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The Gathering Murders: Dead men tell no tales ... (Inspector Torquil McKinnon Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 2,152 ratings

The best Scottish detective series you haven’t read yet! Perfect for fans of LJ Ross and Faith Martin…

Who can you trust when everyone is a suspect?

The Scottish Hebrides


The annual
West Uist literary festival – The Gathering – always attracts the best in the business. But with the tiny island population suddenly doubling, the local police force is stretched to breaking point. And this year they have to deal with more than just drunken fights and rowdy behaviour…

Ranald Buchanan, the local poet, is
found dead, with his head brutally caved in, and Inspector Torquil McKinnon is brought in to investigate. Did Ranald trip and fall, as suggested? Or is something more sinister happening?

Before Torquil can find out more,
another victim is found. The island is on lockdown. There is a serial killer in their midst. And this time the victim is someone very close to him.

Now finding justice is personal.
Torquil is out for revenge.

Can he solve the mystery before the killer strikes again?

Or will more bodies fall victim to The Gathering Murders…?

THE GATHERING MURDERS is the first crime thriller in the detective series featuring Inspector Torquil McKinnon: an action-packed police procedural full of suspense.


"Keith Moray gives
a delightful mystery tale and at the same time a fascinating look at the island folk of West Uist, a fictional island in the Hebrides. I found the culture almost as riveting as the murders and in all enjoyed the book tremendously." Frank Roderus, double WWA Spur winning author

THE INSPECTOR TORQUIL MCKINNON SERIES
Book One: The Gathering Murders
Book Two: Deathly Wind
Book Three: Murder Solstice
Book Four: Flotsam and Jetsam
Book Five: Death in Transit
Book Six: Deadly Still
Book Seven: Deep and Deadly

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Keith Moray is the crime writing pen-name of Keith Souter, part-time doctor, medical journalist, and novelist. He is a member of the Crime Writer's Association, International Thriller Writers, the Society of Authors, and the Medical Journalists Association. His crime novels are set on the Scottish island of West Uist, featuring Inspector Torquil McKinnon.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0781TFMFJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books (March 1, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1912546051
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 2,152 ratings

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
2,152 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the plot engaging and the characters well-developed. They enjoy the book's setting and pacing. However, some readers feel the writing quality is poor and stilted, making it difficult to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

12 customers mention "Plot development"9 positive3 negative

Customers find the plot engaging with its twists and evolving storyline. They describe the book as a delightful mystery tale that gets exciting toward the end. The plot starts out solidly enough, but the ending is over-the-top. Readers appreciate the multiple suspects, secrets, and motives in abundance.

"...There are multiple suspects, plenty of secrets, and motives abound...." Read more

"...This mystery is gripping and with twists and minor characters, keeps you guessing. Good read." Read more

"...The book has tons of atmosphere, great story, characters and great writing. Can’t wait to start next one in series." Read more

"...on the island in the Hebrides is so well described & written into this story that I completely feel I'd know them & have an ale together in the pub...." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"7 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the characters and plot development. They find the characters well-developed, especially the remote protagonist.

"...a very attractive protagonist and he's a piper as well!..." Read more

"...This is the first in a series and it works well on establishing the characters and especially the remote and interesting setting...." Read more

"...This mystery is gripping and with twists and minor characters, keeps you guessing. Good read." Read more

"...I enjoyed the Scottish setting, but there needs to be more character development and some tension in the plot in determining who the villain is." Read more

6 customers mention "Enjoyment"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it enjoyable and delightful.

"...Good read." Read more

"...the story really got exciting toward the end. Thanks for a great read." Read more

"...the culture almost as riveting as the murders and in all enjoyed the book tremendously. I look forward to reading more of Keith Moray's work." Read more

"Have just started reading this series and d have enjoyed the first in the series." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing and atmosphere. They find the remote Scottish setting interesting, with an island setting. The writing style is clear and engaging, and the culture is riveting as well as the murders. Overall, readers enjoyed the story and characters.

"...The writing style is clear and engaging and the pacing is fast enough to keep your interest...." Read more

"...I did finish it, but it took me awhile. I enjoyed the Scottish setting, but there needs to be more character development and some tension in the..." Read more

"...The book has tons of atmosphere, great story, characters and great writing. Can’t wait to start next one in series." Read more

"...The setting is appealing and there's nothing objectionable about the main character, but this just isn't a well-written book...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"0 positive7 negative

Customers find the writing quality poor. They describe the phrasing as stilted and repetitive, like fanfiction or self-published work. The book seems overly implausible and not worth reading.

"At first this book was difficult to read due to all the Gaelic and Scottish words but as I read along, it became easier...." Read more

"...'s nothing objectionable about the main character, but this just isn't a well-written book. Definitely feels like a first attempt...." Read more

"...which I have no clue how to pronounce and the endless waiting for all the descriptive adjectives to serve up some action of any sort. Too bad...." Read more

"I could not manage to engage in this book. So many Scottish words and phrases were used that I didn't understand what was going on...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
    Who would have thought that a literary and folk arts fair in a distant Hebridean island could lead to so much mayhem? Moray's West Uist (an imaginary companion to the real Uists and Lewis islands) is the bailiwick of Inspector Torquil McKinnon and his two fellow police officers, a feisty female sergeant and a hammer throwing champion constable. With the arrival of visitors for the festival and the gathering, resulting in the doubling of the island population, they have their hands full. One of the writers attending the Festival is an old flame of Torquil, along with a nervous agent, a publisher, an enigmatic Thai surgeon, a young travel writer, and the Scottish Minister of Culture. The last two are the guests of the local laird. The reader knows that one of these just has to be the sinister person introduced in the chilling prologue. Soon the Inspector and his team have several murders to solve. They are helped by Torquil's uncle and the local doctor, and hindered somewhat by the editor of the island newspaper. The murders are solved although the reader may not have expected the denoument to be quite so shocking and nasty.
    What is most appealing about this series are the descriptions of the island and the local characters. Torquil is
    a very attractive protagonist and he's a piper as well! He's also intelligent and courageous ( how many other inspectors would be willing to call their superintendent a prat to his face?). I look forward to reading more in this series.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2018
    The Gathering is a festival and competition held on an island in the Hebrides off the coast of Scotland. Needless to say, things turn deadly and it is up to the local police to find the culprit. This is the first in a series and it works well on establishing the characters and especially the remote and interesting setting. The book begins with an unidentified murderess and unidentified victims. I find this sort of beginning to be irritating, not engaging. In this book, it never made any sense until the summing up at the end. There are multiple suspects, plenty of secrets, and motives abound. The writing style is clear and engaging and the pacing is fast enough to keep your interest. It is a police procedural that is not overly violent or gory. Our lead detective is Torquil McKinnon and he plays traditional music on the bag pipes. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see how the series moves forward with the continuing characters.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2018
    It started off well, but the characters are flat -- two-dimensional. I did finish it, but it took me awhile. I enjoyed the Scottish setting, but there needs to be more character development and some tension in the plot in determining who the villain is.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2018
    At first this book was difficult to read due to all the Gaelic and Scottish words but as I read along, it became easier. This mystery is gripping and with twists and minor characters, keeps you guessing. Good read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2020
    The story is set on a small island in the Hebrides, Scotland . A police force of three with two bumbling community officers . Inspector McKinnon is faced with the murder of his former girlfriend during a Gathering and Literary convention . Hundreds of people in the small town . There are multiple people with grudges and secrets that have to be weeded out. Then there are more murders . Delightful characters .
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2019
    I found this author quite by accident, which is how all good books should be found. Like receiving a unsolicited present and it’s just what you need. The book has tons of atmosphere, great story, characters and great writing. Can’t wait to start next one in series.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2018
    What a twisting, ever evolving story! The cast of characters on the island in the Hebrides is so well described & written into this story that I completely feel I'd know them & have an ale together in the pub. My favorite character, Inspector McKinnon, has many surprises & sorrows as he investigates to find the truth. Looking forward to the next investigation.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2018
    This was amateurishly written and rather silly, with a melodramatic ending that seemed like something from an '80s soap opera. I spotted several typos, including unintentionally funny ones like "sturgeon" instead of "surgeon" and "buddy" instead of body or biddy.

    The novel starts out promisingly enough, but it simply doesn't have polish; it reads like fanfiction or something self-published.

    Female characters' breasts and body-type are mentioned repeatedly, even in contexts where it's not relevant. I don't find this strongly offensive, but it's pretty silly and makes it seem like a book written by, or for, teenage boys. Everyone is young and sexy, unless they've been designated as a sidekick or a villain.

    The setting is appealing and there's nothing objectionable about the main character, but this just isn't a well-written book. Definitely feels like a first attempt. The plotting starts out solidly enough, but the ending is just too over-the-top and implausible.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Mme Hustwayte
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
    Reviewed in France on October 11, 2018
    Great story telling, great book, I enjoyed it all! Loved the twists and turns and the sometimes complicated interaction of the characters. Highly recommended.
  • P. L. Tickell
    5.0 out of 5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery in spite of what another reviewer ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2018
    I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery in spite of what another reviewer has pointed out about the anomalous labelling of the Padre and his works. I found the writer's style easy to read, I was gripped to read the whole story in one sitting and I was kept guessing about the murderer until the very last pages. There was need for "the willing suspension of disbelief" but then that is what fiction is all about. The novel was not unbelievable and I warmed to all the main characters; those to whom I was not attracted all turned out to the the villains (bar the murderer). I want to read more of Piper McKinnon.
  • Suzanne
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable
    Reviewed in Australia on December 18, 2018
    I loved the characters in this book, living on a small island the police get no help from the "outside" world. I liked the locals who also helped where they could. Looking forward to the next one in the series.
  • Glam Lady
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great characters
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2024
    This is the first book by this author that I've read and I really enjoyed it. Loved the characters and a good story and plot. I'll read more in this series
  • AMH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2020
    Very impressive, lots of well written characters, plot twists and red herrings. Very descriptive of the islands and way of life.

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