A Small Weeping by
Alex Gray
pbk out September 04
(Allison Busby)
at £10.99
Another novel based in Glasgow, from a new lady with obvious talent.
Serial murders, dead prostitutes, a profiling psychologist but this time no
paranoid lady detective struggling against aggressive male colleagues.
A tart is found strangled in Queen Street station and DCI Lorimer finds a
carnation clutched in her hands, which are set in a posture of prayer. Soon,
another murder occurs in a private clinic for neuological disorders, and
although this time the victim is one of the nurses, she too has a flower in her
fingers. One of the auxiliaries in the clinic is next to suffer the same fate,
rounded off by yet another whore in the railway station.
All is eventually made clear, though one can spot the villian pretty early on.
Along the way, Lorimer suffers wife trouble, due to his neglecting her
because of his obession with work. Well written, good characterisation with
an interesting excursion to the Outer Hebrides - and wonder of wonders
these days, not a trace of the obligatory 'f-word'.
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
A Small Weeping by
Alex Gray
