What do you think?
Rate this book
Logan McRae #8
Close to the Bone
Il primo corpo è incatenato a un palo: strangolato e pugnalato, con uno pneumatico che ancora brucia intorno a quel che resta del collo.
Si tratta di un’esecuzione della malavita o di qualcosa di molto più complesso? Qualcuno sta lasciando piccoli frammenti di ossa fuori della roulotte dell’ispettore Logan McRae, ma lui pensa di avere cose più urgenti cui pensare. Bande di narcotrafficanti rivali sono in lotta per il controllo del territorio, una coppia di adolescenti è scomparsa, qualcuno sta mutilando immigrati asiatici con strani, orripilanti rituali stregoneschi e Logan deve pure fare i conti con una nuova e ambiziosa detective, con una montagna di scartoffie, e con la sgradita attenzione sia da parte dei superiori che dei boss della criminalità locale. Per non parlare del suo capo diretto, la sguaiata, offensiva, perennemente urlante, irresistibile commissario capo Steel. Quando un altro corpo viene ritrovato, le somiglianze tra i vari omicidi non possono più essere ignorate. E forse quei frammenti di ossa legati con un grazioso nastrino sono più importanti di quanto sembrino…
Si tratta di un’esecuzione della malavita o di qualcosa di molto più complesso? Qualcuno sta lasciando piccoli frammenti di ossa fuori della roulotte dell’ispettore Logan McRae, ma lui pensa di avere cose più urgenti cui pensare. Bande di narcotrafficanti rivali sono in lotta per il controllo del territorio, una coppia di adolescenti è scomparsa, qualcuno sta mutilando immigrati asiatici con strani, orripilanti rituali stregoneschi e Logan deve pure fare i conti con una nuova e ambiziosa detective, con una montagna di scartoffie, e con la sgradita attenzione sia da parte dei superiori che dei boss della criminalità locale. Per non parlare del suo capo diretto, la sguaiata, offensiva, perennemente urlante, irresistibile commissario capo Steel. Quando un altro corpo viene ritrovato, le somiglianze tra i vari omicidi non possono più essere ignorate. E forse quei frammenti di ossa legati con un grazioso nastrino sono più importanti di quanto sembrino…
511 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2012
466 people are currently reading
2457 people want to read
About the author
Stuart MacBride
87 books2,719 followersAka Stuart B. MacBride
The life and times of a bearded write-ist.
Stuart MacBride (that's me) was born in Dumbarton -- which is Glasgow as far as I'm concerned -- moving up to Aberdeen at the tender age of two, when fashions were questionable. Nothing much happened for years and years and years: learned to play the recorder, then forgot how when they changed from little coloured dots to proper musical notes (why the hell couldn't they have taught us the notes in the first bloody place? I could have been performing my earth-shattering rendition of 'Three Blind Mice' at the Albert Hall by now!); appeared in some bizarre World War Two musical production; did my best to avoid eating haggis and generally ran about the place a lot.
Next up was an elongated spell in Westhill -- a small suburb seven miles west of Aberdeen -- where I embarked upon a mediocre academic career, hindered by a complete inability to spell and an attention span the length of a gnat's doodad.
And so to UNIVERSITY, far too young, naive and stupid to be away from the family home, sharing a subterranean flat in one of the seedier bits of Edinburgh with a mad Irishman, and four other bizarre individuals. The highlight of walking to the art school in the mornings (yes: we were students, but we still did mornings) was trying not to tread in the fresh bloodstains outside our front door, and dodging the undercover CID officers trying to buy drugs. Lovely place.
But university and I did not see eye to eye, so off I went to work offshore. Like many all-male environments, working offshore was the intellectual equivalent of Animal House, only without the clever bits. Swearing, smoking, eating, more swearing, pornography, swearing, drinking endless plastic cups of tea... and did I mention the swearing? But it was more money than I'd seen in my life! There's something about being handed a wadge of cash as you clamber off the minibus from the heliport, having spent the last two weeks offshore and the last two hours in an orange, rubber romper suit / body bag, then blowing most of it in the pubs and clubs of Aberdeen. And being young enough to get away without a hangover.
Then came a spell of working for myself as a graphic designer, which went the way of all flesh and into the heady world of studio management for a nation-wide marketing company. Then some more freelance design work, a handful of voiceovers for local radio and video production companies and a bash at being an actor (with a small 'a'), giving it up when it became clear there was no way I was ever going to be good enough to earn a decent living.
It was about this time I fell into bad company -- a blonde from Fife who conned me into marrying her -- and started producing websites for a friend's fledgling Internet company. From there it was a roller coaster ride (in that it made a lot of people feel decidedly unwell) from web designer to web manager, lead programmer, team lead and other assorted technical bollocks with three different companies, eventually ending up as a project manager for a global IT company.
But there was always the writing (well, that's not true, the writing only started two chapters above this one). I fell victim to that most dreadful of things: peer pressure. Two friends were writing novels and I thought, 'why not? I could do that'.
Took a few years though...
The life and times of a bearded write-ist.
Stuart MacBride (that's me) was born in Dumbarton -- which is Glasgow as far as I'm concerned -- moving up to Aberdeen at the tender age of two, when fashions were questionable. Nothing much happened for years and years and years: learned to play the recorder, then forgot how when they changed from little coloured dots to proper musical notes (why the hell couldn't they have taught us the notes in the first bloody place? I could have been performing my earth-shattering rendition of 'Three Blind Mice' at the Albert Hall by now!); appeared in some bizarre World War Two musical production; did my best to avoid eating haggis and generally ran about the place a lot.
Next up was an elongated spell in Westhill -- a small suburb seven miles west of Aberdeen -- where I embarked upon a mediocre academic career, hindered by a complete inability to spell and an attention span the length of a gnat's doodad.
And so to UNIVERSITY, far too young, naive and stupid to be away from the family home, sharing a subterranean flat in one of the seedier bits of Edinburgh with a mad Irishman, and four other bizarre individuals. The highlight of walking to the art school in the mornings (yes: we were students, but we still did mornings) was trying not to tread in the fresh bloodstains outside our front door, and dodging the undercover CID officers trying to buy drugs. Lovely place.
But university and I did not see eye to eye, so off I went to work offshore. Like many all-male environments, working offshore was the intellectual equivalent of Animal House, only without the clever bits. Swearing, smoking, eating, more swearing, pornography, swearing, drinking endless plastic cups of tea... and did I mention the swearing? But it was more money than I'd seen in my life! There's something about being handed a wadge of cash as you clamber off the minibus from the heliport, having spent the last two weeks offshore and the last two hours in an orange, rubber romper suit / body bag, then blowing most of it in the pubs and clubs of Aberdeen. And being young enough to get away without a hangover.
Then came a spell of working for myself as a graphic designer, which went the way of all flesh and into the heady world of studio management for a nation-wide marketing company. Then some more freelance design work, a handful of voiceovers for local radio and video production companies and a bash at being an actor (with a small 'a'), giving it up when it became clear there was no way I was ever going to be good enough to earn a decent living.
It was about this time I fell into bad company -- a blonde from Fife who conned me into marrying her -- and started producing websites for a friend's fledgling Internet company. From there it was a roller coaster ride (in that it made a lot of people feel decidedly unwell) from web designer to web manager, lead programmer, team lead and other assorted technical bollocks with three different companies, eventually ending up as a project manager for a global IT company.
But there was always the writing (well, that's not true, the writing only started two chapters above this one). I fell victim to that most dreadful of things: peer pressure. Two friends were writing novels and I thought, 'why not? I could do that'.
Took a few years though...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
October 4, 2018
Oh I did enjoy this one! I think that as I become more accustomed to the Scottish slang and the black, black humour I like this series more and more.
Logan McRae is still in a bad place domestically but at least his work life is looking up. As he tries to juggle solving several different crimes at the same time and deal with his (appalling) boss he manages to maintain his cool - mostly- and gets the job done.
A great story, grotesque murders, lots of blood and chaos, really dark humour - I loved all of it!
Logan McRae is still in a bad place domestically but at least his work life is looking up. As he tries to juggle solving several different crimes at the same time and deal with his (appalling) boss he manages to maintain his cool - mostly- and gets the job done.
A great story, grotesque murders, lots of blood and chaos, really dark humour - I loved all of it!
November 14, 2017
EXCERPT: She holds up the book of matches, licks her lips. She's practised the words a dozen times until they're perfect.
'Do you have anything to say before I carry out sentence?'
The man kneeling on the floor of the warehouse stares up at her. He's trembling, moaning behind the mask hiding his face. 'Oh God. Oh Jesus. Oh God. Oh Jesus.'
The chains around his wrists and ankles rattle against the metal stake.
A waft of accelerant curls through the air from the tyre wedged over his head and shoulders. Black rubber and paraffin.
THE BLURB: The first body is chained to a stake: strangled, and stabbed, with a burning tyre around its neck. But is this a gangland execution or something much darker?
Someone’s leaving little knots of bones outside Detective Inspector Logan McRae’s house, but he’s got more pressing things to worry about. Rival drug gangs are fighting over product and territory; two teenage lovers are missing; someone’s crippling Asian immigrants; and Logan’s been lumbered with an ambitious new Detective Sergeant, a mountain of paperwork, and the unwelcome attention of his superiors and the local crime boss.
When another body turns up, it looks as if the similarities between these murders and the plot of a bestselling novel are more than just a coincidence. And perhaps those little knots of bones are more important than they look…
MY THOUGHTS: The blurb doesn't do Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride justice, anywhere near justice. Reading this book is a nail-biting, roller-coaster ride of an experience. MacBride has long been a favorite author of mine, but with Close to the Bone, he has taken his writing to a whole new level. This is the best book by this author that I have read.
I have a strong stomach, there isn't much in the written word that makes me cringe, yet MacBride managed it. Amongst all the horrific descriptions of what the characters in this book are doing to one another, the graphic descriptions of the crime scenes and the decomposing bodies, there is a girl who picks the scabs off her knees AND EATS THEM! That brought me to my knees.
And interspersed with all this, are little gems of MacBride's black humor. An example - 'You told me he was dead.' 'He got better.'
I loved this book. MacBride had me running the gamut of my emotions. He shocked me, he had me worried, he made me sad, he made me laugh, he broke my heart.
I listened to Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride, narrated by Steve Worley who did a magnificent job, on audio via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
'Do you have anything to say before I carry out sentence?'
The man kneeling on the floor of the warehouse stares up at her. He's trembling, moaning behind the mask hiding his face. 'Oh God. Oh Jesus. Oh God. Oh Jesus.'
The chains around his wrists and ankles rattle against the metal stake.
A waft of accelerant curls through the air from the tyre wedged over his head and shoulders. Black rubber and paraffin.
THE BLURB: The first body is chained to a stake: strangled, and stabbed, with a burning tyre around its neck. But is this a gangland execution or something much darker?
Someone’s leaving little knots of bones outside Detective Inspector Logan McRae’s house, but he’s got more pressing things to worry about. Rival drug gangs are fighting over product and territory; two teenage lovers are missing; someone’s crippling Asian immigrants; and Logan’s been lumbered with an ambitious new Detective Sergeant, a mountain of paperwork, and the unwelcome attention of his superiors and the local crime boss.
When another body turns up, it looks as if the similarities between these murders and the plot of a bestselling novel are more than just a coincidence. And perhaps those little knots of bones are more important than they look…
MY THOUGHTS: The blurb doesn't do Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride justice, anywhere near justice. Reading this book is a nail-biting, roller-coaster ride of an experience. MacBride has long been a favorite author of mine, but with Close to the Bone, he has taken his writing to a whole new level. This is the best book by this author that I have read.
I have a strong stomach, there isn't much in the written word that makes me cringe, yet MacBride managed it. Amongst all the horrific descriptions of what the characters in this book are doing to one another, the graphic descriptions of the crime scenes and the decomposing bodies, there is a girl who picks the scabs off her knees AND EATS THEM! That brought me to my knees.
And interspersed with all this, are little gems of MacBride's black humor. An example - 'You told me he was dead.' 'He got better.'
I loved this book. MacBride had me running the gamut of my emotions. He shocked me, he had me worried, he made me sad, he made me laugh, he broke my heart.
I listened to Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride, narrated by Steve Worley who did a magnificent job, on audio via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
September 21, 2021
There is so much to love in a Logan MacRae book. The characters - sarcastic, over the top sex-obsessed DI Steel (now acting DCI), lovable, bumbling DS Rennie, Biohazard Bob, and of course Logan himself (now acting DI and still answerable to Steel); the descriptions of Aberdeen – both the good and the bad parts; the crimes – often dark and shocking as well as the minor and absurdly peculiar ones. And then there are the criminals themselves. MacBride somehow seems to come up with a unique type of criminal with each new novel.
As usual Logan has his hands full in this eight episode of the series. Horrendous murders are being committed that are reminiscent of those in a popular teen fantasy novel about witchcraft, one that is currently being made into a film right in Aberdeen. Asian immigrants are being beaten up, a teenage couple is missing and someone has been leaving bones outside Logan’s door. Two years after the fire that destroyed his flat, Logan is still living in his girlfriend Samantha’s caravan and Sam is still in hospital in a coma, so his personal life is pretty much on hold, not that he has much time for one with all that’s going on at work.
This is everything a Logan McRae novel should be – gritty, shocking, darkly, humorous, inventive, heartbreaking and always very human. Top marks too for the narration by Steve Worsley whose voices totally brings the book to life the way the author intended.
As usual Logan has his hands full in this eight episode of the series. Horrendous murders are being committed that are reminiscent of those in a popular teen fantasy novel about witchcraft, one that is currently being made into a film right in Aberdeen. Asian immigrants are being beaten up, a teenage couple is missing and someone has been leaving bones outside Logan’s door. Two years after the fire that destroyed his flat, Logan is still living in his girlfriend Samantha’s caravan and Sam is still in hospital in a coma, so his personal life is pretty much on hold, not that he has much time for one with all that’s going on at work.
This is everything a Logan McRae novel should be – gritty, shocking, darkly, humorous, inventive, heartbreaking and always very human. Top marks too for the narration by Steve Worsley whose voices totally brings the book to life the way the author intended.
March 25, 2013
Look, let's just admit that I'm a huge fan of this series and get it over and done with. Love DI Steel, love her glorious over the topness, love McRae's constant sooking and all being put upon. Love the madness of the world in which they have to try to operate as functioning police members, love the supporting cast, love the gallows humour. Love the whole damn thing. Even love those that don't quite live up to the other books in the series (and let's face it - we're talking bees d's worth of not living up to that which came before).
I'll therefore plead to some lacking in objectivity.
CLOSE TO THE BONE has the requisite things going pear-shaped left right and centre - with cases piling up at the door refusing to maintain an orderly line. Including McRae balancing a personal life that almost, in the last book, accidentally veered towards normal, committed and stable. Meanwhile Steele is behaving like everyone's worst nightmare caricature. Even more-so in this book as she's dragged kicking, screaming, bitching and moaning into "Management". I even, for a very brief period in my life, found myself interested in the outcome of a wildly popular paranormal novel, but only because it looks like some nutcase is basing a series of murders on scenarios from that book.
But, more importantly, underneath the lunacy and the caricature there are little ripples in the reality. Sure Steel is considerably more over the top in the book than she's been in others. Maybe because the idea of Management scares her more than babies, shared parenthood and responsibility. Okay so McRae seems to be playing a slightly straighter bat on the one hand, and yet, maybe this settling down thing has some complications that he's not being completely up front about.
With MacBride there's often been that thing in the undercurrent, that hint of the reality underneath the gallows humour and that glimpse behind the mask that's intriguing. That and the over the top nature of the characters as a coping mechanism for what they must deal with on a day to day basis. Sure in this book some of those elements are stretched out to the point where you can actually see through the elastic. Don't care. Loved it.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
I'll therefore plead to some lacking in objectivity.
CLOSE TO THE BONE has the requisite things going pear-shaped left right and centre - with cases piling up at the door refusing to maintain an orderly line. Including McRae balancing a personal life that almost, in the last book, accidentally veered towards normal, committed and stable. Meanwhile Steele is behaving like everyone's worst nightmare caricature. Even more-so in this book as she's dragged kicking, screaming, bitching and moaning into "Management". I even, for a very brief period in my life, found myself interested in the outcome of a wildly popular paranormal novel, but only because it looks like some nutcase is basing a series of murders on scenarios from that book.
But, more importantly, underneath the lunacy and the caricature there are little ripples in the reality. Sure Steel is considerably more over the top in the book than she's been in others. Maybe because the idea of Management scares her more than babies, shared parenthood and responsibility. Okay so McRae seems to be playing a slightly straighter bat on the one hand, and yet, maybe this settling down thing has some complications that he's not being completely up front about.
With MacBride there's often been that thing in the undercurrent, that hint of the reality underneath the gallows humour and that glimpse behind the mask that's intriguing. That and the over the top nature of the characters as a coping mechanism for what they must deal with on a day to day basis. Sure in this book some of those elements are stretched out to the point where you can actually see through the elastic. Don't care. Loved it.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
April 25, 2019
This is the first book I have read by Stuart MacBride and it certainly wont be the last one! I thought that this was a brilliant book that was written so well and completely got me hooked on it, unfortunately I started the series on book 8, so I didn't know much about the characters but I soon learnt about them and felt like it was the first book.
If you are looking for a thriller that will capture your attention, not let it go and make you think about the novel when you are away from it, makes you want to even leave work and curl back up with the book then I would definitely recommend this series and I cant wait to read the rest of the series!
If you are looking for a thriller that will capture your attention, not let it go and make you think about the novel when you are away from it, makes you want to even leave work and curl back up with the book then I would definitely recommend this series and I cant wait to read the rest of the series!
June 13, 2013
Reading Stuart Macbride is kind of like riding a rollercoaster inside a fun house. Not only do you go up and down at often dizzying and breakneck speeds, but you come face to face with strange characters, mirrors that distort everything and, sometimes, ghosts and weird noises. Acting DI Logan McRae is still living in a "caravan" (aka trailer) after his flat was destroyed by a fire two years ago. Someone is leaving bones tied with ribbon at his front step. He thinks they're just chicken bones until he learns otherwise.... Someone has "necklaced" a homeless veteran of the Kuwait war, tortured him and set him on fire. Meanwhile, a gang war over high grade cannabis is threatening to break out, and a film of a popular book about witches is being filmed in a former porn studio. Macbride is one of the best crime writers out there. His dark humor is twisted beyond belief. There aren't a lot of writers who can make you laugh, be outraged, then cry and laugh again - often in the same paragraph. This is why I NEVER miss the newest Stuart Macbride.
September 6, 2023
Close to the Bone is another entertaining, gritty and darkly humorous instalment in Stuart MacBride's series featuring Aberdeen (Scotland) police detectives Logan McRae, now promoted to Acting Inspector, and Chief Inspector Roberta Steel.
April 26, 2022
A series I savour!
A reluctant four-stars for this fantastic author, but the eighth instalment seemed a little stretched this time. I must say I’ve only given five-stars so far for this series. The black humour was excellent as usual, the dark metaphors were brilliantly created, but the plot was a little 'iffy' this time.
Nothing will stop me from reading the series, and I am looking forward to finding time for number 9!
A reluctant four-stars for this fantastic author, but the eighth instalment seemed a little stretched this time. I must say I’ve only given five-stars so far for this series. The black humour was excellent as usual, the dark metaphors were brilliantly created, but the plot was a little 'iffy' this time.
Nothing will stop me from reading the series, and I am looking forward to finding time for number 9!
October 28, 2018
Kwam eerst moeilijk in het verhaal door de vele personages...maar toen vielen de puzzelstukjes in elkaar met toch wel een verrassend einde.
February 2, 2018
One of the better entries in the DS Logan McRae series by Duncan MacBride, although one feature of this grisly, amusing detective thriller series set in Aberdeen is its consistently high quality.
MacBride seems to like taking on various aspects of society and in CLOSE TO THE BONE he dissects both Hollywood star-crushes and the whole young adult magical fantasy craze. A series of truly horrifying murders are taking place while the movie adaptation of the popular WITCHFIRE book is being filmed around town. Plus there seems to be some kind of incipient gang war between rival marijuana suppliers. And a teenage girl who gets violent when she’s off her anti-psychotic meds and her villainous American-raised boyfriend have disappeared.
These are the mysteries that Logan has to deal with this time, except he’s also saddled with a (temporary) promotion to Detective Inspector while his torturous (and wildly inappropriate) boss Roberta Steel is now Detective Chief Inspector In charge of the entirety of Major Crimes and still determined to have Logan do most of her job while insuring he do his as well. But the most serious thing is that 2 years have passed since the events of the previous book. Logan’s girlfriend Samantha is still in the hospital and he’s living in her old caravan, despite the fact that there’s been more than enough time to repair the apartment that was firebombed (which was the incident that led to both their injuries in the first place). He visits her every night but something seems off....
MacBride is a master at combining multiple seemingly unrelated plot threads into a compelling and thrilling police procedural which is both funny and intriguing and he does some of his best work in CLOSE TO THE BONE.
I’ve already started pacing myself in reading the books because there’s only 2 more left in the Logan McRae series to date. However I am very pleased that last year a stand-alone book featuring DCI Roberta Steel (NOW WE ARE DEAD) was released so there’s always that to be look forward to!
MacBride seems to like taking on various aspects of society and in CLOSE TO THE BONE he dissects both Hollywood star-crushes and the whole young adult magical fantasy craze. A series of truly horrifying murders are taking place while the movie adaptation of the popular WITCHFIRE book is being filmed around town. Plus there seems to be some kind of incipient gang war between rival marijuana suppliers. And a teenage girl who gets violent when she’s off her anti-psychotic meds and her villainous American-raised boyfriend have disappeared.
These are the mysteries that Logan has to deal with this time, except he’s also saddled with a (temporary) promotion to Detective Inspector while his torturous (and wildly inappropriate) boss Roberta Steel is now Detective Chief Inspector In charge of the entirety of Major Crimes and still determined to have Logan do most of her job while insuring he do his as well. But the most serious thing is that 2 years have passed since the events of the previous book. Logan’s girlfriend Samantha is still in the hospital and he’s living in her old caravan, despite the fact that there’s been more than enough time to repair the apartment that was firebombed (which was the incident that led to both their injuries in the first place). He visits her every night but something seems off....
MacBride is a master at combining multiple seemingly unrelated plot threads into a compelling and thrilling police procedural which is both funny and intriguing and he does some of his best work in CLOSE TO THE BONE.
I’ve already started pacing myself in reading the books because there’s only 2 more left in the Logan McRae series to date. However I am very pleased that last year a stand-alone book featuring DCI Roberta Steel (NOW WE ARE DEAD) was released so there’s always that to be look forward to!
March 29, 2016
4.5 stars
I love this series. Review to come...
I love this series. Review to come...
January 20, 2013
This is the eighth book in the Logan McRae series. Having read this one before any of the others, a bad habit of mine, I can't honestly compare it to the other seven. But, for me it was a wonderful change of pace. I will give a full review closer to the release date of the book. However, I do suggest a pre-order.
October 3, 2017
When I had finished this one, I remember saying I'm done with Logan. The style, plot and characters just had expired for me. However as soon as the newest Macbride came out, I'd purchase and read it. Alot of plot threads in this one. I remember the ending shaking me up a little bit. Didnt expect a character plot twist (no spoilers).
April 6, 2017
3.5
Логан Макрей разговаривает с воображаемыми друзьями, пытается не стать главой мафиозного концерна и спасает Абердин отведьм-шмедьм маньяка, убивающего людей в честь своей любимой книги, мэш-апа "Сумерек", "Кода да Винчи" и "Гарри Поттера".
Логан Макрей разговаривает с воображаемыми друзьями, пытается не стать главой мафиозного концерна и спасает Абердин от
February 6, 2017
I adore all of the Logan McRae novels, each book pushing Stuart MacBride higher up on my list of favourite authors. In fact, there are only a couple of authors I rate above Stuart MacBride – and those are my cream of the crop authors. Thus, whenever I see a story with his name on the cover, I jump at the book. Any book that belongs to the Logan McRae series is grabbed even quicker. Whilst I was late joining the McRae party, I’m well and truly an adoring fan.
Close to the Bone was another fun addition to the Logan McRae series, although I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed some of the others. In fact, at times the story seemed to really drag. Yes, there were many wonderful aspects. Everything you would expect from Stuart MacBride could be seen; however, it wasn’t quite what some of the other books happened to be.
Truthfully, I think I know what did it for me. The last few books have seen more and more of the psychologist nosing his way into things (or being pulled into things, depending upon how you look at things). I enjoy his character, I really do. There was too much of him here, though. Now many will find he adds a lot to the story – yet I found myself unable to suspend belief in the way I needed to. Well, not so much suspend belief as ignore the reality of my world. You see, I belong to the psychology department at the University of Aberdeen, thus allowing me to know how the department works. The layout of the building, the way things played out, and all the other small things meant I wasn’t as pulled into the story as I could have been. As I should have been. I found myself going ‘nope, not correct’ every time something came about which I knew the truth about. Now throughout the series I have loved reading about a city I know well – however, I found it jarring to suddenly be inside of a building I knew well, and trying to input the story into the small setting. Such a thing will not have an impact on other readers, but it was off putting for me.
Thus, I blame my lack of enjoyment on being too close to the setting.
It wasn’t just that, though. The above is an entirely personal thing, which I tried to prevent from influencing my enjoyment of the book. After all, it wasn’t as though the entire book took place inside of the building I know so well. In fact, very little happened. It’s just the thing that stuck with me most. What did influence me into viewing this as one of my least favourite in the series was how long it took me to become pulled into the story. There were times when things seemed to drag. As always, a lot was going on – and yet I wasn’t enjoying things as I usually was. I wanted to know how things came together, and yet I wasn’t crazy excited about any single aspect of the story. Some aspects were more fun than other aspects – but, as a whole, things simple were. I’m really not sure what it was: I simply wasn’t as engaged as I usually am.
There was still plenty of the usual MacBride marks to be seen: the dark humour, the interwoven stories, and the gritty crime. It just wasn’t my favourite of the series.
I’m positive, however, that I will adore the next. After all, the Logan McRae series has become one of my favourite series.
Close to the Bone was another fun addition to the Logan McRae series, although I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed some of the others. In fact, at times the story seemed to really drag. Yes, there were many wonderful aspects. Everything you would expect from Stuart MacBride could be seen; however, it wasn’t quite what some of the other books happened to be.
Truthfully, I think I know what did it for me. The last few books have seen more and more of the psychologist nosing his way into things (or being pulled into things, depending upon how you look at things). I enjoy his character, I really do. There was too much of him here, though. Now many will find he adds a lot to the story – yet I found myself unable to suspend belief in the way I needed to. Well, not so much suspend belief as ignore the reality of my world. You see, I belong to the psychology department at the University of Aberdeen, thus allowing me to know how the department works. The layout of the building, the way things played out, and all the other small things meant I wasn’t as pulled into the story as I could have been. As I should have been. I found myself going ‘nope, not correct’ every time something came about which I knew the truth about. Now throughout the series I have loved reading about a city I know well – however, I found it jarring to suddenly be inside of a building I knew well, and trying to input the story into the small setting. Such a thing will not have an impact on other readers, but it was off putting for me.
Thus, I blame my lack of enjoyment on being too close to the setting.
It wasn’t just that, though. The above is an entirely personal thing, which I tried to prevent from influencing my enjoyment of the book. After all, it wasn’t as though the entire book took place inside of the building I know so well. In fact, very little happened. It’s just the thing that stuck with me most. What did influence me into viewing this as one of my least favourite in the series was how long it took me to become pulled into the story. There were times when things seemed to drag. As always, a lot was going on – and yet I wasn’t enjoying things as I usually was. I wanted to know how things came together, and yet I wasn’t crazy excited about any single aspect of the story. Some aspects were more fun than other aspects – but, as a whole, things simple were. I’m really not sure what it was: I simply wasn’t as engaged as I usually am.
There was still plenty of the usual MacBride marks to be seen: the dark humour, the interwoven stories, and the gritty crime. It just wasn’t my favourite of the series.
I’m positive, however, that I will adore the next. After all, the Logan McRae series has become one of my favourite series.
June 20, 2024
I can hardly believe I'm going to say this but I was disappointed with this book. I've been a huge fan of this series but, for me, this tale was spoiled by Steel. I loved her in "Blind Eye" but my suspicions of her becoming over the top ("Dark Blood") have been proved correct. The constant "wisecracks" are far too frequent & therefore are just annoying rather than amusing. We know Steel's a sex-mad lesbian but do we really need her reminding us with puerile sexual innuendo every few pages? Personally I think not....
That aside, the story was good enough but I found it a bit messy in parts with a lot going on making it confusing (though I was right about Samantha)I won't be giving up on the series but I hope Steel is toned down in future.
Edit: June 2024
Currently listening to on audio book. Steel is just as annoying as I recall (hubby is in agreement there) & I'm having to bite my lip about Samantha - don't want to spoil things for my other half.
That aside, the story was good enough but I found it a bit messy in parts with a lot going on making it confusing (though I was right about Samantha)I won't be giving up on the series but I hope Steel is toned down in future.
Edit: June 2024
Currently listening to on audio book. Steel is just as annoying as I recall (hubby is in agreement there) & I'm having to bite my lip about Samantha - don't want to spoil things for my other half.
January 20, 2015
4.5 stars
This was one of the better Logan McRae books, and had plenty of twists to keep this reader guessing until the end. The entire series is very good, and I just realized that it is the characters' personalities that have been driving the storylines.
In this latest volume (hopefully not the last!), DI McRae and his crew are tracking down a serial killer that is twisted up into some weird witchcraft based on a best-selling novel/soon-to-be-major-motion-picture. Like I said, plot twists and surprises throughout. And characters reappearing after moving away several books ago were a special treat for the reader, too.
Hoping this isn't the last we see of Logan McRae...
This was one of the better Logan McRae books, and had plenty of twists to keep this reader guessing until the end. The entire series is very good, and I just realized that it is the characters' personalities that have been driving the storylines.
In this latest volume (hopefully not the last!), DI McRae and his crew are tracking down a serial killer that is twisted up into some weird witchcraft based on a best-selling novel/soon-to-be-major-motion-picture. Like I said, plot twists and surprises throughout. And characters reappearing after moving away several books ago were a special treat for the reader, too.
Hoping this isn't the last we see of Logan McRae...
May 11, 2016
4.5*
February 1, 2013
the slapstick comedy here is now at a point where it's just way too much, way too often, and it's all slathered in feet cheese or cold bacon butties. i found it difficult to reconcile the dark atmosphere in earlier books with the juvenile Harry Potter 'satire' elements and over-the-top physical gags in this book. very jarring. to me, there's nothing particularly eerie about movies, magic, and wrinkled cleavage. constant bone drop-age throughout the story did nothing to dissuade me from thinking this. scenes were a little hard to follow, as well, due to this Everything But the Kitchen Sink approach. the fondness i've had for the series characters has worn very, very thin, much like a lot of the characters themselves, who, for the most part, are described to have "lost a lot of weight," also. tired.
August 2, 2024
Antroji MacBride knyga, kurią teko skaityt, nesiseka man susidraugauti su šiuo autoriumi.
Sunkiai įsivažiavau į tekstą nuo pirmų puslapių, erzino mane nenuoseklumas ir šokinėjimas nuo vieno veiksmo prie kito.
Per ilgas, išplėstas ir manęs neįtraukęs trileris.
Pasigedau adrenalino ir prikaustančios įtampos, skaičiau tam, kad perskaityti.
Sunkiai įsivažiavau į tekstą nuo pirmų puslapių, erzino mane nenuoseklumas ir šokinėjimas nuo vieno veiksmo prie kito.
Per ilgas, išplėstas ir manęs neįtraukęs trileris.
Pasigedau adrenalino ir prikaustančios įtampos, skaičiau tam, kad perskaityti.
February 3, 2015
This was book 8 in the Logan McRae series, and once again Logan finds himself up to his neck in various crimes. There are gangland style killings, another drugs war seems to be breaking out, missing down and outs, a missing teenager, several oriental men have turned up with shattered knees, and the body count keeps rising. Are the gangland style killings a smoke screen for other darker satanic ritualistic murders, or is someone trying to move the focus away from what is really going on?
At the same time a big film is being made in Aberdeen, based around a fantasy book, and some of the killings bear a striking similarity to scenes from the book. Props and things have been stolen from the filmset, and the filmcrew are being pestered. Throw in some good old fashioned witchcraft, and it is easy to see why Logan is getting swamped. The investigations seem to be getting nowhere so a team from Strathclyde are sent in to assist, included in their number is Jackie Watson, Logan's one time girlfriend. His present girlfriend is still in the hospital from the arson attack on their flat in the previous book.
While DCI Finnie is away Steel has temporarily been promoted to cover for him, and Logan finds himself as an acting DI. So now not only does he have crimes to solve, there is the added problem of mountains of paperwork and budgets to be looked after.
Insch also puts in a welcome return, alongside the introduction of several new characters. The plots do seem to get slightly tangled and confusing in places, but the reader is led along in such a way that everything eventually makes sense. Despite the confusion a book worth reading, although it might not make complete sense to someone who hasn't read the earlier books in the series.
At the same time a big film is being made in Aberdeen, based around a fantasy book, and some of the killings bear a striking similarity to scenes from the book. Props and things have been stolen from the filmset, and the filmcrew are being pestered. Throw in some good old fashioned witchcraft, and it is easy to see why Logan is getting swamped. The investigations seem to be getting nowhere so a team from Strathclyde are sent in to assist, included in their number is Jackie Watson, Logan's one time girlfriend. His present girlfriend is still in the hospital from the arson attack on their flat in the previous book.
While DCI Finnie is away Steel has temporarily been promoted to cover for him, and Logan finds himself as an acting DI. So now not only does he have crimes to solve, there is the added problem of mountains of paperwork and budgets to be looked after.
Insch also puts in a welcome return, alongside the introduction of several new characters. The plots do seem to get slightly tangled and confusing in places, but the reader is led along in such a way that everything eventually makes sense. Despite the confusion a book worth reading, although it might not make complete sense to someone who hasn't read the earlier books in the series.
October 5, 2017
Logan is now an acting DI but still has a fairly chaotic personal life (cannot say more without being a spoiler). This is the eight in the series and as dark as any of the others - even though I thought it was too long for the plot and the twist in the end a little weak, still a good read. I look forward to the next one.
September 16, 2013
Hounded by his uber-sarcastic boss, DCI Roberta Steel, Detective Inspector Logan McCrea and his very witty mates pursue a ritualistic killer somehow associated with a horror film production in Aberdeen Scotland. DCI Steel, for example, might be the funniest fictional boss in the English speaking world which of course, begs the question of whether the Scots do indeed, speak English. Just kidding of course. "Tartan Noir" is alive and well, I'm happy to report, thanks to brilliant authors like Stuart MacBride. I think I'm finally getting the hang of the Northeast Scottish brogue and was no' disappointed with the effort!
The plot lines are really secondary and take a back seat to these wonderfully unique characters. Character driven humor is difficult to pull off successfully in fiction; Dan Jenkins, Carl Hiaasen and Christopher Brookmyre come to mind but nobody does sarcasm like Stuart MacBride's truly unforgettable characters in this recurring series.
The plot lines are really secondary and take a back seat to these wonderfully unique characters. Character driven humor is difficult to pull off successfully in fiction; Dan Jenkins, Carl Hiaasen and Christopher Brookmyre come to mind but nobody does sarcasm like Stuart MacBride's truly unforgettable characters in this recurring series.
February 12, 2014
I love Stuart mcbrides Logan Macrae, Inspector Steele series.
I gues it's the interaction between the two of them, that intrigues me
Inspector steel, well you can just see her, her potty mouth, and the gems that Stuart has created to come out of it.
Foul, funny, I actually listen to these books courtesy of a friend who buys taking books. This is such a great way to enjoy Stuart's books, the lilt of the Scottish accents resounds.
It increases the humour in otherwise really dark stories. I won't write abottut the plot. Everyone else has done ths
pathos, horror, humour what more could a girl ask for
I suggest you just sit back and enjoy
I gues it's the interaction between the two of them, that intrigues me
Inspector steel, well you can just see her, her potty mouth, and the gems that Stuart has created to come out of it.
Foul, funny, I actually listen to these books courtesy of a friend who buys taking books. This is such a great way to enjoy Stuart's books, the lilt of the Scottish accents resounds.
It increases the humour in otherwise really dark stories. I won't write abottut the plot. Everyone else has done ths
pathos, horror, humour what more could a girl ask for
I suggest you just sit back and enjoy
February 16, 2022
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Steve Worsley who does a great job. If anyone cares, I started listing audiobooks under ebooks, partially because it's easier than searching all the audiobook versions to find the right one, and also because audiobooks have no page count, a statistic I might want to know in the future.
This one was typical for the series, which I happen to like a lot. There's a lot of humor, interesting people, and pretty intricate plots. The police sometimes seem like a slapstick comedy, but Logan McRae always seems to come through in the end in spite of all the obstacles, mostly put in place by his boss, Detective Chief Inspector Steel, a lovable character who complains all the time, insults people constantly, blames them when things go wrong but takes credit when they go well, and is very demanding. Perhaps she's not so lovable by the people she works with, but it seems like in spite of their complaining, they don't dislike her. A typical move by her was to write in one of her teams notebook: ‘FIND THOSE BLOODY TRAMPS, YOU LAZY WEE BAWBAG!!!’ above a list of three names and a crude drawing of male genitalia. Or the way she gives orders, such as "‘I don’t give a badger’s hairy arsehole if they’re on Jeremy Kyle with “My Girlfriend Won’t Swallow”: I told you to get your finger out and visit the bloody parents and at least look as if you’re doing something.’"
There are lots of laughs, such as when someone reported they had arrested one person, and was told "you said he was dead". He answered "Well, he got better."
There are some pretty horrific crimes committed, so the humor is a welcome relief. People are getting their kneecaps smashed up by a hammer, and refusing to tell the police anything. One guy died by getting a tire wedged over his head and shoulders, accelerant added, and set on fire. So be prepared for some crazy crimes and crazy people.
This one was typical for the series, which I happen to like a lot. There's a lot of humor, interesting people, and pretty intricate plots. The police sometimes seem like a slapstick comedy, but Logan McRae always seems to come through in the end in spite of all the obstacles, mostly put in place by his boss, Detective Chief Inspector Steel, a lovable character who complains all the time, insults people constantly, blames them when things go wrong but takes credit when they go well, and is very demanding. Perhaps she's not so lovable by the people she works with, but it seems like in spite of their complaining, they don't dislike her. A typical move by her was to write in one of her teams notebook: ‘FIND THOSE BLOODY TRAMPS, YOU LAZY WEE BAWBAG!!!’ above a list of three names and a crude drawing of male genitalia. Or the way she gives orders, such as "‘I don’t give a badger’s hairy arsehole if they’re on Jeremy Kyle with “My Girlfriend Won’t Swallow”: I told you to get your finger out and visit the bloody parents and at least look as if you’re doing something.’"
There are lots of laughs, such as when someone reported they had arrested one person, and was told "you said he was dead". He answered "Well, he got better."
There are some pretty horrific crimes committed, so the humor is a welcome relief. People are getting their kneecaps smashed up by a hammer, and refusing to tell the police anything. One guy died by getting a tire wedged over his head and shoulders, accelerant added, and set on fire. So be prepared for some crazy crimes and crazy people.
December 2, 2024
Aštuntas mano kartas su Loganu Makrėjum. Pirmosios knygos LABAI patiko, septinta - so so, na, o aštunta vėl - visai nebloga.
Kaip ir visos kitos, ši stora ir su daug siužetinių linijų. Daug praeities ir asmeniškumų, tad ITIN rekomenduoju skaityti visą seriją iš eilės. Šioje byloje pinasi ir kino industrija, ir Logano praeities traumos, ir policijos departamento kasdienybės reikalai, ir narkotikai, gaujos, ir dar pasiutę paaugliai. Nu daug visko, matot patys. Tačiau Macbride tikrai neblogai apjungė visus siužetus ir dovanojo nelabai įtemptą, tačiau gerai susuktą trilerį. Jei tai būtų pavienė knyga, nebūčiau taip įsitraukus. Tačiau, kai su veikėjais sieja ilgametė draugystė, jaučiu net pareigą prisėsti ir išklausyti kas jiems nutiko šį kartą. Ir būtent dėl to, norėjosi daugiau pasakojimo apie Loganą ir Samantą, mat mįslių užminta buvo, o atsakymo taip skurdžiai davė. Lauksim devintos dalies!
Kaip ir visos kitos, ši stora ir su daug siužetinių linijų. Daug praeities ir asmeniškumų, tad ITIN rekomenduoju skaityti visą seriją iš eilės. Šioje byloje pinasi ir kino industrija, ir Logano praeities traumos, ir policijos departamento kasdienybės reikalai, ir narkotikai, gaujos, ir dar pasiutę paaugliai. Nu daug visko, matot patys. Tačiau Macbride tikrai neblogai apjungė visus siužetus ir dovanojo nelabai įtemptą, tačiau gerai susuktą trilerį. Jei tai būtų pavienė knyga, nebūčiau taip įsitraukus. Tačiau, kai su veikėjais sieja ilgametė draugystė, jaučiu net pareigą prisėsti ir išklausyti kas jiems nutiko šį kartą. Ir būtent dėl to, norėjosi daugiau pasakojimo apie Loganą ir Samantą, mat mįslių užminta buvo, o atsakymo taip skurdžiai davė. Lauksim devintos dalies!
May 21, 2013
One of these days I will learn that jumping into the middle of an ongoing series can be tough. This series is a bit tougher for us Yanks to dive right into, because a few of Mr. MacBride's characters speak in a strong Scottish accent. But once you are able to put it all together, the story overcomes the obstacles and is quite good.
The police are an odd bunch of men and women that are always trying to jab at one another. It has a crazy feel, kind of like an old police sitcom, but with a real mystery to figure out and a crime to solve. The language can be a bit blue and maybe even more off-color than that if you really understand the dialect. But the writing is good, with a sense of reality to it. The plot keeps you off-balance and even though most of the clues are there, the majority of readers won't figure it out before DI Logan McRae does.
I give this book 4 Stars out of 5 and a Thumbs Up. I think that if you are willing to put a little work into it, you will enjoy this series. It has a bunch of interesting and fun characters. I will be putting some of the earlier books on my to read list. I think that they will grow on you.
This novel would probably be easier to listen to as an audiobook than to read, so if you have that opportunity, go for it. I think I'll see if my library has any of the first books in this series available as audiobooks.
I received this Digital Review Copy for free from Edelweiss.com after being approved by HarperCollins.
The police are an odd bunch of men and women that are always trying to jab at one another. It has a crazy feel, kind of like an old police sitcom, but with a real mystery to figure out and a crime to solve. The language can be a bit blue and maybe even more off-color than that if you really understand the dialect. But the writing is good, with a sense of reality to it. The plot keeps you off-balance and even though most of the clues are there, the majority of readers won't figure it out before DI Logan McRae does.
I give this book 4 Stars out of 5 and a Thumbs Up. I think that if you are willing to put a little work into it, you will enjoy this series. It has a bunch of interesting and fun characters. I will be putting some of the earlier books on my to read list. I think that they will grow on you.
This novel would probably be easier to listen to as an audiobook than to read, so if you have that opportunity, go for it. I think I'll see if my library has any of the first books in this series available as audiobooks.
I received this Digital Review Copy for free from Edelweiss.com after being approved by HarperCollins.
December 3, 2014
I still read these, though I sometimes wonder why. MacBride's writing has improved over the series, but it's still too cartoony for my liking - endless wisecracks - some characters do absolutely nothing else, and just a general feeling that while he's possibly aiming for gritty, it comes across as just a bit unreal. This is better - and I did debate an extra star (both for improvement in the plot (which still can be frustrating), and the fact that I'm still reading them). But...one or two of the twists were telegraphed way in advance, and the whole relationship with local mobster still feels forced (unlike the development of the Rebus-Cafferty love/hate, this one is just a little bland, like it's expected.)
Anyway, not bad by any means, but difficult to highly recommend.
Anyway, not bad by any means, but difficult to highly recommend.
September 2, 2017
Incominciamo a parlare di Samantha T_T
Ma che tristezza! Alla fine, ripensando a tutte le scene con Laz e Sam, mi sono commossa.
Per quanto riguarda la parte thriller credo possa rientrare tranquillamente tra le migliore della serie.
Anche se ho avuto da subito il sospetto che Anthony non fosse morto, mi è piaciuto come si sono sviluppate le varie indagine, fino ad arrivare in una grande unica soluzione.
Fantastiche le solite macchiette (nuove e vecchie) e finalmente si è rivisto anche Insch
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2013
I LOVE this series!! It's dark, gruesome and violent. But the books are also very funny - in a dark, twisted way (or maybe that's just me?). I was laughing by page 20. McRae tends to border on the annoying side but my favourite character by far is Steel. Love her .... she's rough, crude, vulgar and quite incompetent but just love her!! Can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews