Eye Of The Raven

Dr Steven Dunbar #5

by Ken McClure

Dr Steven Dunbar works for Sci-Med Inspectorate, a secretive agency that investigates crimes with links to the world of science. He is therefore bemused when the deathbed confession of a convicted psychopath lands on his desk. But it emerges that another man is already serving a life sentence for the brutal rape and murder of 13-year old Julie Summers -- a man whose medical research once sent shockwaves through the scientific community. Dr David Little. Little is nine years into his life sentence. The evidence against him was a perfect DNA match. When Dunbar is sent to Edinburgh to confirm the deathbed confession as a hoax, amongst the confusion, incompetency and deception that he encounters there, a new fear what if the confession is true? A case that has already destroyed so many lives is forced to reopen. Dunbar is determined to discover the truth, even if it is finally revealed to be more horrific than anyone could have imagined . . .

Genres: Thriller, Medical, Fiction, Mystery, Medical Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Ken McClure is the internationally bestselling author of over twenty medical thrillers such as The Lazarus Strain, The Gulf Conspiracy, White Death and Dust to Dust. His books have been translated into twenty-five languages and he has earned a reputation for the accuracy of his predicitions. McClure's work is informed by his background as an award-winning research scientist with the UK's Medical Research Council. He lives in a small village in the Lammermuir Hills of Scotland.

Reviews

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book (Audible.com title) while driving and the trip just flew by. Dr. Stephen Dunbar -- I may get the spellings wrong since I was listening -- is a medical doctor working for SCI-MED a quasi police department in Scotland that appears to have broad police powers and investigates crimes from a scientific perspective. He is called in when a dying serial killer confesses to a crime that another man, Dr. Little, has been convicted of using seemingly incontrovertible DNA evidence. Soon Dunbar discovers several anomalies and a lab that had been charged with sloppy work. The evidence continues to point in Little's direction, however, until some weird things are discovered and the director of the lab is found murdered. Enough said to avoid spoilers. I have to admit to being a sucker for a nice Scottish accent and the reader, Joe Dunlop, does a great job.

[Mel Allred]

I haven't searched further, but if this is a detective series, it is one that I would be interested in seeing more of

[Jacob Peled · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series of Dr. Dunbar. Lots of twist. Lots of logic. Can (almost) happen to any one. For all of the medical thriller lovers. It is mostly medical in DNA investigation.

[Joann Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fast moving.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best so far in the Steven Dunbar series. On to #6. Ken McClure is a great author in medical thrillers. Can't put them down.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read a crime thriller and I'd forgotten just how much I liked them. Yes, a suspension of belief is needed in places, but this one was better than most and at least there wasn't a lot of running around shooting off guns. The story is a good one - a serial killer confesses to one more murder on his death bed, but the police have already put away someone for life on the basis of identical DNA matches from the scene. Believing the man to be lying, although not sure why, an investigation takes place to show that the police were right ... but things really don't add up and more and more about the case rings alarm bells as the investigation continues.

I did like the fact that the story didn't have a pat, perfectly happy ending ... a sordid sequence of events ruins a number of lives and working out why or how doesn't change that - it made a change for an author to stick to that and show that the consequences linger. It was also good to show that science is infallible, but the humans behind it aren't, and a nasty frame of mind can make the science say whatever you like.

Well worth the read.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Stephen Dunbar is investigating the deathbed confession of a convicted psychopath for the brutal rape and murder of a 13 year old for whom another man has been convicted on 100% certain forensic evidence. The latter has already served eight years of a life sentence while protesting his innocence. It is Dunbar's task to find out the facts of this case. What I particularly liked about this book was the fact that it's not a case of the typical: "Somebody is murdered. Detective finds the killer." In this book, the murder happened eight years ago and there was a satisfactory conclusion to the case. Dunbar, who works for the rather mysterious Sci-Med Inspectorate, an agency that investigates crimes with links to the world of science, goes into the search for the truth believing that the psychopath is a liar so it is interesting to watch as he uncovers truths and untruths, clues and false leads, and eventually learns the truth. I found it very interesting to see the story unfold, at times with what seemed like the denouement, only to learn that another twist had been added. I would definitely recommend this book and will be looking out more works by this author.

[DrJ]

Audio e version borrowed from Libby, read by Joe Dunlop.

1. I preferred David Thorpe's narration from the CD Dust to Dust story
2. Considering it's "Sci Med" I didn't think that there was enough "Sci" or "Med" at the start to warrant Dunbar's involvement.
3. I thought the story was unnecessarily elongated in places.
4. I've got real respect for Dunbar and his history etc. But this time I felt he acted a little more recklessly than his character warrants.
5. The connections between the characters was very cleverly interwoven, and Dunbar's empathy towards a certain character was touching.

[Marian Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure where I got this book, but found it on my bookshelf and thought I would give it ago as nothing else was grabbing me.

So glad i did this was a brilliant read. The story raced along, the main characters especially Dr Steve Dunbar, were likeable and interesting, the story line was different from the usual crime fiction with lots of twists and turns.

I have seen on Goodreads that i have jumped in on the 5th book of a series, it didn’t have any negatives that i have read this as a stand alone read.

I will be looking to get more in this series soon.

[Beata Ba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Całkiem nieźle skonstruowana intryga. Wszystko się tak ładnie spięło, i wyjaśniło, w taki trochę naiwny sposób, ale co tam. Dr Dunbar znów w iście McGaverowski sposób wydostaje się z różnych opresji.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping read from McClure.

[J.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable but entertaining.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a good story. I would love to give this book a 5. I really liked the investigator and the cussing was mainly by those that were the other characters, but I think a book can be done without this element. I always get into the story and here it comes. I had no problem as others with some editing problems, but bad language thrown in always brings the book down a couple stars for me. Great ending though.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this 5th book in the series featuring Dr Steven Dunbar. The story was full of twists and turns and the plot keeps you guessing almost to the very end, Thank you Ken McClure for another excellent book.

[Brian Deegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

196/7th/27

[Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just couldn't put this one down until I had finished it. A totally riveting read, brilliantly constructed, another amazing book from Ken McClure, thank you :-)

[SalScamander · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was alright, but it could've been better. It was kind of slow going at first, but after a while it starts to get good. So I'm satisfied with this book.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Stephen Dunbar investigates an apparently watertight conviction based on DNA evidence. Scottish based thriller.