery. No, make that , he is supposed to be recovering. Instead, he is looking into the case of a woman found in a chimney.
Meanwhile, DI Charlie West and her team of DC Duncan and DS Dougal receive a call about a woman murdered and dumped in a swimming pool. They have several good suspects and focus on two. They both swear that it wasn’t them. The team feels one of them is not telling all he knows. He gets charged.
When Munro shows up at the office, he begins to ask questions about their suspects. Charlie gets confused and defensive. After much hard work and with Munro’s assistance, Charlie is surprised to learn that she was wrong. Well, there was some grain of truth in her theory.
This book is a great addition to the series. Mr. Brassett’s novels are short and can be read quickly. Perfect when one doesn’t have a lot of time. I truly enjoy his books. They are a delight to read.
January 12, 2021
I have been working my way through Pete Brassett’s Munro/West series and it was been an enjoyable getaway to Scotland for mysteries with a side of Balvenie. The characters are written in a way that makes them familiar and sympathetic. A fun read!
June 8, 2019
Munro strikes another home run!
This series is just plain fun and all the characters are likable and contribute their fair share to finding the culprit(s). I highly suggest starting with the first book and rolling on through.
This series is just plain fun and all the characters are likable and contribute their fair share to finding the culprit(s). I highly suggest starting with the first book and rolling on through.
Read
November 15, 2020hen the known stalker of a young woman is arrested for her murder, it should be an open-and-shut case for DI Charlie West.
A woman is found bludgeoned to death in a swimming pool. A pensioner who disappeared many moons ago turns up out of the blue. A cockeyed boxer has more success outside the ring than in it.
What connects these events may or may not be the clue DI Charlie West is looking for to solve the latest murder on her patch.
With her mentor James Munro recovering from heart bypass surgery, she will have to rely on her own wits and those of her trusted team to progress the investigation.
But just when West has a likely suspect in custody and looks set to finally cut the apron strings, Munro returns to the scene – his enforced repose having done little to dent his appetite for the finer and richer things in life – with an oblique angle on the case.
Has West got it right, or will her suspect go free and the investigation have to start from square one?
PENITENT is the ninth standalone murder mystery in this bestselling series. It is FREE with Kindle Unlimited and coming out soon in paperback. The rest of the books in the series, in order of publication, are as follows:
Series Scottish and ok.
A woman is found bludgeoned to death in a swimming pool. A pensioner who disappeared many moons ago turns up out of the blue. A cockeyed boxer has more success outside the ring than in it.
What connects these events may or may not be the clue DI Charlie West is looking for to solve the latest murder on her patch.
With her mentor James Munro recovering from heart bypass surgery, she will have to rely on her own wits and those of her trusted team to progress the investigation.
But just when West has a likely suspect in custody and looks set to finally cut the apron strings, Munro returns to the scene – his enforced repose having done little to dent his appetite for the finer and richer things in life – with an oblique angle on the case.
Has West got it right, or will her suspect go free and the investigation have to start from square one?
PENITENT is the ninth standalone murder mystery in this bestselling series. It is FREE with Kindle Unlimited and coming out soon in paperback. The rest of the books in the series, in order of publication, are as follows:
Series Scottish and ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
This is my first Detective Munro book, and I’m glad there are 9 others to enjoy. I enjoy all things I’ve come across that are Scot — yes, even haggis — perhaps because my family is from Scotland, and I enjoyed this story tremendously, especially the language used. Those words I was unfamiliar with were explained in context. All except one, and a quick search on my computer gave me the definition of what is the ubiquitous brown sauce ;-)
I loved that the characters were a tad competitive with each other, but they obviously like, and even love, each other and have each other’s back. It was fun to watch them work and play together and solve the murders together.
All pieces nicely tied up at the end. A wonderful escape and a great read!
I loved that the characters were a tad competitive with each other, but they obviously like, and even love, each other and have each other’s back. It was fun to watch them work and play together and solve the murders together.
All pieces nicely tied up at the end. A wonderful escape and a great read!
December 31, 2020
I’ve seen these advertised a lot, and something always put me off – probably the ‘twist you never saw coming’ type of subtitles. This is No.9 in a series, but I plunged in anyway, and I think even if I had read the first eight before it I might have found it a bit confusing, random characters and timelines. Nevertheless I liked the tone which is reminiscent of Keith Moray’s books, and I rather liked the baffling phrase, ‘Carrying himself with the unflappable demeanour of a comatose koala’. Some of the sentences are the length of Cicero’s – a few full stops wouldn’t go amiss if you were looking for a suitable Christmas present – and the whole thing is brimming with similes. Still, it’s amusing, and rattles along at a fair pace – lots of fun.
July 17, 2019
Woman Murdered, Multiple Suspects with Multiple Twists
Retired and recovering from open heart surgery, Munro is asked to review an old case when a corpse is found in a fireplace. West Detective Inspector is handling a brutal murder of a swimming instructor. These 2 cases collide adding confusion to this whodunnit with hidden identities, greed and plans to frame a friend. I really enjoy this group of detectives and friends. They work tirelessly to help each other in getting the culprits. Humor and honesty are liberally spread throughout the book. This is a stand alone book but I recommend reading the Munro series in order. Great read.
Retired and recovering from open heart surgery, Munro is asked to review an old case when a corpse is found in a fireplace. West Detective Inspector is handling a brutal murder of a swimming instructor. These 2 cases collide adding confusion to this whodunnit with hidden identities, greed and plans to frame a friend. I really enjoy this group of detectives and friends. They work tirelessly to help each other in getting the culprits. Humor and honesty are liberally spread throughout the book. This is a stand alone book but I recommend reading the Munro series in order. Great read.
June 11, 2019
Refreshing and Entertaining
Pete Brasset's DO Munro series is a refreshing change from the dozens of British detective procedural micro managed by angry and envious seniors, crown prosecutors and procurator fiscal's. Detectives all like and respect each other, no backstabbing, no endless drunken nights in pubs. all are gently supervised, allowing them to get on with the job. Also not needed- a team of twenty-five or thirty to solve one crime.
And all in good humor (American) or 'humour' for you Brits.
Pete Brasset's DO Munro series is a refreshing change from the dozens of British detective procedural micro managed by angry and envious seniors, crown prosecutors and procurator fiscal's. Detectives all like and respect each other, no backstabbing, no endless drunken nights in pubs. all are gently supervised, allowing them to get on with the job. Also not needed- a team of twenty-five or thirty to solve one crime.
And all in good humor (American) or 'humour' for you Brits.
July 18, 2019
It might be number 9 in the series but the characters continue to develop and interact well and the story is alive and engaging. Munro is remarkably active given his recent triple by-pass and I hope he doesn't have a relapse. I so like the team interactions - supportive and joshing, a refreshing change from the politicking, sniping, jealousy and treachery of all too many other police procedurals that I've read recently. Long may that last. All set in a lovely part of the country, but I'm biassed as I live there.
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September 13, 2019Twisty for sure
Munro is recuperating from open heart surgery . To me it sounded like two weeks post op but I could be mistaken . I hope he went to cardiac rehab . I doubt it based upon his high sirloin, bacon and salt diet . CHF sure to be in the works for him. Dead bodies , confusing clues , the usual turmoil of the crew. Still manage to muddle through . Munro , of course ,
is looking into to something for an old friend , and still ends up at the station . Hilarious at times .
Munro is recuperating from open heart surgery . To me it sounded like two weeks post op but I could be mistaken . I hope he went to cardiac rehab . I doubt it based upon his high sirloin, bacon and salt diet . CHF sure to be in the works for him. Dead bodies , confusing clues , the usual turmoil of the crew. Still manage to muddle through . Munro , of course ,
is looking into to something for an old friend , and still ends up at the station . Hilarious at times .
July 1, 2019
Another Enjoyable Scottish Mystery
The obstreperous retired Inspector Munro while recuperating from his heart surgery takes interest in a new event regarding an old disappearance. His investigation takes him on a path that intersects with Detective Charlotte West and company and off we go on parallel investigations! (Or are they truly parallel?)
I so enjoy the Scottish idiomatic language and behaviors...it’s like a trip to my ancestral home!
The obstreperous retired Inspector Munro while recuperating from his heart surgery takes interest in a new event regarding an old disappearance. His investigation takes him on a path that intersects with Detective Charlotte West and company and off we go on parallel investigations! (Or are they truly parallel?)
I so enjoy the Scottish idiomatic language and behaviors...it’s like a trip to my ancestral home!
August 11, 2019
Got to love these characters
Another thoroughly enjoyable read. Jimbo, Westie, Dougal and Duncan.......all thoroughly enjoyable characters. Good, engaging plot twists and well written story.
I worry that now Munro is retired and healed from his surgery it is going to be difficult to keep him as the central character in further stories.....and I really look forward to hearing more about these four characters.
Another thoroughly enjoyable read. Jimbo, Westie, Dougal and Duncan.......all thoroughly enjoyable characters. Good, engaging plot twists and well written story.
I worry that now Munro is retired and healed from his surgery it is going to be difficult to keep him as the central character in further stories.....and I really look forward to hearing more about these four characters.
July 17, 2020
Characters continue to develop, and I hope Munro’s diet doesn’t kill him after triple bypass surgery. Brassett uses just enough Scottish dialect, but he might want to trim back his metaphors a bit - especially the ones that make up half a paragraph. Also, the “six degrees of separation” angle is almost too close to be credible, but then, Scotland isn’t that big so I was willing to buy it. Looking forward to reading more in the series
June 28, 2019
Enjoyed this book and it is the second of his that I have read. Will now have to go to the first and start over. Holds your interest and I like the female Munro is teaching. Enjoy reading about other countries in murder mysteries and really like Scottish books and this fits just fine. Would recommend it.
September 21, 2019
Another Good Twist
Bassett does it yet again, a very logical answer to a mind numbing conundrum. It takes the full team, West, Duncan, Dougal, McLeod, and back from a close call with his Maker, The Chief, Munro, to finally put it all together. Alas, perhaps this is the end of the series, but I sure hope not. Enjoy!
Bassett does it yet again, a very logical answer to a mind numbing conundrum. It takes the full team, West, Duncan, Dougal, McLeod, and back from a close call with his Maker, The Chief, Munro, to finally put it all together. Alas, perhaps this is the end of the series, but I sure hope not. Enjoy!
June 6, 2019
Engaging read. My first Brassett. What really stood out for me is the character of DI Charlie West, a woman who is extremely direct, brash, impatient and to the point, yet, likeable and amusing at the same time. Cleverly intertwining plot lines.
June 15, 2019
Review
Munro is a gem of a detective. He is also a father figure to his crew- Charlie, Duncan and Dougal.
They have 2 murders to investigate, and whether they are connected.
This has a twist ending, and keeps the reader on edge. Sly humor, too.
Great series.
Munro is a gem of a detective. He is also a father figure to his crew- Charlie, Duncan and Dougal.
They have 2 murders to investigate, and whether they are connected.
This has a twist ending, and keeps the reader on edge. Sly humor, too.
Great series.
July 7, 2019
Another great story
Another great story by Pete Bassett with all the usual characters. They really gel well together and make do a great read. Easy to read the story flows along. I hope that there are more to come.
Another great story by Pete Bassett with all the usual characters. They really gel well together and make do a great read. Easy to read the story flows along. I hope that there are more to come.
July 22, 2019
Terrific!
This series is excellent! The plot is well developed and unusual, well written, and a joy to read. Each team member is a delight and their interaction brings success. Definitely high caliber murder mystery!
This series is excellent! The plot is well developed and unusual, well written, and a joy to read. Each team member is a delight and their interaction brings success. Definitely high caliber murder mystery!
July 30, 2019
Munro is the best!
The characters are perfect. The storyline is great! Keeps you on your toes. Bassett is a superb author with some entertaining storylines. I look forward to more by this author. Thanks Ann
The characters are perfect. The storyline is great! Keeps you on your toes. Bassett is a superb author with some entertaining storylines. I look forward to more by this author. Thanks Ann
August 2, 2019
So much fun to read...,
I rarely make thru more than 3 books by same author. But with this person, I just couldn’t stop. Only time I’ve read all I can one after the other until I came to the final one.., as far as I can tell. Loved the characters and the plots were so smart!!
I rarely make thru more than 3 books by same author. But with this person, I just couldn’t stop. Only time I’ve read all I can one after the other until I came to the final one.., as far as I can tell. Loved the characters and the plots were so smart!!
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August 2, 2019Didnt like this book at all. I particularly didnt like how the characters couldnt give a straight answer to a simple question without having to be amusing or crack a joke. Found the book just too annoying.
July 27, 2020
Very enjoyable
Another great read about this really well drawn group of characters and the situations they find themselves in. True to this area of Scotland and the characters from around there. Fun and interesting.
Another great read about this really well drawn group of characters and the situations they find themselves in. True to this area of Scotland and the characters from around there. Fun and interesting.
August 15, 2020
It was a fun read, but perhaps not a good idea to start with the 9th book in the series, as I found it difficult to keep the characters straight. Also - the author seems to love over-the-top similes, which can be a bit wearing after a while.
November 17, 2020
While DI James Munro is supposedly recuperating, DI Charlie West has been left in charge.
Eight years ago 64 year old Flora MacDonald disappeared, but her body has just been discovered, up a chimney. Munro is interested in the case. Meanwhile West and her team are investigating the murder of Nancy Wilson, found fully clothed in a swimming pool.
A entertaining well-written crime story with its team of very likeable and varied characters.
Eight years ago 64 year old Flora MacDonald disappeared, but her body has just been discovered, up a chimney. Munro is interested in the case. Meanwhile West and her team are investigating the murder of Nancy Wilson, found fully clothed in a swimming pool.
A entertaining well-written crime story with its team of very likeable and varied characters.
December 10, 2022
This series has me hooked. The plots leave you questioning your thought process. The characters are extremely well-developed. The writing is remarkable and expressive. I read this one straight through last night. I can not get enough of Jimbo, Charlie, Duncan, and Dougal.
February 20, 2024
Penitent
As with all the books in this series a good story. I love all the characters in this book, they all fit together so well. I like the sense of humour of the author. I look forward to the next.
As with all the books in this series a good story. I love all the characters in this book, they all fit together so well. I like the sense of humour of the author. I look forward to the next.
June 16, 2019
This one of the best detective series written. Excellence continued with another great book.
July 6, 2019
Who Doesn’t Value Sarcasm?
Good.Characters, not overly gruesome and an interesting story. Makes me want to read another in the series. You never know.
Good.Characters, not overly gruesome and an interesting story. Makes me want to read another in the series. You never know.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews