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Detective Corstorphine #1
The Bone Clock
The young oak tree with freshly budding leaves seemed unremarkable until his eyes travelled down to the wooden plaque set into the ground. The words sent an icy chill through his They shall remember you.
In the Scottish Highlands where secrets settle like mist in the glens, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is summoned to a macabre scene – a gamekeeper hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap of wire and bone. Still grieving his wife’s death, Corstorphine finds himself hunting a killer who crafts elaborate deathtraps from human remains – clockwork mechanisms that deliver murder with chilling precision.
When the victim’s pregnant girlfriend Margo – her face a map of bruises – shares a reporter’s notebook found among her boyfriend’s possessions, Corstorphine discovers a connection to a journalist who died at the same hanging tree twenty years earlier. But Margo guards secrets of her own, and speaking the truth in this Highland community carries a deadly price.
As the deaths mount, Corstorphine must confront his own ghosts while racing to uncover what links the victims. His investigation leads to a devastating the killer isn’t just taking lives – they’re delivering retribution decades in the making.
The first in the DI Corstorphine Scottish crime series, from a CWA New Blood Dagger Longlist author and McIlvanney Best Scottish Crime Novel Finalist will have you reading late into the night. The perfect page-turner for fans of LJ Ross, Ann Cleeves, and Val McDermid.
Previously published as Whirligig.
In the Scottish Highlands where secrets settle like mist in the glens, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is summoned to a macabre scene – a gamekeeper hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap of wire and bone. Still grieving his wife’s death, Corstorphine finds himself hunting a killer who crafts elaborate deathtraps from human remains – clockwork mechanisms that deliver murder with chilling precision.
When the victim’s pregnant girlfriend Margo – her face a map of bruises – shares a reporter’s notebook found among her boyfriend’s possessions, Corstorphine discovers a connection to a journalist who died at the same hanging tree twenty years earlier. But Margo guards secrets of her own, and speaking the truth in this Highland community carries a deadly price.
As the deaths mount, Corstorphine must confront his own ghosts while racing to uncover what links the victims. His investigation leads to a devastating the killer isn’t just taking lives – they’re delivering retribution decades in the making.
The first in the DI Corstorphine Scottish crime series, from a CWA New Blood Dagger Longlist author and McIlvanney Best Scottish Crime Novel Finalist will have you reading late into the night. The perfect page-turner for fans of LJ Ross, Ann Cleeves, and Val McDermid.
Previously published as Whirligig.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2020
301 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
April 14, 2025
I was wrong; dead wrong about whodunnit. And I’m not mad about it. 😂
Blurb: “In the Scottish Highlands where secrets settle like mist in the glens, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is summoned to a macabre scene – a gamekeeper hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap of wire and bone. Still grieving his wife’s death, Corstorphine finds himself hunting a killer who crafts elaborate deathtraps from human remains – clockwork mechanisms that deliver murder with chilling precision.
When the victim’s pregnant girlfriend Margo – her face a map of bruises – shares a reporter’s notebook found among her boyfriend’s possessions, Corstorphine discovers a connection to a journalist who died at the same hanging tree twenty years earlier. But Margo guards secrets of her own, and speaking the truth in this Highland community carries a deadly price.
As the deaths mount, Corstorphine must confront his own ghosts while racing to uncover what links the victims. His investigation leads to a devastating truth: the killer isn’t just taking lives – they’re delivering retribution decades in the making.”
The Plot: I did not know where this was going when I started reading this book. At first, it seems like a horrible tragedy: a guy hangs himself on a tree known as “The Hanging Tree." But it doesn’t stop there. When another man turns up dead, DI Corstorphine and his colleagues are not prepared for where this case takes them. Heck, I wasn’t prepared either. I mean, my mind was blown as I read what horrible things happened in the small town. I was going through the list of suspects I curated in my head, trying to figure out who was killing these people. Did I blame the murderer? No, and you’ll understand where I am coming from if you read the book. And the ending! Ho-ly cow! I was shooketh. I think some might find the ending too abrupt or unsatisfying, but I think it ended brilliantly.
The Characters: I need to get this out of the way: Margo was annoying. I really disliked her, to the point of hating her. I guess I don’t blame her for being the way she was and the distrust she harbored toward the police, but still, she pissed me off. So much so, that my brother was a little worried. 😅 I’m probably overreacting, but man, she made the detective's life difficult, all for money! Why, why, why? I do not understand her, but thank God she wasn’t the main focus or I would’ve lost it. 😂 But everyone else was great. I liked James and Frankie, who both struggled with a sense of loneliness. The former was a widower and the latter was divorced. There wasn’t any character development, besides James going on a date even though he felt like he was betraying his beloved wife, which is a big step since he likes to keep to himself. But the plot made up for the lack of growth and change in the characters. But maybe there will be some in the second book. 😉
The Writing: Greig is a fantastic writer. I was hooked right from the start and the book just got better and better. I gasped, I got angry, and I got excited when Corstorphine and his colleague, Frankie, were close to solving the case. It was easy to read, the dialogue was engaging, and everything flowed well. I wasn’t confused one bit about the characters or the plot. He did a great job. 👏
Overall Thoughts: This was such a good book! It’s been a while since I’ve read a good mystery novel that kept me guessing to the very end. I will warn you, though, that it is gory and there are mentions of abuse that I will list in the content warnings. That was horrible. Before returning to read the book, I had to step away to keep from crying. Am I going to read the sequel? You better believe I am, and I hope it’s as good as this one. ☺ I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers!
Content Warnings: violence, domestic abuse, child abuse/pedophilia, excessive swearing, murder, blood, animal death/cruelty, torture, suicide
Pub Date: 04/17/25
Thank you to Storm Publishing for gifting me an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
#TheBoneClock #NetGalley
Blurb: “In the Scottish Highlands where secrets settle like mist in the glens, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is summoned to a macabre scene – a gamekeeper hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap of wire and bone. Still grieving his wife’s death, Corstorphine finds himself hunting a killer who crafts elaborate deathtraps from human remains – clockwork mechanisms that deliver murder with chilling precision.
When the victim’s pregnant girlfriend Margo – her face a map of bruises – shares a reporter’s notebook found among her boyfriend’s possessions, Corstorphine discovers a connection to a journalist who died at the same hanging tree twenty years earlier. But Margo guards secrets of her own, and speaking the truth in this Highland community carries a deadly price.
As the deaths mount, Corstorphine must confront his own ghosts while racing to uncover what links the victims. His investigation leads to a devastating truth: the killer isn’t just taking lives – they’re delivering retribution decades in the making.”
The Plot: I did not know where this was going when I started reading this book. At first, it seems like a horrible tragedy: a guy hangs himself on a tree known as “The Hanging Tree." But it doesn’t stop there. When another man turns up dead, DI Corstorphine and his colleagues are not prepared for where this case takes them. Heck, I wasn’t prepared either. I mean, my mind was blown as I read what horrible things happened in the small town. I was going through the list of suspects I curated in my head, trying to figure out who was killing these people. Did I blame the murderer? No, and you’ll understand where I am coming from if you read the book. And the ending! Ho-ly cow! I was shooketh. I think some might find the ending too abrupt or unsatisfying, but I think it ended brilliantly.
The Characters: I need to get this out of the way: Margo was annoying. I really disliked her, to the point of hating her. I guess I don’t blame her for being the way she was and the distrust she harbored toward the police, but still, she pissed me off. So much so, that my brother was a little worried. 😅 I’m probably overreacting, but man, she made the detective's life difficult, all for money! Why, why, why? I do not understand her, but thank God she wasn’t the main focus or I would’ve lost it. 😂 But everyone else was great. I liked James and Frankie, who both struggled with a sense of loneliness. The former was a widower and the latter was divorced. There wasn’t any character development, besides James going on a date even though he felt like he was betraying his beloved wife, which is a big step since he likes to keep to himself. But the plot made up for the lack of growth and change in the characters. But maybe there will be some in the second book. 😉
The Writing: Greig is a fantastic writer. I was hooked right from the start and the book just got better and better. I gasped, I got angry, and I got excited when Corstorphine and his colleague, Frankie, were close to solving the case. It was easy to read, the dialogue was engaging, and everything flowed well. I wasn’t confused one bit about the characters or the plot. He did a great job. 👏
Overall Thoughts: This was such a good book! It’s been a while since I’ve read a good mystery novel that kept me guessing to the very end. I will warn you, though, that it is gory and there are mentions of abuse that I will list in the content warnings. That was horrible. Before returning to read the book, I had to step away to keep from crying. Am I going to read the sequel? You better believe I am, and I hope it’s as good as this one. ☺ I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers!
Content Warnings: violence, domestic abuse, child abuse/pedophilia, excessive swearing, murder, blood, animal death/cruelty, torture, suicide
Pub Date: 04/17/25
Thank you to Storm Publishing for gifting me an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
#TheBoneClock #NetGalley
March 30, 2025
3.5 stars
In the Scottish Highlands, past secrets come back to haunt. The first in a new detective series, this story follows Detective Inspector James Corstorphine and his local police force as they investigate sudden, gruesome local deaths. As they learn more, a past conspiracy about a former religious orphanage takes down many influential community members.
I enjoyed the unique take on the murders, with the clockwork details. However, the reveal of the killer could have been more potent, but for a first entry, it was overall a good book. I also appreciated the author not providing graphic sexual abuse details. The little bit he did give was more than enough to cement how horrific the abuse was to those involved. I looked forward to seeing what DI Corstorphine and crew get up to next.
Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
In the Scottish Highlands, past secrets come back to haunt. The first in a new detective series, this story follows Detective Inspector James Corstorphine and his local police force as they investigate sudden, gruesome local deaths. As they learn more, a past conspiracy about a former religious orphanage takes down many influential community members.
I enjoyed the unique take on the murders, with the clockwork details. However, the reveal of the killer could have been more potent, but for a first entry, it was overall a good book. I also appreciated the author not providing graphic sexual abuse details. The little bit he did give was more than enough to cement how horrific the abuse was to those involved. I looked forward to seeing what DI Corstorphine and crew get up to next.
Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
February 8, 2021
did I spend 30 min on the phone with my dad just so I could talk to someone about this book? even tho he hasn't read it? yes. I did. I liked this book so much that I felt the need to call my dad at 11 pm just so I could share my excitement with someone. this book was smart. the writing was fluid, each chapter ended in a way that made me want to keep reading, it didn't fall into the usual crime/mystery tropes, and it was just smart! I liked the main characters, I liked the mystery, I liked the writing, what else could you want? oh yes, I loved the ending (4.25)
June 21, 2025
I want to give a heads-up to an author I recently discovered—Andrew James Greig. His novel, THE BONE CLOCK, is available on Kindle Unlimited. I haven't seen it elsewhere. (It was published in paperback in the UK under the title Whirligig in 2020.) The only one of my friends to write a review of this book was Raven, but I've found that generally I agree with Raven—maybe not completely, as he gave this one five stars and I think it's only worth four stars. For me, the overall plot (the reason behind the killings) was highly predictable. But it was a five-star debut.
The writing is outstanding—Tartan Noir at its finest. All the characters came alive for me; I could easily "see" them and understand their actions. The author has a good understanding of psychology, and thus the reader is immediately drawn into the story via its characters—those who are virtuous and those who are not. I also loved the visual imagery used to describe the Scottish Highlands.
It is a classic police procedural (and I am a police procedural junkie). The main investigating officers are DI James Corstorphine (a widower) and DC Frankie McKenzie (a divorcee). They have a small team of officers in their Highland glen station, officers whose non-PC comments provide a bit of humour among the carnage, as the bodies keep piling up. How the "not-so-virtuous" characters meet their deaths is vividly described—each killing is unique. Squeamish readers may find the details too intense.
But many readers will also find DI Corstorphine, who is still struggling to move on after the early death of his beloved wife, an attractive lead character.
To DI Corstorphine, the murders initially seem random, but I saw the overall picture immediately as soon as he began investigating, and consequently, in spite of the excellent writing, felt that the rationale tying them together had been written about too many times in newspapers and novels. There were no shocking new revelations. Thus, a solid four-star reading experience.
(PS: I've finished the follow-up novel, which has a more original plot, and is equally well written. I'll write its review in a couple of days. I think the follow-up is definitely worth five stars.)
The writing is outstanding—Tartan Noir at its finest. All the characters came alive for me; I could easily "see" them and understand their actions. The author has a good understanding of psychology, and thus the reader is immediately drawn into the story via its characters—those who are virtuous and those who are not. I also loved the visual imagery used to describe the Scottish Highlands.
It is a classic police procedural (and I am a police procedural junkie). The main investigating officers are DI James Corstorphine (a widower) and DC Frankie McKenzie (a divorcee). They have a small team of officers in their Highland glen station, officers whose non-PC comments provide a bit of humour among the carnage, as the bodies keep piling up. How the "not-so-virtuous" characters meet their deaths is vividly described—each killing is unique. Squeamish readers may find the details too intense.
But many readers will also find DI Corstorphine, who is still struggling to move on after the early death of his beloved wife, an attractive lead character.
To DI Corstorphine, the murders initially seem random, but I saw the overall picture immediately as soon as he began investigating, and consequently, in spite of the excellent writing, felt that the rationale tying them together had been written about too many times in newspapers and novels. There were no shocking new revelations. Thus, a solid four-star reading experience.
(PS: I've finished the follow-up novel, which has a more original plot, and is equally well written. I'll write its review in a couple of days. I think the follow-up is definitely worth five stars.)
June 5, 2020
Poetry meets crime. Cleverness weds blood. If you want to know what Whirligig is about, take a look at its beautiful cover. It has to be one of the best illustrations I have ever seen, the amount of detail mirroring the intricacies held between the pages of this very special Tartan Noir.
A dead gamekeeper is hanging from a tree. This is a summary that can’t grasp the extraordinary imagery used by the author. I will not try to give it justice because I believe it is a task that can not be achieved. You have to read it to understand; the words seep into your mind like the sweetest poison, their meaning printing the most absolute view directly onto your eyes as if a veil of literary darkness was descending on you. The feeling is surreal, and the impact on the reading magical and scary. Scarcely had a narrative given me such burning sensations. And it runs until the very last page.
It soon appears that the victim slowly swinging from the tree was a notorious brutal man and a drunk so, as Occam’s razor would have it, the suicide lead is the obvious one to follow. But nothing is simple in Whirligig. Everything is eerie, mysterious, and perfectly crafted.
A second death, as shocking and unforgettable as the first, comes to shake the community again, and this time, the hints are stronger, bigger. Something is happening. Coincidences don’t exist, and the deaths have a signature… The past and the present clash to the sound of a clock. I must warn you that one of Whirligig’s finest achievements is the detailed and meticulous plan behind each dead body. Everything has a meaning. Avid crime reader, I found myself completely gobsmacked by the ingenuity of the plot and the threads holding everything together.
Whirligig is a temple of crime fiction wins. The author carefully weaved an intricate and delicate web of secrets. Many subjects are touched, brushed, painted, and give the characters depth and layers that only enhances the intrigue. What appears to be a simple case ends up challenging an underrated police team as the death toll rises among more questions than answers.
At the head of the investigation is one of the most interesting DI ever written; James Corstophine. Except for his last name that keeps escaping my mind, everything about him is fascinating – his personal background an intense backdrop to the case at hand. His partnership with DC Frankie McKenzie a pivotal element in the novel. In a place where nothing ever happens and everyone knows everyone, the police must prove they are worth the investigation. There is something true, authentic, and indefinitely real in how Andrew James Greig portrays their work, the hardships they face, and the corruption of the world. The heavy grey smoke reaches even the most remote places of the Scottish Highlands.
Whirligig is nothing like you have read before. If you are a die-hard crime lover, you will feel the originality and uniqueness of the novel, and watch it open the door to a new crime playground. If you are a multi-genre reader, you will find the best of Scotland’s noir and set the bar high for any other book you’ll read next.
ps: I did look for the definition of whirligig! Gotta love a book that gives you the urge to know everything!
A dead gamekeeper is hanging from a tree. This is a summary that can’t grasp the extraordinary imagery used by the author. I will not try to give it justice because I believe it is a task that can not be achieved. You have to read it to understand; the words seep into your mind like the sweetest poison, their meaning printing the most absolute view directly onto your eyes as if a veil of literary darkness was descending on you. The feeling is surreal, and the impact on the reading magical and scary. Scarcely had a narrative given me such burning sensations. And it runs until the very last page.
It soon appears that the victim slowly swinging from the tree was a notorious brutal man and a drunk so, as Occam’s razor would have it, the suicide lead is the obvious one to follow. But nothing is simple in Whirligig. Everything is eerie, mysterious, and perfectly crafted.
A second death, as shocking and unforgettable as the first, comes to shake the community again, and this time, the hints are stronger, bigger. Something is happening. Coincidences don’t exist, and the deaths have a signature… The past and the present clash to the sound of a clock. I must warn you that one of Whirligig’s finest achievements is the detailed and meticulous plan behind each dead body. Everything has a meaning. Avid crime reader, I found myself completely gobsmacked by the ingenuity of the plot and the threads holding everything together.
Whirligig is a temple of crime fiction wins. The author carefully weaved an intricate and delicate web of secrets. Many subjects are touched, brushed, painted, and give the characters depth and layers that only enhances the intrigue. What appears to be a simple case ends up challenging an underrated police team as the death toll rises among more questions than answers.
At the head of the investigation is one of the most interesting DI ever written; James Corstophine. Except for his last name that keeps escaping my mind, everything about him is fascinating – his personal background an intense backdrop to the case at hand. His partnership with DC Frankie McKenzie a pivotal element in the novel. In a place where nothing ever happens and everyone knows everyone, the police must prove they are worth the investigation. There is something true, authentic, and indefinitely real in how Andrew James Greig portrays their work, the hardships they face, and the corruption of the world. The heavy grey smoke reaches even the most remote places of the Scottish Highlands.
Whirligig is nothing like you have read before. If you are a die-hard crime lover, you will feel the originality and uniqueness of the novel, and watch it open the door to a new crime playground. If you are a multi-genre reader, you will find the best of Scotland’s noir and set the bar high for any other book you’ll read next.
ps: I did look for the definition of whirligig! Gotta love a book that gives you the urge to know everything!
July 10, 2020
I tell you what, this was an absolute winner on so many levels for me, and with absolutely no disrespect to Andrew James Grieg, I will immediately draw comparisons with Benjamin Myers excellent thrillers, Turning Blue and These Darkening Days. This is purely on the basis that I have been looking for a comparable crime read to these books, in terms of darkness and violence set against a natural, brooding environment for some time, and, hallelujah, I have totally found it in Whirligig. I don’t quite know why people say they devoured a book, but think I understand a bit better now. Sometimes I will admit, reading predominantly crime fiction can become a bit of a chore, but this book hooked me from the start with its taut prose, an impending feel of dread and unease from the outset, and a nicely inventive killing to kick things off. Then it just got even better. And darker. And more inventively murderous.
Incorporating a classic police combo of older male DI, James Corstorphine, and younger female DC, Frankie McKenzie I was singularly impressed by how quickly this partnership and by extension, their police colleagues, were so effectively embedded into the narrative. Grieg’s character building was exceptional from the very start, instantly making a connection with this reader, through flowing dialogue, peppered with dry wit and gentle joshing, but then unfolding the character’s lives with depth and detail, until there was a real layer of comfort with them, which some authors take more than one book to achieve. This rested not solely with Grieg’s police protagonists as victims and suspects take their place in the plot, achieving new levels of empathy with the reader, or in some cases outright hostility. The violence is bleak but never gratuitous, and being played out against the Highland backdrop, as dark and sinister as the evil machinations in the book, only added to overall feeling of unease. Absolutely hoovered it up, leaving me with an almost tangible sense of loss when I finished it. Highly recommended, and can’t wait for the next.
Incorporating a classic police combo of older male DI, James Corstorphine, and younger female DC, Frankie McKenzie I was singularly impressed by how quickly this partnership and by extension, their police colleagues, were so effectively embedded into the narrative. Grieg’s character building was exceptional from the very start, instantly making a connection with this reader, through flowing dialogue, peppered with dry wit and gentle joshing, but then unfolding the character’s lives with depth and detail, until there was a real layer of comfort with them, which some authors take more than one book to achieve. This rested not solely with Grieg’s police protagonists as victims and suspects take their place in the plot, achieving new levels of empathy with the reader, or in some cases outright hostility. The violence is bleak but never gratuitous, and being played out against the Highland backdrop, as dark and sinister as the evil machinations in the book, only added to overall feeling of unease. Absolutely hoovered it up, leaving me with an almost tangible sense of loss when I finished it. Highly recommended, and can’t wait for the next.
March 13, 2022
4.5 rounding up.
Full disclosure the great graphics on the cover and the phrase “Tartan Noir” on the back flap of the book is what got me to purchase this mystery. Then I put off reading this because I am not a big mystery reader and while reviews were good there was not many reviews.
Now that I have read this great book I am saddened that it has not found more readers ( possibly due to small publisher?). The story engrossed me from the first page. At times a little gory but well paced with some twists. Interesting cast of characters with some good story arcs. Only a few very minor flaws that I was willing to overlook because of the fantastic writing.
Full disclosure the great graphics on the cover and the phrase “Tartan Noir” on the back flap of the book is what got me to purchase this mystery. Then I put off reading this because I am not a big mystery reader and while reviews were good there was not many reviews.
Now that I have read this great book I am saddened that it has not found more readers ( possibly due to small publisher?). The story engrossed me from the first page. At times a little gory but well paced with some twists. Interesting cast of characters with some good story arcs. Only a few very minor flaws that I was willing to overlook because of the fantastic writing.
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November 5, 2025To Read:
"Andrew James Greig - DI James Corstorphine #1 - The Bone Clock”
Audible Direct: 09:21 Hours - Narrator: Angus King 2025
Commenced:
Heard: 00:00 Hours - Balance: 09:21 Hours
June 22, 2025 –
GR Friend, Shannon M, gave this 4-Stars, with 5-Stars for book #2.
Angus King, the incomparable (to me) Scottish narrator, sealed this Audible purchase today! The actual cover is much more attractive than this dummy!"
"Andrew James Greig - DI James Corstorphine #1 - The Bone Clock”
Audible Direct: 09:21 Hours - Narrator: Angus King 2025
Commenced:
Heard: 00:00 Hours - Balance: 09:21 Hours
June 22, 2025 –
GR Friend, Shannon M, gave this 4-Stars, with 5-Stars for book #2.
Angus King, the incomparable (to me) Scottish narrator, sealed this Audible purchase today! The actual cover is much more attractive than this dummy!"
April 14, 2025
sometimes it’s the most unlikely people who turn into killers. I guess we all have it in us if we’re pushed hard enough.’
Andrew Greig has quickly become a favorite author of mine. After reading four of his books, and none of them producing anything less than a four star rating. There's no reason why he shouldn't
be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's well written, has a solid plot, and some interesting characters. The storyline was compelling and held my attention from beginning to end. The investigation was so intriguing yet deeply unsettling. Normally, you root for the protagonist, but, in this case, you are also rooting for the killer as long buried and dark secrets are brought to light.
As the story goes on more questions than answers are unearthed, and the suspense is amped up with the turn of every page. The depiction of small town secrets, deep-rooted police corruption, vengeance, retribution, and abuse of power is so well done in this one. I was transported as I read on, and so many different emotions were evoked from me.
The ending was perfection in my eyes. I just can't wait for more of Detective Corstorphine. His character is complex, witty at times, and sharp. I am excited to see what challenges he faces next and how he and his team overcome them. I think this is Andrew's best work yet.
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Andrew James Greig for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. The Bone Clock comes out April 17th, 2025.
Andrew Greig has quickly become a favorite author of mine. After reading four of his books, and none of them producing anything less than a four star rating. There's no reason why he shouldn't
be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's well written, has a solid plot, and some interesting characters. The storyline was compelling and held my attention from beginning to end. The investigation was so intriguing yet deeply unsettling. Normally, you root for the protagonist, but, in this case, you are also rooting for the killer as long buried and dark secrets are brought to light.
As the story goes on more questions than answers are unearthed, and the suspense is amped up with the turn of every page. The depiction of small town secrets, deep-rooted police corruption, vengeance, retribution, and abuse of power is so well done in this one. I was transported as I read on, and so many different emotions were evoked from me.
The ending was perfection in my eyes. I just can't wait for more of Detective Corstorphine. His character is complex, witty at times, and sharp. I am excited to see what challenges he faces next and how he and his team overcome them. I think this is Andrew's best work yet.
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Andrew James Greig for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. The Bone Clock comes out April 17th, 2025.
March 22, 2025
Hugely entertaining Scottish Noir thriller that introduces us to Detective James Corstophine and his team in a small town in the Scottish Highlands.
When a gamekeeper is found hanging from an old oak tree ensnared by an intricate device made of bones, a series of events begin that have links to the past and the old orphanage that used to exist.
20 years earlier a reporter was found hanging from the same tree, the cause of death ruled a suicide. But was the case investigated properly or was there a cover up? A seemingly untroubled and well liked reported suddenly taking her own lie?
The Bone Clock is a great start to a series that is both different and familiar at the same time. Some very very dark subject matters with an intricately woven story with a unique method of revenge.
Great story telling, a likeable main protagonist and enough twists and turns make this one that easy to recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
When a gamekeeper is found hanging from an old oak tree ensnared by an intricate device made of bones, a series of events begin that have links to the past and the old orphanage that used to exist.
20 years earlier a reporter was found hanging from the same tree, the cause of death ruled a suicide. But was the case investigated properly or was there a cover up? A seemingly untroubled and well liked reported suddenly taking her own lie?
The Bone Clock is a great start to a series that is both different and familiar at the same time. Some very very dark subject matters with an intricately woven story with a unique method of revenge.
Great story telling, a likeable main protagonist and enough twists and turns make this one that easy to recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
May 26, 2025
I tell you what, this was an absolute winner on so many levels for me, and with absolutely no disrespect to Andrew James Grieg, I will immediately draw comparisons with Benjamin Myers excellent thrillers, Turning Blue and These Darkening Days. This is purely on the basis that I have been looking for a comparable crime read to these books, in terms of darkness and violence set against a natural, brooding environment for some time, and, hallelujah, I have totally found it in The Bone Clock. I don’t quite know why people say they devoured a book, but think I understand a bit better now. Sometimes I will admit, reading predominantly crime fiction can become a bit of a chore, but this book hooked me from the start with its taut prose, an impending feel of dread and unease from the outset, and a nicely inventive killing to kick things off. Then it just got even better. And darker. And more inventively murderous.
Incorporating a classic police combo of older male DI, James Corstorphine, and younger female DC, Frankie McKenzie I was singularly impressed by how quickly this partnership and by extension, their police colleagues, were so effectively embedded into the narrative. Grieg’s character building was exceptional from the very start, instantly making a connection with this reader, through flowing dialogue, peppered with dry wit and gentle joshing, but then unfolding the character’s lives with depth and detail, until there was a real layer of comfort with them, which some authors take more than one book to achieve. This rested not solely with Grieg’s police protagonists as victims and suspects take their place in the plot, achieving new levels of empathy with the reader, or in some cases outright hostility. The violence is bleak but never gratuitous, and being played out against the Highland backdrop, as dark and sinister as the evil machinations in the book, only added to overall feeling of unease. Absolutely hoovered it up, leaving me with an almost tangible sense of loss when I finished it. Highly recommended, and will definitely be reading the next four books in the series!
(Previously published as Whirligig)
Incorporating a classic police combo of older male DI, James Corstorphine, and younger female DC, Frankie McKenzie I was singularly impressed by how quickly this partnership and by extension, their police colleagues, were so effectively embedded into the narrative. Grieg’s character building was exceptional from the very start, instantly making a connection with this reader, through flowing dialogue, peppered with dry wit and gentle joshing, but then unfolding the character’s lives with depth and detail, until there was a real layer of comfort with them, which some authors take more than one book to achieve. This rested not solely with Grieg’s police protagonists as victims and suspects take their place in the plot, achieving new levels of empathy with the reader, or in some cases outright hostility. The violence is bleak but never gratuitous, and being played out against the Highland backdrop, as dark and sinister as the evil machinations in the book, only added to overall feeling of unease. Absolutely hoovered it up, leaving me with an almost tangible sense of loss when I finished it. Highly recommended, and will definitely be reading the next four books in the series!
(Previously published as Whirligig)
September 12, 2020
A gamekeeper is found hanging from a tree. At first thought to be a suicide, evidence soon hints toward a strangely intricate murder. So begins Andrew James Greig’s debut crime outing, Whirligig, a superb story set in the Scottish Highlands which introduces James Corstophine, a wonderful addition to the UK Crime world of ruminative DI’s. A great name and an interesting story in himself, James is beautifully described as ‘a misplaced sock in the drawer of life’ and heads a small, rag tag group of officers with little experience in the darker world of crime. The story charts both Corstophine and his team’s development as the murders multiply, a suspect remains elusive, and a more sinister history slowly reveals itself. It is easy to see why this book is on 2020’s McIlvanney Prize shortlist- it’s a beautifully written book which I gave a 4.5 with the hope it’s the start to a new series.
April 9, 2021
I was drawn to this book because I love a good crime novel, especially Tartan Noir, but sometimes a new writer disappoints. Not the case with Whirligig. I'm so glad I bought it - what a cracking read!
It begins with what first appears to be the suicide of a Highlands gamekeeper, but which turns out to have been a very carefully planned and really quite gruesome murder. From then on the body count rises and it's a race to find the killer.
Andrew James Grieg's prose is wonderful - his description of the highlands is so good I could close my eyes and imagine myself there. The detective duo are believable, as are the other members of the small police team in the rural station.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this writer.
It begins with what first appears to be the suicide of a Highlands gamekeeper, but which turns out to have been a very carefully planned and really quite gruesome murder. From then on the body count rises and it's a race to find the killer.
Andrew James Grieg's prose is wonderful - his description of the highlands is so good I could close my eyes and imagine myself there. The detective duo are believable, as are the other members of the small police team in the rural station.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this writer.
December 5, 2020
I only bought this as Andrew Greig is my favourite author. I didn’t realise it was a different chap that wrote this - Andrew James Greig. Anyway I was lucky, as I loved this book. It gets you from the start and draws you into to a slightly dark and bleak but mesmerising place. It is also one of the few crime books where you find yourself siding with the murderer and hoping they escape. Brilliant.
May 20, 2025
Amazing! Love this author and this series! If you haven't read this author yet, I would highly recommend him. Start with this book - it's just wow!
February 18, 2021
This is a stunning crime novel. The murders are macabre in their execution but oh so clever. Set in a small highland village the book is atmospheric and beautifully written. It has a great cast of characters including DCI Corstorphine, who is quiet but determined to solve the murders. It covers an awful subject but in a way it's so cleverly crafted it cant fail to be a massive hit. I look forward to selling this one.
January 22, 2021
Wow! Love me a murder mystery and this is a good one. Thank you to the person who recommended this book, I could not put it down.
Set in current times in Scotland, it is the spellbinding story of a series of murders committed against people who abused children in a Catholic orphanage which has long since closed down. I found this painfully believable because of the release this month of the five-year investigation of the terrible crimes committed in the Catholic homes for unwed mothers in Ireland.
The police team that works the investigation and the surprise ending really makes the story sing. I highly recommend this book.
March 21, 2022
Kept myself up after bedtime to finish this great story! Wow, real detective work. I liked that the reader was given time to ponder the puzzle but I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know the conclusion. This is a story of revenge plotted so thoroughly and patiently plus so appropriately it was hard not to cheer for the antagonist. Complicating the solving of the murder(s) are those who use privilege to obstruct honorable behavior. Really worth reading.
Thank you Beth and my Goodreads buddies who connected so that I learned of this story.
Thank you Beth and my Goodreads buddies who connected so that I learned of this story.
April 9, 2020
This book is set in the Highlands of Scotland. A man is found hanging from a tree. Is this murder or is it suicide? This is linked to a historic case involving a woman who was found hanging from the same tree.
Wow what an amazing book. This is just the most perfect thriller. It is compelling, gritty, dark and full of gore.
I loved the characters and the storyline. It was excellently written and paced perfectly. A complete page turner. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
Wow what an amazing book. This is just the most perfect thriller. It is compelling, gritty, dark and full of gore.
I loved the characters and the storyline. It was excellently written and paced perfectly. A complete page turner. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
September 22, 2020
What an absolute genius piece of writing. I'd bought this because it was the only one of his I could get on Kindle but I loved it. Excellent characters, clever but disturbing plot, absolutely exceptional. I need to read more of Mr Greig's work. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2025
4.65⭐
April 10, 2025
The Bone Clock is set in the Scottish Highlands. It follows DI Corstorphine and his small police team in investigating a gruesome murder that took place. when a notebook is found amongst the victims' possessions, which is linked to a suicide that took place 20 years prior. Corstorphine realises this isn't going to be a simple crime to solve. Dragging up cases from the past, can DI Corstorphine find the killer before another person ends up dead?
I love a good police procedural, and this one kept me turning the pages.
Andrew James Greig doesn't shy away from writing a variety of imaginative and gory ways for his characters to die. Some are not for the faint-hearted.
The characters are well rounded, and I liked getting to know all about them. They felt real and relatable. Some are downright evil. DI Corstorphine is a very likeable character, and so is DC McKenzie. You want to know more about them and want them to succeed.
I really enjoyed the plot and how it all came together. It was suspenseful, tense, and dark. For the most part, it kept me guessing. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was because I worked out who the killer was quite early on.
The story tackles some heavy subjects, including suicide, child death, and child abuse. The CA is not an in-depth account, which I like that it didn't go down that root. It hit hard without reading about them.
This is a series that I would carry on reading. It held my attention, and I can't wait to see what case DI Corstorphine is investigating next.
Thank you, Storm Publishing, for my advanced copy
my opinions are my own.
I love a good police procedural, and this one kept me turning the pages.
Andrew James Greig doesn't shy away from writing a variety of imaginative and gory ways for his characters to die. Some are not for the faint-hearted.
The characters are well rounded, and I liked getting to know all about them. They felt real and relatable. Some are downright evil. DI Corstorphine is a very likeable character, and so is DC McKenzie. You want to know more about them and want them to succeed.
I really enjoyed the plot and how it all came together. It was suspenseful, tense, and dark. For the most part, it kept me guessing. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was because I worked out who the killer was quite early on.
The story tackles some heavy subjects, including suicide, child death, and child abuse. The CA is not an in-depth account, which I like that it didn't go down that root. It hit hard without reading about them.
This is a series that I would carry on reading. It held my attention, and I can't wait to see what case DI Corstorphine is investigating next.
Thank you, Storm Publishing, for my advanced copy
my opinions are my own.
April 15, 2022
Tartan noir - crime thriller set in a small highland town. Tense, engaging characters, different, gripping. I would rate it 4.5, if 1/2s were allowed. A great read - was perfect for while in the highlands (Lochinver). Very pleased to see that the author has another about DI Corstorphine, because I want to see what happens next in his life.
April 29, 2023
What a fantastic murder-mystety! Damn!
April 10, 2020
I have been really excited about this book for some time, as soon as I heard about it I knew I wanted to read it. Recently I’ve been finding that I get a bit of a crisis of confidence before I start books that I’ve been looking forward to because I worry that I’ve built them up so much that they won’t live up to my expectation. I am so glad to say that this didn’t happen with Whirligig.
I was sucked in from the first line and felt transported through the lyrical writing to a setting that is the perfect backdrop to the story that unfolds. The atmosphere is tense and sinister and even though there are some very grim moments I was drawn further and further into this story desperate to find out what was going on.
It is an outstanding storyline, the attention to detail gave me chills, it’s the kind of story that you can’t help but hold in your mind for days after reading. With Whirligig it’s not just who is killing people but also who is next, as the investigation brings up more questions than answers and uncovers some deeply unsettling secrets.
DI Corstophine is a great character, he felt really genuine and I liked that he was better at his job than his superiors would give him credit for. The small community setting led to some interesting dynamics between the team and the community and I liked that even though this was an unusual occurrence Corstophine was able to play things to his advantage. He was also able to bring out the best in his team, he worked very well with DC Mckenzie worked together and she was also a character that I found both interesting and believable.
I wish I had more words to describe how brilliant this book is, so far they don’t quite feel adequate enough but I can honestly say that I enjoyed every moment of reading Whirligig and it will easily make it onto my favourite books of the year list. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
I was sucked in from the first line and felt transported through the lyrical writing to a setting that is the perfect backdrop to the story that unfolds. The atmosphere is tense and sinister and even though there are some very grim moments I was drawn further and further into this story desperate to find out what was going on.
It is an outstanding storyline, the attention to detail gave me chills, it’s the kind of story that you can’t help but hold in your mind for days after reading. With Whirligig it’s not just who is killing people but also who is next, as the investigation brings up more questions than answers and uncovers some deeply unsettling secrets.
DI Corstophine is a great character, he felt really genuine and I liked that he was better at his job than his superiors would give him credit for. The small community setting led to some interesting dynamics between the team and the community and I liked that even though this was an unusual occurrence Corstophine was able to play things to his advantage. He was also able to bring out the best in his team, he worked very well with DC Mckenzie worked together and she was also a character that I found both interesting and believable.
I wish I had more words to describe how brilliant this book is, so far they don’t quite feel adequate enough but I can honestly say that I enjoyed every moment of reading Whirligig and it will easily make it onto my favourite books of the year list. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
June 16, 2020
I started this book with no expectations as it’s not my usual book choice. But I decided at the start of this year that I was going to read more books that were outside my comfort zone. Well this book I managed in 2 sittings. I enjoyed it so much I was totally invested in the case and really got to like DI Corstorphine and his colleagues. This book was so well written and had so much in the way of description that you felt like you were there in person and could imagine the scenery and the people. For me it played out really well and really answered all the questions that I had. The ending for me was perfect. I would love to read more books based on this detective and think BBC or ITV are missing a trick if they don’t pick this one up and turn it into a drama series. I would absolutely say pick this book up and give it a go, I’m so glad I did! I will now look out for more of this authors books in the future.
April 21, 2021
I’m starting work today like a half shut knife because i stayed awake reading this last night when I should have been sleeping.
Great read, a lot going on and I mean a lot but it’s written in a way that doesn’t lose you and keeps you hooked. The actual story gets a bit grim but that’s what makes it good too.
Great read, a lot going on and I mean a lot but it’s written in a way that doesn’t lose you and keeps you hooked. The actual story gets a bit grim but that’s what makes it good too.
May 2, 2022
4.5 Whirligig is an excellent murder mystery by Andrew James Greig. The secrecy behind the abuses in the Catholic orphanage rang true. The modes of murder were so clever and full of meaning. The description of the device, in the prologue, fired up my imagination, which was perfectly followed by the character conflict in chapter one. I found the pacing to be spot on, and the writing is terrific. I love the cover art, too.
January 21, 2021
WOW!!! The Crime Expert in Topping & Co. highly recommended ‘Whirligig’ and having read it, I can see why! What a satisfying read!
October 24, 2025
This is one of those books that didn’t grab me right away. In fact, within the first few pages, I almost DNF’ed it. I struggle with depictions of death by hanging, since that’s how my daughter committed suicide, and I was the one who found her. Once I got past those images, I found an excellent mystery that begins a series set in a small town in the Scottish Highlands.
A man is found hanging in a lone tree on an estate in the Scottish Highlands. Initially, it appears to be a suicide. On further inspection, the police discover the remains of an elaborate machine built to snare the gamekeeper in the trap. His pregnant girlfriend, whom he abused physically and emotionally for years, has mixed feelings about his death, but doesn’t seem bright enough to have concocted the elaborate snare.
Detective Inspector James Corstorphine leads the investigation. In this small town atmosphere, there are fewer than ten officers. They don’t usually deal with major crimes that will grab the headlines. As he begins looking into the victim, Corstorphine learns that nearly twenty years before, a local reporter was found hanged in the same tree, another apparent suicide. Are the two connected?
While contemplating this, a local minister is killed when the support for the bell in the belfry of his church gives way. Once the building is stable, they find another elaborate mechanism that slowly sawed through the supports every time the bell was rung. Knowing the two recent deaths are related, Corstorphine searches for a link between the victims and begins to unearth a dark secret many will kill to protect.
The mystery here was rather gruesome but also rather ingenious. This is the story of people silenced for decades, as they are considered to be inconsequential to those who wield power. I had an idea early on who the killer was, but not their current identity. There’s a red herring there, but eventually it all made sense.
To read my complete review, please go to The Bone Clock by Andrew James Greig – When the Past Doesn’t Stay Buried…
A man is found hanging in a lone tree on an estate in the Scottish Highlands. Initially, it appears to be a suicide. On further inspection, the police discover the remains of an elaborate machine built to snare the gamekeeper in the trap. His pregnant girlfriend, whom he abused physically and emotionally for years, has mixed feelings about his death, but doesn’t seem bright enough to have concocted the elaborate snare.
Detective Inspector James Corstorphine leads the investigation. In this small town atmosphere, there are fewer than ten officers. They don’t usually deal with major crimes that will grab the headlines. As he begins looking into the victim, Corstorphine learns that nearly twenty years before, a local reporter was found hanged in the same tree, another apparent suicide. Are the two connected?
While contemplating this, a local minister is killed when the support for the bell in the belfry of his church gives way. Once the building is stable, they find another elaborate mechanism that slowly sawed through the supports every time the bell was rung. Knowing the two recent deaths are related, Corstorphine searches for a link between the victims and begins to unearth a dark secret many will kill to protect.
The mystery here was rather gruesome but also rather ingenious. This is the story of people silenced for decades, as they are considered to be inconsequential to those who wield power. I had an idea early on who the killer was, but not their current identity. There’s a red herring there, but eventually it all made sense.
To read my complete review, please go to The Bone Clock by Andrew James Greig – When the Past Doesn’t Stay Buried…
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