Dark Sayings

Mysterious Scotland, Book 7

By: Tormod Cockburn

Narrated by: Stewart Crank

People say Scotland is full of haunted houses.

Scratch at the facts and you find most of these ghosts are imagined.

Only one defies explanation, and it turns out she's a thief. DCI George Wiley has been keeping half an eye on the “Spectral Bandit” for six months now and has realised he’s got a ghost problem. An escalating string of audacious thefts is creeping onto the newsfeeds and Wiley’s bosses need him to catch the culprit. The only evidence he holds are short snatches of CCTV. And the solitary conclusion he has reached is that the spectral figure is a woman. He needs to provoke new lines of inquiry, so reluctantly, Wiley calls in the assistance of an old ally.

Stumped by Wiley’s new case, Gill McArdle is on a ghost hunt of his own. But he’s not prioritising the detective’s pleas for help. He’s in Morayshire, where recent finds put him on the trail of the lost village of Culbin. Only after witnessing a wraithlike apparition, does Gill realise it’s time to return Wiley’s calls. Because as he unravels the mystery, he realises, this illusive phantom might be something quite tangible.

©2024 Tormod Cockburn (P)2026 Tormod Cockburn

Pleasing mix of science, mystery, faith, fantasy

Have listened to 7 books and enjoyed the interesting characters and plots. Narrator brings the series to life. Disappointed books 8 and 9 are not available on Audible.

Not up to the rest of the series, dull and boring

I have quite enjoyed this entire series but when I got to this one I just couldn't get into it. Slow, boring, nothing happening, no character interest; not at all as engaging as the earlier books in the series. I made it about 3 and a half hours in and couldn't take it any longer. I would return it if I could but I've ended this audible membership. Too bad, the series was entertaining and creative. The reader is good.