The Last Witness

October 12, 2015
Scottish author Meyrick (Whisky from Small Glasses) makes his U.S. debut with this promising first in a crime series starring Chief Insp. Jim Daley, who’s recently posted to the Scottish town of Kinloch. Five years earlier in Glasgow, Daley helped take down notorious gangster James “JayMac” Machie, only to have Machie gunned down in an attack on a prison ambulance. With the Machie case behind him, Daley can concentrate on his wife, Liz, and keeping the peace in Kinloch. That is, until Gerald and Marna Dowie, a couple closely associated with Machie, are gunned down in Melbourne, Australia, and a familiar face shows up on the CCTV. With the help of his colleague on the Machie case, Det. Sgt. Brian Scott, who also grew up with all the key players, Daley must figure out how a dead man committed murder, and what he’s planning next. A compelling lead and a satisfyingly twisted plot make this a welcome addition to Tartan noir. Agent: Anne Williams, Kate Hordern Literary Agency (U.K.).