Wearing Purple

Oz Blackstone #3

by Quintin Jardine

Newly married to his childhood sweetheart and happily settled in Glasgow, private enquiry agent Oz Blackstone is looking for a touch of the unexpected in his life. And when he's introduced to the seven-foot, granite-muscled figure of Everett Davis, champion wrestler and head of the burgeoning Global Wrestling Alliance, he knows he's found it. The GWA's televised tour of Europe has been dogged by inexplicable technical hitches and terrifying accidents in the ring - leaving Everett convinced that someone is trying to sabotage his business before it can take on the big boys and go global.

Under the inspired disguise of Master of Ceremonies, Oz enters the extraordinary world of professional wrestling to try and unmask the perpetrator. But as he begins to discover the dangerous reality behind the glittering facade, a string of accidents becomes murder, and suddenly Oz has to wrestle with the biggest crisis of his life.

Genres: Mystery, Crime

344 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[comfort · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are reading these books in order, you will know that at the end of the last book Oz and Prim parted ways and Oz has come back to Scotland to marry his childhood sweetheart. I was incredibly sad that they had parted ways and didn't really take much to Jan, even though according to Oz they are soul-mates.

Oz is hired by Everett the owner of a Pro-Wrestling trope to investigate a series of "accidents" that have been occurring at some of the bouts. So far no-one has been badly hurt but things seem to be escalating.
Oz takes on a new "job" as the announcer (as he is undercover) but actually becomes very good. He is soon being recognised for his voice and general good looks by the public.

It is in this book that the most horrific thing imaginable happens which sets Oz up for the rest of his life and he changes (for the worse).

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy the Oz books by Jardine. His books have great twists and turns and usually a few quick giggles.

[Michael Annis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous series

Thanks QJ for another good read. I’ve gone through all the Skinner books this lockdown (I’d read them many years ago but one adavantsgd of being 69 is I can’t remember them so a se ind read) so now onto Oz. Thanks

[Robert Flatman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor

Not one of jardine best fairly unbelievable story Iine about wrestling. Just managed to finish the book but just couldn't get into it.

[Pauline Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely blew me away, talk about a curve ball. Just didn't see the storyline developing as it did, brilliant read

[Ljohnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very unusual topic for a mystery but an enjoyable read none the less.
Oz returns to his true love and then due to circumstances returns to his other love……what???? Read the book.