Undiscovered Scotland

 

"Jack-in-the-Box" by Pat Black is a thoroughly enjoyable whodunit set in Glasgow. Or perhaps it's more of a "howdunit", as the question of how the killer is gaining entry to the homes of his or her victims, despite state-of-the-art security systems, is almost as compelling as discovering who is committing the crimes. And then there's the killer's signature, the way the bodies of the victims are forced into tiny spaces after death, a signature that has led the press to call these the Jack-in-the-Box killings.

Detective Inspector Lomond is an unusual fictional detective in one way: his home life is stable and supportive. Which is as well, because this seems to be an impossible case to crack, with pressure mounting as the contorted body of each new victim is discovered. The story is very character-driven and the interplay between DI Lomond and his colleagues is at the heart of the book, and at times provides light relief and a welcome distraction from the constant background presence of the killer. This is an entertaining read that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and lovers of puzzle-solving alike.

The publisher's description sums up the plot well: "Home can be the most dangerous place. They had cameras, alarms, lights, even guard dogs. They had storm doors and locks on their windows. They knew martial arts, they had knives to hand, and one of them even had a gun. And he still got in . . . A terrifying killer is haunting Glasgow’s affluent suburbs – invading homes and smothering people left on their own. The tabloids have a name for the murderer based on his method of folding the bodies into tiny spaces, as well as his uncanny knack of seemingly springing out of nowhere: Jack-in-the-Box. Inspector Lomond has an impossible case to crack. The houses involved have state-of-the-art security systems and were all securely locked at the time of death. There is no evidence of forced entry, and video footage shows no sign of any intruders. How is he getting in? How is he getting out? And who will be next?"