22 Dead Little Bodies

A short novel from the No. 1 bestselling author of CLOSE TO THE BONE and A SONG FOR THE DYING, featuring his most popular characters, Acting DI Logan McRae and DCI Robert Steel.

CID isn’t what it used to be…

It’s a been a bad week for acting Detective Inspector Logan McRae. Every...Read more

A Song for the Dying, Stuart MacBride

Said it before, should say it again. Will read anything Stuart MacBride publishes... eventually. And yes I know they are extremely violent, dark, with a warped sense of humour and slightly mad edge. What, therefore, is not to love.

A SONG FOR THE DYING isn't, however, a Logan...Read more

The Missing and the Dead, Stuart MacBride

Sure Logan McRae's now an Acting Detective Inspector, in uniform. In the backend of nowhere, with a good team working with him, especially when you realise the number of cows they have to chase off roads. His girlfriend has improved a little, she's now in a care home, still uncommunicative...Read more

1979, Val McDermid

The first in the Allie Burns series, 1979 was released in 2021 with the second, 1989 out in October 2022. It was the arrival of the second book that made me realise I hadn't read the the first - and then I realised I'm behind with the Karen Pirie novels (now a TV series into the bargain),...Read more

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Broken Skin, Stuart MacBride

There's something immensely satisfying about reading a book that tackles some very tricky subject matter head-on, with enough of the gory details to illustrate rather than titivate and just the right level of gallows humour. BROKEN SKIN is the third book featuring DS Logan McRae and it's as...Read more

The 45% Hangover, Stuart MacBride

A perfectly formed piece of glorious over the topness featuring Logan McRae, DCI Steel and the recent Scottish independence referendum. Which of course isn't going to bode well. I mean it's part of the world that gave us Whisky. And people who drink whisky. When they are happy, sad, or...Read more

Dying Light, Stuart MacBride

DYING LIGHT is the follow-up book to the much talked about and acclaimed COLD GRANITE and it maintains the high standard that the first book in the series reached.

It is summer in Aberdeen, the sun is shining and it is not raining anywhere near as much as it does in winter....Read more

Cold Granite, Stuart MacBride

COLD GRANITE is one of those debut books that come along and slowly cause a stir of comment and discussion in crime fiction forums. So much commentary just makes you want to get that book that everyone is talking about, but at the same time you often wonder if there's a chance that it's all...Read more

In the Cold Dark Ground, Stuart MacBride

Writing a long term series has to create some issues for authors that probably some of we fans rarely consider. All we want is the next book. IN THE COLD DARK GROUND is the 10th in the Logan McRae series from Stuart MacBride, and I'm really sorry about this but I want the 11th pretty well...Read more

A Dark So Deadly, Stuart MacBride

The beauty of a standalone is the tantalizing possibility of it being a series starter.  A DARK SO DEADLY introduces an irresistible new cast of characters (that this reviewer absolutely wants to see again) with the ‘Misfit Mob’.  This ragtag collection of police officers is pure reading...Read more

Want You Gone, Christopher Brookmyre

Well this is a disappointment. Not the book, but the fact that this another audio journey through a series that's gotten to the end. Jack Parlabane, book number 8, WANT YOU GONE. Here's hoping there are more on the way because I do so love this series (having read them all / now listened to...Read more

Dark Flight, Lin Anderson

Ever read a book and thought, well I shouldn't really be liking this.  Worse than that, have you ever read a book and found yourself ticking the things that the author is doing that annoy you.  And yet you find yourself liking the book!  DARK FLIGHT did that for me.  Well liking is a...Read more

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A Dark So Deadly, Stuart MacBride

If the universe wants to be particularly nice to us, it will make sure that A DARK SO DEADLY is the start of a new series from Stuart MacBride. There are echoes here of his long running Logan McRae series, but it's delivered with a slightly straighter bat (you'd have to be dead set in front...Read more

Absolution, Caro Ramsay

ABSOLUTION is the first book from this Scottish author, with the second - Tambourine to be released 2008.  There's obviously something in the water in Scotland - or maybe it's all that time stuck indoors in the long cold winters, but the number of assured, confident books coming out of that...Read more

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Now We Are Dead, Stuart MacBride

When I read this back in January I posted a review. Or at least I thought I did. Imagine my surprise when I found it here in the draft queue. Whoops.

NOW WE ARE DEAD is a spinoff from the Logan McRae series featuring the glorious DS Roberta Steel. I say glorious in a "slightly...Read more

The Dead of Winter, Stuart MacBride

Have to admit it, THE DEAD OF WINTER jumped the queues. No apologies, it's by Stuart MacBride, I managed to get hold of it on audio and it is a time in my life where I need a Scottish accent and a bit of sweary mayhem for distraction.

Readers of other books by Stuart MacBride...Read more

Flesh House, Stuart MacBride

If you are teetering on the edge of fully-fledged vegetarianism FLESH HOUSE could be the trigger that pushes you over.  MacBride is one of those author's who seem to be able to take the grotesque, the frequently cruel and absolutely obscene and wrap that in humanity.  FLESH HOUSE is one of...Read more

Partners in Crime, Stuart MacBride

This is gathering together of two DI Steel short stories, one featuring DS Logan McRae (Stramash) and the other (DI Steel's Bad Heir Day) has her giving Constable Guthrie a day to remember.

DI Steel's Bad Heir Day is set around Christmas with her manically buying / wrapping...Read more

Sawbones, Stuart MacBride

Sawbones is a novella, set in the US, not part of MacBride's series books set in Aberdeen.  There are some similarities though - I harbour a fond belief that this author couldn't write out his shopping list without some sly, black humour involved.

There is plenty of humour in...Read more

A Darker Domain, Val McDermid

Val McDermid has tackled some social history that is obviously very dear to her own heart in A DARKER DOMAIN, and it has to be said, she's done it with considerable style.  Not only does this book give you a fascinating glimpse into the social chaos and personal pain caused by the Miner's...Read more

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Blind Eye, Stuart MacBride

DI Steele deserves her own fan club.  It would have to be a club where swearing, drinking, smoking and fiddling with your bra strap were perfectly acceptable behaviours of course.  You've also got a ready made slogan as fans of the wonderful Logan McRae series from Scottish author Stuart...Read more

Dark Blood, Stuart MacBride

The problem with an author making it onto my "Pre-Order IMMEDIATELY list" is that once the book arrives I have that dreaded "do I read immediately or hoard" dilemma.  It's easier with some of my all time favourite authors - there's a few, well not to put too fine a point on it, aren't as...Read more

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