DSI William Lorimer Series

The perfect murder takes practice.

An unpredictable killer is loose on the streets of Glasgow, experimenting with death. Beginning with brute force, the murderer moves on to poison and drowning, greedy for new and better ways to kill.

Faced with a string of unconnected victims, DCI Lorimer turns to psychologist and friend Solomon Brightman for his insights. Lorimer is also assigned to review the case of a fatal house fire. His suspicions are raised by shocking omissions in the original investigation. Some uncomfortable questions have been buried but Lorimer is the man to ask them.

As the serial killer gets closer to Lorimer's family, can the DCI unmask the volatile murderer before the next victim is found too close to home?

The Riverman

by Alex Gray

Published 3 May 2007

***Discover your next reading obsession with Alex Gray's bestselling Scottish detective series***

***Don't miss the latest from Alex Gray. Book 20 in the Lorimer series, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out now and Book 21, OUT OF DARKNESS, is available to pre-order.***

Whether you've read them all or whether this is your first Lorimer novel, THE RIVERMAN is perfect if you love Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE LORIMER SERIES:

'Warm-hearted, atmospheric' ANN CLEEVES
'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY
'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL
'Exciting, pacey, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS
'Superior writing' THE TIMES
'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
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When the dead body of a man is fished out of Glasgow's River Clyde the morning after an office celebration, it looks like a case of accidental death. An anonymous telephone call and a forensic toxicology test, however, give DCI Lorimer reason to think otherwise.

Probing deeper into the life and business of the deceased accountant, Duncan Forbes, a seemingly upright member of the community, Lorimer find only yet more unanswered questions.

And when the firm's human resources manager is found dead in her riverside flat these questions become only more complex -- not to mention more disturbing. And Lorimer is having to cope not only with deceptions devised to hide the facts, but also with suspicions from those far closer to home . . .

Pitch Black

by Alex Gray

Published 3 April 2008

***Discover your next reading obsession with Alex Gray's bestselling Scottish detective series***

***Don't miss the latest from Alex Gray. Book 20 in the Lorimer series, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out now and Book 21, OUT OF DARKNESS, is available to pre-order.***

Whether you've read them all or whether this is your first Lorimer novel, PITCH BLACK is perfect if you love Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE LORIMER SERIES:

'Warm-hearted, atmospheric' ANN CLEEVES
'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY
'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL
'Exciting, pacey, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS
'Superior writing' THE TIMES
'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH

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When Chief Inspector Lorimer returns from his holiday on the island of Mull, he feels a welcome sense of calm. But it doesn't last long.

Kelvin FC's new star midfielder is found brutally stabbed to death in his own home and, with his wife apprehended trying to leave the country, a seemingly straightforward new case begins. But the grisly murder of a referee after a Kelvin match throws light on some dark secrets at the ground.

As lies emerge and tensions build, Lorimer knows there's a serial killer on the loose - one that's only beginning to show his true colours.

The Bird That Did Not Sing

by Alex Gray

Published 13 March 2014

***Discover your next reading obsession with Alex Gray's bestselling Scottish detective series***

***Don't miss the latest from Alex Gray. Book 20 in the Lorimer series, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out now and Book 21, OUT OF DARKNESS, is available to pre-order.***

Whether you've read them all or whether this is your first Lorimer novel, THE BIRD THAT DID NOT SING is perfect if you love Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE LORIMER SERIES:

'Warm-hearted, atmospheric' ANN CLEEVES
'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY
'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL
'Exciting, pacey, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS
'Superior writing' THE TIMES
'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
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They stole her voice. Now they want her dead . . .

2014: The Commonwealth Games are coming to Glasgow and security is extra tight, particularly after a mysterious bomb explodes in nearby rural Stirlingshire. As the opening ceremony for the Games draws ever closer, the police desperately seek the culprits. But Detective Superintendent Lorimer has other concerns on his mind. One is a beautiful red-haired woman from his past whose husband dies suddenly on his watch. Then there is the body of a young woman found dumped in countryside just south of the city who is proving impossible to identify.

Elsewhere in Glasgow people prepare for the events in their own way, whether for financial gain or to welcome home visitors from overseas. And, hiding behind false identities, are those who pose a terrible threat not just to the Games but to the very fabric of society.

The Swedish Girl

by Alex Gray

Published 7 March 2013

Eighteen-year-old Kirsty Wilson can't believe her luck when she lands a room in a luxury Glasgow flat owned by the beautiful Eva Magnusson, a wealthy fellow student from Stockholm. But her initial delight turns to terror when Kirsty finds the Swedish girl lying dead in their home and their male flatmate accused of her murder. Kirsty refuses to accept that he is guilty and, inspired by family friend Detective Superintendent Lorimer, sets out to clear his name. Meanwhile, Lorimer calls on his trusted colleague, psychologist Solly Brightman, to help unravel the truth behind the enigmatic Eva's life and death. But it is not long until another woman, bearing a marked resemblance to Eva, is brutally murdered in Glasgow. Horrified, Lorimer and his team realise that Kirsty could be right. Is it possible that Glasgow's finest detective has put the wrong man behind bars? And is there a cold-blooded killer out there orchestrating the death of their next innocent victim? In this absolutely gripping read, Alex Gray sends her dynamic Scottish detective from the gritty heart of Glasgow to the snowy streets of Stockholm in his toughest case yet.

A Pound of Flesh

by Alex Gray

Published 1 March 2012

Detective Inspector Lorimer's worst nightmare is a serial killer loose in his city. But two serial killers operating at once in Glasgow is a nightmare come to life. Is there any link between the brutal slaying of prostitutes in the backstreets of the city and the methodical killing of several unconnected businessmen? Lorimer is never one to jump to conclusions but something about these cases just doesn't add up. When the latest murder is that of a prominent politician, Lorimer finds the media's relentless scrutiny turned on his investigation. Psychologist Solly Brightman is helping with both cases, but someone within Lorimer's team is unwittingly sabotaging their efforts by leaking confidential police information. Their whispers will cost lives ...As the freezing winter weather grips Glasgow, two killers are relentlessly taking lives in cold blood. For Lorimer, time is running out.

Before the Storm

by Alex Gray

Published 25 March 2021

***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES***

Whether you've read them all or whether you're discovering Alex Gray's bestselling series for the first time, BEFORE THE STORM will have you gripped until the final page.

'BEFORE THE STORM is classic Alex Gray - warm-hearted, atmospheric . . . with a very interesting twist' ANN CLEEVES

'An exciting procedural' SUNDAY TIMES

'Another brilliant Lorimer adventure' ***** Reader Review

'Exciting and unexpected, I hope it's not too long till the next one' ***** Reader Review

'Lorimer is up there with the best' ***** Reader Review

'Alex Gray returns with another belter' THE HERALD

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Your favourite Scottish detective is back with a brand new case, one that threatens to destroy everything.

Inspector Daniel Kohi of the Zimbabwean police force returns home one night to find his worst nightmare has been realised. His family dead, his house destroyed, and in fear for his life, he is forced to flee the country he loves.

Far away in Glasgow, DSI William Lorimer has his hands full. Christmas is approaching, the city is bustling, and whilst the homicide rate has been relatively low, something much darker is brewing. Counter-Terrorism have got wind of a plot, here in Lorimer's native city, to carry out an unspeakable atrocity on Christmas Eve. They need someone with local knowledge to help them root it out and who better than the head of the Scottish Major Incidents Team.

But the investigation is complicated by a spate of local murders, and by the rumours that someone is passing information to criminal organisations from inside the police force. Soon Lorimer finds himself in desperate need of assistance. Then he meets an extraordinary man - a refugee from Zimbabwe whose investigative skills are a match for Lorimer's own . . .

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Readers love Alex Gray

'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY

'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL

'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH

'Alex Gray's great crime fiction series is one you can pick up at any stage and not feel lost . . complex, intriguing, tense' Reader review

'A fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns' Reader review

'Exciting, pacy, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS

'Convincing Glaswegia

Small Weeping

by Alex Gray

Published 8 January 2004

The body of a prostitute is discovered in Glasgow's Queen Street Station, sparking a murder hunt that focuses on the city's seamier side. But when the body of a young nurse is found dead in a private clinic, with her corpse positioned in an identical way to that of the first victim, DCI Lorimer and psychologist, Solomon Brightman, must decide if this is the work of a serial killer. Once again, Gray takes the reader on a journey through the streets of Glasgow, this time weaving the very fabric of both the city with the wilds of the Scottish Outer Hebrides in her tale.

Never Somewhere Else

by Alex Gray

Published 18 April 2002

Never Somewhere Else is a highly visual and powerfully written tale of contemporary crime and retribution. Alex Gray's rich and stylish debut leads the reader through the streets, parks and art galleries of Glasgow on a compelling journey of discovery that never fails to keep the pages turning. Scratch the surface of the polished Glasgow art world and dark layers are revealed beneath - serial murders with a particularly horrific signature; an ambitious journalist's desire to keep one step ahead of police investigations and an artist's model who has a sinister agenda of his own. When a series of young women are discovered strangled and mutilated in a Glasgow park, it is up to DCI Lorimer to find their killer. Frustrated by a lack of progress in the investigation, Lorimer is forced to enlist the services of Dr Solomon Brightman, a young psychologist and criminal profiler. Together they form an uneasy alliance. But when a homeless man is brought in for questioning the investigation takes a bizarre turn. Never Somewhere Else is a highly visual and powerfully written tale of contemporary crime and retribution.
Alex Gray's rich and stylish debut leads the reader through the streets, parks and art galleries of Glasgow on a compelling journey of discovery that never fails to keep the pages turning. Scratch the surface of the polished Glasgow art world and dark layers are revealed beneath - serial murders with a particularly horrific signature; an ambitious journalist's desire to keep one step ahead of police investigations and an artist's model who has a sinister agenda of his own. When a series of young women are discovered strangled and mutilated in a Glasgow park, it is up to DCI Lorimer to find their killer. Frustrated by a lack of progress in the investigation, Lorimer is forced to enlist the services of Dr Solomon Brightman, a young psychologist and criminal profiler. Together they form an uneasy alliance. But when a homeless man is brought in for questioning the investigation takes a bizarre turn.

When Shadows Fall

by Alex Gray

Published 19 March 2020

'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
'Move over Rebus' Daily Mail
'Exciting, pacy, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS
'Convincing Glaswegian atmosphere and superior writing' The Times
'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY

Discover DSI William Lorimer - the series that has sold more than a million copies across the world.

Whether you've read them all, or whether you're coming to Alex Gray's highly acclaimed series for the very first time, this is the perfect, page-turning read if you love Ann Cleeves, Val McDermid or Ian Rankin.

DSI Lorimer is back with a brand new case. And the stakes have never been so high . . .
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When his old friend and former colleague is shot dead at his home, Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is devastated. And his problems are only just beginning. It's not long before two further deaths are reported: both victims ex-policemen.

It's clear this is a targeted campaign against their own, yet with no other link between the victims to identify the killer, Lorimer's police team are starting to panic. Who will be next?

Lorimer knows he must keep his cool if he is to solve the case. But with time running out before the next attack, he's struggling to ignore the sickening question at the back of his mind:

Will he get to the killer, before the killer gets to him?

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WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT WHEN SHADOWS FALL

'Alex Gray's great crime fiction series is one you can pick up at any stage and not feel lost . . complex, intriguing, tense'

'A fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns'

'This series just gets better and better and everything still feels fresh. Highly recommended'

Sleep Like The Dead

by Alex Gray

Published 3 February 2011

Everyone is searching for Billy Brogan and his sister, Marianne. Marianne's ex-husband Kenneth Scott is gunned down in his home and two men are found dead in Billy's West End flat. But Billy is on the run to Spain, with the money that was meant to pay the hit man who killed Kenneth. Now the hit man remains in Glasgow, seeking not just his fee for his job but the elusive Marianne. The woman has been a mature student of Dr Solomon Brightman, psychology lecturer at Glasgow University and criminal profiler. Why, when she meets him unexpectedly in a Glasgow bookshop, does she tell him she owes him such a lot? And what is her relationship to Amit, the educated Pakistani refugee from Lahore? DCI Lorimer is given the news that psychological profiling is no longer allowed following a case of wrongful arrest down South, but can his friendship with Solly produce the necessary clues in this case? And will Solly be able to find his missing student before time runs out for her?

Glasgow Kiss

by Alex Gray

Published 5 March 2009

Eric Chalmers is one of the most popular teachers at Muirpark Secondary School in Glasgow. Gentle and kind, he is the person the students come to when they want to confide in someone. So when precocious teenager Julie Donaldson accuses Chalmers of rape, the school goes into shock. How could a deeply religious family man like Chalmers do anything like that? With some students and teachers supporting Julie, and others standing by Chalmers, life at Muirpark is far from harmonious. And then things get much worse - Julie Donaldson goes missing, and the police are called in. For DCI William Lorimer, this is the second missing persons case in a week. He's been having sleepless nights about a toddler who has been missing for several days - with each day, the likelihood of her being found alive diminishes. Julie's disappearance adds a further burden to Lorimer's already overstretched workload. With hope fading, it becomes a breakneck race against time to find both missing girls.

The Darkest Goodbye

by Alex Gray

Published 3 March 2016

'Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Ian Rankin evokes Edinburgh' Daily Mail

When an elderly woman is found dead in her home, newly fledged DC Kirsty Wilson is called to the scene. It appears that the woman had a mysterious visitor in the early hours of that morning - someone dressed as a carer, but with much darker intentions. It soon becomes obvious that this was not death by natural causes - it was murder. Before she can catch her breath, DC Wilson is thrown in at the deep end as another body turns up; this time the victim is a well-known drug dealer from Glasgow's mean streets, and there's no question that this was a brutal execution.

The two cases appear to have nothing in common, but when another vulnerable person is murdered in their sleep, the police realise that it's only a matter of time before the next victim emerges, and Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is called in to help DC Wilson investigate. This case is big and it's about to get more personal than either of them could have imagined...

Still Dark

by Alex Gray

Published 23 March 2017

'Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Ian Rankin evokes Edinburgh' Daily Mail

New Year's Eve should be a time for celebrating. A chance to spend time with loved ones and look forward to the year ahead. For DSI William Lorimer, however, this New Year's Eve will be one that he will never forget. Called to a house after gunshots are reported, the carnage he finds there will have a powerful impact on his life - leaving him questioning his future with Police Scotland.

Meanwhile, the man who eluded police capture during Lorimer's last investigation - the Quiet Release case involving the euthanasia of vulnerable patients - is back, and this time he's aligned with a powerful gangster from Glasgow's underworld.

As Lorimer struggles to return to duty and stop this mystery killer once and for all, he discovers that there are forces high up within Police Scotland that are protecting the gangster that holds the key to finding the man they are looking for. Can Lorimer and his team get a killer off the streets for good before more innocent people die?

The Stalker

by Alex Gray

Published 7 March 2019

***THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING DETECTIVE SERIES***

Don't miss the thrilling new Lorimer novel from Alex Gray. WHEN SHADOWS FALL is available to pre-order now

'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' Alexander McCall Smith

A murder on their doorstep
A case that's too close to home . . .

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The body of a young woman has been discovered in Bellahouston park, the second in a matter of months. It's clear to Detective Superintendent William Lorimer of Police Scotland that they have a repeat killer on their hands, who is sure to strike again.

Lucky for DSI Lorimer that his wife, Maggie, is miles away from potential danger, touring Scotland to promote her first book. Faced with strangers at every event, Maggie doesn't notice the quiet, non-descript man sitting in the back row.

But he has noticed Maggie Lorimer. And soon his will be a face she never forgets.

Whether you've read them all, or whether you're coming to Alex Gray's much-loved Lorimer series for the very first time, this is the perfect, page-turning winter read if you love Ann Cleeves, Val McDermid or Ian Rankin.

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***PRAISE FOR ALEX GRAY***

'Convincing Glaswegian atmosphere and superior writing' The Times

'One of the best is Alex Gray . . . highly recommended' Literary Review

'Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Rankin evokes Edinburgh' Daily Mail

'Move over Rebus' Daily Mirror

'Eerie, psychological and easy to delve into' Woman

'Exciting, pacy, authentic' Angela Marsons

'DSI Lorimer's a cop to rival Rankin's Rebus' Peterborough Telegraph

Only the Dead Can Tell

by Alex Gray

Published 22 March 2018

**THIS EDITION INCLUDES A BONUS SHORT STORY**

'Exciting, pacy, authentic with outstanding characterisation' ANGELA MARSONS

When Dorothy Guildford is found stabbed to death in her home, all signs point to her husband, Peter. The forensic psychologist is convinced there's more to the case that meets the eye but Police Scotland are certain they have their man.

While DC Kirsty Wilson searches for evidence that will put Peter away for good, she is shocked to discover a link with a vast human-trafficking operation that Detective Superintendent William Lorimer has been investigating for months. But before they can interrogate him, Peter is brutally attacked.

With one person dead and another barely hanging on, the clock is ticking for DC Wilson and DSI Lorimer. And the stakes grow higher still when one of their own is kidnapped . . .

Shadows of Sound.

by Alex Gray

Published 23 November 2017

The Glasgow Orchestra are rehearsing to perform, but little do they know of the sequence of events happening backstage. When George Millar, the orchestra's leader, is brutally murdered in his dressing room, his colleagues are shocked. But the show must go on. Enter DCI Lorimer and psychologist Solomon Brightman to investigate. What they uncover is a series of irrevocably tangled relationships between the orchestra members. Up until his death Millar had been involved in homosexual relationships with several other orchestra members and was well known for playing his lovers off against one another - but were his controversial dalliances really enough to incite cold-blooded murder?

Keep the Midnight Out

by Alex Gray

Published 19 March 2015

When the body of a red-haired young man is washed up on the shore of the beautiful Isle of Mull, Detective Superintendent Lorimer's tranquil holiday away from the gritty streets of Glasgow is rudely interrupted. The body has been bound with twine in a ghoulishly unnatural position and strongly reminds Lorimer of another murder: a twenty year old Glasgow case that he failed to solve as a newly fledged detective constable and which has haunted him ever since. As local cop DI Stevie Crozier takes charge of the island murder investigation, Lorimer tries to avoid stepping on her toes. But as the similarities between the young man's death and his cold case grow more obvious, Lorimer realises that there could be a serial killer on the loose after all these years. As the action switches dramatically between the Mull murder and the Glasgow cold case twenty years earlier, Lorimer tries desperately to catch a cold-hearted killer. Has someone got away with murder for decades?

The Bank Job.

by Alex Gray

Published 19 February 2015

Meet Detective William Lorimer, the star of author Alex Gray's bestselling Glasgow-set crime series.

The Bank Job is a gripping 3,000 word short story that reveals the dramatic event that inspired the young William Lorimer to become a policeman. Alex Gray's acclaimed series brings Glasgow to vivid life in all its grit and glory and this story is the perfect introduction to her winsome detective, as well as a treat for all fans of the series.

Praise for Alex Gray's Lorimer series:

'Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Ian Rankin evokes Edinburgh' Daily Mail

'Gray is the new master of Scottish crime writing' Scottish Daily Express

'Cracking storylines and well-rounded relationships' Daily Record

'A gritty, fast-paced read' Sun

Echo of the Dead

by Alex Gray

Published 3 March 2022

***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES***

Whether you've read them all or whether you're discovering Alex Gray's bestselling series for the first time, ECHO OF THE DEAD will have you gripped until the final page.

'Echo of the Dead will keep you guessing LIN ANDERSON
'Echo of the Dead is Alex Gray at her finest DOULGAS SKELTON
'An exciting procedural' SUNDAY TIMES
'Effortlessly charming, wholly engaging and cleverly plotted' IRISH INDEPENDENT
'A consistent delight, wonderful' ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

After a stressful winter, DSI William Lorimer is enjoying some time away from Glasgow. He and his new friend, Daniel Kohi, have retreated to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to unwind. But what awaits them is far from a holiday.

Despite its troubled history, the mountain village of Glencoe is now a popular resort, famed for its close-knit community, its breath-taking scenery and the warm welcome it offers weary travellers. So it's particularly shocking when two bodies are discovered in quick succession on the nearby peaks . . .

With a potential serial killer on the loose, Lorimer's Major Incidents Team are drafted in from Glasgow. It's clear that a dark secret lurks beneath the wild beauty of this place. But will Lorimer manage to root it out before the killer strikes again?
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WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT ALEX GRAY

"I have read every book in the Lorimer series and each one has been a pleasure" *****
"Alex Gray is a master storyteller" *****
"She never disappoints" *****
"I cannot wait for the next book" *****
"Her writing always keeps me engrossed" *****