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DCI Brendan Moran #6
The Enemy Inside
DCI Brendan Moran's morning is interrupted whena suicidal ex-soldier threatens to jump from a multi-storey car park ...Moran soon regrets getting involved when an unexpected visitor turns up on his doorstep toconfront him with what appears to be damning evidence of his past misconduct.Can the Irish Detective clear his name, or must he come clean and face the consequences?One thing seems by the time the night is over, his reputation may not be the only casualty ...
- GenresMystery
122 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2020
80 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Scott Hunter
23 books61 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 7, 2022
Book 6 - The Enemy Inside - Another great mystery. This one has DCI Moran meeting someone from his distant past. It was 1978 in Belfast, when he was a junior officer in the Gardai in Ireland. He and his friend, Joe Gallagher were on a road trip when at a checkpoint, there was an ambush where 3 people were killed, including a female soldier. Moran tried to help her but the wound was too great. Another soldier appeared, blamed Moran for the death. She was his special friend. Moran was advised to lay low after a newspaper article implied that he had something to do with the checkpoint situation. Now jump to present day. The soldier is in Reading looking for Moran. He blames him for the death of his soldier girlfriend. The plot reveals in flashback what happened in 1978, how Moran’s girlfriend, Janice, was killed, and why the soldier waited so long to look for Moran. It is fast paced and hard to put down. I read it all in one sitting. Love these books. Now off to last three books 7-9.
July 16, 2024
As is usually the case with detective series, the DCI Brendan Moran series continues to improve with each installment. In fact, I gave the previous entry in the series five stars. And I probably would have given this one five as well if weren't a novella, not a full novel...it just seemed a little too rushed for me.
As was the case with the plot in the previous Brendan Moran novels, this one 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 novella:
"Whoever said 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer' was right. But maybe not this close.
DCI Brendan Moran's morning is interrupted when a suicidal ex-soldier threatens to jump from a multi-storey car park. Moran soon regrets getting involved when an unexpected visitor turns up on his doorstep to confront him with what appears to be damning evidence of past misconduct.
Can the Irish Detective clear his name, or must he come clean and face the consequences? One thing seems certain: by the time the night is over, his reputation may not be the only casualty."
What I liked about this plot was that it further explained the tragic death of his beautiful fiancee years ago in an IRA bombing. But as I mentioned above, what I DIDN'T like about this plot was its brevity. I truly think Hunter could - and should - have expanded it into a full-length novel.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to continuing this wonderful series. And I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written thriller series.
As was the case with the plot in the previous Brendan Moran novels, this one 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 novella:
"Whoever said 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer' was right. But maybe not this close.
DCI Brendan Moran's morning is interrupted when a suicidal ex-soldier threatens to jump from a multi-storey car park. Moran soon regrets getting involved when an unexpected visitor turns up on his doorstep to confront him with what appears to be damning evidence of past misconduct.
Can the Irish Detective clear his name, or must he come clean and face the consequences? One thing seems certain: by the time the night is over, his reputation may not be the only casualty."
What I liked about this plot was that it further explained the tragic death of his beautiful fiancee years ago in an IRA bombing. But as I mentioned above, what I DIDN'T like about this plot was its brevity. I truly think Hunter could - and should - have expanded it into a full-length novel.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to continuing this wonderful series. And I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written thriller series.
September 20, 2025
2 ⭐️⭐️
A pretty easy, super quick read. But I'm over the whole espionage/secret agent/good-person-turns-out-to-be-bad-guy thing. It's repetitive and cliche at this point, and I've never been one for political-focused books which almost all of this series has been so far. I miss the thrills and excitment and depth that Black December had; each book has gotten worse and worse, each plot is essentially the same (again, seemingly good people turning out to be part of the bad guy ring), and each character becoming a one-note caricature (like Moran is constantly getting held at gunpoint and thinking his way out of it while also battling the thoughts of "I deserve this" and rehashing his painful past, Charlie is the stressed yet determined leader, George is the guy that's just kind of there when you need him, Bola is the womanizer, etc).
A pretty easy, super quick read. But I'm over the whole espionage/secret agent/good-person-turns-out-to-be-bad-guy thing. It's repetitive and cliche at this point, and I've never been one for political-focused books which almost all of this series has been so far. I miss the thrills and excitment and depth that Black December had; each book has gotten worse and worse, each plot is essentially the same (again, seemingly good people turning out to be part of the bad guy ring), and each character becoming a one-note caricature (like Moran is constantly getting held at gunpoint and thinking his way out of it while also battling the thoughts of "I deserve this" and rehashing his painful past, Charlie is the stressed yet determined leader, George is the guy that's just kind of there when you need him, Bola is the womanizer, etc).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2022
Good story
There were questions I didn't even realize I had as I read this series, such as, why was Brendan Moran targeted by the IRA in the first place? It's been a running theme throughout the series that he's emotionally damaged by the murder of his fiance in his place do many years ago. As the books progress, Moran learns the last few details of why and how that happened. In this little short story it seems the final pieces fall into place. Now we'll just have to see what he does with that information.
There were questions I didn't even realize I had as I read this series, such as, why was Brendan Moran targeted by the IRA in the first place? It's been a running theme throughout the series that he's emotionally damaged by the murder of his fiance in his place do many years ago. As the books progress, Moran learns the last few details of why and how that happened. In this little short story it seems the final pieces fall into place. Now we'll just have to see what he does with that information.
March 16, 2020
This is Book 6 in the DCI Brendan Moran, Irish Detective Series. It may be a Novella but dont let that fool you. It's crammed full of grit and intrigue, twists and turns making it another excellent, well written story that is gripping from start to finish. Read as stand alone or part of this stunning series. You won't be disappointed. Highly Recommended.
May 29, 2021
OMG, I was unable to put that book down. I always wondered what had brought on the death by bomb of Moran’s fiancée, now I know but the plot has thickened and I’m expecting this is not the end of it.
I came to this series by accident a few years back and got hooked. This new instalment made me want to read more about Moran’s past.
I came to this series by accident a few years back and got hooked. This new instalment made me want to read more about Moran’s past.
April 2, 2025
This is an addictive series, each book better than the last. The plots are multifaceted and keep you turning the pages. The interaction between the characters is as important as the plot. Although the author says he writes each book as a stand alone, the plot and characters make more sense if read in order.
February 25, 2025
Another good Moran saga
They pulled the wool over his eyes, I believe, to his waist! I enjoy Scott Hunter's style of writing. I've read several of his books. DCI Moran are the best. I've never been disappointed.
They pulled the wool over his eyes, I believe, to his waist! I enjoy Scott Hunter's style of writing. I've read several of his books. DCI Moran are the best. I've never been disappointed.
March 30, 2025
Enjoy able read
Very imaginative and fast moving. Well-written. Excellent presentation of personalities, unfortunately, demonstrates the excessive intrigue of all the recentspy novels.
Very imaginative and fast moving. Well-written. Excellent presentation of personalities, unfortunately, demonstrates the excessive intrigue of all the recentspy novels.
March 21, 2020
Brilliant book by Scott unputdownable. Thoroughly recommend.
January 30, 2021
I gave it 4 stars, not one.
February 11, 2021
I don't care for novellas. I think of them as a quick write and money for the author but I loved the way this was done and glad I already have book #7 ready to continue. Fantastic book series!!
July 31, 2023
A fun read
July 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this excursion into Brendan's past. I felt like I was getting to know the character better. Apparently he wasn't very careful about the friends he chose as a youngster. Even so, don't we all have at least one skeleton in our closet?
April 17, 2020
Once again DCI Brendan Moran gets involved in a case which starts out with a jumper. It forces him to relive the past while trying to solve the case without getting killed. A conspiracy within the government soon provides more questions than answers. Another excellent read from Scott Hunter. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews