Fiction
Reviews
A Para Handy-style tale celebrating the bygone boats and banter of [Campbeltown’s] busy fishing port ... Brimming with bonhomie, bristling with banter and laced with a healthy dose of fantasy – Denzil believes it has universal appeal and could be a beacon of light to pierce the pandemic-induced gloom
Sunday Post
It sings with the evocation of time, place and people, and the humour and truth behind fishermen’s tall tales
Scotsman
Meyrick's novella is a break with crime and bulges with satire - It's Para Handy on a hallucinogenic trip
Stuart Cosgrove
I hold my hands up and say DCI Daley is the only crime series I wait eagerly for, so when I heard Denzil Meyrick had written a novella I jumped for joy, and I was 100% rewarded. This is laugh out loud funny, atmospheric ( I had to hide my chips from the Seagulls at one point I was so convinced I was in Kinloch) and utterly charming. I shall give a copy to all my friends and family. We all need a bit of cheer at the moment. MUST READ
Waterstones Bookseller
A compelling, adventurous, and somewhat quirky tale of the sea ... There are some mystical touches of otherworldliness to be discovered along the way that really appealed to me, as did Sandy and the lobster! Amusing and entertaining, A Large Measure of Snow would make a perfect stocking filler for all the Denzil Meyrick fans out there
LoveReading.co.uk
A brilliant atmospheric book
UK Crime Book Club
I will give a copy of this pure & utter joy to all my friends & family. Feel good & laugh out loud doesn’t begin to describe this little novella
Waterstones Horsham
The perfect winter antidote
The Oban Times
A ghostly adventure
Scots Magazine
May stir up memories for those who lived through the blizzards of the 40s, 60s, and 2013, which saw Kintyre cut off from the rest of the country
Campbeltown Courier
Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Daley series covers the named detective in the fictional town of Kinloch…The novels are suitably dark and unfold slowly
CityWire - Wealth Management Magazine
A really lovely short novel by Denzil Meyrick. It’s also quite unlike anything we’ve read from him before. The setting remains familiar but this isn’t a crime novel and neither is it contemporary. We found ourselves thinking of Para Handy’s exploits as we followed the various misadventures of a hallucinating skipper, an accident-prone mate and a seasick reporter. A fine and enjoyable winter’s tale
Undiscovered Scotland
Scottish writers already have an admirable international reputation ... The Kintyre-set stories of crime-writer Denzil Meyrick have a substantial following in America where his books are successful both traditionally and in e-book form
The National
Brimming with humour and a delight to read from start to finish. For such a short novel, there’s barrels of laughs to enjoy. It’s hard to find criticism with this book. Look no further for a delightful read
Dundee Courier, Scottish Book of the Week
About the Book
It's December 1967, and the town of Kinloch is cut off by heavy snow. With all roads closed, the only way to feed and water the townsfolk is for the fishing fleet to sail to Girvan for much needed supplies.
But the skipper of the Girl Maggie, Sandy Hoynes, has a problem. First mate Hamish has, to everyone's astonishment, been chosen as Young Fisherman of the Year by a Glasgow newspaper. Marooned in the town and with one eye on a scoop, their reporter decides to join the fishing crew on their mercy mission. The thought of the publicity - and some remuneration - delights Hoynes. But Hamish hasn't told him the whole story.
As the blizzards worsen, the crew of the Girl Maggie embark upon a trip like no other, encountering ghostly Vikings, gigantic crustaceans and a helpful seagull.
The Author
Denzil Meyrick
After studying politics, Denzil Meyrick worked as a police officer, distillery manager, freelance journalist, and company director. He was one of the UK's bestselling crime novelists, originally from Campbeltown in Argyll, and author of the bestselling D.C.I. Daley series. He passed away in February 2025 at the age of 59.
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