Five Ways to Kill a Man

This book was a good police procedural with a very unique plot–until the end of the book. The mystery genre generally requires the author to “play fair” with the reader. The crimes committed were cleverly done, there was some good misdirection in terms of suspects, then the author came up with a murderer who had not appeared in the book until the denouement. That is not “fair play”. The book was good enough, however, that I would read another by this author.

I always enjoy a new Alex Gray mystery, and this has been one of the best., a real who done it that keeps you guessing until the end.

Alex Gray has an uncanny way of looking at crimes from varying angles. He does so by using a pathologist, psychologist, the police and at times a scientist. This is no different. It gives you the creeps that crime can be committed so easily and by those you would not always suspect.

3.5 stars

This is the first book in the DCI Lorimar series that I have read, and I found it easy to get into the book. It has the feel of a standalone. I have not read many books that take place in Scotland so the Glasgow setting is quite appealing since I enjoy armchair travel.

FIVE WAYS TO KILL A MAN is a straight forward crime novel with plenty of atmosphere. My favorite aspect is that we are privy to the birth of a serial killer, the very early days of this person trying out different modes of murder to find what appeals most to them. Dark and a little twisted? Certainly, but infinitely interesting. The story starts out at a fervent, fast pace; there are three murders within the first thirty pages, but it then gets a little bogged down in repetition as Lorimar and the other police take time in realizing that they have a serial killer on their hands since, at first, the deaths do not seem to be related at all. I feel like the red herring is set up quite early in the book, but I was still able to pinpoint the murderer almost as soon as they were introduced. My disappointment with the tale is that we never really know what motivates the killer. There are a few inferences, but readers are left on their own to decide why they do what they do.

The characters are well developed. We are able to get inside several of the characters heads, and this leads to credibility and sense of knowing all of these people. I like DCI Lorimar. He is an honest, well meaning, intelligent man, and I appreciate seeing both his professional and personal personas. It is a great reminder that police are people, too, with lives outside of work and that they are deeply affected by the crimes they investigate. When Lorimars investigation hits close to home, the story comes alive, and the intensity and danger is palpable. The last few chapters of the book are definitely the best.

I enjoyed FIVE WAYS TO KILL A GUY well enough and recommend it to fans of police procedurals, especially those not set in the United States.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher and voluntarily shared my opinions here.

I am so addicted to this DCI Lorimer series and it seems each one gets better than the one before! The previous books I have read are THE RIVERMAN #4, PITCH BLACK #5, and THE GLASGOW KISS #6.

DCI Lorimer has been assigned to a horrific cold case of a wealthy couple that was found dead in their house after a deliberate act of arson. While on this assignment, it seems there are also multiple deaths of elderly women falling from their front stairs. Could this be a coincidence or is there a serial killer at lodge, and if so, why the elderly? And then it hits home, his mother in law has been targeted. Can these 2 cases be connected in some strange way?

Alex Gray, in an exceptional, descriptive story, weaves and interweaves characters and settings that have the reader trying to guess how it will all come together. The characters are life like and very relatable.

This novel was a bit different (vague to not include a spoiler) in that the ending was more than shocking! A roller coaster ride with tense apprehension that was palpable throughout. Did I mention an ending that had me shaking my head??!!! Thrilling!!!! Bravo Ms. Gray.another extraordinary read!!!!!!!

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