Lethal Intent

Bob Skinner #15

by Quintin Jardine

Four Albanian gangsters have infiltrated Edinburgh. They're ruthless operators and deep undercover. MI5 are on their case, and unknown to Bob Skinner and his men, they've set up a drug-dealing sting to flush them out. The resulting mayhem throws everyone off, but when the dust settles, they realize the gangsters are planning a hit on a member of the Royal Family—a certain prince attending St. Andrew's University. Meanwhile, two high-ranking police officers mourn the loss of a son and a daughter under mysterious circumstances. Are these events linked?

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

376 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4- 4 1/2 star read. This is book #15 in Jardine's excellent Bob Skinner series and as always, it was a very fast paced and interesting read. There are 3 main story lines in this book, one concerns the death of a young boy, the son of a police officer. The second concerns some Albanians who might be up to no good in Edinburgh and the third involves Skinner's nemesis Tommy Murtagh, who plans to put a bill into law to control the police force. Also, there is the state of Bob and Sarah's marriage and his friendship with Aileen de Marco. A twisted and turning read with all the story lines, none going in a straight line, but a rattling good read all in all.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another page turner only perhaps a little far fetched. Bob Skinner rides in and saves the day again.
The son of a policeman is found dead at the base of Edinburgh Castle Rock. A daughter of another policeman dies from a faulty gas appliance in her student digs. A third child is abducted on a ski day with his sister and uncle Mario McGuire.
A group of Albanians arrive in Scotland by devious means. What are they here for? Drugs? No but to help a subversive group of MI6 Intelligence Officers capture the Prince from his university in St. Andrews. Skinner foils the plot.

[Annie Weatherly-Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best. Two operations going along together but are they all they seem? Lots of twists and turns and shocks. I just wish Jardine would sort out Skinner's love life - what a mess he is.

Still the team come up trumps as usual. Superb.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Bob Skinner book but once I started it it felt just like yesterday. Very good storyline and strong characters. Highly recommended.

[Miss Paula H M McNulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Jardine he just doesn't fail. It will be a sad day when there is no more Bob Skinner

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping crime novel with a well constructed plot and great characters.

[Alan Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

First class.

As usual - outstanding. Plot lines and writing style grip the reader right up until the final full stop. RECOMMENDED.

[Lbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book a lot, always like reading about Bob Skinner and Scotland.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series

[Christopher Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, all the usual twists and turns we expect from Jardine but it was a bit more believable than some of the previous Skinner stories.

[Val Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner murder mystery crime novels. This is a genre I enjoy and the novels are set in a beautiful area of the world that I know well that is around Edinburgh and East Lothian, Scotland, UK.

The Bob Skinner stories are set in Edinburgh, and are built around the adventures of the city's wholly fictional deputy chief constable, labelled early on by the publisher's marketing department as ‘Britain's toughest cop’. There are hopes that the Skinner books will one day form the basis of a television series. These hopes beat strongest in the breasts of the author’s publisher and agents and, of course the man himself!

Although Jardine was born in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, in the West of Scotland. He was educated there and in Glasgow, where he studied law, Glasgow University. The author now lives in Gullane, East Lothian he a second home in L’Escala, Costa Brava, Spain.

In this book, four Albanian gangsters have infiltrated Edinburgh. They are absolutely ruthless and deep undercover. MI5 are on their case, and without telling Bob Skinner and his men, they have set up a sting to catch them. The result is mayhem that throws the police out of their comfort zone. When the dust settles, they realize the gangsters are planning an attack on a member of the Royal Family. The book was written when Prince William, was attending St. Andrew's University in Fife, North of Edinburgh.

The novel also deals with two high-ranking police officers mourning the loss of a son and a daughter under mysterious circumstances. It is not clear whether these events are connected and the book really keeps you guessing. Through it all, Bob Skinner and his colleagues continue to keep Scotland safe in unpredictable ways. I sometimes wish Jardine would write his books faster, because look forward to each of his excellent Edinburgh adventures.

This book literally had me guessing up until each reveal. He is one of my favourite authors. Having said that, Jardine does write two other series, but I only like the Bob Skinner books. Other Quintin Jardine books are reviewed on this site: http://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.com... http://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.com... : http://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.com...- jardine/ ‎: http://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.com...

[Lesley Halliday · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really struggled with this book, it was a lot of characters but loved how it was around Edinburgh n Fife. Good ending

[Naomi Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book literally had me guessing up until each reveal. He is my new favorite author. Getting through the hierarchy was a little challenging at first but the story is a page turner. My guesses were all incorrect. The suspense propels the reader along. Bob Skinner is a likeable character. Now I have to go back to the start of the series!! Happily. :)

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Skinner and his colleagues continue to keep Scotland safe in the most intriguing ways. Wish he would write his books faster, because I'm catching up to his newest title! Excellent Edinburgh adventures.

[Mark Baines · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent detective tale, that gets a bit carried away with itself, although an easy read all round. The inclusion of real venues adds colour especially if you know them. Reminds me I must pop in to Ryries soon.

[Sian Taylor]

First time I'd read any of his books; a bit confusing with lots of characters but good none the less.

[Pearl_carys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cerita ni pasal what people willing to do in the name of loyalty kepada negara sampai sanggup betrayed semua orang..

[Robert Ashford · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok. scottishness tothe fore.

[Ljohnston]

More great writing by Mr Jardine
Bob’s marriage can’t survive the past events.