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Inspector McLean #4
Dead Men's Bones
The body of a prominent Scottish MP is discovered outside his home, a remote house in North East Fife. In a horrifying attack, Andrew Weatherly has killed his wife and two young daughters, before turning his gun on himself.
The question on everyone's lips is why would this successful and wealthy man commit such a gruesome crime?
Inspector Tony McLean is surprised to find himself at the centre of this high profile investigation. The deeper he digs, the more McLean realizes he is being used in a game between shadowy factions from the world of power and privilege.
Pressure is on to wrap up the case. That would go against everything McLean believes in . . . but to carry on will threaten the lives of his closest friends and colleagues.
The question on everyone's lips is why would this successful and wealthy man commit such a gruesome crime?
Inspector Tony McLean is surprised to find himself at the centre of this high profile investigation. The deeper he digs, the more McLean realizes he is being used in a game between shadowy factions from the world of power and privilege.
Pressure is on to wrap up the case. That would go against everything McLean believes in . . . but to carry on will threaten the lives of his closest friends and colleagues.
459 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
February 27, 2017
This is the fourth in the Inspector Tony McLean series set in Edinburgh. Tony is still recovering from what happened to him in the last book and he is to get no respite in this one. The body of a completely tattooed man is discovered in the river. Then there is the high profile case of the powerful SMP Andrew Weatherly who gruesomely shoots his wife, Morag, and murders his two young daughters prior to turning the gun on himself. All of which is captured on video. The thought that runs through your mind is what on earth triggered this ghastly set of events? Elements of the police and other influential figures want to shut down any investigation but there are those who want to see this pursued. However, there is a heavy cost to Tony and the police team, like DS Ritchie, for trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. Then there is the mysterious Mrs Saifre. The two cases turn out to have connections. The trademark supernatural angle to the series emerges only at the end. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
February 19, 2017
'Dead Men's Bones' is the 4th book in the Inspector Mclean series by author James Oswald. I obtained all 7 books in this series and started reading them with the intention to slot them in between the other books I have on my list to read. However having read the first one I wanted to learn more about the characters in this series and so it went on, I have now just started the 6th book with the likelihood that I will then go on to the 7th. I do enjoy these types of series and like all the sub plots, development of characters and the general familiarity of it all. I would highly recommend that these books are read in the order they were intended as there are many sub plots and happenings that may not make sense to a reader starting halfway through.
In this book influential politician Andrew Weatherly shoots his wife and two young daughters before he turned the gun on himself. The question is why a successful politician would suddenly snap with tragic circumstances. Inspector Tony McLean leads the case that threatens the lives of his friends and colleagues.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this book influential politician Andrew Weatherly shoots his wife and two young daughters before he turned the gun on himself. The question is why a successful politician would suddenly snap with tragic circumstances. Inspector Tony McLean leads the case that threatens the lives of his friends and colleagues.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2014
Great book until the ending. A superb plot line, with excellent characters and dialogue coming to an abrupt end with no answers to any of the questions posed in the book! Coupled with a very feeble insinuation that the villain is the devil and that the answers lie in the supernatural the ending feels like the author ran out of any good way to finish the story. Thought I had found a good author to read, but just like the tosh Dean Koontz writes everything is explained by the devil or dark forces at work which are ideas I would expect a child to be insulted by. I will return to Ian Rankin and good old Rebus for books written by a classy writer with endings that are logical, strong and which leave you satisfied and content when finishing the book. For anyone reading this book, the first 448 pages are very good, whereas the last ten are sadly, drivel.
February 25, 2015
I read this book as a ‘pick-it-for-me’ challenge, and I’m glad that was my reason for reading. Had I selected it by any other means, I likely would have given up on it a quarter of the way through. It’s not badly written; it just wasn’t my kind of thing. It is the first police procedural that I’ve read, and though I’ve watched them and loved them on TV, as a book I found that aspect of the story a little boring.
So, as I say, I’m glad I had a reason for not giving up on it, because this story gets better and better with every chapter. The characters grow and grow, the plot thickens and becomes more intriguing, and there’s some great use of language. Had the first quarter of the book gripped me as much as the last quarter it may have been a five, definitely a four and a half.
I’m now really looking forward to reading the next book in the McLean series.
Recommended.
So, as I say, I’m glad I had a reason for not giving up on it, because this story gets better and better with every chapter. The characters grow and grow, the plot thickens and becomes more intriguing, and there’s some great use of language. Had the first quarter of the book gripped me as much as the last quarter it may have been a five, definitely a four and a half.
I’m now really looking forward to reading the next book in the McLean series.
Recommended.
March 23, 2018
‘Of course Andrew had enemies. He was a politician, and one with views a lot of people thought extreme. He wasn’t a fan of independence, for one thing. Not shy of saying so, I think you’ll agree.’
In the depths of a Scottish winter, Inspector Tony McLean is assigned to the investigation of the deaths of a Member of the Scottish Parliament, Andrew Weatherly, caught on security camera at his home in Fife, drugging then smothering his daughters and shooting his wife, before turning the rifle on himself. McLean is surprised to find his one-time mentor, Detective Superintendent Tennant of the local police, is the Senior Investigating Officer, who observes with a keen Scottish wit that the case ‘…is way too important to leave to people who know what they are doing.’
As McLean’s team interviews staff and business associates to try and establish a motive for the killings a second case is under investigation, the death of a naked man covered in a full body tattoo, found wedged in the rocks of the River Esk. The PM is performed by Edinburgh pathologist Angus Cadwallader, who also handles the PM’s for the Weatherly’s. Most of the man’s tattoos are recent, but older one’s lead to the military…
Pressure is applied from on high for the Weatherly case to be wrapped up as quietly as possible and handed over to the Procurator Fiscal, in a cover up to avoid media speculation over Weatherly’s lifestyle and proclivities, but McLean receives visits and incriminating evidence from Special Branch, who want the investigation to continue. McLean attends the funeral for the family and the wake, meeting the mysterious Mrs. Saifre.
I found the first half of the book entertaining; the characters well-formed, police procedural and forensics fascinating, the rich wit and linguistic flourishes, comments on the recent restructuring from the old divisions to Police Scotland, the psychologist and physiotherapist attending to McLean’s injuries, the workers at soup kitchens for the homeless, Mrs. McCutcheon’s cat exercising its authority over the large house McLean inherited from his grandmother.
But then the story morphed into modern day gothic, with satanic influences, ritual killings and burials which was unexpected and for me, a tad disappointing.
In the depths of a Scottish winter, Inspector Tony McLean is assigned to the investigation of the deaths of a Member of the Scottish Parliament, Andrew Weatherly, caught on security camera at his home in Fife, drugging then smothering his daughters and shooting his wife, before turning the rifle on himself. McLean is surprised to find his one-time mentor, Detective Superintendent Tennant of the local police, is the Senior Investigating Officer, who observes with a keen Scottish wit that the case ‘…is way too important to leave to people who know what they are doing.’
As McLean’s team interviews staff and business associates to try and establish a motive for the killings a second case is under investigation, the death of a naked man covered in a full body tattoo, found wedged in the rocks of the River Esk. The PM is performed by Edinburgh pathologist Angus Cadwallader, who also handles the PM’s for the Weatherly’s. Most of the man’s tattoos are recent, but older one’s lead to the military…
Pressure is applied from on high for the Weatherly case to be wrapped up as quietly as possible and handed over to the Procurator Fiscal, in a cover up to avoid media speculation over Weatherly’s lifestyle and proclivities, but McLean receives visits and incriminating evidence from Special Branch, who want the investigation to continue. McLean attends the funeral for the family and the wake, meeting the mysterious Mrs. Saifre.
I found the first half of the book entertaining; the characters well-formed, police procedural and forensics fascinating, the rich wit and linguistic flourishes, comments on the recent restructuring from the old divisions to Police Scotland, the psychologist and physiotherapist attending to McLean’s injuries, the workers at soup kitchens for the homeless, Mrs. McCutcheon’s cat exercising its authority over the large house McLean inherited from his grandmother.
But then the story morphed into modern day gothic, with satanic influences, ritual killings and burials which was unexpected and for me, a tad disappointing.
July 30, 2017
Dead Men's Bones by James Oswald.
Meet Inspector Tony McLean. You may think he's just another Detective Inspector, but then his cases are far from average. This case(s) is one that only McLean could chase and solve with or without the normal conclusion. Then again you can't have everything.
This was the 4th book in the Inspector McLean series and my favorite. Guiding me(the reader) effortlessly through the passage of time as Tony conducts his investigation through two cases that become intertwined as the story evolves. How much is Tony willing to risk to unearth the truth that lies beneath the an old abandoned mental asylum? And will that risk take down his own team in the process?
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Meet Inspector Tony McLean. You may think he's just another Detective Inspector, but then his cases are far from average. This case(s) is one that only McLean could chase and solve with or without the normal conclusion. Then again you can't have everything.
This was the 4th book in the Inspector McLean series and my favorite. Guiding me(the reader) effortlessly through the passage of time as Tony conducts his investigation through two cases that become intertwined as the story evolves. How much is Tony willing to risk to unearth the truth that lies beneath the an old abandoned mental asylum? And will that risk take down his own team in the process?
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
August 23, 2016
Somewhere between a four and a five, probably the former is fairer - due to a bit of an annoying supernatural element in the denouement which felt slightly unsatisfying in the sense of not properly tying the story up.
James Oswald comes close to the heights of my favourite Scottish noir gritty crime thrillers (Stuart MacBride, Denise Mina, perchance Craig Russell and Craig Robertson too) in writing absorbing, realistic, complex and intelligent thrillers, with a great sense of atmosphere and a decent balance between action and description of the crimes being carried out and the police trying to solve them. The plot of this one is particularly clever, keeping me guessing and introducing a number of aspects for the reader to slowly work out and feel clever about - a mystery tattooed body found in a river, and a powerful Scottish politician involved in a murder suicide.
But yes, it ended up with a bit of a rushed and unusual conclusion. I was left a little miffed by this. It didn't spoil it all, forsure, but it was a bit "Oh.." at the end.
James Oswald comes close to the heights of my favourite Scottish noir gritty crime thrillers (Stuart MacBride, Denise Mina, perchance Craig Russell and Craig Robertson too) in writing absorbing, realistic, complex and intelligent thrillers, with a great sense of atmosphere and a decent balance between action and description of the crimes being carried out and the police trying to solve them. The plot of this one is particularly clever, keeping me guessing and introducing a number of aspects for the reader to slowly work out and feel clever about - a mystery tattooed body found in a river, and a powerful Scottish politician involved in a murder suicide.
But yes, it ended up with a bit of a rushed and unusual conclusion. I was left a little miffed by this. It didn't spoil it all, forsure, but it was a bit "Oh.." at the end.
August 6, 2014
I've been really enjoying these books, I quite like the supernatural twist on the detective stories and I really like Tony McClean. I didn't like the way this one ended. Great storyline, edge of you seat stuff just like the previous books but the ending was disappointing. I just felt that Oswald ran out of ideas, like he'd brought in the devil as a baddie but then thought...hang on a minute, how is Tony McLean going to beat the Devil?... We're supposed to believe that this truly evil, powerful and dangerous beast just walks away and leaves town after being turned down and told off? Maybe it won't be the last we see of Mrs Saifre but it just felt a bit rushed.
January 10, 2024
The body of a man who has recently been covered in tattoos is found in a river in Edinburgh. Soon after comes the news that a local MP has killed his family and himself, but motive is elusive. Inspector McLean's pursuit of both cases soon indicate a potential link between these, but there are dark forces involved including a business partner of the MP. Highly recommend this series.
August 3, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2023
I am “going against the grain” in saying I was underwhelmed by this book and its predecessors - which is a shame as finding a “new author” to enjoy is always gratifying.
There is an interesting plot here involving two separate murder cases. First a body is found in a local river with no apparent cause of death. Second a well connected politico murders his family and then takes his own life for no apparent reason. The two cases appear initially not be connected to each other - but we mystery readers know better, (which is fine).
Unfortunately the story then grinds to a halt as the investigations begin, proceed and disappointingly conclude. The reader sidetracked by repeated scenes in which we are privy to a Scottish winter - it’s cold and snowy; our hero’s recovery from a fractured leg with each and every ache and twinge of pain documented as well as his visits to the therapist - both physical and psychological - our hero hates both; in depth descriptions of a fellow officer’s battle with a mysterious illness - it’s nasty; and in case the reader doesn’t grasp our lead character’s tenacity to solve the case(s) - it is explained over and over. The irony here being that virtually all the clues are literally handed to him - actually “mysteriously” delivered to his home. And of course our hero has problems with his boss who just doesn’t understand the “complexities” of the cases - just the politics.
There is also a femme fatale whose involvement is murky at best - not sure if that is intentional or not.
The comparison to the Ian Rankin/John Rebus series - a favorite of mine - is superficial - Scottish police procedurals sums up the similarity. Otherwise while the Rebus books are lean and character driven - the McLean books are bloated and repetitive, populated with “stock/off the shelf” characters.
A generous two stars.
There is an interesting plot here involving two separate murder cases. First a body is found in a local river with no apparent cause of death. Second a well connected politico murders his family and then takes his own life for no apparent reason. The two cases appear initially not be connected to each other - but we mystery readers know better, (which is fine).
Unfortunately the story then grinds to a halt as the investigations begin, proceed and disappointingly conclude. The reader sidetracked by repeated scenes in which we are privy to a Scottish winter - it’s cold and snowy; our hero’s recovery from a fractured leg with each and every ache and twinge of pain documented as well as his visits to the therapist - both physical and psychological - our hero hates both; in depth descriptions of a fellow officer’s battle with a mysterious illness - it’s nasty; and in case the reader doesn’t grasp our lead character’s tenacity to solve the case(s) - it is explained over and over. The irony here being that virtually all the clues are literally handed to him - actually “mysteriously” delivered to his home. And of course our hero has problems with his boss who just doesn’t understand the “complexities” of the cases - just the politics.
There is also a femme fatale whose involvement is murky at best - not sure if that is intentional or not.
The comparison to the Ian Rankin/John Rebus series - a favorite of mine - is superficial - Scottish police procedurals sums up the similarity. Otherwise while the Rebus books are lean and character driven - the McLean books are bloated and repetitive, populated with “stock/off the shelf” characters.
A generous two stars.
February 21, 2018
I can think of three adjectives to describe this entire series...sometimes funny, frequently scary, and always otherworldly. It has quickly become one of my favorites. We follow Detective Inspector Tony McLean as he conducts his investigation through two cases that become intertwined. To solve both cases he must unearth the truth that lies beneath an old abandoned mental asylum thus putting his own team at risk in the process. This series will appeal to those that like a mystery with just a touch of the supernatural.
January 11, 2015
I did like this until close to the end. I can't really explain why without a spoiler.
So, I will say that amnesia, supernatural happenings and wild coincidence always strike me as a lazy way of getting out of a tricky situation. Without reading the rest of the books I can't really say if the author is using one or more as an slackers way to wrap up the story.
However , with some reservations I will probably read the previous three books, as I just picked this up and it is part of series and the elements that bugged might not be a theme.
I would say these need to be read in order because there is quite a lot of previous history mentioned, which I skimmed because it added nothing to the story overall.
So, I will say that amnesia, supernatural happenings and wild coincidence always strike me as a lazy way of getting out of a tricky situation. Without reading the rest of the books I can't really say if the author is using one or more as an slackers way to wrap up the story.
However , with some reservations I will probably read the previous three books, as I just picked this up and it is part of series and the elements that bugged might not be a theme.
I would say these need to be read in order because there is quite a lot of previous history mentioned, which I skimmed because it added nothing to the story overall.
September 1, 2017
I really like this series. After the fourth book, I've got all the characters down and I like how the author starts the books. This time there's a dead body covered in tattoos and a man who has killed himself - along with his family. But, there's always something supernatural in these books. And our main inspector Tony McLean seems to have a dark cloud hanging over him and at times anyone who comes into contact with him. Still not sure I like that supernatural aspect, but I'm ready for the next book!
November 27, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I am so happy that I have rediscovered this series. I read the first ones ages ago and then sort of lost track and now I have the rest of the series to go at. I really like the characters and I find McClean's home life as fascinating as his cases. Everyone is visible and well enough evolved to become real and the air of - well what shall I call it - magic? adds a very satisfying layer lifting the books out of the run of the mill police procedurals. I like a run of the mill police procedural in fact I write them but the little soupcon of otherworldliness reminds me of the days of my youth when I used to read Dennis Wheatley - can't cope with things like that now so this is spooky enough for me. Bones, and explosions and fire bobbies. Lots of good stuff. I have started the next one already.
May 11, 2024
Dead Men's Bones is book four in the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald. Inspector McLean and his team caught a case that he was surprised to be involved in that of the murder-suicide of a Scottish MP in a remote house in North East Fife. However, someone did not want Inspector McLean to continue investigating to learn the truth when his team started finding the answers. Will Inspector McLean continue to find the truth or close the case? The readers of Dead Men's Bones will continue following Inspector McLean's investigation to discover what happens. your
Dead Men's Bones is a fantastic book and an excellent addition to this series. I was engaged with it and continued to read it until the end. I love James Oswald's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Dead Men's Bones was well-written and researched. I like James Oswald's book description, which allowed me to imagine being part of the plot.
The readers of Dead Men's Bones will understand the damage that can happen to society when you care about yourself over others. They will also learn about problems law enforcement officers have if they are not in favour of law enforcement management.
I Recommend this book.
Dead Men's Bones is a fantastic book and an excellent addition to this series. I was engaged with it and continued to read it until the end. I love James Oswald's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Dead Men's Bones was well-written and researched. I like James Oswald's book description, which allowed me to imagine being part of the plot.
The readers of Dead Men's Bones will understand the damage that can happen to society when you care about yourself over others. They will also learn about problems law enforcement officers have if they are not in favour of law enforcement management.
I Recommend this book.
February 3, 2023
This started really well, but then we got even more of the supernatural stuff than in the previous books and nothing was really explained. It's such a shame as I really like the characters and would like to see them develop. I'll try the next in the series and see how it goes.
December 30, 2016
Dead Men's Bones is the fourth novel in James Oswald's phenomenal Inspector Mclean series set in Edinburgh.
But it is the first one I have read. i can safely say I will now be reading book 1,2 and 3.
I didn't feel like I couldn't follow things or follow the plot by not having read the previous books, but I enjoyed this one so much I want to read the others.
The book starts off with Detective Tony Mclean at the scene where the body of a naken man has been found by a local walking his dog.
Then there is a shooting at a farm house. It turns out that A MSP has killed his 2 children, his wife and then himself.
This is where Mclean begins his investigations into what has actually happened, he's told to do what he always does- dig deeper than is really necessary and complicate things- and that is exactly what he does.
It seems though that someone somewhere is trying to cover up, some want the case closed and forgotten about. Yet others want the truth out.
Can Mclean find out exactly what happened before any more bodies turn up. Or is is this just the beginning of what can only be a long journey to the truth.
Brilliantly written and thoroughly enjoyable. I enjoyed every part of this book.
Book Description.
A family lies slaughtered in an isolated house in North East Fife . . .
Morag Weatherly and her two young daughters have been shot by husband Andrew, an influential politician, before he turned the gun on himself.
But what would cause a rich, successful man to snap so suddenly?
For Inspector Tony McLean, this apparently simple but high-profile case leads him into a world of power and privilege. And the deeper he digs, the more he realises he's being manipulated by shadowy factions.
Under pressure to wrap up the case, McLean instead seeks to uncover layers of truth - putting the lives of everyone he cares about at risk . . .
But it is the first one I have read. i can safely say I will now be reading book 1,2 and 3.
I didn't feel like I couldn't follow things or follow the plot by not having read the previous books, but I enjoyed this one so much I want to read the others.
The book starts off with Detective Tony Mclean at the scene where the body of a naken man has been found by a local walking his dog.
Then there is a shooting at a farm house. It turns out that A MSP has killed his 2 children, his wife and then himself.
This is where Mclean begins his investigations into what has actually happened, he's told to do what he always does- dig deeper than is really necessary and complicate things- and that is exactly what he does.
It seems though that someone somewhere is trying to cover up, some want the case closed and forgotten about. Yet others want the truth out.
Can Mclean find out exactly what happened before any more bodies turn up. Or is is this just the beginning of what can only be a long journey to the truth.
Brilliantly written and thoroughly enjoyable. I enjoyed every part of this book.
Book Description.
A family lies slaughtered in an isolated house in North East Fife . . .
Morag Weatherly and her two young daughters have been shot by husband Andrew, an influential politician, before he turned the gun on himself.
But what would cause a rich, successful man to snap so suddenly?
For Inspector Tony McLean, this apparently simple but high-profile case leads him into a world of power and privilege. And the deeper he digs, the more he realises he's being manipulated by shadowy factions.
Under pressure to wrap up the case, McLean instead seeks to uncover layers of truth - putting the lives of everyone he cares about at risk . . .
February 28, 2016
Obwohl ich mit den Mystery Elementen dieser Reihe nichts anfangen kann, lese ich trotzdem jeden neuen Band, der auf Deutsch erscheint.
Das Team, das hier permanent zt übersinnliche Belastungen zu bestehen hat *noch ein Aspekt, den ich in Krimis eigentlich nicht sonderlich schätze) ist mir ans Leserherz gewachsen. ..
Das Team, das hier permanent zt übersinnliche Belastungen zu bestehen hat *noch ein Aspekt, den ich in Krimis eigentlich nicht sonderlich schätze) ist mir ans Leserherz gewachsen. ..
August 21, 2014
Once more an excellent book by James Oswald. Can't wait for the next instalment.
April 11, 2015
Rubbish, dont waste your time!
February 1, 2017
I normally like Oswald's Inspector McClean novels quite a bit, but the supernatural elements of this one just didn't work for me. It seemed like a lazy way to deal with the issues and the ending.
April 10, 2017
What is it about Tony McLean and these crimes he has to solve that simply drag me in a way that I find it impossible to stop before I've turned the last page and read the last words? These books are so engaging and intriguing and I want more!
The blurb might make you think that this book is only about a politician's dead body (and those of his family's), but it's actually about a lot more. There's more than meets the eye at first glance and all of it has been written in a way that I find un-putdownable. Where on Earth is that 5th book now?
Although all that much doesn't happen in Tony's personal life in this book, the reader still gets small glimpses into his past and unfortunately for this particular reader right here, the reader is left wanting more of Emma. You know, the love interest in the previous three books who is quite rarely mentioned in this book, let alone seen? I do hope that I will see more of her in the next book.
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The blurb might make you think that this book is only about a politician's dead body (and those of his family's), but it's actually about a lot more. There's more than meets the eye at first glance and all of it has been written in a way that I find un-putdownable. Where on Earth is that 5th book now?
Although all that much doesn't happen in Tony's personal life in this book, the reader still gets small glimpses into his past and unfortunately for this particular reader right here, the reader is left wanting more of Emma. You know, the love interest in the previous three books who is quite rarely mentioned in this book, let alone seen? I do hope that I will see more of her in the next book.
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April 9, 2019
I read the first two books in the series awhile ago and put it down; recently, I started up again and have really enjoyed the storylines and characters. Inspector Tony McLean is a good man and, despite the mutterings of his supervisor, Detective Superintendent Duguid, a good detective as well. Tony is tenacious and has a reputation for unearthing evidence instead of sweeping it under the carpet and tying up cases neatly but prematurely. I love his squad, from weathered, older Grumpy Bob to DC MacBride, tech-savvy and perpetually red about the ears, to DC Gregg, the enthusiastic newest member. McLean is protective and supportive of all of them, particularly DS Ritchie, who suffers a lot physically and emotionally in this series entry.
Oswald does a terrific job of melding the police procedural elements with the supernatural elements in his books; as McLean thinks when he's summarizing the case, "At least that was the irrational explanation; a rational one was still a work in progress" (337). There's always a sense of menace and evil in retreat from the forces of good, but lurking just beyond the fringes with the possibility of return if McLean's team isn't vigilant. I'm not usually crazy about introducing the supernatural into a police procedural, but this is one of a very few series where it's done exceptionally well. Looking forward to the next book (I'm way behind)!
Oswald does a terrific job of melding the police procedural elements with the supernatural elements in his books; as McLean thinks when he's summarizing the case, "At least that was the irrational explanation; a rational one was still a work in progress" (337). There's always a sense of menace and evil in retreat from the forces of good, but lurking just beyond the fringes with the possibility of return if McLean's team isn't vigilant. I'm not usually crazy about introducing the supernatural into a police procedural, but this is one of a very few series where it's done exceptionally well. Looking forward to the next book (I'm way behind)!
February 25, 2019
This is another interesting reads. It does not end very satisfactory in my mind. There are lots of what might be "magical realism" in here as envelopes appear from "higher ups" visits from strangers in the night. The chief villain is a women with "super seductive evil powers". The bodies that are found are multilated in the mouth. The dead are supposed to have been sacrificed for more than a hundred years but never know to whom they were sacrificed and not sure who was doing the sacrificing. This is the fourth and if you have read the first there were changes in things happened the other two that are not explained in this one.
March 19, 2017
I was lucky enough to receive all 7 books currently available in the series and I'm so very happy about that! It's become one of my favourite series and I am so invested in these characters now!!
This series is well written, funny and a little gruesome at times but always well within the story and the character development is wonderful.
My original plan was to marathon the entire series, an idea I had after reading the first one but I ultimately decided on trying to break it up to make it last longer, it didn't work out that way though and now I'm sad that I've read them all and have to wait for the next book in the series :(
I like to go into the books not knowing too much about the plot and then take lots of notes than all end up being spoilery so I'm happy to leave you with the info I've given plus to say again, I bloody LOVE this series!!
*Huge thanks to James Oswald, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
This series is well written, funny and a little gruesome at times but always well within the story and the character development is wonderful.
My original plan was to marathon the entire series, an idea I had after reading the first one but I ultimately decided on trying to break it up to make it last longer, it didn't work out that way though and now I'm sad that I've read them all and have to wait for the next book in the series :(
I like to go into the books not knowing too much about the plot and then take lots of notes than all end up being spoilery so I'm happy to leave you with the info I've given plus to say again, I bloody LOVE this series!!
*Huge thanks to James Oswald, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
September 21, 2017
Another Great Novel from James Oswald
November 17, 2018
Wish I had started with book 1. Me. Oswald does a superb job in setting up a series of crimes and builds suspense and Detective McLean unravels it bit by bit. This is a series hat you need to read in order.
February 17, 2015
Plain-clothes Inspector Tony McLean is assigned two seemingly unrelated murder cases: A tattooed man found in a river and the death of a Scottish politician. Of course, the cases soon become related...
This was a loaner from a neighbour, and it reminded me why I never got into police-procedurals that much. The cookie-cutter plots are always like this:
1) Grizzled Cop(tm) has seen too many things, and has a lot of personal baggage
2) Said Grizzled Cop(tm) is always breaking the rules, but always comes out with a result
3) Senior officers despise / don't respect Grizzled Cop(tm), but let him have free reign anyway
4) Grizzled Cop(tm) has a loyal, small band of friends who support him all the way; everyone else is an enemy or an obstacle.
That's about it. Authors can write story after story based on those attributes and laugh all the way to the bank. (Although, to be fair, Isaac Asimov made a career out of the Three Laws of Robotics...)
The writing was good, the characters everything you expected them to be and the locations nicely described. It's like a comfy pair of slippers; you know exactly where you left them, and where they'll be when you get home. No custard in the toe or nails in the heel. It wasn't that hard to figure out where it was all going.
What made this one more bearable happened about three-quarters of the way through, when the story took a screaming supernatural left turn. It should have bounced me out of the story, but that's when it broke the cookie-cutter mould and started to fly.
It was subtly amusing the way the author played the...occurences...in logical terms, allowing the supernatural elements to be all subtextual.
This was a loaner from a neighbour, and it reminded me why I never got into police-procedurals that much. The cookie-cutter plots are always like this:
1) Grizzled Cop(tm) has seen too many things, and has a lot of personal baggage
2) Said Grizzled Cop(tm) is always breaking the rules, but always comes out with a result
3) Senior officers despise / don't respect Grizzled Cop(tm), but let him have free reign anyway
4) Grizzled Cop(tm) has a loyal, small band of friends who support him all the way; everyone else is an enemy or an obstacle.
That's about it. Authors can write story after story based on those attributes and laugh all the way to the bank. (Although, to be fair, Isaac Asimov made a career out of the Three Laws of Robotics...)
The writing was good, the characters everything you expected them to be and the locations nicely described. It's like a comfy pair of slippers; you know exactly where you left them, and where they'll be when you get home. No custard in the toe or nails in the heel. It wasn't that hard to figure out where it was all going.
What made this one more bearable happened about three-quarters of the way through, when the story took a screaming supernatural left turn. It should have bounced me out of the story, but that's when it broke the cookie-cutter mould and started to fly.
It was subtly amusing the way the author played the...occurences...in logical terms, allowing the supernatural elements to be all subtextual.
October 21, 2017
Hooray! Mrs. McCutcheon's cat is fine!!! The previous book left us hanging as to the condition of the cat following a vicious attack. Thankfully, all is well, so I was able to concentrate on the latest trouble to descend upon Tony. As his Sergeant Ritchie says, it starts to get weird very quickly after they begin their investigation of the tattooed man and the Weatherly case. The body of the man washes up in the river. He had been tattooed over his whole body in the recent past but had managed to escape his captors and in his running had run right off a cliff into the water. Not obviously related to the Weatherly case, but as we know from Oswald's previous books, everything is related! Andrew Weatherly murdered his wife and daughters, then turned the gun on himself. What was it that made this man who had everything commit such a horrific crime? As always, Oswald keeps us totally involved with the story, not wanting to put the book down for a minute. Such wonderful character development and exciting story lines! Can't wait to read the next one!
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