Dead Man’s Tale

Bob Skinner #37

by Quintin Jardine

The latest Bob Skinner mystery from the legendary Quintin Jardine.

Genres: Mystery, Crime

384 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[Jane Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazed that this is the 39th book about Bob Skinner and I’ve read most of them. I started from the very beginning a long time ago now and kept up with them for a good long while, but then somehow became disenchanted with them and stopped reading them. Was quite nice to come back to them now and this one was good and fast moving.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge fan of this series and this one was no exception.

[John Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve not read any Quintin Jardine/Bob Skinner mysteries for a few years. I’ve therefore missed a significant number in reading order. Albeit this was a good read if you could get your head around the characters and their many relationships and tangled family failings etc!! I managed to do so and thoroughly enjoyed this book. My interest in Scottish politics certainly helped me through the book.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

His native Scotland stands on the cusp of a new era of international expansion under its charismatic new leader, but former top cop Sir Robert Skinner is settled happily in Spain with his family, full engaged in a new and unexpected career. He is focused on a business issue, only to be drawn suddenly homewards as a family member finds himself a witness to a homicidal attack, and under fire himself.

Skinner drops everything to rush to his stricken son's aid. Pulled back into his old world he finds himself facing the aftermath of a shocking crime, which evolves into a mystery as great any he has ever faced. When kidnap follows murder, and the investigation expands in range and complexity, can Bob and his onetime police protege ACC Sauce Haddock run the perpetrators to ground?

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[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in this series. where a lot of crime series start withering as the lead character gets older and retires or gets promoted, Quintin Jardine has managed to keep the character relevant to the plot and the interactions with the police characters don't feel clumsy or unbelievable, and I always eagerly await the next instalment of this now 37 book series and long may it continue.

[Bob Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ferry Man is coming.

Quite an enjoyable read, the story of the rise and fall of a politician, his family and those he interacted with. The Prime Minister of Sweden is shot and a man stood next to her dies. What seems a sad tragedy turns into a tale of revenge. Acting ACC, "Sauce" Haddock is taked with the investigation, however his retired boss, Bob Skinner, ensures he is close to both the investigation and the various suspects. Intriguing tale with a strange outcome.

[John Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of us who have been drawn into reading previous books in this series this is like meeting old friends. Full marks to Mr Jardine for incorporating quite so many characters from the long term cast list. My only problem is trying to remember who's who and their complicated relationships, personal and professional. An extended Skinner family tree might help!
Actually may have to dock half a star for the ending which felt curiously anti-climatic if not downbeat.

[Marilyn Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

he’d to put down

I’m a big fan of Quintin Jardine Skinner series. Read most of the series more than once. This book was one of his best. More twists and turns when I wasn’t expecting them. Loved reading about the regular characters as well as some recently introduced. I wanted to just keep reading until I finished it.

[Karen Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the ‘crimes’ well written, good characters and well paced for me.

However, being one of a series with the characters having long histories it was not easy to keep up with old references. It was like being the newbie in a club, not understanding the in jokes.

Overall I did enjoy the storyline, my goodness the travelling was hard to keep up with.

[Cheryl Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Given how the previous book ended this one started in the perfect place and just got better as it went on. Old favourite characters from previous books and newer characters from recent books - coming together in a well paced story. Quintin Jardine’s books never disappoint me.

[John Wenitong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read - tad slow at first :)

[Guy Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bob Skinner series, all 37 are utterly sublime, I have read them all, and they are always utterly brilliant.This one is no different and the enjoyment of catching up with Skinner, Haddock et al as they have progressed through the decades adds to the joy of this series.This book is as usual a cracking read, assassinations, loony nuns, political skullduggery with, as usual Bob Skinner in the thick of it.Still chairman of a European media group, but a cop first and foremost.
My favourite surprise is finding another Quintion Jardine instalment of this series announced, as I know I will never be disappointed, 37 books later, that is still the case.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

In recent years the Skinner series has shown signals of wear and tear, but the last two have put it right back into top form. This is a good read, and it’s hard to think of another series on book 37 that retains relevance and long terms character investment.