The ghosts of the past will not be silenced.
Glasgow, 1983, and a beat constable walks away from a bar where he knows a crime is about to be committed. It is a decision that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
In the present, an old fisherman is found dead by Kinloch's shoreline and a stranger with a deadly mission moves into town.
As past and present collide, D.C.I. Jim Daley must confront old friends, new foes and ghosts who will not be silenced.
I am thrilled to be sharing my thoughts on The Death of Remembrance today. Huge thanks to Polygon for sending me an advance copy of the book.
The Death of Remembrance is something of a landmark, being the tenth book in Denzil Meyrick's DCI Daley series. It's also the first I have read and while I acknowledge that starting a series this far into it means I will inevitably have missed much of the ongoing development, I also think it's fascinating to see how an author brings any new readers into the fold. If you're the sort of person who prefers to avoid even the merest suggestion of a spoiler then my recommendation would be to start at the beginning because there are obviously references to past events here. However, I can confidently state that I absolutely loved this book and not only will I be the first in line to read subsequent instalments in the series, I'm planning a Daleython to catch up with the previous novels!
The menacing prologue set fourteen years ago sets the scene perfectly for an immersive storyline that alternates between present day Kinloch and gangland Glasgow in the 1980s, with Brian Scott a pivotal figure throughout. My introduction to DS Brian Scott finds him an alcoholic who brawls in local bars and seems to be throwing what's left of his career away. However, thanks to Denzil Meyrick's empathetic, nuanced portrayal of the man, I was soon able to understand the reasons behind his addiction and crucially, to care about what happened to him. The long-standing friendship between Scott and Jim Daley is one of the most important themes within the book and was a real highlight for me. Troubled detectives are a consistent feature within crime writing and so it's a topic that needs to be handled with care. Denzil Meyrick absolutely nails it and this never feels like a mere plot device; Scott's issues reflect the hard-drinking culture that led to scores of men like his father winding up in an early grave and as much as this is a gripping thriller, it's also a perceptive, believable character study, full of light and shade.
Looming over everything is a long-dead character whose influence continues to poison those he came into contact with. The chapters set in the past paint a picture of a ruthless psychopath who uses whatever means necessary to control those who may be useful to him. He's a despicable character but utterly compelling and even though he only makes sporadic appearances in the book, he's a memorably intimidating antagonist. Meanwhile, the sudden death of a local fisherman is less of a mystery to readers than it is to Daley and Scott but nevertheless, there's a movingly fraught scene after his body has been discovered. This is followed by a passage soon afterwards where the locals discuss the possible identity of the man. They're completely different in tone but together emphasise the warm authenticity infused throughout The Death of Remembrance. The subject matter might often be grim but Denzil Meyrick interjects darkly humorous interludes which expose the quirks and absurdities of life, especially in a small community. One of the funniest moments in the book occurs at a dinner party when alcohol, jealousy and flirtatious spite results in one of the guests remarking it's the best fun they've had in years...
Three newer faces in Kinloch are of particular interest; Ian Macmillan is shunned by the town who hold him responsible for a recent tragedy, DS Shreya Dhar is brought in to covertly investigate the suspect hotelier and a third character has a deadly plan in mind – but limited time to carry it out. What this all means for Daley and Scott is gradually revealed in a plot which never loses focus and becomes increasingly nerve-racking as it seamlessly moves from past to present. There might be a stark contrast between now and then but while it's clear that life has changed, it's perhaps more striking to note how it's the same things that bring out the best and worst in people. Love, family, power and revenge are inexorably intertwined as Daley responds to all leads, even those that might not be easily explained, and the chilling final reckoning that reveals everything is almost unbearably tense.
The Death of Remembrance is one of those books that I raced through but didn't want to end; it's a masterclass in character and plot development, where both complement the other perfectly and the result is an exceptional novel full of drama, suspense and heart. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
It was announced in November that Game of Thrones and BAFTA Scotland award winning actor Rory McCann is set to star as DCI Jim Daley in 8 X 60mins drama adapted from the bestselling novels of Denzil Meyrick.
The Death of Remembrance is published by Polygon, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd. It can be purchased from the publisher's website, bookshop.org, Hive, Waterstones, Kobo, Amazon or from your favourite independent bookshop.
About the Author
Comments
Post a Comment