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Pitch Black (William Lorimer Series) Kindle Edition

by Alex Gray (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,260 ratings
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International Bestselling Author: A killer appears to be targeting a football club in this police procedural by a “master of Scottish crime writing” (Scottish Daily Express).

When DCI Lorimer returns from his holiday on the island of Mull, he feels a welcome sense of calm. But it doesn’t last long. Kelvin Football Club’s new star midfielder is found brutally stabbed to death in his own home. When his wife is apprehended trying to leave the country, it appears to be a seemingly straightforward new case.

But the grisly murder of a referee after a Kelvin match throws light on some dark secrets. And when the newest player signed to the club becomes the latest victim, Lorimer and his psychological profiler know there’s a serial killer on the loose—one who’s only beginning to show his true colors.

Praise for the series

“Excellent . . . does for Glasgow what Ian Rankin did for Edinburgh in the annals of crime fiction.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Gray’s series should appeal to fans of both procedurals and psychological dissections of crimes.” —Publishers Weekly

“Warm-hearted, atmospheric.” —Ann Cleeves, author of the Vera Stanhope series

“Immensely exciting.” —Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series
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Previous page
  1. Book 5 of 21
    Detective Lorimer
  2. Print length
    455 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  6. Publication date
    March 7, 2017
  7. File size
    1499 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Ian Rankin evokes Edinburgh.” — Daily Mail (UK)

“Gray has no equal when it comes to unmasking killers and she has excelled herself here . . . Gray is the new master of Scottish crime writing.” — Scottish Daily Express

“The 10th in Gray’s popular Glasgow series ... is sure to please fans as it continues to delve into the lives of the cops who solve the tricky mysteries he sets them. “ — Kirkus Reviews on The Swedish Girl

About the Author

Alex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. After studying English and Philosophy at the University of Strathclyde, she worked as a visiting officer for the Department of Health, a time she looks upon as postgraduate education since it proved a rich source of character studies. She then trained as a secondary school teacher of English. 

 

Alex began writing professionally in 1993 and had immediate success with short stories, articles, and commissions for BBC radio programs. She has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers’ Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing. 

 

A regular on the Scottish bestseller lists, she is the author of thirteen DCI Lorimer novels. She is the co-founder of the international Scottish crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, which had its inaugural year in 2012.

 

http://www.alex-gray.com/

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01GZS38U4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (March 7, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1499 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 455 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,260 ratings

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Alex Gray

Alex Gray

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,260 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

William VanZevern
5.0 out of 5 stars Real,ejoyable relaxing mystery reading so well writen.
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
When I was growing up being able to read a mystery by Agatha Cristie was an accomplishment for a young lad of my age (8yrs).
The mystery part was always exciting and cleverly done and one felt a feeling satisfaction at being as a reader part of the tale.
Alex Gray's characters with Inspector Lorimer , his wife and members of his staff as they go about unraveling the crime of each story go far beyond Christie in that feeling. I have most enjoyed all of the books of hers I have read.
All set in rural Scotland with people we foreigners can easily relate to. No social axes to grind, or biases to flaunt just great stories well told and enjoyed. I encourage her to be read.
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Jen
4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Pitch Black
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2014
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This was a new author to me but was a good book to read. Will continue to read the series.
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Elton
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read mystery
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2018
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An entertaining easy read mystery with enough empathy to keep the plot from being too heavy. I always like a good Scottish mystery.
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N. Andreassen
3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't stink but I couldn't get into it
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2017
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I lost interest in Pitch Black (finally gave up even trying to finish it) due to its complete lack of character development: it gets sacrificed to narrative structure. In the first 1/3 of this book, there were something approixmating 40 changes to point of view (i.e., a dizzying series of main characters). That gimmick only works when… well, it never works, IMHO. Because no character occupies "center stage" long enough ever to grow a personality--and that includes, in particular, the near-invisible DCI Lorimer--it was impossible to have any concerns or feelings about any of the approx. 40 characters, except to the extent that a few of them were familiar "types." Nothing really matters in this book, not even deaths, because the novels seems not to be about complex human beings. So, I'd read few chapters of Pitch Black, then I'd read something else instead (and finish it); then I'd try a few more chapters of Pitch Black, but set it aside again; then I'd read two or three other books, and finish them all; and then I tried Pitch Black one more time, but finally I knew that exercise was futile. The plot, by the way, was interesting--but not compelling, I guess.
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Joan N.
4.0 out of 5 stars Police procedure with a human touch
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2017
This novel featuring the police work of DCI Lorimer is a good mixture of police procedure and his personal life. The novel opens with Lorimer and his wife, Maggie, at the end of a much needed vacation. Shortly into the novel Maggie takes in a stray cat. Those elements bring in a personal aspect to Lorimer's police work.

The main draw of the novel is the police investigation. It starts with the stabbing death of a prominent football (soccer) player on a local team. The authorities arrest the wife but Lorimer is not so sure she is guilty. And then a referee is shot at close range and shortly after another footballer is murdered. Lorimer and his team work methodically to uncover the murderer.

I like the Scotland setting of the series. Gray captures the brogue of the locals without making it unreadable. Readers will also get a sense of how much the locals love their football team. It would be a plus for readers to be familiar with and enjoy the sport as it is prominent in this novel.

I grew up on Agatha Christie so I really enjoyed this novel from Gray. I recommend it to those who like reading police procedure when it includes a refreshing amount of the human element. There is not much suspense included but there is a twist at the end.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
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Ann Reno
5.0 out of 5 stars A winner
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
Fascinating reading about the world of Scottish football. Tightly plotted and very convincing characters. Will definitely read more from this author.
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CMash
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read by Alex Gray!
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2017
I recently read THE RIVERMAN by Alex Gray and loved it giving it a 5 star review. So when I had the opportunity to read the next book in this series, I jumped at it. However, I was a bit leery, as I always am when I read a 2nd book by the same author, will it be as good or better? The answer....YES...bring on the next book!!!

Even though this is the 5th book in the series, it reads easily as a stand alone.

DCI Bill Lorimer is back and this time is investigating the murders of Kelvin Football (soccer) Organization. Two players and a referee are killed and another player is missing. And a journalist investigating the case has been shot in broad daylight. Who is the Kelvin Killer?

Alex Gray has a very descriptive writing style, which allows the reader to vividly create images, and in this book, even dialect.

Once again, the suspense had me turning the pages trying to guess who the suspect was. And once again, the ending was surprising.

Another great read by AlexGray!!! Highly recommend!
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Michael L Thomas
3.0 out of 5 stars It's a good plot, but it moves at a glacial pace ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2017
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It's a good plot, but it moves at a glacial pace weighed down by extraneous story lines involving a stray cat and an injured pathologist. Neither of these sideshows advances the plot. If you buy it, buy the Kindle edition so that you can quickly page through the fluff.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good holiday read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2018
Verified Purchase
Well crafted, good characters, keeps you guessing to the end. We really enjoy this author and her different murder stories.
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frances evans
5.0 out of 5 stars alex gray
Reviewed in Spain on August 9, 2017
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Exciting, interesting and unusual. Gray takes you behind the scenes of a premier league football club where a serial killer is executing players.

There is the right level of suspense and DCI Lorrimer and his wife are rounded believable characters.
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Jenifer Mohammed, Author of Resurrecting Cybele
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting!
Reviewed in Canada on February 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
This was an interesting and suspenseful story that kept me guessing to the very end. A murder of a footballer kicks off this mystery and then it seems as if the club is cursed as other murders occur in connection to the club. The truth about the real motives are slowly revealed but this whodunit has its share of red herrings and surprises. A very enjoyable read.
One person found this helpful
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Kenneth Dawson
5.0 out of 5 stars Another good Lorimer story.
Reviewed in Australia on November 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
Another good one in an incredibly reliable series.
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TIM JACKSON
4.0 out of 5 stars A great author.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am an avid fan of Alex Grays work. A good book that keeps you interested. Her characters are believable and it’s evident that she researched prior to writing her novels.
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