I bought this book last year while I was in Scotland. I spent hours in the bookstores looking for crime novels set in Scotland by authors I didn't know. I ended up buying this and a bunch of James Oswald. I got lucky on both counts. I loved this book. The setting, the characters, and the plot all went down smooth. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. ( )

WHISKEY FROM SMALL GLASSES is the first in the DI Jim Daley (yes he does go to the gym daily) and DS Brian Scott series, which I've started listening to, as opposed to reading, and very fine listening it is. Narrated by David Monteath, the series is now up to book 6.

Starting out with a good balance between introduction and set up of new characters, and an interesting investigation to be getting on with, WHISKEY FROM SMALL GLASSES comes with a unique setting and some dark humour into the bargain. There's also more than enough intrigue, marital issues, and police politics to keep a reader amused.

Set in a seemingly fictional version of Kinloch, one hundred and fifty "long way round" miles from Glasgow, the area has recently come under the overall control of the Strathclyde Police. Superintendent John Donald, once footsore copper and compatriot of Daley's, now his boss, is determined to get these remote outposts to step into line, so a murder case seems like the perfect opportunity to send Daley and Scott off to the countryside, get a quick turnaround on the case, and show these yokels a thing or two about effective policing. Not exactly the best timing for Daley's personal life as his marriage to the serially unfaithful Liz is tanking rapidly, his waistline is expanding and his reserves of patience sorely tried. When Liz lobs into Kinloch with her suspect brother-in-law in tow, it's the last thing Daley wants or needs, although the arrival of his investigating buddy, friend and sounding board Brian Scott, him of the highly colourful turn of phrase, and pointed turn of snark, has given Daley the friend and support he needs.

Listening to this novel washing past was a very enjoyable experience. There is a hefty concentration on Daley's problems with his marriage, enough that I'd have normally expected to be rapidly over it, but it does kind of work here. The concentration on the case, the friendship between Daley and Scott, the idiotic behaviour of the local police chief, all sort of slot together, making everyone feel real, and conflicted, and trying hard. With the Daley's being away from home, in a place where they are unknown there is always the hope that they might eventually decide whether it's a yes or no on the marriage. With Daley and Scott being in town, even though the body count does grow, there's always a feeling that there might not be Donald's longed for quick turnaround, but a resolution to the murders will be found. All the while there is the real feeling that Kinloch and it's people are working their way into Daley's admiration and life.

There is much more to these murders than originally thought, and things quickly go from a murder investigation to sorting out an international drug-trafficking ring, and at that point the investigative side of the novel does get a bit ropey, although where it's heading becomes obvious at the end. Write this one off to a major amount of set up for the rest of the series and you should be able to forgive things getting a bit messy, to say nothing of some very heavy darning to pull some threads into place.

Having now listened to the first couple of books in the series, I think I'll stick with them in audio format as the dialogue, the place names, even the thought patterns of the characters are quintessentially Scottish and part of the enjoyment was hearing it in just the right accent.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/whiskey-small-glasses-denzil-meyrick ( )

Outstanding first effort by D.A. Meyrick! (@Lochlomonden on Twitter)

The story is very compelling, with excellent character and story development, and it turns into a real page-turner at about the 2/3 point. I'm looking forward to many more books about DCI Daley and the town of Kinloch.

One interesting point that I've already mentioned in an earlier comment is how the author captured the different personalities through their dialogue: many of the locals and a few of the supporting cast "speak" in a Scottish brogue. This was challenging to read at first and took a few "re-reads" through a few of the conversations, but it is easily picked up the further along I went.

HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who likes murder mysteries or just a great book! ( )

Glasgow-based DCI Daley is called in to investigate the suspicious death of a woman in the fictional west coast town of Kinloch and discovers a town where everyone appears to know everyone else's business, including every move the police make. It appears the town is a hotbed of drug abuse and prostitution which runs deep even within the apparently law-abiding parts of the community. Daley is under pressure to solve the case when his wife decides to come and stay, adding to the pressure. Clever plotting, authentic and well-drawn characters and often humerous dialogue is an effective counter-point to the often violent activity in Kinloch. Recommended and I'll look forward to further books in the series. ( )

DI Jim Daley is sent to the small Kinloch on the Kintyre peninsula to investigate the murder of a young woman. Her bloated body has been found on a beach, raped and tortured. Gossip is rampant in the town as he finds out quickly. Daley also discovers that another young woman is missing, so he sends for assistance from his faithful sidekick, Brian Scott. Assisting them in the investigation is a young Kinloch detective Archie Fraser. They soon find more is involved here than murder; Kinloch is a rift with drugs and prostitution.
The Kintyre peninsula is a beautiful area, and despite the grisly murders, Mr. Meyrick does some of his best writing in descriptions of the country and people who live there. The murder investigation veers into some strange directions, but the pacing of the story is good. Daley's personal issues with his wife Liz also intrude on the investigation and, in my opinion, give away too much of the ending. Still, I enjoyed this book and intend to read the next book in the series. ( )