September 18

Hunter’s Revenge – Val Penny

Hunter by name – Hunter by nature: DI Hunter Wilson will not rest until his friend’s death is avenged.

DI Hunter Wilson is called to the scene of a murder. He is shocked to find the victim is his friend and colleague, George Reinbold.

Who would want to harm the quiet, old man? Why was a book worth £23,000 delivered to him that morning? Why is the security in George’s home so intense?

Hunter must investigate his friend’s past as well as the present to identify George’s killer.

When a new supply of cocaine from Peru floods HMP Edinburgh and the city, the courier leads Hunter to a criminal gang, but Hunter requires the help of his nemesis, the former Chief Constable, Sir Peter Myerscough, and local gangster, Ian Thomson, to make his case.

Hunter’s perseverance and patience are put to the test time after time in this taut crime thriller.

 

My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to join the blog tour.

 

Hunter’s Revenge is the second in The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries series and follows on from the events depicted in the first book: Hunter’s Chase.  I came to Hunter’s Revenge without having first read Hunter’s Chase and I did feel that I would have benefited from reading the first book before tackling Hunter’s Revenge.  While the author does explain the key details that a new reader will need to know to follow the friendships and dynamics, there were a few instances where I felt I had missed something or that I was reading a spoiler from the earlier book.

But that should not detract from the fun to be had with Hunter’s Revenge.   A colleague of DI Hunter Wilson has been gunned down in his own home. The killer escaped undetected but the clinical efficiency which they displayed when committing the murder suggests a professional hit.

The background of the dead man is something of a mystery to the police, despite their long association with him and some digging into his past will be required.  Readers get a head-start in this regard as the prologue takes us back to Eastern Europe some decades ago and a tragic accident which will define a life and end more than one.

This is a complex multi-layered tale and we get more to ponder than a single murder.  Drugs are causing unwelcome problems in Edinburgh prison and the police will need to use all resource available to try to stem the influx of the produce.

The dynamic between the characters was pleasing and there was a good level of dark humour on display – something I find important in my Scottish crime fiction!

Good reading in Hunter’s Revenge and I enjoyed the time I spent with this one.

 

 

Hunter’s Revenge is published by Crooked Cat Books and is available in digital and paperback format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hunters-Revenge-Edinburgh-Crime-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07DY8WHZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1537120711&sr=1-1

 

 

Category: Blog Tours | Comments Off on Hunter’s Revenge – Val Penny
May 13

A Mind Polluted – Martin Geraghty

His world falls apart…

Triggered by overhearing a confession from his mother’s lips when he was a young boy, Connor Boyd carries the burden of the secret through his life.

Is falling in love his saviour? Or will he embark on a journey down a self-destructive path which ultimately leads to his version of justice?

Will he concentrate on his future, or be consumed by his past?

 

My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my review copy and the chance to join the blog tour.

Loose lips sink ships.  In A Mind Polluted it is loose lips which sink Connor Boyd. At age 13 he overhears his parents arguing. Not an uncommon incident, however, on this particular day he hears his mother voice a terrible truth which rocks Connor’s world and will change his destiny forever.

Shocked by what he has heard, Connor’s attitude and approach to life will radically change. He had previously been a promising student at school but he becomes troublesome and disruptive.  He will sneak out at night and hang with the “bad crowd” who will lead Connor further down a dark path.

His relationship with his parents will deteriorate to the point they can hardly recognise their son. He will not explain why he is behaving the way he is, but he firmly holds his mother responsible.

A Mind Polluted is a Glasgow based novel and the dialect and language reflect the city exceedingly well.  The loutish behaviour of the kids in the story is really well realized but most striking is the reader’s view of Connor.  He is a conflicted and complex character and we see his confidence, anger, neurosis, anguish, hopes, worry and fears.  The author will take readers on a harrowing journey and if you get caught up in the tale then Connor will make you angry, upset, elated and frustrated…it is a highly emotive tale to read.

If you are a fan of a strong character driven story then A Mind Polluted is one to seek out.

 

A Mind Polluted is published by Crooked Cat Books and is available in digital and paperback format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-Polluted-Martin-Geraghty-ebook/dp/B07B4G3H9R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526204857&sr=8-1&keywords=a+mind+polluted

Category: Blog Tours, From The Bookshelf | Comments Off on A Mind Polluted – Martin Geraghty