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Cast a Cold Eye

A Gripping Scottish Crime Novel Set in 1930s Glasgow, Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2023
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Cast a Cold Eye by Robbie Morrison is a dark historical crime novel set in Depression-era Glasgow, 1933. Following Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and his partner 'Bonnie' Archie McDaid, the story unravels a sinister killingβ€” a man shot in the back of the head on a narrowboat. Unlike usual street violence, this points to darker, more dangerous forces at play, including IRA cells intertwined with criminal gangs and stirred tensions within the city. As the body count rises amid political and sectarian unrest, the investigation exposes the perilous intersection of freedom fighting and terrorism.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for fans of historical crime thrillers, especially those drawn to gritty, atmospheric settings like 1930s Glasgow with complex characters navigating political and social turmoil. Readers who appreciate layered narratives involving police procedural, political intrigue, and dark urban crime will find this novel engaging.

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A dead man is found executed on a canalboat in 1930s Glasgow, a city at the mercy of religious division and gang violence. Cast a Cold Eye is the second novel in a historical crime series for fans of Abir Mukherjee and Philip Kerr.

Cast a Cold Eye by Robbie Morrison is a dark historical crime novel and the sequel to Edge of the Grave which won the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut 2021 award and was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Cast a Cold Eye by Robbie Morrison is a dark historical crime novel and the sequel to Edge of the Grave which won the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut 2021 award and was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger. Glasgow 1933 Murder is nothing new in the Depression-era city, especially to war veterans Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and his partner 'Bonnie' Archie McDaid. But the dead man found in a narrowboat on the Forth and Clyde Canal, executed with a single shot to the back of the head, is no ordinary killing. Violence usually erupts in the heat of the moment - the razor-gangs that stalk the streets settle scores with knives and fists. Firearms suggest something more sinister, especially when the killer strikes again. Meanwhile, other forces are stirring within the Empire's second city. A suspected IRA cell is at large, embedded within the criminal gangs, and attracting the ruthless attention of Special Branch agents from London. With political and sectarian tensions rising, and the body count mounting, Dreghorn and McDaid pursue an investigation into the dark heart of humanity - where one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist, and noble ideals are swept away by bloody vengeance.

Series: Jimmy Dreghorn series

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  • Cast a Cold Eye
    Cast a Cold Eye by Robbie Morrison is a dark historical crime novel and the sequel to Edge of the Grave which won the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut 2021 award and was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger. Glasgow 1933 Murder is nothing new in the Depression-era city, especially to war veterans Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and his partner 'Bonnie'...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Edge of the Grave
    Winner of The Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year 2021 Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2021 and longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown 2021 'A mesmerizing debut. Early gangland Glasgow with the gloss razored off' - Peter James 'Peaky Blinders meets William McIlvanney in this rollocking riveting read' - Adrian McKinty, bestselling...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
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  • Edge of the Grave
    Winner of The Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year 2021 Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2021 and longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown 2021 'Astounding. Tense, absorbing and dripping with gallus Glasgow humour, this book is absolutely wonderful' Abir Mukherjee, bestselling author of the Wyndham & Banerjee series 'Peaky Blinders meets William...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A darkly compelling thriller vividly bringing Depression-era Glasgow to life, praised by The Sunday Times and The Scotsman. The novel immerses readers in a tense, action-packed narrative reminiscent of Peaky Blinders, with richly drawn characters and multiple perspectives creating a gripping, fast-moving story (Daily Mail, Literary Review). Celebrated for fluid writing and pitch-perfect dialogue, it keeps readers turning pages late into the night.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529054071

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 April 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Macmillan

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 37.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 233.0mm

Weight: 584g

Pages: 480

About the Author

Robbie Morrison was born in Helensburgh, Scotland, and grew up in the Renton, Coatbridge, Linwood and Houston. On both sides, his family connection to shipbuilding in Glasgow and the surrounding areas stretches back four generations and is a source of inspiration for the Jimmy Dreghorn series. He sold his first script to publishers DC Thomson in Dundee at the age of twenty-three. One of the most respected writers in the UK comics industry, Edge of the Grave was his debut novel.

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