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A Double Death on the Black Isle: A Novel (Joanne Ross #2)
by
A.D. Scott
Nothing is ever quite at peace on Scotland's Black Isle- the Traveling people are forever at odds with the locals, the fishermen have nothing in common with the farmers, and the villagers have no connection with the town. But when two deaths occur on the same day, involving the same families from the same estate- the Black Isle seems as forbidding as its name.
Joanne Ross,...more
Joanne Ross,...more
Paperback, 359 pages
Published
September 27th 2011
by Atria Books
(first published August 2nd 2011)
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I adored this mystery. It’s about a double murder that takes place in 1957 in the Scottish Highlands, and the people trying to get to the bottom of what happened are reporters on the small staff of the Highland Gazette. Joanne Ross, 31, is a former typist for the paper and is now a journalist along with Rob McLean, a good friend although he is ten years younger.
Joanne is a single mother of two girls, Annie and “Wee Jean”; she is also a battered wife who finally walked out on her husband three m...more
Joanne is a single mother of two girls, Annie and “Wee Jean”; she is also a battered wife who finally walked out on her husband three m...more
This is the second of MS Scott's books set on the north coast of Scotland at the end of the Great Glen. The story is set in 1957 but you have to be reminded often because it's easy to forget it's not current. The local community is stunned when a fishboat is firebombed in the middle of the day and sinks in the canal and more so when shortly thereafter two men from the same estate die in separate accidents. The people are still recovering from WWII, one of the women is a war widow and one of the...more
I actually thought this second book in the series was better than the first one. Some problems with dialogue, confusion of who said what, seem to have been addressed. The character of Joanne Ross, the freshly independent reporter/typist for the Highland Gazette seems to be evolving very nicely indeed. Her separation from her abusive husband is opening up a whole new world to her, which with the setting in the 1950's is a new world to many. Her relationship to her boss, McAllister, is unfolding i...more
Usually in a murder mystery, we have the death(s) in question, and then follow the sleuth—cop, private eye, or interested bystander—as he or she single-mindedly goes about solving the crime. In this uniquely written book, we do not follow the usual rules.
It would be witty and not too far from the truth to describe this book as a Russian novel set in rural Scotland in 1957. We follow Joanne, who we believe to be the main character; then we follow Patricia, to whom we switch our focus; then we hav...more
It would be witty and not too far from the truth to describe this book as a Russian novel set in rural Scotland in 1957. We follow Joanne, who we believe to be the main character; then we follow Patricia, to whom we switch our focus; then we hav...more
Ideally, I'd give this book 2.5 stars. There is a good story in there trying to get out, but the annoyances keep distracting from it. The story involves the titular double death on the same day in the Black Isle area, just north of Inverness in Scotland. Are they connected? As in the previous book, local prejudices come in to play in deciding who to charge and who not to charge in connection with the death(s). The actual denouement is good. But the book remains too light, and needs to be tighten...more
This book held my interest for a variety of reasons. Well thought out characterizations, good solid writing, multiple plot threads all woven together, the stories focusing on how it was in small communities in Scotland in the 50's for different types of people, like Travelers or women, especially battered women. It also gave a good depiction of how a newspaper was put out in the old days, as I can testify to from my own experience. In short, the author did a great job on her research! I also rea...more
Scott's sophomore effort is just as enjoyable as her first - well-plotted, well-characterized, and well-set. Her portrayal of a small town newspaper in the Highlands is wonderful.
Joanne Ross, still separated from her abusive husband, is settling in to her job at the Gazette, and a host of everyday concerns keep her realistic and at the forefront of the novel. But it's her friend Patricia who plunges the reader into the mystery by privately marrying a fisherman - who just happens to be the captai...more
Joanne Ross, still separated from her abusive husband, is settling in to her job at the Gazette, and a host of everyday concerns keep her realistic and at the forefront of the novel. But it's her friend Patricia who plunges the reader into the mystery by privately marrying a fisherman - who just happens to be the captai...more
A mystery set in the 1950s in the Scottish Highlands. A fishing boat is firebombed and two deaths occur on the same day involving people who live on the same county estate. Joanne Ross, newly promoted from typist to reporter on the Highland Gazette, is asked to work on the story even when her oldest friend, Patricia, seems to be at its center. Scott evokes the atmosphere of the Highland islands and includes the tensions between the Travelers, the fishermen, the farmers, and the upper class, as w...more
I have just discovered A. D. Scott. This is second bk & is a good read. It follows up the first cast of characters, but not necessary to read first bk to enjoy this one. A third bk is out also. Scott is from Scotland, so you get a glimpse into Scotish culture,circa 1950. The story occurs on an island off the coast of Scotland, & involves a murder mystery. The lead is a young woman trying to make it in the world without a "man". Women's rights is big part of story. This is a most enjoyabl...more
I'm so glad I have the 3rd book in this series waiting on my reading table! This was much better than the first book-loved the twist at the end and can't wait to see if "something" will develop between Joanne and McAllister!
"Nothing is ever quite at peace on Scotland's Black Isle- the Traveling people are forever at odds with the locals, the fishermen have nothing in common with the farmers, and the villagers have no connection with the town. But when two deaths occur on the same day, involving...more
"Nothing is ever quite at peace on Scotland's Black Isle- the Traveling people are forever at odds with the locals, the fishermen have nothing in common with the farmers, and the villagers have no connection with the town. But when two deaths occur on the same day, involving...more
The plot is well-crafted, but real. People's motives are not all straight and to the point. The bad guy is not obvious and one of the deaths is not tied up in a neat little bow at the end. Real life can be messy. Scott's book is more than a just a whodunnit though. She explores family loyalty, mother-daughter relationships, difficulties faced by women in a "man's world." She immerses us in Scotland of the era, the landscape, the mindset, the lives of the everyday people and the gentry.
This is th...more
This is th...more
First Line: Cycling across the suspension bridge over the wide, fast-flowing river Joanne Ross looked down-- no, no bodies.
The people living on the Black Isle in Scotland are oftentimes a contentious bunch. The Tinkers are trusted by no one, but their services are badly needed because so many Highlanders died a decade before in the Second World War. The fishermen there have nothing in common with the farmers, and the villages keep themselves apart from the town. When two deaths occur on the same...more
The people living on the Black Isle in Scotland are oftentimes a contentious bunch. The Tinkers are trusted by no one, but their services are badly needed because so many Highlanders died a decade before in the Second World War. The fishermen there have nothing in common with the farmers, and the villages keep themselves apart from the town. When two deaths occur on the same...more
A.D. Scott did it again! A great story, well developed characters and another 'OH WOW!' ending!
We open with the local newspaper reporters Joanne and Rob on a huge breaking story, just in time for their first edition of the 'New and Improved' Highland Gazette. A fishing boat in the harbor has an explosion on board. Sandy, the boat's owner and skipper isn't answering questions and seems to have a chip on his shoulder. Who and what caused the explosion? Why were there not local boys on the crew? Wh...more
We open with the local newspaper reporters Joanne and Rob on a huge breaking story, just in time for their first edition of the 'New and Improved' Highland Gazette. A fishing boat in the harbor has an explosion on board. Sandy, the boat's owner and skipper isn't answering questions and seems to have a chip on his shoulder. Who and what caused the explosion? Why were there not local boys on the crew? Wh...more
“A Double Death on the Black Isle” by A. D. Scott, published by Atria Book.
Category - Mystery/Thriller
A. D. Scott’s first book “A Small Death in the Great Glen” takes place in a rural area of Scotland. The main character is Joanne Ross who is in an abusive marriage. She has two small children and finds a position on the struggling local newspaper, “The Highland Gazette”. Joanne and the newspaper become involved in a murder that is very complicated and mysterious, that leads to a surprise ending....more
Category - Mystery/Thriller
A. D. Scott’s first book “A Small Death in the Great Glen” takes place in a rural area of Scotland. The main character is Joanne Ross who is in an abusive marriage. She has two small children and finds a position on the struggling local newspaper, “The Highland Gazette”. Joanne and the newspaper become involved in a murder that is very complicated and mysterious, that leads to a surprise ending....more
The second in this "Tartan Noir" mystery series set in 1950's Scottish Highlands finds newspaper reporter Joanne Ross assigned to cover a double murder in a nearby community. Not as somber as "A Small Death in the Great Glen," the first in the series, but still quite dark in tone; the two books do not have to be read in chronological order to appreciate. Fans of Ann Cleeves' Shetland series will enjoy this.
Having spent several years as a child living in the Black Isle, this story intrigued me and I had to read it. Scott's portrayal of the characters really highlighted the atmosphere of religious intolerance and prejudice that was, and still is to some extent, so much part of the culture I grew up in. This story resonated with me in a way not many books do.
Jan 17, 2012
Sue
added it
Very good murder mystery taking place in Scotland during the late 50's. The story line involves 3 reporters one of whom is a woman who has left her husband. The only thing it didn't mention at the end was did Joanna get a divorce? Story lets the readers know how women were treated by the public when she leaves her husband after years of abuse. Great story though.
I just could not get interested in this book and didn't finish it. It was like "Hollywood does Scotland", full of "wee" this and "wee" that. If it had been done tongue in cheek, that would have been one thing. But it seems the author was writing it straight. A dull, boring book. Don't bother.
I would like to give this book 3 1/2 stars. I really like the sense of time and place in the mystery, but the jumping-around narration is a detractor. Still, I will be waiting for the third mystery to see what happens next in the Scottish Highlands!
Second in the Joanne Ross, Highland Gazette, series in which an engaging cast of warm and colourful characters, featuring a clever single mother and domestic abuse survivor in a delightfully complicated murder mystery set in a forbidding and intriguing landscape.
As I said earlier, I read these out of sequence. This is #2, but I read #3 before I did this one. Loved it. It makes a nice bridge between the other two books. The characters grow; the plot is nicely complex, and I loved the setting.
Loved A.D. Scott's A Double Death on the Black Island. The characters are drawn well. What will happen next for Joanne? Did Patricia push Her husband at Foyers Falls? Maybe we'll find out in the next book. It is like a picture of Scotland in the 50's, you'll learn new Scottish expressions and customs. It is a great mystery with a surprising ending. I've enjoyed both books so far and can't wait for another.
Okay. I'm hooked. Scottish highlands in the mid 1950s, set in a local newspaper office. Good clear writing, strong characters, good plot. This is the 2nd in the series, wish I had known that, will now read the first. Not fine literature, but not trash either. Good escape reading.
Loved the descriptions of the Scottish Highlands and the engaging dialects of the characters. The mystery unravels slowly but surely as you get caught up in the lives of this small town Scottish village.
Joanne Ross is trying to raise her daughters and protect her reputation. Avoiding the stigma of a woman who left her husband is not easy; it was a daring move to walk out of her marriage in the 1950’s in the Scottish Highlands. But Joanne is not willing to endure the beatings any longer, her job on the Highland Gazette gives her the chance to be self supporting. John McAllister, her editor, is intent on revamping the paper, making it something to be proud of. Two deaths on the same day grab the...more
I was hoping for another Ann Cleeves or Ian Rankin. Sadly, I am having trouble making my through this book. The pace is uneven, and many of the characters are incompletely drawn.
I can't say that I loved this book, but I didn't dislike it either. It almost felt like I was watching a Masterpiece Theater. I agree with the other reviewers that it was if a story was trying to get out. I guess I will have to wait until the next "episode".
Sequel to A Small Death in a Great Glen which I liked a bit better. Love the setting - Scotland, and the characters, especially Joanna Ross.
Ho hum mystery. I wanted to like it, I really did. But just couldn't quite get excited about the characters or the story.
A light read with good local color, set in the Scottish highlands and isles, and a very clear feeling of the morés of the 1950s.
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Pen name of Ann Deborah Nolan.
A. D. Scott was born in the Highlands of Scotland and educated at Inverness Royal Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She has worked in theatre, in magazines, and as a knitwear designer and currently lives in Vietnam and north of Sydney, Australia.
More about A.D. Scott...
A. D. Scott was born in the Highlands of Scotland and educated at Inverness Royal Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She has worked in theatre, in magazines, and as a knitwear designer and currently lives in Vietnam and north of Sydney, Australia.
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