4★
The Circle. Weird, wicked and evil. As soon as the police plan to question someone, they turn up dead. One suspect is already in prison – couldn’t be him. Or could it?
The story opens with a chilling death, as Ross’s previous two books have. The location is equally scenic, and the beauty of the place makes the activities of The Circle even worse.
“The sun made its final descent into the horizon at its back, casting deep amber rays over the fields while stars began to pop high in the darkening sky above. Nature was the master here and all around her handiwork bloomed; a patchwork blanket of lush green grass, gorse bush and sprouting purple lavender.”
DCI Ryan has been ‘invited’ to meet his lovely girlfriend Anna’s mentor at a secluded old church. Of course, he’s immediately discovered standing, literally red-handed, over the old bloke’s body by a group of visiting pilgrims. Not a good day for Ryan, it would seem. Plus, he has to break the news to Anna that her beloved surrogate father has been shot to death, brains splattered on the old stone walls.
There is far less of the “chiselled-cheekbone” writing in this book, which I appreciated. As soon as I hit what seem like chick-lit bits in a book, I’m aware of being an audience instead of an engrossed reader. Ross is getting better all the time. We’re still reminded of people’s looks and connections, but I recall only one time Ryan wanted to gather Anna in his arms (or something similar).
Instead, we are shown the connection between characters who have adopted each other into their own small-c circle and who worry and look out for each other. Detective Sergeant Frank Phillips and Detective Inspector Denise MacKenzie became an item in a previous book, and their relationship is affectionately portrayed. He performs at a popular karaoke spot, she rolls her eyes but can’t help smiling.
Later “He turned to look at MacKenzie, who was starting to show signs of strain. He took her elegant hand in his broad, knobbly fingers and smiled at the difference between them. . . Phillips gave her fingers a squeeze and looked down at their joined hands. It was enough, for now.
‘Come on, let’s go and find some killers.’
‘You’re such a romantic, Frank.’ ”
And I’m growing fond of slightly bumbling (but increasingly handy) Detective Constable Jack Lowerson, too. I expect to see more of him.
I have digressed from the plot, but I think it’s enough to say great setting, good story well told, and creepy enough murders (without too many grisly details) to keep us guessing. Intrepid detective with good mates, but nobody's above suspicion in these.
I don’t think you need to have read the first two in the DCI Ryan series to enjoy this, but I’m sure it would help. And reading this one first might spoil the fun of the first two if you backtrack. Heck, just read them all.
Thanks to the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity for my advanced reader’s copy for a review.
On to #4 please, Ms Ross!