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The DI Jack Knox Mysteries #1
The Innocent and the Dead / The Labyrinth
One woman found dead. Another kidnapped. Two cases. Two books. One overworked Scottish detective.
When the body of an attractive young woman is found in woodland on Edinburgh’s iconic Calton Hill, DI Jack Knox quickly establishes that she had worked as a prostitute.
For this reason, getting people who knew her to come forward will prove difficult. Knox will have to cut through their lies, establish a motive and collar the killer.
This is the detective’s dilemma in LABYRINTH, the prequel to a new series of mysteries set in Scotland’s capital.
In THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD, the second book in the series, DI Jack Knox is called in to investigate a high-profile case. A local distiller’s daughter has gone missing, and when he receives a ransom note, his fears that it is a kidnapping are confirmed.
Knox decides to take a serious risk to capture the abductors, but the stakes could not be higher. The father is wealthy and well-connected. If Knox’s gamble goes wrong, he’ll have hell to pay.
DI Jack Knox is a likeable detective. He likes the odd dram, hankers after his family who are based in Australia, and has a relationship with a colleague he tries to keep under wraps.
When the body of an attractive young woman is found in woodland on Edinburgh’s iconic Calton Hill, DI Jack Knox quickly establishes that she had worked as a prostitute.
For this reason, getting people who knew her to come forward will prove difficult. Knox will have to cut through their lies, establish a motive and collar the killer.
This is the detective’s dilemma in LABYRINTH, the prequel to a new series of mysteries set in Scotland’s capital.
In THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD, the second book in the series, DI Jack Knox is called in to investigate a high-profile case. A local distiller’s daughter has gone missing, and when he receives a ransom note, his fears that it is a kidnapping are confirmed.
Knox decides to take a serious risk to capture the abductors, but the stakes could not be higher. The father is wealthy and well-connected. If Knox’s gamble goes wrong, he’ll have hell to pay.
DI Jack Knox is a likeable detective. He likes the odd dram, hankers after his family who are based in Australia, and has a relationship with a colleague he tries to keep under wraps.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2019
740 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Robert McNeill
15 books35 followersRobert McNeill was born Edinburgh, Scotland. He took up freelance journalism in 1990, after spending many years in direct sales. His feature articles have appeared in many publications worldwide. He has also written several westerns and WWII novels.
Since 2018, however, Robert, an avid reader of crime fiction (and a particular admirer of the works of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Peter James and Lawrence Block) has concentrated on his own police procedural crime series featuring Edinburgh detective Jack Knox.
There are currently seven books in the series: THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD, MURDER AT FLOOD TIDE, DEAD OF NIGHT, NOUGHTS AND CROSSES, A VIEW TO MURDER, CONFESSION TO MURDER AND DON'T CRY DARLING.
‘As a native of Edinburgh, I’m particularly interested in the history of the city as a setting for crime,’ Robert says. ‘In the late eighteenth century, well-heeled citizenry of the medieval Old Town began moving across the Nor Loch (the area where Princes Street Gardens is now situated) to the Georgian New Town, where they lived in comparative splendour,’ he adds.
‘A villain who took advantage of these changes was Deacon William Brodie, a cabinet-maker and much-respected city councillor by day, who maintained a secret life as a housebreaker by night. Brodie was caught stealing from one of those elegant new mansions and hanged at the Old Tolbooth on the city’s High Street in October, 1788.
‘Brodie was also the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde,’ Robert explains. ‘And a character with traits not dissimilar to the people Knox runs into in his investigations.’
Since 2018, however, Robert, an avid reader of crime fiction (and a particular admirer of the works of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Peter James and Lawrence Block) has concentrated on his own police procedural crime series featuring Edinburgh detective Jack Knox.
There are currently seven books in the series: THE INNOCENT AND THE DEAD, MURDER AT FLOOD TIDE, DEAD OF NIGHT, NOUGHTS AND CROSSES, A VIEW TO MURDER, CONFESSION TO MURDER AND DON'T CRY DARLING.
‘As a native of Edinburgh, I’m particularly interested in the history of the city as a setting for crime,’ Robert says. ‘In the late eighteenth century, well-heeled citizenry of the medieval Old Town began moving across the Nor Loch (the area where Princes Street Gardens is now situated) to the Georgian New Town, where they lived in comparative splendour,’ he adds.
‘A villain who took advantage of these changes was Deacon William Brodie, a cabinet-maker and much-respected city councillor by day, who maintained a secret life as a housebreaker by night. Brodie was caught stealing from one of those elegant new mansions and hanged at the Old Tolbooth on the city’s High Street in October, 1788.
‘Brodie was also the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde,’ Robert explains. ‘And a character with traits not dissimilar to the people Knox runs into in his investigations.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 13, 2020
Gorgeous cover and the writing was competent and clean but I felt the first story lacked more depth somehow. I never really got to grips with Knox for some reason - perhaps because this was divided into two separate books.
September 16, 2023
Competent but dull. And clichéd. Forty something guy has a relationship with 20 something lovely and dutiful female colleague, no strings attached. Evenings of smoked salmon, several fingers of whisky and frank Sinatra. Really???
November 19, 2019
Really sorry to say that I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. Not sure why but think that I found in quite boring in places.
I enjoyed the story line and clearly the relationship between Mason and her boss is set to develop in future books.
I enjoyed the story line and clearly the relationship between Mason and her boss is set to develop in future books.
December 10, 2021
DI Jack Knox in Action
This book contains two of Detective Jack Knox’s cases: The Labyrinth and The Innocent the and the Dead. Both are police procedural mysteries set in Scotland.
In The Labyrinth Knox is investigating the death of a young woman whose body was discovered on Calton Hill, one of Edinburgh’s most popular tourist attractions close to the car park. Death was caused by asphyxiation due to strangulation. The man who found the body had come from a popular club, and was walking to clear his head. Who could commit such a dastardly deed?
In The Innocent and the Dead Knox is investigating the kidnapping of a young woman on her way home from the swimming pool. She’s the daughter of Sir Nigel Tavener, the wealthy and influential head of Lochmore Distillers. What do the kidnappers want?
Read The Labyrinth and The Innocent and the Dead to see Knox solve his cases!
❤️✝️✡️❤️
This book contains two of Detective Jack Knox’s cases: The Labyrinth and The Innocent the and the Dead. Both are police procedural mysteries set in Scotland.
In The Labyrinth Knox is investigating the death of a young woman whose body was discovered on Calton Hill, one of Edinburgh’s most popular tourist attractions close to the car park. Death was caused by asphyxiation due to strangulation. The man who found the body had come from a popular club, and was walking to clear his head. Who could commit such a dastardly deed?
In The Innocent and the Dead Knox is investigating the kidnapping of a young woman on her way home from the swimming pool. She’s the daughter of Sir Nigel Tavener, the wealthy and influential head of Lochmore Distillers. What do the kidnappers want?
Read The Labyrinth and The Innocent and the Dead to see Knox solve his cases!
❤️✝️✡️❤️
September 4, 2020
Wonderful
A really good read as I’m very familiar with Edinburgh so could visualise the places that were mentioned. DI Jack Knox could be a long lost cousin as my maiden name is Knox! It was a winner bedsore I started to read it. However, I do not like swearing in any shape or form neither profanity hence 4 stars. I may download the others depending on price. Thank you for an excellent story in both of them.
A really good read as I’m very familiar with Edinburgh so could visualise the places that were mentioned. DI Jack Knox could be a long lost cousin as my maiden name is Knox! It was a winner bedsore I started to read it. However, I do not like swearing in any shape or form neither profanity hence 4 stars. I may download the others depending on price. Thank you for an excellent story in both of them.
July 30, 2025
Audiobook
Story: C, Narration: B
This was such an odd, disjointed book. In some respects, the writing was very detailed about relatively unimportant things/descriptions, but the actual investigations of the various mysteries seemed cursory and haphazardous. Not to mention that several guilty parties seemed quite eager to confess and spare the police extra work.
I also felt nothing for the characters, including DI Knox. Most of the others were just a blur. Maybe they get developed more in later books, but I'm not interested enough to find out. Moving on.
Story: C, Narration: B
This was such an odd, disjointed book. In some respects, the writing was very detailed about relatively unimportant things/descriptions, but the actual investigations of the various mysteries seemed cursory and haphazardous. Not to mention that several guilty parties seemed quite eager to confess and spare the police extra work.
I also felt nothing for the characters, including DI Knox. Most of the others were just a blur. Maybe they get developed more in later books, but I'm not interested enough to find out. Moving on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2024
Really enjoyable entertaining stories
This book is actually two stories The Labyrinth and The Innocent and the Dead. Both are entertaining police procedurals, that are really well written with a great lead character in DI Jack Knox. Both stories have a few twists and turns, false,leads and suspects to keep you well involved. Narration is perfect, I am not a native but the accents sound genuine. I have just bought most of the series. Highly recommended.
This book is actually two stories The Labyrinth and The Innocent and the Dead. Both are entertaining police procedurals, that are really well written with a great lead character in DI Jack Knox. Both stories have a few twists and turns, false,leads and suspects to keep you well involved. Narration is perfect, I am not a native but the accents sound genuine. I have just bought most of the series. Highly recommended.
May 30, 2025
I thought these stories were well written but formulaic, with a lot of the older more traditional tropes of the genre present that don't add an awful lot of depth; such as the relationship between the older Knox and is much younger colleague.
I can see why these two shorter stories were put together as well, they do not have enough substance to be stretched into full length narratives, but they are nevertheless engaging and the payoffs are satisfying.
I can see why these two shorter stories were put together as well, they do not have enough substance to be stretched into full length narratives, but they are nevertheless engaging and the payoffs are satisfying.
January 9, 2020
Interesting!
This has 2 mysteries; part 1 is the prequel, introduces D I Jack Knox , a member of Police Scotland. A sex worker is found murdered and his team investigates. Part 2 involves a kidnapped daughter of a wealthy man and the attempt to find her; a secondary tale also involves a murder. This is a busy, efficient team of police!
This has 2 mysteries; part 1 is the prequel, introduces D I Jack Knox , a member of Police Scotland. A sex worker is found murdered and his team investigates. Part 2 involves a kidnapped daughter of a wealthy man and the attempt to find her; a secondary tale also involves a murder. This is a busy, efficient team of police!
January 28, 2020
Ah, skullduggery...
The bad ones meet their match when they run afoul of the law in Scotland as they try to steal and rob. Well-written with a tight story line, easy to follow and straightforward. Recommended to anyone who is familiar with things Scottish, even if it is single malt.
The bad ones meet their match when they run afoul of the law in Scotland as they try to steal and rob. Well-written with a tight story line, easy to follow and straightforward. Recommended to anyone who is familiar with things Scottish, even if it is single malt.
April 15, 2022
I love any story set in atmospheric Edinburgh but i'm not sure if i'll read any more in this series...my mind kept wandering a bit and one thing driving me crazy was how often the word 'said' was used, he said, she said, the other said, she said again...but i do love the setting and maybe the series will pick up a bit so i'm not totally writing it off.
July 19, 2024
Includes a prequel The Labyrinth - The body of 27 year old Elizabeth O'Brian is discovered on Calton Hill, Edinburgh.
In the Innocent and the Dead daughter of wealthy Sir Nigel Tavener is kidnapped for ransom. With the police involved against the kidnappers instructions will she survive. Meanwhile the body of 18 year old Patti McCormack has been found in Figgate Park.
Entertaining modern mysteries
In the Innocent and the Dead daughter of wealthy Sir Nigel Tavener is kidnapped for ransom. With the police involved against the kidnappers instructions will she survive. Meanwhile the body of 18 year old Patti McCormack has been found in Figgate Park.
Entertaining modern mysteries
October 9, 2025
As I was on holiday while reading the prequel, I decided to read the first book proper in the series. - The Innocent and The Dead.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the pace, storyline and characters in this book DI Jack Knox and his supporting company of characters are very well-drawn and believable, and I love the settings of the story.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the pace, storyline and characters in this book DI Jack Knox and his supporting company of characters are very well-drawn and believable, and I love the settings of the story.
February 21, 2020
Nice short stores
Loved the locations living not far from the capital. Book was good but was surprised when it turned out too be 2 short stories in one book but neither one was connected apart from the main characters
Loved the locations living not far from the capital. Book was good but was surprised when it turned out too be 2 short stories in one book but neither one was connected apart from the main characters
January 31, 2021
Pretty good nice to have two cases running in tandem
Enjoyed this, liked the characters and a couple of good twists. This will go on my list of well written Scottish detective stories.
Enjoyed this, liked the characters and a couple of good twists. This will go on my list of well written Scottish detective stories.
Read
July 21, 2022A 2-in-1 book. Read the first, skimmed the second. Unlike many UK police themed books, this one was sans crude language. If was also FULL of tidbits about Edinburgh (history, streets, historical sights, etc). Not quite three stars.
April 14, 2023
Well for me a new crime series...I do like running around Edinburgh (which I have visited) but it was pretty simple crimes and felt a bit predictable. It's actually 2 books in one, really an introduction to Jack Knox and his crew. I will read more and give it a chance to improve.
January 23, 2024
Procedure
A fine tale and I enjoyed it immensely. One thing, surely the police would have to destroy any fingerprints or DNA taken during an investigation as long as the person involved isn't charged or found guilty of anything.
A fine tale and I enjoyed it immensely. One thing, surely the police would have to destroy any fingerprints or DNA taken during an investigation as long as the person involved isn't charged or found guilty of anything.
June 12, 2024
I wanted to like this police procedural set in Edinburgh, but I felt it was too short and the story wasn't developed enough. I will try the second in the series and hope that it is better.
I did, however, love the narration by David Monteath.
I did, however, love the narration by David Monteath.
July 27, 2025
Good books
Set in Scotland which is really neat although I don't know most of the area. You don't need to know most of the area. Jack Knox is a cool character along with his fellow officers. I can see me reading more of his books.
Set in Scotland which is really neat although I don't know most of the area. You don't need to know most of the area. Jack Knox is a cool character along with his fellow officers. I can see me reading more of his books.
Read
April 24, 2020Meh.
May 4, 2020
Quite enjoyable. Fairly standard police procedural story. Got the series for a good price so will continue with the rest!
June 28, 2020
First book a peach
I enjoyed this book and like the characters. It kept me throughout and entertained to the surprising end. I will read more of the series.
I enjoyed this book and like the characters. It kept me throughout and entertained to the surprising end. I will read more of the series.
November 18, 2020
Good read as always.😊great story line
a good book for all readers crime fiction.enjoying with some thing for all to read as good as all the other books.
a good book for all readers crime fiction.enjoying with some thing for all to read as good as all the other books.
January 16, 2021
Absolutely brilliant! Really enjoyed both books! The team is so likeable. Would of liked a longer story. Hoping to read more! Highly recommend!
December 19, 2021
Review of innocent and desd
Too much padding and DNA was deleted in Narborough lived there at that time whenever happened dollar of
Rubbish pkay
Too much padding and DNA was deleted in Narborough lived there at that time whenever happened dollar of
Rubbish pkay
March 10, 2022
2 for the price of 1!
Not 5 ⭐️ but not bad. Nicely run together crimes. Will certainly read the next book. It was great getting a prologue as well!
Not 5 ⭐️ but not bad. Nicely run together crimes. Will certainly read the next book. It was great getting a prologue as well!
July 31, 2022
A Very good fast moving Story .. Good Characters ... DI Jack Knox seems a Down to earth Guy and Has an interesting Team around Him
August 7, 2022
Excellent read
Really enjoyed it! Already have the next one! Read number six by chance so now I'm starting at the beginning.
Really enjoyed it! Already have the next one! Read number six by chance so now I'm starting at the beginning.
December 31, 2022
Found the 2 books in 1, both of the same name a little confusing but overall a good start to the series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews