THE FIFTH BOOK IN CLAIRE MACLEARY'S MULTI-AWARD-LISTED HARCUS & LAIRD SERIES 'Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae A disturbing hanging with a backstory of secrets and shaming highlights some outdated attitudes within Aberdeen’s finest. After past skirmishes with the police, local PI Maggie Laird is determined to steer clear, but her partner, Wilma Harcus, goes rogue. Not only does she have leads up her sleeve, but she has grandiose ideas to expand their PI agency into the realm of romance fraud and cybercrime. Then, troubled schoolchild Frankie Bain goes missing. As the clock runs down, the two investigations collide. Was the hanging the last, desperate act of a tortured mind or a calculated murder? And will Frankie Bain be found alive? In this fifth Harcus and Laird novel, Claire MacLeary fashions a fast-paced, fresh and topical new adventure for her inimitable PI partnership.
THE FIRST BOOK IN CLAIRE MACLEARY'S MULTI-AWARD-LISTED HARCUS & LAIRD SERIES 'Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae Two Women, One Quest, Grave Consequences. When Maggie Laird's disgraced ex-cop husband suddenly dies, her humdrum suburban life is turned upside down. With the bills mounting, she takes on his struggling detective agency, enlisting the help of neighbour ‘Big Wilma’. And so an unlikely partnership is born. But the discovery of a crudely mutilated body soon raises the stakes... and Maggie and Wilma are drawn into an unknown world of Aberdeen's sink estates, clandestine childminding and dodgy dealers. Cross Purpose is surprising, gritty, sometimes darkly humorous – a tale combining police corruption, gangs and murder with a paean to female friendship, loyalty and how an unlikely duo can beat the odds.
By the author of McIlvanney-prize-listed Cross Purpose. "My husband is trying to kill me": a new client gets straight to the point. This is a whole new ball game for Maggie Laird, who is trying to rebuild her late husband's detective agency and clear his name. Her partner, "Big" Wilma, sees the case as a non-starter, but Maggie is drawn in. With her client's life on the line, Maggie must get to the ugly truth that lies behind Aberdeen's closed doors. But who knows what really goes on between husbands and wives? And will the agency's reputation – and Maggie and Wilma's friendship – remain intact? "Excellent ... kept me gripped!" Hearst Big Book Award judges: longlisted 2018 Crime Novel of the Year "Warm, witty, thoughtful, and thrilling, Burnout leaves you with the feeling that Claire MacLeary is only just getting started." Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae "Burnout examines a timely subject [violence against women and sexism], but it's the depiction of relationships, all with plenty of nuance, that is the main reason to pick up this book. MacLeary's confidence in her writing and central characters grows with every chapter, building on the fine foundation of Cross Purpose. You should make time to get to know Maggie and Wilma." Louise Fairbairn, Scotsman "Absorbing. This is a thoroughly entertaining series that could run and run." Shirley Whiteside, Sunday Herald "MacLeary has a great ear for dialogue and her witty and often gritty prose evokes a strong sense of place and an authenticity that really makes this book sing ... It's not often you get such strong advocacy of and for women in the context of a crime novel but that's what makes this such an engrossing read." Live and Deadly "Incredibly gritty and compelling ... absolutely superb writing." The Quiet Knitter "Harcus and Laird are quite unlike any other characters I am reading – they have self-doubt, worry about paying the bills, feel the world is almost on the brink of slipping away from them yet they have a will and determination to succeed and it makes them joyful to read." Grab This Book "At a time where the subjugation of women in society be it professionally, emotionally, or sexually has been so in the spotlight through the #MeToo campaign, MacLeary adds a wise and all too pertinent voice to the arena... [Maggie and Wilma] are a formidable partnership, and there's plenty of mileage in them yet I warrant, and I, for one, will await the next book with interest. Highly recommended." Raven Crime Reads "...makes for an utterly riveting and often unexpected read, absolutely brilliantly done." Liz Loves Books "I adore the way Claire writes crime fiction, it's refreshing and fast paced with the added bonus of the Aberdonian accent threaded throughout the story... A brilliant and unique take on crime fiction and you would be daft not to dive in!" Loves Book Group blog
Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae When police are called to a murder scene at the home of Aberdeen socialite Annabel Imray, they are under pressure to get a conviction, and fast. The last thing they want is the distraction of a series of baffling break-ins. The victims, all of them women, are terrorised: just how did the intruder know so much about them? Meanwhile, local PIs Maggie Laird and Wilma Harcus are at rock bottom, their bills mounting. As Maggie prepares to sell her home and contemplates dissolving the agency, Wilma goes off-piste to get a loan. But when the clock starts ticking on repayment, she realises the price is too high. And before long, Maggie herself is in grave danger. Wilma fears the worst. Can she find her before it's too late?
THE THIRD BOOK IN CLAIRE MACLEARY'S MULTI-AWARD-LISTED HARCUS & LAIRD SERIES 'Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae When Aberdeen housewife Debbie Milne abruptly vanishes, her husband is frantic with worry and turns to local PIs Maggie Laird and ‘Big Wilma’ Harcus. Maggie is reluctant to take on a ‘misper’ case, but Wilma cajoles her into a covert operation – trawling women’s refuges and homeless squats in search of a lead. But when a woman’s body is discovered in a skip, the unlikely investigators are dragged into a deeper mystery involving people-trafficking, gambling and prostitution – and they’re in deadly danger. With the police struggling to make headway and the clock ticking, the race is on for Harcus & Laird to find answers, further straining their already fraying relationship. Claire MacLeary fashions a surprising, gritty, fast-paced tale with the warmth and wisdom of women who are in their prime.
THE FIFTH BOOK IN CLAIRE MACLEARY'S MULTI-AWARD-LISTED HARCUS & LAIRD SERIES 'Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae A disturbing hanging with a backstory of secrets and shaming highlights some outdated attitudes within Aberdeen’s finest. After past skirmishes with the police, local PI Maggie Laird is determined to steer clear, but her partner, Wilma Harcus, goes rogue. Not only does she have leads up her sleeve, but she has grandiose ideas to expand their PI agency into the realm of romance fraud and cybercrime. Then, troubled schoolchild Frankie Bain goes missing. As the clock runs down, the two investigations collide. Was the hanging the last, desperate act of a tortured mind or a calculated murder? And will Frankie Bain be found alive? In this fifth Harcus and Laird novel, Claire MacLeary fashions a fast-paced, fresh and topical new adventure for her inimitable PI partnership.
Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae When police are called to a murder scene at the home of Aberdeen socialite Annabel Imray, they are under pressure to get a conviction, and fast. The last thing they want is the distraction of a series of baffling break-ins. The victims, all of them women, are terrorised: just how did the intruder know so much about them? Meanwhile, local PIs Maggie Laird and Wilma Harcus are at rock bottom, their bills mounting. As Maggie prepares to sell her home and contemplates dissolving the agency, Wilma goes off-piste to get a loan. But when the clock starts ticking on repayment, she realises the price is too high. And before long, Maggie herself is in grave danger. Wilma fears the worst. Can she find her before it's too late?
A brilliant new talent for the lover of crime.' Sue Black DBE, forensic anthropologist When Aberdeen housewife Debbie Milne abruptly vanishes without trace, leaving behind her two young children, husband Scott is too distraught to sit out the police's 72-hour window and await developments. He turns to local detective agency Harcus & Laird. Put off by previous "domestic" cases, Maggie Laird isn't keen, but is cajoled by partner Wilma Harcus into a covert operation. Together they comb through meagre scraps of information, eventually trawling the city's women's refuges and homeless squats, in spite of the deadly danger. Then a woman's body is discovered in a Dundee builder's skip. With the clock ticking and the police struggling to make identification, the race is on. Claire MacLeary fashions a surprising, gritty, fast-paced tale with the warmth and wisdom of ‘women of a certain age'. Praise for the Harcus & Laird series: "Gripping." Good Housekeeping "A terrific writer." Kirsty Gunn, Scotsman "This is a thoroughly entertaining series that could run and run." Sunday Herald "A wise and all-too-pertinent voice." Raven Crime Reads "A brilliant new talent for the lover of crime." Dame Sue Black, forensic anthropologist "Refreshingly different... a fast-paced tale." Shirley Whiteside, Herald "Fantastic ... a gritty book with a surprisingly warm theme." The List "Terrific ... compelling to the end." Theresa Talbot
THE FIRST BOOK IN CLAIRE MACLEARY'S MULTI-AWARD-LISTED HARCUS & LAIRD SERIES 'Claire MacLeary has, with little fuss or fanfare, written a crime series that subverts and rejuvenates the crime genre' Scots Whay Hae Two Women, One Quest, Grave Consequences. When Maggie Laird's disgraced ex-cop husband suddenly dies, her humdrum suburban life is turned upside down. With the bills mounting, she takes on his struggling detective agency, enlisting the help of neighbour ‘Big Wilma’. And so an unlikely partnership is born. But the discovery of a crudely mutilated body soon raises the stakes... and Maggie and Wilma are drawn into an unknown world of Aberdeen's sink estates, clandestine childminding and dodgy dealers. Cross Purpose is surprising, gritty, sometimes darkly humorous – a tale combining police corruption, gangs and murder with a paean to female friendship, loyalty and how an unlikely duo can beat the odds.
By the author of McIlvanney-prize-listed Cross Purpose. "My husband is trying to kill me": a new client gets straight to the point. This is a whole new ball game for Maggie Laird, who is trying to rebuild her late husband's detective agency and clear his name. Her partner, "Big" Wilma, sees the case as a non-starter, but Maggie is drawn in. With her client's life on the line, Maggie must get to the ugly truth that lies behind Aberdeen's closed doors. But who knows what really goes on between husbands and wives? And will the agency's reputation – and Maggie and Wilma's friendship – remain intact? "Excellent ... kept me gripped!" Hearst Big Book Award judges: longlisted 2018 Crime Novel of the Year "Warm, witty, thoughtful, and thrilling, Burnout leaves you with the feeling that Claire MacLeary is only just getting started." Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae "Burnout examines a timely subject [violence against women and sexism], but it's the depiction of relationships, all with plenty of nuance, that is the main reason to pick up this book. MacLeary's confidence in her writing and central characters grows with every chapter, building on the fine foundation of Cross Purpose. You should make time to get to know Maggie and Wilma." Louise Fairbairn, Scotsman "Absorbing. This is a thoroughly entertaining series that could run and run." Shirley Whiteside, Sunday Herald "MacLeary has a great ear for dialogue and her witty and often gritty prose evokes a strong sense of place and an authenticity that really makes this book sing ... It's not often you get such strong advocacy of and for women in the context of a crime novel but that's what makes this such an engrossing read." Live and Deadly "Incredibly gritty and compelling ... absolutely superb writing." The Quiet Knitter "Harcus and Laird are quite unlike any other characters I am reading – they have self-doubt, worry about paying the bills, feel the world is almost on the brink of slipping away from them yet they have a will and determination to succeed and it makes them joyful to read." Grab This Book "At a time where the subjugation of women in society be it professionally, emotionally, or sexually has been so in the spotlight through the #MeToo campaign, MacLeary adds a wise and all too pertinent voice to the arena... [Maggie and Wilma] are a formidable partnership, and there's plenty of mileage in them yet I warrant, and I, for one, will await the next book with interest. Highly recommended." Raven Crime Reads "...makes for an utterly riveting and often unexpected read, absolutely brilliantly done." Liz Loves Books "I adore the way Claire writes crime fiction, it's refreshing and fast paced with the added bonus of the Aberdonian accent threaded throughout the story... A brilliant and unique take on crime fiction and you would be daft not to dive in!" Loves Book Group blog
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