Staff Reviews

I like this gritty series about a gutsy female detective in Glasgow.  DS Alex Morrow came up the hard way, no hands up the ladder for this woman, she worked her way up the ranks to a position for those usually more politically astute than the feisty Alex.  Not to mention her background, secrets lurk therein.  Her marriage is in tatters.  Social interactions are not her strong point, even when she tries she generally wrong foots it. Alex has a deep desire for order, but even that seems to fail her lately.  What keeps her going is a job she does well and cares about fiercely.  The next plum assignment was promised to her but when a man is kidnapped from his home at gunpoint, her rival, DS Bannerman is picked to head the investigation with Alex assisting.  Bannerman has all the social niceties and political connections Alex lacks, he is third generation police.  Fuming over the unfairness, she does what she is best at.  She investigates.  The armed intruders burst into the house demanding “Bob”.  There were no Bob’s present; the sons of the family were Omar and Billal.  When no Bobs were forthcoming they kidnapped one of the family and fled, demanding a king’s ransom. The home was a modest middle class abode, comfortably appointed but not lavish, full of the pleasant odors of home cooking.  It was not the type of place to justify a belief in that kind of ransom potential.  As the clock ticks on, Alex keeps her focus on solving the puzzle and saving the victim.  Lots of twists and turns.