Dark suits and sad songs

Once again I could only borrow this title from the library as an e-book however I soon became enthralled in the story and read it quickly. This book is number three in the DCI Daley series by Denzil Meyrick.

We return to Kinloch in Scotland to witness the dramatic suicide of a civil servant. Shortly afterwards, in Glasgow, his assistant is killed by a passing vehicle when crossing the road. Then two minor players in the local drug trade are assassinated. What is happening in this quiet village on the Scottish coast?

We know from earlier books in the series that there is corruption at high levels in the police force but it soon becomes obvious that the corruption also extends to local politics. DCI Jim Daley and his deputy, DS Brian Scott know that they are out of their depth in this investigation but who can they trust? When a young girl is kidnapped every effort must be made to save her from the person known only as The Dragon.

The story is told from the perspective of DCI Daley but we also learn of the the thoughts and past actions of a range of other characters, adding depth to the story. Jim Daley's private life continues to be a mess that needs to be sorted. Brian Scott also has his problems as he recovers from the trauma of being shot and resorts to the whisky bottle. The book also provides a parade of other characters including Hamish and Annie who contribute to the story and assist in unexpected ways.

There are many layers to these books written by a former policeman. This book is a crime thriller involving the drug trade plus the corruption of power. The book is also about a community of people who should be enjoying living in isolation from the city (Glasgow) and the rest of the world in general. However a sinister presence has invaded their isolated village and surrounding area.

If you enjoy the books of Louise Penny and Donna Leon, who set their series of character driven crime books in a distinct community, you will probably enjoy this series though the description of the murders is a little more violent. The characters from the village speak in the local dialect which is not difficult to follow and adds to the atmosphere of the book as does the description of the local environment.