The Cuillin Dead

A D.I. Duncan McAdam Mystery (The Misty Isle, Book 4)

By: J M Dalgliesh

Narrated by: Angus King

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Life is full of choices. Death... is chosen for you...

When the body of a missing tourist is discovered slain in the foothills of the Cuillin Mountain range, it falls to D.I. Duncan McAdam and his small team to discover how he came to be there and who would have a motive to kill him.

The summer season is a welcome distraction following a brutal and challenging winter. The Isle of Skye is booming with a revitalised tourist trade after a tough few years, and the Misty Isle is on course for its best year for visitors on record. But one person has not received the warm greeting the islanders are famed for. Here, on the inner Hebridean island, long-held secrets, past crimes and burning resentment are set to be unveiled in the most brutal fashion.

Some people come to the island to experience a return to nature, others to detach from their hectic lives seeking a simpler existence. And then there are those who wish to escape their past and begin again. These people believe they are making a fresh start but overlook one universal truth, their sins come with them... and there will be a reckoning...

The Cuillin Dead is the fourth book in the new Amazon #1 bestselling Misty Isle series from the multi-million selling crime writer, J M Dalgliesh, the author of the Hidden Norfolk and Dark Yorkshire books.

©2024 J M Dalgliesh (P)2024 J M Dalgliesh

A nice book

I like this series very much, and I have read many books by this author. Both on paper and on audible. The voice actor made some odd choices on voices. Some were so slow and stupid sounding that I skipped to the next chapter. Surprising, because I think in general the Narrator is very good.
My only complaint about what is generally an enjoyable book.

Great mystery, challenged me

I absolutely do not want to , listen, read, or hear about the demise of a pet.

It was a good story.

The story started a bit slowly for me but improved as it went along. The main character is becoming deeper as more is revealed. However, biggest problem is that I found the narrator really hard to understand. It wasn’t the Scottish accent of main male and female characters, but everyone else- particularly Duncan’s colleagues. One of them sounds like he’s somewhat brain damaged - which he isn’t- but imho this narrator’s interpretation of him sounds wrong. Perhaps it could be audio problem of recording? But I listened on several different headsets and still problematic for me. It’s distracting enough that if Angus King continues to narrate subsequent books, I will probably give them a miss and opt for the Kindle version where I can read and make the voices in my own head. ☺️

A really tremendous storyline!

This storyline was unpredictable. Quick-paced and kept your interest. This is his best one yet!

Too Many Sideshow Suspects

The cliche, not guilty, suspects in this novel, exhibit mysterious behaviors and general bad attitudes that are just plain silly posing. I think D.I. Duncan's primary suspects reflect J.M. Dalgliesh's need for page filler given that this is a mediocre murder plot at best. You'll roll your eyes a great deal as one character after another is set up as a straw man only to be knocked down once the blood is rung from their proverbial stone (not much blood actually). There are no deep characters in this novel and delicate topics like the sexual abuse of women in the military are not addressed with the sensitivity they deserve. It's just a hot button murder motive tossed in to conclude the story.

Finally, there are real problems with this series and how the author portrays women and relationships between men and women generally. Exchanges are so shallow and lacking substance that every intimate interaction sounds like teenage romance speak. And, women are stereotypically portrayed as snooty, bossy, frustrated, abused, or indifferent. Really?!? This is 2024, not 1994.

Forget this book. This is my forth and last credit for this series.