Denzil Meyrick Books in Order
Denzil Meyrick is a Scottish crime writer best known for his DCI Jim Daley novels. Set largely in the fictional west-coast town of Kinloch, the series blends police investigations with local history, dark humour and the distinctive atmosphere of rural Scotland.
For the best experience, read the books in publication order. The characters and their relationships develop across the series, so starting with the first novel helps you follow that progression.
DCI Jim Daley books in publication order
- Whisky from Small Glasses (2012)
- The Last Witness (2014)
- Dark Suits and Sad Songs (2015)
- The Rat Stone Serenade (2016)
- The Relentless Tide (2017)
- The Death of Eli Gold (2018)
- The Brotherhood (2019)
- The River (2020)
- The 13th Coffin (2021)
- The Death of Remembrance (2022)
- The Last Dance (2023)
- The Death of a King (2024)
Where to start
Begin with Whisky from Small Glasses, which introduces DCI Jim Daley and the world of Kinloch. The later novels can each be enjoyed as crime stories in their own right, but reading them in sequence gives the clearest sense of how Daley and the people around him change over time.
Are there other Denzil Meyrick books?
Meyrick is particularly associated with the Jim Daley series. If you are looking for his novels, the list above is the main sequence to follow. Publication dates can vary between editions and formats, so the titles are the most reliable guide when choosing your next book.
How to Read Denzil Meyrick’s Books in Order: A Guide from *Whisky from Small Glasses* to *The Relentless Tide*
- Start with *Whisky from Small Glasses* (Book 1).
- Read *A House of Lies* next (Book 2).
- Then pick up *The Rat Stone Serenade* (Book 3).
- Continue with *Dark Suits and Sad Songs* (Book 4).
- Read *The Last Witness* fifth.
- Follow with *The Relentless Tide* (Book 6).
Start with *Whisky from Small Glasses* (Book 1).
Start with Whisky from Small Glasses, the first book in Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Jim Daley series. It introduces Daley, his colleagues and the fictional Scottish town of Kinloch, setting the scene for the investigations and relationships that continue throughout the books. Reading it first makes it easier to follow the characters’ development as the series progresses.
Read *A House of Lies* next (Book 2).
A quick correction: in Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Jim Daley series, the second book is The Last Witness, following Whisky from Small Glasses. So, if you’re reading the series in order, choose The Last Witness next rather than A House of Lies.
Then pick up *The Rat Stone Serenade* (Book 3).
Next, pick up The Rat Stone Serenade, the third book in Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Jim Daley series. Reading it after the first two novels lets you follow the characters’ stories in sequence, while enjoying another atmospheric crime mystery set in the fictional Scottish town of Kinloch.
Continue with *Dark Suits and Sad Songs* (Book 4).
Continue with Dark Suits and Sad Songs, which follows DCI Jim Daley as he investigates another unsettling case in Kinloch. It is the third book in the series, after Whisky from Small Glasses and The Last Witness, so reading those first will help you follow the characters’ development.
Read *The Last Witness* fifth.
Although *The Last Witness* is sometimes listed as a later instalment, it is the second DCI Jim Daley novel, following *Whisky from Small Glasses*. For the intended reading order, read it second rather than fifth, so the series’ character development and references to earlier events make sense.
Follow with *The Relentless Tide* (Book 6).
Follow the series with The Relentless Tide, the sixth DCI Jim Daley novel. It continues the investigations and character storylines from the earlier books, so it’s best enjoyed after reading the first five in order.
