HIS gripping novels have captured the attention of crime fiction fans around the world – and now Gartocharn author Denzil Meyrick has revealed the cover for the next edition in his growing stable.
No Sweet Sorrow will be the eleventh in the DCI series of novels by acclaimed writer Jim Daley, with a new cover depicting a misty rural scene and a little nod to the series’ legion of fans.
Recently launched by Denzil’s current 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, largely based around Campbeltown and the surrounding area on the Kintyre Peninsula.
Although the exciting plots are his own, Denzil explained to the Reporter that there are many other elements involved in making his books come true.
The 57-year-old explained: “Writing a book is only part of the process, albeit a crucial part.
“There is so much involved, from designing the artwork to all the marketing around the book and getting it ready for sale.
“I usually finish writing about eight months before the book goes on sale, so there’s time for all these things to happen.
“Then there are audio books, which are very popular and have to be prepared, so it’s an extensive process.”
But Sweet Sorrow tells the story of a powerful new drug that has hit the streets of Kinloch, with DCI Daley and Assistant Scott battling to catch the gang behind the nefarious trade.
After a group of Oxford students arrive in town for a camping trip before a Himalayan expedition, one of the group is looking for illegal drugs and is violently attacked.
But the students are well connected, which brings further unexpected problems for Daley. He and Scott are on a journey to uncover crimes of a more disturbing nature than anything they’ve ever faced.
It’s the latest in a series of books that keep readers eagerly turning the pages in an attempt to find out what happens next.
From smuggling to terrorism and the harsh world of serial killers, Denzil isn’t afraid to wreak havoc in the seemingly sleepy coastal environment. But often the real dramas are found within the characters’ stories.
Denzil, who is originally from Campbeltown, continued: “There has to be a sense of danger in books like Daley’s novels. If it’s all ‘happily ever after’, people won’t be affected 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 charm.”
Since the first novel – Whiskey From Small Glasses – was published in 2012, the Daley stories have gained a truly global audience, with Denzil joining the pantheon of acclaimed Scottish crime writers including Ian Rankin and Val McDermid.
The character’s popularity was such that it was previously announced that it would spawn a series for the small screen, starring Game of Thrones star Rory McCann as 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 goes without saying that more announcements about the series will follow in the coming months.
More information on No Sweet Sorrow is available on the Birlinn website.