Games People Play

Charlie Cameron is a likeable but troubled private investigator who usually finds missing people. After reading Old Friends and New Enemies the second book in this series some time ago I have finally caught up with this first book in which the reader discovers the reason why missing people, especially children matter so much to him.Charlie’s office is an upstairs room in the New York Blue Club in Glasgow, provided free by the grateful owner for his previous services. There he meets policeman Andrew Geddes and has an on/off friendship with manager Jackie. When there is enough work, he employs Patrick, who will chat to anyone and knows all the wrong people. Patrick’s life provides amusing relief in an otherwise sad story.Charlie does his best to find Lily, even though Andrew tells him it is police business. As readers, we believe we are one step ahead in knowing what has happened to her, but a serial killer is revealed, responsible for crimes over many years so perhaps it is too late. Another case involving a young student who may have run away with her teacher keeps him busy but frustratingly evidence is thin on the ground. Charlie’s personal life improves when a new young singer comes to the club, but he struggles to keep all the balls in the air.The plotting of this book is intricate and clever and at times it is difficult to keep track of events but the final pulling together of all the threads is both surprising and satisfying.

I met the author last year at a book related event and promised to read his books. Due to various things I have only just managed to find the time to do that. I now wish I had bitten the bullet and found time sooner.Being born and bred in Ayrshire, and spending a lot of time over the years in Glasgow, I knew exactly where most of the places were which the author used throughout this book. This endeared the story to me instantly. The storyline itself isn't a simple one. The reader finds themselves dealing with not one case but several, all at the same time. These cases aren't connected at all, but in their own ways they make the overall story what it is - a great read which kept me guessing all the way through. The way the author weaves the various sorts of the story together, adding in a little bit of romance along the way, makes this is an extremely well written story.I have the author's other two books waiting to be read and I will most definitely be continuing with his books without delay. This is a great read for lovers of murder mystery and police procedural stories, albeit with a main character who is as far removed from a police officer as you can get. I have a feeling that the author is going to become a go-to for me.

After being involved in the blog tour for Delaney, And So It Began I wanted to read more of Owen Mullen’s work, so I went back to his debut novel featuring Private Investigator, Charlie Cameron.Mark and Jennifer Hamilton were enjoying at day at Ayr beach with their young daughter, Lily. Deciding on a last swim before they left was the worst decision Jennifer could have made. The water was cold, much more so than it had been earlier, and Jennifer found herself in a life threatening situation. Seeing Jennifer was in difficulties, Mark sat Lily in the pushchair before racing into the water after Jennifer. By the time Mark had pulled a limp Jennifer from the sea, Lily was gone.A few days later Mark Hamilton turns up at Charlie’s office, telling him he knows who took Lily and begs for his help to find the person. Against his better judgement and after trying to persuade Mark to go to the police, Charlie agrees to take the case. He understands Mark’s suffering.Charlie is a likeable, easy to relate to and multi-layered personality. He’s one of those characters that, no matter how good at his job, things have a habit of not going according to plan. As we see events from his perspective it’s obvious that something has happened in Charlie’s past which still haunts him. His friends warn him off this case but Charlie can’t help himself. He specialises in finding missing persons, although not usually involving children.The supporting characters are all well drawn, most of them flawed or dealing with personal issues but intriguing nevertheless. Witty interactions add a humorous edge to the narrative as the main theme of the story explores the possible consequences of deceit and infidelity, and living with the consequences.The initial enquiries open up a much wider investigation, with multiple plot lines which shift seamlessly. This in turn gives an insight into Charlie’s character, what drives him and what he’s searching for, even though he realises it’s more than likely pointless. Owen Mullen has delivered a well structured, solidly written debut novel based in Glasgow and the surrounding area, with descriptions which easily conjure up vivid images. Great ending of which I had no clue until the author brought it all together.

This is a long book which has been stretched out a great deal because the main character could not tell anyone about his own personal trauma which in retrospect was rather insignificant. There were a lot of characters, needlessly in my opinion as they did not contribute to the story in the slightest. The cherry on top, and the reason I could not give five stars was because neither the author nor the multitude of people who read it prior to publication, by the authors admission, knows the difference between pore and pour. When was the last time the word pore was ever used in speech anyway?