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Daniella Coulstoun #1
Thirty-One Bones
When Effie Coulston drops dead on the floor of her bar in a small Spanish town mid-business meeting, her daughter Daniella feels it’s her duty to return for the funeral. But Daniella has been estranged from her mother for over twenty years, and Effie’s life in Spain harbours many secrets . Daniella is soon confronted by a hostile group of ex-pat misfits who frequent the bar and who, along with Effie, are involved in a multi-million-pound property scam. But the money has vanished, and the ex-pats are threatening to implicate Daniella to save themselves.
Meanwhile, a Spanish detective is investigating Effie’s death. He’s convinced Daniella knows more than she is telling. And now a terrifying enforcer has heard about the missing cash. With no idea where the money is and threats coming from all sides, Daniella is up against a seemingly impossible deadline to find the cash. She’s a stranger in a strange town – and she’s seriously out of her depth.
Meanwhile, a Spanish detective is investigating Effie’s death. He’s convinced Daniella knows more than she is telling. And now a terrifying enforcer has heard about the missing cash. With no idea where the money is and threats coming from all sides, Daniella is up against a seemingly impossible deadline to find the cash. She’s a stranger in a strange town – and she’s seriously out of her depth.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2020
35 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Cry
6 books15 followersMorgan Cry is the ex-pat alias of Gordon Brown, a Scottish crime writer with 9 novels to his name. Leaving the dark alleyways of tartan noir and heading for the Spanish sunshine, Morgan Cry debuted with a cracking tale of murder, intrigue, and a daughter flung right in at the deep end with her mother's secrets in 'Thirty-One Bones' and Daniella returns in a 'whodunnit' in the sun - 'Six Wounds' - 'It's Murder When You are Innocent.'
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 31, 2024
A light summer read, tartan noir moved to the sun and sea of Spain and the ex-pat community. An entertaining bunch of conflicted characters, none of whom are particularly likeable, but are entertaining enough to carry the story along. A couple of quirks in the writing that bothered me personally - a lot of unneeded profanity and the continually repeated refrain of 'its complicated' irked me, but minor quibbles and overall an enjoyable, brisk diversion.
July 24, 2021
78 years old Effie Coulstoun drops dead one night in her bar Se Busca, in Spain while brokering a deal with a potential investor. Postmortem report suggests it was a heart attack and her daughter Daniella, who has been estranged from her mother for many years, comes to Spain for the funeral. Daniella expects to be in and out of the country within a couple of days.... until she is threatened and blackmailed by a bunch of misfits who call themselves the Ex-Patriots. Turns out the Ex-Patriots and Effie were involved in a multi million property scam and Effie seems to have conned her team as well by hiding the money with the intent of escaping with it before her death. The Ex-Patriots now want Daniella to locate the hidden money threatening to break thirty one of her bones and to implicate her solely for the crime if she does not comply. Daniella has her own decisions to make--should she make a run for it back to her stagnant life and career in the UK or stay in Spain, face the Ex-Patriots threats head on and potentially take over her mother's business and life she build in Spain.
This book was quite fun and engaging to read. It was a bit different in terms of plot and presentation and had its share of twists and turns and dry, dark humour.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade Crimewise and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
This book was quite fun and engaging to read. It was a bit different in terms of plot and presentation and had its share of twists and turns and dry, dark humour.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade Crimewise and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
September 29, 2021
Solid writing, interesting character and a plot that kept me hooked. I love books where I'm not sure what I would do if I was put in the same situation. I love seeing how the characters handle it and how it all plays out. I enjoyed this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
February 3, 2021
Well, why wouldn’t you enjoy a book set in the sunny coastal Spain while being stuck inside on a snowy wintery day miles and seemingly worlds away. Actually, there’s probably many possible reasons, but fortunately this book provided none of those. It was pretty fun through and through.
Daniella Coulstoun doesn’t just leave the rainy Scotland and comes to Spain for fun and sun like the rest of the English emigres comprising some of the local community, she comes to bury her long estranged mother, who dropped dead in a middle of a con job at the ripe old age of 78. Effie Coulstoun was a formidable woman in her community and not merely due to her generous proportions. She owned and operated a dive bar specifically for the less desirable social elements and was a boss of her own gang of expatriates named ExPatriots, who helped her build a scam that raked in 1.3 million euros. Now Effie’s dead, the money’s vanished and the ExPatriots are in panic. And the conned people are in outrage. And a local crime boss is…well, something. And their solution to it all is Daniella…who must sort out all this sordid legacy or her thirty one bones are in grave danger.
So it’s that sort of a book, heavy on crime, but light enough in tone with plenty of action and a dash of slapstick, but also quite excellent character writing. In fact, the ExPatriots are a fun bunch, an assortment of onceuponatimers long past their prime and desperate for a second chance. Used, abused and exploited by Effie gladly in exchange for a place to belong and a promise of ash to fund their past expiration date dreams. And the star of the show is definitely Daniella, who’s tough, smart, able, doesn’t take crap from anybody and doesn’t back down and basically very much the opposite of a damsel in distress in all the right ways. Many kudos to the author, Gordon Brown, whoever he is, this is my first time reading him, writing under a peculiarly chosen pseudonym (Cry? really? why?) for creating a genuinely great female lead, frankly an improvement on a lot of women written by women.
And there you go, a perfectly entertaining crime tale set in a perfectly excellent locale and featuring considerably superior writing than that this sort of thing might normally get away with and an excellent protagonist. One that seems poised to get a series out of it.
Make no bones about it, this is a quick fun read and a lovely armchair trip to Spanish coast among other things. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
Daniella Coulstoun doesn’t just leave the rainy Scotland and comes to Spain for fun and sun like the rest of the English emigres comprising some of the local community, she comes to bury her long estranged mother, who dropped dead in a middle of a con job at the ripe old age of 78. Effie Coulstoun was a formidable woman in her community and not merely due to her generous proportions. She owned and operated a dive bar specifically for the less desirable social elements and was a boss of her own gang of expatriates named ExPatriots, who helped her build a scam that raked in 1.3 million euros. Now Effie’s dead, the money’s vanished and the ExPatriots are in panic. And the conned people are in outrage. And a local crime boss is…well, something. And their solution to it all is Daniella…who must sort out all this sordid legacy or her thirty one bones are in grave danger.
So it’s that sort of a book, heavy on crime, but light enough in tone with plenty of action and a dash of slapstick, but also quite excellent character writing. In fact, the ExPatriots are a fun bunch, an assortment of onceuponatimers long past their prime and desperate for a second chance. Used, abused and exploited by Effie gladly in exchange for a place to belong and a promise of ash to fund their past expiration date dreams. And the star of the show is definitely Daniella, who’s tough, smart, able, doesn’t take crap from anybody and doesn’t back down and basically very much the opposite of a damsel in distress in all the right ways. Many kudos to the author, Gordon Brown, whoever he is, this is my first time reading him, writing under a peculiarly chosen pseudonym (Cry? really? why?) for creating a genuinely great female lead, frankly an improvement on a lot of women written by women.
And there you go, a perfectly entertaining crime tale set in a perfectly excellent locale and featuring considerably superior writing than that this sort of thing might normally get away with and an excellent protagonist. One that seems poised to get a series out of it.
Make no bones about it, this is a quick fun read and a lovely armchair trip to Spanish coast among other things. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
January 15, 2021
Stumbled across this book after Christopher Brookmyre mentioned it on Twitter, and it was an unexpected joy to read. The style and quality of writing is excellent through-out and I’d happily recommend this book if you’re a fan of writers like Christopher Brookmyre, Colin Bateman or Caimh McDonnell.
The book starts with the passing of one Effie Coulston in her bar in Spain, and the follows the arrival of her estranged daughter, Daniella as she arrives from Scotland to unravel her mothers many and various affairs.
In doing this we get to meet the dodgy cast of characters who frequent the bar, and go through the process of finding a bunch of fraudulently obtained 1.3m Euros in cash that seems to have disappeared when Effie died.
There’s a great dry humour woven through the writing, and the characters are colourful, but very believable. It cracks along at a decent pace and the dialogue is spot on. And, you genuinely don’t really know what the “real” story is and where it will end until the end, awhere it wraps up the story neatly and satisfyingly.
The characters are probably the stand-out and what makes this book work so well, and could easily reappear in a sequel.
The book starts with the passing of one Effie Coulston in her bar in Spain, and the follows the arrival of her estranged daughter, Daniella as she arrives from Scotland to unravel her mothers many and various affairs.
In doing this we get to meet the dodgy cast of characters who frequent the bar, and go through the process of finding a bunch of fraudulently obtained 1.3m Euros in cash that seems to have disappeared when Effie died.
There’s a great dry humour woven through the writing, and the characters are colourful, but very believable. It cracks along at a decent pace and the dialogue is spot on. And, you genuinely don’t really know what the “real” story is and where it will end until the end, awhere it wraps up the story neatly and satisfyingly.
The characters are probably the stand-out and what makes this book work so well, and could easily reappear in a sequel.
April 17, 2023
I tak i nie. Dość długo zajęło mi zaangażowanie się w tą historię, z początku w ogóle mi się nie podobała, ale miała w sobie coś takiego, co pchało mnie na przód. Tylko nie wiedziałam, czy to chęć poznania dalszej historii, czy jak najszybszego jej zakończenia. Ostatecznie wyszło jednak na korzyść ciekawości - zwłaszcza ta końcóweczka, która aż się prosi, żeby od razu sięgnąć po drugi tom i dowiedzieć się, jak było naprawdę.
Nie zgodzę się jednak z tym, że to zbrodnia, od której nawet w najgorętsze lato przeszyje cię zimny dreszcz, jak krzyczy okładka - nic takiego tu nie znalazłam. A przyznaję, że po tytule miałam jakieś oczekiwania. Bardziej mi to przypominało poszukiwanie skarbów z morderstwem w tle - nie na to się pisałam, ale całkiem fajnie wyszło. I nie zapamiętałam lokalizacji - opisana w taki sposób, że mogłoby się to dziać absolutnie wszędzie.
Nie zgodzę się jednak z tym, że to zbrodnia, od której nawet w najgorętsze lato przeszyje cię zimny dreszcz, jak krzyczy okładka - nic takiego tu nie znalazłam. A przyznaję, że po tytule miałam jakieś oczekiwania. Bardziej mi to przypominało poszukiwanie skarbów z morderstwem w tle - nie na to się pisałam, ale całkiem fajnie wyszło. I nie zapamiętałam lokalizacji - opisana w taki sposób, że mogłoby się to dziać absolutnie wszędzie.
April 19, 2021
Finished reading: April 18th 2021
"In my world, everyone is on the con. Full stop. And the key is to stay in control."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 8, 2020
Terrific read!
This is an engaging tale which spins the reader in circles as poor Danielle tries to make sense of her deceased mother’s life in sunny Spain. From scams to tunnels to saggy beds you can’t put it down till you know where it’s going. And then it suddenly flips off again in another clever direction. A breathy ride with colourful well-drawn characters! More please....
This is an engaging tale which spins the reader in circles as poor Danielle tries to make sense of her deceased mother’s life in sunny Spain. From scams to tunnels to saggy beds you can’t put it down till you know where it’s going. And then it suddenly flips off again in another clever direction. A breathy ride with colourful well-drawn characters! More please....
June 19, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
This book was billed as sort of a Carl Hiaasen-noir-sunny Spain mystery. Yet again, if this book was supposed to be funny, I didn't get it.
My understanding is that the author usually writes tartan-noir, but is branching out with a different feel and a different name here. The main character is a female insurance adjuster who's been estranged from her mom for years. Mom has become an ex-pat in Spain and has recently died, and daughter travels to podunk Spanish town to settle mom's affairs. Turns out, mom had her finger in a lot of pies, was involved in a very shady land deal, and had ties to the local mob. The title comes from an enforcer who threatens to break "thirty-one bones" in Daniella's body if she doesn't give up some information. Why thirty-one? Why not thirty??? That's the question, and I guess that's funny. The sad sketches of the losers who mom had associated with were also supposed to be funny, I guess. I found the whole thing depressing and tawdry. Basically the ideas is that a lot of would-be cons are getting conned themselves. Not even any Spain travel-porn. Maybe if it had been a quick hour of TV I would have enjoyed it more, but written humor is difficult and this one wasn't for me at all.
This book was billed as sort of a Carl Hiaasen-noir-sunny Spain mystery. Yet again, if this book was supposed to be funny, I didn't get it.
My understanding is that the author usually writes tartan-noir, but is branching out with a different feel and a different name here. The main character is a female insurance adjuster who's been estranged from her mom for years. Mom has become an ex-pat in Spain and has recently died, and daughter travels to podunk Spanish town to settle mom's affairs. Turns out, mom had her finger in a lot of pies, was involved in a very shady land deal, and had ties to the local mob. The title comes from an enforcer who threatens to break "thirty-one bones" in Daniella's body if she doesn't give up some information. Why thirty-one? Why not thirty??? That's the question, and I guess that's funny. The sad sketches of the losers who mom had associated with were also supposed to be funny, I guess. I found the whole thing depressing and tawdry. Basically the ideas is that a lot of would-be cons are getting conned themselves. Not even any Spain travel-porn. Maybe if it had been a quick hour of TV I would have enjoyed it more, but written humor is difficult and this one wasn't for me at all.
July 8, 2020
This is a new book from Author Gordon Brown penned under the Alias of Morgan Cry and is a very different read from his other books.
Effie Coulston is an ageing bar owner and business woman out in a small town in the Spanish Costa’s. When she drops dead in the middle of a business meeting, she leaves a serious problem for daughter Daniella, when she arrives from Scotland to sort out her estranged mothers affairs.
Daniella soon finds her self mixed up in a world of trouble when a group of ex pats who drink in Effie’s bar, Se Busca, start demanding millions of Euros from her. Effie was the head of a property scam with them and she was holding all the cash...and they want it back.
Problem is it’s nowhere to be found.
With threats on her life, a Spanish detective on her tail, and a group of the dodgiest people you could set eyes on, not forgetting a big time Gangster, Daniella is in a world of hurt with no apparent way out but to find the cash and fast.
I absolutely loved this book. Se Busca took me back to some dodgy bars In Benidorm or Malaga, sat there escaping the sun with a watered down pint of Carlsberg just taking in the eccentric range of customers. This is what you get in Se Busca.
It’s a fast paced, entertaining and very humorous tale with a wickedly good plot whilst also an absolutely top notch and absorbing crime thriller with deeply menacing undertones.
A book that really feels like an author enjoying himself and at the top of his game. It’s that good.
A darkly comic tale of a criminal escapade in the Spanish sun with some deviously created reprobate ex pats.
One of my favourite reads of this year by far and hopefully the beginning of a series involving this group of brilliantly crafted deviants.
5🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Effie Coulston is an ageing bar owner and business woman out in a small town in the Spanish Costa’s. When she drops dead in the middle of a business meeting, she leaves a serious problem for daughter Daniella, when she arrives from Scotland to sort out her estranged mothers affairs.
Daniella soon finds her self mixed up in a world of trouble when a group of ex pats who drink in Effie’s bar, Se Busca, start demanding millions of Euros from her. Effie was the head of a property scam with them and she was holding all the cash...and they want it back.
Problem is it’s nowhere to be found.
With threats on her life, a Spanish detective on her tail, and a group of the dodgiest people you could set eyes on, not forgetting a big time Gangster, Daniella is in a world of hurt with no apparent way out but to find the cash and fast.
I absolutely loved this book. Se Busca took me back to some dodgy bars In Benidorm or Malaga, sat there escaping the sun with a watered down pint of Carlsberg just taking in the eccentric range of customers. This is what you get in Se Busca.
It’s a fast paced, entertaining and very humorous tale with a wickedly good plot whilst also an absolutely top notch and absorbing crime thriller with deeply menacing undertones.
A book that really feels like an author enjoying himself and at the top of his game. It’s that good.
A darkly comic tale of a criminal escapade in the Spanish sun with some deviously created reprobate ex pats.
One of my favourite reads of this year by far and hopefully the beginning of a series involving this group of brilliantly crafted deviants.
5🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
July 20, 2021
A funny, clever mystery, but not quite funny enough. Effie Coulstoun owned a bar in Spain. She died from an apparent heart attack, and her estranged daughter Daniella goes to Spain for the funeral. Effie's bar has a group of regulars unofficially known as the "Ex-Patriots." They were all involved in a real estate scam with Effie. The scam was starting to unravel just before Effie died. She died without telling her fellow scammers or her daughter where the money was. Everyone wants a piece of the roughly 1.3 million Euros. It's everybody for himself! As the newest member of the group and the one who knows the least, Daniella ends up being "It." The others expect her to find the money and give it to them. Realistically, there is only enough money for one or two of them. Each one sees the money as a way to fund a stalled dream. The crew includes twins who used to model, a race car driver who is such a bad driver that he can't drive a regular car, a disbarred attorney, an alcoholic accountant, and a few other failures. They spend most of the book threatening each other and being threatened by a gangster and his muscle. The thirty-one bones in the title refers to the number of bones the hired-out muscle is supposed to break if Daniella won't cooperate.
August 14, 2021
This was such a fun read for my week. If you like Guy Ritchie movies, 31 bones is for you. I swear as I was reading it I felt like I was reading a Guy Ritchie movie. From a bedraggled rag tag British gang of hooligan “criminals” and the innocent girl who must wrangle them all. another great aspect of the book is the setting and scenery. The author placed a group of British Ex-Pats together on a remote vacation island in Spain. The setting adds to the misfit vibe that trails the entire plot of the book. I also really liked how carefully the story was crafted. We are walked through a scheme that is so complicated you’re almost befuddled yourself. But, if you read slowly and pay attention things really don’t seem as complicated. This is a must read for anyone who really enjoys a cheeky crime fiction novel. Heavy on the bad guys, very light on the cops.
May 20, 2022
Clever concept, clever mystery! I would classify this as a cozy mystery so if that’s your jam you may love this one. Maybe my humor doesn’t match up with the authors but I thought this would be funnier. Although the cast of characters are quirky and eccentric and charming. And what better month than Mother’s Day month to read and review a book that starts out with a tough old bird mama dropping dead and leaving a big mess for her daughter to figure out! Thank you Netgalley, Skyhorse Publishing and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 31, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Again, a book from my mystery novel subscription which I would not have picked up myself but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not always politically correct and I thought I would tire of 'It's complicated' by the end. But sometimes a long running joke can really just get right to the point and still tickle you at the 20th repetition. Passing it on to others to enjoy!
June 21, 2020
Daniella Coulston has travelled to Spain to bury her mother Effie who has died unexpectedly. They didn’t have a very close relationship, so she had no idea what she was walking into or why everyone was so hostile to her. When she discovers that Effie was up to her neck in a property scam and that a group of expats were looking to her to find the missing money, she is drawn into a situation that she is not prepared for.
I really loved this book and found that once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. The Ex-pats really where a motley crew of people that felt that the property scam was their last chance to make something of their lives so much so that they had totally relied of Effie to make sure that this happened. Daniella inherited both the bar with all its troubles and the very strange group of people that her mother had somehow seemed to convince that she was the answer to their problems. I have to say that none of the characters were particularly likable as they were all out for themselves and each one used their own underhand ways to try to get Daniella to hand over the money they were convinced she had access to, in fact one was not adverse to using the threat of violence against her with the aid of a local thug for hire. Whilst Daniella tried to work out who she could and couldn’t trust you can sense the desperation in all of them. Whilst they admit what they are doing is wrong, they just can’t see any other way. As each one tried their best to convince or blackmail Daniella into helping them you learn why they are there and what Effie had done for them in the past and promised them for the future.
Daniella was a little bit naïve and most certainly out of her depth. I did have to wonder why she didn’t just approach the police and tell them everything she knew about the group rather than joining forces with them, but it was after she grudgingly agreed to help that she somehow discovered her backbone and I began to like the inner feistiness that she displayed. It was also at this point that the book seemed to pick up pace and I found myself racing through it, desperate to know if they would find the money and what would happen to the group. We all occasionally wonder if we can find a better life in the sun, that life will be easier, and dreams will come true, even Daniella contemplated staying and taking on the bar but sometimes the fairy-tale turns into a nightmare as 31 Bones shows (although I do hope as an extreme)
This is the first book by Gordon Brown writing as Morgan Cry and even though I will admit I have not read any of his other work I am betting that it won't be the last one I pick up.
I really loved this book and found that once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. The Ex-pats really where a motley crew of people that felt that the property scam was their last chance to make something of their lives so much so that they had totally relied of Effie to make sure that this happened. Daniella inherited both the bar with all its troubles and the very strange group of people that her mother had somehow seemed to convince that she was the answer to their problems. I have to say that none of the characters were particularly likable as they were all out for themselves and each one used their own underhand ways to try to get Daniella to hand over the money they were convinced she had access to, in fact one was not adverse to using the threat of violence against her with the aid of a local thug for hire. Whilst Daniella tried to work out who she could and couldn’t trust you can sense the desperation in all of them. Whilst they admit what they are doing is wrong, they just can’t see any other way. As each one tried their best to convince or blackmail Daniella into helping them you learn why they are there and what Effie had done for them in the past and promised them for the future.
Daniella was a little bit naïve and most certainly out of her depth. I did have to wonder why she didn’t just approach the police and tell them everything she knew about the group rather than joining forces with them, but it was after she grudgingly agreed to help that she somehow discovered her backbone and I began to like the inner feistiness that she displayed. It was also at this point that the book seemed to pick up pace and I found myself racing through it, desperate to know if they would find the money and what would happen to the group. We all occasionally wonder if we can find a better life in the sun, that life will be easier, and dreams will come true, even Daniella contemplated staying and taking on the bar but sometimes the fairy-tale turns into a nightmare as 31 Bones shows (although I do hope as an extreme)
This is the first book by Gordon Brown writing as Morgan Cry and even though I will admit I have not read any of his other work I am betting that it won't be the last one I pick up.
May 23, 2021
For the full review: http://reviewthickandthin.com/2021/05...
Written by Morgan Cry, aka Gordon Brown, the book has scenic locations, interesting characters, and a strong plotline. Daniella and Effie are both strong female characters, albeit in very different ways. The story does a great job of capturing the conflicting emotions an ex-pat feels, including missing one's homeland and the pressure of succeeding in a different country.
The book keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. I especially enjoyed how the author introduces a character in a chapter and then follows it by their interrogation by the Policia Nacional. The story pivots on the words - "It's complicated.". You will have to read the book to find out more. After each complication, the story slowly unravels, and readers find themselves swept along with the characters on their journey.
Also, the book refers to "Drinking the Kool-Aid"- anyone interested in checking out the historical event related to it should look into it as well. I wasn't aware of the expression, and it was something new I learned. And as to why is the book titled "Thirty-One Bones" is a mystery of its own.
I give the book 4/5 stars. I wish it was a page-turner and had me completely engrossed. I total recommendation for readers who enjoy mysteries. Thank you, NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing, and Gordon Brown, for the DRC.
Written by Morgan Cry, aka Gordon Brown, the book has scenic locations, interesting characters, and a strong plotline. Daniella and Effie are both strong female characters, albeit in very different ways. The story does a great job of capturing the conflicting emotions an ex-pat feels, including missing one's homeland and the pressure of succeeding in a different country.
The book keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. I especially enjoyed how the author introduces a character in a chapter and then follows it by their interrogation by the Policia Nacional. The story pivots on the words - "It's complicated.". You will have to read the book to find out more. After each complication, the story slowly unravels, and readers find themselves swept along with the characters on their journey.
Also, the book refers to "Drinking the Kool-Aid"- anyone interested in checking out the historical event related to it should look into it as well. I wasn't aware of the expression, and it was something new I learned. And as to why is the book titled "Thirty-One Bones" is a mystery of its own.
I give the book 4/5 stars. I wish it was a page-turner and had me completely engrossed. I total recommendation for readers who enjoy mysteries. Thank you, NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing, and Gordon Brown, for the DRC.
May 23, 2021
Part mystery, part family drama, this novel takes us on a journey through Spain, searching for the truth and a few euros. I enjoyed the twists and turns, and the unexpected route the story took.
December 5, 2020
I love books set overseas that take you to different places and this book definitely did that, it had such a great sense of place to the extent that I actually felt I was there with the characters. Which brings me to the characters which are definitely a high point in this book, l loved Danielle but even more so the supporting cast of ex pat's in their various lovable guises. The book had lots of twists and turns and a very satisfying ending and I honestly cannot wait to read more.
May 14, 2021
Daniella has been estranged from her mother Effie for years. So she's surprised, really surprised, when she goes to Spain to bury her and discovers that not only has she inherited a bar, she's inherited a pile of problems because Effie has been running a scam. A scam which bilked a bunch of ex-pats of over one million euros. And the money is missing. Her mother's attorney George Laidlaw as well as others think she knows where it is. So do the police. This is a hoot in spots. Daniella's story is interrupted by snippets of police interviews with Effie's co-conspirators. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Loved the setting, loved the skewering of the ex-pat community, and rooted for Daniella.
June 28, 2021
Fantastic summer read and a great start to a promising series. There's nothing nastier than a drunk Englishman out in the Spanish sun up to no good, and this thriller is full of them. Fortunately our heroine Daniela Coulston is well up to the challenge of dealing with the assorted dodgy losers that her dear, damned, departed mum left to her, along with various messes to sort out. A fun, fast book that cheerfully dwells on how sordid the Anglo ex-pat lifestyle can be. Can we ask for the introduction of a few Spanish characters whose point of view on how these refugees from Blighty impact the natives would be welcome and would add some balance to the fast and furious tone. Still, snaps to Cry for creating a protagonist who just may be as dark and complicated as her mother's business deals, but with a welcome core of personal integrity and steel.
April 18, 2021
Thirty-One Bones by Morgan Cry (pseudonym for author Gordon Brown) is a highly recommended mystery.
Daniella Coulstoun travels to El Descaro on Spain Mediterranean coast to bury her deceased mother, Effie. The two have had a distant relationship for twenty years so Daniella has little knowledge or information about her mother's life in Spain. She knows Effie left Scotland when Daniella was sixteen to move to Spain where she owned and ran a pub, Se Busca. Se Busca was patronized by British expats and certain criminals, and apparently Effie was the leader of the group of misfits who called themselves Expatriots. What Daniella didn't know was that the ExPatriots had a money making scam going on and had conned would-be-investors out of 1.3 million euros. The money was to be divided between members of the group to give them a new start in life. Now Effie is dead and no one knows where the money went.
As soon as Daniella arrives in Spain, her mother's friend and ex-lawyer, George Laidlaw, is surly and confrontational with Daniella. He wants to know where the money is and he is holding Daniella culpable for recovering it, under a threat of violence. Daniella, of course, has no idea what he is talking about so she must uncover not only what he is talking about but try to figure out where her mother, whom she didn't have a close relationship with, would have hidden the money. Threats and cons seem to be coming from all sides and Daniella quickly realizes she can't really trust anyone and she must rely on her own wits to find the cash.
This crime novel is really more of a madcap scramble of uncovering clues and fraud while facing lunacy and threatening physical intimidation. Thirty-One Bones is surprising lighthearted and humorous at times, even when physical violence seems an obvious conclusion to Daniella's search for the truth - as when she is threatened with having thirty-one bones broken if she doesn't provide the information sought. Daniella is a well-written character and likeable, so readers will hope she uncovers the truth, while also, maybe finding a new place for herself in El Descaro. Cry (Brown) does a credible job writing this novel through Daniella's point-of-view.
The writing is excellent. The chapters mainly focus on Daniella's search. In-between these chapters are brief excerpts of a police interview of the various players in the con. Humorously, these chapters all end with someone replying to a question, "It's complicated." The plot starts out at an even pace and picks up speed as Daniella's investigation begins to follow clues and uncovers new information. The ending wraps everything up neatly, almost too neatly, but it seems appropriate for this clever novel of misfits in the sun.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/0...
Daniella Coulstoun travels to El Descaro on Spain Mediterranean coast to bury her deceased mother, Effie. The two have had a distant relationship for twenty years so Daniella has little knowledge or information about her mother's life in Spain. She knows Effie left Scotland when Daniella was sixteen to move to Spain where she owned and ran a pub, Se Busca. Se Busca was patronized by British expats and certain criminals, and apparently Effie was the leader of the group of misfits who called themselves Expatriots. What Daniella didn't know was that the ExPatriots had a money making scam going on and had conned would-be-investors out of 1.3 million euros. The money was to be divided between members of the group to give them a new start in life. Now Effie is dead and no one knows where the money went.
As soon as Daniella arrives in Spain, her mother's friend and ex-lawyer, George Laidlaw, is surly and confrontational with Daniella. He wants to know where the money is and he is holding Daniella culpable for recovering it, under a threat of violence. Daniella, of course, has no idea what he is talking about so she must uncover not only what he is talking about but try to figure out where her mother, whom she didn't have a close relationship with, would have hidden the money. Threats and cons seem to be coming from all sides and Daniella quickly realizes she can't really trust anyone and she must rely on her own wits to find the cash.
This crime novel is really more of a madcap scramble of uncovering clues and fraud while facing lunacy and threatening physical intimidation. Thirty-One Bones is surprising lighthearted and humorous at times, even when physical violence seems an obvious conclusion to Daniella's search for the truth - as when she is threatened with having thirty-one bones broken if she doesn't provide the information sought. Daniella is a well-written character and likeable, so readers will hope she uncovers the truth, while also, maybe finding a new place for herself in El Descaro. Cry (Brown) does a credible job writing this novel through Daniella's point-of-view.
The writing is excellent. The chapters mainly focus on Daniella's search. In-between these chapters are brief excerpts of a police interview of the various players in the con. Humorously, these chapters all end with someone replying to a question, "It's complicated." The plot starts out at an even pace and picks up speed as Daniella's investigation begins to follow clues and uncovers new information. The ending wraps everything up neatly, almost too neatly, but it seems appropriate for this clever novel of misfits in the sun.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/0...
November 19, 2025
DNF page 50. I couldn't get into this book.
July 13, 2020
But my reading mojo is back and Thirty-One Bones played a huge part in that. I was able to lose myself in this book as it had an engaging story, a tight cast of characters and an underdog I could get behind and will to succeed. For the first time in weeks I had a story I wanted to keep reading.
It starts so well – Effie is in her element, she is in her rundown Spanish bar, she is mid-con as her silver tongued sales pitch is about to scam a potential investor out of €20,000. Before she can seal the deal one of her previous victims bursts into the bar demanding his money back as he has realised he was conned. The situation is getting out of hand but Effie is feeling bad and not because she has been caught out. Before she can seek assistance she suffers a massive heart attack and all her problems are dumped into the lap of her estranged daughter Daniella.
Not that Daniella knows this yet. She is several hundred miles away working in a call centre on a zero hours contract, Effie’s Spanish legacy is an unknown complication which Daniella will soon have to contend with. As are drunks, crooks, enforcers and the Spanish police – all because there is over €1 million missing and lots of people (that Daniella has never even met) believe she can find the cash.
One of the strengths of Thirty-One Bones is that the locations are brilliantly described. From the opening pages with Effie to the arrival of Daniella and her attempts to familiarise herself with her new surroundings, I felt like I was there under that warm Southern sun.
Once I was immersed in the locale I was able to enjoy Daniella’s predicaments. Her mother was an influential player in a circle of undesirable ex-pats. She provided the bar they frequented and her rules gave them the flexibility to indulge their worst behaviours – to a point. Daniella has large shoes to fill but it is not clear she wants that responsibility or that her new found authority will be accepted.
Arriving in Spain with the sole intention of burying her mother and wrapping up her affairs, Danila finds she becomes inextricably drawn into her mother’s ventures. Any hope Daniella may have had of walking away from the toxic legacy are dashed when she faces the prospect of having to choose between violence (I refer to the book title) or potential imprisonment. Daniella has to be smart and keep one step ahead of everyone else.
Thirty-One Bones is a joy to read. Daniella is the likeable hero. The bad guys are nasty, unpleasant, stupid or drunk and none of them can be trusted. There is a prize to be found but a ticking clock and a persistent policeman brings a sense of urgency to proceedings. Time is running out for Daniella and you need to read this book to find out how she copes.
It starts so well – Effie is in her element, she is in her rundown Spanish bar, she is mid-con as her silver tongued sales pitch is about to scam a potential investor out of €20,000. Before she can seal the deal one of her previous victims bursts into the bar demanding his money back as he has realised he was conned. The situation is getting out of hand but Effie is feeling bad and not because she has been caught out. Before she can seek assistance she suffers a massive heart attack and all her problems are dumped into the lap of her estranged daughter Daniella.
Not that Daniella knows this yet. She is several hundred miles away working in a call centre on a zero hours contract, Effie’s Spanish legacy is an unknown complication which Daniella will soon have to contend with. As are drunks, crooks, enforcers and the Spanish police – all because there is over €1 million missing and lots of people (that Daniella has never even met) believe she can find the cash.
One of the strengths of Thirty-One Bones is that the locations are brilliantly described. From the opening pages with Effie to the arrival of Daniella and her attempts to familiarise herself with her new surroundings, I felt like I was there under that warm Southern sun.
Once I was immersed in the locale I was able to enjoy Daniella’s predicaments. Her mother was an influential player in a circle of undesirable ex-pats. She provided the bar they frequented and her rules gave them the flexibility to indulge their worst behaviours – to a point. Daniella has large shoes to fill but it is not clear she wants that responsibility or that her new found authority will be accepted.
Arriving in Spain with the sole intention of burying her mother and wrapping up her affairs, Danila finds she becomes inextricably drawn into her mother’s ventures. Any hope Daniella may have had of walking away from the toxic legacy are dashed when she faces the prospect of having to choose between violence (I refer to the book title) or potential imprisonment. Daniella has to be smart and keep one step ahead of everyone else.
Thirty-One Bones is a joy to read. Daniella is the likeable hero. The bad guys are nasty, unpleasant, stupid or drunk and none of them can be trusted. There is a prize to be found but a ticking clock and a persistent policeman brings a sense of urgency to proceedings. Time is running out for Daniella and you need to read this book to find out how she copes.
July 9, 2020
Daniella Coulston hasn't seen her mum much in the last wee while, but when Effie dies suddenly in the Spanish town where she lives. Daniella flies out for the funeral and to sort out her mother's will. She's taken a week off from her insurance firm job and has already booked her budget return flight. But things aren't quite that simple. In fact, the whole situation is, well,... it's complicated.
It turns out that Effie had a personality to match her size - large - and had attracted a ragtag bunch of ex-pats into her circle over the years. And they had this sweet little con running until Effie died. The ex-pats need to take the cash and run before the swindled investors come after them. Except the money is missing...
The is a really enjoyable and fast paced read. The scene setting is wonderful. The cafe tables sitting in the sunshine made me want to escape on holiday, especially after the few months we've had! And the sunny town square contrasted beautifully with the dingy interior of Effie's pub and the layer of dust settling in her flat.
The characters are larger than life and so well drawn, and whilst it's hard to like some of them, it's hard to dislike them either - they've all got a wee something about them. George is a bad sort - likes to come over that way anyway - and I was particularly conflicted about Zia throughout most of the book. Loved Clyde and Señor Cholbi. And Daniella. Loved her too. After being completely thrown by the things she finds out about her mum, she draws a breath and finds her feet. And shows that she's no fool, but she's on a time limit to solve the problem with pressure from investors, questions from the police, intimidation from a heavy and a very particular threat of violence.
This book is far more fun than it has any right to be! The police interviews made me laugh, as did some of the exchanges between Daniella and the ex-pats. And Cry has a great turn of phrase - I particularly enjoyed the man 'who oozed fat into my (Daniella's) space for the entire flight' and the reference to a good old 'taps-aff' day. But there are moments of real poignancy too.
This is a thoroughly entertaining crime caper - a race against time in a fabulous setting, populated by a colourful cast and an engaging, smart protagonist. I absolutely loved it and look forward to reading more from Cry.
It turns out that Effie had a personality to match her size - large - and had attracted a ragtag bunch of ex-pats into her circle over the years. And they had this sweet little con running until Effie died. The ex-pats need to take the cash and run before the swindled investors come after them. Except the money is missing...
The is a really enjoyable and fast paced read. The scene setting is wonderful. The cafe tables sitting in the sunshine made me want to escape on holiday, especially after the few months we've had! And the sunny town square contrasted beautifully with the dingy interior of Effie's pub and the layer of dust settling in her flat.
The characters are larger than life and so well drawn, and whilst it's hard to like some of them, it's hard to dislike them either - they've all got a wee something about them. George is a bad sort - likes to come over that way anyway - and I was particularly conflicted about Zia throughout most of the book. Loved Clyde and Señor Cholbi. And Daniella. Loved her too. After being completely thrown by the things she finds out about her mum, she draws a breath and finds her feet. And shows that she's no fool, but she's on a time limit to solve the problem with pressure from investors, questions from the police, intimidation from a heavy and a very particular threat of violence.
This book is far more fun than it has any right to be! The police interviews made me laugh, as did some of the exchanges between Daniella and the ex-pats. And Cry has a great turn of phrase - I particularly enjoyed the man 'who oozed fat into my (Daniella's) space for the entire flight' and the reference to a good old 'taps-aff' day. But there are moments of real poignancy too.
This is a thoroughly entertaining crime caper - a race against time in a fabulous setting, populated by a colourful cast and an engaging, smart protagonist. I absolutely loved it and look forward to reading more from Cry.
September 5, 2022
I was so surprised by this book! It gave me cozy British mystery vibes and the style reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel. The unique cast of characters and many twists kept me hooked - hoping there’s a sequel!
August 24, 2020
Morgan Cry is an alias for crime writer Gordon Brown, but Thirty-One Bones is a distinct departure from his previous books – a new setting, in Spain, and a new central character in Daniella Coulstoun.
We begin in a bar in a small coastal town in Spain, Se Busca, owned by Effie, who has just persuaded a young man called Paul to invest 20,000 euros into a property scheme that is entirely a scam, when in walks Simon, an aggrieved investor who has figured out what he put his money into and now wants it back. Effie has no intention of that happening – and Simon will struggle even harder to retrieve his cash after Effie drops off her barstool with a massive heart attack, dead by the time she hits the overdue-for-a-polish wood floor.
Her estranged daughter, Daniella, arrives from Glasgow for the funeral to a welcome from George Laidlaw – Effie’s friend, a dodgy lawyer and fellow property scammer – that is less than sympathetic. As Daniella struggles to process her grief and mixed feelings about her mother, she could really do without George’s anger about missing money - 1.3 million euros! - that she didn’t even know existed. The peculiarities continue as she talks to a Spanish lawyer about her mother’s affairs, and tries to get a handle on what exactly is going on with George and the group of expats that are permanent fixtures in Effie’s bar.
Meanwhile, Daniella discovers she need to learn how to run a pub literally overnight, from paying the cleaner to paying off the boss of the local protection racket. Not what you’d call natural territory for an insurance firm call centre operative – but what is natural territory for her is spotting when someone is trying to con or manipulate her, which comes in very useful when dealing with those hunting the money. Does it turn up in the end? I couldn't possibly say...
I’ve never been to Spain, but the pages of Thirty-One Bones are steeped in sunshine and the sights and sounds of the town of El Descaro and took me away from a chilly Edinburgh for a while - it's a trip to another country without the need for quarantine when you’re finished.
We begin in a bar in a small coastal town in Spain, Se Busca, owned by Effie, who has just persuaded a young man called Paul to invest 20,000 euros into a property scheme that is entirely a scam, when in walks Simon, an aggrieved investor who has figured out what he put his money into and now wants it back. Effie has no intention of that happening – and Simon will struggle even harder to retrieve his cash after Effie drops off her barstool with a massive heart attack, dead by the time she hits the overdue-for-a-polish wood floor.
Her estranged daughter, Daniella, arrives from Glasgow for the funeral to a welcome from George Laidlaw – Effie’s friend, a dodgy lawyer and fellow property scammer – that is less than sympathetic. As Daniella struggles to process her grief and mixed feelings about her mother, she could really do without George’s anger about missing money - 1.3 million euros! - that she didn’t even know existed. The peculiarities continue as she talks to a Spanish lawyer about her mother’s affairs, and tries to get a handle on what exactly is going on with George and the group of expats that are permanent fixtures in Effie’s bar.
Meanwhile, Daniella discovers she need to learn how to run a pub literally overnight, from paying the cleaner to paying off the boss of the local protection racket. Not what you’d call natural territory for an insurance firm call centre operative – but what is natural territory for her is spotting when someone is trying to con or manipulate her, which comes in very useful when dealing with those hunting the money. Does it turn up in the end? I couldn't possibly say...
I’ve never been to Spain, but the pages of Thirty-One Bones are steeped in sunshine and the sights and sounds of the town of El Descaro and took me away from a chilly Edinburgh for a while - it's a trip to another country without the need for quarantine when you’re finished.
June 24, 2021
Simple, refreshing, fun caper set in the Spanish sun and its underworlds. A satisfying COVID-restricted summer escape.
March 1, 2021
Scottish Writer Gordon Brown (Morgan Cry) has given us with "Thirty-one bones" a magnificent and hilarious crime caper that had me in stiches from start to finish.
It's 2019 and the story takes place in El Descaro, a fictional resort town reminiscent of that urban eyesore called Benidorm on the Costa Blanca, 20 minutes north of Alicante (Spain)
Effie Coulstoun, a 80 year old British expatriate and pub owner drops dead from a heart attack after popping one too many ecstasys. Effie is also one of the masterminds behind a rather idiotic property scam put together in order to fleece incredulous suckers (investors) out of 20.000€ each. Think about the moronic plot of "The Producers" and you will get the gist of the swindle.
Unfortunately, Effie, the Queen Bee in the plot, has died without telling her associates (6 morons who are all a wheel short of a full set) where they could find the 1.3 millions euros they were supposed to split between themselves before taking a powder out of Spain.
Then Daniella, Effie's estranged daughter arrives from Glasgow in order to bury her morher and tidy up her affairs.....
Well as you can easily imagine nothing won't go smoothly, mayhem will ensue and everyone will go totally bonkers....
Brown has written a very funny crime comedy where he perfectly describes the type of lowlife European expatriates that can easily be found overhere in Spain especially around Alicante, Marbella and Ibiza, unable to go back where their come from and never able to fully embrace the place or places they have chosen to reside in.
This is a very entertaining novel, with perfect dialogues and unbelievable characters!
Go ahead and read it, you won't be disappointed and you will laugh a lot! I guarantee it👍👍
Many thanks to Netgalley and Arcade for the opportunity to read this very funny novel prior to its release date
It's 2019 and the story takes place in El Descaro, a fictional resort town reminiscent of that urban eyesore called Benidorm on the Costa Blanca, 20 minutes north of Alicante (Spain)
Effie Coulstoun, a 80 year old British expatriate and pub owner drops dead from a heart attack after popping one too many ecstasys. Effie is also one of the masterminds behind a rather idiotic property scam put together in order to fleece incredulous suckers (investors) out of 20.000€ each. Think about the moronic plot of "The Producers" and you will get the gist of the swindle.
Unfortunately, Effie, the Queen Bee in the plot, has died without telling her associates (6 morons who are all a wheel short of a full set) where they could find the 1.3 millions euros they were supposed to split between themselves before taking a powder out of Spain.
Then Daniella, Effie's estranged daughter arrives from Glasgow in order to bury her morher and tidy up her affairs.....
Well as you can easily imagine nothing won't go smoothly, mayhem will ensue and everyone will go totally bonkers....
Brown has written a very funny crime comedy where he perfectly describes the type of lowlife European expatriates that can easily be found overhere in Spain especially around Alicante, Marbella and Ibiza, unable to go back where their come from and never able to fully embrace the place or places they have chosen to reside in.
This is a very entertaining novel, with perfect dialogues and unbelievable characters!
Go ahead and read it, you won't be disappointed and you will laugh a lot! I guarantee it👍👍
Many thanks to Netgalley and Arcade for the opportunity to read this very funny novel prior to its release date
January 28, 2021
Thanks you Net valley and Skyhorse Publishing for the eARC.
What a fun ride this book is! A great group of characters, a warm, lovely setting (Costa del Sol!), a feisty, appealing lead character and the mystery of 1.3 million hidden Euros make this a unputdownable read.
When her mother dies of a heart attack (or was it murder?) in her bar, Daniella has to leave Scotland for the funeral and ends up meeting her mother's 'friends', a motley group of ex-pats who are basically losers. They're all broke and determined to get their share of the money Effie conned out of hapless investors.
With the help of her lawyer and many twisty, dangerous incidents, feisty Daniella survives by the skin of her teeth and manages to set things right at the satisfying ending. Definitely recommended!
What a fun ride this book is! A great group of characters, a warm, lovely setting (Costa del Sol!), a feisty, appealing lead character and the mystery of 1.3 million hidden Euros make this a unputdownable read.
When her mother dies of a heart attack (or was it murder?) in her bar, Daniella has to leave Scotland for the funeral and ends up meeting her mother's 'friends', a motley group of ex-pats who are basically losers. They're all broke and determined to get their share of the money Effie conned out of hapless investors.
With the help of her lawyer and many twisty, dangerous incidents, feisty Daniella survives by the skin of her teeth and manages to set things right at the satisfying ending. Definitely recommended!
February 20, 2021
I loved this delightful mystery. The setting in a coastal town in Spain was an excellent break from my current real world surrounding. The cast of characters were very quirky but not trite or formulaic. I finished the book in just 2 days which is a bit rare for me, but the story just kept going and it was so easy to just ignore the world until I finished it. And, while I thought I knew where the money was the whole time, I was wrong. And it’s nice to to read something that can still surprise me these days! It seems like everything has become pretty repetitive and Daniella had an adventure unlike any other. Thank you #NetGalley for the arc copy of this book.
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