Voted Culture NL's Book of the Year for 2020

Teenager Alison Doig disappeared from Kinloch over thirty years ago under mysterious circumstances. Her reclusive family still live in a remote part of the Kintyre peninsula, amidst rumours of wrecking, smuggling and barbaric cruelty.

Now rich American hotelier Alice Wenger has arrived in town, determined to punish those who made her suffer in the past. But someone has vowed to keep hidden sins concealed for ever.

Daley’s team must race against time to expose long-held secrets and shameful lies before there are any more victims.

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'Absorbing ... no run-of-the-mill tartan noir'

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'in high demand across the globe ... A runaway hit. Readers instantly warm to Daley'

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'A unique, atmospheric and all-consuming thriller ... DS Scott is "pure dead brilliant”, at times laugh out loud. Meyrick brings his usual skilful storytelling and gives us another engrossing page-turner'

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'With Meyrick it's visceral and this one is no exception from its chillingly atmospheric prologue to the epilogue's final, deadpan line. Will chime with crime connoisseurs'

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'Tragic incidents and mysterious goings-on keep us eagerly turning the pages. And of course there’s a dose of irreverent humour…the historical scenes are beautifully realised from the weather through to the visceral horrors that unfold. … You will be horrified and fascinated in equal measure. There’s no escaping the past, and no escaping family ties. Secrets will always out….Deftly done'

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'Absorbing… Meyrick’s humorous dialogue set this book apart – he has an ability to inject wit into police proceedings'

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'An absolute delight, full of dark humour and packed with warmly drawn and well-developed characters. …an absorbing mystery'

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'A character-driven yarn with plenty of intrigue, but also humour and warmth amidst the murky goings-on. Meyrick proves once again that rural policing can be every bit as captivating, and gritty, as its urban equivalent’

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'The new novel is a rich broth... a fine example of tartan noir, superior to most of the genre... moments of chilling horror... with a fine twist in the tail'

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'Dark, gutsy, and smirky Tartan Noir… wonderful storytelling, Jeremiah’s Bell continues the series in fine style'

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'Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Daley series covers the named detective in the fictional town of Kinloch…The novels are suitably dark and unfold slowly'

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'Spellbinding ... one of the UK's most loved crime writers'

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'A compelling lead ... a satisfyingly twisted plot'

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‘Dripping with mystery, full of moments that will have the nerves jangling, and, if you are anything like me, your face screwing up in the odd wince or too as well… Another absolute winner that really kept me glued to the book whilst completely making my skin crawl. Loved it.’