‘Better the Devil’ by J D Kirk

Published by Allison & Busby,
22 October 2026.
ISBN: 978-0-74903440-5 (HB)

DCI Jack Logan's newly promoted DI Hamza is in trouble: his first case is the throat-slit murder of a local drugs lord. A second murder is in Forres, just over the border into Aberdeen Police territory, which brings new Aberdeen DCI Nathan Reeves onto the scene. DCI Reeves is all set to start his own turf-war, enforced with a gleaming American smile, pump-handle handshake and perpetual cheerfulness. Luckily DCI Logan has Hamza's back - and troubles of his own, once he learns his old nemesis, Bosco Maximuke, has suddenly been released from jail. 

It's always a treat to pick up a new novel by a star writer, and Better the Devil was a super read. Logan's a great character, grumpy outside with a soft centre, and his team have all the richness of characters developed over a series, without referring too much to previous books - I had no difficulty getting up to speed with them. The plotting was spot-on, with chapters that skipped at key moments from person to person, keeping you reading to follow the different strands of the story. The police work included all the elements that make up an investigation: crime scene, forensics, interviews, computer work, follow-ups. The wise-cracks between the characters were laugh-out-loud funny, especially when Jack Logan meets the Aberdeen force's new Mr Sunshine, and the disparate plots were all cleverly pulled together in the final action sequence. 

A cracking-paced PP with great characters, and a vividly realised Highland setting. This is the 22nd DCI Jack Logan novel, a treat for his many fans, and a great read even if you've never tried J D Kirk before. If you like starting with no 1, the series starts with A Litter of Bones.
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Reviewer: Marsali Taylor 

JD Kirk is the pen name of multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, and writer of comics, Barry Hutchison. Born and raised in Fort William in the Highlands of Scotland, Barry/JD wanted to be a writer from the age of nine, when a kindly librarian wrote his name on the spine of a notebook in which he’d written a terrible short story, and put it on the shelf. Since then, he has written over 140 books for children as Barry Hutchison, and over 15 books for adults as Barry J. Hutchison and is now thoroughly enjoying murdering people as JD Kirk. Barry still lives in Fort William with his wife and two children. He has no idea what the JD stands for.  

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.  

Click on the title to read a review of her recent book
Death in a Shetland Family

www.marsalitaylor.co.uk