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DCI Brendan Moran #5
Gone Too Soon
DCI Brendan Moran, The Irish Detective, returns in his latest full-length novel
Moran is called to a burial in a local cemetery. But this is no ordinary interment; the body of a young woman, Michelle LaCroix, a rising star in the music world, is still warm, the grave unmarked. A recording reveals the reason for her suicide. Or does it?
Why would a young, successful singer take her own life? To unlock the answer, Moran must steer a course through his darkest investigation yet, as the clues lead to one shocking discovery after another. . .
Moran is called to a burial in a local cemetery. But this is no ordinary interment; the body of a young woman, Michelle LaCroix, a rising star in the music world, is still warm, the grave unmarked. A recording reveals the reason for her suicide. Or does it?
Why would a young, successful singer take her own life? To unlock the answer, Moran must steer a course through his darkest investigation yet, as the clues lead to one shocking discovery after another. . .
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2019
118 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Scott Hunter
23 books62 followersScott Hunter was born in Romford, Essex. His writing career was kick-started after he won first prize in the Sunday Express Short Story Competition. He divides his time between writing and drumming. He has recorded with internationally renowned rock band 'Jethro Tull' and appeared in concert with 70's popsters 'Mungo Jerry'.
He is currently working on his thirteenth novel and has recently published 'The Cold Light of Death', number eight in the very popular DCI Brendan Moran crime series. 'Black December', the first DCI Brendan Moran novel, has also been released in audiobook format.
He was long listed for the Times/Chicken House Children's Novel Competition for 'The Ley Lines of Lushbury' and won the Sunday Express Short Story Competition a few years back for his historical entry set in the English Civil War. His second novel, 'The Trespass' is a top 20 Amazon Bestseller. He has recently been shortlisted for the 2016 Crime Writers Association (CWA) Margery Allingham short story competition.
Scott Hunter lives in Berkshire with his wife Katherine and his two youngest children
He is currently working on his thirteenth novel and has recently published 'The Cold Light of Death', number eight in the very popular DCI Brendan Moran crime series. 'Black December', the first DCI Brendan Moran novel, has also been released in audiobook format.
He was long listed for the Times/Chicken House Children's Novel Competition for 'The Ley Lines of Lushbury' and won the Sunday Express Short Story Competition a few years back for his historical entry set in the English Civil War. His second novel, 'The Trespass' is a top 20 Amazon Bestseller. He has recently been shortlisted for the 2016 Crime Writers Association (CWA) Margery Allingham short story competition.
Scott Hunter lives in Berkshire with his wife Katherine and his two youngest children
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 28, 2020
Another fine story about Detective Brendan Moran.
August 31, 2025
2.5 ⭐️⭐️
Everyone is drooling over each other. Like every chapter there's a description of how attractive a character is and how the POV (whoever it is at the time) is ogling them like crazy. Charlie and Tess fancy DC Collingworth, he fancies Tess and evidently tons of other women (even though he's married with 2 kids), DC George McConnell also likes Tess but finds Dr Gordon attractive, as does Moran. But Moran also likes his deceased fiancee's sister Geileis but also finds his neighbor Samantha attractive. DC Bola once again sleeps with another potential suspect that he knows he shouldn't but does anyway.
Also there's 100 new DCs introduced again. Hard to be invested in a story/series where the characters are constantly being replaced and new, unknown side characters keep popping up randomly (mentioned once in passing then never mentioned again).
Lastly, while I get the books need stakes and excitement, but if this was real, I think everyone in the police station should be fired or at least undergoing a serious internal investigation (more than just the "slap on the wrist," no-consequences-for-their-actions that they always get). Throughout the series, they do sketchy, illegal things to solve the case that all get brushed under the rug because they eventually solve it. But their incompetence is insane; in every book, at least one of them gets kidnapped, beaten, blown up, shot, and/or undergoes other life-threatening violence at the hands of those they're investigating. Not that police work doesn't come with risks and violence, but... I don't think they should be getting kidnapped as often as they are..?
Oh and they shouldn't have let Tess come back in the first place (at least that soon) after she nearly died several times, got shot at, and then blown up in the last book. Then left her alone (and still officially allowed on the case) after she got kidnapped and tortured in this book. Obviously both bad ideas. But I guess when they all nearly die every single time they investigate a new case, it becomes... whatever, just another day at the office...
Everyone is drooling over each other. Like every chapter there's a description of how attractive a character is and how the POV (whoever it is at the time) is ogling them like crazy. Charlie and Tess fancy DC Collingworth, he fancies Tess and evidently tons of other women (even though he's married with 2 kids), DC George McConnell also likes Tess but finds Dr Gordon attractive, as does Moran. But Moran also likes his deceased fiancee's sister Geileis but also finds his neighbor Samantha attractive. DC Bola once again sleeps with another potential suspect that he knows he shouldn't but does anyway.
Also there's 100 new DCs introduced again. Hard to be invested in a story/series where the characters are constantly being replaced and new, unknown side characters keep popping up randomly (mentioned once in passing then never mentioned again).
Lastly, while I get the books need stakes and excitement, but if this was real, I think everyone in the police station should be fired or at least undergoing a serious internal investigation (more than just the "slap on the wrist," no-consequences-for-their-actions that they always get). Throughout the series, they do sketchy, illegal things to solve the case that all get brushed under the rug because they eventually solve it. But their incompetence is insane; in every book, at least one of them gets kidnapped, beaten, blown up, shot, and/or undergoes other life-threatening violence at the hands of those they're investigating. Not that police work doesn't come with risks and violence, but... I don't think they should be getting kidnapped as often as they are..?
Oh and they shouldn't have let Tess come back in the first place (at least that soon) after she nearly died several times, got shot at, and then blown up in the last book. Then left her alone (and still officially allowed on the case) after she got kidnapped and tortured in this book. Obviously both bad ideas. But I guess when they all nearly die every single time they investigate a new case, it becomes... whatever, just another day at the office...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2024
As is usually the case with detective series, the DCI Brendan Moran series continues to improve with each installment. In fact, I almost gave the previous entry five stars, debating a long time before settling on a four-star rating. But I enjoyed this work even more, so I decided it deserved five stars.
As was the case with the plot in books 2-4. "Gone Too Soon" picks up not longer after the previous entry's ending. As you know, I stick to jacket descriptions/marketing blurbs in these reviews to avoid spoilers - so here's the one for this novel:
"DCI Brendan Moran is called to a burial in a local cemetery. But this is no ordinary interment; the body of a young woman, Michelle LaCroix, a rising star in the music world, is still warm, the grave unmarked. A recording reveals the reason for her suicide.
Or does it?
Why would a young, successful singer take her own life? To unlock the answer, Moran must steer a course through his darkest investigation yet, as the clues lead to one shocking discovery after another."
The "one shocking discovery after another" line is NOT hyperbole. I found this plot to be both incredibly intricate AND engaging. So, kudos to Mr. Hunter!
Furthermore, this intense psychological plot was reinforced by Hunter's expert development of the characters - both that of Moran's and his supporting cast. The "Guv" (as he's known to his team) has really grown on me, as have the other key characters (DI Charlie Pepper, DC Bola Odunsi, DC George McConnell, and DC Tess Martin).
I'm looking forward to continuing this wonderful series and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written thrillers.
As was the case with the plot in books 2-4. "Gone Too Soon" picks up not longer after the previous entry's ending. As you know, I stick to jacket descriptions/marketing blurbs in these reviews to avoid spoilers - so here's the one for this novel:
"DCI Brendan Moran is called to a burial in a local cemetery. But this is no ordinary interment; the body of a young woman, Michelle LaCroix, a rising star in the music world, is still warm, the grave unmarked. A recording reveals the reason for her suicide.
Or does it?
Why would a young, successful singer take her own life? To unlock the answer, Moran must steer a course through his darkest investigation yet, as the clues lead to one shocking discovery after another."
The "one shocking discovery after another" line is NOT hyperbole. I found this plot to be both incredibly intricate AND engaging. So, kudos to Mr. Hunter!
Furthermore, this intense psychological plot was reinforced by Hunter's expert development of the characters - both that of Moran's and his supporting cast. The "Guv" (as he's known to his team) has really grown on me, as have the other key characters (DI Charlie Pepper, DC Bola Odunsi, DC George McConnell, and DC Tess Martin).
I'm looking forward to continuing this wonderful series and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written thrillers.
January 22, 2021
I just love this series full of twists and turns that puzzle this bunch of perfectly imperfect human beings charged with investigating the worst of crime and face the worst humanity has to offer.
This time, DCI Moran and his team are called to investigate a murder that someone tries to pass as suicide. The victim, an up and coming singer with a history of depression and drug abuse. Along the way, we discover the scars sustained by Faith Martin from her traumatic experience in a previous operation involving MI5 and DI Pepper trying to regain the confidence of her superiors after that same MI5 stint.
Overall it was a good read.
This time, DCI Moran and his team are called to investigate a murder that someone tries to pass as suicide. The victim, an up and coming singer with a history of depression and drug abuse. Along the way, we discover the scars sustained by Faith Martin from her traumatic experience in a previous operation involving MI5 and DI Pepper trying to regain the confidence of her superiors after that same MI5 stint.
Overall it was a good read.
November 7, 2022
Book 5 - Gone Too Soon - Another intense mystery. An up and coming singer is found buried in an unauthorized grave. The recording she left implies that she planned it and didn’t want anyone to be blamed. But, DCI Moran didn’t believe it was a suicide. When the recording is checked, it is determined that it was spliced from other recordings made by Michelle. So, it wasn’t a suicide. It is a fast paced story with a diabolical conspiracy at the heart of it. These books are hard to put down. I read this one almost in one day. The author is excellent and writes very well. You feel like you know the characters.
April 1, 2025
Another great book in this series, the plot had many twists and turns, and I didn't see the ending coming. The characters were well developed and their relationships cemented from prior books. There are new characters in the book that have added depth to the investigations. There was a bit of a cliff hanger at the end of this book, can't wait to see what the next installment brings
July 4, 2022
Great story
Complicated plot with lots of moving parts keeps the pages turning. DCI Moran has an unfortunate tendency to lose m members of his team. It makes keeping track of the characters from book to book a little challenging.
Complicated plot with lots of moving parts keeps the pages turning. DCI Moran has an unfortunate tendency to lose m members of his team. It makes keeping track of the characters from book to book a little challenging.
April 3, 2025
No 5 in the series and another very good read, its a murder disguised as a suicide. Brendan and his team have a lot of twists and turns are constantly going in the wrong direction.So go out and get the book and you will ENJOY.
April 7, 2025
This high quality mystery is loaded with suspense. The interesting characters and wild investigation of the tragic mystery had me on the edge of my seat. I'll definitely read more books by this author.
February 22, 2022
Great first book in the DCI Brendan Moran series. I will definitely be reading the rest!
November 28, 2023
excellent read
Couldn’t put the book down was enthralled from start to finish, now onto the next one
I recommend this book from a brilliant author
Couldn’t put the book down was enthralled from start to finish, now onto the next one
I recommend this book from a brilliant author
January 19, 2025
DCI Brendan Moran is again on the case, when an apparent suicide turns out to be a murder. As the investigation progresses a dark secret is uncovered, which leads the team into danger.
February 19, 2025
Brendan Moran Series
I've read all of them. And will continue to read them. This is the best detective series I've read. I highly recommend this series.
I've read all of them. And will continue to read them. This is the best detective series I've read. I highly recommend this series.
July 30, 2024
The darker these stories get, the more I like them. Brendan Moran is a super sleuth! Really enjoying some of the new characters too.
September 6, 2019
At first, I found this book a bit slow to get moving, but the suspense and action, by the mid-way point was amazing.
I found it hard to put this book down even at midnight. As with many British procedural novels, we see a great deal of the characters' personal lives and how it affects their work as police officers. Not a great deal of self-discipline for the most part. AND they need to learn to call for back-up, or take a partner, to avoid getting into such peril. But hey, that would not make for such compelling fiction.
I found it hard to put this book down even at midnight. As with many British procedural novels, we see a great deal of the characters' personal lives and how it affects their work as police officers. Not a great deal of self-discipline for the most part. AND they need to learn to call for back-up, or take a partner, to avoid getting into such peril. But hey, that would not make for such compelling fiction.
April 17, 2020
DCI Brendan Moran returns in this story of an upcoming singer star who has apparently committed suicide by burying herself alive. As the story progresses we found out the details behind the details. This murder mystery soon becomes a tangled web of deceit, lies, murder and mayhem which the British Police must figure out. Terrific cast of characters, mystery, intrigue & action with an awesome story line makes this an unforgettable read. Highly recommended.
August 30, 2019
This series just gets better with each book. Having read all the books in The Irish Detective Series (DCI Brendan Moran), which started with Black December, I can honestly say that Gone Too Soon is the best so far. It starts with the discovery of an ilegal burial and the whole story from there on in is completely gripping and well written. With twists and turns and an unexpected ending. To say more would spoil the read. Suffice to say I just couldn't put the book down. Highly Recommended.
October 10, 2019
Nice plotting
Decent procedural novel. Many twists and turns. Hope there Will be more. Well written, interesting backstory for the principal villain.
Decent procedural novel. Many twists and turns. Hope there Will be more. Well written, interesting backstory for the principal villain.
October 26, 2024
#5 KINDLE - DNF
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews