The Blurb:
Ex-priest DI Frank Farrell has returned to his roots in
Dumfries, only to be landed with a disturbing murder case. Even worse, Farrell
knows the victim: Father Boyd, the man who forced him out of the priesthood
eighteen years earlier.
With no leads, Farrell must delve into the old priest's
past, one that is inexorably linked with his own. But his attention is diverted
when a pair of twin boys go missing. The Dumfries police force recover one in
an abandoned church, unharmed. But where is his brother?
As Farrell investigates the two cases, he can't help but
feel targeted. Is someone playing a sinister game, or is he seeing patterns
that don't exist? Either way, it's a game Farrell needs to win before he loses
his grip on his sanity, or someone else turns up dead.
Dead Man's Prayer was published by One More Chapter on 2nd September 2016 and is available from all usual retailers. Why not visit your local independent bookshop? Or online you could try Bert's Books, The Big Green Bookshop, or Hive (which will link to the nearest participating indie bookshop).
Dead Man's Prayer was published by One More Chapter on 2nd September 2016 and is available from all usual retailers. Why not visit your local independent bookshop? Or online you could try Bert's Books, The Big Green Bookshop, or Hive (which will link to the nearest participating indie bookshop).
My Review:
I heard Jackie read a short section of Dead Man's Prayer as part of Crime in the Spotlight at the Bloody Scotland festival maybe four years ago and knew then I wanted to read it. It took me a while to buy it and another while to read it, but I got there in the end!
Eighteen years ago Frank Farrell left the priesthood to join the police, but his faith remains strong. He has just been transferred to his home town of Dumfries when his former senior priest is murdered, quite horrifically. But before that investigation can really get anywhere, two young brothers are kidnapped spreading police resources thin.
Frank is such an interesting character. He's the second policeman I've read recently with a strong Catholic faith, but Frank has actually been a priest. We see him attending Mass and kneeling in prayer at home. His faith is deep, and we see his compassion for his fellow officers in the way he worries about them. He hasn't had a relationship for a long time and his last proper girlfriend is now married to his boss! But he finds himself considering a bit of romance here. The calm moments in the book are provided by Frank, when he finds his own times of peace.
There is dark humour throughout, and Frank's first meeting with his new superior is hysterical. And I loved Mhairi. She's a bit of a party girl, often turning up barely on time or even a little late, looking tired and a bit hungover, and isn't hugely respected by her colleagues. Frank gives her a chance to shine, and she steps up. Their exchanges are a joy.
The case is a tricky one. Frank has to revisit old hurts, and open up to those around him about his own past. And he has to look at his relationship with his mother. He feels that the case is somehow connected to him, and this affects his mental health and judgement.
This is a tense story, particularly as it has children at its centre, and that always gets to me. It's pretty twisty, and twisted actually. it kept me turning the pages because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I certainly didn't foresee how things would turn out.
A fabulous debut, with an original storyline and an interesting, likeable protagonist. I can't wait to see what's next for DI Farrell!
I heard Jackie read a short section of Dead Man's Prayer as part of Crime in the Spotlight at the Bloody Scotland festival maybe four years ago and knew then I wanted to read it. It took me a while to buy it and another while to read it, but I got there in the end!
Eighteen years ago Frank Farrell left the priesthood to join the police, but his faith remains strong. He has just been transferred to his home town of Dumfries when his former senior priest is murdered, quite horrifically. But before that investigation can really get anywhere, two young brothers are kidnapped spreading police resources thin.
Frank is such an interesting character. He's the second policeman I've read recently with a strong Catholic faith, but Frank has actually been a priest. We see him attending Mass and kneeling in prayer at home. His faith is deep, and we see his compassion for his fellow officers in the way he worries about them. He hasn't had a relationship for a long time and his last proper girlfriend is now married to his boss! But he finds himself considering a bit of romance here. The calm moments in the book are provided by Frank, when he finds his own times of peace.
There is dark humour throughout, and Frank's first meeting with his new superior is hysterical. And I loved Mhairi. She's a bit of a party girl, often turning up barely on time or even a little late, looking tired and a bit hungover, and isn't hugely respected by her colleagues. Frank gives her a chance to shine, and she steps up. Their exchanges are a joy.
The case is a tricky one. Frank has to revisit old hurts, and open up to those around him about his own past. And he has to look at his relationship with his mother. He feels that the case is somehow connected to him, and this affects his mental health and judgement.
This is a tense story, particularly as it has children at its centre, and that always gets to me. It's pretty twisty, and twisted actually. it kept me turning the pages because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I certainly didn't foresee how things would turn out.
A fabulous debut, with an original storyline and an interesting, likeable protagonist. I can't wait to see what's next for DI Farrell!
The Author:
Jackie Baldwin was born in Dumfries. She studied law at
Edinburgh University returning to Dumfries to practice criminal and family law
for the next twenty years. During that time she married and had two children
and a variety of pets. She later retrained as a hypnotherapist. Her DI Frank
Farrell series is set in Dumfries and Galloway in SW Scotland. She has recently
moved closer to Edinburgh
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