RANCOUR: A gripping murder mystery set on the west coast of Scotland (Detective Inspector Munro murder mysteries Book 8)
Page 19
‘Aye, you’re not wrong there,’ said Munro. ‘Truth is, Charlie, I’ve not been feeling myself for a while; difficulty breathing, cannae make the stairs like I used to, sweating for no good reason. I knew something was wrong so I bit the bullet and got myself checked out.’
‘And?’
‘Cholesterol. I’d be in better shape if I’d been smoking twenty a day for the last fifty years. The bottom line is, they gave me two options; do nothing and keel over without warning, or take the operation and get another ten, twenty years, maybe.’
‘So, it’s a no brainer,’ said West. ‘You’re having the op.’
‘Of course I am. I’m not ready to slip this mortal coil, lassie. Not just yet.’
‘But a heart op! I mean that’s serious!’
‘Och, it’s no different to changing the fuel pump on that Defender of yours!’
‘God almighty! Sometimes you’re so flipping flippant about everything, it winds me up! So, what happens? Have they talked you through the procedure?’
‘They have indeed,’ said Munro, ‘and if the anaesthetist does his job properly and doesnae finish me off before they start, then I’m in with a shout.’
‘Is it dangerous?’
‘It’s one of the safest procedures around, Charlie. A ninety-five percent success rate.’
‘It’s the five percent that worries me.’
‘I admire your confidence.’
‘So how long does it take?’
‘Oh, six hours, seven maybe. Could be eight.’
‘Eight!’ said West. ‘Eight hours under the knife! Bloody hell, I don’t think I could take that.’
‘You don’t have to.’
‘I bloody well do. Hang on, should you be eating all this if you’re having surgery tomorrow?’
‘Probably not,’ said Munro, ‘but they’re doing my heart lassie, not my belly and I’m not meeting Saint Peter on an empty stomach.’
‘Well, who’s taking you?’
‘No-one of course. I’ll take myself.’
‘You will not! I’ll do it. And I’ll wait until you’re done.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ said Munro. ‘You’ll just be hanging around, getting yourself in a tizz over nothing.’
‘Shut it. No arguments, I’m coming with you. Cheese is ready.’
Unable to recall the last time he’d been reprimanded by anyone other than his wife, Munro – tickled by West’s forthright if not blatantly disrespectful tone – grinned as he slid a sloppy Camembert onto a plate, fired up the steaks, and returned to his seat.
‘There’s something else,’ he said as he retrieved a small, drawstring pouch from his breast pocket. ‘I’d like you to hang on to this for me, just in case.’
‘What is it?’
‘It’s Jean’s wedding ring. You can give it back when I get out.’
Struggling to keep her emotions in check, West smiled as she admired the simple, single emerald set in a silver band, and looked earnestly at Munro.
‘Are you scared?’ she said.
‘Och, Charlie, I’ll be unconscious when they slice open my legs to pillage a few veins. I’ll be unconscious when they crack open my ribs to get to my heart. And I’ll still be unconscious when they hack off the blocked bits and replace them with the new, so to answer your question: am I scared?’
Munro drained his glass and winked.
‘I’m not scared, lassie. I’m petrified. Aye, that’s the word. Petrified.’
Character List
JAMES MUNRO (RETIRED) – Unable to relinquish his duties as a DI, the irrepressible James Munro uses his invaluable experience to trace a missing girl and unwittingly becomes embroiled in the hunt for a double-murderer.
DI CHARLOTTE WEST – Leading the investigation into a murder on the Isle of Arran, West, when left to her own devices, experiences a surge in confidence which has the local constabulary quaking in their boots.
DS DOUGAL McCRAE – Relishing his role as a DS, Dougal, though happiest behind a computer screen, discovers a hitherto unseen side to his personality and shows no mercy when confronting a suspect.
DC DUNCAN REID – Having proved that his maverick approach to policing can get results, DC Reid – given a free rein by West – embraces the opportunity to prove himself further, as long as it doesn’t involve travelling by ferry.
DCI GEORGE ELLIOT – The ebullient DCI Elliot, countering the stress caused by staff cuts and under-funding by indulging in his wife’s cooking, is ready to help Munro whatever the reason.
ALESSANDRO RICCI – A suave, sophisticated Italian with an eye for the girls leaves his native Tuscany under a cloud, but does his arrival in Ayrshire spell trouble for some of the locals?
HELEN SULLIVAN – A single mother in a dead-end job is swept off her feet when a wealthy stranger arrives in town but her delight is soon overshadowed by the disappearance of her daughter.
NICK RILEY – A jobbing journalist with a nose for trouble is rubbing somebody up the wrong way and soon realises he’s made a mistake when the tables are turned.
JOHN McIVER – A burly, benevolent mechanic and leader of the mountain rescue team becomes both angry and confused when accusations of his involvement in a murder begin to fly around the island.
ISLA THOMSON – PE Teacher, fitness freak, and a member of the mountain rescue team, Isla is respected not so much for her selfless role under John McIver, but for her ability to beat any man at arm wrestling in the local pub.
PC BOBBY MACKENZIE – As an islander born and bred, Mackenzie is happy at having to deal with nothing more than the occasional drunk, a lost tourist, or a stolen car, until he meets DI West and sets his sights a wee bit higher.
DR ANDY MCLEOD – The hulking Andy McLeod, happiest in the company of a cadaver with no known cause of death, continues to pursue DI West in the hope of spending his downtime with someone who has a pulse.
Other books in this series:
RANCOUR is the eighth book in this series featuring DI Munro and DS West. Here are details of the other books, all available on Kindle and in paperback:
SHE – Book 1
With a serial killer on their hands, Scottish detective Munro and rookie sergeant West must act fast to trace a woman placed at the scene of crime. Yet discovering her true identity, let alone finding her, proves difficult. Soon they realise the crime is far graver than either of them could have imagined.
amazon.com / amazon.co.uk
AVARICE – Book 2
A sleepy Scottish town, a murder in a glen. The local police chief doesn’t want a fuss and calls in DI Munro to lead the investigation. But Munro is a stickler for procedure, and his sidekick Charlie West has a nose for a cover up. Someone in the town is guilty, will they find out who?
amazon.com / amazon.co.uk
ENMITY – Book 3
When it comes to frustrating a criminal investigation, this killer has all the moves. A spate of murders is causing havoc among in a remote Scottish town. Enter Detective Inspector Munro to catch the red herrings and uncover an elaborate and wicked ruse.
amazon.com / amazon.co.uk
DUPLICITY – Book 4
When a foreign worker casually admits to the murder of a local businessman, detectives in a small Scottish town guess that the victim’s violent death points to a more complex cause. Money appears to be a motive, but will anyone believe that they might be in fact dealing with a crime of passion?
amazon.com / amazon.co.uk
TERMINUS – Book 5
Avid fans of Scottish detective James Munro will be worrying it is the end of the line for their favourite sleuth when, battered and bruised following a hit and run, the veteran crime-solver can’t pin down a likely suspect.
amazon.com / amazon.co.uk
TALION – Book 6
A boy finds a man’s body on a beach. Police quickly suspect foul play when they discover he was part of a local drugs ring. With no shortage of suspects, they have a job pinning anyone down. But when links to a loc
al business are discovered, it seems the detectives may have stumbled upon a much bigger crime than they could have imagined.
amazon.com / amazon.co.uk
PERDITION – Book 7
A man is found dead in his car. A goat is killed with a crossbow. What connects these events in a rural Scottish backwater? DI Charlotte West investigates in this gripping murder mystery that ends with a sucker punch of a twist.
amazon.com / amazon.co.uk
More brilliant fiction by Pete Brassett:
THE WILDER SIDE OF CHAOS
YELLOW MAN
CLAM CHOWDER AT LAFAYETTE AND SPRING
THE GIRL FROM KILKENNY
BROWN BREAD
PRAYER FOR THE DYING
KISS THE GIRLS
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