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Highlands & Islands Detective #4
The Small Ferry
A dreich day for a crossing and a small ferry packed to the gills. A fracas when off loading leads to blood and tears. And one man sits dead at the wheel of the last remaining car.
Macleod and McGrath return to Cromarty when a man is found dead at the wheel of his car on the small, local ferry. As the passengers are identified, the trail extends across the highlands and islands as past deeds are paid back in full. Can the now seasoned pair hunt down a killer before their butchery spreads across the land?
"The Small Ferry" is the fourth Highlands and Islands Detective thriller and brings the odd pair back to the Black Isle when the quiet routine of the Firth is broken apart by a strange death. If you like murder mysteries set amongst the beautiful north of Scotland and its wild coastline and islands, then you'll love the adventures of Macleod and McGrath.
When there's so much going on, it can be hard to see what's happening!
Macleod and McGrath return to Cromarty when a man is found dead at the wheel of his car on the small, local ferry. As the passengers are identified, the trail extends across the highlands and islands as past deeds are paid back in full. Can the now seasoned pair hunt down a killer before their butchery spreads across the land?
"The Small Ferry" is the fourth Highlands and Islands Detective thriller and brings the odd pair back to the Black Isle when the quiet routine of the Firth is broken apart by a strange death. If you like murder mysteries set amongst the beautiful north of Scotland and its wild coastline and islands, then you'll love the adventures of Macleod and McGrath.
When there's so much going on, it can be hard to see what's happening!
- GenresScotland
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2020
93 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 28, 2022
Another outing in the Highlands and Islands with Macleod and McGrath. Both detectives have grown so much since their first outing in WATER'S EDGE.
Three cars on a small ferry. A girl in the second car gives the "glad eye" to the young attendant, distracting him from realising that the final car hasn't yet started its engine. The second car, a mini, stalls and takes just that bit longer to leave. And still no activity in the third and final car. And then the realisation that the driver is dead, sitting in his car in a bath of blood.
From the moment that the driver is identified, the race is on to find one of the women who was in the mini. Behind her she leaves a trail of violent deaths. Macleod works out that she won't stop until she catches up with her final target.
There is considerable development in both of the detectives' personal lives. Macleod is house hunting with his new partner Jane, and McGrath is looking for someone to give new meaning to her life.
I am enjoying the individual plots of each in this series so far. I have also enjoyed the developing threads that go from one novel to the next. It will be interesting to see if the author can sustain these threads, and to see what parts these additional characters play in the stories to come.
Three cars on a small ferry. A girl in the second car gives the "glad eye" to the young attendant, distracting him from realising that the final car hasn't yet started its engine. The second car, a mini, stalls and takes just that bit longer to leave. And still no activity in the third and final car. And then the realisation that the driver is dead, sitting in his car in a bath of blood.
From the moment that the driver is identified, the race is on to find one of the women who was in the mini. Behind her she leaves a trail of violent deaths. Macleod works out that she won't stop until she catches up with her final target.
There is considerable development in both of the detectives' personal lives. Macleod is house hunting with his new partner Jane, and McGrath is looking for someone to give new meaning to her life.
I am enjoying the individual plots of each in this series so far. I have also enjoyed the developing threads that go from one novel to the next. It will be interesting to see if the author can sustain these threads, and to see what parts these additional characters play in the stories to come.
September 25, 2024
Easily the worst of the four Highlands and Isles series I have read. For starters; the characters. McGrath is off in her own world doing things that really made me dislike her. And MacLeod and Jane could use a hotel room, or with being repeatedly doused with buckets of cold water. I understand that character development is an important aspect of a series such as this, but it really shouldn't overshadow the plot. Sadly, in this book, I would have to describe the characters as plain vanilla.
As for the plot, to say it is overly complex and confusing would be an understatement. It's so heavily intertwined with the afore-mentioned character story lines that it becomes impossible to follow. This is not made any easier by having multiple characters using multiple names. It was too much for me. It just came across to me as being poorly thought out; more of a first draft than a polished work. The resulting read was a struggle.
In simple words, this episode is boring and the characters dull. I struggled through slightly more than half the book, then just chucked it in the fire. It seemed the best thing for it.
If there is one book in this otherwise very good series worth skipping, this would be it.
As for the plot, to say it is overly complex and confusing would be an understatement. It's so heavily intertwined with the afore-mentioned character story lines that it becomes impossible to follow. This is not made any easier by having multiple characters using multiple names. It was too much for me. It just came across to me as being poorly thought out; more of a first draft than a polished work. The resulting read was a struggle.
In simple words, this episode is boring and the characters dull. I struggled through slightly more than half the book, then just chucked it in the fire. It seemed the best thing for it.
If there is one book in this otherwise very good series worth skipping, this would be it.
July 4, 2022
Read on Kindle but I don't know if the text is different from the paper version.
Good plot. Characters are interesting but vanilla.
However. Does Jordan self edit as well as self publish? The book is full of errors. It is like a draft that hasn't been corrected. Or maybe the editing has been started but not finished, for there are several sentence fragments that do not form part of anything.
Tired of these books now.
Good plot. Characters are interesting but vanilla.
However. Does Jordan self edit as well as self publish? The book is full of errors. It is like a draft that hasn't been corrected. Or maybe the editing has been started but not finished, for there are several sentence fragments that do not form part of anything.
Tired of these books now.
January 22, 2021
Set on my home patch I had to read this book
only 3 cars on the wee ferry and one doesn’t get off. A dead body behind the wheel. Thus begins a spate of murders across the highlands and islands.
Some decent characters and an interesting and intriguing plot but marred for me by fairly stereotypical women, some dodgy crime scene dealings.
only 3 cars on the wee ferry and one doesn’t get off. A dead body behind the wheel. Thus begins a spate of murders across the highlands and islands.
Some decent characters and an interesting and intriguing plot but marred for me by fairly stereotypical women, some dodgy crime scene dealings.
January 24, 2021
A murder on the Nigg ferry? And then in Embo? Who'd imagine? It would certainly attract a bit of media attention as these things don't happen very often up our way, but Inspector Macleod isn't plagued by reporters.
As the body count rises the indefafigable Inspector not only has to deal with a maniacal murderer but his own morality.
As the body count rises the indefafigable Inspector not only has to deal with a maniacal murderer but his own morality.
May 8, 2021
The best one of the first four though nothing wrong with the other three. My goodness they breed them tough up there in Scotland. Seoras and Hope have survived more pummeling and near death experiences. Quite a ride, this one, and a great plot! And more great description of the wonders of the outer Hebrides, this time Harris. Delicious!
April 7, 2023
I enjoyed this forth book of series. Loving the getting to know the characters and them finding out that life is not so bad when you have a good person in it. The storyline was confusing, then a lot seemed to happen and it was a race for the finish line. Enjoyed meeting a new character and hope to see more of him in later books. Love the descriptions of the areas of Scotland, rain and all.
September 12, 2020
Brilliant
I originally chose this book because it's set in the highlands but it did not disappoint. The storyline and characters were gripping. Not only did I feel like I was there with them but it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this book to anyone
I originally chose this book because it's set in the highlands but it did not disappoint. The storyline and characters were gripping. Not only did I feel like I was there with them but it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this book to anyone
January 20, 2025
the small ferry
Gosh, this was an incredible triumph for GR Jordan.The storyline was amazing and credible.From start to finish,this must be one of the best crime stories I have read recently and that is saying something.Captivating.
Gosh, this was an incredible triumph for GR Jordan.The storyline was amazing and credible.From start to finish,this must be one of the best crime stories I have read recently and that is saying something.Captivating.
April 13, 2025
Okay
A little clarification on characters and their roles in the plot would have helped. Daughter? But I thought this was the daughter. A little more detail from Lewis and Harris, that was nice.
A little clarification on characters and their roles in the plot would have helped. Daughter? But I thought this was the daughter. A little more detail from Lewis and Harris, that was nice.
August 28, 2020
Another great novel fro G R Jordan
An intense case for McLeod and McGrath. They face a ferocious person who is hell bent on revenge. Excellent book
An intense case for McLeod and McGrath. They face a ferocious person who is hell bent on revenge. Excellent book
May 17, 2021
Love how his lady love is towards him. Awesome
June 20, 2021
Stayed at nigg ferry when I was a lad so all good memories and no murders that I can remember but with McLeod and hope around it should be safe
August 15, 2021
The story is good but several typos detract from the experience. Particularly annoying as I’m paying for these books but many I read on Kindke Unlimited have no errors.
December 31, 2023
A big improvement on the previous instalment although the ending was slightly anti-climatic.
February 14, 2025
Another brilliant twisted story really good
December 14, 2025
A good read
November 12, 2022
I actually lost count of the how many people the insane killer took out in this novel. Highly entertaining, but a bit unbelievable.
Also: I read this out of order. This is the 4th book in the series, and I've not read any others. However, that didn't detract from the story or make it hard to follow or like the characters.
Also: I read this out of order. This is the 4th book in the series, and I've not read any others. However, that didn't detract from the story or make it hard to follow or like the characters.
January 13, 2022
Another good detective story, set in Scotland with some on Lewis. Interesting personal story too.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews