Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.
I struggle to get into Alex Gray's work so I thought I would take a leap and read his most recent offering. I enjoyed the character of Inspector Daniel Kohi of the Zimbabwean police force but I found he was too much of a 2nd row character - I wanted him to feature much more.
The story as a whole had the festive season, Netta a real find and phonetic Scottish accents (worth the effort to be read out loud !) and for me not much more.
Will I read another offering - I am not sure.

interesting and in parts page turning, however some parts were a little slow for me, good storyline but dragged out in some parts

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great storyline with excellent characters. I would highly recommend this book as it was a great read.

Another great addition to this exciting series.
It's gripping, entertaining and it kept me turning pages.
Great characters, a twisty plot, excellent storytelling.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The latest in the Detective Superintendent Lorimer series set in Glasgow.
Lorimer receives intel that there is going to be a terrorist attack on Christmas Eve.
Also he has a mole leaking information.
Daniel Kohl arrives from Zimbabwe where he was a policeman but a terrible tragedy has forced him to come to Glasgow as an asylum seeker .
On his way to his accommodation he see’s someone leaving Thomas Bryon solicitors with a bloody knife. Daniel tries to find out what has happened but eventually he gets in touch with Lorimer and Lorimer asks him to work unofficially for him to try and find out who the terrorists are.
They find a burnt body which points them to the solicitors firm and when somebody else ends up dead they must find the murderer.
Can they solve the murders and stop the terrorist attack .
Read and find out.
Great book
Thanks NetGalley

In Before the Storm, the eighteenth book in this series, it’s not long until Christmas, and a terrorist attack in the centre of Glasgow is believed to be imminent. Detective Superintendent William Lorimer is quietly investigating a suspected leak in his department. The identities of undercover officers were revealed in the press, and they had to be taken off the case for their own safety. One remains embedded in a firm of solicitors thought to be involved in money laundering that is funding the terrorists. But time is running out.
Daniel Kuhi, a refugee from Zimbabwe, arrives in Glasgow seeking asylum. On his way to his accommodation, he sees a man with a bloody knife lurking down an alleyway in the city centre, and his suspicions are aroused. Formerly a DI in his native country, he cannot ignore what he has seen and continues to investigate on his own. He comes into contact with Lorimer, who finds his information useful, and is asked to carry on working unofficially to help catch the terrorists.
It is refreshing to read a police procedural where the main character is stable and trustworthy, instead of troubled and tortured, with a drink problem and failed relationships behind them. Lorimer is fortunate in that his wife, Maggie, has a career of her own and understands the demands placed on him by his job.
Daniel Kuhi is a wonderful addition to the cast of characters as he is so well drawn. I loved his relationship with his new neighbour, Netta, and how they helped each other. The banter between them, as Daniel tries to understand her Glaswegian dialect, provides some light relief from the serious situation. Despite everything he has gone through, he is an honourable man, and hopefully this will not be the last we see of Detective Inspector Kuhi.
I have read and enjoyed all the books in this series, and they just keep getting better and better. The emphasis here is not just on the horribly violent crimes, but also the human stories behind them. Told from various points of view, with occasional sections from the mystery woman believed to be behind the terrorist threat, we get a rounded picture of what is going on as the tension mounts and the deadline approaches. However, the real star of this series is the setting – Alex Gray paints a recognisably vivid picture of the city that I know so well. I will now have to be patient as I wait to find out what Lorimer does next. Thanks to Sphere and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Another great story in this series. Lots of intrigue and mystery ,both sides of Glasgow portrayed. Can the mystery be solved in time?

Where have I been living and why have I never read anything by Alex Gray before? This is book 18 for heaven's sake!!! I must have been living under a rock and walking around with my eyes closed to have missed this series because if the previous 17 are anything close to being as good as this, I really have been missing out on a treat. I was a little concerned that coming into an already well established series wasn't a good idea but I needn't have worried as this worked really well as a standalone.

This is an excellent police procedural with a very up-to-date and relevant story line. It is not a white-knuckle, action packed story and it's not full of swearing, violence or gory details but it is written at a steady pace with a growing sense of tension and urgency which makes it a compulsive and riveting read.

The characters are so good and so well developed that I really felt I knew them. I read a lot of crime fiction and police procedurals and I have to say that it is refreshing for the main character not to be full of his own troubles or issues or who is in conflict with either his colleagues or his bosses. Daniel was an excellent addition and his relationship with his neighbour, Netta, was a joy to read ... I do hope that these 2 make an appearance in subsequent books.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and would very much recommend this to everyone and I must thank The Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased and unedited review.

Alex Gray is definitely on my watchlist now!

Its ages since I read a William Lorimer novel and I’d forgotten how warm and welcoming they are. This one especially, amid the murders and bombings is full of the warmth of human kindness and is all the better for it.

Sometimes it’s good to read a police procedural where the cop in question isn’t riddled with angst, hard drinking and hiding a deadly secret. Bill Lorimer is a senior policeman, happily married to Maggie and after an eventful career, is now heading up the Major Incident Team and idly musing on whether or not it is time to think about retiring.

First though, he has a serious problem to resolve. Someone has been leaking the identity of his undercover agents, placing them in jeopardy and forcing them into stepping back from that work.

Daniel Kohi used to be an Inspector in the Zimbabwean Police but has now fled Zimbabwe after the murder of his wife and child, following his refusal to join in corrupt activities. He is now a refugee, hoping to achieve settled status and eventually be allowed to work. He’s just arrived in Glasgow, knowing no-one but has at least been allocated a flat to stay in.

On his way to find his accommodation, he witnesses something suspicious in a lane just off Hope Street and his police instinct kicks in. He wants to know more, but first he must find his bearings and get to his accommodation.

As Lorimer seeks to discover who is the leak in his department he is also hearing from Acting Chief Constable David Mearns that there is covert intelligence about a possible terrorist attack in Glasgow and that makes finding the leaker even more pressing business. When the body of a murdered man, first stabbed and then burned, is discovered and it turns out he was an employee of a law firm which Lorimer has under observation and into which he has put an undercover agent, he knows he has to make this a high priority.

DS Sylvie Maxwell is the undercover agent at Thomas Bryson solicitors, put there because the firm is suspected of handling funds that are being channelled into terrorist activities. DI Graham Brownlee is the lead officer on the case of the murdered man and can’t understand why Lorimer is taking such an active interest in his case.

Meanwhile Daniel has found his new accommodation and though it’s a bit grim, to put it mildly, it has the benefit of being next door to the wee Glasgow wifie that is Netta. All patter and welcome, she has Daniel in and on his first cup of tea before he knows what’s happening.

Alex Gray’s novel takes us on a journey that encompasses the experience of refugees, loan sharking, terrorism and the extraordinary danger that police personnel are sometimes placed in when seeking to prevent atrocities. It’s an exciting mix that makes for thrilling reading.

Knowing that he has a clearly well-placed leak inside the higher echelons of Police Scotland, Lorimer takes an unorthodox route into making sure his enquiries are kept on the down-low and thus it is that once their paths have connected, both Daniel Kohi and the redoubtable Solly Brightman are drafted in by Lorimer to assist. It may not be strictly by the book, but Lorimer knows who he can trust and puts his faith in these men.

As a date is put on the most likely timing for a bombing, the pressure is on Lorimer to quickly gather the intelligence he needs and it is a tense and dramatic time which is only exacerbated by a vicious attack that strikes at the heart of Lorimer’s fears.

Alex Gray does an excellent job of portraying Daniel Kohi as an intelligent, likeable and perceptive policeman and it would be a real delight if her were to gain his settled status and find a role in future books. Daniel has clearly made a positive impact on Maggie and Netta, as he does on all the women he meets, and its time we had a bit of love interest around!

Verdict: A police procedural infused with great characters and a fine sense of place. It is an engaging read which, while it deals with some quite terrible subjects, nevertheless leaves the reader with an overwhelming sense of warmth and humanity. And goodness knows we all need some of that right now!

Before the Storm is the eighteenth instalment in the Detective Superintendent William ”Bill” Lorimer series, set in and around the city of Glasgow and surrounding areas. 30-year-old DSI Lorimer, who is the head of the Major Incident Team at Police Scotland, is investigating a spate of local murders when he gets wind of something much more in his wheelhouse. Intelligence reaches him from the Counter-Terrorism Unit that there is a substantial atrocity being planned and prepared for the city centre on Christmas Eve. But Bill has a big problem: there appears to be an as yet unidentified mole leaking vital police information to the press and media which means his 4 undercover officers, to be utilised in situations such as this, have had their identities revealed in the newspaper rendering them useless; this can only have come from within the force. It has led to two having to take on administrative work and a third quit, leaving the police understaffed. Now, to lessen the chance of another damaging leak, there is a closed circle of trusted people and intelligence is on a need-to-know basis only, limited to those who are working on the terrorism case, and superiors, as there are simply too many lives at stake to get it wrong. Lorimer certainly has his hands full. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Daniel Kohi, a Police Inspector in Zimbabwe, decides to leave for England after a terrible tragedy. His wife and son have been killed in an arson attack carried out because he refused to turn to corruption. His life in pieces he flees the country fearing for his safety knowing that they will try again to kill him, and as soon as he arrives in Glasgow as an asylum seeker he witnesses something both disturbing and suspicious on the very first night in his new hometown - a man with a bloody knife leaving Thomas Bryson solicitors down a back alley shortly before reentering. Due to his past occupation Kohi simply cannot leave it alone. Once a detective always a detective.

He begins to investigate this sighting himself even though he cannot strictly work, only volunteer for now until his asylum is granted. And then, a short time later, the body of a man is found in the vicinity and he just happened to have been stabbed and then burned. The victim had worked at the law firm. This brings Kohi into contact with Lorimer as they have both been working on the same murder case. It becomes apparent that DS Sylvie Maxwell had been working undercover at the solicitors due to suspicions that they are handling funds to be used to commit terrorist acts. DI Graham Brownlee is the lead on the case of the burnt body and Kohi and Lorimer's paths converge in a complex and suspenseful investigation as they know the disastrous impact and havoc they would wreak if the terrorist sleeper cells in the city were allowed to become active. The loss of life and the damage to infrastructure would be catastrophic. Can they find those planning mass murder, and the woman seemingly pulling all the strings, before Christmas Eve arrives, as well as solving the murders? This is a compulsive and enthralling addition to the series with all the action, twists, turns, drama and complexity you need to keep you engaged. The pages turn themselves as the police race against time to save lives and allow a safe Christmas to occur. Racing along we reacquaint ourselves with Bonny Scotland through some of the language and sardonic humour interspersed liberally throughout and of course Bill himself. He's a sympathetic, compassionate and principled guy through and through and it honestly makes a refreshing change from macho protagonists. The multiple plot strands work seamlessly together, and I found myself riveted by each one equally. I highly recommend this scintillating, intensely absorbing and thoroughly entertaining procedural to all crime fiction fans.

I’ve been reading lots of crime fiction during lockdown, finding that I need things to read that are distracting and fast-paced. I’d heard about Alex Gray’s Lorimer series of police procedural novels set in Glasgow, but hadn’t read any before, so decided to take the plunge with Number 18 in the series.

Due to the main character, Bill Lorimer, now being head of the Major Incident Team within Police Scotland (I assume he has been promoted at some point during the series), his role involves dealing with things at the highest level, so although there is a murder fairly early on in this story, Lorimer’s job isn’t directly to solve this. He’s busy trying to foil a suspected planned terrorist attack on the centre of Glasgow, as well as trace the source of recent press leaks of the identities of undercover officers, which has led to several officers having to take up desk duties and has underpowered the local police force. There are some interesting layers at work, with officers working on the murder case wondering why Lorimer is suddenly taking such an interest in their work.

Daniel, an ex-member of the Zimbabwean police, who has had to flee the country due to threats against his life, turns up in Glasgow seeking asylum, and immediately witnesses something suspicious. Unable to resist using his own policing skills to start investigating, he soon enters the orbit of Bill Lorimer and they discover that they’ve been working in parallel.

The character of Daniel brings a lot to this story. He’s a skilled police officer, but through his experiences we get a taste of the restrictions placed on asylum seekers, and he has to work in an unofficial, unrecognised way. He forges a heart-warming friendship with his elderly neighbour Netta, a salt-of-the-earth Glaswegian who despite being generous to the core is no stranger to social exclusion herself, poverty having led her into the path of loan sharks.

Before the Storm struck a good balance for me between crime solving action and human interest story. I’m not always in the mood for white-knuckle-ride twists or lots of gory detail, and Alex Gray’s writing seems to steer clear of these while still providing an absorbing plot and a cast of interesting characters. I just need to read through the other 17 books in the series now.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and Alex Gray for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first Alex Gray book I’ve read, and now she has me hooked.
If you haven’t read any of the other DSI William (Bill) Lorimer series, don’t worry - Before The Storm works perfectly well as a standalone.

Alex Gray’s fabulous attention to detail really allows you to visualise her characters. I was particularly fond of Netty and Daniel, and the heart-warming relationship they formed. The characters have great depth, and I was totally invested in their story.

The book wasn’t overly littered with characters either - allowing you to easily follow the plot, without having to digest too much information.

Overall, an excellent police procedural, with a gripping storyline and a few red herrings thrown in for good measure.

I will now be adding the other seventeen (!) to my TBR list.

I would highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a bit disconcerting to begin with. The story line starts in ZImbabwe rather than Glasgow. The action soon moves North and Lorimer is on high alert as there is a possible mole with Police Scotland who has released the names of undercover officers, compromising both the officers and their investigations.
Alongside this a body has just been found ruining his hope of a whole month without a murder.
The story gathers layers and speed and I found I was so engrossed in it, I completely missed something I was waiting for at home. I hope the new characters get to stay in future novels.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

It's been a while since I read an Alex Grey book and this is something I need to address. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the stories of William Lorimer. Always good to read a book set in your home towann but even better when some of the action takes place just down the road from you!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm off now to seek out some more Lorimer adventures!

The latest book from Alex Gray in the Detective Lorimer series, set in Glasgow and Paisley, is a very good read. I love the characters of Lorimer and his wife, Maggie. The introduction of Daniel, a refugee from Zimbabwe, is an excellent addition to the familiar character list. There is plenty tension and good dialogue in this riveting addition to Scottish crime fiction. One of my favourite series and a worthy 5*. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Another really enjoyable novel by Alex Gray which I was really looking forward to. As a fan of police procedurals I would definitely recommend.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of Before the Storm, the eighteenth novel set in Glasgow and its environs to feature Detective Superintendent William Lorimer.

Daniel Kohi, an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe, arrives in Glasgow and sees something suspicious. Meanwhile Lorimer is looking at an abnormally low murder rate, and is quietly pleased as it allows him to devote his time to more pressing matters, notably a potential attack in Glasgow and a leaker revealing the identity of undercover officers. Then the murders start and he co-opts Daniel for some”voluntary” work.

I thoroughly enjoyed Before the Storm, which is a tense read with a compulsive plot. It had me suspecting a good few characters as the mastermind behind the potential attack and while I might have been in the ballpark with my guesses I was more in the stands than on the field. The author does a great job of hiding the perpetrator’s identity while making the motive clear. With so much going on I was glued to the pages with my mind racing at all the permutations and possibilities. The novel is told from several points of view with Lorimer and Daniel as the main narrators, but the other voices give the reader depth and a broader perspective on events and a little insider knowledge the police don’t have. Be still my racing mind!

Daniel Kohi is the surprise bonus in this novel, whom I would love to see as a regular character. He illustrates the problems with seeking asylum, bureaucratic, financial and psychological stress with his story of coming to the UK. He is, however, a strong resourceful man with a well developed sense of justice and honesty. His friendship with the wee wifey next door, Netta, is a joy because she’s so authentic. I could give the novel 5 stars for that alone, but, as they say it’s all about location, so being set in my old stomping grounds of the South Side of Glasgow is even better.

Before the Storm is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Another excellent novel in the Lorimer series with a slight departure from the norm with refugee Daniel assisting Police Scotland with their investigations. As usual with this series the tension mounts and the reader is increasingly keen to discover if Loriner will be successful. I have read all the series and came with great expectations of the book. It did not disappoint.
Thank you for my advance cipy.

Daniel Kohi was once a Police Inspector in Zimbabwe. He was also a husband and father. Now he is a refugee living in Glasgow, Scotland, grieving the deaths of his wife and son who perished in a fire set by his enemies on the force. On his first night in Glasgow, he sees a man with a bloody knife step out of an office building then go back in. He’s intrigued and decides to investigate.

Detective Superintendant Bill Lorimer has a problem. He’s heard rumors about a terrorist plot aimed at the city and the identities of four of his undercover police have been revealed in the local newspaper. That means someone in his department is leaking information to the press. Then a body is found. A man was stabbed to death and burned. He worked at the law firm where Lorimer has placed an undercover agent.

Kohi and Lorimer are investigating the same case. A chance meeting brings them together and an exchange of information moves them closer to solving murder and ending terrorist attacks.

This is the first police procedural I have read by Alex Gray and it will not be my last. Before the Storm has depth in the setting, characters and plot. The opening scene, where Daniel tries to rescue his family, is so visual as is the apartment where he live and the refugee center. The characters are well described and nuanced. Although Daniel is wracked by grief, his intelligence and dignity shine. His neighbor, Netta Gordon, radiates kindness. This is a 5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and Alex Gray for this ARC.

Before the Storm is the 18th book in Alex Gray's extremely popular William Lorimer series.
Lorimer finds himself fighting against the clock to track down a group of terrorists that he's been tipped off are going to launch an attack in Glasgow. There are suspicions that there is a "mole" within Police Scotland exposing the identities of undercover police operatives involved in the investigation so only a small,select group of people are "in the loop".
Zimbabwean refugee Daniel Kohi witnesses something disturbing almost withing minutes of arriving in Glasgow while walking to his allocated accommodation and being a policeman before being forced out of his home country he decides he has to do something about it and fate brings him to Lorimer.
As usual in this series the book is an easy read with a decent plot and familiar characters ,regulars will love it. Some parts do stretch belief a tad but it's entertaining and works as a standalone for those who are new to the series.
Daniel Kohi ,and his neighbour Netta,are great new characters and there's plenty of scope for a new series,not least as Lorimer is close to retirement now.There are plenty of signs in this book that a couple of younger characters are also being introduced to carry on when Bill finally bows out and hints of Daniel's potential future.
A great read that's up to Alex Gray's usual high standards.