Five Ways to Kill a Man

DCI Lorimer #7

by Alex Gray

A beautifully crafted, darkly atmospheric crime novel from one of Scotland's most talked-about crime writers  An unpredictable killer is loose on the streets of Glasgow, experimenting with death. Beginning with brute force, the murderer moves on to poison and drowning, greedy for new and better ways to kill. Faced with a string of unconnected victims, DCI Lorimer turns to psychologist and friend Solomon Brightman for his insights. Lorimer is also assigned to review the case of a fatal house fire. His suspicions are raised by shocking omissions in the original investigation. Some uncomfortable questions have been buried but Lorimer is the man to ask them. As the serial killer gets closer to Lorimer's family, can the DCI unmask the volatile murderer before the next victim is found too close to home?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Scotland, Murder Mystery, British Literature, Contemporary

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

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

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I would like to mention that this exciting crime novel is the 7th volume of the very human and lifelike "DCI Lorimer" series.

At the beginning of the book you'll find Edwin Brock's description of "Five ways to Kill a Man", and this description is the basis of this suspenseful crime novel.

As ever the author's storytelling is excellent, all characters are very believable in their dealings with life in general and work related, while police procedures are very well researched and executed in this story.

An unsuspected and unpredictable killer is on the loose by experimenting with ways to kill, while around Greenock the Jackson family, father Ian and mother Pauline, are found burned to death in their home, and during the investigations these different cases will somehow connect with one another, due to a cyclist using a certain bike as a means of transportation.

DCI Lorimer, now acting Detective Superintendent, is sent to Greenock HQ to review the case of the Jackson tragedy, and steadily but surely he will find some inadequacies concerning the who and why, while at the same time old vulnerable ladies are being murdered on their own doorstep, and these cases will eventually intertwine with each other and it will show a devious culprit with a split personality in the end, while DCI Lorimer and his wife Maggie will also suffer a personal tragedy due to this heartless killer.

What is to follow as a whole is a realistic and humanlike police crime story, with a sensitive build-up towards a well executed plot in the end, and all this is brought in a most splendid fashion by the author.

Highly recommended, for this another very enjoyable addition to this wonderful series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "A Compelling Devious Killer Hunt"!

[Kellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring read. The "red herring" was so overdone it was laughable. Even with the attempts to blame another character, it was obvious from the get go who the killer was - yet, we are left at the end to guess as to the motive, or should I say motives. The author painfully takes up pages and pages with minutia and details as to what a character is thinking or what a place looks like, or describing a memorial, and then when it comes to the meat and bones, the MOTIVE, we are left to assume (SPOILER ALERT!) the killer was molested by her father?, emotionally abused by her mother?, simply a psychopath/sociopath or combination of both.

[Paul Penney · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the 7th in the DCI Lorimer series, but it was the first (and last) I decided to try. It is called "Five Ways to Kill a Man", and in the first 5 chapters the reader finds out the first, second, and third ways, with a cold killer in Glasgow taking lives in vastly different ways. I was intrigued to find out the other two ways, so I read on, only to realize at about page 100 that one of those ways is to bore a reader to death with pointless drivel like descriptions of the city of Glasgow, nursing homes, people drinking tea, some cop's wife's illness, people drinking more tea, and what birds are eating at the feeder...zzzzzzz, snore...I could take no more and put it down to read something good, so I'll never know the 5th way. Perhaps it is to slit one's own wrists if this is the only book in the house to read?

[Val Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Gray comes from Glasgow, Scotland. I am delighted at how her writing has developed and strengthened as her writing career has progressed. When I read one of her early books, A Small Weeping, reviewed on this site at http://bookreviewstoday.info/2013/03/..., I did not enjoy the book as much as I had hoped to. However, when I heard her speak recently at the 67th Swanick Writers' Conference, I was struck by what an honest and unassuming woman she is, so I decided to try again. I enjoy crime fiction and have a special place in my heart for the Scottish "Tartan Noir" authors. Alex Grey has always been in the forefront of that group. Indeed, she and Lin Anderson co-founded the Bloody Scotland Crime Writers' Festival that runs annually in Stirling in September.
I picked up her book Five Ways to Kill a Man at her book signing at Swanick, largely because I liked the title. (Although it did make my husband nervous, when I arrived home with it!) It is the seventh book in her series featuring DCI William Lorimer and this book is interesting because the author gives herself time and space to develop the characters of his wife and mother-in-law to culminate in a poignant ending.

The story is set in Glasgow around the time of New Year celebrations. DCI Lorimer sees in the New Year but is focussed on an unpredictable killer loose on the streets of Glasgow . This dark hooded figure lurks in the shadows, experimenting with murder, again and again. Lorimer is faced with a string of seemingly unconnected victims, and also has to review the case of a horrific fire that murdered a wealthy couple, He turns to psychologist and friend Solly Brightman for his insights. The killer gets to closer to Lorimer himself and his family, so he must unmask the serial murderer before the next victim is found too close to home.

Five Ways to Kill a Man is a beautifully crafted, darkly atmospheric crime novel: In under 30 pages we had three murders so the book starts off quite fast paced. The descriptions of locations and minute details are emphasized so even if you are unfamiliar with Glasgow, you get quite a picture. I think for some people it adds enjoyment to a story if you know some of the places it is based in and it was one of the things I did like in this book as I live close to Glasgow and have got to know it reasonably well.

The build up and all the small things in Five Ways to Kill a Man are explained very clearly. However, the motive is largely left to the reader to gleam from the details that are given. Typical Alex Gray, not to insult the reader's intelligence. I enjoyed this book very much and hope to see Alex later this month at Bloody Scotland when, if I am lucky, I will pick up another of her novels.

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 5 days

Pages - 424

Publisher - Little, Brown Book Group

Blurb from Goodreads

A beautifully crafted, darkly atmospheric crime novel from one of Scotland's most talked-about crime writers An unpredictable killer is loose on the streets of Glasgow, experimenting with death. Beginning with brute force, the murderer moves on to poison and drowning, greedy for new and better ways to kill. Faced with a string of unconnected victims, DCI Lorimer turns to psychologist and friend Solomon Brightman for his insights. Lorimer is also assigned to review the case of a fatal house fire. His suspicions are raised by shocking omissions in the original investigation. Some uncomfortable questions have been buried but Lorimer is the man to ask them. As the serial killer gets closer to Lorimer's family, can the DCI unmask the volatile murderer before the next victim is found too close to home?


My Review

DCI Lorimer has a dangerous killer on his hands, to begin with they seem to kill indiscriminately and it takes a bit for the police to catch on their is a serial killer. However once the killer has gained confidence and targets their preferred group, the police pull together and set about "catching their man". Lorimers personal woes are laced through the story, his family life, inlaws. This seemed to be to give the reader a bit more understanding and depth of the character but there is actually a bit more to it which is revealed later.

In under 30 pages we had three murders so the book starts off quite fast paced. The descriptions of locations and minute details are emphasized so even if you are unfamiliar with Glasgow, you get quite a picture. I think for some people it adds enjoyment to a story if you know some of the places it is based in and it was one of the things I did like in this book. I believe this is quite a few along in a series, however I haven't read the previous ones and got on fine with this one.

It isn't too often I guess who the killer is however with this one I did. The build up and all the small things are explained very clearly however the motive is largely left to the reader to gleam from the details that are given. For me this brought the overall enjoyment of the story down and raised questions as to why the killer did a lot of the things they did. I don't like loose ends although some readers enjoy books that do that, for me it is a 3/5. I would read this author again but I won't be rushing to get anymore or chasing up the back catalogue.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn’t like the writing style of this novel. For some reason I can’t put my finger on, I had to read sentences a number of times to have them unjumble in my head. The scariest part is that I could read the Scottish vernacular very easily - it was the larger English buts I had a hard time with. Maybe I shouldn’t have started with the 7th in the series. And I was taken aback by the title. If it’s ways to kill a man, why are old ladies targeted??

[Tony Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

No real action till page 290! Well written though, don't think I'll be going out of my way to read any of his other books.

[Jane Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an older one of Alex Gray’s novels. I have read most of them but had four that I hadn’t read so am trying to rectify that. Thus one was good, although I think her later ones were better. Perhaps she was still feeling her way into the genre. It’s a trifle slow on the story pace, with a bit too much description of what other people are doing or thinking, but it all comes together in the end, and I did enjoy it.

[Nicci · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started really well and then seemed to jump around with far too much time spent describing everything but the other ways to kill a man.
I lost interest in reading this around page 130 so maybe it got better nearer the end...

[Suzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book cover says that Alex Gray does for Glasgow what Ian Rankin does for Edinburgh. I don't agree. And I wish I could give half stars. It's not a 4, but nor is it a 3. I enjoyed it - good psychological mystery, but a simplistic manner of writing that doesn't do justice to the depth of the characters or settings. All the elements are there. I just think it needed a bit more substance. It's not a Rankin, nor is it a Val McDermid, but on the other hand it was a good mystery and a nice change of setting. I'm sure the Glaswegians will be enjoying knowing where each piece was set.

[Jenifer Mohammed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating mystery with fully fleshed out characters with pasts full of secrets some relevant while others were red herrings. Interestingly, Gray takes us into the mind of a beginning and evolving serial killer. I don't want to give spoilers by revealing too much. This is not a fast paced mystery but if you enjoy a slow revelation of information and a more character based thriller, you will love this book as much as I did.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I continue to read Alex Gray's books because her hero is a Glasgow detective. Several pages in when a character was introduced I suspected they were the murderer so the ending was no surprise. Having said that some of the action was exciting and well written.

[Donna Irwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apart from being set around where I live, not much there. Very lightweight.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

very slow not alot of action or excitment

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from Alex Grey. Have read all the books in the series and have enjoyed them all.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good story in this very good series set in Glasgow.

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT

A somber addition to the DCI Lorimer series as a psychopath kills elderly women an eventually Maggie's mother. I was bummed by the story and the outcome. As Acting Detective Superintendent Lorimer is sent to Greenock to review the case of the deaths of Sir Ian and Pauline Jackson by fire,
after DCI Colin Ray is retired having botched the investigation. Ray's wife was dying, his DI Rhoda Martin was wanky and DCI Ray had been warned off looking at anyone other than gang members, by Chief Constable David Isherwood. I swear, too many of these series seem to have higher management police to whom the Peter Principle seems rampant. In the end of this installment, Super Mitchison returns and Lorimer is back to being DCI.

In the investigation it is apparent that a bicylist was stalking one of the victims, and was also seem hurrying from the fire that killed the Jacksons. Not only is bicyling a national pasttime, but there are multiple clubs in the area. The DI is a cylist as is the daughter of the Jackson, Serena. The attacks are made to look like accidents, so it is after the third when a pattern is seen and it is seriously approached. The DI tries to come on to Lorimer, and it appears perhaps that she has tried that on before. The police in Greenock are not a well toned team as Lorimer is used to, but DC Kate Clark is known and liked by Lorimer and becomes a help keeping him informed beyond just the fire review. Sir Ian was well-liked and part of a highly successful technology firm as the investor, Jackson Tannock Technology Systems.

In the end the two cases come together as the daughter Serena is found to be mentally unstable and killed her parents and the women, and abducted Alice Finlay. She was angry that her mother had been having an affair, and her parents had also moved her from their home to an apartment. She had also drugged DI Martin (who was mimicking Serena's style hoping to get into their class and connect with Daniel) and tied her naked to the bed, inferring a sexual encounter gone wrong. She put Maggie's mum in some freezing abandoned tenements that were slated to be destroyed, and as Alice was recovering from a stroke (having just come to the Lorimer's to stay) she did not survive the trauma. A very sad ending, only redeemed by the pregnancy of Dr. Rosie Fergusson.

[Daniele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the DCI Lorimar series that I have read, and I found it easy to get into the book. It has the feel of a standalone. I have not read many books that take place in Scotland so the Glasgow setting is quite appealing since I enjoy armchair travel.

FIVE WAYS TO KILL A MAN is a straight forward crime novel with plenty of atmosphere. My favorite aspect is that we are privy to the birth of a serial killer, the very early days of this person trying out different modes of murder to find what appeals most to them. Dark and a little twisted? Certainly, but infinitely interesting. The story starts out at a fervent, fast pace; there are three murders within the first thirty pages, but it then gets a little bogged down in repetition as Lorimar and the other police take time in realizing that they have a serial killer on their hands since, at first, the deaths do not seem to be related at all. I feel like the red herring is set up quite early in the book, but I was still able to pinpoint the murderer almost as soon as they were introduced. My disappointment with the tale is that we never really know what motivates the killer. There are a few inferences, but readers are left on their own to decide why they do what they do.

The characters are well developed. We are able to get inside several of the characters heads, and this leads to credibility and sense of knowing all of these people. I like DCI Lorimar. He is an honest, well meaning, intelligent man, and I appreciate seeing both his professional and personal personas. It is a great reminder that police are people, too, with lives outside of work and that they are deeply affected by the crimes they investigate. When Lorimar’s investigation hits close to home, the story comes alive, and the intensity and danger is palpable. The last few chapters of the book are definitely the best.

I enjoyed FIVE WAYS TO KILL A GUY well enough and recommend it to fans of police procedurals, especially those not set in the United States.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher and voluntarily shared my opinions here.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel, the latest in the DCI Lorimer series. It is a good combination of investigative procedure, character development, and scene description. The frequent exploration of the personal lives of the characters helped remind me that policemen (and women) are real people with personal lives that also have important events. It reveals as well some of the emotions that policemen experience in their daily work.

Gray uses a sort of universal viewpoint where we are privy to the experiences and thoughts of many characters, including the murderer. I always find that a little disconcerting until I get used to the narrative jumping around to different people and settings.

The plot is a good one as it weaves together the investigations Lorimer is doing with his personal life. We are offered many clues along the way but I was still unsure of the culprit near the end. The style of the narrative is like the English mystery, with little suspense.

I recommend this novel to those who enjoy exploring the psychology behind the behavior of characters while reading a police procedural mystery. I have read earlier book in this series and it was interesting to read more about some of the characters and how their lives are changing. It does read well as a stand alone mystery, however.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

DCI Lorimer has a new serial killer on his hands. There have been three bodies discovered, killed in different ways, and it is not becoming apparent this killer is finding their preferred targets and methods. Trying to find the connection between the victims, Lorimer asks his psychologist for some insight. Then he finds that his own family is being targeted.

This is the first DIC Lorimar story that I have read and think that it could easily be a standalone story. Lorimer is an inspector but he is also a family man with troubles of his own. It doesn’t register right away that they have a serial killer on their hands when the victims are discovered because they have no connection and have died under different means.

This story started of really fast with three murders right in a row. But then we slow down and seemed to flounder. I had an idea of who the killer was quickly after I started the story and will admit that I would like to have had more closure at the end.

This is not a bad story. It’s a fairly decent mystery. At this point I’m on the fence about if I want to go back to the beginning and read the books or leave it lay.

I received Five Ways to Kill a Man from Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this one - certainly an improvement on the previous one of this set. The solution is fairly obvious, but it;s as well written as usual. My bug-bear about this book is the blurb on the back cover, which bears little semblance to the story. Apparently the killer "begins with brute force and moves on to poison and drowning." Yes, strangely a tramp is poisoned, but as he is never found ( and consequently never mentioned again) this seems to have nothing to do with the plot at all. The only drowning mentioned is a 5 yr old kid who's death is another one not investigated bu the police and not tied into the story. And there's no motive given for the main killings, which is a trifle annoying.

[Chrystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five Ways to Kill a Man by Alex Gray - Good

Another outing for DCI Lorimer & co...except now he's acting up as a Superintendent and has been sent to Greenock to review a case of Arson. In the same patch, a serial killer is beginning a spree and getting away with it as the victims and methods are unconnected and seem to be natural causes. Only when one old lady has a diary which mentions a stalker do the police take it seriously.

It will mean Lorimer coming up against some well connected people and may well jeopardise his promotion chances. Only time will tell.

Not my favourite of the series so far, but still a good page turner.

#review

[Nancy]

An unpredictable killer is loose on the streets of Glasgow, experimenting with death. Beginning with brute force, the murderer moves on to poison and drowning, greedy for new and better ways to kill. Faced with a string of unconnected victims, DCI Lorimer turns to psychologist and friend Solomon Brightman for his insights. When Lorimer is also assigned to review the case of a fatal house fire, his suspicions are raised by shocking omissions in the original investigation. Some uncomfortable questions have been buried, but Lorimer is the man to find the answers.

Great.

[Sally Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complicated story in which seemingly random killings of elderly women slowly become connected as the work of a serial killer. With no apparent motive for the murders, Lorimer becomes convinced that the killer is someone who enjoys killing just because they can. At the same time , Lorimer is also investigating the deaths of a local businessman and his wife in a house fire. Originally treated as accidental ,it's obvious the fire was the work of an arsonist. Could all these deaths be connected in some mysterious way ?

[Jan Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our book group had the privilege of meeting the author and she gave us many insights into the genre and how she sets about constructing her books. Fascinating!
The book itself is not a genre that I would naturally select but it did draw me in as it gathered pace. Interesting characters and accurate descriptions of the area in which it’s set.
One of the joys of a book club is it makes you read new authors and genres you’ve never read before.

[Tony Flood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspense increases, with time running out to find a serial killer before they strike again. The problem is that none of the murders seem to be connected. - Tony Flood, author of crime thrillers Stitch Up! - Killer or Victim? and Triple Tease, and celebrity book My Life with the Stars - Sizzling Secrets Spilled!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was unique to say the least. The killer, killed in unique ways for a few of the murders before adapting a sort of pattern. I also thought I knew who the killer was and really only in the last chapter found out if I was right or not. I love not knowing who did it until it is revealed.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a lot of this series and have enjoyed them all, however not sure about this one. Can't really put my finger on why it wasn't as enjoyable as the others. I've read a lot of them out of order but it hasn't spoilt the read in any way!

[Ian McNair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another tale in the life of Lorimer and co, just as intriguing as previous books. This time, the murderer seemed obvious to me fairly early on. Maybe a lucky guess .. I wonder what Solly would think.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, it was one of the earlier in the series, which I had in fact missed out as I had a problem sourcing it.
My only criticism is that I had worked out the killer very near the beginning but still, it was a good read.