Closer to the Dead

A new cold case for DCI Brendan Moran coincides with the unexpected reappearance of a dangerous adversary.

As Moran grapples with an ever-changing work culture and begins to get to grips with the forty-year old murder of a young RAF aircraftswoman, an unexpected complication arises in his personal life that threatens to sabotage a promising relationship before it even begins. Could his new friend really be involved in the shady financial dealings of a cold case murder victim?

With this uncertainty playing on his mind, Moran throws himself into the new investigation, but as he digs deeper it becomes clear that the original case was sloppily handled, the interviews poorly conducted and critical evidence overlooked. Under the watchful eye of a newly-appointed Crime Investigations Manager, the team begin the painstaking process of tracing the original persons of interest.

Progress, however, is glacial, and so, when presented with incontrovertible proof that their progress is being monitored with alarming accuracy by someone who seems to always be one step ahead of the official investigation, Moran begins to wonder if he can make an arrest before the perpetrator falls into the hands of an antagonist with a very different idea of justice…

If you like Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, DCI Banks, Vera and the Shetland TV series, you’ll love this tense and exciting crime novel from CWA-shortlisted author, Scott Hunter.

REVIEWS – The DCI Brendan Moran Crime Series

★★★★★ ‘…a sparkling mystery – the highlight of a strong series.’

★★★★★ ‘… a well-planned, well-written novel. The writer has a fertile imagination and an attractive narrative style.’

★★★★★ ‘… one of the best reads I have had this year. Gripped by the grizzled Irish detective…..plenty of twists and turns. Bravo!’

★★★★★ ‘The story rattles into action and concludes with two jaw-dropping climaxes and a final fraught decision. This series is destined for greatness.’

★★★★★ ‘Couldn’t put it down – a brilliant crime mystery from the master’

Author Biography

Scott Hunter was born in Romford, Essex. His writing career was kick-started after he won first prize in the Sunday Express Short Story Competition. He divides his time between writing and drumming. He has recorded with internationally renowned rock band ‘Jethro Tull’ and appeared in concert with 70’s popsters ‘Mungo Jerry’.

He is currently working on his fifteenth novel and has recently published ‘In the Key of Death’, number ten in the popular DCI Brendan Moran crime series. The first five books in the series have also been released in audiobook format.

He was long listed for the Times/Chicken House Children’s Novel Competition for ‘The Ley Lines of Lushbury’ and won the Sunday Express Short Story Competition a few years back for his historical entry set in the English Civil War. His second novel, ‘The Trespass’ is a top 20 Amazon Bestseller. He was shortlisted for the 2016 Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Margery Allingham short story competition, and was selected as the winner of the 2022 Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Margery Allingham short story competition. His winning entry, ‘Locked In’ can be read via the CWA Website’s Margery Allingham page.

Scott Hunter lives in Berkshire with his wife Katherine and his two youngest children