The Gray Shepherds are Druidic era monoliths similar to Stonehenge and for three thousand years stand on the heights in the neighbourhood of the Badorno castle in Scotland. But a bad day one of these monoliths falls and, in his fall, it crushes a young woman. Death is, in a rather hasty, classified as an accident, but some details don't convince MacDonald, a journalist born around here that now lives in London and, not surprisingly, dubbed 'Fighting Mac'. With the help of an old school friend, now incorruptible cop, and a pair of expert television reporters that at first thought to simply let him do the dirty work in an journalistic investigation that somehow involves the government, will find the classic nest of vipers.
The character of Mac Donald is very apt, and I am grateful to the author for having spared at the last moment the happy ending, but unfortunately at some point he lost sight of the solidity of the plot and was at the very end, had to settle for flaunting a communist plot as a reason for a series of events increasingly dangerous and agitated.
Despite this, the book is well written and reads nicely.
I thank Endeavor Press and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Shamus MacDonald is a free lance writer constantly searching for the next big story. The death of a model that Shamus happened to recently interview doesn't look like an accident to him, but can he prove it was a murder?

While reading, I kept imaging Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck in 'Double Imdemity'. The book flavors a 1940's movie with quick, clipped back and forth dialog.

3☆

4 stars

This is the first Angus MacVicar book that I’ve read, but I must say I’ve had my eye on his books for a while now. The book, although pretty short, is well written and well plotted. I liked the setting – in Scotland.

Shamus MacDonald, a Scottish writer for television, newspaper and radio, receives a phone call from a television personality. MacDonald has written a story about the Werner case and the TV person is interested. He sees a connection between a woman killed by the Grey Shepherds and the Werner case and the television people do too. They offer him a contract to investigate and report his findings.

As Shamus investigates, he turns to his old friend, Ewan Cameron, who is a high ranking police officer. Between them they get the bad guys.

I look forward to reading more of Mr. MacVicar’s books.

Thanking Netgalley and Endeavour Press for forwarding me a copy of this book.

I received an free electronic copy of this mystery novel fromNetgalley, Angus MacVicar, and Endevour Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work.

The Grey Shepherds reads like a 1950's murder mystery. The descriptions are crisp, the dialog curt, and the women are paper dolls, but the story is intricate and well plotted, and holds your attention throughout. MacVicar is an author I will watch for.