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Thomas Hutton #1
The Unburied Dead
THE UNBURIED DEAD, a stark and edgy new police thriller from the creator of the Barney Thomson series.
A psychopath walks the streets of Glasgow, selecting his first victim. He sees his ex-girlfriend everywhere, and he will have her back.
When a woman is savagely murdered, her body stabbed over a hundred times, the police know from the nature of the crime that the killer will strike again. DCI Bloonsbury, the once-feted detective, is put in charge of the investigation, but as the killer begins to hit much closer to home and an old police conspiracy starts to unravel, Bloonsbury slides further into morose alcoholic depression.
In the middle of it all is Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton, juggling divorce, deception, alcohol, murdered colleagues, and Dylan. He could use a break but the dead will not rest and the past will not be buried until he can catch the latest serial killer to haunt the streets of his city.
A psychopath walks the streets of Glasgow, selecting his first victim. He sees his ex-girlfriend everywhere, and he will have her back.
When a woman is savagely murdered, her body stabbed over a hundred times, the police know from the nature of the crime that the killer will strike again. DCI Bloonsbury, the once-feted detective, is put in charge of the investigation, but as the killer begins to hit much closer to home and an old police conspiracy starts to unravel, Bloonsbury slides further into morose alcoholic depression.
In the middle of it all is Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton, juggling divorce, deception, alcohol, murdered colleagues, and Dylan. He could use a break but the dead will not rest and the past will not be buried until he can catch the latest serial killer to haunt the streets of his city.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 12, 2012
You know, there's a lot of Scottish detectives hanging around the fictional police stations up and down the land; hungover, bad diet, too many fags, rubbish with women...do we really need another one? Is there anything new to be said?
Well, hot diggity-dawg, Douglas Lindsay has just gone and scored a bullseye with his first dart in The Unburied Dead, the first in a series (and he'd better have the next one nearly ready or I'm going to find him and hit him) about Detective Sergeant Hutton, a hungover, unhealthy Lothario who smokes too many fags. What? Didn't I just say that there's already too many of these dandruff shouldered guys stacked to the ceiling in every Oxfam shop in the country? I know...but please, The Unburied Dead is the business!
The plot goes a bit like this; there's a killer on the loose and the polis have to find him. Right, that's that out the way (it is a really good plot though). You know, it's a crime book so there has to be a crime, but honestly, the brilliant and totally entertaining aspect of this novel is the characters, their shenanigans and their humour. Lindsay is funny (it may only be me that thinks that but never mind) and he writes about real folk like you and me who are just as confused, jealous, broken, greedy and damaged as we are. We have met these people; they are the folk who have learnt to laugh at themself because the alternative in the grim light of a Monday morning isn't worth considering.
If you are confused about life, wonder how you've ended up where you are, if you are disappointed but can still laugh, then you'll love this book. There's also sex, blood and violence so maybe you'll just like that if you're a bit shallow.
Now here's a thing. Most Scottish detectives that I've previously read about hang around the big grim cities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow and it's what we expect. But, knock me down with a Loch Fyne kipper, Lindsay sends his Bob Dylan loving Detective Sergeant up the dark winding roads into Brigadoon...oops, sorry, Argyll; up to Arrochar and then the monster climb over the Rest and Be Thankful to the Riviera of Dunoon! My goodness, that takes a brave writer and Lindsay didn't flinch even though it was snowing hard and there wasn't a fish and chip shop open all the way to Dunoon where thankfully his detectives finally get their chips.
Well, hot diggity-dawg, Douglas Lindsay has just gone and scored a bullseye with his first dart in The Unburied Dead, the first in a series (and he'd better have the next one nearly ready or I'm going to find him and hit him) about Detective Sergeant Hutton, a hungover, unhealthy Lothario who smokes too many fags. What? Didn't I just say that there's already too many of these dandruff shouldered guys stacked to the ceiling in every Oxfam shop in the country? I know...but please, The Unburied Dead is the business!
The plot goes a bit like this; there's a killer on the loose and the polis have to find him. Right, that's that out the way (it is a really good plot though). You know, it's a crime book so there has to be a crime, but honestly, the brilliant and totally entertaining aspect of this novel is the characters, their shenanigans and their humour. Lindsay is funny (it may only be me that thinks that but never mind) and he writes about real folk like you and me who are just as confused, jealous, broken, greedy and damaged as we are. We have met these people; they are the folk who have learnt to laugh at themself because the alternative in the grim light of a Monday morning isn't worth considering.
If you are confused about life, wonder how you've ended up where you are, if you are disappointed but can still laugh, then you'll love this book. There's also sex, blood and violence so maybe you'll just like that if you're a bit shallow.
Now here's a thing. Most Scottish detectives that I've previously read about hang around the big grim cities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow and it's what we expect. But, knock me down with a Loch Fyne kipper, Lindsay sends his Bob Dylan loving Detective Sergeant up the dark winding roads into Brigadoon...oops, sorry, Argyll; up to Arrochar and then the monster climb over the Rest and Be Thankful to the Riviera of Dunoon! My goodness, that takes a brave writer and Lindsay didn't flinch even though it was snowing hard and there wasn't a fish and chip shop open all the way to Dunoon where thankfully his detectives finally get their chips.
April 5, 2024
First of a series and found out this series is not one for me. I might even say it was the weirdest police procedural I have yet to try. Many reviewers raved about it, so I tried it.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
February 2, 2021
Having served with the former Strathclyde Police Force, I found this story to be, quite frankly, insulting to the many officers, of all ranks, alongside whom I served. Most of the characters in this book (that I ended up 'skimming') would not have lasted ten minutes in any Division in which I served!
I shall not be purchasing any others in this series!
I shall not be purchasing any others in this series!
October 23, 2013
There is a little Jack Taylor to Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton – I envision Hutton as a younger model of Bruen's drunken PI; more committed, hardworking, and incorruptible in his earlier years of service before the misfortune sets in. Combine the core character with a backdrop and support cast which has a likeness to an Ed McBain 87th precinct novel and you’ve got a rip snorter of a novel. The supporting cast including the lustful Miller and honest cop Taylor will leave you wanting more. Each of the individuals is crafted so finely they feel real. Coupled with the ever present dry humour typical of a Douglas Lindsay novel and healthy mix of core and sub plot elements, this is sure please any fan of crime fiction.
Central to proceedings is a serial killer whose deranged habit leads him to murder his ex time and time again. Only, his ex, Jo, is alive and well and the poor unfortunate souls just happen to be look-alikes. Enter Glasgow’s finest, well funniest, at least in Hutton and co to solve the crime and put the rather uninformed/non-caring public at rest. What makes, ‘The Unburied Dead’ so good, is that it’s loaded with a pulpy whodunit theme while tying in core elements to a traditional police procedural without the repetitive suspect interview after suspect interview. Douglas also does a great job at highlighting the public service red tape and extremes the force go to in order to maintain a public perception of progress.
The real highlight for me, story aside, is the development (both professional and personal) of the protagonist, Hutton, with each aspect of his life proving equally fascinating and exhilarating to read. From his drunken attempts at scoring with younger female co-workers to discovering dirty cops and hunting down a killer – great stuff.
I’m yet to decide who I like more – Barney Thomson or Thomas Hutton. Both being equally entertaining and a pure joy to read. Douglas Lindsay is an exceptional writer and this latest addition reaffirms that. 5 stars.
Central to proceedings is a serial killer whose deranged habit leads him to murder his ex time and time again. Only, his ex, Jo, is alive and well and the poor unfortunate souls just happen to be look-alikes. Enter Glasgow’s finest, well funniest, at least in Hutton and co to solve the crime and put the rather uninformed/non-caring public at rest. What makes, ‘The Unburied Dead’ so good, is that it’s loaded with a pulpy whodunit theme while tying in core elements to a traditional police procedural without the repetitive suspect interview after suspect interview. Douglas also does a great job at highlighting the public service red tape and extremes the force go to in order to maintain a public perception of progress.
The real highlight for me, story aside, is the development (both professional and personal) of the protagonist, Hutton, with each aspect of his life proving equally fascinating and exhilarating to read. From his drunken attempts at scoring with younger female co-workers to discovering dirty cops and hunting down a killer – great stuff.
I’m yet to decide who I like more – Barney Thomson or Thomas Hutton. Both being equally entertaining and a pure joy to read. Douglas Lindsay is an exceptional writer and this latest addition reaffirms that. 5 stars.
November 3, 2024
Synopsis- A killer selects his victims.
A city lives in fear.
The police fall into chaos.
A woman is savagely murdered, her body stabbed over a hundred times, and the police recognise that the perpetrator will likely strike again. DCI Bloonsbury, the once-feted detective, is put in charge of the investigation, but when an officer is slain, and an old police conspiracy begins to unravel, Bloonsbury slides further into morose, intoxicated depression.
And here, somewhere in the midst of the horror, is Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton, lost in a sea of love, lust, deception, alcohol, and murdered colleagues. But the dead will not rest, the past will not be buried, and DS Hutton must find his way, as the killer kills, and kills again…
Review- This is the worst book I've read so far in 2022. I don't really even know where to start with how shite it is. The cops are all fools. Not a one of them can tell their arse from a hole in the ground. They are quite honestly the dumbest group of people you'll ever read about. I think the author might even hate the police, and this is why he has portrayed them so poorly. They work off of poor reasoning and zero procedure. I think authors should take liberties when it comes to the actual mundane hard graft of police work; it would be a bit boring otherwise. The suspect interviews and the actual crime solving is never as dramatic as TV or books make out. However, this lacks credulity. I'm not sure Douglas Lindsay has ever seen any police documentaries/programs. Much less spoken to a living detective. The leaps these officers make or the sensible things they fail to do boggle the mind. It might be because the only things any of the officers seem to do or think about is hsving sex and drinking, oh, and pointless "Thistle" references.
Par exemple, there's this whole bit when a female police officer is murdered. There's evidence of her having sex. But there is no semen and there were small bite marks and small bruises on her, which therefore could only mean she had lesbian sex. I guess that's not a wild assumption. BUT what is is the assumption that she got it on with the chief super simply because that was the last place she was before she was murdered. Our protagonist, DS Hutton, who spends the entire book whinging about some crazy person in the Balkans or something, the two women he's having sex with and "Thistle," uses his police brain to deduce that the officer had sex with her female superintendent because he saw her car at the woman's house. He keeps it up for hours and entertains no other alternatives. Like could the girl not have had sex that morning before she came to wor? Or maybe shr had sex after work but before she went to the super's. Or maybe she used a vibrator on herself and the bruises and bites are from a man from the night before. I mean there are so many possibilities, but they go straight to lesbian, which is convenient because it casts shade onto the super. Then there's the end. Two police officers get a "gut feeling" and break into the super's house. They find her okay. But they are attacked by another officer who'd been hiding in the house. Hutton manages to subdue the attacker, sort of knocking him out or winding him for a bit. But no one, not the superintendent, the Sergeant or DS Hutton think to handcuff the assailant who they all know is a multiple murderer. He killed 4 other officers! Why would cops just leave him there to possibly try to hurt them again or get away? It made no sense except that it allowed for Hutton to save the damsel, when the assailant attempts to kill her again. It was so stupid. Cops love putting folks in handcuffs even when you've not actually committed a crime. So for them to just let this dude lie there free as can be for any length of time seemed moronic.
But moronic was the whole book. The author indulged in sharing his asinine opinions on the state of the world, youth, sex, technology and football(go Thistle!), none of which was interesting or beneficial to the story. It sucked. There's nothing good here. Read Tana French, Ian Rankin or John Connolly.
Rating - One for the number of brain cells he made his cops share star. ⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Devoured the book, couldn't put it down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really liked it, consumed within days
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyed a fair bit, better than average
⭐⭐ - Meh
⭐ - Absolute drivel
A city lives in fear.
The police fall into chaos.
A woman is savagely murdered, her body stabbed over a hundred times, and the police recognise that the perpetrator will likely strike again. DCI Bloonsbury, the once-feted detective, is put in charge of the investigation, but when an officer is slain, and an old police conspiracy begins to unravel, Bloonsbury slides further into morose, intoxicated depression.
And here, somewhere in the midst of the horror, is Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton, lost in a sea of love, lust, deception, alcohol, and murdered colleagues. But the dead will not rest, the past will not be buried, and DS Hutton must find his way, as the killer kills, and kills again…
Review- This is the worst book I've read so far in 2022. I don't really even know where to start with how shite it is. The cops are all fools. Not a one of them can tell their arse from a hole in the ground. They are quite honestly the dumbest group of people you'll ever read about. I think the author might even hate the police, and this is why he has portrayed them so poorly. They work off of poor reasoning and zero procedure. I think authors should take liberties when it comes to the actual mundane hard graft of police work; it would be a bit boring otherwise. The suspect interviews and the actual crime solving is never as dramatic as TV or books make out. However, this lacks credulity. I'm not sure Douglas Lindsay has ever seen any police documentaries/programs. Much less spoken to a living detective. The leaps these officers make or the sensible things they fail to do boggle the mind. It might be because the only things any of the officers seem to do or think about is hsving sex and drinking, oh, and pointless "Thistle" references.
Par exemple, there's this whole bit when a female police officer is murdered. There's evidence of her having sex. But there is no semen and there were small bite marks and small bruises on her, which therefore could only mean she had lesbian sex. I guess that's not a wild assumption. BUT what is is the assumption that she got it on with the chief super simply because that was the last place she was before she was murdered. Our protagonist, DS Hutton, who spends the entire book whinging about some crazy person in the Balkans or something, the two women he's having sex with and "Thistle," uses his police brain to deduce that the officer had sex with her female superintendent because he saw her car at the woman's house. He keeps it up for hours and entertains no other alternatives. Like could the girl not have had sex that morning before she came to wor? Or maybe shr had sex after work but before she went to the super's. Or maybe she used a vibrator on herself and the bruises and bites are from a man from the night before. I mean there are so many possibilities, but they go straight to lesbian, which is convenient because it casts shade onto the super. Then there's the end. Two police officers get a "gut feeling" and break into the super's house. They find her okay. But they are attacked by another officer who'd been hiding in the house. Hutton manages to subdue the attacker, sort of knocking him out or winding him for a bit. But no one, not the superintendent, the Sergeant or DS Hutton think to handcuff the assailant who they all know is a multiple murderer. He killed 4 other officers! Why would cops just leave him there to possibly try to hurt them again or get away? It made no sense except that it allowed for Hutton to save the damsel, when the assailant attempts to kill her again. It was so stupid. Cops love putting folks in handcuffs even when you've not actually committed a crime. So for them to just let this dude lie there free as can be for any length of time seemed moronic.
But moronic was the whole book. The author indulged in sharing his asinine opinions on the state of the world, youth, sex, technology and football(go Thistle!), none of which was interesting or beneficial to the story. It sucked. There's nothing good here. Read Tana French, Ian Rankin or John Connolly.
Rating - One for the number of brain cells he made his cops share star. ⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Devoured the book, couldn't put it down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really liked it, consumed within days
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyed a fair bit, better than average
⭐⭐ - Meh
⭐ - Absolute drivel
April 2, 2021
This is an older book, first published in 2012 and has 4 books in the series. I really enjoyed it especially the main character, DS Tom Hutton, and the setting, Scotland. The story was suspenseful and moved at a quick pace. I enjoyed from beginning to end.
March 20, 2014
A woman's body is found, she's been brutally murdered, stabbed over a hundred times. DCI Bloonsbury, once a superstar detective but now a washed up alcoholic, takes charge of the case. As more bodies appear Bloonsbury's faded abilities become a liability and DS Thomas Hutton is in the thick of it, he has theories of his own. But there's a problem, it seems the killer is closer to home than anyone wants to believe and there's a whiff of corruption...
I thoroughly enjoyed The Unburied Dead, Lindsay doesn't mess around with the story, he just gets right into it from the outset and then drives at a heady pace where events whip past the reader. The narrative is clipped, often using the bare minimum of words.
At the outset the reader meets Hutton, a man whose difficult past overlaps and complicates his present. He's a copper, not the brightest, but tenacious and ultimately wants to get to the truth, regardless of cost. His personal life is all over the place, several divorces behind him, along with a multitude of one night stands and affairs. Hutton joined up because of Bloonsbury, but the guy is a disappointment these days, and spends most of his time drunk.
The Unburied Dead is mainly written in first person (Hutton), present tense which helps keep up the pace. Periodically the author also drops in short chapters in third person where we're in the mind of the deranged killer. Again it works well and adds an extra layer. The story is set up to and over Christmas, but the season of goodwill doesn't extend to the investigating team and the victims, it's a nice offset.
The characters are excellent, the vast majority of which are police. Almost to a person they have their problems, quirks and behaviours. Besides Hutton and Bloonsbury there's DI Taylor, a good detective but another with a messy life - the job has destroyed his marriage. Then Superintendent Miller, an attractive woman who seems to sleep with everyone (including Hutton, whilst his wife is trying to rekindle their relationship) and Crow, an ex-copper who now lives in his own detritus, among others.
One aspect I really enjoyed was the way the author utilised the characters. Although there is brevity in the tale Lindsay shows interactions between the players, how and why they live their lives with wry observations of life thrown in. One example is a night out where everyone gets drunk, a constable in particular who dances in an increasing state of undress and then isn't allowed to forget it.
An excellent, well written story that will appeal to readers of gritty, down to earth crime / noir.
**Originally reviewed for Books and Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**
April 25, 2014
A serial killer is brutally slaughtering young women in Glasgow. In pursuit of the maniac is the most dysfunctional police squad I think I've ever encountered in print. Drunks, has-beens, cuckolds, horndogs of both sexes and all orientations, every blessed one of them seriously morose and tormented...it's astounding that they just don't all join hands and jump into the River Clyde together, except they seem to loathe one another too much to get that organized.
In the center of it all is DS Thomas Hutton, who's carrying around a head full of nightmares from his wartime service in Bosnia. As the investigation goes on, members of the team start dying, and Hutton begins to suspect that the murderer may actually be one of their own. And it wouldn't be the first time...
I love discovering a great writer I've never read before, and I really loved this book. It's dark, grimly humorous, with twists, reversals and surprises that made me go "holy sh*t!" out loud, more than once (if you're wondering how to pronounce that, the "*" is silent). I've already got the second book in the series from Blasted Heath Publishing, and I'm looking forward to it, after a short break to recover. It's got that kind of impact.
Highly recommended.
In the center of it all is DS Thomas Hutton, who's carrying around a head full of nightmares from his wartime service in Bosnia. As the investigation goes on, members of the team start dying, and Hutton begins to suspect that the murderer may actually be one of their own. And it wouldn't be the first time...
I love discovering a great writer I've never read before, and I really loved this book. It's dark, grimly humorous, with twists, reversals and surprises that made me go "holy sh*t!" out loud, more than once (if you're wondering how to pronounce that, the "*" is silent). I've already got the second book in the series from Blasted Heath Publishing, and I'm looking forward to it, after a short break to recover. It's got that kind of impact.
Highly recommended.
October 13, 2013
A very fine book indeed, although it is Scottish noir and then some! Most of the characters are either terminal alcoholics, severely alcohol dependent, suffering from PTSD and/or sexually promiscuous. Even the 'hero' has little to recommend him. Nevertheless, this is a gritty police procedural which really gets inside the mind of the 'serial killer' rather than just portraying him as mad, bad and dangerous to know (although he is clearly all of the above). It's difficult to feel sympathy for any of the characters and I doubt that the reader will have any faith left in the Scottish Police Service at the end, but this is a page-turner of a book that you really should not miss and I would certainly like to see the main character make a return, if only to see how much worse things could get!
March 28, 2016
I'm really excited; I think I have found myself a new detective series to follow!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'd read a couple of reviews and they mentioned that this was self published and there were grammatical errors in the text. This is something that I usually notice, but to be honest I think I spotted only two errors so this did not detract me from enjoying this novel. It was fab, well paced and I could really engage with the characters.
I'm definitely putting the next book on my short-list for reading soon.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'd read a couple of reviews and they mentioned that this was self published and there were grammatical errors in the text. This is something that I usually notice, but to be honest I think I spotted only two errors so this did not detract me from enjoying this novel. It was fab, well paced and I could really engage with the characters.
I'm definitely putting the next book on my short-list for reading soon.
January 22, 2025
What an absolute shame. Using American terminology in a setting as beautiful as Scotland! I could not go past the first few pages. This laziness ruined the book for me before we had gotten going!
Read
February 11, 2024I don't know why this book has come up. I haven't read it nor am I in the middle of reading it.
February 14, 2021
The blurb for this book sounded reasonably good. A police procedural / thriller. I can tell you now that I nearly gave up just a couple of chapters in. It seemed like complete trash and I didn't like the writing style. Never being one to give up, I hate to not finish a book, I carried on. I am pleased to say that it did get better and I ended up quite enjoying it. It has some good characters and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Even at the end you can't be 100% sure as it leaves an element of doubt. I quite like that as it enables you to decide for yourself.
I gave it 3 stars as I still don't like the writing style! Don't really know how to explain what I mean. Despite eventually liking this book, this is not an author who I shall be seeking out. I think once is enough for me.
********************************
A killer selects his victims.
A city lives in fear.
The police fall into chaos.
A woman is savagely murdered, her body stabbed over a hundred times, and the police recognise that the perpetrator will likely strike again. DCI Bloonsbury, the once-feted detective, is put in charge of the investigation, but when an officer is slain, and an old police conspiracy begins to unravel, Bloonsbury slides further into morose, intoxicated depression.
And here, somewhere in the midst of the horror, is Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton, lost in a sea of love, lust, deception, alcohol, and murdered colleagues. But the dead will not rest, the past will not be buried, and DS Hutton must find his way, as the killer kills, and kills again…
I gave it 3 stars as I still don't like the writing style! Don't really know how to explain what I mean. Despite eventually liking this book, this is not an author who I shall be seeking out. I think once is enough for me.
********************************
A killer selects his victims.
A city lives in fear.
The police fall into chaos.
A woman is savagely murdered, her body stabbed over a hundred times, and the police recognise that the perpetrator will likely strike again. DCI Bloonsbury, the once-feted detective, is put in charge of the investigation, but when an officer is slain, and an old police conspiracy begins to unravel, Bloonsbury slides further into morose, intoxicated depression.
And here, somewhere in the midst of the horror, is Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton, lost in a sea of love, lust, deception, alcohol, and murdered colleagues. But the dead will not rest, the past will not be buried, and DS Hutton must find his way, as the killer kills, and kills again…
December 14, 2024
Terrible, got to chapter 9 and had to stop when the main character was losing it over having caught a police woman, who was also a lesbian, changing in her office and a five minute monologue about how she had the most perfect breast he’d ever seen and couldn’t stop staring at them. * eye roll *
June 26, 2014
Loved it! Bleak at times and with very dark humour this is a well written police tale for me. I got into this via the Barney Thompson barbers book by the same author and decided to try his police ones. It really does contain some bone dry off the wall Scottish humour. I'm a fan of Christopher Brookmyre and this has some similarities - not the same but very good indeed By way of warning there are times when this goes a few stages past dark - the aforementioned Thomas Hutton has seen service in the Balkans. Although it is written in a flippant humourous style there is a good story underlying it and at times it really is quite powerful. I really enjoyed this and plan to read the next one soon.
May 17, 2021
Surprisingly good
This book has some very unsavoury characters either amoral, alcoholic or both. And those are just the policeman. Gawd help us if a typical police station is being described.
I started off disliking all of the characters, but the story started strongly and I decided to perseverance.
This is a good thriller. The plot is strong if perhaps a bit melo-dramatic. Many twists which I did not see. I warmed to the characters.
I'd recommend this book and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
This book has some very unsavoury characters either amoral, alcoholic or both. And those are just the policeman. Gawd help us if a typical police station is being described.
I started off disliking all of the characters, but the story started strongly and I decided to perseverance.
This is a good thriller. The plot is strong if perhaps a bit melo-dramatic. Many twists which I did not see. I warmed to the characters.
I'd recommend this book and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
April 27, 2022
A murder mystery is buried under a bloated cast of unlikable characters. The police are a bunch of alcoholic, corrupt, lazy sex fiends. It is a tedious, uninteresting read that is insulting to law enforcement. The main character is too stupid to figure out what to get his daughter for Christmas.Completely unsatisfying.
July 20, 2014
Could do without the constant swearing. However, otherwise it's a good tale. Given the state of all the characters it's a wonder the crime was solved at all!
August 16, 2014
Not a bad book, but the writing wasn't great and detracted from the story.
March 15, 2021
Unburied dead
Just ca
Couldn't get into it.Not my kind book.seemed to be about someone who hated his job and everyone around .
Just ca
Couldn't get into it.Not my kind book.seemed to be about someone who hated his job and everyone around .
October 12, 2021
so bad had to abandon after 2 attempts....
July 26, 2021
I admit that I was toying with the idea of abandoning this book for around half an hour. All the police force seemed so obnoxious. Very quickly though I was caught up first in the crime story and in the end I was completely hooked on all the characters. The writing style is gritty and sweary. The story line and every character in it is desperate and bleak. It's definitely Glasgow Noir at it's roughest. This is so refreshing from all the polished crime fiction around and makes it so much more real. Douglas Lindsay has left us some teasers for the next book in the series too, which I'm itching to get too. Great to find a new gem of an author.
January 26, 2026
My first time reading this author and I absolutely loved it ! I thought Lindsay's style was a cross between Irishman Ken Bruen's gritty, no frills delivery and Scotsman Stuart MacBride's intricate, well constructed plots with just the right amount of humor to go with all the mayhem. The main character is DS Thomas Hutton who is trying to solve a particularly grisly murder while balancing two women and keeping his eye on a possible police coverup......all while making sure he has LOTS of alcohol to grease the journey. Loved the story, loved the characters and with 11 books in this series, I will enjoy catching up.
July 16, 2019
I really love reading Douglas Lindsay Books.
He has such a way with words that makes the most serious overtones seem funny at the wrong time.
I started this with great expectations and I was not disappointed in any way.
Centres aroung Thomas Hutton and his ups and downs.... as a Police Officer(DS) on the hunt for a Serial Killer, and his gritty and frank life - Vodka and Tonic.!!!
Brilliant
He has such a way with words that makes the most serious overtones seem funny at the wrong time.
I started this with great expectations and I was not disappointed in any way.
Centres aroung Thomas Hutton and his ups and downs.... as a Police Officer(DS) on the hunt for a Serial Killer, and his gritty and frank life - Vodka and Tonic.!!!
Brilliant
April 2, 2021
Having read Lindsay's strange and sardonic "Barney Thomson" novels, I was curious to try one of his police procedurals. "The Unburied Dead" is full of well drawn characters with nods to William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin. Several subplots that eventually intertwine, with enough lose ends to pick up in future novels. As sometimes happens, the ending is rushed in comparison to the rest of the novel, but overall an entertaining introduction to yet another troubled but dogged Scottish cop.
March 20, 2023
Trigger warning: language can be very blunt and may be offensive to some readers. Contains a lot of vulgar and sexualised language as well as a lot of swearing.
Story was not bad.
Most characters are depicted as addicts - either to work, to sex, to alcohol, etc.
Was set in and around where I live. I always like being able to imagine the real places that the fictional characters are in as the story progresses.
Story was not bad.
Most characters are depicted as addicts - either to work, to sex, to alcohol, etc.
Was set in and around where I live. I always like being able to imagine the real places that the fictional characters are in as the story progresses.
February 7, 2021
The Glaswegian Rebus
This was a fantastic first Hutton novel by Lindsay. So many parallels to the Rankin's Edinburgh equivalent - a dark past, a questionable long line of previous relationships, as well as a difficult relationship with drink and colleagues.
Great book from start to finish. Can't wait to read the others!
This was a fantastic first Hutton novel by Lindsay. So many parallels to the Rankin's Edinburgh equivalent - a dark past, a questionable long line of previous relationships, as well as a difficult relationship with drink and colleagues.
Great book from start to finish. Can't wait to read the others!
February 13, 2021
Page Turner
I enjoyed the storyline and characters in this book. DS Hutton leads the life of a policeman who drinks too much on occasion and is a ladies man. Hutton is able to keep on the case and figure out who is the serial killer even though he has screwed up his personal life. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I enjoyed the storyline and characters in this book. DS Hutton leads the life of a policeman who drinks too much on occasion and is a ladies man. Hutton is able to keep on the case and figure out who is the serial killer even though he has screwed up his personal life. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
February 19, 2021
What a great read!
This is my first experience e of a story by Douglas Lindsay!, but it certainly will not be the last. Magnificent , masterful , gripping storytelling, impossible to put down. I can scarcely wait to get the next in the series, and look forward to working my way through to the end.
This is my first experience e of a story by Douglas Lindsay!, but it certainly will not be the last. Magnificent , masterful , gripping storytelling, impossible to put down. I can scarcely wait to get the next in the series, and look forward to working my way through to the end.
March 1, 2021
Not for me
Sadly there’s a lot of swearing at the beginning which I’m assuming will continue throughout so stopped reading any more. I don’t like the character describing what he’s done to women so I didn’t read past chapter one. Just not my type though detective novels I usually devoir.
Sadly there’s a lot of swearing at the beginning which I’m assuming will continue throughout so stopped reading any more. I don’t like the character describing what he’s done to women so I didn’t read past chapter one. Just not my type though detective novels I usually devoir.
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