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Highlands & Islands Detective #9
The Numerous Deaths of Santa Claus
A dead Santa Claus in a garden centre grotto. Underground fighting in the dark corners of the Highlands. Can Macleod and McGrath discover who is dispatching the strongmen of the ring in such a festive fashion?
With Hope McGrath struggling to regain her confidence after a disfiguring injury, Macleod must encourage his protegee as they seek to discover the link between Grotto strangulations and an underground fighting promotion. But as the snow starts to fall and Yuletide celebrations turn sour, Macleod must look beyond the lights and fanciful characters to find the real murderer in their midst.
Ho-Ho-Ho! This time, Santa better watch out!
With Hope McGrath struggling to regain her confidence after a disfiguring injury, Macleod must encourage his protegee as they seek to discover the link between Grotto strangulations and an underground fighting promotion. But as the snow starts to fall and Yuletide celebrations turn sour, Macleod must look beyond the lights and fanciful characters to find the real murderer in their midst.
Ho-Ho-Ho! This time, Santa better watch out!
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2020
89 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 10, 2022
This story is set in the north of Scotland near Inverness, but the author says is quick to say that the city has been used as an inspirational canvas and not to be confused with "actual buildings and structures".
In the previous case Hope McGrath was severely burned on the face by boiling oil and McLeod's partner Jane, already injured in a hit and run accident, was threatened by a maniac but was saved by McGrath. McGrath is very conscious of her disfigurement and believes everyone is looking at her.
In this case the team is called to a garden centre where a Santa has been killed. But the nature of the killing is unusual - he has been suffocated in a wrestling hold, and this discovery leads to a secondary case. It leads to DC Kirsten Stewart working undercover and also being put in danger.
I am really enjoying this series. The plots are inventive, sometimes at the bounds of credibility, but the exploration of the relationships between the main characters is very good.
In the previous case Hope McGrath was severely burned on the face by boiling oil and McLeod's partner Jane, already injured in a hit and run accident, was threatened by a maniac but was saved by McGrath. McGrath is very conscious of her disfigurement and believes everyone is looking at her.
In this case the team is called to a garden centre where a Santa has been killed. But the nature of the killing is unusual - he has been suffocated in a wrestling hold, and this discovery leads to a secondary case. It leads to DC Kirsten Stewart working undercover and also being put in danger.
I am really enjoying this series. The plots are inventive, sometimes at the bounds of credibility, but the exploration of the relationships between the main characters is very good.
March 30, 2022
After being called to a dead Santa Claus in his grotto McLeod finds himself thigh deep in MMA fighting, drugs, more dead Santa's and, very appropriately given when I read this, a possible connection to some very rich, and nasty, Russians.
A great book, albeit with a rather nasty tone to it given the subject matter, which finishes with those who had their self esteem dented by events in previous books apparently back to normal at last, just in time for a happy Christmas and the new year.
An excellent addition to this series of books, a series which is well worth reading as a series but can also be enjoyed in bits and pieces (and I tend to read the books out of order myself). Highly recommended.
A great book, albeit with a rather nasty tone to it given the subject matter, which finishes with those who had their self esteem dented by events in previous books apparently back to normal at last, just in time for a happy Christmas and the new year.
An excellent addition to this series of books, a series which is well worth reading as a series but can also be enjoyed in bits and pieces (and I tend to read the books out of order myself). Highly recommended.
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June 25, 2021A dead Santa Claus in a garden centre grotto. Underground fighting in the dark corners of the Highlands. Can Macleod and McGrath discover who is dispatching the strongmen of the ring in such a festive fashion?
With Hope McGrath struggling to regain her confidence after a disfiguring injury, Macleod must encourage his protegee as they seek to discover the link between Grotto strangulations and an underground fighting promotion. But as the snow starts to fall and Yuletide celebrations turn sour, Macleod must look beyond the lights and fanciful characters to find the real murderer in their midst.
Ho-Ho-Ho! This time, Santa better watch out! (less).
Series better earlier. Getting gory
With Hope McGrath struggling to regain her confidence after a disfiguring injury, Macleod must encourage his protegee as they seek to discover the link between Grotto strangulations and an underground fighting promotion. But as the snow starts to fall and Yuletide celebrations turn sour, Macleod must look beyond the lights and fanciful characters to find the real murderer in their midst.
Ho-Ho-Ho! This time, Santa better watch out! (less).
Series better earlier. Getting gory
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
Again, the main interest is the character development as Souras and Hope struggle with their demons while keeping communities safe. This time the danger comes from networks organising blood sports for entertainment. Is this a convoluted plot stretch - or is such evil and corruption loose in the Highlands and Islands? I’m not quite convinced, but it certainly makes for a powerful context in which detectives need to work out both what’s going on, who they are and what support means.
I’m giving this one about 3.9 stars - the convoluted and credibility-straining plot shaved a bit off.
I’m giving this one about 3.9 stars - the convoluted and credibility-straining plot shaved a bit off.
July 12, 2021
Brilliant
These books just keep getting better. A roller coaster of a ride with heart in your mouth moments then some humour but a very satisfying read
These books just keep getting better. A roller coaster of a ride with heart in your mouth moments then some humour but a very satisfying read
March 11, 2024
Riveting read
Kept me reading on and on story was fast moving and ex using to read another good tale looking forward to the next in the series
Kept me reading on and on story was fast moving and ex using to read another good tale looking forward to the next in the series
June 23, 2025
Another great MacLeod and McGrath story
December 11, 2022
Good ish start but I just didn’t care who did it by half way and gave up!
October 15, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as usual excellent story line couldn’t bring myself to put it down
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews