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Three Oaks #10
A Shocking Affair
Henry Kitts was simply doing dog-breeder John Cunningham a favour. So how did he manage to end up knee-deep in the murder investigation of a wealthy Scottish landowner?
At John Cunningham’s request Henry Kitts, the husband of John’s business partner Isobel, agrees to take a spaniel named Spin to his new owner, Sir Peter Hay, to help him settle in. Sir Peter is an old friend, so Henry looks forward to a pleasant week’s stay at his host’s stately home in Newton Lauder.
However, Henry has only been at the country estate a few days when Sir Peter collapses and dies while out training the new spaniel. It is well known that the laird has suffered heart attacks in the past. But this time, the circumstances of his death suggest something far more sinister...
Gerald Hammond worked as an architect for thirty years, before taking early retirement in 1982. He lives in Scotland, with his wife, and has three sons and four granddaughters. He spends his time shooting, fishing and writing.
At John Cunningham’s request Henry Kitts, the husband of John’s business partner Isobel, agrees to take a spaniel named Spin to his new owner, Sir Peter Hay, to help him settle in. Sir Peter is an old friend, so Henry looks forward to a pleasant week’s stay at his host’s stately home in Newton Lauder.
However, Henry has only been at the country estate a few days when Sir Peter collapses and dies while out training the new spaniel. It is well known that the laird has suffered heart attacks in the past. But this time, the circumstances of his death suggest something far more sinister...
Gerald Hammond worked as an architect for thirty years, before taking early retirement in 1982. He lives in Scotland, with his wife, and has three sons and four granddaughters. He spends his time shooting, fishing and writing.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 1999
23 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Hammond
103 books20 followersGerald Hammond, (Gerald Arthur Douglas Hammond) son of Frederick Arthur Lucas (a physician) and Maria Birnie (a nursing sister) Hammond; married Gilda Isobel Watt (a nurse), August 20, 1952; children: Peter, David, Steven. Education: Aberdeen School of Architecture, Dip. Arch., 1952. He served in the British Army, 1944-45. Although born in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, he worked in and retired to the country he most loved, Scotland.
He also writes under the names of Arthur Douglas and Dalby Holden. He was an architect for thirty years before retiring to write novels full-time in 1982. He has written over 50 novels since the late 1960s.
His novels center around guns, shooting, hunting, fishing, and dog training.
He also writes under the names of Arthur Douglas and Dalby Holden. He was an architect for thirty years before retiring to write novels full-time in 1982. He has written over 50 novels since the late 1960s.
His novels center around guns, shooting, hunting, fishing, and dog training.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 16, 2026
I've long been a fan of the Keith Calder series and only started reading this one recently. I was able to get them all at once and finished the series within a relatively short time. Both series are based in Scotland. The Calder series is more gun based whereas this series is more dog based. Otherwise both are fairly similar. This one is a bit of a crossover in that the victim is Sir Peter Hay, a recurring and much loved character in the Calder series. So it's with a bit of sadness that he dies in this particular book. I read this during my vacation a while back and I don't remember much about it. Suffice to say that it continues the series in the same vein.
October 23, 2020
This entry in the series switches seamlessly from John Cunningham's point of view to that of his good friend, neighbour and Three Oaks regular, Henry Kitts. The mystery is compelling, both emotionally and plotwise, and there are the usual wonderful descriptions of the Scottish countryside and multiple dogs. Excellent.
November 8, 2019
A great cross-over
This book is narrated by Henry Kitts rather than John Cunningham and it concerns the death of Sir Peter Hay, so we meet the Calders and Enterkins. It is typical Gerald Hammond, well written with his light touch and believable characters, both human and canine.
This book is narrated by Henry Kitts rather than John Cunningham and it concerns the death of Sir Peter Hay, so we meet the Calders and Enterkins. It is typical Gerald Hammond, well written with his light touch and believable characters, both human and canine.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews