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Inspector McLean #5
[(Prayer for the Dead)] [By (author) James Oswald] published on
'Are you ready to be reborn?'
The search for a missing journalist is called off as a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder.
In a sealed chamber, deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove, a mysterious network of caves and passages sprawling beneath Edinburgh, the victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification.
Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake off the suspicion that there is far more to this case than meets the eye. The baffling lack of forensics at the crime scene seems impossible. But it is not the only thing about this case that McLean will find beyond belief.
Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies, he must track down a killer driven by the darkest compulsions, who will answer only to a higher power . . .
'Are you ready for the mysteries to be revealed?'
The search for a missing journalist is called off as a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder.
In a sealed chamber, deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove, a mysterious network of caves and passages sprawling beneath Edinburgh, the victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification.
Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake off the suspicion that there is far more to this case than meets the eye. The baffling lack of forensics at the crime scene seems impossible. But it is not the only thing about this case that McLean will find beyond belief.
Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies, he must track down a killer driven by the darkest compulsions, who will answer only to a higher power . . .
'Are you ready for the mysteries to be revealed?'
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First published January 1, 2015
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September 1, 2020
Why This Book
About 6 months ago, I won a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher, Crooked Lane. They accidentally shipped this book instead of the one I had won. Rather than pull it back, they let me keep the book, but I hadn't gotten to read it. On my quest to close out all ARCs, giveaways and books on my shelves before I download or buy anything new, Prayer for the Dead, the fifth book in the Inspector McLean thriller and mystery series, published in 2015, and written by James Oswald, was the oldest in my queue, as I work why way through the TBR I actually have copies of. I rarely read in the middle of a book series, but with 4 books prior to this one, it was too much to go back to the beginning, so I'll start here...
Plot, Characters & Setting
Set in current times in Edinburgh, UK, Inspector Tony McLean battles politics within his local police precinct and journalists with whom he has a very unsteady relationship. He's also protecting a few local neighbors who are being vandalized and trying to re-build his former tenement after some accident that occurred in the previous novels. One of the journalists approaches McLean to ask for help with a missing colleague. Readers already know the colleague was sadistically killed in the opening chapter by someone with pseudo-religious or Masonic beliefs. A few bodies build up, and the cases all begin to collide. McLean learns he may actually be connected with the killer from many years earlier, and sets off to stop the serial murders with very little information. Includes some graphic violence, medical lingo, and police procedural language. No romance or side-stories, other than what he's doing with his old tenement. A few minor things that might be good to know from prior books, but it can be read stand-alone.
Approach & Style
I read the 340-page hardcover over 2 days in about 5 hours. Through ~75 chapters, the novel includes both 1st person and 3rd person POV. The killer appears in several chapters, disguised and talking to readers in 1st person POV, but the rest is mostly from McLean's 3rd person POV. Perspective follows both around as crimes are committed and investigated.
Given it's a police procedural, about some very religious and historical beliefs, and set partially in a medical environment, it's not a run-of-the-mill thriller -- there are many levels of technical details to weed through, particularly when it comes to UK police departments. I had no idea which type of investigator was more senior than the others, and they often refer to each other as Sir or Ma'am, so I was a tad lost. Not enough to stop me from reading, but enough that I wouldn't say it was totally easy to adapt to for an American. Put a little chart in the back, please!
Strengths
It's complex, full of mystery and has lots of page-turning moments. There are enough characters to keep you guessing. The interweaving POV and perspective is handled adeptly. I liked the story and the way in which the murders occurred and how the investigations took place. Very detailed-oriented, and this makes me a happy reader! I also like the author's writing style and feel connected to the development of the chapters and overall way things were described.
Concerns
For one, the ending was way too quick. You don't discover who the killer is or what his/her connection is to McLean until the last 15 pages. If that were the only concern, I'd probably have given this 4-stars; however, it was confusing and didn't wrap up all the plot lines. I still don't truly understand who was murdered years ago, whether the killer came back from the dead, or why one of the victims even died. Or even how the religious components truly fit in with all the other characters. I unfortunately must say this did not get fleshed out as well as it needed to be. Even if it's a mystery thriller series, and more will be revealed later, as a whole book, it lacked a cohesive story that clearly set out the who/what/when/where/why of the crime.
Final Thoughts
If this were the first book in the series, I'd have definitely passed on any future reads. Knowing it's made it's way to 5 books, through a traditional publisher, I'm certain I must be missing something, or that perhaps the earlier books were better. I probably won't pick up another one, given my long TBR list, but I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has read the author before... what did I miss?
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
About 6 months ago, I won a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher, Crooked Lane. They accidentally shipped this book instead of the one I had won. Rather than pull it back, they let me keep the book, but I hadn't gotten to read it. On my quest to close out all ARCs, giveaways and books on my shelves before I download or buy anything new, Prayer for the Dead, the fifth book in the Inspector McLean thriller and mystery series, published in 2015, and written by James Oswald, was the oldest in my queue, as I work why way through the TBR I actually have copies of. I rarely read in the middle of a book series, but with 4 books prior to this one, it was too much to go back to the beginning, so I'll start here...
Plot, Characters & Setting
Set in current times in Edinburgh, UK, Inspector Tony McLean battles politics within his local police precinct and journalists with whom he has a very unsteady relationship. He's also protecting a few local neighbors who are being vandalized and trying to re-build his former tenement after some accident that occurred in the previous novels. One of the journalists approaches McLean to ask for help with a missing colleague. Readers already know the colleague was sadistically killed in the opening chapter by someone with pseudo-religious or Masonic beliefs. A few bodies build up, and the cases all begin to collide. McLean learns he may actually be connected with the killer from many years earlier, and sets off to stop the serial murders with very little information. Includes some graphic violence, medical lingo, and police procedural language. No romance or side-stories, other than what he's doing with his old tenement. A few minor things that might be good to know from prior books, but it can be read stand-alone.
Approach & Style
I read the 340-page hardcover over 2 days in about 5 hours. Through ~75 chapters, the novel includes both 1st person and 3rd person POV. The killer appears in several chapters, disguised and talking to readers in 1st person POV, but the rest is mostly from McLean's 3rd person POV. Perspective follows both around as crimes are committed and investigated.
Given it's a police procedural, about some very religious and historical beliefs, and set partially in a medical environment, it's not a run-of-the-mill thriller -- there are many levels of technical details to weed through, particularly when it comes to UK police departments. I had no idea which type of investigator was more senior than the others, and they often refer to each other as Sir or Ma'am, so I was a tad lost. Not enough to stop me from reading, but enough that I wouldn't say it was totally easy to adapt to for an American. Put a little chart in the back, please!
Strengths
It's complex, full of mystery and has lots of page-turning moments. There are enough characters to keep you guessing. The interweaving POV and perspective is handled adeptly. I liked the story and the way in which the murders occurred and how the investigations took place. Very detailed-oriented, and this makes me a happy reader! I also like the author's writing style and feel connected to the development of the chapters and overall way things were described.
Concerns
For one, the ending was way too quick. You don't discover who the killer is or what his/her connection is to McLean until the last 15 pages. If that were the only concern, I'd probably have given this 4-stars; however, it was confusing and didn't wrap up all the plot lines. I still don't truly understand who was murdered years ago, whether the killer came back from the dead, or why one of the victims even died. Or even how the religious components truly fit in with all the other characters. I unfortunately must say this did not get fleshed out as well as it needed to be. Even if it's a mystery thriller series, and more will be revealed later, as a whole book, it lacked a cohesive story that clearly set out the who/what/when/where/why of the crime.
Final Thoughts
If this were the first book in the series, I'd have definitely passed on any future reads. Knowing it's made it's way to 5 books, through a traditional publisher, I'm certain I must be missing something, or that perhaps the earlier books were better. I probably won't pick up another one, given my long TBR list, but I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has read the author before... what did I miss?
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
February 28, 2017
This is the fifth of the DI Tony McLean series and it has an interesting set of storylines. Jo Dalgliesh has not seen her colleague, Ben Stevenson, a reporter for some time and reports him missing to Tony who reluctantly agrees to help. He is called out to the underground caves and passages beneath Edinburgh where there has been ritualistically killed dead body that has undergone gruesome purification acts. Oddly, there is absolutely no forensics. It is, of course, Ben Stevenson, and then more bodies turn up. Despite Tony's antagonism to Jo Dalgleish, who published a book on his fiancee, the two forge an unlikely alliance to investigate. We get glimpses into Tony's childhood with his grandmother which later turn out to have connections with the case. The transgender fortune teller, Madam Rose, is being harrassed and her beloved cat has been killed, and a lovely relationship develops between Tony and her. Developers, the McClymonts, pressure Tony to sell his burnt out flat to them. There is the requisite police conflicts. A great read. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
February 19, 2017
'Prayer for the dead' is the 5th book in the Inspector McLean series by author James Oswald.
Another good book in this series that continues to satisfy everything I enjoy in a Detective series.
In this book a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove the victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification.
Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake the suspicion that there is more to this case than meets the eye. The lack of forensics at the crime scene is not the only thing that McLean will find beyond belief.
Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies, McLean must track down a killer with the darkest compulsions, who answers only to a higher power.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Another good book in this series that continues to satisfy everything I enjoy in a Detective series.
In this book a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove the victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification.
Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake the suspicion that there is more to this case than meets the eye. The lack of forensics at the crime scene is not the only thing that McLean will find beyond belief.
Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies, McLean must track down a killer with the darkest compulsions, who answers only to a higher power.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2017
The closer I get to the 7th book the more I want to savour reading each one but can't put them down and end up devouring them, to me that shows how good this series is, some book series I can put down and not pick up again for months, this one, refuses to do that the more I get into it!!
Tony is still doing his job while having to put up with the arseholes he works with/for and the supernatural aspects floating around in his world do their very best to throw spanners, hammers and other tools in the works to mess him up.
It all builds together well and melds into another great story. Love it.
*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*
Tony is still doing his job while having to put up with the arseholes he works with/for and the supernatural aspects floating around in his world do their very best to throw spanners, hammers and other tools in the works to mess him up.
It all builds together well and melds into another great story. Love it.
*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*
August 21, 2017
Prayer for the Dead by James Oswald.
The 5th in the Inspector McLean series and my 5th. Dalgliesh, that reporter that no officer trusts least of all Tony, needs his help in finding her coworker Ben Stevenson. It seems he's just gone and no one at the reporters office knows where to. This takes Tony into a realm of hidden chambers beneath the city and a ritualistic murder, but is all this ritualism as it really seems or just a cover...and a cover to what. What lies behind this murder?
McLean comes home after another busy unending paperwork day of investigation to a knock on the door. It's Madame Rose and she's not her (his) usual self at all. Her clothes are disheveled, she's more than just downcast and that's just the beginning. It seems someone or possibly more than one person are doing their best to drive Madame rose out of her establishment. What's the reasoning behind this assault against her/him.
This was another superb installation in the McLean series and I was thrilled to read it. DS Ritchie has a new development in her life that turns into something catastrophic. However the greatest development is the reveal of Madame Rose's premonition for Tony... a new dimension that Tony can no longer reject.
If you're one of the few that hasn't started this series...what in the world are you waiting for?
The 5th in the Inspector McLean series and my 5th. Dalgliesh, that reporter that no officer trusts least of all Tony, needs his help in finding her coworker Ben Stevenson. It seems he's just gone and no one at the reporters office knows where to. This takes Tony into a realm of hidden chambers beneath the city and a ritualistic murder, but is all this ritualism as it really seems or just a cover...and a cover to what. What lies behind this murder?
McLean comes home after another busy unending paperwork day of investigation to a knock on the door. It's Madame Rose and she's not her (his) usual self at all. Her clothes are disheveled, she's more than just downcast and that's just the beginning. It seems someone or possibly more than one person are doing their best to drive Madame rose out of her establishment. What's the reasoning behind this assault against her/him.
This was another superb installation in the McLean series and I was thrilled to read it. DS Ritchie has a new development in her life that turns into something catastrophic. However the greatest development is the reveal of Madame Rose's premonition for Tony... a new dimension that Tony can no longer reject.
If you're one of the few that hasn't started this series...what in the world are you waiting for?
July 22, 2017
As much as I enjoyed listening to the fifth book in this series was I'm not really pleased with the narrator choice to whisper the killer's thoughts. It just sounded like he was mumbling and I was lucky if I could hear a word or two and understand what the heck the killer was doing.
Now, I like Tony McLean, and I like the paranormal angle to the books in this series. But, this was not the strongest book in the series. The best part was towards the end when the story finally started to make sense. But, for the most part, the book did feel a bit slow, more bodies are found and they are trying to figure out the link between the bodies and discover who the killer is. Personally, would I loved the book to be more thrilling to read. To be honest, the story just didn't feel very memorable. It's an OK book, but it felt like 2/3 of the book just plodded along in a slow pace and BAM then the ending happened (which I liked) and then the book was over. On a side now, I loved Madame Rose and her cats.
Despite my lackluster opinion of the book, I do look forward to reading the next book, and the one before that I've missed to read.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Netgalley for an honest review!
Now, I like Tony McLean, and I like the paranormal angle to the books in this series. But, this was not the strongest book in the series. The best part was towards the end when the story finally started to make sense. But, for the most part, the book did feel a bit slow, more bodies are found and they are trying to figure out the link between the bodies and discover who the killer is. Personally, would I loved the book to be more thrilling to read. To be honest, the story just didn't feel very memorable. It's an OK book, but it felt like 2/3 of the book just plodded along in a slow pace and BAM then the ending happened (which I liked) and then the book was over. On a side now, I loved Madame Rose and her cats.
Despite my lackluster opinion of the book, I do look forward to reading the next book, and the one before that I've missed to read.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Netgalley for an honest review!
May 9, 2015
Another fantastic book in the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald and definitely worthy of its 5 starts.
Tony McLean draws trouble like ducks are drawn to water and in Prayer for the Dead this is no less true.
When reporter Jo Dalgleish asks him to look into a missing colleague you know its not going to go well and when the colleague turns up a victim of murder McLean is forced to work with the reporter he despises for her book on his dead fiancée. With no forensics to go on, more bodies turning up that may or may not be connected you would think Tony would have enough on his plate.
Then Madam Rose, transvestite fortunte teller, appears at his door and asks for his help as she believes she is a target by people unknown - they have already dropped crap through her letterbox and killed one of her cats.
Tony McLean has to deal with all this, the clashing personalities at work and trying to keep his re-built car in one piece. We also get a little look at Tony's childhood which he spent being raised by his grandmother and eventually this ties in with the case he is working on - as someone says the past defines us and sometimes it still affects how we are.
These are such easy to read books, the story flows well and as we are getting to know the characters, I personally look forward to seeing how Oswald continues to develop their personalities in books to come.
I like a book that gets me thinking and this one, even though I have read others that have been written since Scotland became a one police force, one fire service country, got me wondering how these changes have affected those who write Scottish crime novels.
Definitely worth a read if you have read the others if not I suggest you start at the beginning - you will not be disappointed!!
Tony McLean draws trouble like ducks are drawn to water and in Prayer for the Dead this is no less true.
When reporter Jo Dalgleish asks him to look into a missing colleague you know its not going to go well and when the colleague turns up a victim of murder McLean is forced to work with the reporter he despises for her book on his dead fiancée. With no forensics to go on, more bodies turning up that may or may not be connected you would think Tony would have enough on his plate.
Then Madam Rose, transvestite fortunte teller, appears at his door and asks for his help as she believes she is a target by people unknown - they have already dropped crap through her letterbox and killed one of her cats.
Tony McLean has to deal with all this, the clashing personalities at work and trying to keep his re-built car in one piece. We also get a little look at Tony's childhood which he spent being raised by his grandmother and eventually this ties in with the case he is working on - as someone says the past defines us and sometimes it still affects how we are.
These are such easy to read books, the story flows well and as we are getting to know the characters, I personally look forward to seeing how Oswald continues to develop their personalities in books to come.
I like a book that gets me thinking and this one, even though I have read others that have been written since Scotland became a one police force, one fire service country, got me wondering how these changes have affected those who write Scottish crime novels.
Definitely worth a read if you have read the others if not I suggest you start at the beginning - you will not be disappointed!!
August 30, 2017
A serial killer take with a lot of interesting aspects - but none of them are fully explained in a rather unsatisfactory ending. This is the first of the series I've read, and that made things difficult at times. Elements of backstory are dropped in with no explanation, so this is a series definitely best read in order.
DI Tony McLean is a good character with plenty of nuance. He works hard, perhaps obsessing, and has some lovely humerus comments on his colleagues and superiors. The case develops as the bodies pile up, but the plot relies on far too many coincidences.
DI Tony McLean is a good character with plenty of nuance. He works hard, perhaps obsessing, and has some lovely humerus comments on his colleagues and superiors. The case develops as the bodies pile up, but the plot relies on far too many coincidences.
February 16, 2015
Once again an amazingly good novel from Mr Oswald. I really love the juxtaposition between the science and the paranormal in his books. I am one of those people that loves hard facts and needs to know how things work but sometimes, just sometimes, I can see that it's not quite as simple as that and these books do bring out that "other side" to things.
There's not really much more that I can say as I never do reviews in the way of explaining what happens, I tend to leave that to people who can write so much more eloquently than me, so I suppose I'm just going to have to wait 6 months or more until the next book which I eagerly anticipate and once again will no doubt put on pre-order so I'll review it as soon as it's released!
There's not really much more that I can say as I never do reviews in the way of explaining what happens, I tend to leave that to people who can write so much more eloquently than me, so I suppose I'm just going to have to wait 6 months or more until the next book which I eagerly anticipate and once again will no doubt put on pre-order so I'll review it as soon as it's released!
September 11, 2017
I have a feeling that I'll look back on my rating of this book and think it too harsh. That said, I don't think I'd ever read it again so I couldn't rate it higher or as a must read.
I enjoyed this novel as much as I disliked it. I liked the familiarity of the characters, the funny quips and jibes between the ranking officers and the general pace of the story. But equally the storylines are often over complex for what is required and there's far too much 'faff' in between key scenes.
For every loose end tied up in this novel there's another being unraveled and you just know there's going to be another 7 books before you see that loop tied. For me Oswald is a safe and reliable read but I rate his earlier books much higher than this effort.
I enjoyed this novel as much as I disliked it. I liked the familiarity of the characters, the funny quips and jibes between the ranking officers and the general pace of the story. But equally the storylines are often over complex for what is required and there's far too much 'faff' in between key scenes.
For every loose end tied up in this novel there's another being unraveled and you just know there's going to be another 7 books before you see that loop tied. For me Oswald is a safe and reliable read but I rate his earlier books much higher than this effort.
July 28, 2017
Book 5 and Tony is still 'making things complicated' for Duguid( Dagwood) and the other lazy OIC's in this hugely readable series of detective novels. There is still a fantastic mixture of police procedure and paranormal experiences, my favourite characters of Grumpy Bob and Angus Cadwallader are backing up Tony as more inventive murders are discovered, dialysis machine? Seriously?!
We see more of Madame Rose and understand that Tony has a very powerful protector, which compensates for the negativity that comes his way from his bosses, pluralised, as Duguid is due to retire soon.
The humour is pure gallows and the sense of exhaustion and team work is still apparent, alongside the usual sense of frustration and schoolboy humour that is prevalent in every police station in the UK, Potter and Scar, being a good example.
Well, this series will roll on quite nicely because the stories are engrossing and the fight between good and evil is ceaseless. Tony is a one man army against evil, he is destined to remain single as he won't put a loved one into danger and he feels too guilty of his good fortune to abandon his work colleagues. The books just don't get boring, they continue to think of ever new inventive ways to kill people and we all need a good policeman at the end of the day. Marvellous!!
We see more of Madame Rose and understand that Tony has a very powerful protector, which compensates for the negativity that comes his way from his bosses, pluralised, as Duguid is due to retire soon.
The humour is pure gallows and the sense of exhaustion and team work is still apparent, alongside the usual sense of frustration and schoolboy humour that is prevalent in every police station in the UK, Potter and Scar, being a good example.
Well, this series will roll on quite nicely because the stories are engrossing and the fight between good and evil is ceaseless. Tony is a one man army against evil, he is destined to remain single as he won't put a loved one into danger and he feels too guilty of his good fortune to abandon his work colleagues. The books just don't get boring, they continue to think of ever new inventive ways to kill people and we all need a good policeman at the end of the day. Marvellous!!
September 6, 2015
It's been a while since I've read one of James Oswald's novels and delved into the world of Inspector Ian McLean. What can I say? I just love this series, have done right from the beginning. Prayer For The Dead doesn't just match up to the previous books, it somehow exceeds them. A truly fantastic story-line. Keeping with the usual police procedural, but also bordering into the spooky and paranormal. The strong characters remain and the tongue-in-cheek humor is just pure genius. Laugh-out-loud sometimes. A little birdie has told me a new McLean novel may be not far away .. can't wait. In my top ten of this years reads - highly recommended :-)
February 5, 2023
A good solid 4 star Scottish detective noir and the introduction of DI Toby McClean. I look forward to reading some more in the series😀
February 18, 2017
'Are you ready to be reborn?'
The search for a missing journalist Ben Stevenson is called off as a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber, deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove, a mysterious network of caves and passages sprawling beneath Edinburgh. Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake off the suspicion that there is far more to this case than meets the eye. The baffling lack of forensics at the crime scene seems impossible. But it is not the only thing about this case that McLean will find beyond belief.
Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies journalist Jo Dalgliesh, he must track down a killer driven by the darkest compulsions.
Tony’s also being pushed by a Development Company owned by Jock & Joe McClymont to sell his share in burnt out shell of the tenement that housed his flat. Madame Rose is also having problems & stays with Tony for a while.
This is the fifth McLean book & again I found it hard to put down. The relationship between Tony & Dagwood has mellowed but likely to the fact Dagwood is to retire at the end of the year. Another tale of a serial killer, stolen cars & harassment, whilst the book could be a standalone there are threads going through the series which would lead to some bafflement for example Emma & her quest, the Alfa’s return, his old flat & his relationship with his Grandmother. I’d recommend reading the series from the start as the more books you read the more you become engrossed in the dogged detective
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book
The search for a missing journalist Ben Stevenson is called off as a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber, deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove, a mysterious network of caves and passages sprawling beneath Edinburgh. Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake off the suspicion that there is far more to this case than meets the eye. The baffling lack of forensics at the crime scene seems impossible. But it is not the only thing about this case that McLean will find beyond belief.
Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies journalist Jo Dalgliesh, he must track down a killer driven by the darkest compulsions.
Tony’s also being pushed by a Development Company owned by Jock & Joe McClymont to sell his share in burnt out shell of the tenement that housed his flat. Madame Rose is also having problems & stays with Tony for a while.
This is the fifth McLean book & again I found it hard to put down. The relationship between Tony & Dagwood has mellowed but likely to the fact Dagwood is to retire at the end of the year. Another tale of a serial killer, stolen cars & harassment, whilst the book could be a standalone there are threads going through the series which would lead to some bafflement for example Emma & her quest, the Alfa’s return, his old flat & his relationship with his Grandmother. I’d recommend reading the series from the start as the more books you read the more you become engrossed in the dogged detective
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book
December 31, 2017
I love this series! Tony and his associates are wonderful characters, the plots are amazing, and the villains are spectacularly creepy. Each book gets better and better.
September 23, 2018
Prayer for the Dead is the fifth book in the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald. Anthony (Tony) McLean is a Detective Inspector in the City of Edinburgh. He tends to get the more challenging cases and even those that should be straight-forward – he “makes complicated” as his DCI likes to say.
In this story, Tony has been asked by Jo Dagliesh, his nemesis at the press, to look into the
disappearance of one of her fellow reporters. Not long after, Tony is called to a murder scene deep inside a series of caverns beneath the City and discovers the body of the missing journalist. The body shows signs of a ritual “purification” but there is a surprising lack of forensic evidence. Another murder – and then another – both with some similarities to the first murder, lead Tony to believe that there is a serial killer loose in the City.
While Tony is dealing with these various murders, Madame Rose comes to him for assistance. She appears to have been targeted by a hate group that is trying to drive her out of her home. Tony does what he can to help her get to the bottom of the attacks.
The story was interesting and moved along at a decent pace but there were several storylines working at the same time and none were especially exciting. For the general lack of excitement, this entry in the series lost half a star from my typical rating for the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars
In this story, Tony has been asked by Jo Dagliesh, his nemesis at the press, to look into the
disappearance of one of her fellow reporters. Not long after, Tony is called to a murder scene deep inside a series of caverns beneath the City and discovers the body of the missing journalist. The body shows signs of a ritual “purification” but there is a surprising lack of forensic evidence. Another murder – and then another – both with some similarities to the first murder, lead Tony to believe that there is a serial killer loose in the City.
While Tony is dealing with these various murders, Madame Rose comes to him for assistance. She appears to have been targeted by a hate group that is trying to drive her out of her home. Tony does what he can to help her get to the bottom of the attacks.
The story was interesting and moved along at a decent pace but there were several storylines working at the same time and none were especially exciting. For the general lack of excitement, this entry in the series lost half a star from my typical rating for the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars
September 30, 2021
When Detective Inspector Tony McLean leads a murder investigation, you can be certain there will be at least undertones of the supernatural/spiritual, even though McLean, as a man of science is a skeptic.
In Prayer for the Dead, McLean is confronted with a grisly murder in an unlikely place -- a cave -- with a perpetrator who has left no forensic clues except for paintings on the cave walls in the victim's blood. Are the painting clues or misdirection?
This series is character-driven with fully fleshed-out, believable characters. Oswald builds up the suspense slowly and surely, making these stories page turners.
In Prayer for the Dead, McLean is confronted with a grisly murder in an unlikely place -- a cave -- with a perpetrator who has left no forensic clues except for paintings on the cave walls in the victim's blood. Are the painting clues or misdirection?
This series is character-driven with fully fleshed-out, believable characters. Oswald builds up the suspense slowly and surely, making these stories page turners.
December 27, 2016
See this and all of my reviews at Mystereity Reviews
‘You’re going to make it complicated again, aren’t you McLean?’
In Prayer for the Dead, Tony investigates the seemingly ritualistic murder of a reporter in the historic Gilmerton Caves in Edinburgh, Scotland. With no evidence left at the scene, the investigation flounders amid several more murders possibly related to the first and Tony finds he has no choice but to reluctantly team up with a colleague of the victim, Jo Dalgleish, herself an abrasive reporter who has caused Tony problems in the past. With very few clues, Tony sets out to connect the murders and find a killer.
I’ve been an avid fan of this series since I read Natural Causes back in 2012. Tony is an enigmatic main character; each book tantalizes with just a little bit more of his history and you never quite feel like you get to know him. That accomplishes two things for me; for one, it adds an element of unpredictability that keeps you just a little off balance, you can never get ahead of Tony. The second thing, of course, is it keeps me coming back for more. Add in the colorful cast of characters that makes up Tony's "family" including Grumpy Bob, DC MacBride, DS Ritchie, Madame Rose and, of course, Mrs McCutcheon’s cat, and it's easy to be drawn into McLean's unique world where anything can happen.
The fast-paced plot blended a chameleon of a killer, possibly shifty developers and Madame Rose’s harassment into a twisty puzzle that kept me turning pages. I loved the plot twist at the end about the killer, and that moment when they went to the killer’s house? Creepy!
Overall, Prayer for the Dead is an entertaining and thrilling mystery, and readers unfamiliar with the series will find it an enjoyable police procedural. This book can be read as a standalone or as an entry into the series, but I recommend reading the series from the start, as there are some on-going plot threads that wind through the series.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
‘You’re going to make it complicated again, aren’t you McLean?’
In Prayer for the Dead, Tony investigates the seemingly ritualistic murder of a reporter in the historic Gilmerton Caves in Edinburgh, Scotland. With no evidence left at the scene, the investigation flounders amid several more murders possibly related to the first and Tony finds he has no choice but to reluctantly team up with a colleague of the victim, Jo Dalgleish, herself an abrasive reporter who has caused Tony problems in the past. With very few clues, Tony sets out to connect the murders and find a killer.
I’ve been an avid fan of this series since I read Natural Causes back in 2012. Tony is an enigmatic main character; each book tantalizes with just a little bit more of his history and you never quite feel like you get to know him. That accomplishes two things for me; for one, it adds an element of unpredictability that keeps you just a little off balance, you can never get ahead of Tony. The second thing, of course, is it keeps me coming back for more. Add in the colorful cast of characters that makes up Tony's "family" including Grumpy Bob, DC MacBride, DS Ritchie, Madame Rose and, of course, Mrs McCutcheon’s cat, and it's easy to be drawn into McLean's unique world where anything can happen.
The fast-paced plot blended a chameleon of a killer, possibly shifty developers and Madame Rose’s harassment into a twisty puzzle that kept me turning pages. I loved the plot twist at the end about the killer, and that moment when they went to the killer’s house? Creepy!
Overall, Prayer for the Dead is an entertaining and thrilling mystery, and readers unfamiliar with the series will find it an enjoyable police procedural. This book can be read as a standalone or as an entry into the series, but I recommend reading the series from the start, as there are some on-going plot threads that wind through the series.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
April 25, 2017
I find myself completely obsessed with this series by James Oswald. I love the hint-nay thread, of the paranormal which lurks a bit like a spiders web hanging around the dusty dark corners of each story, tantalising, mysterious and just out of reach. It reminds me of our unconscious and how that skulks just out of sight like the bottom of an iceberg waiting to influence the outcome of our own personal narratives. We know it exists but just how, why and what will happen is hanging in the balance of our karmic fortunes. I have read the whole of this series of books and interestingly every time I have attempted to predict the outcome I have failed spectacularly so well done J.O. Also I want to add that the characterisations are so incredibly skilfully drawn. I actually want to meet Inspector Tony McLean and DS Ritchie and Stuart McBride in the flesh because they seem so real. Finally, I hardly dare read the last book in this series. I have downloaded it but I think I might actually cry if Emma doesn't come home. What with these books and Line of Duty on BBC 1 at the moment I am in police crime heaven. The trouble is the ending is coming in both cases and no matter how much I want to cover my eyes there is an inevitability about endings that I must face. Will it be angels or demons?
January 8, 2017
I came across James Oswald via his friend Stuart MacBride. I think it was in the acknowledgements of one of his books, and as it looked like he was talking about a fellow crime writer, I looked him up. Boy was that a smart move! I don't know why, but I like Scottish writers, and James Oswald's no exception.
Like the Inspector McLean novels before it is primarily a police procedure, but with supernatural overtures. I know this sounds strange, but funny enough, it works. I've not encountered anything like it before, but it had me hooked from the beginning. I don't want to spoil the story for you, so just a few words about it: A journalist goes missing and is than found dead; a journalist not very much liked by most of the police. And McLean not only has to deal with it, but he actually has to collaborate with Dalgliesh, a journalist he especially dislikes, which makes for interesting conflicts, and than the killer strikes again.... Just get the book and enjoy a real good read!
Like the Inspector McLean novels before it is primarily a police procedure, but with supernatural overtures. I know this sounds strange, but funny enough, it works. I've not encountered anything like it before, but it had me hooked from the beginning. I don't want to spoil the story for you, so just a few words about it: A journalist goes missing and is than found dead; a journalist not very much liked by most of the police. And McLean not only has to deal with it, but he actually has to collaborate with Dalgliesh, a journalist he especially dislikes, which makes for interesting conflicts, and than the killer strikes again.... Just get the book and enjoy a real good read!
March 14, 2016
First of all I must say that unlike the declaration on the cover, Oswald is not the new Ian Rankin. He sets this series in Edinburgh but there are limited references to the city, and references that don't require really knowing the city. Nonetheless, this was a satisfying read beginning with a seemingly unsolvable murder. McLean is also battling with some developers who are renovating the building where his flat is located that was heavily damaged in a fire. There's something fishy about the developers who are bad guys in this story. Another character, a transvestite fortune teller who is being harrassed. Is her situtation somehow tied in with redevelopment of Leith where she lives? Everything is satisfactorily answered by the end although a in a prefunctory wrap up.
February 7, 2017
Prayer for the dead by James Oswald is a mystery and thriller and general fiction (adult) read.
A body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove. The victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification.
Absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story and the characters. McLean is still my favourite character. Can't wait for next part. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley
A body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove. The victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification.
Absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story and the characters. McLean is still my favourite character. Can't wait for next part. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley
March 4, 2018
I really struggled to stay interesting in this book, I don’t like to say it as this series so far has been a favourite of mine.
I don’t really understand where this book fits in to the existing series? :(
I feel there are answers still needed to finish this book (for me anyway)
Given how long it took me to read this book it certainly wasn’t a page turner
I don’t really understand where this book fits in to the existing series? :(
I feel there are answers still needed to finish this book (for me anyway)
Given how long it took me to read this book it certainly wasn’t a page turner
April 14, 2015
the latest in the series doesn't disappoint and the author develops further the characters in this the fifth in the series as supernatural meets the real world. this series is like the supernatural rankin of Edinburgh
August 19, 2017
An interesting book with a surprising ending.
October 30, 2017
There's something awfully compelling about Oswald's writing that never fails at drawing me in even though the idea behind it is actually quite similar to the previous four books in the series. The execution is also somewhat similar in the aspect that I already knew to anticipate that Tony's going to get himself hurt by the end of the book, because he's miraculously found his killer and all of the crimes he seems to investigating somehow fit together into one bigger puzzle. Mind, that's not necessarily a bad thing because Oswald most definitely knows how to write and even though the similarities are there, I don't actually think of them all that much while I'm reading.
While I'm reading, I'm fully absorbed in Oswald's words and it's nigh impossible to drag me away from them. The small touch of paranormal only adds to the overall story and doesn't detract from the reading experience for me.
Even though it's not mandatory to read the previous four books before diving into this one, I'd still recommend reading them in order because with each book the reader learns something new about our main character Anthony 'Tony' McLean and I personally love getting to know him bit by bit. This time round, for example, I discovered that his phone ring is something like a klaxon. :)
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While I'm reading, I'm fully absorbed in Oswald's words and it's nigh impossible to drag me away from them. The small touch of paranormal only adds to the overall story and doesn't detract from the reading experience for me.
Even though it's not mandatory to read the previous four books before diving into this one, I'd still recommend reading them in order because with each book the reader learns something new about our main character Anthony 'Tony' McLean and I personally love getting to know him bit by bit. This time round, for example, I discovered that his phone ring is something like a klaxon. :)
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January 14, 2017
My second of the JO series of scots whodunnits and somewhat more satisfying than the first but not in the MacBride league sorry to say. In fact I do not quite know what the fuss is about. Is it humour or laziness to pepper the character names like Dalgleish and co as per TV coppers?
I found myself hurrying through it to reach the denouement which I thought rather unsatisfying. Well, it is a lot of pages... maybe someone could get stuck in next time and cut it down a bit.
No supernatural stuff here this time which is perhaps just as well. Cannot but feel that this just isn't in the top league; felt at times that this was some sort of copyist work but not very good. Sorry. You know when you are in the top class within a few pages reading a book but this just reeks of something akin to fan fiction. Maybe the publishers seeing a market want more to keep the sales up... I like Macbride for the characters but in these books I just don't care what happens to them. Shall likely give others a go when I see them in the library.... but as often if it does not grab me after 50 pages it is on to the next...
I found myself hurrying through it to reach the denouement which I thought rather unsatisfying. Well, it is a lot of pages... maybe someone could get stuck in next time and cut it down a bit.
No supernatural stuff here this time which is perhaps just as well. Cannot but feel that this just isn't in the top league; felt at times that this was some sort of copyist work but not very good. Sorry. You know when you are in the top class within a few pages reading a book but this just reeks of something akin to fan fiction. Maybe the publishers seeing a market want more to keep the sales up... I like Macbride for the characters but in these books I just don't care what happens to them. Shall likely give others a go when I see them in the library.... but as often if it does not grab me after 50 pages it is on to the next...
February 5, 2017
This was the second book of the Inspector McLean series I've read, after The Book Of Souls, which is the second. (Don't ask me why I read #2 and then #5, not starting at the beginning and then skipping books ... but I've got #7 on my kindle too, so that one is probably going to be next). The Book Of Souls was quite good, but Prayer for the Dead unfortunately didn't win me over as much. It was quite an average read, not bad, not outstanding. It was a bit slow for me, and that's probably because for most of the book the investigations seemed to be leading nowhere, even though there was quite a lot going on at the same time. Anyway, there were some creepy moments, which kind of made up for the more boring passages. Overall, three stars from me and a promise that this won't be the last Inspector McLean novel I've read.
Last but not least I'd like to thank NetGalley, James Oswald and Penguin for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review!
Last but not least I'd like to thank NetGalley, James Oswald and Penguin for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review!
September 3, 2017
This guy always gets the strangest cases! Bizarre, ritualistic murders causing Inspector McLean to work with one of his adversaries, a reporter named Jo Dagliesh, to help uncover any clues they can - and there aren't many. The first case involves a fellow reporter - Ben Stevenson. Dagliesh is keen to help wherever she can on this one. Then two more bodies turn up. The second one could be just a routine murder (is there such a thing), but that third death is just as bizarre as the first! McLean seems to be the only one who thinks there's a connection. And, could there be a connection to him? There's a lot of great reviews of this book so I won't expand just to say it's a really good read.
December 13, 2015
I was looking forward to reading this, wanting a soulmate for Rebus. But I found it boring. McLean is boring - certainly no Rebus. The story was a little silly. It was hugely padded-out. Although, some of the other characters stood-out, and I loved the description of the underground thingy.
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