Review: Murder in Edinburgh – Joan Livingston

I am a huge fan of mysteries set in the UK. At the top of my list are the books written by Val Penny, an American living in SW Scotland, which is where she sets her books. For this post, I will review Murder in Edinburgh, the first in her DI Hunter Wilson Series.

Actually, this is the second time I’ve read this book. Previously, it was called Hunter’s Chase, when the book was with a different publisher. But it says a lot when I read a book for the second time and enjoy it as much as I did the first.

Murder in Edinburgh starts with the discovery of a woman’s dead body in a shallow grave at a golf course. Actually, one of the book’s ne-er-do-wells trips over the body as he flees from a robbery at a rich man’s house. (The rich man, Sir Peter Myserscough, is a scoundrel himself.) It is apparent the woman, who has no identifying information on her, had been beaten.

Val keeps the action going when a man is struck and killed by a vehicle — Hunter actually witnesses that one. Then a pregnant teenaged girl is hit the same way but kept alive to give her unborn twins a chance, which Val handles masterfully.

I enjoy the lively style Val uses to capture a team of investigators at work and play. Leading the group is DI Hunter Wilson, easily my favorite of her characters. He’s an honest and hardworking detective. No case is too difficult for him and his team to solve — even the one in Murder in Edinburgh.

Despite his serious line of work, there is a fun side to DI Hunter, as in this scene.

A shout and a rush of warm air greeted Hunter as he entered the pub. The rest of his darts team was already there, so Hunter would be playing last leg, again. Tom, the captain, caught sight of him.

“Hey, it’s Clouseau! Good evening, Inspector. What kept you today? A corpse or cursing paperwork?”

“Both.” Hunter grinned as he accepted a pint. This was more like it. Time with good friends instead of that piece of work, Sir Peter Myerscough.

“How are we doing?” Hunter nodded towards the score board.

Tom grinned. “We need you. Come on, Clouseau, you can save us.”

Hunter took his place at the oche.

For sure, Murder in Edinburgh is an enjoyable read. Here are the links to buy a copy:

PAPERBACK: https://www.amazon.com/EDINBURGH-absolutely-gripping-Detective-Mysteries/dp/1805736477

KINDLE: https://www.amazon.com/EDINBURGH-absolutely-gripping-Detective-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0GX34K8HF

PAPERBACK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/EDINBURGH-absolutely-gripping-Detective-Mysteries/dp/1805736477

KINDLE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/EDINBURGH-absolutely-gripping-Detective-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0GX34K8HF

VAL PENNY’S WEBSITE

https://www.valpenny.com