The Violent Hour: the next high-stakes thriller in the Sunday Times bestselling Inspector McLean series

by James Oswald

Festival season. The streets are filled to bursting with tourists, and Edinburgh is gripped by a stifling heatwave. Not the best time for one of the most violent murders the city has witnessed in years.

'Do yourself a favour and read James Oswald's series. I can almost guarantee you won't stop at one' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW

The victim of the murder cannot be identified; its brutal nature of the shocking both the public and the police. What could possibly have inflicted such gruesome injuries? Was it a wild animal on the loose, or the beginning of some horrific gang warfare?

Another body is found on Musselburgh naked, comatose, but this time still alive. DI Tony McLean can't shake the feeling that there is a connection to the killing - but there are few leads for him and the team to go by.

The police are at a loss, and the city is on edge - will the killer strike again?

Praise for James

'The new Ian Rankin' Daily Record

'Creepy, gritty and gruesome' Sunday Mirror

'Oswald's writing is in a class above most' Daily Express

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 2, 2026

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of The Violent Hour.

Set during a stiflingly hot Edinburgh festival season, there’s an underlying sense of tension from the outset. The investigation itself is particularly brutal, an unidentified victim and very little evidence to work with, which creates that slow, creeping sense of unease that builds as the story unfolds.

The atmosphere really stood out for me. Oswald has a way of making Edinburgh feel both busy and stifling at the same time, and that comes through strongly here. As the case develops, there’s a constant feeling that something isn’t quite right, which keeps the momentum going even in the quieter moments.

McLean is a reliable central character to it all. He’s steady, thoughtful, and driven without ever feeling overdone, and that consistency is part of what makes the series so readable. You trust him to keep digging, even when things start to get murky.

This is a dark, tense, and atmospheric thriller, with just enough of an edge to linger after you’ve finished. It is easily read as a standalone. A strong four stars.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another welcome addition to the DI McLean series.

Oswald’s book are always fast paced, well-written and intriguing. The Violent Hour is no exception.

Whilst I didn’t particularly enjoy the subject of the supernatural element, I found the story to be gripping, unsettling and I enjoyed the return of the usual cast of highly likeable characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline | Wildfire for the ARC.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Violent Hour is the 15th novel in the DI Tony McLean series by James Oswald. Set against the backdrop of the Edinburgh Festival, the novel transforms a city usually associated with culture and celebration into a sweltering, claustrophobic hunting ground.

Edinburgh is suffering through a stifling heatwave, its streets bursting with tourists. It is the worst possible time for a murder of such brutality and violence and it leaves even the most seasoned officers reeling. The injuries are so extreme they defy typical forensic explanation, leading the police to wonder if they are hunting a wild animal, a depraved gang, or something far more sinister.

The victim remains unidentified, a headless puzzle that sets the tone for the entire investigation. There is mounting pressure on DI Tony McLean and his team to solve the case quickly. The mystery deepens when a second body is discovered on the coast at Musselburgh. This victim is naked and comatose, but crucially, still alive. While there are “few leads” to go by, McLean’s intuition tells him there is a dark thread connecting this survivor to the carnage in the city. I have followed this series from the very start and was instantly drawn to the character of Tony McLean. An intuitive, dedicated and grounded detective who constantly has to face cases that lean toward the macabre and the bizarre. The story captures the “Violent Hour” with a sense of impending doom where the city is on edge, waiting for the next strike. I am not keen on supernatural, fantasy in novels but this series just about gets the balance right for me.

Tony McLean remains one of the most intriguing detectives in modern Scottish crime fiction. He is meticulous and principled, but it is his “gut feelings” that often lead him into the shadows where traditional police work fails. In The Violent Hour, the lack of forensic clarity forces the team to rely on old-fashioned legwork and McLean’s unique perspective to solve a puzzle that seems to have no edges.

The Violent Hour is a taut, visceral thriller that is still as fresh as the very first novel in this series.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Rob Twinem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A badly mutilated body is discovered, limbs appear to have been ripped from the victim in this unimaginable crime. Detective Inspector Jane Harrison is the CIO and is able to call on the services of DI Tony McClean. It is true to say that DI McClean has a more secondary role in this murder enquiry as it unfolds. For readers familiar with the series it is pleasing to note that the eccentric characters from earlier books are all present namely: Madame Rose, Grumpy Bob and Mrs McCutcheon’s cat.

What sets James Oswald’s books apart is the feeling of something supernatural in the background, something uncanny, something that adds to the great and growing uneasiness throughout. Due to the lack of evidence at the murder site it takes a considerable time for the victim to be identified and by then a second body is discovered with a similar modus operandi to the first. Tony’s girlfriend Emma is working at an archaeologist dig nearby uncovering a viking longship and most disturbingly a naked man, of great height and strength is discovered asleep on a beach. Who is this “herculean” figure and is he in any way connected to the police investigation.

This is a brilliant story, I love the use of the spooky, the unravelling of a bygone era and a prophecy that needs to be fulfilled. Thanks to netgalley for this early review copy which I enjoyed immensely. Highly recommended.

[Alison Taylor-Muhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Violent Hour is book fifteen in the Tony McLean series, which is a favourite of mine, and what an amazing read it is. The narrative is both gruesome and fascinating, and as always with this author, the words flow effortlessly from the page – immediately grabbing my attention and holding it right to the end. I enjoyed the Viking history that is touched upon in this book: Emma, Hattie and her team are working on excavating a Viking burial longship, and Tony realises it has significant ties to the case.

DCI McLean is a unique character, and I love the way his persona blends with that of the intriguing Madam Rose, and reliable ‘Grumpy Bob’. It was also good to see Janie Harrison feature so prominently in this instalment, and I am hoping that PC Gordon will be a recurring presence as I enjoyed the freshness she added to the cast of well-established (and well-loved) characters.

I have followed Tony McLean’s progression from his very first investigation, and I have enjoyed every single outing with him. These books have the right balance of police procedural coupled with a thrilling supernatural element. Very highly recommended.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Violent Hour by James Oswald is book 15 in the Inspector Tony McLean series. PC Charlene McKenzie, an undercover officer, is in an induced coma. Charlene was beaten horrifically. A body is found dismembered in a laneway. Another horrific attack. DI Janie Harrison is the SIO. Meanwhile McLean has taken it upon himself to investigate an unknown man found on the beach. Good to see Grumpy Bob (ex-DS Laird) make an appearance. I like him. He has a reputation for snoozing in a quiet corner but it’s all an act. Madame Rose is such a fascinating character, and she is there as well. We also have some Viking history as a burial longship starts to be uncovered. The answer to the mystery, to what is happening, is elusive and I had an idea, but it took to near the end to be sure. This is a fabulous series. I have followed Tony McLean’s progression from the first book and have enjoyed every one of them.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love the Tony McLean Books. 15th book in and they just keep getting better and better. There has been a murder but the police cannot identify the victim. The police and the public are shocked by the brutal nature of the killing. What could have inflicted these type of injuries, was it an animal or something else. Then another body is found naked but alive on the beach. Tony has a feeling the two cases are related but cannot find a connection between them. Will Tony be able to solve the case before it's too late. I really enjoyed this book, I love how much Janie features throughout the book, I have really enjoyed seeing her career progress through the series. My only complaint for this book was there wasn't enough Madam Rose for my liking. Thoroughly enjoyed this book as always and I always recommend this series to everyone. Now I just need to impatiently wait for the next one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this brilliant book.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m much more a fan of police procedurals than fantasy fiction, but I appreciate it when an author tries to do something different within the crime genre. ‘The Violent Hour’ is unusual in that it incorporates elements of myth and the supernatural alongside a gritty and realistic hunt for a killer in Edinburgh. I was intrigued to discover more and, at no point, was I required to suspend my disbelief unreasonably. Without wanting to give too much away, ‘The Violent Hour’ builds to a fascinating climax and I couldn’t help feeling a lot of sympathy for the villain. I have been a fan of Inspector McLean since ‘Natural Causes’ was published in 2012 and ‘The Violent Hour’ demonstrates that there is still a lot of life in this series.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to see another Tony McLean book again! And just like the previous ones, this is an excellent read! A very captivating storyline that took me a long time to figure out where it was going, but helped keep you very engaged and wanting to read on to find out what happened next. Good to see Janie Harrison feature prominently too, so it is not fully on DCI McLean. Great to see the regular characters back again too, in their supporting roles. Definitely a book to highly recommend!

[Jackthedad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Wildfire for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.

DCI McLean has an uncanny knack of seeking out trouble that involves the supernatural. One wonders how long his luck will last and is Edinburgh a safe place to visit? James Oswald delivers another gritty tale that spoon feeds you tidbits before the mystery unravels in the finale. Another good story well told.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Violent Hour is a dark atmospheric story in the Inspector McLean series , it is both a police procedural and also there is a supernatural element which I loved .This is the first book in the series I have read but it is a good standalone. The characters are interesting ,it is fast paced and gripping a real page turner .I shall certainly be reading the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a reason I love the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald and, quite honestly, The Violent Hour pretty much captures it all. On the surface, this is a police based thriller series, in which murderers face the might and investigative powers of Police Scotland, in this case, DI Janie Harrison and, slightly removed, her superior officer, and the series eponymous protagonist, DCI Tony McLean. When you dig just a tiny bit deeper, it is so much more. There is, more often than not, something not quite ... typical, about the kinds of investigations our heroes find themselves caught up in and this case if no exception. A particularly brutal killing, a seabound legend, and secrets that run deeper and darker than even Mclean might have imagined made this an absolute joy to read, once more bringing the team back to the roots of the series that made made addicted in the first place.

If you want a straight up bad guy v good guy kind of thriller, this is probably not the book for you. To be fair, if you are fourteen books in and haven't come to expect the unexpected, I would wonder what you've been reading prior to this point. From the opening chapter we get a flavour of where James Oswald intends to lead us on this latest quest, and I was absolutely set to willingly follow. It is a tale of grotesque execution, although, as ever, the worst of the violence remains off the page. There is no doubting the level of aggression, of strength, involved in the murders in this book though, and even I found myself going ewww before the more than occasional teehee as I read. But the source of the violence remains a mystery, at least to the Police.

There is a very dark side to this book which is dealt with in a careful way, even if the implications of what is uncovered is no less disturbing. But it is a story rooted in legend and mythology, that otherworldly element of suspense that makes this the perfect series for me. There are books in the series which lean more or less towards the supernatural, and this sits perhaps somewhere in between, more toward legend than ghoulishness. The characters are, as ever, vibrant and engaging, and the although Janie plays a far greater part in the investigation that McLean, it is great to see her character continue to grow and to hold her own in the series. Madame Rose is back as bold and knowing as ever, and even Emma has a key part to play in the course of this investigation.

One element I really did enjoy was seeing McLean and Kirstie Richie back working together. It's been a while but that bond that was forged during Kirsty's early days working alongside McLean show no sign of lessening just because she is now his superior. And with a perfect cameo from my series favourite Grumpy Bob, the book had all the ingredients that I love and more. Pacing is spot on, the blending of the less mainstream elements of the story into the police investigation feeling as natural as ever. And even though I kind of guessed how one particular character fit into the plot, the execution of the story, the build to a dramatic, tense and maybe even typically painful showdown, kept me utterly hooked to the very last page.

I love this series, never tried to hide it, and this is another absolute classic. Whilst this will always be the Tony McLean series, Janie Harrison is proving to be more and more a worthy successor, and allowing poor old McLean the off moment to rest his aching bones in favour of an increasingly female dominated cast of characters isn't dimming my love of the series at all. Heartily recommended.

[David Gooch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

If you have read this series by James Oswald then you will know you are going to get a good read that is well written and with a good mystery to boot.

This one has violent deaths in that the bodies are torn apart by the killer which has McLean wondering just what could do such damage to another person and how are they doing it.
The body count rises and they have to find a link and fast to try and solve this and he may need help on who or what could do this and why.
Emma his other half is out at a dig and they are discovering Viking remains and what they don't realise is there maybe links.
Eventually the reason for the killings clicks into place and then he realises who maybe next on the killers list. McLean races to the dig site in the hope he is wrong but will it end or even solve his mystery?

Oswald really paints a good picture of the scene every time and his characters are now seasoned in his books that you can easily picture them in the room with you. He writes the story and plants the events and mystery so well that you want to read on to know what is happening. A really good read as ever and if you are reading this series you won't be disappointed.