The Blurb
SOMETHING EVIL IS AFOOT . . .
A COUNTRY ABLAZE WITH FEAR
Scotland, 1662. Accused of witchcraft, Jonet and her lover Malcolm flee across a land ruled by fear and superstition. Their path through the Scottish mainland holds peril and an unexpected rescue mission.
A WOMAN IN DANGER
Reaching Dundee they’re granted sanctuary by Sir George Mackenzie, a smart advocate who has defended witches, only to find him facing a crisis of his own. His secret lover Isobel has been abducted by his nemeses, the unscrupulous Blair brothers, and they are claiming she’s a witch!
A MURDEROUS PLOT IN THE MAKING
Is this personal revenge on Sir George or are darker machinations at play? With time running out, Sir George and his loyal allies set out to uncover the chilling truth – a truth that could alter the course of history in its entirety.
Dark Accords was released on 29th October and is published by Severn House (imprint of Joffe Books).
Purchase Link
SOMETHING EVIL IS AFOOT . . .
A COUNTRY ABLAZE WITH FEAR
Scotland, 1662. Accused of witchcraft, Jonet and her lover Malcolm flee across a land ruled by fear and superstition. Their path through the Scottish mainland holds peril and an unexpected rescue mission.
A WOMAN IN DANGER
Reaching Dundee they’re granted sanctuary by Sir George Mackenzie, a smart advocate who has defended witches, only to find him facing a crisis of his own. His secret lover Isobel has been abducted by his nemeses, the unscrupulous Blair brothers, and they are claiming she’s a witch!
A MURDEROUS PLOT IN THE MAKING
Is this personal revenge on Sir George or are darker machinations at play? With time running out, Sir George and his loyal allies set out to uncover the chilling truth – a truth that could alter the course of history in its entirety.
Dark Accords was released on 29th October and is published by Severn House (imprint of Joffe Books).
Purchase Link
https://mybook.to/darkaccords-zbt
My Review
The Author
Gordon Brown, also writing as Morgan Cry, has twelve crime and thriller books published to date, along with a novella and a number of short stories. Gordon is a founding director of Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival and runs a strategic planning consultancy. He lives in Scotland (and when Brexit rules allow, Spain) and is married with two children – who have long since flown the nest. In a former life Gordon delivered pizzas in Toronto, sold non-alcoholic beer in the Middle East, launched a creativity training business, floated a high tech company on the London Stock Exchange, compered the main stage at a two-day music festival and was once booed by 49,000 people while on the pitch at a major football Cup Final.
Author Social Media Links
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/morgancryauthor/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GordonJBrownAuthor/
My Review
Well, this is a change in direction for Morgan Cry, aka Gordon Brown, with his first historical crime thriller, and the first in a new series. And he's picked witches as the subject for this first first into the past, featuring lawyer Sir George Mackenzie. I wasn't sure what to expect but I loved it.
The book opens with Jonet McNicol, accused of being a witch, imprisoned in Rothesay Castle on the Isle of Bute. Her lover, Malcolm, isn't going to rest until Jonet is free but at what cost to him? Eventually, the couple are able to make their way across Scotland to Dundee, and the house of Sir George Mackenzie, having added to their number on the way. They are full of tales of daring and danger. At the same time, a young man calls at the house , with a story of his own, one which hits Sir George hard. Suddenly he has issues aplenty to deal with and must decide where and how to start. Meanwhile, we meet Joseph Blair, brother of David Blair. Neither has a good reputation, but Joseph approaches George with a suggestion that could help them both...
You can't help but like George Mackenzie and what he stands for - justice and the truth. He is clearly well respected, and is obviously a thoroughly decent man.I was rooting for him all the way. I really felt for the women who featured, all of whom had been betrayed, treated badly and threatened with death. I think my favourite characters, though, were Hector and Malcolm. Both wise men, both honourable in their own way and I loved Hector in particular, and his unshakeable loyalty to Sir George, and how George often turned to Hector for advice. The Bowsie is certainly an interesting chap, and one you definitely want on your side in a fight!
I'm going to say very little about the plot for fear of spoilers but there is plenty of tension and peril throughout, and a feeling of threat from beginning to end. I don't know my history very well but things here feel authentic, the landscape, scene setting and language used, and although I did have to look up a lot of words, I liked many I discovered.
Dark Accords is a strong beginning to a new series. Set in at an interesting time in Scotland's past with an engaging central character, it is well written and feels well researched. The supporting cast are cracking and the denouement is full of tension. What more could you ask for?
The Author
Gordon Brown, also writing as Morgan Cry, has twelve crime and thriller books published to date, along with a novella and a number of short stories. Gordon is a founding director of Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival and runs a strategic planning consultancy. He lives in Scotland (and when Brexit rules allow, Spain) and is married with two children – who have long since flown the nest. In a former life Gordon delivered pizzas in Toronto, sold non-alcoholic beer in the Middle East, launched a creativity training business, floated a high tech company on the London Stock Exchange, compered the main stage at a two-day music festival and was once booed by 49,000 people while on the pitch at a major football Cup Final.
Author Social Media Links
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/morgancryauthor/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GordonJBrownAuthor/
