Andrew's Writer's Block: Book Review: Hunter's Chase (The Audiobook) by Val Penny

Val Penny is a fellow Swanwicker who has been looking out for me as things got rough over this past year. As a token of my gratitude, I agreed to take a look at the newly released audiobook of Hunter's Chase, the first book in her "tartan noire" series of detective stories, The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries, as part of a blog tour organised by Reading Between the Lines. I pick up copies of these books as soon as they're released, and often finish them in the space of a day.

Blurb

Hunter by name – Hunter by nature: DI Hunter Wilson will not rest until Edinburgh is safe.

Detective Inspector Hunter Wilson knows there is a new supply of cocaine flooding his city, and he needs to find the source, but his attention is transferred to murder when a corpse is discovered in the grounds of a golf course.

Shortly after the post-mortem, Hunter witnesses a second murder, but that is not the end of the slaughter. With a young woman's life also hanging in the balance, the last thing Hunter needs is a new man on his team: Detective Constable Tim Myerscough, the son of his nemesis, the former Chief Constable Sir Peter Myerscough.

Hunter's perseverance and patience are put to the test time after time in this first novel in The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries series.

Review

Hunter's Chase is a gripping mystery with an excellent cast of characters on both sides of the law. Edinburgh provides the mystery's urban setting, yet it also presents a small-town feel in which everyone knows everyone.

Hunter is a determined investigator, and his team shares a great camaraderie. I especially like DC Mel Grant for her snarky dialogue, which is on par with some of Hunter's. Her scathing wit is especially noticeable during her interactions with Jamie Thompson, a burglary suspect detained at the beginning of the story, who found the first body. Another prominent character is DC Tim Myerscough, of whom Hunter is initially apprehensive, but soon gains his trust as the story progresses. In fact, all of the characters seem believable and realistic.

Sean Pia, who narrates the audiobook, has a great voice. It's very soothing, and fits the setting well. I must confess that I did pick up a few gaffes here and there, with lines being repeated, but that's not a major issue. It's a story that I get invested in early on, with some great twists, some funny lines, and even some truly poignant moments.

The Hunter's Chase audiobook is available via Audible here: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Hunters-Chase-Audiobook/B092CDB6ZX

About the Author

Val Penny’s other crime novels, Hunter's Chase, Hunter's Revenge, Hunter's Force, Hunter’s Blood, and Hunter’s Secret form the bestselling series The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries. They are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Darkstroke. Her first non-fiction book, Let’s Get Published, is also available now and she has most recently contributed her short story, Cats and Dogs, to a charity anthology, Dark Scotland.