Source: Borrowed copy, library
Publication: 12 February 2015 from Polygon and from Audible on 13th October 2016
PP: 368
ISBN-13: 978-1846973215
DCI Jim Daley is sent from the city to investigate a murder after the body of a woman is washed up on an idyllic beach on the West Coast of Scotland. Far away from urban resources, he finds himself a stranger in a close-knit community. Love, betrayal, fear and death stalk the small town, as Daley investigates a case that becomes more deadly than he could possibly imagine, in this compelling Scottish crime novel infused with intrigue and dark humour.
I’ve been trying to carve out time to read this series for a while. I own some of the later books, but really wanted to start the series from the beginning and so decided to treat myself to the audiobook version.
Excellent decision, if I say so myself. I really enjoyed David Monteath’s narration. Nicely modulated, beautiful diction, great accents and conveying very well the sense of dry humour that is built into the DCI Jim Daley book.
As to the book itself, well I really enjoyed it. DCI Jim Daley is a great, larger than life character and I can already tell that he and his wife Liz are going to keep me entertained for years to come, assuming they last that long as a couple.
Set for the most part in the fictional town of Kinloch in the west of Scotland, DCI Daley is tasked with solving a series of brutal murders. When I say brutal, I do mean it; this is not a cosy set of crimes by any means. Drugs and prostitution are rife in every part of the country these days and Kinloch is no exception. In fact, being a coastal town, it offers additional opportunities for the entrepreneurial peddler.
As DCI Daley and his irascible, slovenly sidekick, DS Brian Scott discover, Kinloch is the kind of place where everyone knows your business 5 minutes before you arrive, so you’d think there were no secrets. But there is still a hidden underbelly of criminal activity and unforgiving secrets to be uncovered and in the course of so doing, Daley will have cause for serious regret.
Whisky from Small Glasses is a really engagingly told, nicely gritty, story. A strong police procedural full of great characters and well-paced, this novel also carries just the right level of misdirection and deflection, offering surprises all the way through to the end.
Verdict: A strong and engaging story line brought to life by great characterisation and beautifully described locations, culminating in an intriguing finale. The Audible version is beautifully narrated.
Denzil Meyrick was educated in Argyll, then after studying politics, joined Strathclyde Police, serving in Glasgow. After being injured and developing back problems, he entered the business world, and has operated in many diverse roles, including director of a large engineering company and distillery manager, as well as owning a number of his own companies, such as a public bar and sales and marketing company. Meyrick has also worked as a freelance journalist in both print and on radio.
Live and Deadly 
Great review. Absolutely adore this series.
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