Title: Visions in the Dark
Author: Iain Morrison
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 978-1-5049-9255-8
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Action & Adventure
Pages: 272
Reviewed by: CC Thomas
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Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
In Visions in the Dark, Author Iain Morrison has written a witty procedural mystery that will remind readers of Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series. While that is a weighty comparison, Morrison’s work can take the scrutiny and not be left wanting. The main heroine is Elaine Black, a seasoned detective investigating a potential serial murder case after the discovery of headless corpses. Black has a lot of experience, but is paired with a new team which makes her work much harder than it needs to be.
Black must work cooperatively with other agencies because of the location of the bodies and because of the intensity of public pressure to solve the crimes. Agents from both sides resent the forced involvement and Black must walk minefields in order not to step on any toes and to ensure that everyone is giving the best effort at solving the crime. What makes this more difficult is the very obvious prejudice many of the men feel when confronted for the first time with a female authority, especially one so obviously intelligent and willful. Black handles it all with professional courtesy, but inwardly bites her tongue and questions her own ability to solve these crimes before another victim is lost. Her feminist struggle in a generally male-dominated career was enlightening, and heartening as most characters recognized their prejudices and worked to overcome these.
Black and her new teammates soon discover that the enemy might actually be one of their own. This heightens the tension between the squabbling members, but also makes them more determined to work together to solve the crime. When members within the agency become targets of further murders, the tension reaches a fever pitch of intensity. Every character is disturbed to discover the killer is one of their own and this alternately draws them together and pushes them farther apart.
Morrison has created a tight procedural mystery in Visions in the Dark. While that might seem like a strange compliment, those who love this type of thriller will understand those words. It isn’t every author who can tackle the scrutiny that involves, but Morrison is authoritative and knowledgeable of the lingo and procedures used and that is clear to the reader from the first page. It causes a trust and allows the read to get swept away into the action. However, it isn’t necessary to be a budding police detective to appreciate the book. Even new sleuths will have plenty to puzzle over and will soon fall in love with this sub-genre. The mystery, though, is one that can also handle those who will delve in with a magnifying glass like Sherlock Holmes and the story can stand up to those careful looks. Black, and others, don’t come across as stuffy detectives or static characters, so real enjoyment of the story can be had. Instead, the characters are fallible, grumpy, often wrong about assumptions, and frequently put their foot in their mouth. Overall, this makes them extremely likable and will have readers crossing their fingers and pulling their hair when working on the case in near misses, dropped clues, and arriving on the scene just moments too late. It’s a dastardly deed done with all the right steps by Morrison. If murder can be a treat, this one is from the first page to the last.
