'A great talent is announced. A fascinating, original and beguiling detective is born.'
Hugh MacDonald, The Herald
Hugh MacDonald, The Herald
Reviews for The Ghost of Helen Addison
Fine And Dandy: A Review Of Charles E. McGarry’s The Ghost Of Helen Addison…
https://scotswhayhae.com/
January 17 2018
Against all expectations, the Christmas/ New Year period allowed for the reading of some of the books which have been sitting on SWH!’s ever present ‘must-read’ pile, and the next few posts will review at least a couple of those. First up is Charles E. McGarry’s The Ghost Of Helen Addison, which introduces us to Leo Moran, a Glaswegian private eye who is unlike any you’ll have met before, which is in itself a reason for cheer.
In the world of crime-fiction, and Scottish crime-fiction in particular, the belief persists that the genre is one which relies on familiar tropes, stereotypes and cliches. However, I would hope that the work of many of the writers of crime who have featured on these pages, including Louise Welsh, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Douglas Skelton, Michael J. Malone, Alice Thomson and Russel D. McLean, would have changed readers’ preconceptions if they persisted. All of those mentioned, and many others, have very distinct styles and are wildly and wonderfully different to one another. If you’ve yet to embrace Scottish crime fiction, you’re missing out.
Which bring us back to Leo Moran, the decidedly dapper Glaswegian detective who takes on the case of the suspicious death of a young woman in Argyll. McGarry depicts Moran in wonderful detail, and there is a lot of detail to detail. For instance, this is a typical evening meal, “He started with some exquisite Oban scallops with braised pig’s cheek, followed by mock turtle soup, braised halibut, and then saddle of venison in a beetroot and sloe gin jelly, all washed down with a bottle of Chambertin.” This is not your typical Clydeside gumshoe, but someone who presents to the world a desire for the finer things in life, and a sensibility bordering on foppish. How you react to that last sentence will probably dictate if you instinctively warm to Leo Moran or not, but either way he is worthy of your attention.
As someone who likes to delude themselves that they know their collars and cuffs, and the difference between an Oxford and Derby brogue, Leo Moran’s sartorial style and eye-for-detail appeal greatly. He likes to think himself a man of elan and taste, but this, as it almost always is, is part of his armour against the world, a costume which he chooses with great care. More Sherlock Holmes than Laidlaw, Parlabane, or Queste, you initially feel he just wasn’t made for these times.
However, a great detective is defined by their deeds rather than their duds, and Moran’s first case is a complex one, with lots of possibilities as to whodunnit. Having been introduced to Leo it is all to easy to imagine how he could wind up local police and other residents of Argyll, not only bringing his individual style to their locale, but an attitude to match. Have no doubt, this is a flawed character, and just as he has to uncover the secrets and lies of those he meets to try to discover the killer, so the reader must look past the surface layers to understand what motivates and drives Leo Moran.
Add to this his abilities as a ‘seer’, able to communicate with the dead – (a supernatural twist which will surely be developed in future) – and you begin to understand that this is no ordinary detective novel. The titular ghost of Helen Addison becomes an accomplice in solving the case, although not enough is made of her infrequent appearances until the very end.
The Ghost Of Helen Addison is named as being “The First Leo Moran Murder Mystery”, which is welcome as this is a detective and a writer who I want to spend more time with. That would allow McGarry not only to explore other aspects of Moran’s personality, but, more importantly moving forward, that of other characters. The problem in having such a memorable protagonist is that every one else struggles to make an impression.
Not only could more have been made of Helen, but also DI Laing, the Fettes’ educated and fabulously monickered Fordyce Greatorix, and significant others. This is particularly applicable to Moran’s “friend” and confidante, Stephanie, who brings welcome insight and cynicism to proceedings when she appears, and who has the potential to be the Watson to his Holmes, puncturing his pomposity and calling him out on his prejudices when need be.
With The Ghost Of Helen Addison Charles E. McGarry has presented a new voice to Scottish crime fiction, and a memorable character to match. I’m looking forward to seeing how these novels develop as they not only have the potential to become a series which bring something fresh to the genre, but could also transfer to screen. I for one would like to see Leo Moran made flesh, if only for the wardrobe hints and restaurant recommendations.
The Bottle Imp 'Best Scottish Books of 2017'
The Ghost of Helen Addison chosen by Prof Donna Heddle, Director of the UHI Institute for Northern Studies
My pick of the year for sheer entertainment value and spectacular leftfieldness is Charles E. McGarry’s The Ghost of Helen Addison, as it combines three of my ruling passions – Scotland, the supernatural, and Golden Age crime fiction. His central character, Leo Moran, is a deerstalker-wearing private detective and gourmandising flâneur with a heart and a conscience who also happens to be prone to psychic visions about violent crimes. He receives regular, and suspiciously well-timed, visitations from the unfortunate Helen, who was murdered in a forest one night. Moran is refreshingly different from the usual crop of hardboiled, hardbitten detectives operating in an urban Scottish environment. The writing style of the text is also very distinct, combining an elegiac harking back to the past, both personal and historical, with a strain of otherworldliness which is very Scots, strangely familiar and comforting. McGarry takes the road less travelled both literally and figuratively in this debut novel enticingly subtitled ‘The First Leo Moran Mystery’. I’ll be there for the next.
https://scotswhayhae.com/
January 17 2018
Against all expectations, the Christmas/ New Year period allowed for the reading of some of the books which have been sitting on SWH!’s ever present ‘must-read’ pile, and the next few posts will review at least a couple of those. First up is Charles E. McGarry’s The Ghost Of Helen Addison, which introduces us to Leo Moran, a Glaswegian private eye who is unlike any you’ll have met before, which is in itself a reason for cheer.
In the world of crime-fiction, and Scottish crime-fiction in particular, the belief persists that the genre is one which relies on familiar tropes, stereotypes and cliches. However, I would hope that the work of many of the writers of crime who have featured on these pages, including Louise Welsh, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Douglas Skelton, Michael J. Malone, Alice Thomson and Russel D. McLean, would have changed readers’ preconceptions if they persisted. All of those mentioned, and many others, have very distinct styles and are wildly and wonderfully different to one another. If you’ve yet to embrace Scottish crime fiction, you’re missing out.
Which bring us back to Leo Moran, the decidedly dapper Glaswegian detective who takes on the case of the suspicious death of a young woman in Argyll. McGarry depicts Moran in wonderful detail, and there is a lot of detail to detail. For instance, this is a typical evening meal, “He started with some exquisite Oban scallops with braised pig’s cheek, followed by mock turtle soup, braised halibut, and then saddle of venison in a beetroot and sloe gin jelly, all washed down with a bottle of Chambertin.” This is not your typical Clydeside gumshoe, but someone who presents to the world a desire for the finer things in life, and a sensibility bordering on foppish. How you react to that last sentence will probably dictate if you instinctively warm to Leo Moran or not, but either way he is worthy of your attention.
As someone who likes to delude themselves that they know their collars and cuffs, and the difference between an Oxford and Derby brogue, Leo Moran’s sartorial style and eye-for-detail appeal greatly. He likes to think himself a man of elan and taste, but this, as it almost always is, is part of his armour against the world, a costume which he chooses with great care. More Sherlock Holmes than Laidlaw, Parlabane, or Queste, you initially feel he just wasn’t made for these times.
However, a great detective is defined by their deeds rather than their duds, and Moran’s first case is a complex one, with lots of possibilities as to whodunnit. Having been introduced to Leo it is all to easy to imagine how he could wind up local police and other residents of Argyll, not only bringing his individual style to their locale, but an attitude to match. Have no doubt, this is a flawed character, and just as he has to uncover the secrets and lies of those he meets to try to discover the killer, so the reader must look past the surface layers to understand what motivates and drives Leo Moran.
Add to this his abilities as a ‘seer’, able to communicate with the dead – (a supernatural twist which will surely be developed in future) – and you begin to understand that this is no ordinary detective novel. The titular ghost of Helen Addison becomes an accomplice in solving the case, although not enough is made of her infrequent appearances until the very end.
The Ghost Of Helen Addison is named as being “The First Leo Moran Murder Mystery”, which is welcome as this is a detective and a writer who I want to spend more time with. That would allow McGarry not only to explore other aspects of Moran’s personality, but, more importantly moving forward, that of other characters. The problem in having such a memorable protagonist is that every one else struggles to make an impression.
Not only could more have been made of Helen, but also DI Laing, the Fettes’ educated and fabulously monickered Fordyce Greatorix, and significant others. This is particularly applicable to Moran’s “friend” and confidante, Stephanie, who brings welcome insight and cynicism to proceedings when she appears, and who has the potential to be the Watson to his Holmes, puncturing his pomposity and calling him out on his prejudices when need be.
With The Ghost Of Helen Addison Charles E. McGarry has presented a new voice to Scottish crime fiction, and a memorable character to match. I’m looking forward to seeing how these novels develop as they not only have the potential to become a series which bring something fresh to the genre, but could also transfer to screen. I for one would like to see Leo Moran made flesh, if only for the wardrobe hints and restaurant recommendations.
The Bottle Imp 'Best Scottish Books of 2017'
The Ghost of Helen Addison chosen by Prof Donna Heddle, Director of the UHI Institute for Northern Studies
My pick of the year for sheer entertainment value and spectacular leftfieldness is Charles E. McGarry’s The Ghost of Helen Addison, as it combines three of my ruling passions – Scotland, the supernatural, and Golden Age crime fiction. His central character, Leo Moran, is a deerstalker-wearing private detective and gourmandising flâneur with a heart and a conscience who also happens to be prone to psychic visions about violent crimes. He receives regular, and suspiciously well-timed, visitations from the unfortunate Helen, who was murdered in a forest one night. Moran is refreshingly different from the usual crop of hardboiled, hardbitten detectives operating in an urban Scottish environment. The writing style of the text is also very distinct, combining an elegiac harking back to the past, both personal and historical, with a strain of otherworldliness which is very Scots, strangely familiar and comforting. McGarry takes the road less travelled both literally and figuratively in this debut novel enticingly subtitled ‘The First Leo Moran Mystery’. I’ll be there for the next.
Lovereading
Lovereading view
A fascinating, charmingly descriptive murder mystery, where disturbing elements of satanism, visions, and ghosts creep through the story. Leo Moran, fastidious, exacting, and a private investigator, assists the police in a murder case. I will admit that it took me a little while to settle in, yet as I read, and as I got to know Leo, and explored his visions, I found myself rather enamoured with this unlikely leading man. Leo is occasionally cantankerous, often flounders, can be a decided glutton, and yet his moral integrity and soft heart shine through. At times this tale feels as though it is set in a bygone era, then Charles E. McGarry sends a blast of the here and now to bring you flying back to the present. ‘The Ghost of Helen Addison’ is the first in the ‘Leo Moran murder mystery’ series and sets the scene perfectly, there is real depth to this story, and I look forward to the next.
Liz Robinson
Reader reviews
A slightly unusual murder story involving ghosts and psychics. A compelling lead character - Leo Moran - lifts the story to an engaging, exciting level which keeps the reader enthralled to the end.
I love ghosts and psychics so this book was just right for me. The main character - Leo Moran - is no ordinary investigator - he has visions and dreams and is called in by the police to help solve the brutal murder of a young woman. There is the inevitable conflict between him and the police - who are cynical about his skills - and also quite a few red herrings but that is what you expect from a detective story.
Leo is complex and a heavy drinker - again quite usual - but I liked his tenacity and compassion and his ability to read people's characters. He really knows who the good guys and bad guys are - he senses it!
He has conversations with the dead woman which are quite disconcerting and she unlike a lot of ghosts seems very real and angry about the loss of her life. These ghostly encounters lifts the story above a run-of-the mill murder story. I will certainly read more books by this author and especially any that feature the quirky psychic Leo Moran.
Sarah Musk
McGarry manages a perfect balancing act, succeeding in sticking to the rules of the murder mystery whodunit without slighting the supernatural abilities of his sleuth.
‘The Ghost of Helen Addison’ is Charles E. McGarry’s second novel and Leo Moran’s first case. Moran, McGarry’s serial detective, is a champagne socialist who doesn’t allow his Waterford crystal tumblers, Montblanc fountain pen, or personal masseur to interfere with his occasional activism and lives in a luxury apartment in Glasgow. He is also a clairvoyant and his second sight, which usually comes to him in dreams, results in his semi-official participation in the investigation of a particularly brutal murder at Loch Dhonn, in the West Highlands. Moran is quickly established as an occult detective in the mould of Sax Rohmer’s Moris Klaw and M.P. Shiel’s Prince Zaleski, beginning his inquiries by interviewing the victim’s ghost. This is precisely the point at which many crime fiction fans will baulk, but McGarry manages a perfect balancing act, succeeding in sticking to the rules of the murder mystery whodunit without slighting the supernatural abilities of his sleuth. Helen did not see her assailant’s face and Moran must resort to more mundane means to solve the crime when his psychic researches are opposed by a malignant force, which may or may not be related to the Green Lord, a cruel clan chieftain who was once local laird. The mystery is complex, the solution satisfying, the atmosphere eerie, and the suspense gripping…McGarry is an author to watch and Moran a detective to remember.
Rafe McGregor
It is refreshing to have such a complex central character, and it will be interesting to see how this series develops. Leo Moran is an unusual character. Well-educated, a connoisseur of fine foods and classical music, he easily holds an intelligent conversation and puzzles over complex chess moves. On the other hand, he is not above ‘mooning’ an annoying landowner, drinks entirely too much, is prone to occasional bouts of swearing, and decidedly ungifted when it comes to crosswords, codes and ciphers. His gentlemanly behaviour is endearingly traditional, and seems oddly paired with his extra-sensory perceptions, which lead him to become involved in a murder case in rural Argyll. The local characters he encounters are, if sometimes a bit cliché, nevertheless well drawn, and Leo’s attempts to collaborate with the police, even if it may mean danger to his own life, are rather heroic.
It took me a long time to warm to his book, and I am not sure I ever entirely warmed to Leo, whose personality traits sometimes seemed to be at odds with themselves. Mental health issues are hinted at in various places, and it is refreshing to have such a complex central character. It will be interesting to see how this series develops.
Sabine Little
This is a detective mystery with a difference! Set in Scotland, the main character, Leo Moran, who is a private detective, has a character which is uniquely his own. He is a connoisseur who certainly enjoys the good (if often, solitary) life when it comes to food and drink, albeit to such an extent that he suffers for it the following day.
More importantly, he possesses supernatural powers which allow him to be in contact with the dead, in this case, the murder victim, Helen Addison. Whilst the police are attempting to solve the murder in the conventional fashion, Leo is able to bring his gifts into play to solve the crime, with many scrapes along the way and his own life under threat. A sense of evil abounds as the story progresses and the reader is often surprised by the unusual direction the story takes.
A large part of the action is set in the Loch Dhonn Hotel, where the reader is introduced to many local characters who all help to form the background of the story, both good and evil.
All in all, a gripping story!
Pam Woodburn
A murder mystery with a difference, and what a difference.
Leo Moran is a private detective, loves wine and good food, and is a just a wee bit smarter than the usual detectives because Leo has a gift, he gets visions and can see and speak to ghosts!!
One morning Leo reads about the murder of a young woman, in Argyll, so packs a bag and off he goes.
Arriving in the brooding landscape, he realises this s no ordinary murder, and no ordinary killer, Leo knows he is up against the forces of evil. Summoned by the killer, but for what reason, Leo is yet to piece together, and with the help of Helen's ghost, that makes her presence known to him, he sets about to do just this, and it is no easy case to solve.
Loved this book, unique, brilliant and one to re-read, again and again.
Angela Rhodes
A riveting murder mystery, but with a difference! I couldn’t put it down!
Set in Scotland, the locations contrast strongly between the wild and majestic landscape of Loch Dhonn in the Scottish Highlands, and the urban setting of Glasgow’s West End.
The book is the first in a series of murder mysteries about a private detective called Leo Moran, who is a real gastronome and also enjoys his wine and whisky! These details are interesting enough, and help to paint a picture of this new character, but what really makes Leo special and enriches his uniqueness is his extraordinary gift of supernatural powers; he has the ability to see people and events in visions and dreams, even those who are no longer alive!
A young girl from the village of Loch Dhonn is found brutally stabbed and the police are investigating, but not getting very far with finding the killer. Leo decides to travel to the area to help solve the murder, hoping that his proximity to the crime scene will inspire his visions and able him to identify the murderer.
Leo is a very likeable character, and it is easy to become absolutely absorbed by this book and fascinated by its unusual spectral twist.
Charles McGarry has successfully managed to come up with something original in this murder mystery genre, and I am already looking forward to the next Leo Moran Murder Mystery!
Lynne Morgan
This is the first book in this new murder mystery series featuring Psychic private detective Leo Moran. Leo is an old fashioned type of gentleman, slightly suffering from hypochondria and more than a little partial to a nip of whiskey. I really enjoyed this story set in Scotland during winter centred around the brutal murder of a newly qualified nurse.
The story is charming, Leo is very likeable even though he can have quite a sharp tongue, but he is just the man you would want on the case when there is a murder especially as he has such unique gifts. The plot kept me intrigued
the entire duration of reading it which meant I read it all in one sitting because it was awesome. The settings of the story, the hotel, train, quaint town etc all added to this stories charm. I would recommend this to any mystery fan, especially cosy mystery fans!
Edel Waugh
Lovereading view
A fascinating, charmingly descriptive murder mystery, where disturbing elements of satanism, visions, and ghosts creep through the story. Leo Moran, fastidious, exacting, and a private investigator, assists the police in a murder case. I will admit that it took me a little while to settle in, yet as I read, and as I got to know Leo, and explored his visions, I found myself rather enamoured with this unlikely leading man. Leo is occasionally cantankerous, often flounders, can be a decided glutton, and yet his moral integrity and soft heart shine through. At times this tale feels as though it is set in a bygone era, then Charles E. McGarry sends a blast of the here and now to bring you flying back to the present. ‘The Ghost of Helen Addison’ is the first in the ‘Leo Moran murder mystery’ series and sets the scene perfectly, there is real depth to this story, and I look forward to the next.
Liz Robinson
Reader reviews
A slightly unusual murder story involving ghosts and psychics. A compelling lead character - Leo Moran - lifts the story to an engaging, exciting level which keeps the reader enthralled to the end.
I love ghosts and psychics so this book was just right for me. The main character - Leo Moran - is no ordinary investigator - he has visions and dreams and is called in by the police to help solve the brutal murder of a young woman. There is the inevitable conflict between him and the police - who are cynical about his skills - and also quite a few red herrings but that is what you expect from a detective story.
Leo is complex and a heavy drinker - again quite usual - but I liked his tenacity and compassion and his ability to read people's characters. He really knows who the good guys and bad guys are - he senses it!
He has conversations with the dead woman which are quite disconcerting and she unlike a lot of ghosts seems very real and angry about the loss of her life. These ghostly encounters lifts the story above a run-of-the mill murder story. I will certainly read more books by this author and especially any that feature the quirky psychic Leo Moran.
Sarah Musk
McGarry manages a perfect balancing act, succeeding in sticking to the rules of the murder mystery whodunit without slighting the supernatural abilities of his sleuth.
‘The Ghost of Helen Addison’ is Charles E. McGarry’s second novel and Leo Moran’s first case. Moran, McGarry’s serial detective, is a champagne socialist who doesn’t allow his Waterford crystal tumblers, Montblanc fountain pen, or personal masseur to interfere with his occasional activism and lives in a luxury apartment in Glasgow. He is also a clairvoyant and his second sight, which usually comes to him in dreams, results in his semi-official participation in the investigation of a particularly brutal murder at Loch Dhonn, in the West Highlands. Moran is quickly established as an occult detective in the mould of Sax Rohmer’s Moris Klaw and M.P. Shiel’s Prince Zaleski, beginning his inquiries by interviewing the victim’s ghost. This is precisely the point at which many crime fiction fans will baulk, but McGarry manages a perfect balancing act, succeeding in sticking to the rules of the murder mystery whodunit without slighting the supernatural abilities of his sleuth. Helen did not see her assailant’s face and Moran must resort to more mundane means to solve the crime when his psychic researches are opposed by a malignant force, which may or may not be related to the Green Lord, a cruel clan chieftain who was once local laird. The mystery is complex, the solution satisfying, the atmosphere eerie, and the suspense gripping…McGarry is an author to watch and Moran a detective to remember.
Rafe McGregor
It is refreshing to have such a complex central character, and it will be interesting to see how this series develops. Leo Moran is an unusual character. Well-educated, a connoisseur of fine foods and classical music, he easily holds an intelligent conversation and puzzles over complex chess moves. On the other hand, he is not above ‘mooning’ an annoying landowner, drinks entirely too much, is prone to occasional bouts of swearing, and decidedly ungifted when it comes to crosswords, codes and ciphers. His gentlemanly behaviour is endearingly traditional, and seems oddly paired with his extra-sensory perceptions, which lead him to become involved in a murder case in rural Argyll. The local characters he encounters are, if sometimes a bit cliché, nevertheless well drawn, and Leo’s attempts to collaborate with the police, even if it may mean danger to his own life, are rather heroic.
It took me a long time to warm to his book, and I am not sure I ever entirely warmed to Leo, whose personality traits sometimes seemed to be at odds with themselves. Mental health issues are hinted at in various places, and it is refreshing to have such a complex central character. It will be interesting to see how this series develops.
Sabine Little
This is a detective mystery with a difference! Set in Scotland, the main character, Leo Moran, who is a private detective, has a character which is uniquely his own. He is a connoisseur who certainly enjoys the good (if often, solitary) life when it comes to food and drink, albeit to such an extent that he suffers for it the following day.
More importantly, he possesses supernatural powers which allow him to be in contact with the dead, in this case, the murder victim, Helen Addison. Whilst the police are attempting to solve the murder in the conventional fashion, Leo is able to bring his gifts into play to solve the crime, with many scrapes along the way and his own life under threat. A sense of evil abounds as the story progresses and the reader is often surprised by the unusual direction the story takes.
A large part of the action is set in the Loch Dhonn Hotel, where the reader is introduced to many local characters who all help to form the background of the story, both good and evil.
All in all, a gripping story!
Pam Woodburn
A murder mystery with a difference, and what a difference.
Leo Moran is a private detective, loves wine and good food, and is a just a wee bit smarter than the usual detectives because Leo has a gift, he gets visions and can see and speak to ghosts!!
One morning Leo reads about the murder of a young woman, in Argyll, so packs a bag and off he goes.
Arriving in the brooding landscape, he realises this s no ordinary murder, and no ordinary killer, Leo knows he is up against the forces of evil. Summoned by the killer, but for what reason, Leo is yet to piece together, and with the help of Helen's ghost, that makes her presence known to him, he sets about to do just this, and it is no easy case to solve.
Loved this book, unique, brilliant and one to re-read, again and again.
Angela Rhodes
A riveting murder mystery, but with a difference! I couldn’t put it down!
Set in Scotland, the locations contrast strongly between the wild and majestic landscape of Loch Dhonn in the Scottish Highlands, and the urban setting of Glasgow’s West End.
The book is the first in a series of murder mysteries about a private detective called Leo Moran, who is a real gastronome and also enjoys his wine and whisky! These details are interesting enough, and help to paint a picture of this new character, but what really makes Leo special and enriches his uniqueness is his extraordinary gift of supernatural powers; he has the ability to see people and events in visions and dreams, even those who are no longer alive!
A young girl from the village of Loch Dhonn is found brutally stabbed and the police are investigating, but not getting very far with finding the killer. Leo decides to travel to the area to help solve the murder, hoping that his proximity to the crime scene will inspire his visions and able him to identify the murderer.
Leo is a very likeable character, and it is easy to become absolutely absorbed by this book and fascinated by its unusual spectral twist.
Charles McGarry has successfully managed to come up with something original in this murder mystery genre, and I am already looking forward to the next Leo Moran Murder Mystery!
Lynne Morgan
This is the first book in this new murder mystery series featuring Psychic private detective Leo Moran. Leo is an old fashioned type of gentleman, slightly suffering from hypochondria and more than a little partial to a nip of whiskey. I really enjoyed this story set in Scotland during winter centred around the brutal murder of a newly qualified nurse.
The story is charming, Leo is very likeable even though he can have quite a sharp tongue, but he is just the man you would want on the case when there is a murder especially as he has such unique gifts. The plot kept me intrigued
the entire duration of reading it which meant I read it all in one sitting because it was awesome. The settings of the story, the hotel, train, quaint town etc all added to this stories charm. I would recommend this to any mystery fan, especially cosy mystery fans!
Edel Waugh
The Book Bag
Leo Moran is a gourmand, sleuth and seer of visions. Beset by ghoulish dreams and apparitions of a terrible crime he leaves the safety of his extravagantly furnished Glasgow apartment and sets out to Lock Dhonn to aid the police in their investigation of the murder of the eponymous Helen Addison. Along the way he is visited by the phantom form of Helen and is besieged by evil forces before tumbling into a rabbit hole of deceit, mystery and the dark forces of the occult. In a race to solve the case and stop the wrong man being accused of such a ghastly crime, Leo must draw on all his skills and convince the police that the killer is still at large and waiting to strike again.
The Ghost of Helen Addison is the first Leo Moran mystery and it is clear to see why McGarry would want to serialise the exploits of this eccentric, pompous private eye. Leo is a well written, complex character, on the one hand spiritual and devout, on the other gluttonous and driven by his appetites. A man truly haunted by events from his past, only ever teasingly referred to here, he possesses an often self-destructive need to insert himself into the investigation despite the protestations of the local police and manages to do so despite being apparently inebriated for much of the time. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Leo recklessly risks life, limb and reputation to solve the mystery surrounding Helen's death, picking up friends and enemies along the way.
It is easy to become absorbed in Leo's journey and to share his growing vexation with the investigation, due to McGarry's skills as an evocative, eloquent writer and his descriptions which are lusciously vivid and colourful, from Leo's gastronomic pleasures to the rural, wild beauty of Loch Dhonn. This level of detail leads to an immersive, engrossing tale which draws the reader in and captures the imagination. The story moves at a decent pace and the increasingly bizarre events surrounding Leo, as well as the growing threat from the killer means you will be racing to finish and find out who perpetrated such ghastly deeds. The conclusion doesn't disappoint and, without giving anything away, the ending ties up all loose ends in a satisfying bow.
Whilst the story has an otherworldly, ethereal edge, McGarry balances the tightrope between the spiritual and the tangible expertly. It is for the reader to decide whether Leo has the gift of second sight, whether the killer is indeed in league with forces of darkness or whether there are more concrete, corporeal answers to the mysteries surrounding Helen's murder. The characters here are also sketched in vivid relief and whilst I could have done without as much focus on the size of the breasts of one of the female characters, an irrelevant detail which adds nothing to the story, overall the depth shown ensures the characters are interesting and allow the reader to visualise the lives of the key players involved in the case. McGarry has a clear gift for description and he has used it to full effect here, making The Ghost of Helen Addison a compulsively readable mystery. I'm sure Leo Moran will continue to grow in stature and pomposity throughout the series and I look forward to the next instalment.
Megan Kenny [five-star review]
Nudge-book
This is an unusual gem of a novel – a literary crime novel. Leo Moran is an eccentric man; a connoisseur of fine wines and gourmet food, who overindulges at just about every occasion. A staunch Catholic and socialist, he seems at odds with his surroundings. Leo has a special gift – that of being the receiver of visions. Suffering from a bout of influenza, Leo Moran sees a vision, a blade being thrust into a woman’s body, and he knows that it is his responsibility to respond and catch the woman’s killer.
Leo uses his connections to join the police at Loch Dhonn and acts as unofficial adviser to them, although the detective in charge is sceptical. The investigation into the murder of Helen Addison brings Leo into confrontation with the forces of evil and places him in mortal danger.
This is a well crafted and beautifully written novel that keeps you guessing as to the identity of the murderer, sending suspicion into bluffs until the very last. Leo Moran is reminiscent of a Scottish Hercule Poirot in terms of his fastidious fashion sense and gourmet tastes, but he is a very likeable, if flawed, character.
Rachel Hirstwood
Edel’s Book, Beauty, Life Blog
This is the first book in this new murder mystery series featuring Psychic private detective Leo Moran. Leo is an old fashioned type of gentleman , slightly suffering from hypochondria and more then a little partial to a nip of whiskey . I really enjoyed this story set in Scotland during winter centred around the brutal murder or a newly qualified nurse .
The story is charming , Leo is very likeable even though he can have quite a sharp tongue , but he is just the man you would want on the case when there is a murder especially as he has such unique gifts. The plot kept me intrigued the entire duration of reading it which meant I read it all in one sitting because it was awesome. The settings of the story , the hotel , train , quaint town etc all added to this stories charm . I would recommend this to any mystery fan , especially cosy mystery fans !
I received this awesome book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk
This book is being published July 2017 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good bookstores then.
Leo Moran is a gourmand, sleuth and seer of visions. Beset by ghoulish dreams and apparitions of a terrible crime he leaves the safety of his extravagantly furnished Glasgow apartment and sets out to Lock Dhonn to aid the police in their investigation of the murder of the eponymous Helen Addison. Along the way he is visited by the phantom form of Helen and is besieged by evil forces before tumbling into a rabbit hole of deceit, mystery and the dark forces of the occult. In a race to solve the case and stop the wrong man being accused of such a ghastly crime, Leo must draw on all his skills and convince the police that the killer is still at large and waiting to strike again.
The Ghost of Helen Addison is the first Leo Moran mystery and it is clear to see why McGarry would want to serialise the exploits of this eccentric, pompous private eye. Leo is a well written, complex character, on the one hand spiritual and devout, on the other gluttonous and driven by his appetites. A man truly haunted by events from his past, only ever teasingly referred to here, he possesses an often self-destructive need to insert himself into the investigation despite the protestations of the local police and manages to do so despite being apparently inebriated for much of the time. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Leo recklessly risks life, limb and reputation to solve the mystery surrounding Helen's death, picking up friends and enemies along the way.
It is easy to become absorbed in Leo's journey and to share his growing vexation with the investigation, due to McGarry's skills as an evocative, eloquent writer and his descriptions which are lusciously vivid and colourful, from Leo's gastronomic pleasures to the rural, wild beauty of Loch Dhonn. This level of detail leads to an immersive, engrossing tale which draws the reader in and captures the imagination. The story moves at a decent pace and the increasingly bizarre events surrounding Leo, as well as the growing threat from the killer means you will be racing to finish and find out who perpetrated such ghastly deeds. The conclusion doesn't disappoint and, without giving anything away, the ending ties up all loose ends in a satisfying bow.
Whilst the story has an otherworldly, ethereal edge, McGarry balances the tightrope between the spiritual and the tangible expertly. It is for the reader to decide whether Leo has the gift of second sight, whether the killer is indeed in league with forces of darkness or whether there are more concrete, corporeal answers to the mysteries surrounding Helen's murder. The characters here are also sketched in vivid relief and whilst I could have done without as much focus on the size of the breasts of one of the female characters, an irrelevant detail which adds nothing to the story, overall the depth shown ensures the characters are interesting and allow the reader to visualise the lives of the key players involved in the case. McGarry has a clear gift for description and he has used it to full effect here, making The Ghost of Helen Addison a compulsively readable mystery. I'm sure Leo Moran will continue to grow in stature and pomposity throughout the series and I look forward to the next instalment.
Megan Kenny [five-star review]
Nudge-book
This is an unusual gem of a novel – a literary crime novel. Leo Moran is an eccentric man; a connoisseur of fine wines and gourmet food, who overindulges at just about every occasion. A staunch Catholic and socialist, he seems at odds with his surroundings. Leo has a special gift – that of being the receiver of visions. Suffering from a bout of influenza, Leo Moran sees a vision, a blade being thrust into a woman’s body, and he knows that it is his responsibility to respond and catch the woman’s killer.
Leo uses his connections to join the police at Loch Dhonn and acts as unofficial adviser to them, although the detective in charge is sceptical. The investigation into the murder of Helen Addison brings Leo into confrontation with the forces of evil and places him in mortal danger.
This is a well crafted and beautifully written novel that keeps you guessing as to the identity of the murderer, sending suspicion into bluffs until the very last. Leo Moran is reminiscent of a Scottish Hercule Poirot in terms of his fastidious fashion sense and gourmet tastes, but he is a very likeable, if flawed, character.
Rachel Hirstwood
Edel’s Book, Beauty, Life Blog
This is the first book in this new murder mystery series featuring Psychic private detective Leo Moran. Leo is an old fashioned type of gentleman , slightly suffering from hypochondria and more then a little partial to a nip of whiskey . I really enjoyed this story set in Scotland during winter centred around the brutal murder or a newly qualified nurse .
The story is charming , Leo is very likeable even though he can have quite a sharp tongue , but he is just the man you would want on the case when there is a murder especially as he has such unique gifts. The plot kept me intrigued the entire duration of reading it which meant I read it all in one sitting because it was awesome. The settings of the story , the hotel , train , quaint town etc all added to this stories charm . I would recommend this to any mystery fan , especially cosy mystery fans !
I received this awesome book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk
This book is being published July 2017 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good bookstores then.