HIS gripping novels have captured the attention of crime fiction fans all over the world – and now Gartocharn author Denzil Meyrick has revealed the cover of the next release in his burgeoning stable.
No Sweet Sorrow will be the eleventh in the series of DCI Jim Daley novels from the acclaimed writer, with the new cover showcasing a misty rural scene and giving little away to the series’ legion of fans.
Unveiled recently by Denzil’s present publisher, Polygon Books (Birlinn), the book is due for release on June 1 and will feature the latest rollercoaster ride from the fictional village of Kinloch, based largely on Campbeltown and the surrounding area in the Kintyre peninsula.
While the thrilling plots are his, Denzil explained to the Reporter that there are plenty of other elements involved in bringing his books to fruition.
The 57-year-old explained: “Writing the book is just part of the process, albeit a crucial part.
"There’s so much else involved, from designing the artwork to the whole marketing around the book and getting it ready for sale.
“I usually finish writing about eight months before the book is on sale, in order for there to be time for all these things to happen.
"Then there are the audio books, which are hugely popular, and have to be prepared, so it’s an extensive process.”
No Sweet Sorrow tells of a potent new drug that has hit the streets of Kinloch, with DCI Daley and sidekick Scott struggling to catch the gang behind the evil trade.
After a party of Oxford students arrives in town for a camping trip before a Himalayan expedition, one of the group seeks out an illegal high and is violently assaulted.
But the students are well connected, which brings further unexpected problems for Daley. He and Scott are on course to discover crimes as disturbing in nature as anything they’ve ever confronted.
It is the latest in a series of books which has kept readers enthusiastically turning pages in a bid to find out what happens next.
From smuggling to terrorism and the gritty world of serial killers, Denzil is unafraid to unleash havoc on the seemingly sleepy seaside setting. But it is often within the characters’ back stories that the really dramas lie.
Denzil, who is originally from Campbeltown, continued: “In books like the Daley novels, there has to be a sense of jeopardy. If it’s all ‘happily ever after’, people won’t be gripped in nearly the same way.
"Some of the main characters have already met an untimely end and, quite simply, no one is safe. That’s the magic of it.”
Since the first novel – Whisky From Small Glasses – was released in 2012, the Daley stories have established a truly global following, with Denzil joining the pantheon of acclaimed Scottish crime fiction writers, including the likes of Ian Rankin and Val McDermid.
Such has been the popularity of the character, it was previously announced that it is to spawn a small-screen series, understood to feature Game of Thrones star Rory McCann in the role of DCI Daley.
The series will be written and directed by leading Scottish playwright and screenwriter, Anthony Neilson, with Denzil involved as an executive producer.
It is understood more announcements will follow on the series in the coming months.
More information on No Sweet Sorrow is available at the Birlinn website.
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