The Man in the Bottle - Bill Knox - Thane and Moss Book 6

The Man in the Bottle

Thane and Moss Book 6

Bill Knox

J.D. Kirk (Forward)

Zertex Crime

ISBN 9781912767854

ASIN B0D7N1MJM1

I picked up this book and series because J.D Kirk was plugging it and the series. I became even more interested in reading the book and series after reading the forward by Kirk, that only appears in book 1, but which I think should be in each volume. I highlighted a few passages in Kirk’s introductory note from book 1, they are:

“I had been expertly drawn into the world that Bill had created, and was right there alongside detectives Thane and Moss as they carried out their investigations. I had identified with the detectives right away–the imposing Chief Inspector Colin Thane, with his no-nonsense attitude and dogged determination, and his trusty Inspector, Phil Moss, whose loyalty to his friend was second only to his worries about his grumbling ulcer. They immediately felt like real people. More than that, they felt like real Scottish men, whose evident care for one another was masked beneath gruff exchanges and barbed banter.”

“Yes, some of the terminology was different, and there was a lot less swearing in Bill’s book, but down below the surface, down where it mattered, we were both writing about good but complicated men doing their best to bring killers to justice.”

“Aside from the slight change to the title, and a few ten-thousand-word chapters being broken into shorter segments, the book you are about to read is the same one first published in 1957.”

The fact that Kirk thought these books were good enough to spend some time and effort tracking down the rights and bringing them back into print indicates the quality of the writing and the power of the stories. And after reading the first 5 I can see why this is a passion project of his. This novel was originally published in 1963 and this Zertex edition is from 2024. Back in 1963 this was published in the Us under the title The Killing Game. The description of the new edition is:

“In the heart of the rugged Scottish Highlands, danger is brewing.

When the body of a local angler is found near a NATO seismology station, Detectives Thane and Moss are drawn into a web of intrigue and mystery that stretches from Glasgow’s back alleys to beyond the Iron Curtain.

As they delve deeper, they find themselves frantically navigating a maze of political secrets, hunting for a brutal fugitive on a quest for revenge. With the threat of more violence and international tensions looming, can Thane and Moss piece together the clues in time to prevent a devastating catastrophic event?

The Man in the Bottle is a pulse-pounding 1960s crime thriller that showcases Bill Knox’s mastery of Tartan Noir, managing to weave suspense, mystery, and the stark beauty of Scotland into an unforgettable tale.”

Once again it was with great interest that I dove into this sixth story in this series after reading all of Kirk’s Scottish crime novels that were available to date; and having read Alex Smith’s DCI Kett novels and J.E. Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. It was fascinating to read this story and series set nearly a hundred years earlier. It was interesting reading stories before cell phones, and technology that so many modern crime books and shows rely on, but back to the work at hand.

The prologue to this story begins with:

“It showed as a momentary upward flicker of an inked stylus line on a slow-moving band of pastel-green paper. At the same instant, the steady note fed to an electronic recording bank, through a pre-amplifier unit, changed to a mouse-like squeak, which was both warning and tape-absorbed research data.

The two-man duty crew at the central control console jerked from boredom to full alert.

The operator in the left-hand chair reached for the red telephone by his side. The forefinger of his free hand rested lightly on the red “panic” button mounted far separate from the panel’s other controls. One touch, and that button would sound an alarm in a day-and-night manned operations room in London’s Whitehall and simultaneously activate a live radio link between the listening post and similar stations in Iceland, Wyoming, and West Australia.

The right-hand operator had already checked the stylus drum and the needle gauges ranged above. Now he turned to the monitor panels showing readings from the station’s robot outposts—and just as suddenly, he relaxed.

‘Another ruddy poacher, Charlie.’

The left-hand operator let out a long, slow breath and felt the tension go with it. He released his grip on the telephone, abandoned the button, and lit a cigarette. Half turning in his swivel chair, he could gaze out of the narrow, armoured-glass window.

The blockhouse overlooked a flat, apparently empty stretch of heathered moorland and then beyond lay the whole pastel sweep of the autumn-tinted Perthshire hills.

The site had been chosen with scientific exactitude by the experts of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, and that empty moorland hid a score of deep pits, each containing a steel-sheathed seismometer. Each seismometer was linked by buried cables to an underground amplifying vault before its readings reached the control console.”

This story has much bigger stakes than any to date. A Russian diplomat with several attempts on his life. A dead local. And a mystery that will take some help for Thane and Moss to have a chance of solving this one. It is a mystery wrapped up in political intrigue and bombs galore. I greatly enjoy the characters of Thane and Moss, through these first six Scottish crime mysteries. 

Thane and Moss are reminiscent of DCI Logan and DI Ben Forde. The language is not as extreme as in Kirk’s books. We get to watch the team as they work to solve the case. The characters are fascinating. Reading it, it is like being transported back in time. The story moves at a brisk pace. 

This sixth story leaves you wanting more. Kirk is releasing these stories at a good pace. And I sincerely hope he sees this series and maybe other series by Knox through to publication. I said before and I say it again reading this was in some was like watching Mike Hammer with my dad, or reading his old Ian Fleming or Robert B. Parker books. I have already recommended this series to my dad, my manager at work and a few friends. I can easily recommend this story for fans of crime fiction, historical fiction or to be honest anyone who loves a good story. However be warned it leaves you wanting more.

Books by Bill Knox:

Thane and Moss:

1 Deadline for a Dream (1957)

  aka In at the Kill

2 Death Department (1959)

3 Leave It to the Hangman (1960)

4 Little Drops of Blood (1962)

5 Sanctuary Isle (1962)

  aka The Gray Sentinels

6 The Man in the Bottle (1963)

7 The Taste of Proof (1965)

8 The Deep Fall (1966)

  aka The Ghost Car

9 Justice On the Rocks (1967)

10 The Tallyman (1969)

11 Children of the Mist (1970)

  aka Who Shot the Bull?

12 To Kill a Witch (1971)

13 Penalty Shootout (1973)

  aka Draw Batons

14 Children of the Water (1974)

15 Rally to Kill (1975)

16 Pilot Error (1977)

17 Live Bait (1978)

18 A Killing in Antiques (1981)

19 The Hanging Tree (1983)

20 The Crossfire Killings (1986)

21 The Interface Man (1989)

22 The Counterfeit Killers (1996)

23 Blood Proof (1997)

24 Death Bytes (1998)

25 The Lazarus Widow (1999)

…

Webb Carrick Series:

1. The Scavengers (1964)

2. Devilweed (1966)

3. Blacklight (1967)

4. The Klondyker (1968)

  aka A Figurehead

5. Blueback (1969)

6. Seafire (1970)

7. Stormtide (1972)

8. Whitewater (1974)

9. Hellspout (1976)

10. Witchrock (1977)

11. Bombship (1980)

12. Bloodtide (1982)

13. Wavecrest (1985)

14. Dead Man's Mooring (1987)

15. The Drowning Nets (1991)

…

 

Talos Cord Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

Cave of Bats (1964)

Lake of Fury (1966)

  aka The Iron Sanctuary

Isle of Dragons (1967)

Place of Mists (1969)

Path of Ghosts (1971)

Nest of Vultures (1972)

…

Jonathan Gaunt Series: (as by Robert MacLeod)

1. A Property in Cyprus (1970)

  aka A Flickering Death

2. A Killing in Malta (1972)

3. A Burial in Portugal (1973)

4. A Witchdance in Bavaria (1975)

5. A Pay-off in Switzerland (1977)

6. An Incident in Iceland (1979)

7. A Problem in Prague (1981)

8. Mayday from Malaga (1983)

9. A Legacy from Tenerife (1984)

10. The Money Mountain (1987)

  aka A Flight from Paris

11. The Spanish Maze Game (1990)

…

 

Andrew Laird Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

All Other Perils (1974)

Dragonship (1976)

Salvage Job (1978)

Cargo Risk (1980)

Witchline (1980)

…

 

Novels

The Cockatoo Crime (1958)

Death calls the shots (1961)

Die for Big Betsy (1961)

Court of murder: Famous trials at Glasgow High Court (1968)

The View from Daniel Pike (1974) (with Edward Boyd)

Storyland Wall Frieze (1981)

Country Club Wives (1997)

A Cut in Diamonds (1997)

Drum of Power (1998)

…

Sanctuary Isle - Bill Knox - Thane and Moss Book 5

Sanctuary Isle

Thane and Moss Book 5

Bill Knox

J.D. Kirk (Forward)

Zertex Crime

ISBN 9781912767847

ASIN B0D4JNT6LF

I picked up this book and series because J.D Kirk was plugging it and the series. I became even more interested in reading the book and series after reading the forward by Kirk, that only appears in book 1, but which I think should be in each volume. I highlighted a few passages in Kirk’s introductory note from book 1, they are:

“I had been expertly drawn into the world that Bill had created, and was right there alongside detectives Thane and Moss as they carried out their investigations. I had identified with the detectives right away–the imposing Chief Inspector Colin Thane, with his no-nonsense attitude and dogged determination, and his trusty Inspector, Phil Moss, whose loyalty to his friend was second only to his worries about his grumbling ulcer. They immediately felt like real people. More than that, they felt like real Scottish men, whose evident care for one another was masked beneath gruff exchanges and barbed banter.”

“Yes, some of the terminology was different, and there was a lot less swearing in Bill’s book, but down below the surface, down where it mattered, we were both writing about good but complicated men doing their best to bring killers to justice.”

“Aside from the slight change to the title, and a few ten-thousand-word chapters being broken into shorter segments, the book you are about to read is the same one first published in 1957.”

The fact that Kirk thought these books were good enough to spend some time and effort tracking down the rights and bringing them back into print indicates the quality of the writing and the power of the stories. And after reading the first 5 I can see why this is a passion project of his. This novel was originally published in 1962 and this Zertex edition is from 2024. It has also been released under the title The Gray Sentinels. The description of the new edition is:

“Every journey ends somewhere.

Dive into the gripping world of Thane & Moss with “Sanctuary Isle,” the fifth thrilling instalment in Bill Knox’s celebrated Scottish crime fiction series.

When Chief Detective Inspector Colin Thane and Detective Inspector Phil Moss are dispatched to the remote Sanctuary Isle, they find themselves unraveling the mysterious death of the island’s bird warden, Captain Lewis Tinemann.

Set against the wild, windswept backdrop of Scotland’s Firth of Lorne, the detectives navigate a maze of clues and deceit, encountering a cast of intriguing characters including ornithologists, local fishermen, and a secretive shark hunter. With the island’s isolation intensifying the stakes, Thane and Moss must piece together the puzzle of Tinemann’s death, and uncover the secrets hidden among the rugged terrain.

Perfect for fans of classic detective fiction and Tartan Noir, this novel will keep you guessing until the very end. Rediscover the art of the mystery with one of the genre’s original masters.”

Once again it was with great interest that I dove into this fifth story in this series after reading all of Kirk’s Scottish crime novels that were available to date; and having read Alex Smith’s DCI Kett novels and J.E. Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. It was fascinating to read this story and series set nearly a hundred years earlier. It was interesting reading stories before cell phones, and technology that so many modern crime books and shows rely on, but back to the work at hand.

The prologue to this story ends with:

“The newcomer veered beyond the lighthouse, used one wing-beat and an air current to carry it past a frowning line of granite rocks, and settled to rest on a stretch of pebbles just beyond.

Fatigue made the tern dull to possible danger. The bird took a few weary steps forward, seeking some handy, sheltering hollow, then gave a sudden squawk of fright and flapped skywards as a dark shape in the shadow of the rocks gave a sighing moan.

The tern was weary, too weary. Once again it settled on the pebbles, and this time found the shielding hollow it craved. Its little black head drooped low into its breast feathers, red legs pulled up tight and small beneath.

It had obeyed the urge, had made the journey. Now it must rest… and the dark shape so near was still. The tern’s head fell forward.

Arm’s length apart, man and seabird died with the coming of night.

The lighthouse beam probed its monotonous routine, a glaring eye sweeping seawards. A score of thousand birds settled into their nesting areas. Only the waves disturbed the silence.”

This story takes me back to family stories told about the old country. There are some wonderful personalities in this story. The setting in the small village with a community that all know each other works exceptionally well. The crime that Thane figures out, but he needs to use some deception to have the evidence on the villain and catch them red handed. 

I have really enjoy the characters of Thane and Moss, through these first five Scottish crime mysteries. This story from the beginning has several suspects. But with some serious leg work, including a trip to the continent shadowing a suspect leads Thane and Moss know there is a lot more at play; tied up to legends, history, and even a rumoured buried treasure. 

Thane and Moss are reminiscent of DCI Logan and DI Ben Forde. The language is not as extreme as in Kirk’s books. We get to watch the team as they work to solve the case. The characters are fascinating. Reading it, it is like being transported back in time. The story moves at a brisk pace. 

This fifth story leaves you wanting more. Kirk is releasing these stories at a good pace. And I sincerely hope he sees this series and maybe other series by Knox through to publication. I said before and I say it again reading this was in some was like watching Mike Hammer with my dad, or reading his old Ian Fleming or Robert B. Parker books. I have already recommended this series to my dad, my manager at work and a few friends. I can easily recommend this story for fans of crime fiction, historical fiction or to be honest anyone who loves a good story. However I must state; be warned it leaves you wanting more.

Books by Bill Knox:

Thane and Moss:

1 Deadline for a Dream (1957)

  aka In at the Kill

2 Death Department (1959)

3 Leave It to the Hangman (1960)

4 Little Drops of Blood (1962)

5 Sanctuary Isle (1962)

  aka The Gray Sentinels

6 The Man in the Bottle (1963)

7 The Taste of Proof (1965)

8 The Deep Fall (1966)

  aka The Ghost Car

9 Justice On the Rocks (1967)

10 The Tallyman (1969)

11 Children of the Mist (1970)

  aka Who Shot the Bull?

12 To Kill a Witch (1971)

13 Penalty Shootout (1973)

  aka Draw Batons

14 Children of the Water (1974)

15 Rally to Kill (1975)

16 Pilot Error (1977)

17 Live Bait (1978)

18 A Killing in Antiques (1981)

19 The Hanging Tree (1983)

20 The Crossfire Killings (1986)

21 The Interface Man (1989)

22 The Counterfeit Killers (1996)

23 Blood Proof (1997)

24 Death Bytes (1998)

25 The Lazarus Widow (1999)

…

Webb Carrick Series:

1. The Scavengers (1964)

2. Devilweed (1966)

3. Blacklight (1967)

4. The Klondyker (1968)

  aka A Figurehead

5. Blueback (1969)

6. Seafire (1970)

7. Stormtide (1972)

8. Whitewater (1974)

9. Hellspout (1976)

10. Witchrock (1977)

11. Bombship (1980)

12. Bloodtide (1982)

13. Wavecrest (1985)

14. Dead Man's Mooring (1987)

15. The Drowning Nets (1991)

…

 

Talos Cord Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

Cave of Bats (1964)

Lake of Fury (1966)

  aka The Iron Sanctuary

Isle of Dragons (1967)

Place of Mists (1969)

Path of Ghosts (1971)

Nest of Vultures (1972)

…

Jonathan Gaunt Series: (as by Robert MacLeod)

1. A Property in Cyprus (1970)

  aka A Flickering Death

2. A Killing in Malta (1972)

3. A Burial in Portugal (1973)

4. A Witchdance in Bavaria (1975)

5. A Pay-off in Switzerland (1977)

6. An Incident in Iceland (1979)

7. A Problem in Prague (1981)

8. Mayday from Malaga (1983)

9. A Legacy from Tenerife (1984)

10. The Money Mountain (1987)

  aka A Flight from Paris

11. The Spanish Maze Game (1990)

…

 

Andrew Laird Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

All Other Perils (1974)

Dragonship (1976)

Salvage Job (1978)

Cargo Risk (1980)

Witchline (1980)

…

 

Novels

The Cockatoo Crime (1958)

Death calls the shots (1961)

Die for Big Betsy (1961)

Court of murder: Famous trials at Glasgow High Court (1968)

The View from Daniel Pike (1974) (with Edward Boyd)

Storyland Wall Frieze (1981)

Country Club Wives (1997)

A Cut in Diamonds (1997)

Drum of Power (1998)

…

Little Drops of Blood - Bill Knox - Thane and Moss Book 4

Little Drops of Blood

Thane and Moss Book 4

Bill Knox

J.D. Kirk (Forward)

Zertex Crime

ISBN 9781912767830

ASIN B0CY2ZSKKP

I picked this up because J.D Kirk was plugging it and the series. I became even more interested in reading the book and series after reading the forward by Kirk, that only appears in book 1, but which I think should be in each volume. I highlighted a few passages in Kirk’s introductory note from book 1, they are:

“I had been expertly drawn into the world that Bill had created, and was right there alongside detectives Thane and Moss as they carried out their investigations. I had identified with the detectives right away–the imposing Chief Inspector Colin Thane, with his no-nonsense attitude and dogged determination, and his trusty Inspector, Phil Moss, whose loyalty to his friend was second only to his worries about his grumbling ulcer. They immediately felt like real people. More than that, they felt like real Scottish men, whose evident care for one another was masked beneath gruff exchanges and barbed banter.”

“Yes, some of the terminology was different, and there was a lot less swearing in Bill’s book, but down below the surface, down where it mattered, we were both writing about good but complicated men doing their best to bring killers to justice.”

“Aside from the slight change to the title, and a few ten-thousand-word chapters being broken into shorter segments, the book you are about to read is the same one first published in 1957.”

The fact that Kirk thought these books were good enough to spend some time and effort tracking down the rights and bringing them back into print indicates the quality of the writing and the power of the stories. This novel was originally published in 1962 and this Zertex edition is from 2024. The description of the new edition is:

“Every murder leaves a trail. Some more twisted than others.

Step back into the gritty world of 1960s Glasgow with Little Drops of Blood, the fourth riveting instalment in Bill Knox's iconic Thane & Moss series.

When a seemingly simple hit-and-run turns out to be cold-blooded murder, Detectives Thane and Moss find themselves entangled in a complex web of stolen cars, blackmail, and deadly family secrets.

As the body count rises, the hunt for the killer leads them from the gritty underbelly of the city to the rugged peaks of the Scottish Highlands, testing their skills and their resolve at every turn.

But in a world where every clue leads to more questions and every answer comes with a price, will Thane and Moss unravel the mystery before it's too late?

Or will they, too, become victims of a killer who will stop at nothing to keep his secrets safe?

Step into the shadows of Glasgow's criminal underworld and experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this unputdownable mystery from one of the godfathers of Scottish crime fiction.”

Once again it was with great interest that I dove into this fourth story in this series after reading all of Kirk’s Scottish crime novels that were available to date; and having read Alex Smith’s DCI Kett novels and J.E. Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. It was fascinating to read this story and series set nearly a hundred years earlier. It was intriguing reading stories before cell phones, and technology that so many modern crime books and shows rely on. But back to the work at hand.

It was fascinating to read this story and series set nearly a hundred years earlier. It was intriguing reading stories before cell phones, and technology that so many modern crime books and shows rely on. 

The prologue to this story states:

“Occurrence report. Constable Matthew MacDonald, Car One-Five, Traffic Department.

Following radio message received from Control, timed 23.48 hours, Thursday, April 22, proceeded to South Salisbury Road where beat constable was already in attendance. Deceased civilian was lying on west side of the roadway at a point of fifteen yards north of engine factory entrance.

Patrol radioman John Murray assisted beat constable in search for witnesses. None located. Roadway poorly lit at locus.

On preliminary examination, deceased appeared to be victim of traffic accident. Multiple injuries, and clear traces of car treads on raincoat.

Second inspection of area, however, showed indications which decided me to request CID attendance. Detective Inspector Moss of Millside Division arrived at locus at 00.29 hours.”

But back to the work at hand. Much like the 1974 Gone in 60 Seconds part of the scam is using vehicle identifications that are swapped and traded. But how do all the pieces fit together? And I loved the bit about the stopwatch. 

“To Puggy, a car park was something similar to a gigantic self-service motor showroom—except that there was no bill to pay when you drove away. The entire tools of his trade were stored in the inside pocket of his jacket… two small pieces of brazing wire, each with a hook bend on one end; a heavy rubber sucker with a small handle attached; a “jumper” made up from a short length of insulated wire with a bulldog clip fore and aft; a three-inch strip of narrow aluminium foil; and, a purely personal affair, his stopwatch.

Near the junction with Wellington Street, he made his choice. The Ford, in gleaming two-tone paintwork, was obviously in immaculate condition, its bodywork unscarred and its registration number showing it to be one of the newer disc-brake models.

It would fill the bill. Puggy glanced around, ignoring the occasional passer-by but satisfying himself that there were no police uniforms in sight. One hand went into his pocket to press the stopwatch button, and then he got down to work.

…

Puggy engaged first gear, fumbled for his stopwatch, and pressed the arrestor button. He drove off leisurely, quietly, and waited until he had turned off and reached Sauchiehall Street before he took out the watch.

Forty-eight seconds. He gave a chuckle of satisfaction. Eight seconds less than the last time, though he could hardly be blamed for the fact that the previous car of that make he had tackled had obviously been in need of some carburettor adjustment.”

I have greatly enjoyed the characters of Thane and Moss, through these first four stories in this series. This story starts with what looks like a simple hit and run. But very quickly Thane and Moss know there is a lot more at play. As they wade into the underground world of stolen cars, and motorsport racing they soon start to put clues together. But what if one of their base assumptions is wrong?

Thane and Moss are reminiscent of DCI Logan and DI Ben Forde. The language is not as extreme as in Kirk’s books. But the team, and working to solve the case, especially after the prison escape are very written story. The characters are fascinating. Reading it, it is like being transported back in time. The story moves at a brisk pace, though not as fast as the cars are disappearing. And the small details and clues that are worked on open up the case. 

This fourth story leaves you wanting more. Kirk has already announced a date for book 5 and 6. Kirk is releasing them at a decent pace. And I sincerely home he sees this series and maybe other series by Knox through to publication. Reading this was in some was like watching Mike Hammer with my dad, or reading his old Ian Fleming or Robert B. Parker books. I have already recommended this series to my dad, my manager at work and a few friends. I can easily recommend this story for fans of crime fiction, historical fiction or to be honest anyone who loves a good story. But be warned it leaves you wanting more.

Books by Bill Knox:

Thane and Moss:

1 Deadline for a Dream (1957)

  aka In at the Kill

2 Death Department (1959)

3 Leave It to the Hangman (1960)

4 Little Drops of Blood (1962)

5 Sanctuary Isle (1962)

  aka The Gray Sentinels

6 The Man in the Bottle (1963)

7 The Taste of Proof (1965)

8 The Deep Fall (1966)

  aka The Ghost Car

9 Justice On the Rocks (1967)

10 The Tallyman (1969)

11 Children of the Mist (1970)

  aka Who Shot the Bull?

12 To Kill a Witch (1971)

13 Penalty Shootout (1973)

  aka Draw Batons

14 Children of the Water (1974)

15 Rally to Kill (1975)

16 Pilot Error (1977)

17 Live Bait (1978)

18 A Killing in Antiques (1981)

19 The Hanging Tree (1983)

20 The Crossfire Killings (1986)

21 The Interface Man (1989)

22 The Counterfeit Killers (1996)

23 Blood Proof (1997)

24 Death Bytes (1998)

25 The Lazarus Widow (1999)

…

Webb Carrick Series:

1. The Scavengers (1964)

2. Devilweed (1966)

3. Blacklight (1967)

4. The Klondyker (1968)

  aka A Figurehead

5. Blueback (1969)

6. Seafire (1970)

7. Stormtide (1972)

8. Whitewater (1974)

9. Hellspout (1976)

10. Witchrock (1977)

11. Bombship (1980)

12. Bloodtide (1982)

13. Wavecrest (1985)

14. Dead Man's Mooring (1987)

15. The Drowning Nets (1991)

…

 

Talos Cord Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

Cave of Bats (1964)

Lake of Fury (1966)

  aka The Iron Sanctuary

Isle of Dragons (1967)

Place of Mists (1969)

Path of Ghosts (1971)

Nest of Vultures (1972)

…

Jonathan Gaunt Series: (as by Robert MacLeod)

1. A Property in Cyprus (1970)

  aka A Flickering Death

2. A Killing in Malta (1972)

3. A Burial in Portugal (1973)

4. A Witchdance in Bavaria (1975)

5. A Pay-off in Switzerland (1977)

6. An Incident in Iceland (1979)

7. A Problem in Prague (1981)

8. Mayday from Malaga (1983)

9. A Legacy from Tenerife (1984)

10. The Money Mountain (1987)

  aka A Flight from Paris

11. The Spanish Maze Game (1990)

…

 

Andrew Laird Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

All Other Perils (1974)

Dragonship (1976)

Salvage Job (1978)

Cargo Risk (1980)

Witchline (1980)

…

 

Novels

The Cockatoo Crime (1958)

Death calls the shots (1961)

Die for Big Betsy (1961)

Court of murder: Famous trials at Glasgow High Court (1968)

The View from Daniel Pike (1974) (with Edward Boyd)

Storyland Wall Frieze (1981)

Country Club Wives (1997)

A Cut in Diamonds (1997)

Drum of Power (1998)

…

Leave it to the Hangman - Bill Knox - Thane and Moss Book 3

Leave it to the Hangman

Thane and Moss Book 3

Bill Knox

J.D. Kirk (Forward)

Zertex Crime

ISBN 9781912767816

ASIN B0CTHR9LQM

I picked this up because J.D Kirk was plugging it. I became even more interested in reading the book and series after reading the forward by Kirk, that only appears in book 1, but which I think should be in each volume. I highlighted a few passages in Kirk’s introductory note from book 1, they are:

“I had been expertly drawn into the world that Bill had created, and was right there alongside detectives Thane and Moss as they carried out their investigations. I had identified with the detectives right away–the imposing Chief Inspector Colin Thane, with his no-nonsense attitude and dogged determination, and his trusty Inspector, Phil Moss, whose loyalty to his friend was second only to his worries about his grumbling ulcer. They immediately felt like real people. More than that, they felt like real Scottish men, whose evident care for one another was masked beneath gruff exchanges and barbed banter.”

“Yes, some of the terminology was different, and there was a lot less swearing in Bill’s book, but down below the surface, down where it mattered, we were both writing about good but complicated men doing their best to bring killers to justice.”

“Aside from the slight change to the title, and a few ten-thousand-word chapters being broken into shorter segments, the book you are about to read is the same one first published in 1957.”

The fact that Kirk though these books were good enough to spend some time and effort tracking down the rights and bringing them back into print indicates the quality of the writing and the power of the stories. This novel was originally published in 1958 and this Zertex edition is from 2024. The description of the new edition is:

“Every family has its secrets. Some more than others.

Venture back into the shadowy heart of 1960s Scotland with this third electrifying instalment of Bill Knox's acclaimed Thane & Moss series.

Leave it to the Hangman introduces Glasgow's most notorious criminal dynasty – the Kilburns. From the murky depths of smuggling to the explosive dangers of stolen dynamite, no deed is too daring for this clan.

Yet, even in a world where lawlessness reigns, there are lines that are not meant to be crossed.

The cold-blooded murder of a policeman shocks the city. Both the police and the Kilburns themselves know that one of the family was responsible. But which one?

From the grimy streets of 1960s Glasgow to a desolate lochside, the chase leads Detectives Thane and Moss through a maze of deceit and danger. As they draw closer to the truth, they find themselves up against not just the cunning of a criminal family, but the very code that binds them.

In this gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and justice, Knox masterfully navigates the thin line between right and wrong. "Leave it to the Hangman" is a testament to the enduring legacy of Tartan Noir, showcasing Knox's unparalleled ability to weave authentic police work with the rich, atmospheric setting of Scotland's dark side.

Rediscover the thrill of the chase and the depth of Glasgow's criminal world in this gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and justice.”

So it was with great interest that I dove into this third story in this series after reading all of Kirk’s Scottish crime novels that were available to date; and having read Alex Smith’s DCI Kett novels and J.E. Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. It was fascinating to read this story and series set nearly a hundred years earlier. It was intriguing reading stories before cell phones, and technology that so many modern crime books and shows rely on. But back to the work at hand.

I have greatly enjoyed the characters of Thane and Moss, through these first three stories in this series. And the Irish family in this novel, reminds me of my own Irish roots, both here in Canada and back across the pond. For An Aunt visited in th 80’s and said ‘Ye nay should go home Steven you look too much like your cousins and they are mostly wanted.’ All a part of the troubles. The Irish kin in this story bring back memories of family lore and a deep seated hatred of the English.

Thane and Moss are reminiscent of DCI Logan and DI Ben Forde. The language is not as extreme as in Kirk’s books. But the team, and working to solve the case, especially after the prison escape are very written story. The characters are fascinating. Reading it, it is like being transported back in time. The story moves at a brisk pace. And the small details and clues that are worked on open up the case. 

This third story leaves you wanting more. Kirk has already announced a date for book 5. Kirk is releasing them at a decent pace. And I sincerely home he sees this series and maybe other series by Knox through to publication. Reading this was in some was like watching Mike Hammer with my dad, or reading his old Ian Fleming or Robert B. Parker books. I have already recommended this series to my dad, my manager at work and a few friends. I can easily recommend this story for fans of crime fiction, historical fiction or to be honest anyone who loves a good story. But be warned it leaves you wanting more.

Books by Bill Knox:

Thane and Moss:

1 Deadline for a Dream (1957)

  aka In at the Kill

2 Death Department (1959)

3 Leave It to the Hangman (1960)

4 Little Drops of Blood (1962)

5 Sanctuary Isle (1962)

  aka The Gray Sentinels

6 The Man in the Bottle (1963)

7 The Taste of Proof (1965)

8 The Deep Fall (1966)

  aka The Ghost Car

9 Justice On the Rocks (1967)

10 The Tallyman (1969)

11 Children of the Mist (1970)

  aka Who Shot the Bull?

12 To Kill a Witch (1971)

13 Penalty Shootout (1973)

  aka Draw Batons

14 Children of the Water (1974)

15 Rally to Kill (1975)

16 Pilot Error (1977)

17 Live Bait (1978)

18 A Killing in Antiques (1981)

19 The Hanging Tree (1983)

20 The Crossfire Killings (1986)

21 The Interface Man (1989)

22 The Counterfeit Killers (1996)

23 Blood Proof (1997)

24 Death Bytes (1998)

25 The Lazarus Widow (1999)

…

Webb Carrick Series:

1. The Scavengers (1964)

2. Devilweed (1966)

3. Blacklight (1967)

4. The Klondyker (1968)

  aka A Figurehead

5. Blueback (1969)

6. Seafire (1970)

7. Stormtide (1972)

8. Whitewater (1974)

9. Hellspout (1976)

10. Witchrock (1977)

11. Bombship (1980)

12. Bloodtide (1982)

13. Wavecrest (1985)

14. Dead Man's Mooring (1987)

15. The Drowning Nets (1991)

…

 

Talos Cord Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

Cave of Bats (1964)

Lake of Fury (1966)

  aka The Iron Sanctuary

Isle of Dragons (1967)

Place of Mists (1969)

Path of Ghosts (1971)

Nest of Vultures (1972)

…

Jonathan Gaunt Series: (as by Robert MacLeod)

1. A Property in Cyprus (1970)

  aka A Flickering Death

2. A Killing in Malta (1972)

3. A Burial in Portugal (1973)

4. A Witchdance in Bavaria (1975)

5. A Pay-off in Switzerland (1977)

6. An Incident in Iceland (1979)

7. A Problem in Prague (1981)

8. Mayday from Malaga (1983)

9. A Legacy from Tenerife (1984)

10. The Money Mountain (1987)

  aka A Flight from Paris

11. The Spanish Maze Game (1990)

…

 

Andrew Laird Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

All Other Perils (1974)

Dragonship (1976)

Salvage Job (1978)

Cargo Risk (1980)

Witchline (1980)

…

 

Novels

The Cockatoo Crime (1958)

Death calls the shots (1961)

Die for Big Betsy (1961)

Court of murder: Famous trials at Glasgow High Court (1968)

The View from Daniel Pike (1974) (with Edward Boyd)

Storyland Wall Frieze (1981)

Country Club Wives (1997)

A Cut in Diamonds (1997)

Drum of Power (1998)

…

Death Department - Bill Knox - Thane and Moss Book 2

Death Department

Thane and Moss Book 2

Bill Knox

J.D. Kirk (Forward)

Zertex Crime

ISBN 9781912767809

ASIN B0CSWQHJ1L

I picked up book 1 in this series, Deadline, because J.D Kirk was plugging it. I became even more interested in reading the book and series after reading the forward by Kirk, in volume 1. I feel that forward should be in each of the volumes so that if someone randomly starts the series they will get that excellent background. I picked up this volume as soon as it released, but it got lost in the plethora of titles on my kindle, and I only started reading it when Book 3 released, and brought it back to mind. I highlighted a few passages in Kirk’s introductory note from book 1, they are:

“I had been expertly drawn into the world that Bill had created, and was right there alongside detectives Thane and Moss as they carried out their investigations. I had identified with the detectives right away–the imposing Chief Inspector Colin Thane, with his no-nonsense attitude and dogged determination, and his trusty Inspector, Phil Moss, whose loyalty to his friend was second only to his worries about his grumbling ulcer. They immediately felt like real people. More than that, they felt like real Scottish men, whose evident care for one another was masked beneath gruff exchanges and barbed banter.”

“Yes, some of the terminology was different, and there was a lot less swearing in Bill’s book, but down below the surface, down where it mattered, we were both writing about good but complicated men doing their best to bring killers to justice.”

“Aside from the slight change to the title, and a few ten-thousand-word chapters being broken into shorter segments, the book you are about to read is the same one first published in 1957.”

The fact that Kirk though these books were good enough to spend some time and effort tracking down the rights and bringing them back into print indicates the quality of the writing and the power of the stories. This novel was originally published in 1958 and this Zertex edition is from 2024. The description of the new edition is:

“Every secret has its price.

Return to the gritty, fog-choked streets of 1950s Glasgow in Bill Knox's, Death Department, the second thrilling case for detectives Thane & Moss.

From the mind of one of Tartan Noir's original masters, this gripping tale weaves through the bustling aisles of a Glasgow department store, where a seemingly ordinary case of organized shoplifting spirals into a shocking, brutal murder.

Thane and Moss find themselves in a race against time, as their relentless hunt for justice leads them deeper into Glasgow's underworld, with every clue and twist drawing them closer to a final chilling confrontation.

More than just a crime novel, Death Department is a stark exploration of the extremes of human nature, set against the backdrop of a city wrestling with its own identity.

Rediscover this essential piece of Scottish crime fiction history, from one of the grandfathers of Tartan Noir.”

This second volume in the series was just as interesting as the first. It was with great interest that I dove into this series after reading all of Kirk’s Scottish crime novels that were available to date; and having read Alex Smith’s DCI Kett novels and J.E. Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. It was fascinating to read this story and series set nearly a hundred years earlier. It was intriguing reading stories before cell phones, and technology that so many modern crime books and shows rely on. But back to the work at hand.

I really enjoyed the characters of Thane and Moss. And in this one we get an even closer look at them and their process of working crimes. This one starts out as robberies at a local department store, thefts of a magnitude beyond a normal year over year growth, and increasing each week. They are very reminiscent of DCI Logan and DI Ben Forde. The language is not as extreme as in Kirk’s books. But the team, and working to solve the case, especially after the body is found. The characters are fascinating. And while reading it, it is like being transported back in time. The story moves at a good pace, not as brisk as book one, and a lot more old gumshoe or leg work in this one. But we watch as they focus on the small details and clues that are then worked on open up the case. 

The story again leaves you wanting more. Kirk has already announced book 4, Leave it to the Hangman. And I sincerely home he sees this series and maybe other series by Knox through to publication. Reading this was in some was like watching Mike Hammer with my dad, or reading his old Ian Fleming or Robert B. Parker books. I have already recommended the book and series to my dad, my manager at work and a few friends. I can easily recommend this story for fans of crime fiction, historical fiction or to be honest anyone who loves a good story. But be warned it leaves you wanting more, fortunately I believe there are 25 volumes in this series from the pen of Knox alone.

Books by Bill Knox:

Thane and Moss:

1 Deadline for a Dream (1957)

  aka In at the Kill

2 Death Department (1959)

3 Leave It to the Hangman (1960)

4 Little Drops of Blood (1962)

5 Sanctuary Isle (1962)

  aka The Gray Sentinels

6 The Man in the Bottle (1963)

7 The Taste of Proof (1965)

8 The Deep Fall (1966)

  aka The Ghost Car

9 Justice On the Rocks (1967)

10 The Tallyman (1969)

11 Children of the Mist (1970)

  aka Who Shot the Bull?

12 To Kill a Witch (1971)

13 Penalty Shootout (1973)

  aka Draw Batons

14 Children of the Water (1974)

15 Rally to Kill (1975)

16 Pilot Error (1977)

17 Live Bait (1978)

18 A Killing in Antiques (1981)

19 The Hanging Tree (1983)

20 The Crossfire Killings (1986)

21 The Interface Man (1989)

22 The Counterfeit Killers (1996)

23 Blood Proof (1997)

24 Death Bytes (1998)

25 The Lazarus Widow (1999)

…

Webb Carrick Series:

1. The Scavengers (1964)

2. Devilweed (1966)

3. Blacklight (1967)

4. The Klondyker (1968)

  aka A Figurehead

5. Blueback (1969)

6. Seafire (1970)

7. Stormtide (1972)

8. Whitewater (1974)

9. Hellspout (1976)

10. Witchrock (1977)

11. Bombship (1980)

12. Bloodtide (1982)

13. Wavecrest (1985)

14. Dead Man's Mooring (1987)

15. The Drowning Nets (1991)

…

 

Talos Cord Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

Cave of Bats (1964)

Lake of Fury (1966)

  aka The Iron Sanctuary

Isle of Dragons (1967)

Place of Mists (1969)

Path of Ghosts (1971)

Nest of Vultures (1972)

…

Jonathan Gaunt Series: (as by Robert MacLeod)

1. A Property in Cyprus (1970)

  aka A Flickering Death

2. A Killing in Malta (1972)

3. A Burial in Portugal (1973)

4. A Witchdance in Bavaria (1975)

5. A Pay-off in Switzerland (1977)

6. An Incident in Iceland (1979)

7. A Problem in Prague (1981)

8. Mayday from Malaga (1983)

9. A Legacy from Tenerife (1984)

10. The Money Mountain (1987)

  aka A Flight from Paris

11. The Spanish Maze Game (1990)

…

 

Andrew Laird Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

All Other Perils (1974)

Dragonship (1976)

Salvage Job (1978)

Cargo Risk (1980)

Witchline (1980)

…

 

Novels

The Cockatoo Crime (1958)

Death calls the shots (1961)

Die for Big Betsy (1961)

Court of murder: Famous trials at Glasgow High Court (1968)

The View from Daniel Pike (1974) (with Edward Boyd)

Storyland Wall Frieze (1981)

Country Club Wives (1997)

A Cut in Diamonds (1997)

Drum of Power (1998)

…

Deadline - Bill Knox forward by J.D. Kirk - Thane and Moss Book 1

Deadline

Thane and Moss Book 1

Bill Knox

J.D. Kirk (Forward)

Zertex Crime

ISBN 9781912767793

ASIN B0CPW3DHTY

I picked this up because J.D Kirk was plugging it. I became even more interested in reading the book and series after reading the forward by Kirk. I highlighted a few passages in Kirk’s introductory note, they are:

“I had been expertly drawn into the world that Bill had created, and was right there alongside detectives Thane and Moss as they carried out their investigations. I had identified with the detectives right away–the imposing Chief Inspector Colin Thane, with his no-nonsense attitude and dogged determination, and his trusty Inspector, Phil Moss, whose loyalty to his friend was second only to his worries about his grumbling ulcer. They immediately felt like real people. More than that, they felt like real Scottish men, whose evident care for one another was masked beneath gruff exchanges and barbed banter.”

“Yes, some of the terminology was different, and there was a lot less swearing in Bill’s book, but down below the surface, down where it mattered, we were both writing about good but complicated men doing their best to bring killers to justice.”

“Aside from the slight change to the title, and a few ten-thousand-word chapters being broken into shorter segments, the book you are about to read is the same one first published in 1957.”

The fact that Kirk though these books were good enough to spend some time and effort tracking down the rights and bringing them back into print indicates the quality of the writing and the power of the stories. This novel was originally published as Deadline for a Dream and was also previously published as In at the Kill. The description of the new edition is:

“There are two sides to every story.

Revisit the mean streets and smoke-filled back-alleyways of 1950s Glasgow in this thrilling reissue of New York Times Bestselling author Bill Knox's first Thane & Moss novel.

A classic from one of the godfathers of Tartan Noir, this edge-of-your-seat thriller tells a tense tale of a crime reporter turned criminal. Armed with a gun, driven by desperation, and possessing insider knowledge of a potential big score, he daringly executes a factory payroll hold-up.

And that’s when his whole world begins to fall apart.

Detectives Thane and Moss embark on a manhunt, and a gripping game of cat and mouse unfolds in a dual narrative that plunges readers into the heart of a bygone era in Scottish crime, with every twist leading the detectives towards a pulse-pounding showdown with a criminal who has nothing left to lose.

Rediscover a pivotal piece of Tartan Noir history and experience the raw reality of a crime gone wrong in this thrilling reissue of the first Thane & Moss novel, originally published as 'Deadline for a Dream'. Includes an all-new foreword by multi-million selling Scottish crime fiction author, JD Kirk.”

So it was with great interest that I dove into this story after reading all of Kirk’s Scottish crime novels that are available to date; and having read Alex Smith’s DCI Kett novels and J.E. Mayhew’s DCI Will Blake Series. It was fascinating to read this story set nearly a hundred years earlier. It was intriguing reading a story before cell phones, and technology that so many modern crime books and shows rely on. But back to the work at hand.

I really enjoyed the characters of Thane and Moss. They are very reminiscent of DCI Logan and DI Ben Forde. The language is not as extreme as in Kirk’s books. But the team, and working to solve the case, especially after the loss on one of their own is a well written story. The characters are fascinating. And while reading it, it is like being transported back in time. The story moves at a brisk pace. And the small details and clues that are worked on open up the case. 

The story leaves you wanting more. Kirk has already announced a date for book 2. And I sincerely home he sees this series and maybe other series by Know through to publication. Reading this was in some was like watching Mike Hammer with my dad, or reading his old Ian Fleming or Robert B. Parker books. I have already recommended it to my dad, my manager at work and a few friends. I can easily recommend this story for fans of crime fiction, historical fiction or to be honest anyone who loves a good story. But be warned it leaves you wanting more.

Books by Bill Knox:

Thane and Moss:

1 Deadline for a Dream (1957)

  aka In at the Kill

2 Death Department (1959)

3 Leave It to the Hangman (1960)

4 Little Drops of Blood (1962)

5 Sanctuary Isle (1962)

  aka The Gray Sentinels

6 The Man in the Bottle (1963)

7 The Taste of Proof (1965)

8 The Deep Fall (1966)

  aka The Ghost Car

9 Justice On the Rocks (1967)

10 The Tallyman (1969)

11 Children of the Mist (1970)

  aka Who Shot the Bull?

12 To Kill a Witch (1971)

13 Penalty Shootout (1973)

  aka Draw Batons

14 Children of the Water (1974)

15 Rally to Kill (1975)

16 Pilot Error (1977)

17 Live Bait (1978)

18 A Killing in Antiques (1981)

19 The Hanging Tree (1983)

20 The Crossfire Killings (1986)

21 The Interface Man (1989)

22 The Counterfeit Killers (1996)

23 Blood Proof (1997)

24 Death Bytes (1998)

25 The Lazarus Widow (1999)

…

Webb Carrick Series:

1. The Scavengers (1964)

2. Devilweed (1966)

3. Blacklight (1967)

4. The Klondyker (1968)

  aka A Figurehead

5. Blueback (1969)

6. Seafire (1970)

7. Stormtide (1972)

8. Whitewater (1974)

9. Hellspout (1976)

10. Witchrock (1977)

11. Bombship (1980)

12. Bloodtide (1982)

13. Wavecrest (1985)

14. Dead Man's Mooring (1987)

15. The Drowning Nets (1991)

…

 

Talos Cord Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

Cave of Bats (1964)

Lake of Fury (1966)

  aka The Iron Sanctuary

Isle of Dragons (1967)

Place of Mists (1969)

Path of Ghosts (1971)

Nest of Vultures (1972)

…

Jonathan Gaunt Series: (as by Robert MacLeod)

1. A Property in Cyprus (1970)

  aka A Flickering Death

2. A Killing in Malta (1972)

3. A Burial in Portugal (1973)

4. A Witchdance in Bavaria (1975)

5. A Pay-off in Switzerland (1977)

6. An Incident in Iceland (1979)

7. A Problem in Prague (1981)

8. Mayday from Malaga (1983)

9. A Legacy from Tenerife (1984)

10. The Money Mountain (1987)

  aka A Flight from Paris

11. The Spanish Maze Game (1990)

…

 

Andrew Laird Series (as by Robert MacLeod)

All Other Perils (1974)

Dragonship (1976)

Salvage Job (1978)

Cargo Risk (1980)

Witchline (1980)

…

 

Novels

The Cockatoo Crime (1958)

Death calls the shots (1961)

Die for Big Betsy (1961)

Court of murder: Famous trials at Glasgow High Court (1968)

The View from Daniel Pike (1974) (with Edward Boyd)

Storyland Wall Frieze (1981)

Country Club Wives (1997)

A Cut in Diamonds (1997)

Drum of Power (1998)

…