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The DI Jack Knox Mysteries #2
Murder at Flood Tide
Detective Jack Knox is faced with a troubling case when a woman’s body is found on a beach east of Edinburgh
Police have to match her to missing persons, because her personal effects have been swept out to sea.
When she is finally identified, the victim’s last known movements are investigated.
She was courted by a man who proves elusive, having evaded surveillance cameras. He has covered his tracks well. Was this her killer?
On top of the pressures of the investigation, Jack Knox must deal with a gremlin in the well-oiled investigative machine: an officer from another force seems set on undermining his authority and upsetting his team.
Can DI Knox overcome the challenges and collar the killer before he strikes again?
MURDER AT FLOOD TIDE is the second DI Jack Knox murder mystery set in and around Edinburgh. The first book, THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD is available FREE with Kindle Unlimited and in paperback.
Police have to match her to missing persons, because her personal effects have been swept out to sea.
When she is finally identified, the victim’s last known movements are investigated.
She was courted by a man who proves elusive, having evaded surveillance cameras. He has covered his tracks well. Was this her killer?
On top of the pressures of the investigation, Jack Knox must deal with a gremlin in the well-oiled investigative machine: an officer from another force seems set on undermining his authority and upsetting his team.
Can DI Knox overcome the challenges and collar the killer before he strikes again?
MURDER AT FLOOD TIDE is the second DI Jack Knox murder mystery set in and around Edinburgh. The first book, THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD is available FREE with Kindle Unlimited and in paperback.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2019
424 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Robert McNeill
15 books35 followersRobert McNeill was born Edinburgh, Scotland. He took up freelance journalism in 1990, after spending many years in direct sales. His feature articles have appeared in many publications worldwide. He has also written several westerns and WWII novels.
Since 2018, however, Robert, an avid reader of crime fiction (and a particular admirer of the works of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Peter James and Lawrence Block) has concentrated on his own police procedural crime series featuring Edinburgh detective Jack Knox.
There are currently seven books in the series: THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD, MURDER AT FLOOD TIDE, DEAD OF NIGHT, NOUGHTS AND CROSSES, A VIEW TO MURDER, CONFESSION TO MURDER AND DON'T CRY DARLING.
‘As a native of Edinburgh, I’m particularly interested in the history of the city as a setting for crime,’ Robert says. ‘In the late eighteenth century, well-heeled citizenry of the medieval Old Town began moving across the Nor Loch (the area where Princes Street Gardens is now situated) to the Georgian New Town, where they lived in comparative splendour,’ he adds.
‘A villain who took advantage of these changes was Deacon William Brodie, a cabinet-maker and much-respected city councillor by day, who maintained a secret life as a housebreaker by night. Brodie was caught stealing from one of those elegant new mansions and hanged at the Old Tolbooth on the city’s High Street in October, 1788.
‘Brodie was also the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde,’ Robert explains. ‘And a character with traits not dissimilar to the people Knox runs into in his investigations.’
Since 2018, however, Robert, an avid reader of crime fiction (and a particular admirer of the works of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Peter James and Lawrence Block) has concentrated on his own police procedural crime series featuring Edinburgh detective Jack Knox.
There are currently seven books in the series: THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD, MURDER AT FLOOD TIDE, DEAD OF NIGHT, NOUGHTS AND CROSSES, A VIEW TO MURDER, CONFESSION TO MURDER AND DON'T CRY DARLING.
‘As a native of Edinburgh, I’m particularly interested in the history of the city as a setting for crime,’ Robert says. ‘In the late eighteenth century, well-heeled citizenry of the medieval Old Town began moving across the Nor Loch (the area where Princes Street Gardens is now situated) to the Georgian New Town, where they lived in comparative splendour,’ he adds.
‘A villain who took advantage of these changes was Deacon William Brodie, a cabinet-maker and much-respected city councillor by day, who maintained a secret life as a housebreaker by night. Brodie was caught stealing from one of those elegant new mansions and hanged at the Old Tolbooth on the city’s High Street in October, 1788.
‘Brodie was also the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde,’ Robert explains. ‘And a character with traits not dissimilar to the people Knox runs into in his investigations.’
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 1, 2020
An absorbing story!
A cleverly thought out who done it storyline that had me absorbing everything that was happening on the pages of this book. Even though there are a fair number of characters to remember, which I think is essential to the plot, just like in real life it made me concentrate a little more.
On the whole I really enjoyed it so promptly bought book 3
after I finish this one. I'm now a fan and follower of DI Jack Knox and his team. A good cast of characters with differing personalities including the one who has you grinding your teeth.
My only small gripe with the writing, was the use of to many Uh-huh and Mm-humm etc, which I thought was totally unnecessary as you got it, without it being written down. But that's just my personal opinion of course.
All in all a gripping read I found realistic with good solid believable characters!
A cleverly thought out who done it storyline that had me absorbing everything that was happening on the pages of this book. Even though there are a fair number of characters to remember, which I think is essential to the plot, just like in real life it made me concentrate a little more.
On the whole I really enjoyed it so promptly bought book 3
after I finish this one. I'm now a fan and follower of DI Jack Knox and his team. A good cast of characters with differing personalities including the one who has you grinding your teeth.
My only small gripe with the writing, was the use of to many Uh-huh and Mm-humm etc, which I thought was totally unnecessary as you got it, without it being written down. But that's just my personal opinion of course.
All in all a gripping read I found realistic with good solid believable characters!
April 23, 2021
When a body of a female is discovered on Longniddry Beach D.I. Jack Knox and his team investigate. But soon another team join them headed by DCI Alan Naismith. Between them can they determine the guilty party.
An enjoyable modern crime story
An enjoyable modern crime story
October 1, 2019
This is a very good read. Quite a few characters in it, so you have to concentrate - but its well worth it. The plot keeps you wondering right to the end, and the disclosure of the culprit at the end is very cleverly handled.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Looking forward to more from this author.
November 16, 2021
Second in the Jack Knox series
I really enjoyed this book on the whole although I was a little annoyed in places when an aggrieved detective from a team brought in to help on a case tried to discredit a female officer to get to Jack. Fortunately he got more than what I thought was coming to him! I really like the main characters in this series and the story lines are good and well written. Plus they are set in Edinburgh 😊
I really enjoyed this book on the whole although I was a little annoyed in places when an aggrieved detective from a team brought in to help on a case tried to discredit a female officer to get to Jack. Fortunately he got more than what I thought was coming to him! I really like the main characters in this series and the story lines are good and well written. Plus they are set in Edinburgh 😊
September 5, 2020
Excellent
Another good book with fewer swearing and profanity hence 4 stars. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this action packed story with a good cast of detectives who had each other’s back bar one. There’s always someone who has to chose differently whether good or bad. Choices determines destiny . An easy comfortable read from beginning to end. Thank yo7.
Another good book with fewer swearing and profanity hence 4 stars. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this action packed story with a good cast of detectives who had each other’s back bar one. There’s always someone who has to chose differently whether good or bad. Choices determines destiny . An easy comfortable read from beginning to end. Thank yo7.
May 19, 2020
Liked this book very much. I have just discovered Robert McNeill and have read the first three publications by him. Also, as I know Edinburgh very well it makes it so much interesting for me. Keep on writing about DI Knox.
July 2, 2020
A good read throughout
I am really enjoying the DI Jack Knox series. Murder at Flood Tide was exciting as we weren’t just chasing a killer but dealing with a culprit from within. I recommend you start the series today and enjoy the ride!
I am really enjoying the DI Jack Knox series. Murder at Flood Tide was exciting as we weren’t just chasing a killer but dealing with a culprit from within. I recommend you start the series today and enjoy the ride!
April 29, 2021
This is the second book in this series and it still didn't captivate me. All the characters are one-dimensional and the plot is very flimsy and predictable. I chose the series because of David Monteath reading the audiobooks, but even he couldn't salvage this. I won't try the third instalment.
June 20, 2020
A good series, set in Scotland
August 7, 2020
Paper characters. All tell and no show. Really boring.
November 10, 2020
A perfectly acceptable crime story. I enjoyed it.
February 17, 2021
Another brilliant read! Really enjoying this series! Edinburgh is great for crime fiction!
August 3, 2022
Good Sturr. No Super Heroes.. No Maverick Cop. Good Sensible Story. This is the 2nd in the DI Knox series and I am Quite Happy to read the rest
March 5, 2023
A very good read. Enjoyed it.
April 15, 2025
Great follow up a second in the series.
My spidey sense is telling me the disgruntled Reilly might hold a grudge and become villain in a future story
My spidey sense is telling me the disgruntled Reilly might hold a grudge and become villain in a future story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2020
Excellent
First book by Robert McNeill I’ve read and I am looking forward to reading more. DI Jack Knox and his team based in Edinburgh have a murder to solve, the body of a young woman has been found on a beach, she has been strangled. There is nothing to identify the body but the police quickly establish who she is, now they’ve got to find her killer before he does the same again.
First book by Robert McNeill I’ve read and I am looking forward to reading more. DI Jack Knox and his team based in Edinburgh have a murder to solve, the body of a young woman has been found on a beach, she has been strangled. There is nothing to identify the body but the police quickly establish who she is, now they’ve got to find her killer before he does the same again.
March 11, 2020
Great book
Wonderful story a lot better than the first book in the series. Kept going from begining too end and always guessing what was going to be the outcome
Wonderful story a lot better than the first book in the series. Kept going from begining too end and always guessing what was going to be the outcome
December 5, 2019
A little better than the first book.
Still a bit light on real meat to the story....and definitely not a gripping yarn, but this second book of the Jack Knox (series?) is certainly an improvement.
There are a few glaring mistakes, a few repeated descriptions almost word for word from the first book, but still a much better read.
Couldn’t really see the point of the side story between Reilly and Mason, it didn’t need to be there and didn’t add anything to the overall story.
Finally.......to describe media coverage of the praise heaped upon the team as “fulsome”? Well might I suggest that the author does a dictionary check before using words as “fulsome” means overblown, disgusting, unwanted or false.....so I don’t really think that by saying that the media praise for the team was fulsome, it was quite what the author meant.
Note to author: Don’t use big words you don’t know the meaning of just to try and improve a story. If you don’t know the meaning with 100% certainty, then there is quite a good chance your readership won’t know it either.....and you stand a good chance of being wrong. It might have been better just to say that the media gave lavish praise and properly convey the intended information.
Still a bit light on real meat to the story....and definitely not a gripping yarn, but this second book of the Jack Knox (series?) is certainly an improvement.
There are a few glaring mistakes, a few repeated descriptions almost word for word from the first book, but still a much better read.
Couldn’t really see the point of the side story between Reilly and Mason, it didn’t need to be there and didn’t add anything to the overall story.
Finally.......to describe media coverage of the praise heaped upon the team as “fulsome”? Well might I suggest that the author does a dictionary check before using words as “fulsome” means overblown, disgusting, unwanted or false.....so I don’t really think that by saying that the media praise for the team was fulsome, it was quite what the author meant.
Note to author: Don’t use big words you don’t know the meaning of just to try and improve a story. If you don’t know the meaning with 100% certainty, then there is quite a good chance your readership won’t know it either.....and you stand a good chance of being wrong. It might have been better just to say that the media gave lavish praise and properly convey the intended information.
December 13, 2019
Like the first book, this one is like reading directions on iMaps. Far too much attention spent on detailing what streets are travelled on and what roads lead where and which exits are taken. ..... as well,there is no character development at all and with so many characters, it’s hard to keep them all straight.
January 17, 2020
Excellent!
The 2 books in this series are great! The characters are engaging, friends as well as workmates. The action is continual, sleuthing techniques superb, and the plot well developed. Great reading experience.
The 2 books in this series are great! The characters are engaging, friends as well as workmates. The action is continual, sleuthing techniques superb, and the plot well developed. Great reading experience.
September 17, 2019
Roll on book three!
September 18, 2019
After an intriguing start to the series, the author takes this book to the next level with a big-hitting crime drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
November 12, 2019
Another great story
A great follow up story featuring Inspector Knox and his team. Well Constructed and easy to read with interesting characters and a good ending.
A great follow up story featuring Inspector Knox and his team. Well Constructed and easy to read with interesting characters and a good ending.
November 27, 2019
Great
It was an easy read thriller with unknown suspects. I would certainly recommend the DCI Knox thriller series based in Edinburgh.
It was an easy read thriller with unknown suspects. I would certainly recommend the DCI Knox thriller series based in Edinburgh.
November 29, 2019
Not bad
Not as good as Ian Rankin s Rebus but who is, fast paced story with a few twists and turns
Not as good as Ian Rankin s Rebus but who is, fast paced story with a few twists and turns
December 9, 2019
Easy reading
Very good series of books. Good characters and storylines, easy to pickup and follow without any complicated plots. Would recommend.
Very good series of books. Good characters and storylines, easy to pickup and follow without any complicated plots. Would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews