While Robbie Morrison’s Edge of the Grave more-than-gritty prologue stopped me in my tracks – actually putting the book down for a day or two wondering for what I was in store, the subsequent slow build took me a bit to get through with flashbacks but once I got my bearings, it led to a dark but fantastically layered historical noir mystery with interesting characters you care about and want to read more of in future installments.
The Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year award-winner, Edge of the Grave is set in 1932 Glasgow, where poverty, corruption, sectarianism and razor gangs are rampant and where the violence against man, woman or child could be horrific. Family secrets ran just as dark and deep.
Among other crimes, Detective Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and Detective Sergeant “Bonnie” Archie McDaid set out to solve the murder of Charles Geddes, the husband of Dreghorn’s unrequited love – well maybe requited in his youth – daughter of his former boss, a rich and powerful shipbuilder.
I loved the relationship between Jimmy and Archie and the strengths and weaknesses each brought to the story. I also was happy to see Jimmy support the role of WPC Ellen Duncan actively investigating the case and not just fetching male officers a cuppa.
I also enjoyed Morrison’s movie references throughout and wondered whether or not Dreghorn’s film knowledge would lead to the recognition of a clue. Perhaps in the next installment, Cast a Cold Eye, due out in April.
I recommend Edge of the Grave to fans of gritty historical mysteries and British noir. I received this Advance Reader’s copy of Edge of the Grave from Bantam Books, courtesy of NetGalley.
Order online or buy now at your favorite independent bookstore. Mine is Sellers Books and Art in Jim Thorpe, PA.
The Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year award-winner, Edge of the Grave is set in 1932 Glasgow, where poverty, corruption, sectarianism and razor gangs are rampant and where the violence against man, woman or child could be horrific. Family secrets ran just as dark and deep.
Among other crimes, Detective Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and Detective Sergeant “Bonnie” Archie McDaid set out to solve the murder of Charles Geddes, the husband of Dreghorn’s unrequited love – well maybe requited in his youth – daughter of his former boss, a rich and powerful shipbuilder.
I loved the relationship between Jimmy and Archie and the strengths and weaknesses each brought to the story. I also was happy to see Jimmy support the role of WPC Ellen Duncan actively investigating the case and not just fetching male officers a cuppa.
I also enjoyed Morrison’s movie references throughout and wondered whether or not Dreghorn’s film knowledge would lead to the recognition of a clue. Perhaps in the next installment, Cast a Cold Eye, due out in April.
I recommend Edge of the Grave to fans of gritty historical mysteries and British noir. I received this Advance Reader’s copy of Edge of the Grave from Bantam Books, courtesy of NetGalley.
Order online or buy now at your favorite independent bookstore. Mine is Sellers Books and Art in Jim Thorpe, PA.