Today I’m reviewing A Deadly Truth, book 10 in the Solomon Gray series by Keith Nixon!
Here’s the blurb
Has Solomon Gray’s son returned with secrets that could tear their family apart?
Detective Inspector Solomon Gray’s long-awaited reunion with his son, Tom, has been marked by an unexpected chilliness. Tom’s return from Edinburgh raises questions for Gray, who senses there’s more to his son’s homecoming than meets the eye.
Amidst this strained family dynamic, Gray finds himself immersed in an undercover operation, patrolling aboard a Trojan bus in search of troublemakers following a string of anti-social incidents. His vigilance pays off when he intervenes in a violent altercation, leaving notorious thief Mumble Swann hospitalised after a brutal assault. Surprisingly, the perpetrator is revealed to be fifteen-year-old Zoe Doneglan, but she remains tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the fight.
As Gray delves deeper into the incident, he receives an unexpected call from DCI Mackintosh of the Organised Crime Division of Police Scotland. Unbeknownst to Gray, Police Scotland is operating within his jurisdiction, tracking the movements of Callum Strachan, a well-connected businessman with mysterious ties to Thanet. Mackintosh enlists Gray’s help when one of his undercover officers disappears under suspicious circumstances.
The discovery of an unidentified John Doe, barely clinging to life on a nearby beach, adds another layer of intrigue to Gray’s already complex investigation.
In this tense and multifaceted novel, Detective Inspector Solomon Gray navigates the complexities of family strife and clandestine operations, racing against time to untangle a web of deception that threatens to engulf them all
Review
We are back with Solomon Gray and this time I think things are even more complicated for Sol than they have ever been.. if that’s even possible. Fan’s of the series will know the background behind Sol but let’s just say, he’s been through it.
One big change in Sol’s life is Tom.. Tom is Sol’s son who went missing many years ago, after some very chilling events Sol discovered the truth. It was a frosty kind of reunion.. they are more alike than they know.. but things were looking up when last Christmas Tom turned up on Sol’s doorstep.
Things haven’t really moved on much..Tom is living with Sol but they are passing ships in the night and neither are big talkers but Sol senses there’s something else going on.. but what?
There’s another big distraction in Sol’s life too, in the form of Linnet Roach. Roach got her claws into Sol in the last book and she’s not about to give him up any time soon. The great thing about Roach is she knows what she wants and she makes things abundantly clear with Gray but it’s tough for Sol to concentrate on Roach when Tom is playing on his mind… not to mention a new case hits his desk.
Mumble Swann, who is well known to the police, witnesses a crime but before anything can really come of it he’s brutally assaulted.. by a girl named Zoe Doneglan. Zoe’s had a tough start in life.
Gray doesn’t have much time to think about her though when a visit to the hospital reveals two men were brought in last night.. Mumble.. and a John Doe…
Little does Sol know at the time what links the men and the reader barely knows more.. but it teases what’s to come..you can just tell with the setup how good this will be.
Sol tries to take his mind of things and enjoys a night out with Roach but by happenstance ends up meeting an interesting character in the form of Callum Strachan..Sol’s gut tells him something is up.. or is he just being a grumpy old man again? Time will tell.
I don’t want to spoil the plot and development but what we get as a reader is a well thought out and complicated plot effortlessly weaved together in a style I’ve come to expect and love from the author.
What I really enjoyed with this novel and the last is the fresh blood added.. new characters and development of the current ensemble.. Sol’s a brilliant character but now Tom is found the focus has shifted and it’s great to see the supporting cast come into their own for the benefit of not only the plot but they also aid to Gray’s own development too. There’s a few characters that stand out, such as Mackintosh..he’s only small part, but leaves a big impression which no doubt the author can build on.
A Deadly Truth has some amazing twists, its complex but executed perfectly giving the reader the wow factor.. that OMG moment.. the adrenaline rush.. it’s intense.
One thing I’ve always loved about this series is the sheer number of events playing out, and how they connect.. sometimes in small ways.. sometimes big.. but the main thing is there’s no plot holes.. everything has a place and every motivation expanded just when you need it.. some in some jaw dropping scenes.
Being the tenth book in the series you’d be thinking we’ve seen it all… but no.. the author still has things up his sleeve..and if anything I can just see even more chances to keep the development going, new directions.. it’s exciting.
Resounding 5*
David's Book Blurg 