Gritty! Explosive! Endearing!

Cast a Cold Eye (A Jimmy Dreghorn Mystery #2) by Robbie Morrison    

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Glasgow 1933. Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and his partner “Bonnie” Archie McDaid, part of the Glasgow’s Special Crime Squad, find themselves in the middle of a situation with Irish Free State fighters, the razor gangs suddenly meeting together, Special Branch up from London messing on their patch, and three murders, or rather assassinations. The only visible link between the deaths being the method of executions.

When Dreghorn and McDaird find the reasons behind the murders it’s explosive. All men were ex-Black and Tan operatives in Ireland at a place called Tralee, all men left under a cloud. Payback maybe? For what specifically?

The Special Crime Squad are told in no uncertain terms to stay out of the way of Special Branch operatives.

The trouble is things keep linking back to the Irish and the selling of illegal Irish Hospital Sweepstake tickets  taking place. The gangs are offloading the tickets which everyone wants. Why Jimmy’s own mother’s given him an illegal sweepstakes ticket as a present!

It’s when an explosion takes place in the tenements on Vulcan Street injuring bairns and women that Jimmy and Archie see red.

Jimmy Dreghorn, ex-army (who wasn’t at that time?), ex-police in Shanghai, ex-boxer finds himself confronting memories of the past, a woman from his childhood, and ghosts. Achingly evident when Jimmy takes items out of his trunk in his bedroom.

One man’s freedom fighter is another’s terrorist. Lines become blurred. When young WPC Ellen Duncan becomes injured whilst firstly fighting of the unwelcome attentions of Inspector Boyd Strachan, then an assassin intent on killing Strachan, all bets are off as are as Jimmy and Archie are concerned, as are the gloves.

The grounds thick with action, motives and situations!

Another dynamite of a police historical thriller from Robbie Morrison, no pun intended!

A Random House-Ballantine ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.