Cast a Cold Eye

 About six months ago, East Coast Don reviewed our first read by Robbie Morrison, Edge of the Grave, and this is the second, Cast a Cold Eye. The books have the same protagonist, Jimmy Dreghorn a Glasgoq police Inspector. The first book was a period piece from 1932 Glasgow, and the second book takes place a year later, 1933 Glasgow. This second story also includes Police Constable Ellen Duncan, as well as a host of other great characters which the author uses to fill out his story. The novel cuts across class esand especially discusses the seeming impossibility of finding any resolution to the Catholic-Protestant biases and resulting violence. While the story does not have exclusively to do with events in Ireland, it does explain the spill over of violence from Ireland into Scotland, societies that had a long history of connection. I think it must be impossible to read this book in 2024 and not immediately associate to the seeming impossibility of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This book also addressed the ongoing misogyny that continues to be an unfinished issue in so many cultures. This is a well written detective novel, a meaningful work of historical fiction. Just as opined by ECD, I’m ready for more of Robbie Morrison.