Book Reviews and More: In Service of Death - J.D. Kirk

In Service of Death

DCI Logan Book 17

J.D. Kirk

Zertex Crime

ISBN 9781912767717

ASIN B0C4HT3PBQ

This was another volume from Kirk that I eagerly anticipated. From its announcement until the day it dropped. I picked it up the day after it released. Last year I discovered the writings of J.D. Kirk. I read about a book a week after reading my first DCI Logan novel. And this marks the 23rd under the Kirk name and almost 20 under the names Barry Hutchison and Barry J, Hutchison. So this is the 40th volume from this author in the last year that I have read. I have now read the first 17 in the DCI Logan series and all 4 in the Robert Hoon series, The first in the DI Heather Filson series as well as stand alone VIP exclusive short story. I picked the first for a few reasons, but mainly because authors Alex Smith and JE Mayhew have both recommended the author and series. I am a big fan of Smith’s DCI Kett novels and Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. I have been hooked since that first read. I had no idea how addictive Kirk’s books would be or that like Mayhew and Smith, Kirk publishes under three different names. Kirk publishes children books as Barry Hutchison, and other adult fiction as Barry J. Hutchison. He has published over 200 books across the three pen names. If I had known that or I might not have picked up this first one. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. Being caught up now on his works as J.D. Kirk I will have to wait for each new one to come out, and this volume was well worth the weight. But back to this volume.

The description of this novel is:

“It all started harmlessly enough. An egged window. A deflated car tyre. A few garden gnomes knocked over. But then, the silent calls began - late nights and early mornings, to landlines, and mobiles, and to numbers that no one should have access to.

At their wits' end, three former British Army soldiers, now living in the Highlands of Scotland, have no choice but to turn to the police for help.

And that is when the killing starts.

Brought in to lead the case, Detective Chief Inspector Jack Logan finds himself locked in a battle of wits with a meticulously organised murderer.

A murderer who has been planning all this for a very long time...”

This story starts with a single murder on Detective Constable Tyler Neish first day back with the team after paternity leave. But like many of the team’s cases something about this one seems off. Three men have all been harassed for over a year now. Prank phone calls, property damage, and more. But now one of their wives have been murdered. At first the team has some suspicions, but though the men have something to hide it is not what they expected. As the investigation proceeds Logan takes a beating, a team member is captured. And soon Sinead and Hoon have joined the team to put extra boots on the ground.

This is a police procedural that gets in the dirt and grime. Both of the case, and while on this case, history of the war in Bosnia. Sometimes crimes long thought forgotten come back to haunt you even twenty years later.

I am beginning to feel like Tyler is the red shirt in the Kirk novels. If something can so sideways and it often does, it seem to happen to him more often than not. And this time might be the worst.

I stayed up way to late finishing this story. I just could not put it down. And when I had to it was constantly on my mind. This is another excellent read in a great series. I love the three series written under the pen name J.D. Kirk are definitely Scottish Mysteries, and I can see the comparisons with Smith’s and Mayhew’s works, as well as several other more mainstream names. Each time I finish a book by Kirk it takes willpower not to just pick up the next one and keep going, no matter what name they were published under. I have now read all the books published buy this author under this name, and I am looking forward to that new series that has been teased. I love that the stories are set in Scotland! This book and series would be great reads for fans of Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan, or Temperance Brennan. I state it again this is a great read in an excellent series! One of the best in the series! It will leave you desperate for the next one, A Dead Man Walking.

Books by J.D. Kirk:

The Bone House

…

DCI Logan Series:

The Last Bloody Straw

A Whisper of Sorrows

The Big Man Upstairs

A Death Most Monumental