Front Page Fridays Week-15
Welcome to Front Page Fridays Week-15. On Fridays, I highlight a newly published book by showcasing the first page.
My Front Page Fridays Week-15 guest is Maureen Myant and The Shame, the latest title in her Glasgow Southside Crime Series. I’ve bought a copy for my Kindle and look forward to starting it very soon. Here’s the first page:
Chapter One
Glasgow
DS Mark Nicholson gazed at the raindrops weaving their way through the grit on the window pane. It had to be a year or more since it was last cleaned. He pulled the mask away from his nose for a moment to take a deep breath. Masks were a necessary evil but he wished he didn’t have to wear one. Over the past month the number of Covid cases had fallen so it wouldn’t be for much longer he hoped. He flinched as the door opened and the harsh tones of Alex Scrimgeour broke into his ruminations. ‘Less of the daydreaming. Get in here. Now.’
Damn. He hated being caught out. ‘Can it wait, Sir?’ he muttered. ‘Five minutes and I’ll have this report finished.’
‘No, it can’t fucking wait. Move.’
Bloody Scrimgeour. He was such a pain in the arse. Mark should be grateful – he’d been staying at Scrimgeour’s flat since Karen had chucked him out – but fuck, it was hard at times. He followed the DI into his office.
Alex Scrimgeour sat back in his seat and barked out the information. ‘Uniforms are out at a house in Crookston, a semi-detached bungalow. Young couple moved in a few months ago and they’re doing an extension. Their builders started work in the cellar this morning and they’ve found skeletal remains.’ He scratched the top of his head with a pencil. ‘God knows what sort of state they’ll be in. Took the stupid buggers some time to realise. They were using a jackhammer to break up a concrete floor and from all accounts the skeleton is in more bits than a thousand piece jigsaw.
The Shame by Maureen Myant. Published by Hobeck Books on 4 June 2024.
About the Book
Glasgow
The cellar of a suburban bungalow has been hiding a dark secret. During building work, a skeleton is uncovered. DI Alex Scrimgeour and DS Mark Nicholson soon discover the remains have been there for sixty years. The owners of the house from that time, Richard and Doris Cavendish, are dead, but their daughter may still be alive.
Edinburgh
Edith Drummond is pleased to be back at work as a teacher after lockdown. She's a difficult woman with no friends but she's good at her job and the children love her. However, her Head Teacher, Olivia Waring, wants her to retire. Edith is determined to stay put, but their feud soon pales into insignificance when Edith receives a visit from the police.
Mark is sure Edith is hiding something, but he doesn't know what. His suspicion deepens when further remains are found at the bungalow in Glasgow, this time of a newborn baby. Despite dealing with his own personal problems, Mark is determined to get to the bottom of this bizarre case. Is there a link between the two crimes? Is the answer staring him In the face or is there more to the mystery than meets the eye? The Shame is the third book in the Glasgow southside crime series and features DI Alex Scrimgeour and DS Mark Nicholson
Purchase Links
or from Hobeck Books
About Maureen Myant
I live in Glasgow. Before becoming a full time writer I was an educational psychologist. I have an MLitt and PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow. I have three adult children and six lively grandchildren.
Social media
Twitter: @maureenmyant
I hope you enjoyed reading Front Page Fridays Week-15. Please come back next time when I’ll be featuring a different author and the first page of their book.
And please take a look at books already featured on Front Page Fridays:
Blood Ribbons by Lin Le Versha – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-1/
Fatal Blow by Brian Price – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-2/
Can I Trust You? by Rob Gittins – Front Page Fridays Week-3 – Rachel Sargeant
The Last Bird of Paradise by AJ Aberford – Front Page Fridays Week-4 – Rachel Sargeant
Never Forgive You by Hilly Barmby – Front Page Fridays Week-5 – Rachel Sargeant
The Mists of Pencarrack Moor by Terri Nixon – Front Page Fridays Week-6 - Rachel Sargeant
The Thief of Joy by Stacey Murray – Front Page Fridays Week-7 - Rachel Sargeant
Edge of the Land by Malcolm Hollingdrake – Front Page Fridays Week-8 - Rachel Sargeant
The Mind of a Murderer by Michael Wood - https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-9/
The Midnight Man by Julie Anderson – Front Page Fridays Week-10 - Rachel Sargeant
Dark Road Home by Sheila Bugler – Front Page Fridays Week-11 - Rachel Sargeant
Her Charming Man by Rachel Sargeant – Front Page Fridays Week-12 - Rachel Sargeant
Wedding Bells at the Lakeside Hotel by Linda Huber – Front Page Fridays Week-13 - Rachel Sargeant
Dark Island by Daniel Aubrey – Front Page Fridays Week-14 - Rachel Sargeant