Echo Of The Dead

DCI Lorimer #19

by Alex Gray

***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES***

Whether you've read them all or whether you're discovering Alex Gray's bestselling series for the first time, ECHO OF THE DEAD will have you gripped until the final page.

'Echo of the Dead will keep you guessing LIN ANDERSON
'Echo of the Dead is Alex Gray at her finest DOULGAS SKELTON
'An exciting procedural' SUNDAY TIMES
'Effortlessly charming, wholly engaging and cleverly plotted' IRISH INDEPENDENT
'A consistent delight, wonderful' ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

After a stressful winter, DSI William Lorimer is enjoying some time away from Glasgow. He and his new friend, Daniel Kohi, have retreated to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to unwind. But what awaits them is far from a holiday.

Despite its troubled history, the mountain village of Glencoe is now a popular resort, famed for its close-knit community, its breath-taking scenery and the warm welcome it offers weary travellers. So it's particularly shocking when two bodies are discovered in quick succession on the nearby peaks . . .

With a potential serial killer on the loose, Lorimer's Major Incidents Team are drafted in from Glasgow. It's clear that a dark secret lurks beneath the wild beauty of this place. But will Lorimer manage to root it out before the killer strikes again?
____________

WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT ALEX GRAY

"I have read every book in the Lorimer series and each one has been a pleasure" *****
"Alex Gray is a master storyteller" *****
"She never disappoints" *****
"I cannot wait for the next book" *****
"Her writing always keeps me engrossed" *****

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Scotland, Mystery, Thriller, British Literature, Ebooks

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2022

About the author

Alex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. She worked as a folk singer, a visiting officer in the DSS and an English teacher. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Gray's latest addition to her DSI William Lorimer shifts from its Glasgow location to the grandeur and magnificence of the Scottish Highlands and Glencoe with its gruesome history of the massacre which Zimbabwean Daniel Kohi learns of from Lorimer on a hiking break to the region. However, there is drama when they come across a dead man, Dutchman Hans Van Der Bilt, from what looks like a fall. His grieving wife, Juliet, suffering from a broken leg, is pregnant, as she arrives to find out as much as possible as to what had happened to her husband. Prior to this incident, Dwyer, a young American, a climbing enthusiast had gone missing, leaving locals worried. A teenager, Tilly MacFarlane is walking her dog, Fly, when she discovers Dwyer's body, and the PM establishes that he was murdered.

This sees Lorimer and his Major Incident Team coming to Glencoe to investigate, joined by Maggie, Lorimer's teacher and writer wife, there for a Easter break. Daniel is invited too, to keep Maggie company, although he can't help being drawn to the case and has niggling concerns over the Dutchman's fall which he is tasked to look into. He goes on to make a grisly discovery in a bothy, the body of a unidentifiable man who had been dead for some time, with his boots taken, and nothing to point to his identity. The police team struggle to find any leads or connections, and there are concerns that they might have a serial killer on their hands, their worries and fears heightened when a local teenage girl goes missing, triggering numerous search parties involving locals.

This was an engaging crime read with characters I have become invested in and I particularly appreciated the shift in location, the stunning landscape, the flora and fauna, the echoes of its dark macabre history, the close knit, supportive and helpful local community, and the courageous mountain rescue team. This is a terrific and enjoyable read that I became completely immersed in, with plenty of suspense and tension, which I recommend to those who love their Scottish crime fiction. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This superb Scottish police procedural novel is the 19th volume of the amazing and realistic of the now "DSI Lorimer" series.

At the beginning of the book you'll find two quotes, one taken from "Psalm 121" and one from "The Corries", while also well-drawn maps of Glencoe and near surroundings and of Ballachulish Quarry are to be admired.

For the author's extensive research for this novel you are welcome to visit the Acknowledgements, where all assistance and expertise will be revealed.

Storytelling is excellent, all characters come splendidly to life in this tale about clan feuds, domestic Scottish Highland society, fear of homophobia, tragic accident and vicious murder, while Glencoe and near surroundings are wonderfully pictured and described, and much to my personal liking there's also some Dutch accents inserted within this story.

The story starts off when DSI Lorimer and his friend, former DI from Zimbabwe, Daniel Kohi, will encounter a dead body on the ridge of the Buachaille Etive Môr mountain, but after returning home a few weeks later this death, another body is found and DSI Lorimer and his MIT team are called in to investigate this murder together with the local police constabulary, and this murder will be followed by another dead body found in a bothy, making these intertwining murders very hard cases to crack.

What is to follow is a marvellous a very realistic police procedural, one with a great storyline that will head towards fabulously constructed plots, where several cases will be solved, one accidental and some pure murders, and these last ones the responsible perpetrator will be caught and dealt with in the end.

Highly recommended, for this is a magnificent addition to this very high standard series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Revealing Echo"!

[Michael Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Echo of the Dead is a murder mystery set in the the highlands of Scotland, more specifically in Glencoe, scene of the the 17thC massacre of over 30 MacDonald clansmen by members of the Campbell clan who, at the time, were enjoying the hospitality of their victims. This history forms a dark background to current events which commences with the discovery of a body near the top of a mountain by DSI Lorimer and his friend, former Zimbabwean Police detective, Daniel Kohl who just happen to be on a weekend break at the time. While foul play is not suspected this becomes questionable when another body is discovered, unquestionably a victim of murder.
For me the most enjoyable aspect of this book are the vivid descriptions of the surrounding mountain scenery. They will certainly encourage people to visit this part of the highlands and they also create a wonderful atmosphere in which this mystery unfolds. The author has also created some strong characters who are well developed but if there is a criticism it is that they are all too nice. I found it impossible to put anyone on the suspect list!
I would not call this a page turner I think because the pace is rather slow and pondering especially in the beginning but the relationships between the characters holds the interest. On the whole reading it was enjoyable and I think I am encouraged enough to try another of Alex Grays books dfrom the same series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing access to this book.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Another fantastic edition to the DSI William Lorimer series.

This is the 19th book in the series; although Echo of the Dead can easily be read as a standalone, I’d highly recommend reading Before the Storm (also excellent) first, just to familiarise yourself with the backstory.

Being with DSI Lorimer, his wife Maggie, Daniel and the rest of the police team again was like visiting old friends. Alex Gray’s characterisation is spot on; the banter and dialogue between the characters always fluid and believable.

The setting of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands provides a spectacular backdrop to the story, the landscape and details of the wildlife beautifully described.

A tense, atmospheric thriller, with twists and turns aplenty. Looking forward to book number 20 already!

Many thanks to the publisher for the copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Alan Horberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pedestrian, cliche view of Highlands. Didn't hold my attention. Weak ending.

[Beachcomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. I can’t quite put my finger on why this book didn’t really grab me. I like Scotland and murder mysteries… but the characters weren’t really vivid enough for me, I spotted pretty much every twist and whodunnit coming, and the writing style didn’t quite grab me. This is the first by the author I’ve read, and I’d have assumed it was an early novel from the tone of writing, but it’s the 19th book in the series… I’ve got 4 or 5 others to try, at some point. I don’t feel I missed out by jumping into this as my first encounter (earlier events are mentioned, but doesn’t impede understanding if you’ve not read the previous books).

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

[Abbé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm… I’m a big fan of this series however as I continue to read I find Lorimer less and less believable :( He is a genuinely kind, caring and fair man, but he has no ruthlessness to him and it jars with his success in the police force. I enjoy reading about Zimbabwean Inspector Daniel Kohi, he is so interesting and intelligent - it’s brilliant to see a refugee written as a real character rather than what many authors do and simply write refugees as only existing in crisis. However his skin colour is referred to a lot …. I can’t recall this coming up with any of the white characters. Hmmm.
Anyway, a good story, but not the usual five stars due to the above - and the hugely noticeable faux pas of Lorimer apparently not being aware that sexuality is still hugely stigmatised! I can’t believe that a man that aware of human emotion would be that naive. It was a total disservice to his generation many of whom are well aware that stigma still exists. And the explanation that their generation ‘just wanted a certain life for their kids’ type excuses was disappointing to say the least and - despite the text actually saying that this sentiment isn’t really homophobic … it in fact is. Will still continue on with the series - however hopefully Lorimer retires soon and actually spends some time with his wife, and he can read more about Insp Kohi working in a police Scotland 👍🏼

[Rog Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure why I persevere with this series (I have now read all nineteen books) as most of the recent books have been disappointing and Detective Superintendent William Lorimer has never come across to me as more than a cardboard character. I was irritated by this book as it clearly had not been edited. Although most of the time the author refers to her main character as "Lorimer" there are occasions when she refers to him as "Bill" which I found confusing. More worryingly chapter 27 starts,"Giles waved off his colleague as he turned at the end of the narrow road. It had been a mistake not to take Molly's car today..." yet five pages later "The night was dark as he [Giles] set off in Molly's car." The story is not up to much either with the author making several clumsy attempts at misdirection. Most of the story takes place around Glencoe where Lorimer and his team are investigating two murders. Naturally Lorimer takes his wife and his friend with him too!

[GeraniumCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's becoming something of a cliche to say that a place becomes a character in the story, but the mountain Buachaille Etive Mor does so in this detective story. Supt William Lorimer takes a friend on a trip to climb Daniel's first Munro, but they find the body of another climber, fallen to his death. Then a local teenager finds another body in a disused quarry and Lorimer finds himself back in Glencoe, scene of a historic massacre, to investigate this latest death.

There is lots of detail here - local history, climbing, the Scottish landscape - to make for a compelling read. This is the first of Alex Gray's novels I've read, but I will be looking out for more, and I'm definitely ordering the next in the series, because I want to know what happens next for Lorimer, his wife Maggie, and their friend Daniel.

[Esther Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Will Lorrimer nimmt sich eine Auszeit und macht mit seinem Freund Daniel Kohi einen Kurzurlaub in Glen Coe. Aber auch dort holt ihn das Verbrechen ein. Als sie den Buchaille Etive Mhor besteigen, finden sie die Leiche eines abgestürzten Bergsteigers. Auch wenn so etwas leider immer wieder vorkommt, findet Will das Verhalten des Bergführers doch seltsam. Dann wird eine Leiche gefunden, bei der die Todesursache eindeutig ist: der junge Mann wurde erstochen. Und das bleibt nicht das einzige Verbrechen, das sich in dem sonst so beschaulichen Glencoe Village abspielt.

In diesem Krimi vermischt die Autorin viele Elemente: ein geschichtsträchtiger Ort, ein Unfall am Berg, der leider viel zu oft vorkommt, der Bergführer mit bedrückenden Erlebnissen in seiner Vergangenheit und ein Mord bei dem man das Opfer lange nicht identifizieren kann. Will bringt zu den Ermittlungen nicht nur sein Team mit, sondern auch seine Frau Maggie und seinen Freund Daniel, der noch nicht wieder ermitteln darf, ihn aber trotzdem bei den Ermittlungen unterstützt. Seine Frau Maggie nimmt sich der Ehefrau des Opfers an.

Auch wenn Will sich bei seinen Ermittlungen immer mit Menschen umgibt, mit denen er schon lange zusammengearbeitet hat und die ihm nahe stehen, fand ich das familiäre Umfeld in diesem Fall doch zu eng. Das eigentliche Ermittlerteam blieb in Hintergrund, während Maggie und Daniel sich im Ort bewegten, die richtigen Fragen stellten und so die nötigen Puzzlestücke zusammentrugen.

Trotzdem standen die Ermittlungen lange still, weil es weder ein Motiv noch einen Verdächtigen gab, auch wenn die Autorin immer wieder den Fokus auf Menschen aus der Umgebung legte. Aber das reichte nicht, um Spannung aufzubauen. Die Fälle von Will Lorrimer sind eher ruhig, aber das war mir dann doch zu wenig.

[P.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, but I thought it dragged a little.

Four and a half stars.

[Tripfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller set in the Scottish Highlands



“A remote village. A ruthless killer.”

Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, and his friend Daniel, hoping for a relaxing break away from his work. He and Daniel plan some mountain climbing in the atmospheric setting of Glencoe where centuries earlier the murderous Campbell clan betrayed and slaughtered their MacDonald hosts. As the friends attempt to “bag” their first Munro, Daniel spots a body: a fellow climber who appears to have fallen to his death. All thoughts of holidays evaporate, and Lorimer assists the local police with their investigation. He quickly realises that the climber’s fatal fall on the mountain and the disappearance of an American tourist might be linked. He has to call on expertise from his Major Incidents Team colleagues back in Glasgow to solve the twin mysteries: what links the two cases and what really brought the victims here, to this remote and beautiful tourist destination?

Alex Gray’s crime novel begins in the early spring, when Glencoe’s remote, savage beauty is matched by the wild weather, and when there are relatively few tourists. Echo of the Dead is the latest in her Lorimer series of novels, but this time the DSI is away from the mean streets of Glasgow and the author conjures the stark, wild beauty of the Highlands. The book is set in Glencoe and Ballachulish, small crofting communities that have evolved to offer warm hospitality to the seasonal influx of tourists and mountaineers. It opens with an account of the historic massacre by the visiting Campbells of their MacDonald hosts – a betrayal of hospitality that is later echoed in the crimes the book describes.

Echo of the Dead is set in Scotland and its themes of betrayal and redemption are usual in Tartan Noir, but it also contrasts the traditional and modern ways of life. The locals are still preserving the crofting lifestyle but inevitably they are also users of technology and, in order to solve the crime, both local and national police on the case employ modern investigation techniques. A case in point might be the antique climbing gear cherished by one character, which contrasts with the high-tech facial reconstruction techniques used to identify another.

There are sweeping descriptions of the Highland landscapes, with its mountains, lochs and farming communities, but there are also fascinating details, such as information about the plant life and traditions of the area. The mountains loom large over the action and the author cleverly uses the point of view of foreign incomers to describe the scenery, comparing and contrasting with it that of their homelands. The dialogue is authentic, with local Scottish dialect words that are used without explanation – something that I particularly enjoyed. There’s also a rich seam of history and folklore, scattered with snippets of the songs and poems that characterise the locality.

What’s really needed on a long flight, or while relaxing at your destination, is something gripping to read. Alex Gray keeps us guessing throughout with a plot that’s reasonably straightforward but with sufficient twists and turns – much like a single-track road in the Highlands – that we are kept involved. At several points in the book, the author shares detailed insights into the thoughts and motivation of key characters, all while keeping the identity of those characters secret from the reader. It’s much harder to do this in TV or film and it gives us a wonderful sense of reader-privilege: we know things that the investigators don’t! Since we can’t actually identify whose thoughts we are witnessing, we are drawn to guess and try to solve the mystery before the detectives.

Lorimer himself is likeable and the rest of the characters are drawn in great detail, which means that we empathise with them because of their past sad experiences, or dislike them because we feel they could behave better. There are hidden secrets, and the author plays the reader skilfully, so that we can never be entirely confident that we’ve identified which of the characters deserve our loyalty. This is an engrossing and likeable read – recommended, especially for lovers of Tartan Noir.

[Huck Flynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

My first and last Alex Gray, having been deceived by the cover review hype that it was "exciting, pacy and authentic", "Move over Rebus" Ha Ha Ha ! Instead it's the worst writing i've come across in a long time. The prose is laborious, long winded and boring. Gray describes in painful detail the layout of locations inside and out that have no relevance to the plot unless the book also doubles as a Scottish Tourist Board brochure. She is patronising about the Scottish natives of Glencoe and district (non city people) who are portrayed as naive, innocent, unsophisticated and superstitious with their old fashioned homely manners and quaint folksy sayings. Everyone is just so maddeningly nice to one another it is ridiculous. With 2 murders, a suspicious death and a child abduction happening in the village, the characterisations are Enid Blyton-like, shallow, lacking any psychological depth, complexity or passion. There is no overt violence, sex or swearing - i agree that these can sometimes be over-used in the name of realism but in this case it just seems prudish and artificial. Gray's dialogue is ludicrous - as if we all speak in perfect sentences, using stilted, formal language or lines quoted from technical manuals - "Yes, this is an impressive establishment" (or similar) - pick any page for examples. Awful, particularly after i have just read books by Rankin, Vargas, John Harvey and Jo Nesbo. And then there's the plot - tediously slow, repetitive - it's over 200 pages in before we start seeing some useful procedural investigation, tiny forensic clues that eventually tie into the solutions; by that time i'd already worked out the main guilty party (and incidentally worked out a few more interesting scenarios that would have improved the book). In the end it's all over in a couple of pages with little thanks to good policing or edge of the seat excitement. An anti-climax that left me feeling thankful it was over but sorry i had wasted my time with it. Surely all her other books can't be as bad as this? In what other detective novel does the Chief Investigating Officer (Lorimer in this case) bring his wife and a friend along for the ride (a nice break in the Highlands) - laughable!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Echo of the Dead is the nineteenth book in the DSI Lorimer series of crime novels set in Glasgow. I have been a huge fan since the very first one, and they just keep getting better. Just for a change, this one is set in and around Glencoe in the Scottish highlands.
On a rare day off, Lorimer and his friend Daniel Kohi travel to Glencoe to climb Buachaille Etive Mòr. Their trip is cut short when they discover a body on a remote part of the mountain. They leave the investigation in the hands of the local police, not realising that they will be back sooner than they think. When the body of a young American tourist is discovered in a local quarry, Lorimer and his team are called in. This coincides with a trip Lorimer had already planned, so his wife Maggie and friend Daniel tag along anyway.
The mountainous location and adverse weather conditions lead to a slower pace of investigation than if they were in the city. The vivid descriptions of the landscape, flora and fauna show that this is a very special place with a unique atmosphere. Echoes of the Glencoe Massacre of 1692 permeate the narrative. This is a small insular community where everyone knows their neighbour’s business, but a killer is hiding amongst them in plain sight. We get occasional glimpses into the mind of the killer without knowing their identity, so have information that the investigators don’t, but I still had no idea who they were. Lorimer’s team must work it out before any one else suffers the same fate.
It is always a pleasure to catch up with these familiar characters, and I really enjoyed revisiting this part of Scotland where I spent some time many years ago. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Questions for a Dead Man. Hopefully by then Daniel Kohi will have joined Police Scotland as he has so much to contribute.

[Monica Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and I wish that I had read the preceding books, however, better late than never, right? It is always exciting to discover a new, for me, author :)

William Lorimer is planning a break with his wife in Glencoe, the scene of a horrific murder in the 17th century but a close-knit community today and with spectacular scenery. They will be accompanied by Daniel Kohi, a former police inspector from Zimbabwe with a tragic past. The three of them enjoy spending time together, possibly because the Lorimers sadly did not have children of their own and Daniel lost his own family in Zimbabwe and they have formed a family bond.

Anyway, murders have occurred in this beautiful part of the world and it is up to Lorimer and his team to figure out what has happened. And when a local girl goes missing as well, it ups the stakes considerably..... Interesting characters in this book, a red herring and I genuinely didn't know who the murderer was until the author revealed them.

A well written book. I found myself visualising this part of Scotland and it made me want to get on the next plane! I enjoyed the references to Glasgow because I lived there for a short time and that city has a special place in my heart :)

Looking forward to the next book in the series, and hopefully what happens once Daniel is part of Police Scotland :)

5 stars from me.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Stuff 'n' Things


This is another entertaining outing for DSI Lorimer and whilst this is the 19th in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Echo of the Dead if set in the Scottish Highlands and Alex Gray does an excellent job of 'selling' the area to the reader despite the darkness of the story.

Lorimer is on a break with his friend, Daniel, when they stumble upon a body. A short time later, another body is found and Lorimer returns with his Team to investigate. Are these connected and could they be related to an historical massacre?

With a great cast of characters, this is an intriguing mystery with twists and is a great edition to the series and one that I would recommend to lovers of this genre.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very late to this series as The Echo of the Dead is the 19th book in this series by Alex Gray. A thrilling murder mystery set in the beautiful but treacherous landscape of the Scottish Highlands. What starts out as a simple climbing trip in Glencoe for DSI William Lorimer and his friend Daniel, ends with the search for a serial killer. DSI Lorimer leads the investigation as he tries to uncover the truth behind the brutal killings. The book is full of twists and turns as Lorimer and his team try to unravel the clues and track down the killer. The writing is engaging and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to get lost in the story. The setting of the highlands adds an eerie and atmospheric quality to the book, and the descriptions of the landscape are vivid and immersive. Overall, The Echo of the Dead is a captivating and suspenseful read that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

[Chrissie Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three-Point-Five Star actually and if those of you recognize my name perhaps might be surprised at the low level of love I had for this the #19th in the Lorimer series believe me when I say I was surprised also. I think taking this one out into the country with the thinner air (perhaps!) up the mountain made it less of a real Lorimer mystery for me. It was very disjointed, too wordy, no surprises and just real draggy. I do love the newest addition to the line up of Daniel Kohi and would have preferred a little bit more of him and a little more of Lorimer himself. All the characters were so one dimensional! I do find that when an author carries on with many books later in a series a book sneaks in on the line up that just wasn't up to snuff so I shall keep my fingers crossed as to book #20. (I hope I do not become turned off by Lorimer and the gang as I have become with J. D. Robb's Eve Dallas.)

[Nancy]

After a stressful winter, DSI William Lorimer is enjoying some time away from Glasgow. He and his new friend, Daniel Kohi, have retreated to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to unwind. But what awaits them is far from a holiday.

Despite its troubled history, the mountain village of Glencoe is now a popular resort, famed for its close-knit community, its breath-taking scenery and the warm welcome it offers weary travellers. So it's particularly shocking when two bodies are discovered in quick succession on the nearby peaks . . .

With a potential serial killer on the loose, Lorimer's Major Incidents Team are drafted in from Glasgow. It's clear that a dark secret lurks beneath the wild beauty of this place. But will Lorimer manage to root it out before the killer strikes again?

Great.
__

[Gemma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of this one unfortunately, I liked the highland setting but didn’t find the story that believable and the way each chapter ended with a mildly cryptic foreshadowing statement got annoying. The dialogue between Lorimer and the lawyer at the end of the book was not very well written - would a superintendent ever say “you do know he did x y z” before an interview with a suspect? It just seemed weird and unprofessional? I don’t know. Also this may be a coincidence as I have only read two Alex Gray books, but both involved the death of gay man and I always feel a little frustrated when an author relies on the ‘repressed sexuality’ trope, especially when the main character seems entirely unaware that stigma still exists… this was a miss for me.

[John Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a worthy novel in the DCI Lorimer series - #19, which no doubt proves its general popularity. This one can certainly be read as a stand-alone, though. It is a suspenseful mystery, with a new character added in the form of Daniel Kohi, black ex-police inspector from Zimbabwe, and maybe looking to join Police Scotland.
Characters are well developed in this novel, as usual with this author. This does tend to make the book longer, but I guess I will forgive that. There's a thread of homosexuality which may provide motive for the crimes. As the action takes place in Glencoe, where a famous historic massacre took place, could there perhaps be a link with the past?
It won't be an easy one for whodunnit lovers to solve, and the ending is rather sudden.
I rate this 4.1.

[Cindy-Lou Ramsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn't grab me, sadly

Have enjoyed them in the past, an easy read, but this one fell flat for me. Could see it coming a mile away, which took away the suspense. A crime book with no suspense is a damp squib. Makes me wonder whether half the attraction for me is the numerous mentions of Glasgow places, it was a different location for this one and it fell short. Shame, quite like Lorimer usually, but it was just all too obvious this time round so I lost interest. Maybe others will like the scenery more than me?

[MR MD LITTLEMORE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another belter!

Expertly read by David Monteath, Alex Gray mixes a notorious event from the past, the Massacre at Glencoe, with a modern day murder mystery that keeps the reader in suspense until the denouement. His new ‘partner’ a Zimbabwean refugee adds an ‘exotic’ element plus a developing love story. Highland mountain scenes abound. A book that will especially delight readers of Scottish detective stories. If you like the likes of JD Kirk, Neil Lancaster, and Callum Dalziel, you will love ECHO OF THE DEAD.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The location in Glencoe and Ballachullish made this book fun since I’ve visited this beautiful area before. This was the first one of this series that I’ve read and the story held my interest for the most part. It is the sort of series where you can read book 19 and not be in the dark about anything. So there’s not a lot of back story or interwoven plot lines. The characters are very surface level and stereotypical. It’s sort of like Murder She Wrote in the Highlands. When the answer to the mystery is revealed, it is underwhelming and the motivation doesn’t make much sense.

[Janice Forman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely 3+ or more. I basically don’t give thriller/detective stories more than a three but I thoroughly enjoyed reading Echo of the Dead and felt it was worthy of more than a 3.

Enjoying some time away from Glasgow, DSI Lorimer is enjoying a respite hiking the Scottish highlands with his friend, Daniel Kohi when they make the gruesome discovery of a body on a ledge. However, the situation becomes even more complicated when two more murdered bodies are discovered in the mountain village of Glencoe; a village not without its own history of the massacred MacDonald Clan.

[Sally Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When two young men are murdered in the beautiful mountains at Glencoe, Lorimer and his team are initially puzzled as to if or how the deaths are connected. There is also a third death on the mountain which appears to be accidental, but is it in fact linked to the other crimes ? In a close knit community it becomes difficult to determine whether the killer is a local person, or a stranger who has already left the area. A good fast moving story with many descriptions of the beautiful Scottish scenery .

[Kay Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant murder mystery. This is the first Alex Grey I have read and I will certainly be reading more. This is set in the Highlands of Scotland and the descriptions of the area are really good and you can almost feel the cold and the mist on the mountains. The story has really good strong lead characters. There are plenty of twists and turns, I didn't see what was coming at the end. Stunning story.

[Sandra McCourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeh this one was pretty good. Set up in the highlands of Scotland where Lorimer goes hillwalking with his new friend Daniel and guess what . They find a body. It goes from there. I was just over halfway through the book when I began to realise that the murder could be 2 people. I dismissed one as it was too obvious and was right about the second. This book has a good plot and of course our hero superintendent gets involved in it all the way. But it makes for good reading. Like this one

[Joyce Rigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story following Lorimer and his team. Brilliant descriptions of the highland area I visited once and to which I am now determined to return. As always a difficult murder, a lot of possible suspects and a satisfactory solution. With a hint of a romance for Daniel and Molly I am certainly looking forward to the next episode.