Near Miss

The Edinburgh Murders #1

by Traude Ailinger

A fun, twisty woman sleuth mystery set in Edinburgh!

Fashion writer Amy Thornton has the fright of her life when she narrowly avoids being hit by a car.

The driver was being chased, and swerved to miss her only at the last second. He ends up in hospital.

Wanting to thank the man or, more likely, wanting to stick her curious nose in, Amy charms her way into his ward to find out more.

Thinking she has uncovered a heinous plot she goes to the authorities. Yet her sleuthing does not impress no-nonsense Detective Inspector Russell McCord, who is reluctant to follow up on her wild speculations and won’t, it seems, be charmed so easily.

But that changes when two dead bodies turn up, connected to the crash. Now Amy may become key to solving the affair.


NEAR MISS is the debut mystery novel by TRAUDE AILINGER, brought to you by the publishers of bestselling crime writers PETE BRASSETT, PIPPA McCATHIE and CHERYL REES-PRICE. It will appeal to fans of Louise Penny, Martha Grimes, Verity Bright and L J Ross.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Scotland, Contemporary, Detective, British Literature

261 pages, ebook

Published May 31, 2022

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everyone else seems to have enjoyed this book but I found it really mediocre

[Marie Shirley Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading the rest of the series. It may take a couple of chapters to get into things, but then it becomes difficult to put down.

[Roberta]

DNF - too dark for me, not cosy enough

[Pelin Haci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book! It is a very cozy mystery story indeed. The writer introduces the characters very well and all the connections with multiple stories are clever, it never gets boring!
Can’t wait to read the rest of the books!

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery was excellent but the rest? Ugh. The heroine Amy was too sweet and Too Stupid To Live. She came up with a theory and convinced herself it was true. She didn’t listen to anyone in the know who said she had it wrong. She’d then do albeit intelligent research, come up with a new theory that didn’t completely match the facts, then stay with that and ignore the things people had already told her that she had wrong.

At about halfway through, I realized that I just didn’t care about her. The mystery was interesting and it wasn’t at all clear either what was going on or who was good and who was bad or if they all were good or all bad. But my enjoyment lessened because Amy was clearly in love with this man in a coma she had never met. I had no respect for her. I couldn’t relate to her at all. It was actually quite disturbing. She fell in love with him!

Later someone gives her direct access to a place with a lot of clues, trusting her even though she was a reporter. He was an idiot. She was so naive, though, that she didn’t do any snooping. What she found was by accident.

Her mother wasn’t any better. She couldn’t face reality with her daughter. There was another main woman, who should not have been so clueless, who believed someone she knew was on the edge would just stay put for a week; another woman with her head in the sand.

I think part of the problem was the choice to make it an omniscient narrator. I couldn’t get close to any of them because I was never in their head long enough. Their actions were often described in a way that felt like they were being seen by someone not in the room, that all-seeing narrator. Only the detective, McCord was sort of real to me which I think was because the POV was in his head most often with less head hopping. He was really the main character with Amy being more auxiliary. I just didn’t care about any of them. I cared mostly about the cat and it still bothers me. (Warning: it’s not good.)

There was a second, smaller, plot, that didn’t relate at all to the main mystery. Only the detective was involved and basically he was just asking for updates most of the time. It felt like it was thrown in to make the book longer. Also, the concept of the thin blue line is completely ignored.

I have no interest in reading the next book in the series.

The reader Mhairi Morrison, however, was excellent. She had good intonation and timing.

[Iain Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in this story are varied and believable. I live the story with them and could easily picture them. The plot has various twists and turns, and I was never sure what might happen next. I really like how the author builds the relationship between the journalist and the detective. Although described as "cozy", there are sharp incisive insights into the criminal world and these were written with a sensitive deft touch. This was an easy read, ideal for a relaxing evening - there is no gore, nor unwarranted violence. I liked the characters and I await a sequel with keen anticipation - wanting to know how relationships progress.

[Erik Empson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read many cozy mysteries but this has to be one of the best I've read. Clever, light-hearted and upbeat.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a readable mystery with an interesting setting. I didn't find the main female character particularly likable or sympathetic.

[Linda Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A great start to the series. I particularly liked the character development and am glad there is more to come!

[Peggy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this audiobook. I listened to about a third of it before I just couldn't stand it anymore. It goes on my "too stupid to finish" list. Amy is a fashion reporter for a magazine in Edinburgh. So, let's assume she went to journalism school somewhere. Let's assume she had to be taught the rules for a reporter - frivolous fashion or not - do not jump to conclusions. Find out the facts. Obviously she failed her classes. One day she is almost hit by a car driving recklessly. The car seems to be running from someone following him. He crashes when he avoids hitting Amy and he is badly injured and is in a coma. No one knows who he is and no missing persons reports have been filed. Amy decides to become Nancy Drew. She follows him to the hospital and begs her way into his room. She decides to further her journalism career by figuring out who he is and who was chasing him and why. Okay. Fine. Then she runs around like a idiot. She jumps to every conclusion she can find. She learns his name and then, incredulously she talks the man's employee into giving her access to his car to learn where he was going. More jumping to more conclusions for which she has no evidence. I give up. Too stupid to read.

[Anne B · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely a fun read-read in 1 day

I accidentally came across this series and decided to try it. What fun, but a good police procedural. An annoyingly naive journalist along with a DI cop and a really great plot that was rather complicated, made the story. I enjoyed all the characters (except maybe Amy-I wanted to shake her), but her naïveté added to the charm of this novel. I want to let some readers know that this is not a true cozy-there are a few words and situations that will make some readers upset, but all-in-all a rather nice cozy with a little modern pizzazz.
I’m ready to be onto the next.

[William Orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good novel for a debut. I'm looking for detectives in Edinburgh (don't care about the century) and this one is okay. A difficult boss, a female journalist who wants to be a detective, and a complicated crime (or crimes?).

Ailinger seems to know Edinburgh well, and there is a bit of humor in the narrative. She is a bit heavy-handed though, explaining rather than showing. Someone said it might be a YA novel, and that would fit.

However, I'm going to give her (and her DI) another try. The characters are interesting enough.

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something about this novel simply didn't grab me. It has all the elements -- know-it-all woman who simply cannot believe a male detective can possibly be competent, job with lots of time to follow leads, inability to think through the ramifications of actions, absolute conviction there can be no other interpretation of facts. But having finished the story, I have no feeling I know Amy, McCord, Valerie, or John any better than I did before I started.

[Mary Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Describe as ‘cosy crime’ the basic story and characters are good and the only ‘cosy’ element is the female lead and her unbelievable actions. Somehow this book manages to fall between crime and cosy crime with fulfilling its promise in either genre. This author can write. The story is believable and the characters well developed. I hope s/he settles on a specific genre and gives it their all. Will look out for other books.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

This is a tangle of mysteries, murders and corruption. A young female journalist is nearly hit by a speeding car and this begins the adventures and misadventures. The police dismiss her claim that another car was chasing the one that swerved and crashed to avoid hitting her. While investigating on her own, she stirs trouble.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A speeding car swerved to avoid a pedestrian, Amy, and crashed injuring the driver seriously.
Amy tries to find out who he is and stays by his side as he recovers.
His father is a wealthy businessman with questionable mob ties. His father has the two thugs who were following his son murdered, but ultimately it was discovered that the son was into drug smuggling.

[carol mcquade · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very cosy read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will read further books from this author. The characters were interesting and believable as was the storyline I would highly recommend for everyone to read.

[W H Nicholls · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in a box set of Edinburgh Murders I purchased. The story I found a bit slow to begin with but it picked up a bout a third the way trough. The ending was a lot better that I thought it would be

[Thenappan Thenappan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not able to believe that this is author's debut novel. Writing Style, Story pace, Characterization - all look really mature. Loved it 😊

[Ronald Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time - New author

Enjoyed this book and will try another for sure. McCord is an interesting character, I like him. Edinburgh too as the setting.

[Jillian McCreadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This book is a very good read I would recommend this book to everyone to read it and enjoy the book

[The Book Folks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and fun!

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly gave up. But persevered and it was worth it. Quite good. Love books set in Edinburgh.

[Trudy Pomerantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid read for before bed - well enough written with characters (Amy) that are only slightly annoying.

[Christine]

Nothing about this says “cozy” to me… and yet I’m sure it was described as such somewhere.

[Evie Butler-Donaldson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amy was literally the worst character.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this as a gift and absolutely loved it!! A great group of characters and lots going on. Kept me on my toes. Can't wait to read more.