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DCI Daley #9
For Any Other Truth
When a light aircraft crash-lands at Machrie airport, DCI Jim Daley and his colleague Brian Scott rush to the scene. But it soon becomes clear that both occupants of the plane were dead before take-off ...
Meanwhile in Kinloch, local fisherman Hamish is unwittingly dragged into danger when he witnesses something he shouldn't, and hotel manager Annie is beginning to suspect her new boss may not be as he first appeared.
And just as Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington thinks she has finally escaped the sins of her past, she finds herself caught in an even deadlier trap.
As the action spills across the sea to County Antrim - all under the scrutiny of the Security Service - the search is on for any other truth.
Meanwhile in Kinloch, local fisherman Hamish is unwittingly dragged into danger when he witnesses something he shouldn't, and hotel manager Annie is beginning to suspect her new boss may not be as he first appeared.
And just as Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington thinks she has finally escaped the sins of her past, she finds herself caught in an even deadlier trap.
As the action spills across the sea to County Antrim - all under the scrutiny of the Security Service - the search is on for any other truth.
416 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2021
87 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Denzil Meyrick
37 books538 followersDenzil Meyrick was a Scottish bestselling novelist. Prior to that, he served as a police officer with Strathclyde Police then a manager with Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll. Since 2012 Denzil Meyrick had worked as a writer of Scottish crime fiction novels. He was also an executive director of media production company Houses of Steel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
September 2, 2021
It is always a joy to return to Kinloch in Denzil Meyrick's Scottish crime series featuring DCI Jim Daley and ADI Brian Scott, and this is a terrific addition to the series, including the machinations of the security services with the return of Iolo Harris, extreme climate activists, Irish terrorists, and the shocking and tearful heartbreaking death of one of Kinloch's beloved characters. The County Hotel is being done up, the new chef has upgraded the menus, and Annie is now being recognised for her responsibilities in her new position as General Manager, but the new Canadian owner might not be the saviour she had first envisaged. With his wife, Liz, and his son away, Jim, with Brian, makes his way to Machrie Airport where a light aircraft has crashed, with 2 dead bodies in it. It comes as a surprise to learn that the dead men had been killed before the plane had taken off.
Elderly fisherman, Hamish, is out at sea on his boat checking his lobster pots when he is abducted by dangerous men, treated roughly and shackled in a shed, his disappearance of deep concern for the police and the local community. Brian and Ella's son, 25 year old Will, has turned up, pallid and lacklustre, having dropped out of university, a troubled young man causing serious concerns and worries for his parents. Detective Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington's life spins out of control as her haunted past, which she had mistakenly thought had been laid to rest, returns in the form of the nightmare that is Charles Chappell, along with another ruthless figure, Larry Bower. As information becomes hard to acquire, Daley finds himself relying on the likes of Nathan Sidley, an investigative journalist in search of an exclusive that will make his career.
Once again Meyrick expertly weaves several dark threads in a high suspense narrative that had me biting my nails, desperately worried about Hamish and whether he would survive the terrors he has inadvertently found himself enmeshed in. The book is partly set in Kinloch's close neighbour across the waters, Ballycastle in County Antrim, where Daley suspects the plane with its dead passengers had set off. The dark gritty themes, the smoke and mirrors used to obscure the truth, and the unbearable losses that occur, means the humour and comic touches are needed more than ever, and as so often, they are provided by the great Brian Scott. Fans of the series will love this, and if you have never read this Scottish series, then I strongly urge you to read it, otherwise you are really missing out!
Elderly fisherman, Hamish, is out at sea on his boat checking his lobster pots when he is abducted by dangerous men, treated roughly and shackled in a shed, his disappearance of deep concern for the police and the local community. Brian and Ella's son, 25 year old Will, has turned up, pallid and lacklustre, having dropped out of university, a troubled young man causing serious concerns and worries for his parents. Detective Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington's life spins out of control as her haunted past, which she had mistakenly thought had been laid to rest, returns in the form of the nightmare that is Charles Chappell, along with another ruthless figure, Larry Bower. As information becomes hard to acquire, Daley finds himself relying on the likes of Nathan Sidley, an investigative journalist in search of an exclusive that will make his career.
Once again Meyrick expertly weaves several dark threads in a high suspense narrative that had me biting my nails, desperately worried about Hamish and whether he would survive the terrors he has inadvertently found himself enmeshed in. The book is partly set in Kinloch's close neighbour across the waters, Ballycastle in County Antrim, where Daley suspects the plane with its dead passengers had set off. The dark gritty themes, the smoke and mirrors used to obscure the truth, and the unbearable losses that occur, means the humour and comic touches are needed more than ever, and as so often, they are provided by the great Brian Scott. Fans of the series will love this, and if you have never read this Scottish series, then I strongly urge you to read it, otherwise you are really missing out!
February 27, 2022
I may be biased as I have been a massive fan of this series since book one - Whisky from Small Glasses - but to me Denzil Meyrick’s writing shines like a beacon. I read on average 200 books a year, almost exclusively uk based crime fiction, and the DCI Daley series sits proudly at the top of the list of my favourites.
Each book is different, no formulaic writing here, and each instalment quickly draws you in with Denzil’s wonderful characterisation and description of the west coast of Scotland. There are thrills and heart-stopping moments aplenty, but heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes as well.
In this latest book, there are laugh out loud moments alongside tear-jerking endings for those of us who are completely engaged in this series.
I give it 5 stars and wholeheartedly recommend the entire series.
Each book is different, no formulaic writing here, and each instalment quickly draws you in with Denzil’s wonderful characterisation and description of the west coast of Scotland. There are thrills and heart-stopping moments aplenty, but heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes as well.
In this latest book, there are laugh out loud moments alongside tear-jerking endings for those of us who are completely engaged in this series.
I give it 5 stars and wholeheartedly recommend the entire series.
September 7, 2021
The early books in this series were great, but the last few have been less enjoyable and felt like the series was running out of steam. Sorry to say this one carried on the downward trajectory, won’t be rushing back for future books in this series.
On the plus side, you still have the great setting of small town Kinloch in SW Scotland, the usual cast of favourite characters including lead detectives Jim Daley and Brian Scott, newish character Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington, plus the usual locals like Hamish and Annie.
It’s at its best when it’s light-hearted, has some humour and deals with the interactions between these lead characters.
However, for much of the book, it’s the opposite of those things.
There’s a lot of dark storylines here - climate terrorist bomb plots, kidnaps, homophobia, blackmail, murders and suicide for example. But because the story keeps jumping between them all, you never know quite which one to focus on, which one to care about.
Taken individually each storyline feels shallow. Maybe focussing on only one or two of the storylines would have made for a more gripping read. Overall, the plot feels muddy and confusing. There’s A LOT of secondary characters to try and keep track of, and not enough time really with the main characters.
The storylines involving Brian’s son’s sexuality and the fate of Annie as hotel manager for example, both felt wedged in to give those characters something to do. They felt quite separate to the main plot and could easily have been left out.
In fact, would go as far to say the story of Annie seemed a poor way to handle that character and left a slightly bad taste in the mouth given how challenging the world is on people’s mental health just now. Didn’t really get why the author felt the need to create that storyline, felt unnecessary.
Some of the writing just feels off too. Like maybe this was an early draft that didn’t get properly edited to hit a publishing deadline. Not fun when you’re reading a book and you feel like you want to get a red pen out and just score some sections out.
For example, there’s an opening scene at MI5 which introduces a bunch of characters, who then don’t appear again in the rest of the book. Not needed.
There’s the fact Jim and Brian keep calling each other “Jim” and “Brian” when they talk to each other in the dialogue. When it’s only two people there. People don’t talk like that. Not needed.
There’s also the fact when Brian isn’t calling him Jim, he calls him “big man” a lot (like a dozen times at least) and keeps slipping into the sort of Scottish dialogue you only find in the Broons or Oor Wullie. (cartoon strips in Scottish sunday paper The Sunday Post). Not needed.
It doesn’t help the main plot seems far fetched and unrealistic as Hamish gets captured by and then escapes from a bunch of bomb toting climate terrorists and ex IRA members.
Wanted to like this book, because felt invested in the characters, but was left feeling very underwhelmed by the end. Sorry to say it felt like a shark had been jumped. Pretty disappointing really.
On the plus side, you still have the great setting of small town Kinloch in SW Scotland, the usual cast of favourite characters including lead detectives Jim Daley and Brian Scott, newish character Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington, plus the usual locals like Hamish and Annie.
It’s at its best when it’s light-hearted, has some humour and deals with the interactions between these lead characters.
However, for much of the book, it’s the opposite of those things.
There’s a lot of dark storylines here - climate terrorist bomb plots, kidnaps, homophobia, blackmail, murders and suicide for example. But because the story keeps jumping between them all, you never know quite which one to focus on, which one to care about.
Taken individually each storyline feels shallow. Maybe focussing on only one or two of the storylines would have made for a more gripping read. Overall, the plot feels muddy and confusing. There’s A LOT of secondary characters to try and keep track of, and not enough time really with the main characters.
The storylines involving Brian’s son’s sexuality and the fate of Annie as hotel manager for example, both felt wedged in to give those characters something to do. They felt quite separate to the main plot and could easily have been left out.
In fact, would go as far to say the story of Annie seemed a poor way to handle that character and left a slightly bad taste in the mouth given how challenging the world is on people’s mental health just now. Didn’t really get why the author felt the need to create that storyline, felt unnecessary.
Some of the writing just feels off too. Like maybe this was an early draft that didn’t get properly edited to hit a publishing deadline. Not fun when you’re reading a book and you feel like you want to get a red pen out and just score some sections out.
For example, there’s an opening scene at MI5 which introduces a bunch of characters, who then don’t appear again in the rest of the book. Not needed.
There’s the fact Jim and Brian keep calling each other “Jim” and “Brian” when they talk to each other in the dialogue. When it’s only two people there. People don’t talk like that. Not needed.
There’s also the fact when Brian isn’t calling him Jim, he calls him “big man” a lot (like a dozen times at least) and keeps slipping into the sort of Scottish dialogue you only find in the Broons or Oor Wullie. (cartoon strips in Scottish sunday paper The Sunday Post). Not needed.
It doesn’t help the main plot seems far fetched and unrealistic as Hamish gets captured by and then escapes from a bunch of bomb toting climate terrorists and ex IRA members.
Wanted to like this book, because felt invested in the characters, but was left feeling very underwhelmed by the end. Sorry to say it felt like a shark had been jumped. Pretty disappointing really.
August 11, 2021
Suspenseful
October 14, 2021
This isn’t my favourite Denzil Meyrick (DCI Jim Daley) book because:
1. Linda Delaney’s part in the plot isn’t clear - is she working two ends against the middle or who??
2. Iloilo Harris’s role is unclear - to stand in the middle of the barn with no mask on when the container is supposed to contain Sarin Gas and when it contains CO2????
3. The book has a tremendous amount about Carrie Symington’s past misdemeanours without any clarity as to what really happened. It gives a nod to her drink being spiked & knocked down and killed a cyclist
4. It’s a bit disjointed between Kinloch and NI.
5. I didn’t like that he killed of Annie - I liked her
6. I didn’t like that they kidnapped and mistreated Hamish although it wad really that he was in the store g place st the wrong time.
1. Linda Delaney’s part in the plot isn’t clear - is she working two ends against the middle or who??
2. Iloilo Harris’s role is unclear - to stand in the middle of the barn with no mask on when the container is supposed to contain Sarin Gas and when it contains CO2????
3. The book has a tremendous amount about Carrie Symington’s past misdemeanours without any clarity as to what really happened. It gives a nod to her drink being spiked & knocked down and killed a cyclist
4. It’s a bit disjointed between Kinloch and NI.
5. I didn’t like that he killed of Annie - I liked her
6. I didn’t like that they kidnapped and mistreated Hamish although it wad really that he was in the store g place st the wrong time.
February 28, 2023
A quiet day in Kinloch changes dramatically when a light aircraft crash lands at the nearby airport. But what seems a simple air tragedy turns into something far more sinister, which involves Northern Ireland and the Security Services. The knock on effect impacts on Kinloch as well, and will leave the town reeling.
Another cracker of a DCI Daley book, with some of the minor characters coming to the fore. It also involves a real tragedy for one of the most beloved characters and the emotional impact really does hit you. A great series.
Another cracker of a DCI Daley book, with some of the minor characters coming to the fore. It also involves a real tragedy for one of the most beloved characters and the emotional impact really does hit you. A great series.
January 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this series on DCI Daley. One of the best. Been a while since i listened to last audio book, but immediately right back in Kinloch and its inhabitants. Makes you feel a part of that community and part of their lives. Scott's(Daley's second) having trouble with his son, Annie's(hotel manager) finds out that all isn't what is seems with new owner and Carrie can't escape her past. Then, there is Hamish, the old grumpy but lovable fisherman, who suddenly disappears. It all keeps you going.
October 25, 2024
Another fast paced story in the Daley and Scott series.
Kinloch finds itself involved at the centre of tragedy and MI5 - a crashed plane, a kidnapped Hamish and a race against time.
This time Chief Superintendent Symmington finds her past has caught up with her placing her life at risk
Full of Meyrick’s dry humour, interweaving plots and a beautiful location
Read the series in order for best impact
Kinloch finds itself involved at the centre of tragedy and MI5 - a crashed plane, a kidnapped Hamish and a race against time.
This time Chief Superintendent Symmington finds her past has caught up with her placing her life at risk
Full of Meyrick’s dry humour, interweaving plots and a beautiful location
Read the series in order for best impact
June 16, 2021
Brilliantly narrated as usual!
June 25, 2021
Always excellent, the latest DCI Daley is a welcome addition to the series.
August 18, 2024
DNF Sorry but not for me. Just couldn’t care about any of the characters.
June 5, 2021
This is Book 9 in the DCI Scottish police series by Denzil Meyrick. For Any Other Truth is another compelling read and also sees the death of one of the series much loved characters. This particular book is another very clever and well written story, it was an engrossing read.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
July 8, 2024
Audio book. Brilliantly narrated. I wouldn’t like this series so much without David Monteath’s narration.
Enjoyed the first half of this episode but once again the plot was complicated and I’m not sure I completely understood the ending. The soap opera element continues to be sad on all fronts. I hope Daley and Scott rise above their functioning alcoholic status and have some happier times.
Enjoyed the first half of this episode but once again the plot was complicated and I’m not sure I completely understood the ending. The soap opera element continues to be sad on all fronts. I hope Daley and Scott rise above their functioning alcoholic status and have some happier times.
November 18, 2022
3 stars but barely.
I always like venturing back to Kinloch, its a place that is easily pictured in my mind's eye, Kinloch is like the Angela Lansbury of Scotland…..only visit if you want to be embroiled in a murder or two and while that makes for an enjoyable read this outing to Kinloch was not that. This story had a lot; the return of Chief Superintendent Symington’s back story, climate activists, MI5 and the mystery of two dead guys that crash-landed their plane but they just happened to be dead before take off. Add into that the kidnapping of Hamish, weird goings-on at the hotel and you would think that it would be a right riveting read……… It was not. What it was was a disjointed, convoluted story that didn’t come near to a satisfactory ending. Too many ends left open and not enough punishment going around to fit the crime. I came to the conclusion that if we never saw Symington again it would be too soon and the only silver lining to this story was that Liz Daley wasn’t in it for very long.
A poor follow-up to Jeremiah’s Bell.
I always like venturing back to Kinloch, its a place that is easily pictured in my mind's eye, Kinloch is like the Angela Lansbury of Scotland…..only visit if you want to be embroiled in a murder or two and while that makes for an enjoyable read this outing to Kinloch was not that. This story had a lot; the return of Chief Superintendent Symington’s back story, climate activists, MI5 and the mystery of two dead guys that crash-landed their plane but they just happened to be dead before take off. Add into that the kidnapping of Hamish, weird goings-on at the hotel and you would think that it would be a right riveting read……… It was not. What it was was a disjointed, convoluted story that didn’t come near to a satisfactory ending. Too many ends left open and not enough punishment going around to fit the crime. I came to the conclusion that if we never saw Symington again it would be too soon and the only silver lining to this story was that Liz Daley wasn’t in it for very long.
A poor follow-up to Jeremiah’s Bell.
August 15, 2021
I normally love the DCI Daley books. Found this one very disjointed, with too many lines to follow and no real ending.
April 15, 2024
This terrific crime novel is the 9th volume of the amazing "DCI Daley" series.
At the end of the book you'll notice Notes where the reasons behind this great story is explained, while the the beginning you'll find a short phrase by Werner Heisenberg.
Storytelling is brilliant, the story superbly structured and executed, while all characters come vividly to life in this tale of truth, deceit, deception and death.
In this tale DCI Jim Daley and acting DI Brian Scott will have a very unusual case to solve involving a crash-landing at Machrie airport, with two passengers on board and confirmed dead by specialists before take-off.
During this investigation, fisherman Hamish encounters people on a remote island while working at sea, and he finds himself in serious bother when he's taken captive and brought to County Antrim to act as hostage for certain kind of criminals, and over there he will see in his mind a desperate person seeking solace, due to a uncertain future and so feeling lonely and unwanted.
With Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington once again in serious trouble by encountering a new nemesis and making her life like hell, there's also the General manager of the County Hotel, Annie, who having a disastrous time of her own at the hotel, and also thinking about her fatherly friend Hamish.
What is to follow is an intriguing and deceitful crime novel, where the police is being manipulated by the Security Services, MI5, and where personal tragedies will unfold, with one who will survive an deadly ordeal while the other sadly, and I say this with a bleeding heart, we will have to say goodbye to, and in all this confusing and lethal times DCI Daley and acting DI Scott will need to fight their way through this mix of terror, duplicity and death, in order to survive and face some more ghosts in the foreseeable future.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent addition to this sublime series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Tremendous Secretive Truth (or not the Truth)"!
At the end of the book you'll notice Notes where the reasons behind this great story is explained, while the the beginning you'll find a short phrase by Werner Heisenberg.
Storytelling is brilliant, the story superbly structured and executed, while all characters come vividly to life in this tale of truth, deceit, deception and death.
In this tale DCI Jim Daley and acting DI Brian Scott will have a very unusual case to solve involving a crash-landing at Machrie airport, with two passengers on board and confirmed dead by specialists before take-off.
During this investigation, fisherman Hamish encounters people on a remote island while working at sea, and he finds himself in serious bother when he's taken captive and brought to County Antrim to act as hostage for certain kind of criminals, and over there he will see in his mind a desperate person seeking solace, due to a uncertain future and so feeling lonely and unwanted.
With Chief Superintendent Carrie Symington once again in serious trouble by encountering a new nemesis and making her life like hell, there's also the General manager of the County Hotel, Annie, who having a disastrous time of her own at the hotel, and also thinking about her fatherly friend Hamish.
What is to follow is an intriguing and deceitful crime novel, where the police is being manipulated by the Security Services, MI5, and where personal tragedies will unfold, with one who will survive an deadly ordeal while the other sadly, and I say this with a bleeding heart, we will have to say goodbye to, and in all this confusing and lethal times DCI Daley and acting DI Scott will need to fight their way through this mix of terror, duplicity and death, in order to survive and face some more ghosts in the foreseeable future.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent addition to this sublime series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Tremendous Secretive Truth (or not the Truth)"!
August 28, 2025
DCI Jim Daley and DI Brian Scott are dazed and confused by a seemingly endless set of random events. First, a light airplane crash-lands but puzzlingly, the occupants all seem to have died before the crash. Then beloved old local fisherman Hamish disappears. Meanwhile, Daley’s boss, CI Carrie Symington, is subjected to threats and blackmail by an old foe and she starts to interfere in investigations. In addition, Brian’s wife is worried about their listless son, who seems to be caught up in something dangerous. As the bodies start to drop, it’s business as usual in the feisty town of Kinloch, but the culmination of all these events place a lot of people in danger and the town will lose one of their own.
Not my favourite, the results weren’t just. While this police procedural was always gripping and sometimes funny, it was also pretty confusing: this was such a busy conspiracy plot with so many nefarious players, each with their own agendas. By the end of it, I still wasn’t sure exactly what had happened. It was amusing that everyone trying to control or manipulate the situation ended up being frustrated in some way—Jim, Brian, and the other score Scottish townsfolk are so bolshy, that they defy orders, refuse to be cowed, and fight back with their last breath. 🎧 Scottish voice actor David Monteath gives another strong performance on the audio.
Not my favourite, the results weren’t just. While this police procedural was always gripping and sometimes funny, it was also pretty confusing: this was such a busy conspiracy plot with so many nefarious players, each with their own agendas. By the end of it, I still wasn’t sure exactly what had happened. It was amusing that everyone trying to control or manipulate the situation ended up being frustrated in some way—Jim, Brian, and the other score Scottish townsfolk are so bolshy, that they defy orders, refuse to be cowed, and fight back with their last breath. 🎧 Scottish voice actor David Monteath gives another strong performance on the audio.
May 7, 2023
Breathtaking
Recommended to readers of Scottish Detective crime writers from William McIlvanney to Neil Lancaster to new writer on the scene Callum Dalziel. Meyrick’s characters are so well delineated, you will come to think you know them. Narration by David Monteith is, as always, exceptional. Cynicism from Daley, wry humour from Scott, and ancient wisdom from Hamish. There are many other characters of note. But who ARE the real baddies? The geographical descriptions are evocative and a stirring of memories will come to anyone who has visited central Scotland’s far west coast and the Mull of Kintyre. Denzil is an erudite wordsmith in English and Scots and his plots are always fast-paced, well woven, and exciting. FOR ANY OTHER TRUTH is no exception - a real page-turner.
Recommended to readers of Scottish Detective crime writers from William McIlvanney to Neil Lancaster to new writer on the scene Callum Dalziel. Meyrick’s characters are so well delineated, you will come to think you know them. Narration by David Monteith is, as always, exceptional. Cynicism from Daley, wry humour from Scott, and ancient wisdom from Hamish. There are many other characters of note. But who ARE the real baddies? The geographical descriptions are evocative and a stirring of memories will come to anyone who has visited central Scotland’s far west coast and the Mull of Kintyre. Denzil is an erudite wordsmith in English and Scots and his plots are always fast-paced, well woven, and exciting. FOR ANY OTHER TRUTH is no exception - a real page-turner.
July 2, 2021
Book nine and I've loved them all. Perhaps it's because I listen to this series on audible and borrowbox where the books are read by David Monteath. The partnership between the main characters Daley and Scott is brilliant as they fire off one another. The book starts with with a small plane crash at Machrie airport, this with the abduction of another well known character Hamish and again we have a book that at times makes you laugh with the dialogue between the characters and then brings us sharply back to the plot of the book. As this book has only been released a few weeks I think I have a while before the next one. I would thoroughly recommend this book as I would the whole series of books by this author.
July 23, 2021
Having read all the previous books I immediately felt right at home amongst the array of characters featuring in these stories and I seem to be gravitating towards more and more Scottish writers, I'm not sure if it is a regional thing or mere coincidence but I love the understated dry humour.
I am often dismayed how many reviewers prise a book for being "well written" when I have abandoned it in disgust after only a few pages for being little better than I would expect from a twelve-year-old, so much so that it now comes as a pleasant surprise to find an author who has a decent vocabulary and grasp of the language. That, coupled with an engaging plot, sets it well above the typical offering in this genre.
I am often dismayed how many reviewers prise a book for being "well written" when I have abandoned it in disgust after only a few pages for being little better than I would expect from a twelve-year-old, so much so that it now comes as a pleasant surprise to find an author who has a decent vocabulary and grasp of the language. That, coupled with an engaging plot, sets it well above the typical offering in this genre.
September 29, 2022
Volume nine of the DCI Daley saga is a barnstorming return to form after the mid-tier shenanigans of ‘Jeremiah’s Bell’. Daley and his inimitable sidekick Brian Scott wrestle with the avionic equivalent of a locked room mystery while a sadistic figure from Chief Superintendent Symington’s past comes back to haunt her, and Hamish, in the wrong place at the wrong time, faces mortal peril. Meyrick pares back the humour this time, the better to steer the narrative into some dark places. Recovering alcoholic Scott finds his sobriety sorely challenged as the increasingly tangled case hits a little too close to home, and a major series character faces their götterdämmerung in the sucker punch finale.
June 13, 2021
For Any Other Truth is the latest DCI Daley book and certainly doesn't disappoint. It grabbed me from the start when one of Kinloch's most loved characters goes missing. There are several sub-plots which all come together towards the end. The book was full of the usual humour, but also incredibly sad in parts, and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a few tears.
This is a series which goes from strength to strength. I love the characters, who feel like old friends., and the town of Kinloch is so wonderfully described that I feel I could find my way to the County Hotel with my eyes closed!
David Monteath is one of my favourite narrators, and always brings the characters to life.
This is a series which goes from strength to strength. I love the characters, who feel like old friends., and the town of Kinloch is so wonderfully described that I feel I could find my way to the County Hotel with my eyes closed!
David Monteath is one of my favourite narrators, and always brings the characters to life.
September 4, 2024
Another great read in this series, I listened to this as an audiobook with the wonderful narration by David Monteath. Two men are found dead in a light air craft, but it appears they were dead before the plane took off. Hamish, the old fisherman, is taken captive, so Daly and Scott are searching for him. Scott’s son, Will is caught up with a Climate Activist group, and there are IRA dissendents and the spooks from MI5 are also involved. A cleverly written plot, weaving a number of different threads together. Annie is fired from the County Hotel, and the book ends on a sad note as she takes her own life.
June 8, 2021
I must admit I was apprehensive about reading this as I absolutely love this series and I know it is the last one (tears!). However, if I didn't know, it would be hard to tell that this is the end of the series. The story is not the run of the mill murder, but starts when a light plane crashes on Daley's patch. Confusingly, the pilots were both dead before the plane took off. The story combines blackmail, terrorism, the idealism of extremists and the greed of others. It is well crafted, but there is still the subtle humour that we have come to know and love.
August 31, 2021
I have a few books that are series and every year I am eagerly waiting for the next instalment. This is one of them.
It is always such a pleasure, a delight to read it. I love the characters. The Scottish dry humour is my absolute favourite and Brian never ceases to amuses me. I am listening this book and laughing out loud most of the time as the lines are so clever and sarcastic. Love it!!!!
The book also has depth and I was sad that we lost one kind, important character. It felt like someone from the family disappeared.
I can hardly wait to read the next one!!!
It is always such a pleasure, a delight to read it. I love the characters. The Scottish dry humour is my absolute favourite and Brian never ceases to amuses me. I am listening this book and laughing out loud most of the time as the lines are so clever and sarcastic. Love it!!!!
The book also has depth and I was sad that we lost one kind, important character. It felt like someone from the family disappeared.
I can hardly wait to read the next one!!!
July 22, 2022
I read this book in a few days. It’s a cracker that you will just take with you everywhere. A plane crashes at the airport with 2 souls aboard. Then Hamish goes out in his boat to check the creels when he is unwittingly embroiled in some goings on. Carrie the Superintendent also has ghosts appear from her past and she is also caught in a trap. Will she ever get away from her past ? And Jim the DCI rolls in and saves the day for some and not all. The whole story gelled well together and be prepared for the loss of a character but all in all a brilliant read
November 24, 2023
Denzil, what did you just do? This is perhaps one of the most personal stories yet for the team as well as the wider community of Kinloch. Everyone is at the heart of this tale and feeling the emotional toll. Hamish, who is severely tested, has the best line ever (but I won’t give it away). At times the criminal plot seemed a little convoluted and I couldn’t understand how the various teams couldn’t see each other at the takedown. There is so much I need to know, I need another visit to Kinloch soon.
January 22, 2024
This is the second book in the Avison Fluke Series. Detective Inspector Avison Fluke has been called to a golf course where an unidentified hand has been found, but who’s is it? it leads to a body which the Detective must work out who it is and why this happened, but things keep cropping up from his past and it is making it harder to stay out of trouble. When reading these books you really feel as though you are part of the team and are helping to solve these crimes. A great paced storyline and great characters. A great read with lots of murder mystery included.
April 5, 2025
Another great read from Denzil Meyrick. I’d put off reading this as I had just got it shortly before he died. The reading of this book was shrouded with a little greyness.
The story is winding and confusing as usual! However, I really liked moving from one character’s story to another’s as it kept the pace up. Also pulling in people from previous books was clever and that feeling of a story not finished will spur me on to the next instalment. Funny, thrilling, poignant, sad seems to be the description for this series.
The story is winding and confusing as usual! However, I really liked moving from one character’s story to another’s as it kept the pace up. Also pulling in people from previous books was clever and that feeling of a story not finished will spur me on to the next instalment. Funny, thrilling, poignant, sad seems to be the description for this series.
June 23, 2021
I thoroughly enjoy the DCI Daley books. The writing is excellent and the descriptions of the setting are very good. All of the main characters have an interesting part to play alongside the main investigation. However I don't think this book is 5 star material. The plot is a little hard to follow in places and the finale is a bit rushed and inconclusive. Nevertheless its a very good read and I guess, and expect, the loose ends will be dealt with in book #10.
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