A Dead Man Walking

DCI Logan Crime Thrillers #18

by J.D. Kirk

A remote Highland castle. A dark and stormy night. A murder most haunting. It’s Halloween, and when an elderly billionaire is discovered dead in the locked study of his stately Highland home, DCI Jack Logan and his team must race the worsening weather to get to the scene of the crime. There, among the victim’s extended family and staff, Jack finds no shortage of suspects. Everyone, it seems, had reason to want the old man dead, and they all have something to hide. Cut off from back-up by the worst storm in decades, and with the cast and crew of a TV ghost hunting show seriously cramping his style, Jack’s only chance of solving his latest case is by going back to basics. But the castle’s residents won’t give him a minute to think. Not even the dead ones… Tartan Noir meets Agatha Christie in A Dead Man Walking, the 18th book in the number-one-bestselling DCI Logan Scottish crime fiction series from author, JD Kirk.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Scotland

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

JD Kirk is the pen name of multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, and writer of comics, Barry Hutchison.

JD Kirk lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, two children, and a number of sturdy umbrellas. Despite writing from a young age, 'A Litter of Bones' is his first novel, and combines his love of the Highlands, crime thrillers, and cats.

Reviews

[Karly · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ still entertaining, but fairly average stars!!!

DCI Jack Logan is back with his team and the setting is Halloween in a remote highland castle. A dark and story haunting night when an elderly billionaire is discovered dead in his locked study.

There are no shortage of suspects, and no shortage of people who prefer to see the billionaire on the wrong side of alive.

To make matters worse the TV crew from a ghost hunting show are stuck in the castle when the murder occurs making Jack’s job even more infuriating.

So… this hurts… but this is the only DCI Logan novel I have given under a 4 star rating. Most of them I have rated a 5. Up front though… this is not a bad book, but compared to the other books in this series it is definitely not the strongest. For me, it felt about 150 pages too long.

My main beef was the length… it is a standard length for one of these novels and normally I blast through them with ease. I found myself labouring on this one because there wasn’t enough happening. This kind of locked room, stuck in a haunted castle style would have been better suited to a novella like a #17.5 type thing… not a full length novel on its own.

There was too much repetition and too many of the same things happening over and over. Tyler who we all love if you read these books was getting into too many dumb situations. We expect this, we do, but not this many times. Also surely this character should get some development. Is he going to be a scary cat the entire time? I get that he’s heroic in his own way but … I think he would have grown a lot more by now. He can still be funny without being the dumb dickhead that everyone just laughs at.

Minor spoiler: scroll down…

I am not gonna lie, Tammy-Joe Swanny, I am sick of her… I am actually quite glad shes leaving but that is going to make reading the other series all the more annoying given I already hate Heather Filson… well we shall see.

This one felt long and a little boring if I am honest, which I hate to say. I love these books so much and I recommend them to most people (not you Lit with Leigh - you wont like these hahaha), but this one was hard going.

I still got some laughs which was great but there just simply wasn’t enough to keep me intrigued the whole time. It got a bit wild in places but there was not enough storyline.

Anyway… I am moving into repetitive territory so I will leave it there…. Having said all that I will not give up on this series I still love it, and this was not a bad book at all. If you love the series still read it. But out of all 18 books this has been the weakest IN MY OPINION.

Overall, definitely read it if you are reading the series, if you are a dive right in and start anywhere person, choose another one.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart breaks giving a JD Kirk novel 3.5 stars!

A combo Agatha Christie/Cluedo novel with swearing.

On the upside: there was the usual humour but I didn’t have any laugh out loud moments. The gothic/locked-room setting worked well. It felt like I was reading the book version of Cluedo and a good Agatha Christie is never a bad thing.

On the downside: only a handful of the main characters play a significant part in this novel. The story felt unnecessarily protracted. The culprit was easy to spot (highly unusual for this author). The subplots were annoyingly cliche. Finally, for a regular length book it felt never-ending.

Overall: JD Kirk is one of only two or three authors whose books I purchase (rather than borrow) and I will still be buying whatever he puts out. Jack Logan and Bob Hoon would be at the top of my favourite literary characters (ever). One average book in 18 is not the end of the world.

Waiting for whatever he puts out next!

[Vivienne French · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh dear what a disappointment

I have read all the preceding novels and enjoyed them although have become aware of a vein of crass behaviour and stupidity creeping in with some ridiculous story lines. This one takes the biscuit, core characters behaving like idiots, new characters so overdone they’re unbelievable and a story that after a third in has no traction and I’ve given up reading it it’s dreadful.
Such a shame have always looked forward to a new JD Kirk.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this fast, no-nonsense story it definitely had an Agatha Christie vibe going on. This is the kind of book that’s easy to tear through in a few sittings because there’s always another problem waiting around the corner. Anyway I’m getting ahead of myself..

There’s lots of Scottish humour as you’d expect but it’s used more as a coping mechanism than comic relief. Character development takes a back seat which is natural considering how far along in the series we are.

Overall, it’s a fast paced crime, thriller with a smart plot and great characters that does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s tense, sharp, and entertaining plus it has that Agatha Christie vibe I mentioned going on and Bob Hoon who I think maybe my favourite character. Another great instalment in the series which kept me guessing at every turn..

[Irene Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from JD Kirk. Had me laughing out loud as usual. Full of humour and wit and a great read. Join and his sister are big softies at heart and the team are amazing. Hopefully won’t wait too long for the next one!!

[Jake Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One last Jack Logan book to (potentially) end the year. A very enjoyable one with some new classic murder mystery aspects that I’m surprised haven’t appeared in the other 17 books in the series. A rewarding reveal at the end, even if our main character has developed a taste for the dramatic.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost done

Coming to the end of the published books and I am atill.as enthralled with the characters as I was at the beginning. I am looking forward to the next book and then I have to wait until September for the next one and I truly hope its not the last. This has been such a great journey getting to know each and every one of them and I am so happy I binge read them all at once. Its bee?n so good. All the twists and the turns and the love and friendships and the humor. I have actually laughed out loud through them all. My husband was annoyed because it was sometimes in the middle of the night. Once I go ish the next one, I plan on reading the Hoon series because he is such a complex character. Not as complex as Jack maybe, but he's up there. At first, the cussing in them threw me off but I actually stopped even noticing it over the last 15 books and just a!accepted it was part of their Hoons insults were some of the best though. His mouth is the worst but they are so outlandish its funny. "You look like a gargoyle and quasimodo mated!. " was one of my favorites. Its not exactly that but close enough. Thank you Mr Kirk for giving me hours of unending enjoyment. September though really?? Lol. Patience is not one of my virtues

[Jilrene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A locked room mystery in a castle in Scotland. I loved it!

[Love2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK so I finished this book but I haven’t enjoyed it as much as the other books in this series, or even anything else written by JDK. It was like reading a parody or pantomime rather than a murder mystery with JDK’s special brand of humour. I went to see The Mousetrap at a theatre last year and there are so many similarities in this book, from the setting, the lights going out, a murder, someone who isn’t who we thought they were. Agatha even made an appearance in the form of a storm! Tyler’s character is getting a bit ridiculous. I loved the parts of this book where he was more forthright and determined. The book centered around 3 members of Logan’s team and the other members of the team were just bit players on the sidelines. I normally love JDK’s style of writing with murder, humour and compassion, he’s the only author I’ve read who can make me laugh and cry at the same time. But that was lacking in this book. It felt like a watered down version of JDK’s brilliance. Let’s see what the next book offers.

[Rachel Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads and feels like a short story written for a bad comic strip halloween edition.
Not what I was expecting and looking forward to.

Thoroughly enjoyed previous books in series - although the flip from quite dark books to light took a bit of a leap of faith - this one though was dreadful.

In previous books the humour was supplied by Tyler, Hoon and Palmer, which was just sufficiently balanced to accept within the great plot. Now the characters appear to have gone rogue and turned into poorly devised cartoon characters - resulting in a huge disconnect with previews books in series.

This latest book doesn’t even feel like the same author!

The rot started a few books previously with the introduction of Logan’s love interest - just why? Any respect in the judgement of the main character gone in a flash.

[David Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's another book from J D Kirk that's up to his usual standard.

This one though is the nearest yet he's got to Agatha Christie. A murder in a castle, a big storm isolating part of the team, a cast of relatives, a TV crew filming a ghost-hunting series, tunnels, missing people, - oh yes, it's all here. Clues, false leads, misdirection ... you're in for a treat in this fairly long book.

All you need to do is buy it, settle down in a comfy chair, and read.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dead Man Walking is book eighteen in the DCI Logan Crime Thrillers by J. D. Kirk. In the remote part of the Scottish Highlands, on a stormy night, a murder took place behind locked doors. DCI Jack Logan and the team raced to the scene; however, due to the weather, his team became separated, and DCI Jack Logan, Detective Constable Tyler Neish and Detective Constable Tammi-Jo Swanney found themselves stranded on the island with the victim and a house full of murder suspects. The readers of A Dead Man Walking will continue to follow DCI Jack Logan's investigation to discover what happens.

A Dead Man Walking is another fantastic addition to the DCI Logan Crime Thrillers series by J. D. Kirk. I sometimes laugh at the way the characters interact with each other throughout this book. I engage with this book from the first page and commit until the end. I love J. D. Kirk's portrayal of his characters and how they interact throughout this book. A Dead Man Walking is well-written and researched by J. D. Kirk. I like J. D. Kirk's description of the settings of A Dead Man Walking, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of A Dead Man Walking will learn how the weather in the Scottish Highlands can affect law enforcement investigations. Also, the readers of A Dead Man Walking will understand the consequences of jealousy and greed on a person and everyone around them.

I recommend this book.

[janice robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead man walking book 18

Where do I start writing about this book I don't know how you do it but I can't get enough of your book's story lines just get better and better I must have re read every one and don't know how many times but will keep everyone on my kindle

[Kate Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively detective romp in a haunted castle on Halloween. I found the dialogue between characters engaging. Some of the characters were a stretch of the imagination. A great holiday read.

[Phil Robson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but,

Loved this series but this latest outing is trying to hard to be a comedy instead of a procedural crime novel.
Tyler is too pathetic sometimes which gets tiresome, the plot of him and Logan stranded has been done before too
Hoping the next installment and the next DI Fillson are back on form

[Nancy Neely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally enjoy JD Kirk’s books, but I’m getting a little tired of Detective Constable Tyler Neish. How did he ever get to be a cop in the first place? He is fully capable of rising to the occasion, as with Claire, but the rest of the time he acts like a frigging nincompoop. Could the author please make him be a little more mature? Make it seems like he’s growing in the job.

I’m glad there’s going to be another Heather Folsom novel, but sorry to hear that Tammi Jo is going to be there with her. She at least had more sense than Tyler but her incessant chatter is irksome at best.

[Trish Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first Detective Logan books but the past few have been very disappointing. It's like reading a slap-stick comedy - pretty corny and not much there. Maybe they are being written too fast and not given enough time to develop a really good story. Don't know if I will try any more of these books.

[Cinta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read all DCI Logan books, I was looking forward to the latest one. I found in recent books there was lack of depth to the plot, and the book was held up with a lot of humour and character side stories and developments, which were perfectly fine as they kept the interest alive. This book, however, was different. There was a lack of humour, and I just found that although there was the makings of a good plot, it just fell flat. The lack of lead characters to fluff up the gaps meant there was a lot of repetition, and there were references that gave the impression of a good side plot to come but never materialised. I couldn't warm to the characters, which made the book quite drawn-out, the plot felt like it had no real middle, and a sudden "Death in Paradise" style of reveal, which was disappointing. It all seemed very rushed in the end like the author himself had had enough. I'm not sure if I will continue with this series.

[Tony Holdroyd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor

I enjoyed the previous 17 books in this series, but this poor effort has descended into farcical plot lines and caricatures of the main characters. It's a shame. J D Kirk has clearly run out of sensible ideas. I hope that there will be no more silly efforts along these lines.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Isolated Halloween Mystery

Investigating the murder of a Billionaire in his castle on the West coast the team get split into three - split between stuck at the castle; Ullapool and base in Inverness.

The team stuck at the castle spend Halloween with a group of interesting people - one of whom must be the murderer!!!!!!

The book like the rest of the series includes laughs and emotional bits along the way - with the emphasis on the emotional side more the majority of the books in the series.

Can’t wait where the next book in the series take us.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween brings Logan and his team a murder in a remote castle, where the DCI and two members of his team are soon largely cut off from the outside world with a storm raging outside and the only bridge destroyed.
As always, an entertaining read. TJ gets some good moments, though on the whole I'm glad to see her leave at the end of this book.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Logan series, and its spin offs, I think this this is the one I’ve least enjoyed so far.
It just felt a bit cliche.
Halloween night, a murder in an old castle and a storm cuts Jack and co off from the rest of society, effectively creating an Agatha Christie style locked room mystery.
I know the JDK is just having fun, and putting his own spin on that older style murder mystery, but it was all just a bit too cheesy for me. I prefer the dark, gritty murder investigations.
This was just all a bit Scooby Doo for me.

I’ll still read the rest of the series though.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

my lowest rated DCI Jack Logan book

I love these stories. This one though was trying too much with the comedy. Everyone was a comedian. I hope they go back the way they were with just one funny character. But it was still an enjoyable book.

[John Swift · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite DCI Logan book. The characters and their banter are still superb. But I didn’t like the storyline or the setting for the plot. I’ll take a rest from this series now and hope that the next book grips me more.

[Mrs Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never let's you down!

As usual a great story with quite a few twists and turns! These books just get better and , as usual this was no exception!

[Alisha Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really funny. The characters were outrageous and the halloween, spooky vibes were fun!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. Loving this series.

[Harriet Shearsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit like a murder mystery game and not my favourite, I think I figured out pretty early on how it was going to play out BUT as always, it was great writing and the characters still secured a solid 4 star from me.

[Nerys Mellor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up because this had some good humour in it. I enjoyed the cast of characters and felt like they all had pretty well fleshed out personalities, but that these are probably better explained/explored through the whole series, rather than a single installment. Unfortunately I did predict the twist/outcome pretty early on which was a bit disappointing but I enjoyed the dialogue and interactions between the characters and I'd definitely give the series another go at some point. I loved the setting too.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking read, as ever. So pleased that the Goons have a small part to play, and I'm looking forward to finding out how that venture develops!