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Winter Blood
“Ice, bullets and swords – a gripping investigation set in 1930s Estonia. … A must-read for fans of historical crime." Andrew J. Greig.
Estonia, November 1935.
A small independent country, recently nudged into dictatorship, surviving in a Europe whose future is uncertain.
And scandal is threatened when a retired general is found dead in the courtyard of his country manor house, run through with his own sabre.
DCI Jüri Hallmets, a decorated veteran of Estonia’s War of Independence, and his National Serious Crimes team are sent from the capital, Tallinn, to investigate.
Was it suicide or murder? Was there something in the memoirs the general was writing which led to his death? And what about his family, who don’t seem saddened by his passing.
Meanwhile reporter Jaan Kallas comes across evidence of a plot against the current regime. Was the general involved in the plot? Or was knowing about it enough for him to die?
Hallmets and his team must unpeel layers of deception to reveal the shocking truth.Allan Martin is a former teacher and lecturer, who lives to the north of Glasgow. His first novel The Peat Dead was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Debut Award in 2019.
Praise for Allan
“Expertly plotted, and so well researched and described you can practically feel the icy air off the Baltic as you read.”
G. R. Halliday.
“Every crime fiction aficionado will love Allan Martin’s atmospheric Winter Blood.” John Fullerton.“This atmospheric crime novel set on Islay gripped me from the start. Decades-old crimes cast long shadows.” Sarah Ward.
“A mystery so redolent of its island setting that you practically smell the peat and whisky on the pages.” Douglas Skelton.
“Allan Martin’s writing is a masterclass in crime fiction.” Marion Todd.
Estonia, November 1935.
A small independent country, recently nudged into dictatorship, surviving in a Europe whose future is uncertain.
And scandal is threatened when a retired general is found dead in the courtyard of his country manor house, run through with his own sabre.
DCI Jüri Hallmets, a decorated veteran of Estonia’s War of Independence, and his National Serious Crimes team are sent from the capital, Tallinn, to investigate.
Was it suicide or murder? Was there something in the memoirs the general was writing which led to his death? And what about his family, who don’t seem saddened by his passing.
Meanwhile reporter Jaan Kallas comes across evidence of a plot against the current regime. Was the general involved in the plot? Or was knowing about it enough for him to die?
Hallmets and his team must unpeel layers of deception to reveal the shocking truth.Allan Martin is a former teacher and lecturer, who lives to the north of Glasgow. His first novel The Peat Dead was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Debut Award in 2019.
Praise for Allan
“Expertly plotted, and so well researched and described you can practically feel the icy air off the Baltic as you read.”
G. R. Halliday.
“Every crime fiction aficionado will love Allan Martin’s atmospheric Winter Blood.” John Fullerton.“This atmospheric crime novel set on Islay gripped me from the start. Decades-old crimes cast long shadows.” Sarah Ward.
“A mystery so redolent of its island setting that you practically smell the peat and whisky on the pages.” Douglas Skelton.
“Allan Martin’s writing is a masterclass in crime fiction.” Marion Todd.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2022
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12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 24, 2023
Gripping
A great whodunnit. Found it enjoyable and hard to put down. As in most Scandi noir once you have got through local dialogue it drew you in.
Have really enjoyed this series of books do far. Hope there will be more
A great whodunnit. Found it enjoyable and hard to put down. As in most Scandi noir once you have got through local dialogue it drew you in.
Have really enjoyed this series of books do far. Hope there will be more
Displaying 1 of 1 review