‘Acts of Malice’ by Alex Gray

Published by Sphere,
20 March 2025.
ISBN 978-1-4087-3266-3 (HB)

When Guy Richmond, a leading actor from the local theatre, is found drowned, and the postmortem reveals the large cut across his throat was made before he entered the water, a murder case is opened, headed by DI Molly Newton.

DSI William Lorimer had met Guy Richmond’s glamorous fiancé, Meredith, a week before, when he gave a careers lecture at his niece’s school where Meredith works as the drama teacher. She had approached Lorimer in a frantic state telling him her fiancé was missing. He had advised her to go through the usual channels of reporting a missing person.

DSI Lorimer now joins forces to work with Newton. As DI Molly Newton is busy delving into the jealousies, rivalry and thwarted dreams of this small- town theatre company where  Guy worked, who are now about to start rehearsals on a production of Sweeney Todd, it comes to light that the prop knife that was to be used in the play, is the very same knife that cut Guy Richmond’s throat.  This makes her sure the killer is someone who works within, or knows, the running of the theatre

Then another death occurs.

Lorrimer and Newton now are working together to find if there is ruthless serial killer on the loose. However, they are yet to prove if the two murders are even related. They keep hitting brick walls and are no further in finding the killer. The nail-biting increases as we realise that they have been missing a vital link. The case is now accelerated to an emergency level with all hands on deck.  Someone else is in grave danger, but when they realise that this is happening, there is hold-your-breath and turn the pages to see if they can get to the right place, but is it indeed the right place?

Alex Gray is top of her game as a number one best-seller and couldn’t be more worthy. She knows how to keep the reader on their toes and their fingers hastily turning the pages. A master of plotting.

I have read many of her books and jumped at the chance to read and review this one. She didn’t let me down. The bags under my eyes are the tell-tale signs that I read well into two nights as I couldn’t put the book down. Bravo Alex Gray, another winner.

I would give this book five stars but as it is set in the theatre, would an Oscar be more appropriate? Either way, if your taste is a well plotted crime story with strongly drawn characters and twists to take you up the wrong path until the very unexpected ending, then I couldn’t recommend this any higher, or any other Alex Gray book for that matter.

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Reviewer: Linda Regan

www.lindareganonline.co.uk

Alex Gray was born 27 May 1950, Glasgow.  She was brought up in the Craigbank area of Glasgow and attended Hutchesons' Grammar School. She studied English and Philosophy at Strathclyde University and worked for a period in the Department of Health & Social Security before training as an English teacher.  In 1976 she lived in Rhodesia for three months, during which time she got married, and she and her husband returned to Scotland. She continued teaching until the 1990s, when she gave the profession up and began to write full-time. Her novels are all set around Glasgow and featuring the character of Detective Chief Inspector Lorimer and his psychological profiler Solomon Brightman.

Alex Gray | Hachette UK 

Linda Regan is the author of nine crime novels. She is also an actor. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader and welcomes the chance to read new writers. 

  To read a review of Linda's most recent book
 The Burning Question
click on the title. 
www.lindareganonline.co.uk