DS Lorimer takes a bit of a back seat in this story.
DI Molly Newton is the lead in the murder of some actors supposed to performing Sweeny Todd.
I guessed the murderer from the start and felt this book was no where near as good as all the previous Alex Gray books.
A bit of a disappointment.

A good read will look out for more from the DS Lorimer series. This is the first one I read in the series which explains why I didn't get some of the characters. A great story the leading actor is killed in the style of the play a devastated fiancée. 2 more murders but no connection.

Part of a series featuring Detective Inspector William Lorimer and his team,set in and around Glasgow. An interesting set of characters and a complicated storyline. A great read.

The DS Lorimer series is one for anyone who enjoys a good, long running police series with a likeable cast of recurring characters. If you're tired of reading about detectives with their own major struggles like alcohol problems or anger management issues, then rest assured that DS Lorimer, his family and colleagues are wholesome, well-rounded characters. I always feel I'm in safe hands when I read a Lorimer story.

Lorimer himself doesn't get too involved in the action in Acts of Malice until the story is well underway. When he's called on to give a careers talk at his goddaughter Abby's school, Abby's drama teacher tries to raise her concerns with him that her fiance has gone missing. Lorimer doesn't see any immediate need to get involved as the missing man, actor Guy Richmond, is being investigated through the appropriate channels. When a body turns up, it's Lorimer's junior colleague, Molly Newton, who is assigned the role of Senior Investigating Officer, so Lorimer takes a back seat for much of the early action in this one, reluctant to interfere.

Needless to say there are many twists and turns to come, as the police begin to question members of the theatre company the dead man belonged to. There are visits to many of Glasgow's famous landmarks along the way, and if you know the city well then this adds an extra dimension to the novel, as do the latest developments in the lives of Lorimer's friends and associates, familiar to anyone who has read previous books in the series.

One minor point I noticed in Alex Gray's otherwise brilliant writing is that an awful lot of the characters chew or bite their lips when they get anxious. I counted ten occurrences of this in the book, and would suggest that Lorimer investigates this strange phenomenon, except for the fact that he's guilty of it himself. It's probably just an unconscious writerly tic to have so many characters performing the same action, but it did pull me out of the otherwise immersive narrative once or twice.

That aside, the Lorimer series goes from strength to strength, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

This is part of a long running series so perhaps best read in order, although elements of the backstory were included in the book.

Good story taking us into the treacherous world of actors with secrets, deceptions and more. Well plotted and enthralling with plenty of twists.

A good police mystery set round a theatre group. You are given a good window into the private lives of our main police characters.
Plenty of interest and murder a plenty will keep you entertained till the last page.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

Thanks to Netgalley and Littlebrown for the opportunity to review. The previous book in the series was so good this was always going to struggle to reach those standards. While I enjoy all of Alex Grey books I found this one a bit flat and lacking excitement. I guessed the killer early on . I found the interaction between Daniel and his mother and Netta quite flat and he didn’t play a great part in this story. Hopefully the next one will be back to brilliant.

Acts of Malice is the latest book in the long running Detective Superintendent Lorimer series by Alex Gray which sees Lorimer involved in the investigation of a murder of a local actor.

For me this book didn’t hit the heights of most of the previous ones with a lack of excitement or real tension building and whilst there were a few red herrings I did work out the murderer at a fairly early stage.

The series still has some credit in the bank so I will give the next book a go I was just a bit disappointed with this outing

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of Acts of Malice by Alex Gray.
Detective inspector Molly Newton is called out early one morning when a fisherman catches more than ne bargained for.
The starts an intriguing case of murder centred around a local theatre group.
Superintendent Lorimer, Mollys boss is on hand to offer his expertise.
It is the first book I have read in this series but it worked very well as a stand alone. I will be looking out for any future titles.

Really enjoyable.

Lorimer finds himself involved in murders of actors after giving a talk at his goddaughters school. It’s a great ride and with a character as well written as Lorimer, it’s really exciting.

I would recommend this series to anyone who likes a touch of cosy with their murders.

‘Acts of Malice’,by Alex Gray is the twenty-second book in the Detective Superintendent Lorimer series.It seems like no time at all since we were first were introduced to William Lorimer and the supporting array of vividly portrayed characters.Some of the personalities like Maggie and Solly feel like old familiar faces from around the neighbourhood while the more recent additions such as Daniel and his Mother Janette feel settled in comfortably,and similarly instantly recognisable.The authentic human interactions depicted in the story build the sense of everyday Glasgow,its inhabitants and many different dimensions.
This latest murder case involves members of a theatrical cast whose acting skills ensure their reactions to the investigation make detecting the guilty party even trickier for Lorimer and the team.Who can be believed among professionals who expertly wear many masks for a living?
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advanced copy for review.

This series featuring Superintendent Lorimer, just keeps improving. it's hard to believe we are at book 22! I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of the books and this is every bit as enjoyable as the first. I love the character development, especially young Abby and also Daniel. The plotting is full of clever twists and the Glasgow setting just pulls the reader in. Reading this is like catching up with old friends, as Lorimer is drawn into the murder of an actor. Another great read from the author. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Unfortunately I cannot give this book more than five stars. To be honest, I would give all Alex Gray’s books five plus.
Lorimer is an excellent character, as are the others. Highly recommended.

Hurrah! Superintendent Lorimer is back and we're off to the theatre. Well we are if Lorimer and his colleagues can stop the cast being murdered before there aren't enough left to put on the play. As always Alex Gray writes her characters wonderfully. We catch up with Maggie, Daniel and Molly and Solly and his family. They bound out of the book fully formed as though they had just been waiting for the reader to open the pages. I love big series where this happens. The characters almost become family who visit on a regular basis. Twists and turns are plentiful until the killer is revealed and the murders solved. A really enjoyable read as always and I look forward to the next visit from the regular characters and Lorimer's next case.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I am really enjoying the Lorimer books. This one had a very interesting premise and didn’t fail to deliver on it. Twists and turns aplenty. Very well written with well rounded characters. Lost a star because I guessed the culprit.. Very much looking forward to the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

After his African adventures, Lorimer is drawn into this case by accident. Along with the murders of various actors, we have the tale of Daniel with his mum and have Rosie and Solly back in the picture. Plenty of misdirection and twists and so overall 4.5* primarily as I did guess the killer !!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

Superintendent Lorimer has had his arm twisted by his goddaughter to give a careers talk at her school. While there, he is waylaid by a rather hysterical drama teacher about her missing boyfriend. Lorimer tells her that, since the missing man is not vulnerable and his disappearance has been reported in the proper manner, there is nothing he can do.

Until a body turns up...

This brings the team into the fraught world of professional theatre, where nothing and nobody are what they seem

Another brilliant addition to this excellent series