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Inspector McLean #9
Cold as the Grave
Her mummified body is hidden in the dark corner of a basement room, a room which seems to have been left untouched for decades. A room which feels as cold as the grave.
As a rowdy demonstration makes its slow and vocal way along Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean's team are on stand-by for any trouble. The newly promoted McLean is distracted, inexplicably drawn to a dead-end mews street... and a door, slightly ajar, which leads to this poor girl's final resting place.
But how long has she been there, in her sleep of death? The answers are far from what McLean or anyone else could expect. The truth far more chilling than a simple cold case...
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2019
142 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
January 12, 2019
This is a stunning addition to James Oswald's blend of the supernatural and crime fiction series set in Edinburgh featuring the embattled and weary Tony McLean, now unhappily a Chief Inspector trapped in a significantly more management role, deluged with paperwork and handling budgets. His frustrations push him to get out on the streets where the far right are boldly marching, despite the inclement weather. Finding himself on a side street with a broken in house with an open door, he finds himself in the creepy basement where the mummified body of a child is discovered. The house has a refugee charity based within it. His relationship with Emma is on tenterhooks, a fragile affair after the tragedy that befell the couple. He is trying to be there for her, but the case is to push both of them to their limits.
The apparent cold case turns into something else entirely when the post mortem makes it clear that the child died in recent days rather than the long gone past. How did the body come to be in this condition? The house turns out to be owned by the elderly Peter Winterthorne, a member of the 1960s psychedelic rock group, the Loopy Doos, and the refugee charity is run by Sheila Begbie, who does all that she can to support refugees. Answers are hard to come by and the child's identity remains a mystery suggesting she was part of the refugee community surviving in a desperately hostile environment. Additionally, refugees are subject to dreadful abuse and exploitation, compounding their trauma after escaping nightmarish war zones. The last thing the refugees are going to do is open up to the police, fearing deportation and detention centres. As further murders take place, the mystery deepens further to incorporate Middle Eastern myths and folklore of djinns, magic lamps and wishes, although more a horror story than the tale of Aladdin and the more benign genie of the lamp. Madame Rose returns, and we have another fortune teller Madam Jasmina who tells a tale that stretches credulity.
Matters are exacerbated with the return of the vile Mrs Saifre who is showing a touch too much interest in McLean, offering information that the police are not in a position to ignore. He is right in questioning her motives, and his fears of a hidden agenda prove to be all too accurate. This is dark, and atmospheric storytelling, highly imaginative with oodles of suspense, of tension that will have you turning the pages frantically until you reach the end. Oswald highlights the difficult environment that refugees face and the horrors of their exploitation and powerlessness in our contemporary times, whilst spinning the darkest of yarns around the issue. As usual, Oswald gives us a stellar addition to this most enthralling of crime series. I am avidly looking forward to the next one in the series. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
The apparent cold case turns into something else entirely when the post mortem makes it clear that the child died in recent days rather than the long gone past. How did the body come to be in this condition? The house turns out to be owned by the elderly Peter Winterthorne, a member of the 1960s psychedelic rock group, the Loopy Doos, and the refugee charity is run by Sheila Begbie, who does all that she can to support refugees. Answers are hard to come by and the child's identity remains a mystery suggesting she was part of the refugee community surviving in a desperately hostile environment. Additionally, refugees are subject to dreadful abuse and exploitation, compounding their trauma after escaping nightmarish war zones. The last thing the refugees are going to do is open up to the police, fearing deportation and detention centres. As further murders take place, the mystery deepens further to incorporate Middle Eastern myths and folklore of djinns, magic lamps and wishes, although more a horror story than the tale of Aladdin and the more benign genie of the lamp. Madame Rose returns, and we have another fortune teller Madam Jasmina who tells a tale that stretches credulity.
Matters are exacerbated with the return of the vile Mrs Saifre who is showing a touch too much interest in McLean, offering information that the police are not in a position to ignore. He is right in questioning her motives, and his fears of a hidden agenda prove to be all too accurate. This is dark, and atmospheric storytelling, highly imaginative with oodles of suspense, of tension that will have you turning the pages frantically until you reach the end. Oswald highlights the difficult environment that refugees face and the horrors of their exploitation and powerlessness in our contemporary times, whilst spinning the darkest of yarns around the issue. As usual, Oswald gives us a stellar addition to this most enthralling of crime series. I am avidly looking forward to the next one in the series. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
June 11, 2020
This is the 9th Inspector McLean novel by author James Oswald. Another high standard novel to add to this excellent series which was as good as any of the previous ones.
A mummified body is found hidden in a basement and appears to have lay untouched for many years.
Recently promoted to Chief Inspector, Tony McLean is struggling to feel the excitement of the job he once lived for. He doesn't enjoy sitting behind a desk locked away from the world, he wants to be out mixing with the public. So on one of his excursions out of the office monitoring a troublesome demonstration on the streets of Edinburgh he comes across a door slightly ajar off a quiet street. To everyone's surprise, further investigation reveals that the body is a young girl and it is only a matter of day's that the body has been laying there and not years as previously thought. Tony is determined to solve the case.
This is an excellent read and recommended for all James Oswald readers.
A mummified body is found hidden in a basement and appears to have lay untouched for many years.
Recently promoted to Chief Inspector, Tony McLean is struggling to feel the excitement of the job he once lived for. He doesn't enjoy sitting behind a desk locked away from the world, he wants to be out mixing with the public. So on one of his excursions out of the office monitoring a troublesome demonstration on the streets of Edinburgh he comes across a door slightly ajar off a quiet street. To everyone's surprise, further investigation reveals that the body is a young girl and it is only a matter of day's that the body has been laying there and not years as previously thought. Tony is determined to solve the case.
This is an excellent read and recommended for all James Oswald readers.
February 10, 2019
thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review.
the latest in the mclean series doesn't disappoint with it being dark and gritty and topical with refugees and middle east Syria added to the current plot. the plot was a bit slow to start off with soon picked up and like how its always adds a touch of the supernatural/unusual. one element is on and off personal relationship with Emma which one part of the book I like.
the latest in the mclean series doesn't disappoint with it being dark and gritty and topical with refugees and middle east Syria added to the current plot. the plot was a bit slow to start off with soon picked up and like how its always adds a touch of the supernatural/unusual. one element is on and off personal relationship with Emma which one part of the book I like.
February 10, 2019
I have literally no idea how to start reviewing this book. I mean, I could just grab one of my previous reviews and copy and paste, because I genuinely think that there is nothing original left to be said about how much I love this series. Because I really do. I was suckered in by the perfect blend of the run of the mill police investigation and the hint of the supernatural. A brilliant combination of crime thriller and something a little more fantastical. Each book brings something a little ... off kilter, pitting our dear Tony McLean against characters of nefarious intent and unearthly skills. Not everything can be written off as a display of the occult, but it's not all straight forward criminal mastermind stuff either.
The series started off with a bang, and when it came to conveying the inexplicable, Mr Oswald has a great talent for making it all believable. This is quite a difficult series to define. It doesn't fit squarely in any particular genre - not clean police procedural and not so quite dark as to make it horror either. It floats, beautifully in my opinion, somewhere in between. And with the last two titles there has been a noticeable loosening of the artistic reins, with the last book, The Gathering Dark and this, Cold As the Grave, returning more obviously to the otherworldly essence of the series that made me fall in love with it to begin with.
Can you tell where this is going yet? Indulge me a little and read on anyway. It's the least you can do now I've found my (really really long) stride.
I don't really want to say too much about the plot. The blurb above tells you all you need to know. Poor old Tony McLean has a real knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a chance discovery whilst watching over a march through the heart of Edinburgh, puts him front and centre in a rather harrowing investigation. Mummified remains are discovered in an abandoned room but, seeing as how this is a Tony McLean novel, you know that nothing is going to be as straight forward as it seems. Faced with old foes, illegal immigrants, travelling circuses and missing children, Tony and the team have their work cut out for them if they hope to prevent any more tragedies from occurring.
What I love about this series is the way in which James Oswald has developed the characters. They really make the series for me. Beyond the already established team of Tony, Grumpy Bob (still love that guy and so happy his retirement is only taking as far as the basement and the cold case team), Duguid who is, bizarrely, still growing on me, Kirsty Ritchie, and Janie Harrison, you have the friends who shape and inform Tony's life - his partner Emma, Madame Rose and Angus Cadwallader. They are all so richly drawn, and add such texture to the story because I can easily make an emotional connection with each and every one of them. There is some trait in each character . that you can identify with. Hell - even Mrs McCutcheon's Cat. I know I look forward to seeing what they will do in each book, how they will become part of the story. Sometimes you laugh with them, at other times you may cry but they are always there and it is always special.
Added to this you have those who operate on the other side of the law. In a story which mixes reality with something a little more ... out there, it would be easy to make all the bad guys appear to be too outlandish. Too much of the pantomime villains in designer suits. As well as a new kind of threat, a new foe as it were, there is a familiar face back to haunt Tony once more, although you will need to read the book to find out who that is. Whether their intentions are as altruistic as they maintain ... I have to say I side with Tony on being more than a little suspicious on that front, but it does add a delicious, if devious, twist to the story and I can't to see how their reappearance plays out in future books.
This is, at times, a rather harrowing story to read. It deals with missing children, the plight of immigrants on the streets of Edinburgh, and examines a real life socio-political problem, and does so without merely turning it into a source of entertainment. It is a very current topic, although given a McLean twist, but you can't ignore the emotional turmoil that lies beneath the surface, or how relevant the story is in modern society. The book had the ability to leave me both outraged and heartbroken, with some truly powerful scenes throughout.
James Oswald uses setting to great effect in the story. From the dark space in which the mummified body is found, to the ways in which he contrasts the relative opulence of his won home against the very basic, and in some cases, slum like conditions, or worse, that some of the other characters live in, each scene is so realistically drawn, that the ambience of the location sets not only the tone, but also the underlying atmosphere that informs the story. You get to see a far darker side of Edinburgh that is painted in the tourist brochures, and yet the prose is so wonderfully descriptive that it still takes you to the heart of what is, when all is said and done, a beautiful city. Much like the story, each setting has a kind of duplicitous nature, the facade, be it beautiful or stark, hiding the true nature of what lies within. From circus tents, to townhouses, to country estates, the vivid narrative creates an image in your mind as clear as any picture could.
The pacing in the book is perfect, fast enough to keep me totally intrigued, whilst not rushing over the quiet and sombre moments in a bid to just escalate the action. There are moments of tension that had me, as a reader, perched on the edge of my seat, wondering what may happen. Then there were scenes in which the silence and near stillness of Tony and Emma's world was so overwhelmingly simple and honest that it was almost bruising, the emotion conveyed so convincingly that it made my heart ache. I just loved the way the author managed the balance between the two, making me both desperate to read on but almost scared to turn the page.
And that's all I can say really. To give you more would probably end in spoilers and we wouldn't want that now. Either that or I will sound like a stuck record, because how many ways are there to say 'just read the bloody books because they are bloody fabulous and you know it makes sense'?
So yes. I loved this book. Loved the blend of the magical, the villainous and the otherworldly, and loved, as always, DCI Tony McLean and his very special band of partners in crime fighting. I cannot wait for the next book, and can only take solace in the fact that although I've another twelve months to go until I'm reunited with Tony McLean, I can fill the void with a little bit of Constance Fairchild a later this year.
The series started off with a bang, and when it came to conveying the inexplicable, Mr Oswald has a great talent for making it all believable. This is quite a difficult series to define. It doesn't fit squarely in any particular genre - not clean police procedural and not so quite dark as to make it horror either. It floats, beautifully in my opinion, somewhere in between. And with the last two titles there has been a noticeable loosening of the artistic reins, with the last book, The Gathering Dark and this, Cold As the Grave, returning more obviously to the otherworldly essence of the series that made me fall in love with it to begin with.
Can you tell where this is going yet? Indulge me a little and read on anyway. It's the least you can do now I've found my (really really long) stride.
I don't really want to say too much about the plot. The blurb above tells you all you need to know. Poor old Tony McLean has a real knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a chance discovery whilst watching over a march through the heart of Edinburgh, puts him front and centre in a rather harrowing investigation. Mummified remains are discovered in an abandoned room but, seeing as how this is a Tony McLean novel, you know that nothing is going to be as straight forward as it seems. Faced with old foes, illegal immigrants, travelling circuses and missing children, Tony and the team have their work cut out for them if they hope to prevent any more tragedies from occurring.
What I love about this series is the way in which James Oswald has developed the characters. They really make the series for me. Beyond the already established team of Tony, Grumpy Bob (still love that guy and so happy his retirement is only taking as far as the basement and the cold case team), Duguid who is, bizarrely, still growing on me, Kirsty Ritchie, and Janie Harrison, you have the friends who shape and inform Tony's life - his partner Emma, Madame Rose and Angus Cadwallader. They are all so richly drawn, and add such texture to the story because I can easily make an emotional connection with each and every one of them. There is some trait in each character . that you can identify with. Hell - even Mrs McCutcheon's Cat. I know I look forward to seeing what they will do in each book, how they will become part of the story. Sometimes you laugh with them, at other times you may cry but they are always there and it is always special.
Added to this you have those who operate on the other side of the law. In a story which mixes reality with something a little more ... out there, it would be easy to make all the bad guys appear to be too outlandish. Too much of the pantomime villains in designer suits. As well as a new kind of threat, a new foe as it were, there is a familiar face back to haunt Tony once more, although you will need to read the book to find out who that is. Whether their intentions are as altruistic as they maintain ... I have to say I side with Tony on being more than a little suspicious on that front, but it does add a delicious, if devious, twist to the story and I can't to see how their reappearance plays out in future books.
This is, at times, a rather harrowing story to read. It deals with missing children, the plight of immigrants on the streets of Edinburgh, and examines a real life socio-political problem, and does so without merely turning it into a source of entertainment. It is a very current topic, although given a McLean twist, but you can't ignore the emotional turmoil that lies beneath the surface, or how relevant the story is in modern society. The book had the ability to leave me both outraged and heartbroken, with some truly powerful scenes throughout.
James Oswald uses setting to great effect in the story. From the dark space in which the mummified body is found, to the ways in which he contrasts the relative opulence of his won home against the very basic, and in some cases, slum like conditions, or worse, that some of the other characters live in, each scene is so realistically drawn, that the ambience of the location sets not only the tone, but also the underlying atmosphere that informs the story. You get to see a far darker side of Edinburgh that is painted in the tourist brochures, and yet the prose is so wonderfully descriptive that it still takes you to the heart of what is, when all is said and done, a beautiful city. Much like the story, each setting has a kind of duplicitous nature, the facade, be it beautiful or stark, hiding the true nature of what lies within. From circus tents, to townhouses, to country estates, the vivid narrative creates an image in your mind as clear as any picture could.
The pacing in the book is perfect, fast enough to keep me totally intrigued, whilst not rushing over the quiet and sombre moments in a bid to just escalate the action. There are moments of tension that had me, as a reader, perched on the edge of my seat, wondering what may happen. Then there were scenes in which the silence and near stillness of Tony and Emma's world was so overwhelmingly simple and honest that it was almost bruising, the emotion conveyed so convincingly that it made my heart ache. I just loved the way the author managed the balance between the two, making me both desperate to read on but almost scared to turn the page.
And that's all I can say really. To give you more would probably end in spoilers and we wouldn't want that now. Either that or I will sound like a stuck record, because how many ways are there to say 'just read the bloody books because they are bloody fabulous and you know it makes sense'?
So yes. I loved this book. Loved the blend of the magical, the villainous and the otherworldly, and loved, as always, DCI Tony McLean and his very special band of partners in crime fighting. I cannot wait for the next book, and can only take solace in the fact that although I've another twelve months to go until I'm reunited with Tony McLean, I can fill the void with a little bit of Constance Fairchild a later this year.
December 22, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Cold as the Grave, the ninth novel to feature DCI Tony McLean of the Edinburgh police.
By accident Tony finds the body of a mummified child and hands the investigation over to the cold case unit but nothing in this novel is straightforward and he quickly finds himself back in charge.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cold as the Grave which is an exciting read with plenty of action, twists and turns and a supernatural element. Normally I’m not so keen on the supernatural as I find it difficult to believe but Mr Oswald allows it to evolve naturally with Tony McLean debunking it so often over the course of the novel that I didn’t give it much credence. That and the fact that I was so caught up in the story it just seems to fit in. I found how it fits in ingenious.
The novel is a real page turner with several mysteries going on, how the young girl died, who she is and why. At heart it is a procedural so there are interesting details of how the police go about a stranger murder but not too much as Tony isn’t one for the rule book so he is more often off than on piste, a fact that doesn’t escape his superiors. I like the pacing of the novel which is fairly fast with reveals and developments in every chapter, meaning never a dull moment and an absorbing read. Mr Oswald also takes the time for social issues, in this case the plight of refugees and how they are treated in this country. It would break your heart.
Tony is chafing at his new promotion to Chief Inspector as it doesn’t allow him time in the field, so being the obstinate man he is he investigates regardless. I can see conflict in his future but he won’t care. I like the care and sensitivity he brings to his cases which mixed with a hard headed objectivity makes him a great character.
Cold as the Grave is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
By accident Tony finds the body of a mummified child and hands the investigation over to the cold case unit but nothing in this novel is straightforward and he quickly finds himself back in charge.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cold as the Grave which is an exciting read with plenty of action, twists and turns and a supernatural element. Normally I’m not so keen on the supernatural as I find it difficult to believe but Mr Oswald allows it to evolve naturally with Tony McLean debunking it so often over the course of the novel that I didn’t give it much credence. That and the fact that I was so caught up in the story it just seems to fit in. I found how it fits in ingenious.
The novel is a real page turner with several mysteries going on, how the young girl died, who she is and why. At heart it is a procedural so there are interesting details of how the police go about a stranger murder but not too much as Tony isn’t one for the rule book so he is more often off than on piste, a fact that doesn’t escape his superiors. I like the pacing of the novel which is fairly fast with reveals and developments in every chapter, meaning never a dull moment and an absorbing read. Mr Oswald also takes the time for social issues, in this case the plight of refugees and how they are treated in this country. It would break your heart.
Tony is chafing at his new promotion to Chief Inspector as it doesn’t allow him time in the field, so being the obstinate man he is he investigates regardless. I can see conflict in his future but he won’t care. I like the care and sensitivity he brings to his cases which mixed with a hard headed objectivity makes him a great character.
Cold as the Grave is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 16, 2024
A protest march is about to get under way and the police are busy preparing for what they are sure will be a high-tension affair. Inspector Tony McLean has been promoted to Chief Inspector and is less than comfortable with this. McLean hates all that his new position involves and just wants to be out in the field doing what he does best.
As the march gets underway on the street...the trouble we know will happen, begins. Tony, not "dressed" to pursue trouble, stumbles near an old doorway. He encounters layers of old circus posters covering the keyhole of an old door. There was no handle, but someone had attached a hasp and a padlock. Someone had also pried it open with a crowbar, splintering wood. McLean is of course, intrigued and carefully opens the door. He right away notices the cold and damp, but also a smell that he can’t quite identify. At the back of the room, he sees a ragdoll up against a wall but on closer inspection he finds that it's not a doll...IT"S A CHILD!
Tony is shocked by what he has found and will be more so by what he will soon discover. There is something unknown and unbelievable attached to this case, It has deep layers wrapped in secrecy and coated with fear, mysticism and darkness. The author takes us on a journey that highlights multiple themes...immigration, prostitution, trafficking, militant behavior, racism and much more, all very familiar to today’s society. We also get an insight into the personal life of Tony McLean, a man torn between his own personal relationship with his partner Emma, one that is bordering on becoming a total disaster... and his relationship to the job that he has a love -hate relationship with now.
It's an adventure into a world that we as readers of this series have not before experienced on this level. Along with the tale of mystery & suspense we are taken into the world of the paranormal with unimaginable possibilities...which is a favorite venture of mine...but perhaps not for all faithful readers of this series.
We have a group read monthly on the Mystery & Suspense group on Librarything...which by the way, everyone is invited to join in. I am probably the only one of the folks that participates, that regularly reads supernatural, paranormal books...so the book only received 4 stars from everyone, including myself. It was a thoroughly engrossing read but it seemed as if the author had introduced and woven the story around the occult and then wasn't quite sure how to finish it. In spite of this little glitch...this is a wonderful series that is so worth the time to read and enjoy.
As the march gets underway on the street...the trouble we know will happen, begins. Tony, not "dressed" to pursue trouble, stumbles near an old doorway. He encounters layers of old circus posters covering the keyhole of an old door. There was no handle, but someone had attached a hasp and a padlock. Someone had also pried it open with a crowbar, splintering wood. McLean is of course, intrigued and carefully opens the door. He right away notices the cold and damp, but also a smell that he can’t quite identify. At the back of the room, he sees a ragdoll up against a wall but on closer inspection he finds that it's not a doll...IT"S A CHILD!
Tony is shocked by what he has found and will be more so by what he will soon discover. There is something unknown and unbelievable attached to this case, It has deep layers wrapped in secrecy and coated with fear, mysticism and darkness. The author takes us on a journey that highlights multiple themes...immigration, prostitution, trafficking, militant behavior, racism and much more, all very familiar to today’s society. We also get an insight into the personal life of Tony McLean, a man torn between his own personal relationship with his partner Emma, one that is bordering on becoming a total disaster... and his relationship to the job that he has a love -hate relationship with now.
It's an adventure into a world that we as readers of this series have not before experienced on this level. Along with the tale of mystery & suspense we are taken into the world of the paranormal with unimaginable possibilities...which is a favorite venture of mine...but perhaps not for all faithful readers of this series.
We have a group read monthly on the Mystery & Suspense group on Librarything...which by the way, everyone is invited to join in. I am probably the only one of the folks that participates, that regularly reads supernatural, paranormal books...so the book only received 4 stars from everyone, including myself. It was a thoroughly engrossing read but it seemed as if the author had introduced and woven the story around the occult and then wasn't quite sure how to finish it. In spite of this little glitch...this is a wonderful series that is so worth the time to read and enjoy.
April 3, 2019
Cold As The Grave: Inspector McLean 9 by James Oswald.
Another Tony McLean filed under my favorites. James Oswald has it all. The mystery, intrigue, romance and the supernatural. My favorite characters made their selves known-Grumpy Bob, Duguid (still in the cold cases basement), and so happy to welcome back into the fold-Madame Rose in all her regalia.
Detective chief Inspector McLean and his team are stationed along Edinburgh's Royal Mile to ward off any violence. There's to be a demonstration and a police presence should be on the alert. Just as Tony's team rounds up the rowdy culprits before an outbreak he finds himself stumbling down some stairs leading to a basement. He enters easily as the door is unlocked and begins to explore an old cellar not used or decades or so he thought. Then among the litter of abandoned furniture he finds the remains of a small child...and so the story begins.
I love this series, the characters and the mystery that goes just a step above the average detective series would dare. I would like to thank Largo Public Library for ordering this book at my request from England. This series is very difficult to obtain in the States. The last one I ordered myself from England after a long wait that never let up.
If you had any doubts this is another 5 star review for a series that just doesn't quit. Thank you to the author for this hopeful ending. We've waited!
Another Tony McLean filed under my favorites. James Oswald has it all. The mystery, intrigue, romance and the supernatural. My favorite characters made their selves known-Grumpy Bob, Duguid (still in the cold cases basement), and so happy to welcome back into the fold-Madame Rose in all her regalia.
Detective chief Inspector McLean and his team are stationed along Edinburgh's Royal Mile to ward off any violence. There's to be a demonstration and a police presence should be on the alert. Just as Tony's team rounds up the rowdy culprits before an outbreak he finds himself stumbling down some stairs leading to a basement. He enters easily as the door is unlocked and begins to explore an old cellar not used or decades or so he thought. Then among the litter of abandoned furniture he finds the remains of a small child...and so the story begins.
I love this series, the characters and the mystery that goes just a step above the average detective series would dare. I would like to thank Largo Public Library for ordering this book at my request from England. This series is very difficult to obtain in the States. The last one I ordered myself from England after a long wait that never let up.
If you had any doubts this is another 5 star review for a series that just doesn't quit. Thank you to the author for this hopeful ending. We've waited!
March 3, 2019
Thinking I might stop with this one. 64% (Kindle...) and nothing much had happened - lots of DCI McLean wandering in and out of places he wasn't apparently supposed to be; other Scottish DCIs seem to be allowed to actually work their cases (Gilchrist/ TF Muir) Cartoonish annoying bosses. Would actually rather like the author to let loose with the supernatural angle. Also very fed-up with the Tony/Emma car crash relationship. More on Madame Rose and Mrs McCutcheon's cat perhaps.
March 8, 2019
This is the latest in James Oswald's superb 'Inspector McLean' series. I've worked my way through them like an addict, and now I'm not sure what to read next!
'Cold as the Grave' is every bit as well conceived as its predecessors, although this one stretches the paranormal theme - perhaps a little too far for some, but plenty for this reader. I've grown very attached to McLean and many of the other characters, enjoying how they grow older across the series and how their promotions and roles change and influence them. Oswald is a master at presenting people, warts and all, challenging them with appalling situations, and creating for the reader a rivalry between fascination with their lives and the gritty, sometimes horrific progressions of the plot
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and have no hesitation in giving it five stars.
Would I read it again? In a heartbeat!
'Cold as the Grave' is every bit as well conceived as its predecessors, although this one stretches the paranormal theme - perhaps a little too far for some, but plenty for this reader. I've grown very attached to McLean and many of the other characters, enjoying how they grow older across the series and how their promotions and roles change and influence them. Oswald is a master at presenting people, warts and all, challenging them with appalling situations, and creating for the reader a rivalry between fascination with their lives and the gritty, sometimes horrific progressions of the plot
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and have no hesitation in giving it five stars.
Would I read it again? In a heartbeat!
March 17, 2019
Another great read. Hot on the heels of reading the first Constance Fairchild, James’s new series, it was good to be back with Tony. Loved these books from beginning and the supernatural tones that run throughout.
I look forward each book to the dealings with Madame Rose and Mrs Saifre whose connections reach everywhere! This book certainly gave more insight into her background. The relationship with Emma and it’s ups and downs make me wish for him to have happier times after all that’s happened to him.
Anyway look forward to the next book.
I look forward each book to the dealings with Madame Rose and Mrs Saifre whose connections reach everywhere! This book certainly gave more insight into her background. The relationship with Emma and it’s ups and downs make me wish for him to have happier times after all that’s happened to him.
Anyway look forward to the next book.
December 10, 2018
This was my holiday read for a trip to Spain and it was perfect - I love this series so much, especially for its tantalising hint of something dark and sinister, something possibly not entirely human, at work in Edinburgh. Cold as the Grave has a fantastic story and is so chilly and creepy, sinister and disturbing. But this is counteracted by the warm and caring figure of Tony McLean. My favourite of the series so far. The review will follow closer to the publication date on For Winter Nights.
February 15, 2019
My Rating ~ 4.5*
‘Her mummified body is hidden in the dark corner of a basement room…a room which feels as cold as the grave’
I will have to hang my head in shame as I admit that this is my first book in the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald. I have read No Time to Cry, Book 1 in the DC Constance Fairchild series, which most certainly whet my appetite for more by this author
Cold as the Grave is the ninth, yes the ninth, book in this ‘Sunday Times bestselling phenomenon’ series, just published with Wildfire Books, from a man who has become known as ‘one of Scotland’s celebrated crime writers’
I don’t do horror but I love a bit of gothic, a bit of otherworldly, books that make me question the existence of certain things. Cold as the Grave did just that.
The book is set amidst the bleakness of an Edinburgh winter. A protest march is about to get under way and the police are in the throes of preparation for what they predict will be a troublesome affair. The expectation is that there will be representation from the right wing/Neo Nazi party intent on causing maximum damage. Inspector McLean has been promoted to Chief Inspector, a role that he does not feel comfortable with. Part of this new managerial position involves a major increase in paperwork, sorting manpower, budgets , attending social events but McLean abhors all that and wants to be out in the field doing what he does best. The confines of an office are just not his style. As the team head out on the streets to face down any potential danger, McLean tags along. As the march takes place, the inevitable trouble begins. McLean, not fully attired with the correct protective gear holds back and stumbles, landing near an old doorway.
‘Layers of festival posters peeled from it like eczema, covering over the old keyhole. There was no handle, but someone had fixed a hasp and padlock. Someone else had levered it open with a crowbar, splintering ancient wood in the process’
McLean is intrigued and carefully opens the door. He is immediately assailed by the overwhelming cold and damp but also a scent that he can’t quite nail. At the back of the room he sees a rag-doll slouched up against a wall but on closer inspection….
‘A cold sensation settled in his gut that had nothing to do with freezing temperature. McLean carefully stepped closer, crouching down in front of the still figure. Close up, its hair was black and wiry, that same dark texture to its skull as its leather-gloved hands. Only as he played the light on one of them, he saw that it wasn’t a glove. The whorls and lines of fingerprints and the deeper creases of palm lines showed clearly. Not a glove, but a hand.
Not a doll, but a child.‘
McLean is taken aback by what he encounters and as he is soon to discover, there is an enigmatic level to this case, with deep layers wrapped in secrecy and fear, mysticism and darkness.
James Oswald highlights multiple themes in this book, immigration, prostitution, trafficking, militant behaviour, racism and more, all very current in today’s society. We also get an insight into the personal life of McLean, a man torn between his own personal relationship with his partner Emma, one that is in severe difficulty, and his relationship to the job. McLean takes his cases very much to the heart, involving himself in every single area, adding to his ever-increasing workload. McLean is feeling the stress levels increasing. As the case gets more complex, McLean is being pressured from above to find answers and find them fast.
As a reader we are taken on an adventure into another world, a world where folk have very strong beliefs in a powerful darkness and what can happen when the two worlds collide. There are multiple threads to this story that are expertly and mindbogglingly interwoven into a thrilling tale of suspense. I could sense a dark atmospheric presence running through this book, a presence I felt never really left it.
Cold as the Grave is a spine-tingling read,an edge-of-your-seat read, one that compels you to turn the pages at speed. There are multiple elements exploring so many topics in this novel…but it is that of the occult that really drew me in and kept me up very late!!
An exciting, gripping and thoroughly engrossing read and one that I am only too happy to recommend
‘Her mummified body is hidden in the dark corner of a basement room…a room which feels as cold as the grave’
I will have to hang my head in shame as I admit that this is my first book in the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald. I have read No Time to Cry, Book 1 in the DC Constance Fairchild series, which most certainly whet my appetite for more by this author
Cold as the Grave is the ninth, yes the ninth, book in this ‘Sunday Times bestselling phenomenon’ series, just published with Wildfire Books, from a man who has become known as ‘one of Scotland’s celebrated crime writers’
I don’t do horror but I love a bit of gothic, a bit of otherworldly, books that make me question the existence of certain things. Cold as the Grave did just that.
The book is set amidst the bleakness of an Edinburgh winter. A protest march is about to get under way and the police are in the throes of preparation for what they predict will be a troublesome affair. The expectation is that there will be representation from the right wing/Neo Nazi party intent on causing maximum damage. Inspector McLean has been promoted to Chief Inspector, a role that he does not feel comfortable with. Part of this new managerial position involves a major increase in paperwork, sorting manpower, budgets , attending social events but McLean abhors all that and wants to be out in the field doing what he does best. The confines of an office are just not his style. As the team head out on the streets to face down any potential danger, McLean tags along. As the march takes place, the inevitable trouble begins. McLean, not fully attired with the correct protective gear holds back and stumbles, landing near an old doorway.
‘Layers of festival posters peeled from it like eczema, covering over the old keyhole. There was no handle, but someone had fixed a hasp and padlock. Someone else had levered it open with a crowbar, splintering ancient wood in the process’
McLean is intrigued and carefully opens the door. He is immediately assailed by the overwhelming cold and damp but also a scent that he can’t quite nail. At the back of the room he sees a rag-doll slouched up against a wall but on closer inspection….
‘A cold sensation settled in his gut that had nothing to do with freezing temperature. McLean carefully stepped closer, crouching down in front of the still figure. Close up, its hair was black and wiry, that same dark texture to its skull as its leather-gloved hands. Only as he played the light on one of them, he saw that it wasn’t a glove. The whorls and lines of fingerprints and the deeper creases of palm lines showed clearly. Not a glove, but a hand.
Not a doll, but a child.‘
McLean is taken aback by what he encounters and as he is soon to discover, there is an enigmatic level to this case, with deep layers wrapped in secrecy and fear, mysticism and darkness.
James Oswald highlights multiple themes in this book, immigration, prostitution, trafficking, militant behaviour, racism and more, all very current in today’s society. We also get an insight into the personal life of McLean, a man torn between his own personal relationship with his partner Emma, one that is in severe difficulty, and his relationship to the job. McLean takes his cases very much to the heart, involving himself in every single area, adding to his ever-increasing workload. McLean is feeling the stress levels increasing. As the case gets more complex, McLean is being pressured from above to find answers and find them fast.
As a reader we are taken on an adventure into another world, a world where folk have very strong beliefs in a powerful darkness and what can happen when the two worlds collide. There are multiple threads to this story that are expertly and mindbogglingly interwoven into a thrilling tale of suspense. I could sense a dark atmospheric presence running through this book, a presence I felt never really left it.
Cold as the Grave is a spine-tingling read,an edge-of-your-seat read, one that compels you to turn the pages at speed. There are multiple elements exploring so many topics in this novel…but it is that of the occult that really drew me in and kept me up very late!!
An exciting, gripping and thoroughly engrossing read and one that I am only too happy to recommend
September 24, 2019
Book nine of the Tony McLean series set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Tony now promoted to the dizzy heights of Detective Chief Inspector and hating the paper shuffling. He then becomes involved with the death of two little girls in mysterious circumstances and leads him to the world of trafficked immigrants. He knows he is in trouble when the Deputy Chief Constable becomes friends with Tony's old adversary Jane Doe (Mrs. Saifre).
As usual this is a blend of a police procedural novel and the supernatural, that has grown on me s the series has progressed. This one is not quite so unpredictable as previous stories and it was easier to see how the action would progress. Lots of unanswered questions such as the fate of Mrs.Saifre or the real position of the DCC. Rather too many ends left hanging for me and I dithered between 3 and 4 stars. Came out with 4 because of the series as a whole.
As usual this is a blend of a police procedural novel and the supernatural, that has grown on me s the series has progressed. This one is not quite so unpredictable as previous stories and it was easier to see how the action would progress. Lots of unanswered questions such as the fate of Mrs.Saifre or the real position of the DCC. Rather too many ends left hanging for me and I dithered between 3 and 4 stars. Came out with 4 because of the series as a whole.
April 3, 2019
The 9th novel in this highly original series certainly maintains the high standards set by its predecessors. Tony McLean has, unwillingly, been promoted to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector: a position that usually entails shuffling paperwork, sucking up to the press and politicians and delegating the real police work to lower ranking officers. All total anathema to Tony, who is a fully committed, hands-on copper; utterly determined to get to the truth; often much to the detriment of his health, career and personal relationships.
This story focuses to a large part on the sad plight of refugees from the war-torn Middle East; in particular the people hailing from the region now known as Kurdistan. The myths and legends of the area feature prominently, as do the adventures of a former 60s rock-star turned archeologist. Needless to say, Tony’s arch- nemesis, Jane Louise Dee, alias Mrs Saifre, also plays an important and disturbing role in the narrative.
As in the previous novels, James Oswald manages to seamlessly integrate supernatural elements into a crime thriller, resulting in a totally unique and engaging story.
This story focuses to a large part on the sad plight of refugees from the war-torn Middle East; in particular the people hailing from the region now known as Kurdistan. The myths and legends of the area feature prominently, as do the adventures of a former 60s rock-star turned archeologist. Needless to say, Tony’s arch- nemesis, Jane Louise Dee, alias Mrs Saifre, also plays an important and disturbing role in the narrative.
As in the previous novels, James Oswald manages to seamlessly integrate supernatural elements into a crime thriller, resulting in a totally unique and engaging story.
February 14, 2021
Couldn't wait for the library holds so are reading what is available great series
February 18, 2019
Not the Scotland I know.
The charm of this series is the Scottish setting, but when the writer decides to turn the story into a propaganda piece that in no way represent the history or reality of the country he needs to let us know because it is offensive and defamatory.
James Oswald claims that Scotland has extreme right groups abusing refugees, factories that specialize in the abuse of Syrian refugees and the hole sale rape and mistreatment of Syrian woman by organized crime, never mind the occult sects that also specialize in terrorizing Syrians in the book, to make matters more incredible we have an influx of Christian Syrian Aramaic Speakers according to the writer.
Here are some real numbers or at least official numbers by the Scottish Refugee Council.
There were 23,507 applications in 2013
There was an increase in applications by particular nationalities, including Syria (+681), Eritrea (+649), and Albania (+507)
While Syria saw the largest increase in applications, the highest number of applications came from Pakistan (3,343), Iran (2,417) and Sri Lanka (1,808)
Asylum applications were at their lowest in 2010 (17,916), since a peak in 2002 (84,130)
The estimated number of asylum applications to the 28 EU countries was approximately 435,000 in 2013.
Now you will notice that the information is old (but that is all I could find of official details) as you know too much information makes people educated and then they ask for changes and that no firm numbers are given on Syria; that is because compared to other groups they are statistically not relevant. Scotland did promise to take 2000 refugees and is ahead of its target some were given houses in Scottish Islands, but they are not happy (35-year-old Syrian refugee, speaking under the pseudonym Rasha, said that Bute was “full of old people”, a place where “people come to die”. Her 42-year-old husband Abd (also a false name) worried that this would also happen to him; first despair, then entropy and the slow decline towards the grave. Abd said Scotland was beautiful, the people there had treated him well, he even liked the weather, but: “There is no movement, there is nothing. I’m not bored anymore. I am depressed now. I feel like I have one option now – to die here. Only die here, nothing else.”)
The political propaganda parties feed us is a travesty but for a book to be so out of touch even when fiction is not entertaining or fair to readers. I pay for books to entertain me or educate me, not to be lied to or be brainwashed with some one's version of their so-called political reality.
The charm of this series is the Scottish setting, but when the writer decides to turn the story into a propaganda piece that in no way represent the history or reality of the country he needs to let us know because it is offensive and defamatory.
James Oswald claims that Scotland has extreme right groups abusing refugees, factories that specialize in the abuse of Syrian refugees and the hole sale rape and mistreatment of Syrian woman by organized crime, never mind the occult sects that also specialize in terrorizing Syrians in the book, to make matters more incredible we have an influx of Christian Syrian Aramaic Speakers according to the writer.
Here are some real numbers or at least official numbers by the Scottish Refugee Council.
There were 23,507 applications in 2013
There was an increase in applications by particular nationalities, including Syria (+681), Eritrea (+649), and Albania (+507)
While Syria saw the largest increase in applications, the highest number of applications came from Pakistan (3,343), Iran (2,417) and Sri Lanka (1,808)
Asylum applications were at their lowest in 2010 (17,916), since a peak in 2002 (84,130)
The estimated number of asylum applications to the 28 EU countries was approximately 435,000 in 2013.
Now you will notice that the information is old (but that is all I could find of official details) as you know too much information makes people educated and then they ask for changes and that no firm numbers are given on Syria; that is because compared to other groups they are statistically not relevant. Scotland did promise to take 2000 refugees and is ahead of its target some were given houses in Scottish Islands, but they are not happy (35-year-old Syrian refugee, speaking under the pseudonym Rasha, said that Bute was “full of old people”, a place where “people come to die”. Her 42-year-old husband Abd (also a false name) worried that this would also happen to him; first despair, then entropy and the slow decline towards the grave. Abd said Scotland was beautiful, the people there had treated him well, he even liked the weather, but: “There is no movement, there is nothing. I’m not bored anymore. I am depressed now. I feel like I have one option now – to die here. Only die here, nothing else.”)
The political propaganda parties feed us is a travesty but for a book to be so out of touch even when fiction is not entertaining or fair to readers. I pay for books to entertain me or educate me, not to be lied to or be brainwashed with some one's version of their so-called political reality.
December 12, 2019
My second James Oswald, and not as much fun as the last one. You can take a realistic but somewhat dull central figure, and place him in a story filled with otherworldly influences, and the story is still grounded by the average mien of DCI Mclean. Not a bad book, just not a very good one either.
February 20, 2019
Cold as the grave
Loved this book couldn't put it down James Oswald has done it again wrote a brilliant book. Can't wait to see if he writes another one.
Loved this book couldn't put it down James Oswald has done it again wrote a brilliant book. Can't wait to see if he writes another one.
April 2, 2020
Good continuation of series
Enjoy the mix of police procedural with elements of other worldly influences. As per title - a good continuation of the series.
Enjoy the mix of police procedural with elements of other worldly influences. As per title - a good continuation of the series.
June 30, 2019
Tony McLean has been promoted to Detective Chief Inspector, a role he didn’t really want, he’d rather be doing police work not paperwork….
So, he decides to take part in Operation Fundament, to keep an eye on a protest march, fascists and anti-fascists. In the melee he stumbles and notices a door that had been broken into. When he goes to check he finds the body of a young girl….it looks like it had been there for years, as it was desiccated……but after the post mortem it’s found the poor girl had only been dead a couple of days…so what had caused her to be ‘mummified’…..
Then a second body is found, another young girl in the same state……just who is killing these girls?
Tony is such a committed detective, his home life is suffering after a recent tragedy, and he and Emma barely speak to each other anymore….
But he just has to find out what is happening to these girls….
He is again dealing with the menacing Mrs Saifre…..she gave me the creeps that one, the marvellous Madame Rose and the mysterious Madame Jasmina….all mixed in with people trafficking, modern day slavery, the exploitation of migrant workers and murder. There’s also the ‘demon’, the mythical djinn….superstition or something else? Just be careful what you wish for !
A creepy, tense, emotional and totally compelling thriller….I loved every chilling minute….
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review.
So, he decides to take part in Operation Fundament, to keep an eye on a protest march, fascists and anti-fascists. In the melee he stumbles and notices a door that had been broken into. When he goes to check he finds the body of a young girl….it looks like it had been there for years, as it was desiccated……but after the post mortem it’s found the poor girl had only been dead a couple of days…so what had caused her to be ‘mummified’…..
Then a second body is found, another young girl in the same state……just who is killing these girls?
Tony is such a committed detective, his home life is suffering after a recent tragedy, and he and Emma barely speak to each other anymore….
But he just has to find out what is happening to these girls….
He is again dealing with the menacing Mrs Saifre…..she gave me the creeps that one, the marvellous Madame Rose and the mysterious Madame Jasmina….all mixed in with people trafficking, modern day slavery, the exploitation of migrant workers and murder. There’s also the ‘demon’, the mythical djinn….superstition or something else? Just be careful what you wish for !
A creepy, tense, emotional and totally compelling thriller….I loved every chilling minute….
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review.
July 9, 2019
Tony McLean has been promoted to Detective Chief Inspector, a role he didn’t really want, he’d rather be doing police work not paperwork….
So, he decides to take part in Operation Fundament, to keep an eye on a protest march, fascists and anti-fascists. In the melee he stumbles and notices a door that had been broken into. When he goes to check he finds the body of a young girl….it looks like it had been there for years, as it was desiccated……but after the post mortem it’s found the poor girl had only been dead a couple of days…so what had caused her to be ‘mummified’…..
Then a second body is found, another young girl in the same state……just who is killing these girls?
Tony is such a committed detective, his home life is suffering after a recent tragedy, and he and Emma barely speak to each other anymore….
But he just has to find out what is happening to these girls….
He is again dealing with the menacing Mrs Saifre…..she gave me the creeps that one, the marvellous Madame Rose and the mysterious Madame Jasmina….all mixed in with people trafficking, modern day slavery, the exploitation of migrant workers and murder. There’s also the ‘demon’, the mythical djinn….superstition or something else? Just be careful what you wish for !
A creepy, tense, emotional and totally compelling thriller….I loved every chilling minute….
Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review
So, he decides to take part in Operation Fundament, to keep an eye on a protest march, fascists and anti-fascists. In the melee he stumbles and notices a door that had been broken into. When he goes to check he finds the body of a young girl….it looks like it had been there for years, as it was desiccated……but after the post mortem it’s found the poor girl had only been dead a couple of days…so what had caused her to be ‘mummified’…..
Then a second body is found, another young girl in the same state……just who is killing these girls?
Tony is such a committed detective, his home life is suffering after a recent tragedy, and he and Emma barely speak to each other anymore….
But he just has to find out what is happening to these girls….
He is again dealing with the menacing Mrs Saifre…..she gave me the creeps that one, the marvellous Madame Rose and the mysterious Madame Jasmina….all mixed in with people trafficking, modern day slavery, the exploitation of migrant workers and murder. There’s also the ‘demon’, the mythical djinn….superstition or something else? Just be careful what you wish for !
A creepy, tense, emotional and totally compelling thriller….I loved every chilling minute….
Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review
October 8, 2020
Only four stars for this outing of Detective Inspector, now Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean. All the usual characters have a part to play in this story including Madame Rose, Mrs McCutcheon's cat, grumpy Bob, Angus Cadwallader, to name a few. This book revolves around illegal syrian immigrants and how they are being exploited by working in factories and the sex trade. It starts when Tony McLean accidently stumbles upon the dead body of a young child, a girl, who seems to have died many months if not years ago, but the placement of the body suggests it was only placed in its resting place very recently. When Angus Cadwallader examines the girls eyes, it is obvious that she has died very recently, only hours before, but the appearance of her skin suggests otherwise. Because Tony McLean's investigations always have an element of the supernatural in them we are treated to a "djinn". A djinn are supernatural creatures mentioned in Islamic theology and are believed to take on the appearance of humans. Whilst this is a good story it dos not quite live up to the high standards set by the previous books in this series. I feel his book seems slightly rushed and that might be true if you read the authors acknowledgements and the reference to the "Beast from the East", a particular nasty period of weather.
June 30, 2019
Her mummified body is hidden in the dark corner of a basement room, a room which seems to have been left untouched for decades. A room which feels as cold as the grave.
As a rowdy demonstration makes its slow and vocal way along Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean's team are on stand-by for any trouble. The newly promoted McLean is distracted, inexplicably drawn to a dead-end mews street... and a door, slightly ajar, which leads to this poor girl's final resting place.
Each time I read one of the author’s Mclean books I think it can't be as good as the previous ones & each time it’s as good if not better & this series is now one of my must read series. I love Tony who is now chaffing at the bit to do real police work rather than being kept in the office but Tony being Tony he investigates anyway. The mix of run of the mill police investigation with the hint of the supernatural makes for a different read. I could give lots of superlatives & give hints to the story but all I'll say is this is a first class brilliant read which I highly recommend.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
As a rowdy demonstration makes its slow and vocal way along Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean's team are on stand-by for any trouble. The newly promoted McLean is distracted, inexplicably drawn to a dead-end mews street... and a door, slightly ajar, which leads to this poor girl's final resting place.
Each time I read one of the author’s Mclean books I think it can't be as good as the previous ones & each time it’s as good if not better & this series is now one of my must read series. I love Tony who is now chaffing at the bit to do real police work rather than being kept in the office but Tony being Tony he investigates anyway. The mix of run of the mill police investigation with the hint of the supernatural makes for a different read. I could give lots of superlatives & give hints to the story but all I'll say is this is a first class brilliant read which I highly recommend.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
April 14, 2025
Book nine in the Tony McLean series begins with the newly promoted DCI overseeing an apparent peaceful protest in the city centre and accidentally coming across the body of a young girl mummified in the corner of a dark room. However despite the initial appearance, it seems that the girl was alive far more recently than the police thought!
I'm always a little unsure and uneasy about this mix of crime and the supernatural, yet I always return to it and generally enjoy it and this was much the same. McLean is great as he struggles to get to grips with his promotion and delegation and his run-ins with reporters and local villain Mrs Saifre are among the highlights. I did find it a big slow and drawn out at times but it's still good story telling and great characters
I'm always a little unsure and uneasy about this mix of crime and the supernatural, yet I always return to it and generally enjoy it and this was much the same. McLean is great as he struggles to get to grips with his promotion and delegation and his run-ins with reporters and local villain Mrs Saifre are among the highlights. I did find it a big slow and drawn out at times but it's still good story telling and great characters
September 18, 2020
Best McLean book yet (in my opinion)
May 23, 2023
Another excellent read following the career of D C I Tony McClean with a dash of the supernatural. Highly recommended :)
February 18, 2023
Love this series so another great tale to continue it on…..
February 2, 2019
Roll out the barrels, put up the bunting, raise the standard, for it is declared today that James Oswald has done it again and Cold As the Grave is a brilliant, chilling, absolutely compelling read.
Tony McLean is ruing the day he allowed himself to be pushed into accepting promotion to Detective Chief Inspector. Never one to relish a desk job, he’s hemmed in by paperwork; has budgets coming out of his ears, and really just wants get back on the streets where the action is, and to give his constantly aching hip a bit of mild exercise.
So when the far right look to be bussing in trouble ahead of a refugee rights march on the Royal Mile, he can’t resist heading out to do a bit of ‘overseeing’. He thinks better on his feet and he needs to work out what to do about his relationship with his partner, Emma. Things haven’t been right for some time, but he knows that they can’t keep tip-toeing around each other for much longer.
Thus musing, he finds himself needing to keep a low profile as the anti-march protestors start to get heated and when he spies an open door in a dark mews. Following his nose he descends to a cold, dark basement where he discovers the mummified body of a child.
Yet, as the post mortem shows, this child died quite recently, and though the pathologist is unable to determine cause of death, it becomes clear that this isn’t the cold case they first thought. When it transpires that the house, owned by an ageing former rock star, also contains the HQ of a refugee charity, it’s clear to McLean that the answer to the child’s identity lies within the refugee community.
At the same time, a young Edinburgh man is reporting a young woman missing. The sister of a co-worker, this young woman is also a refugee, and it seems that her circumstances are harsh indeed.
James Oswald combines his expertise for exciting, fast paced story telling with a heart-rending exposition of the horrifying experiences of refugees, not least in our own country when they come to us, traumatised and in fear for their lives, to be treated in many cases as pariahs, or worse, to be exploited because they are so vulnerable.
This Inspector McLean novel is a rawer, more emotional experience than some and none the worse for that. Cold As The Grave also has all the hallmarks of a great Tony McLean book, with great pacing, lots of action and development and a cast of characters to warm the coldest heart.
meet her new colleague, Madame Jasmina, an enchanting night circus and the return of an age old enemy.
James Oswald has the brio to take a very dark and despairing story and with sensitivity, wrap it into an out of this world experience that melds natural justice with the best of police procedure.
Though this is perhaps the darkest McLean novel yet, it is also the one that shows the caring, warmer side of Tony McLean and offers us another side of humanity; one that shines and saves.
Tony McLean is ruing the day he allowed himself to be pushed into accepting promotion to Detective Chief Inspector. Never one to relish a desk job, he’s hemmed in by paperwork; has budgets coming out of his ears, and really just wants get back on the streets where the action is, and to give his constantly aching hip a bit of mild exercise.
So when the far right look to be bussing in trouble ahead of a refugee rights march on the Royal Mile, he can’t resist heading out to do a bit of ‘overseeing’. He thinks better on his feet and he needs to work out what to do about his relationship with his partner, Emma. Things haven’t been right for some time, but he knows that they can’t keep tip-toeing around each other for much longer.
Thus musing, he finds himself needing to keep a low profile as the anti-march protestors start to get heated and when he spies an open door in a dark mews. Following his nose he descends to a cold, dark basement where he discovers the mummified body of a child.
Yet, as the post mortem shows, this child died quite recently, and though the pathologist is unable to determine cause of death, it becomes clear that this isn’t the cold case they first thought. When it transpires that the house, owned by an ageing former rock star, also contains the HQ of a refugee charity, it’s clear to McLean that the answer to the child’s identity lies within the refugee community.
At the same time, a young Edinburgh man is reporting a young woman missing. The sister of a co-worker, this young woman is also a refugee, and it seems that her circumstances are harsh indeed.
James Oswald combines his expertise for exciting, fast paced story telling with a heart-rending exposition of the horrifying experiences of refugees, not least in our own country when they come to us, traumatised and in fear for their lives, to be treated in many cases as pariahs, or worse, to be exploited because they are so vulnerable.
This Inspector McLean novel is a rawer, more emotional experience than some and none the worse for that. Cold As The Grave also has all the hallmarks of a great Tony McLean book, with great pacing, lots of action and development and a cast of characters to warm the coldest heart.
meet her new colleague, Madame Jasmina, an enchanting night circus and the return of an age old enemy.
James Oswald has the brio to take a very dark and despairing story and with sensitivity, wrap it into an out of this world experience that melds natural justice with the best of police procedure.
Though this is perhaps the darkest McLean novel yet, it is also the one that shows the caring, warmer side of Tony McLean and offers us another side of humanity; one that shines and saves.
March 12, 2020
After the last book I read in this series , I thought I would never read another of Mr. Oswald's stories ,because of the supernatural element. Then I found that I had this one in my library, so of course I read it. What load of absolute bilge. Such a pity the author has chosen this direction.
December 28, 2019
Another good book in the series. I still struggle with the supernatural element. Hopefully the next, if there is one will be more realistic.
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