Alan Ahrens-McManus

Qismet Alan Ahrens-McManus

Bruno finally turns forty and proposes to his friends that they open a small school. Unbeknownst to Bruno, Clara has inherited a property with some money and her organisational skills make this unlikely project possible. Justin and Imogen and other friends are persuaded to join the new venture. But not Simone, who asks Bruno if he ever hears noises in the school. Sad noises. All are busy in preparation until things go bump in the night and Johnny barely escapes with his life. Tensions rise as one by one those who enter the building are clearly not themselves. Which means Bruno and Clara have to find out who, or what, is the connection between the former owner of the building and the coded letter Max scratches out of the skirtingboard. Crossing the line between the quick and the dead, Bruno and his friends find out just what meddling with forces they cannot control may lead to. Fair thoughts and happy hours are their only protection. But how to ignore a force that feeds on terror? The Bruno Benedetti Mysteries are aimed at intelligent readers of mystery novels who like characters who they can identify with rather than slick Bond-types. Particular aspects of this series are the move away from the 'gritty Glasgow' genre, which has become predictable, and the faithful reflection of the strategic use of dialect in different social situations - which many readers (Scots or not) will recognise. "Shades of the Sun", rather than just a form of escapism, allows reflection on 'real life' as the main characters are multi-faceted and develop as they learn from experience and each other, a development which started with "Tricks of the Mind", and continued with "The Lovers" and "Shades of the Sun". Next is "Tir nam Ban".