Murder Mile (Di Rob Brennan 2) [Paperback]

Last year I had the pleasure of being introduced to DI Rob Brennan, the new kid on the block for Scottish police fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him and was left looking forward to the next time we'd meet.
I bumped into Rob again earlier this week in the new book Murder Mile.

He looked well, at least in the circumstances. Tough, dogged, passionate about the job and not about to suck up to anybody for any reason is how I found him - no change there.

He's working another case. That of a psychopath in Edinburgh. A real nutter who delights in mutilation of young women.

Kicked out of the house by his wife, missing his daughter and having had to break the news of a new death to a young woman's parents might be things he takes in his stride, but I think I know him well enough to see him buckling under the pressure no matter how philosophical he tries to be.

And hell, I don't envy the office politics in his place; I thought my school was bad, but it has nothing on the police station, not even close. Seems the economic crisis is hitting the boys in blue as much as everyone else.

So I told him, get the best you can to do the job, the bean-counters can go and play with their chick peas while you set about solving the case.

Now I happen to know that there's a pimping ex-con with only the one prostitute in his team, and she's past her sell-by-date even though she's only a young-un. Drugs, you see. They'll do that to some people. Anyway, this guy has some information on the killer and is thinking about earning a little money to pay off a loan-shark - which means he has to be pretty desperate if you ask me.

I'd tell the DI, but I know he likes to work these things out for himself.

All in all, it was a whirlwind of a meeting.

Brennan's nothing but stoical. He's doing the usual thorough search and he's not going to let it go. Dog with a bone that guy, with sharp teeth to go with it.

I'm really glad that I caught up with him again.

I reckon you'd like to meet him too. Will it matter that you didn't get to know him on his last case? I don't think so. I know him better now, but I would have loved him while he works the Murder Mile even if I'd never set eyes on him before. When he tells you stories, they stand alone with a lot of strength, so don't worry on that score.

If you've already been there, then you're in for a similar treat. There might be a little of the `deja vu', but that's only because you're like old friends already.

I'm hoping we'll get together again next year. Hard to guess whether he'll have been thrown out of the force by then, or got sick of that politics or whether he'll be on the way back from another `break'. Who knows? Only time will tell.

Till then, DI, good luck with catching that lunatic. Make sure our kids our safe on the streets. Bless you for that, sir. Bless you.

Move over Tom Thorne I think I have a new favourite detective in DI Rob Brennan. And I love Tom Thorne, so DI Brennan must be good. I read Truth Lies Bleeding in three sittings in one day so immediately knew I was onto something good with Tony Black and after finishing that I couldn't wait to start this second book in the series. My only disappointment is the wait for the next DI Brennan novel, of which there has to be one. I love his no nonsense attitude and the fact he completely ignores the politics of his job and his superiors, he's focused on solving the crime not playing things by the book.

The story of this book was similar to the last book but that didn't bother me too much. It was an extremely readable book, crime fiction authors tend to have random chapters which (as a bad example) are meant to give information about various characters back stories or to add suspense but they usually just end up going over my head and complicating the story for me, this book is just straight to the point, no fancy fluff and just very easy to get lost in for a few hours.

I must admit though I hated the new Chief Super and was disappointed that there were only one or two mentions of the previous Super from TLB, I thought she had potential as a character. I also enjoy the little double act with McGuire, and hope it can continue (view spoiler).

Fans of crime fiction must read this book and Truth Lies Bleeding, both amazing reads especially for fans of Mark Billingham and Stuart MacBride. I hope the wait isn't too long for another DI Brennan novel.

First, big confession. Apologies to Mister Black, but I hadn't heard of his books here in New York until seeing Murder Mile getting a cracking recommendation by Irish crime writer, Sam Millar. After only two pages in, I knew I was in for a treat. The story of murder could easily have been your usual mundane tale: late night drinkers happen upon a horrifically mutilated corpse of a young girl. The murder resembles a case from five years before. In comes the detective, etc, case solved. Thankfully, there is nothing mundane about the story weaved by Mister Black or his terrific writing. His main character, DI Rob Brennan, is a man not to be messed with. The type of person you would like to have covering your back in time of trouble. The book is an extremely quick read, but will have you going back, as the beauty of Mister Black's words come back to you, long after the book is put down. Highly recommended for your collection of fine crime books.