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Logan McRae #10
In the Cold Dark Ground
THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER The tenth Logan McRae novel from the No. 1 bestselling author. ‘Top drawer … his most epic outing yet’ Independent Trouble is coming… Sergeant Logan McRae’s team find a body dumped in the woods – but is it the missing businessman they’ve been searching for, or something far more sinister? It doesn’t help that his ex-boss is taking over the case, a new Superintendent has it in for him, and Professional Standards are looming. Even Aberdeen’s criminal overlord, Wee Hamish Mowat, is dying and rival gangs all over the UK are eying his territory. There’s a war brewing and Logan’s trapped right in the middle, whether he likes it or not. Stuart MacBride's book 'The Coffinmaker’s Garden' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 23-08-2021.
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2016
528 people are currently reading
2298 people want to read
About the author
Stuart MacBride
87 books2,722 followersAka Stuart B. MacBride
The life and times of a bearded write-ist.
Stuart MacBride (that's me) was born in Dumbarton -- which is Glasgow as far as I'm concerned -- moving up to Aberdeen at the tender age of two, when fashions were questionable. Nothing much happened for years and years and years: learned to play the recorder, then forgot how when they changed from little coloured dots to proper musical notes (why the hell couldn't they have taught us the notes in the first bloody place? I could have been performing my earth-shattering rendition of 'Three Blind Mice' at the Albert Hall by now!); appeared in some bizarre World War Two musical production; did my best to avoid eating haggis and generally ran about the place a lot.
Next up was an elongated spell in Westhill -- a small suburb seven miles west of Aberdeen -- where I embarked upon a mediocre academic career, hindered by a complete inability to spell and an attention span the length of a gnat's doodad.
And so to UNIVERSITY, far too young, naive and stupid to be away from the family home, sharing a subterranean flat in one of the seedier bits of Edinburgh with a mad Irishman, and four other bizarre individuals. The highlight of walking to the art school in the mornings (yes: we were students, but we still did mornings) was trying not to tread in the fresh bloodstains outside our front door, and dodging the undercover CID officers trying to buy drugs. Lovely place.
But university and I did not see eye to eye, so off I went to work offshore. Like many all-male environments, working offshore was the intellectual equivalent of Animal House, only without the clever bits. Swearing, smoking, eating, more swearing, pornography, swearing, drinking endless plastic cups of tea... and did I mention the swearing? But it was more money than I'd seen in my life! There's something about being handed a wadge of cash as you clamber off the minibus from the heliport, having spent the last two weeks offshore and the last two hours in an orange, rubber romper suit / body bag, then blowing most of it in the pubs and clubs of Aberdeen. And being young enough to get away without a hangover.
Then came a spell of working for myself as a graphic designer, which went the way of all flesh and into the heady world of studio management for a nation-wide marketing company. Then some more freelance design work, a handful of voiceovers for local radio and video production companies and a bash at being an actor (with a small 'a'), giving it up when it became clear there was no way I was ever going to be good enough to earn a decent living.
It was about this time I fell into bad company -- a blonde from Fife who conned me into marrying her -- and started producing websites for a friend's fledgling Internet company. From there it was a roller coaster ride (in that it made a lot of people feel decidedly unwell) from web designer to web manager, lead programmer, team lead and other assorted technical bollocks with three different companies, eventually ending up as a project manager for a global IT company.
But there was always the writing (well, that's not true, the writing only started two chapters above this one). I fell victim to that most dreadful of things: peer pressure. Two friends were writing novels and I thought, 'why not? I could do that'.
Took a few years though...
The life and times of a bearded write-ist.
Stuart MacBride (that's me) was born in Dumbarton -- which is Glasgow as far as I'm concerned -- moving up to Aberdeen at the tender age of two, when fashions were questionable. Nothing much happened for years and years and years: learned to play the recorder, then forgot how when they changed from little coloured dots to proper musical notes (why the hell couldn't they have taught us the notes in the first bloody place? I could have been performing my earth-shattering rendition of 'Three Blind Mice' at the Albert Hall by now!); appeared in some bizarre World War Two musical production; did my best to avoid eating haggis and generally ran about the place a lot.
Next up was an elongated spell in Westhill -- a small suburb seven miles west of Aberdeen -- where I embarked upon a mediocre academic career, hindered by a complete inability to spell and an attention span the length of a gnat's doodad.
And so to UNIVERSITY, far too young, naive and stupid to be away from the family home, sharing a subterranean flat in one of the seedier bits of Edinburgh with a mad Irishman, and four other bizarre individuals. The highlight of walking to the art school in the mornings (yes: we were students, but we still did mornings) was trying not to tread in the fresh bloodstains outside our front door, and dodging the undercover CID officers trying to buy drugs. Lovely place.
But university and I did not see eye to eye, so off I went to work offshore. Like many all-male environments, working offshore was the intellectual equivalent of Animal House, only without the clever bits. Swearing, smoking, eating, more swearing, pornography, swearing, drinking endless plastic cups of tea... and did I mention the swearing? But it was more money than I'd seen in my life! There's something about being handed a wadge of cash as you clamber off the minibus from the heliport, having spent the last two weeks offshore and the last two hours in an orange, rubber romper suit / body bag, then blowing most of it in the pubs and clubs of Aberdeen. And being young enough to get away without a hangover.
Then came a spell of working for myself as a graphic designer, which went the way of all flesh and into the heady world of studio management for a nation-wide marketing company. Then some more freelance design work, a handful of voiceovers for local radio and video production companies and a bash at being an actor (with a small 'a'), giving it up when it became clear there was no way I was ever going to be good enough to earn a decent living.
It was about this time I fell into bad company -- a blonde from Fife who conned me into marrying her -- and started producing websites for a friend's fledgling Internet company. From there it was a roller coaster ride (in that it made a lot of people feel decidedly unwell) from web designer to web manager, lead programmer, team lead and other assorted technical bollocks with three different companies, eventually ending up as a project manager for a global IT company.
But there was always the writing (well, that's not true, the writing only started two chapters above this one). I fell victim to that most dreadful of things: peer pressure. Two friends were writing novels and I thought, 'why not? I could do that'.
Took a few years though...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
July 18, 2016
This is a superb addition to what is a stellar series. We are in Aberdeen, the weather can be relied on to be atrocious and there are bodies with their heads covered with bin bags that have been tortured and killed. So begins a twisted trail for the dynamic duo of the hard working put upon Logan McCrae and the iconic DCI Steele. Logan attends two funerals, the local gangster that is Wee Hamish Mowat, who bequeaths Logan his criminal empire and much of his fortune and a litany of problems. The second funeral is that of Logan's girlfriend in a coma, Samantha, whose life support he has to switch off.
The murderous psycho that is Reuban is continually trying in to kill Logan and pushes him into doing things that are outside his comfort zone and his character. The relationship between Logan and Steele is a sight to behold and cherish as it veers from hate to loyalty and affection which is a badge of dysfunctional families. Talking of families, an unexpected family member is revealed to Logan. The trail of the murders is a dangerous one that takes its toll on the police team. And oh yes, Logan is pushed to investigate Steele by Professional Standards. The black humour and comic timing is spot on although the slapstick comedic touches also work a treat.
What can I say? Stuart MacBride's other books and Ash series are merely okay. However, he makes up for all that in the magnificence of the Logan and Steele series. Here, he is nothing short of a genius and I am shocked that no-one has yet made a TV series of the books. If you haven't got round to reading this series, you are missing out. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
The murderous psycho that is Reuban is continually trying in to kill Logan and pushes him into doing things that are outside his comfort zone and his character. The relationship between Logan and Steele is a sight to behold and cherish as it veers from hate to loyalty and affection which is a badge of dysfunctional families. Talking of families, an unexpected family member is revealed to Logan. The trail of the murders is a dangerous one that takes its toll on the police team. And oh yes, Logan is pushed to investigate Steele by Professional Standards. The black humour and comic timing is spot on although the slapstick comedic touches also work a treat.
What can I say? Stuart MacBride's other books and Ash series are merely okay. However, he makes up for all that in the magnificence of the Logan and Steele series. Here, he is nothing short of a genius and I am shocked that no-one has yet made a TV series of the books. If you haven't got round to reading this series, you are missing out. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
July 10, 2019
I am giving this five stars for sheer enjoyment and readability. So it was over 500 pages long - they just disappeared in the twinkling of an eye.
There was the usual chaos of a Logan McRae story - people talking without ever listening to each other, sub plots by the bucketful, multiple deaths, funerals and fight scenes. Logan McCrae experiences a really awful few weeks of his life and amazingly survives, bruised and battered but still breathing.
Of course the best part of these books is the relationship between McCrae and DCI Steele. She is truly an original and their dialogue is really funny. I was surprised at how things ended between them in this book and wonder how they are going to come back from what occurs. And if McCrae does what I think he is going to - well the mind boggles!
Anyway Stuart MacBride has got us this far. I am sure I can trust him to take things onwards. I am very much looking forward to the next book.
There was the usual chaos of a Logan McRae story - people talking without ever listening to each other, sub plots by the bucketful, multiple deaths, funerals and fight scenes. Logan McCrae experiences a really awful few weeks of his life and amazingly survives, bruised and battered but still breathing.
Of course the best part of these books is the relationship between McCrae and DCI Steele. She is truly an original and their dialogue is really funny. I was surprised at how things ended between them in this book and wonder how they are going to come back from what occurs. And if McCrae does what I think he is going to - well the mind boggles!
Anyway Stuart MacBride has got us this far. I am sure I can trust him to take things onwards. I am very much looking forward to the next book.
August 2, 2022
I listened to the audiobook and as always the narration by Steve Worsley with his gentle Scottish accent is superb. This is the tenth book in the Logan McCrae series and Logan is still living in North Aberdeenshire where he lives a meagre existence in the Sergeants house that comes with his post. His girlfriend Samantha has been lying in a vegetative state in a nursing home for five years now, and Logan knows the time is coming when he will have to make the decision to turn off her life support. Wee Hamish Mowat, chief Aberdeen crime boss and sometime confidant of Logan’s, is also dying, meaning that not only will rival gangs be looking to divide up his territory but also that Mowat’s second in command, Reuban will soon be after Logan, looking to carve him up into small pieces and feed him to the pigs.
In the meantime, a body has been found in the woods, naked with hands tied and a bag taped over his head. The Major Investigations Team, lead by DCI Roberta Steel has been sent up from Aberdeen to take charge of the investigation and of course Logan’s old boss, Steel can’t wait to second Logan to work for her. Poor Logan never catches a break, especially where Steel is concerned. She is just as grotesquely repulsive and oddly lovable as ever. A new Superintendent from Serious Crimes has also arrived, who seems to take an immediate dislike to Logan and, just to top it all off, Professional Standards have asked Logan to help them investigate Steel who has been accused of planting evidence.
So, there is a lot going on in this quite long book and I loved listening to every minute of it. MacBride effortlessly weaves all the threads together, laced with plenty of dark humour and hilarious conversations with Steel, as Logan tries to navigate his way through everything that everyone wants him to do, while trying his best to stay alive. Just as with the rest of the series, this is a gritty and quite violent thriller, but the characters and plot are superbly drawn and the humour keeps it from becoming too dark. I have two books left in this series left to enjoy, so hope by the time I’ve read them there will be a further episode to look forward to.
In the meantime, a body has been found in the woods, naked with hands tied and a bag taped over his head. The Major Investigations Team, lead by DCI Roberta Steel has been sent up from Aberdeen to take charge of the investigation and of course Logan’s old boss, Steel can’t wait to second Logan to work for her. Poor Logan never catches a break, especially where Steel is concerned. She is just as grotesquely repulsive and oddly lovable as ever. A new Superintendent from Serious Crimes has also arrived, who seems to take an immediate dislike to Logan and, just to top it all off, Professional Standards have asked Logan to help them investigate Steel who has been accused of planting evidence.
So, there is a lot going on in this quite long book and I loved listening to every minute of it. MacBride effortlessly weaves all the threads together, laced with plenty of dark humour and hilarious conversations with Steel, as Logan tries to navigate his way through everything that everyone wants him to do, while trying his best to stay alive. Just as with the rest of the series, this is a gritty and quite violent thriller, but the characters and plot are superbly drawn and the humour keeps it from becoming too dark. I have two books left in this series left to enjoy, so hope by the time I’ve read them there will be a further episode to look forward to.
February 7, 2017
This is the tenth book in the Logan McRae series by Stuart MacBride.
I have read all the previous nine books in this series and found them to be quite a mixed bag. I really enjoyed the early books but of late found the books a little bit stale and predictable. This one however was back to the series at it's best. The main characters are funny in places and so well developed throughout the series that you can easily picture them in your mind as the story is told.
In this book bodies are found with their heads covered with bin bags, having been tortured and killed. Logan McCrae and the very funny DCI Steele investigate but they both have their own troubles. Logan attends the funeral of local gangster Wee Hamish Mowat, who has bequeathed his empire of crime and over 600k to Logan, which gives Logan severe problems to not only his safety but also to his moral conscience. This is all going on at the same time as is girlfriends life support is t be switched off.
Logan's problems are not eased by the murdering psycho Reuben who is determined to kill Logan. There are so many other subplots that it is almost impossible to mention them all without writing a short story. Needless to say this book is full of laughs and crime and great comedy interaction between the characters. So glad I kept reading this series when I was beginning to doubt whether to carry on or not. Looking forward to the next one.
I have read all the previous nine books in this series and found them to be quite a mixed bag. I really enjoyed the early books but of late found the books a little bit stale and predictable. This one however was back to the series at it's best. The main characters are funny in places and so well developed throughout the series that you can easily picture them in your mind as the story is told.
In this book bodies are found with their heads covered with bin bags, having been tortured and killed. Logan McCrae and the very funny DCI Steele investigate but they both have their own troubles. Logan attends the funeral of local gangster Wee Hamish Mowat, who has bequeathed his empire of crime and over 600k to Logan, which gives Logan severe problems to not only his safety but also to his moral conscience. This is all going on at the same time as is girlfriends life support is t be switched off.
Logan's problems are not eased by the murdering psycho Reuben who is determined to kill Logan. There are so many other subplots that it is almost impossible to mention them all without writing a short story. Needless to say this book is full of laughs and crime and great comedy interaction between the characters. So glad I kept reading this series when I was beginning to doubt whether to carry on or not. Looking forward to the next one.
July 25, 2020
In the Cold Dark Ground is the 10th in the Logan McRae series by Stuart MacBride and you could say McRae was having a run of very bad days. Murders, Aberdeen’s Wee Hamish Mowat, head of the criminal underbelly wants to be McRae’s very good friend, DCI Steel is giving him what for – nothing different there - Professional Standards are leaning on McRae for help and a new Superintendent also has her beady eyes on him. To make matters worse, it’s Samantha’s time and he doesn’t know how he’s going to deal with that either.
Getting beaten up – several times – and trying to define what to do with what he should do makes the bottle of very expensive whisky go down well. Will McRae wangle his way out of this one?
Another gritty, intense, mind boggling episode – which could easily have been shorter than its 500+ pages – which is worth recommending to fans of the author and Scottish thrillers.
Getting beaten up – several times – and trying to define what to do with what he should do makes the bottle of very expensive whisky go down well. Will McRae wangle his way out of this one?
Another gritty, intense, mind boggling episode – which could easily have been shorter than its 500+ pages – which is worth recommending to fans of the author and Scottish thrillers.
Read
November 2, 2017DNF at 35%. I'm not sure if I'm in the right state of mind for this book this year or if the repetitive humor isn't working for me anymore. It's getting a bit same same.
I've read all the other books in this series and liked them so I'm not sure why this time, it's just not working for me.
Hope to revisit this book in the future.
I've read all the other books in this series and liked them so I'm not sure why this time, it's just not working for me.
Hope to revisit this book in the future.
January 3, 2018
What can I say? This book is absolutely flippin' fantastic - I missed bus stops reading it. With no doubt at all, the best crime fiction I've read this year, quite possibly in years. Even better than The Missing and the Dead - how is that possible?
January 5, 2022
Thoroughly love this series and Logan McRae.
Dark humour, excellent plot, fast-paced and a fair amount of development in the series with this novel. What more needs to be said.
Dark humour, excellent plot, fast-paced and a fair amount of development in the series with this novel. What more needs to be said.
September 15, 2020
4.5*
In the Cold Dark Ground is the tenth instalment in Stuart MacBride's brilliant Logan McRae series, and it's another belter!
The action in this novel takes place in the area to the north of Aberdeen - the environs of Peterhead, Fraserburg and Banff, Logan McRae's regional jurisdiction as a uniform sergeant leading a team of constables.
The novel opens with McRae having a characteristically bad week. His team are investigating two bodies discovered in woodland ten days apart, and the possibly related disappearance of a Peterhead businessman several days ago. They're starting to make progress when DCI Roberta Steel swings in with her Aberdeen-based MIT (major investigation team) to take over - the glory, that is, not the hard work. Things turn even worse when high-flying DSup Niamh Harper (soon christened "The Harpie") arrives, and seems to have a particular dislike for McRae, making him her whipping boy. Chief Superindendent Napier, head of internal investigations, is on the brink of retirement and wants to go out on a high - unfortunately he has McRae in his sights. All this would be bad enough, but McRae is also dealing with some pretty heavy personal baggage at the moment. The following contains series spoilers.
As always with MacBride's work, the plot, characterisations and dialogue are superlative. Readers can expect a reasonably high level of contextual violence and descriptions of sexual shenanigans of suspects. I suspect I must lead a sheltered life, as I always learn a few new terms for deviant sexual practices when I read a MacBride title. Roberta Steel remains an enduring character and she is in fine form in In the Cold Dark Ground. Several new characters are introduced, most of whom show real promise as future series regulars, and the ending suggests tantalising future opportunities for McRae.
I read In the Cold Dark Ground via a combination of the Harper Collins paperback edition and the Harper Collins audiobook (also available via Audible), narrated by Steve Worsley. Both are excellent, but Worsley's Scottish accent and great voice skills take the reader's immersion to another level.
I really can't recommend this series highly enough, but recognise that it won't appeal to all readers. The level of violence and gory crime scenes will really push the limits of squeamishness for most readers, but the excellent plots and engaging characters more than make reading worthwhile, as far as I'm concerned.
In the Cold Dark Ground is the tenth instalment in Stuart MacBride's brilliant Logan McRae series, and it's another belter!
The action in this novel takes place in the area to the north of Aberdeen - the environs of Peterhead, Fraserburg and Banff, Logan McRae's regional jurisdiction as a uniform sergeant leading a team of constables.
The novel opens with McRae having a characteristically bad week. His team are investigating two bodies discovered in woodland ten days apart, and the possibly related disappearance of a Peterhead businessman several days ago. They're starting to make progress when DCI Roberta Steel swings in with her Aberdeen-based MIT (major investigation team) to take over - the glory, that is, not the hard work. Things turn even worse when high-flying DSup Niamh Harper (soon christened "The Harpie") arrives, and seems to have a particular dislike for McRae, making him her whipping boy. Chief Superindendent Napier, head of internal investigations, is on the brink of retirement and wants to go out on a high - unfortunately he has McRae in his sights. All this would be bad enough, but McRae is also dealing with some pretty heavy personal baggage at the moment. The following contains series spoilers.
As always with MacBride's work, the plot, characterisations and dialogue are superlative. Readers can expect a reasonably high level of contextual violence and descriptions of sexual shenanigans of suspects. I suspect I must lead a sheltered life, as I always learn a few new terms for deviant sexual practices when I read a MacBride title. Roberta Steel remains an enduring character and she is in fine form in In the Cold Dark Ground. Several new characters are introduced, most of whom show real promise as future series regulars, and the ending suggests tantalising future opportunities for McRae.
I read In the Cold Dark Ground via a combination of the Harper Collins paperback edition and the Harper Collins audiobook (also available via Audible), narrated by Steve Worsley. Both are excellent, but Worsley's Scottish accent and great voice skills take the reader's immersion to another level.
I really can't recommend this series highly enough, but recognise that it won't appeal to all readers. The level of violence and gory crime scenes will really push the limits of squeamishness for most readers, but the excellent plots and engaging characters more than make reading worthwhile, as far as I'm concerned.
May 5, 2016
Another fantastic volume in the DS Logan McRae series!
Stuart MacBride leaves nothing out in this gritty missing person mystery, and while the mystery itself is engaging, the personal story of Logan is what drives this one. He has to deal with the death of crime boss Wee Hamish Mowat, who has tagged Logan to take over his crime family. He has to deal with Reuben the Beast, who has been waiting to take over Mowat’s crime syndicate, potentially setting off a turf war in Aberdeen with Malk the Knife and the Campbells. He has to deal with the decision to take long-time girlfriend Samantha off of life-support and allow her to pass on. Logan also has to deal with a new superintendent, professional standards poking around, and, of course, he has to deal with DCI Roberta Steel, who has been a thorn in his side for all ten volumes of this series.
As I write this out, it sounds like a really bad soap opera plot, but trust me, you WANT to read this!
There were some real surprises in this book, some that I never would have guessed in a million years. Logan is a good man who just can’t seem to win, and yet, he’s always able to scrap his way out of trouble, solve the crime/mystery, and live to see another day. Except this time, the book ends on a multi-point cliffhanger… Did he or didn’t he? And what happens to Steel? (I did NOT see that one coming!)
Stuart MacBride is one of the few authors that’s willing to do anything to keep his characters fresh, from promotions (and demotions), writing events in their lives that are so very heart-wrenching, and allowing plot points that actually hurt the characters both physically and emotionally. DS Logan has gone through so much over the years, one has to wonder how much more he can take.
One question that needs answered RIGHT NOW: When is the next book in this series being released?!
Stuart MacBride leaves nothing out in this gritty missing person mystery, and while the mystery itself is engaging, the personal story of Logan is what drives this one. He has to deal with the death of crime boss Wee Hamish Mowat, who has tagged Logan to take over his crime family. He has to deal with Reuben the Beast, who has been waiting to take over Mowat’s crime syndicate, potentially setting off a turf war in Aberdeen with Malk the Knife and the Campbells. He has to deal with the decision to take long-time girlfriend Samantha off of life-support and allow her to pass on. Logan also has to deal with a new superintendent, professional standards poking around, and, of course, he has to deal with DCI Roberta Steel, who has been a thorn in his side for all ten volumes of this series.
As I write this out, it sounds like a really bad soap opera plot, but trust me, you WANT to read this!
There were some real surprises in this book, some that I never would have guessed in a million years. Logan is a good man who just can’t seem to win, and yet, he’s always able to scrap his way out of trouble, solve the crime/mystery, and live to see another day. Except this time, the book ends on a multi-point cliffhanger… Did he or didn’t he? And what happens to Steel? (I did NOT see that one coming!)
Stuart MacBride is one of the few authors that’s willing to do anything to keep his characters fresh, from promotions (and demotions), writing events in their lives that are so very heart-wrenching, and allowing plot points that actually hurt the characters both physically and emotionally. DS Logan has gone through so much over the years, one has to wonder how much more he can take.
One question that needs answered RIGHT NOW: When is the next book in this series being released?!
February 26, 2016
I don't know how to go about this review. No matter what I want to say, I run the risk of giving too much of the story away, so I feel I cannot really say what I want to. Now, I have read all the books in the Logan McCrea series and by and large, loved them. The violence can be a tad too much for me sometimes, as in this particular story, where I had to quickly scoot down a few lines to avoid being queasy. There is still some really witty, laugh out loud writing here, especially when it comes to Roberta Steele. However, this is becoming repetitive, more fiddling around in her bra, and some more and then, well, here it comes again. Also, the amount of times she rings Logan and he hangs up on her, mid-sentence. It gets written over and over in every book. Now, it was a good story, but I was very frustrated by it also. I don't know why exactly, but I found myself becoming impatient as times ad skim reading just to get past parts. Maybe they were just surplus to the story, a bit unrealistic, I don't know, but this book just did not do it for me, like the others. I also HATED the Steele/McCrae conclusion, I cannot say anything more, at the risk of giving too much away, but I felt at the end, like I could care less if I ever read another one of this series. Having said that, one may one day arrive in the shops/library and I will be unable to resist. Who Knows.
October 23, 2018
Not the usual five stars, this 10th book in the series. It is, as all McBride books, very, very wel written. It is cold, it is wet and it is dark - and not only the weather.
The plot is actually quite simple and I think this book serves only to end certain story lines and start new ones.
What made me give 4 stars instead of 5 is the character of Roberta Steel. There is way too much Steel in this book, and I haven't seen her doing her actual work a lot. The only thing she does is drinking, shouting and whining. She is becoming a parody of herself.
The plot is actually quite simple and I think this book serves only to end certain story lines and start new ones.
What made me give 4 stars instead of 5 is the character of Roberta Steel. There is way too much Steel in this book, and I haven't seen her doing her actual work a lot. The only thing she does is drinking, shouting and whining. She is becoming a parody of herself.
January 18, 2016
Fantastic read as always. Can't fault Stuart MacBrides storytelling and who doesn't love Inspector Steel?!
July 15, 2020
In the Cold Dark Ground is the tenth in the long-running, police procedural, crime thriller series written by Stuart MacBride starring Detective Sergeant Logan McRae and set in Scotland. What sets the series apart (and frankly makes it one of my favorite reads in the genre) is the sly humor and wry social commentary MacBride brings to the familiar genre of British mystery. Additionally, the supporting cast in the series is quite strong, even as it has changed (but not matured!) over the years. Detective Chief Inspector Roberta Steel is a singular invention: an openly lesbian, probably alcoholic, always inappropriate, slovenly nightmare of a boss. One of the running gags is that Steel keeps getting promoted while Logan is still a lowly DA even though during the series he has captured 2 or 3 serial killers and solved countless other major crimes (kidnappings, murders, grand larceny, etc) despite, certainly not because of, DCI Steel's presence and "leadership."
Bizarrely, Logan doesn't feel "hard done by" despite the depressing wreckage his life has become: he has been booted from his original stomping grounds of Aberdeen to a rural suburb of the city in Aberdeenshire, has a girlfriend who has been in a persistent vegetative state for nearly 5 years, is on a first name basis with Aberdeen‘s biggest crime lord, hasn’t had sex in months with no romantic prospects on the horizon and is still smarting from the pain of his last “entanglement”. (Actually, he was promoted to Detective Inspector a few books ago and he really didn't seem to like or appreciate the increased level of responsibility and administrative red tape that accompanied the title change.)
One of my complaints about the series has been how much **** Logan has been put through over the years. This is also a running theme of the series. The first book begins with Logan returning to duty after having nearly died following a series of stab wounds to the stomach (technically he did die briefly while on the operating table but surgeons were able to save him) and this explains why Steel calls him "Laz" (short for Lazarus). But since then he has been stabbed again repeatedly, fallen multiple times from great heights, nearly drowned, unwittingly feasted on human flesh, been beaten up countless times by criminals and injured himself pursuing fleeing criminals on foot and by car.
But none of that prepared me for what happens to Logan In the Cold Dark Ground where it seems like the author is just being masochistic towards his main character. The difference this time is that a lot of the violence is emotional and mental (which definitely does not make it less traumatic). In fact, the way this book ends it made me wonder if MacBride had contemplated ending this series and focusing on his other series starring DC Ash Henderson. (I hope not! I haven’t read that series yet.)
The primary mystery/crime to be solved in In the Cold Dark Ground is just one of the many plot threads in the book. Logan makes an astonishing discovery about his family life (which also impacts his professional life) and he is faced with not one, but two agonizing dilemmas that force him to choose between his current ethics as a policeman and his prior questionable choices/decisions. I'd say he makes the right choice in both cases this time but the ramifications will reverberate for a longer period than the slice depicted in this book.
There's still a lot of resolution for Logan in In the Cold Dark Ground. Most of his primary relationships that have been huge features of prior books (with his girlfriend Samantha, with Aberdeen's crime kingpin Wee Hamish Moffat and even with DCI Steel) go through massive "phase transitions" which will mean the subsequent books in the series (so far there are only two more, The Blood Road (2018) and All That's Dead (2019)) will need to deal with the repercussions. And I can't wait to read them!
Bizarrely, Logan doesn't feel "hard done by" despite the depressing wreckage his life has become: he has been booted from his original stomping grounds of Aberdeen to a rural suburb of the city in Aberdeenshire, has a girlfriend who has been in a persistent vegetative state for nearly 5 years, is on a first name basis with Aberdeen‘s biggest crime lord, hasn’t had sex in months with no romantic prospects on the horizon and is still smarting from the pain of his last “entanglement”. (Actually, he was promoted to Detective Inspector a few books ago and he really didn't seem to like or appreciate the increased level of responsibility and administrative red tape that accompanied the title change.)
One of my complaints about the series has been how much **** Logan has been put through over the years. This is also a running theme of the series. The first book begins with Logan returning to duty after having nearly died following a series of stab wounds to the stomach (technically he did die briefly while on the operating table but surgeons were able to save him) and this explains why Steel calls him "Laz" (short for Lazarus). But since then he has been stabbed again repeatedly, fallen multiple times from great heights, nearly drowned, unwittingly feasted on human flesh, been beaten up countless times by criminals and injured himself pursuing fleeing criminals on foot and by car.
But none of that prepared me for what happens to Logan In the Cold Dark Ground where it seems like the author is just being masochistic towards his main character. The difference this time is that a lot of the violence is emotional and mental (which definitely does not make it less traumatic). In fact, the way this book ends it made me wonder if MacBride had contemplated ending this series and focusing on his other series starring DC Ash Henderson. (I hope not! I haven’t read that series yet.)
The primary mystery/crime to be solved in In the Cold Dark Ground is just one of the many plot threads in the book. Logan makes an astonishing discovery about his family life (which also impacts his professional life) and he is faced with not one, but two agonizing dilemmas that force him to choose between his current ethics as a policeman and his prior questionable choices/decisions. I'd say he makes the right choice in both cases this time but the ramifications will reverberate for a longer period than the slice depicted in this book.
There's still a lot of resolution for Logan in In the Cold Dark Ground. Most of his primary relationships that have been huge features of prior books (with his girlfriend Samantha, with Aberdeen's crime kingpin Wee Hamish Moffat and even with DCI Steel) go through massive "phase transitions" which will mean the subsequent books in the series (so far there are only two more, The Blood Road (2018) and All That's Dead (2019)) will need to deal with the repercussions. And I can't wait to read them!
August 19, 2018
Ma perchè?
Perchè finire i libri così!
E adesso?
Ho visto che il prossimo libro esce in originale a maggio 2018, chissà quando in italiano.
A breve la recensione ^^
EDIT
Non me lo aspettavo ma questo decimo libro lo ritengo uno dei migliori della serie che, in è certo senso è cambiata. I primi libri erano molto più crudi, nel tempo questa caratteristica si è un po' attenuata.
Rimane l’ambientazione che adoro (la Scozia che ho visitato 3 volte) ci sono sempre elementi molto british (adoro l’umorismo di MacBride "«Hai una friggitrice, in casa?»
«No».
«Una padella per friggere?»
«No».
«Ma che razza di scozzese sei?».") e un sacco di citazione delle cose che mi piacciano (si passa da Star Wars, a Doctor Who, a Godzilla, a Stephen King, etc.).
Logan è sempre lui, geniale, pasticcione, fortunato e sfigato.
Ultimamente aveva iniziato a darmi fastidio il fatto che ricevesse sempre pochi ) ma qui questo è passato in secondo piano tanti sono gli elementi nuovi presenti nel libro.
Mi sono commossa .
Mi sono sorpresa .
Ci sono rimasta male quando ha, per certi versi, tradito .
Finalmente è risolto il problema .
Con deduzioni logiche e botte di culo, riesce ancora una volta a risolvere il caso (e aveva quasi ragione fin dall’inizio)
Ma la domanda è: e adesso? Sarà andato da Napier per ?
Non so se sarò in grado di aspettare la versione italiana del libro successivo.
EDIT
Dopo aver finito Il ponte dei cadaveri, non ho resistito, ho dovuto rileggere il decimo per poter leggere più comprensibilmente The Blood Road, sì, perchè non ce la faccio ad apettare ^^
Perchè finire i libri così!
E adesso?
Ho visto che il prossimo libro esce in originale a maggio 2018, chissà quando in italiano.
A breve la recensione ^^
EDIT
Non me lo aspettavo ma questo decimo libro lo ritengo uno dei migliori della serie che, in è certo senso è cambiata. I primi libri erano molto più crudi, nel tempo questa caratteristica si è un po' attenuata.
Rimane l’ambientazione che adoro (la Scozia che ho visitato 3 volte) ci sono sempre elementi molto british (adoro l’umorismo di MacBride "«Hai una friggitrice, in casa?»
«No».
«Una padella per friggere?»
«No».
«Ma che razza di scozzese sei?».") e un sacco di citazione delle cose che mi piacciano (si passa da Star Wars, a Doctor Who, a Godzilla, a Stephen King, etc.).
Logan è sempre lui, geniale, pasticcione, fortunato e sfigato.
Ultimamente aveva iniziato a darmi fastidio il fatto che ricevesse sempre pochi ) ma qui questo è passato in secondo piano tanti sono gli elementi nuovi presenti nel libro.
Mi sono commossa .
Mi sono sorpresa .
Ci sono rimasta male quando ha, per certi versi, tradito .
Finalmente è risolto il problema .
Con deduzioni logiche e botte di culo, riesce ancora una volta a risolvere il caso (e aveva quasi ragione fin dall’inizio)
Ma la domanda è: e adesso? Sarà andato da Napier per ?
Non so se sarò in grado di aspettare la versione italiana del libro successivo.
EDIT
Dopo aver finito Il ponte dei cadaveri, non ho resistito, ho dovuto rileggere il decimo per poter leggere più comprensibilmente The Blood Road, sì, perchè non ce la faccio ad apettare ^^
October 14, 2017
I remember reading this on a plane ride agter having bought it in the airport. This series was one I nearly gave up on as I felt throughout the middle some of the plot lines, characters amd dialogue/humour just became repetitive. However, I always went back for more, so something was drawing me back. I'm glad I did. This latest entry was at his thrilling best. Great crime, some characters involved in alot of the past novels passed away, a psychotic killer, investigations into the police force itself and a cliffhanger ending. I've always enjoyed MacBrides humour in his dialogue and I remember it shining through in this one. If you're new to MacBride, this series is great. Some of the middle novels suffer from middle book repetition syndrome but getting to tbis point in the series is worth the reads. However characters do lose their appeal as writers continue to draw upon what made them so special in the 1st place. I hope there comes a time where Logan is retired out, which would provide a great group of novels. I do believe at some stage characters develop an expiry date, however at this end point I do believe MacBride has some more left in Logan.
January 4, 2023
Another outrageous Tartan thriller from Stuart MacBride's Police Scotland detectives in Aberdeen and points north. DS Logan MacCrea is trying to stay one step ahead of a rogue crime boss trying to kill him while facing the reality of turning off life support for his comatose lover injured in the line of duty. DI Roberta Steel is back in the picture with her sarcastic wit in high gear and a new Superintendent with major attitude clouds the effectiveness of the Major Incident Team. This awesome crime fiction series rates 5 stars from me because the writing seamlessly moves from brutal crime scenes to very witty "cop humor" Police Scotland style with page turning energy. The characters are all exceptionally well written especially protagonist DS MacCrea and DI Roberta Steel who may be the funniest detective in the history of crime fiction. Very highly recommended.
December 13, 2015
Bloody hell! (Yeah that was a bit good) - Full review to follow in the New Year. :)
May 14, 2016
3 - 3.5 stars
September 11, 2017
In The Cold Dark Ground is the tenth novel in the Logan McRae series, and it’s another fabulous addition to the series. For me, In The Cold Dark Ground brings together so many of the wonderful elements that have been reoccurring throughout the prior book, along with leaving us with so many questions regarding where the series will head. I know there is a Steel spinoff due to be released in the near future, but I think I speak for everyone when I say book eleven cannot come soon enough.
As with all of the prior books, In The Cold Dark Ground demonstrates why Stuart MacBride quickly became one of my favourite crime authors. Whilst there is one big mystery to be solved throughout this book, there are also a number of interconnected crimes that keep you guessing throughout the storyline. It’s one of my favourite things to see in the genre, and I especially love it when Stuart MacBride does it. In particular, books nine and ten have been wonderful in that things have changed slightly. As with book nine, book ten tells the story with Logan in uniform – in addition to our one big crime, we’re given daily life whilst out in uniform.
Even more fun, is the way in which so many elements come together in this one. I will not mention the particular storylines, but a lot comes together. Things that have been building for a number of books are brought to a close in this one, individual arcs reaching a conclusion. With so much happening in this book, it is important you read the prior books in the series to ensure you get the best experience possible. I’m not saying this will not work as a standalone novel – you will easily enjoy the story without having read the rest of the series – yet the best experience will come about when you know all the little details that have been building throughout.
Now, whilst I say many things reach a conclusion, I do not mean this series is going to become dull. Far from it. There are many new elements introduced throughout this book. New storylines are opened up, and twists are added that will leave you curious as to what will come next. The ending in particular will leave you desperate to see what comes next – there really is no telling what will happen in the upcoming books.
Bringing together so many wonderful elements of the Logan McRae series, In The Cold Dark Ground is a brilliant read for any fan of the series. Filled with Stuart MacBride’s usual humour, this one will leave you laughing as you beg to find out what happens next.
As with all of the prior books, In The Cold Dark Ground demonstrates why Stuart MacBride quickly became one of my favourite crime authors. Whilst there is one big mystery to be solved throughout this book, there are also a number of interconnected crimes that keep you guessing throughout the storyline. It’s one of my favourite things to see in the genre, and I especially love it when Stuart MacBride does it. In particular, books nine and ten have been wonderful in that things have changed slightly. As with book nine, book ten tells the story with Logan in uniform – in addition to our one big crime, we’re given daily life whilst out in uniform.
Even more fun, is the way in which so many elements come together in this one. I will not mention the particular storylines, but a lot comes together. Things that have been building for a number of books are brought to a close in this one, individual arcs reaching a conclusion. With so much happening in this book, it is important you read the prior books in the series to ensure you get the best experience possible. I’m not saying this will not work as a standalone novel – you will easily enjoy the story without having read the rest of the series – yet the best experience will come about when you know all the little details that have been building throughout.
Now, whilst I say many things reach a conclusion, I do not mean this series is going to become dull. Far from it. There are many new elements introduced throughout this book. New storylines are opened up, and twists are added that will leave you curious as to what will come next. The ending in particular will leave you desperate to see what comes next – there really is no telling what will happen in the upcoming books.
Bringing together so many wonderful elements of the Logan McRae series, In The Cold Dark Ground is a brilliant read for any fan of the series. Filled with Stuart MacBride’s usual humour, this one will leave you laughing as you beg to find out what happens next.
December 31, 2016
Another rollicking adventure with Logan McRae and Police Scotland – five shiny stars, five thumbs up, and high fives all around. What I love about these books: astonishingly dark at times, absolutely hilarious at others. No other author that I have read, NOT ONE, is able to meld these things together so perfectly.
MacBride has got such command of his characters, dialogue, and, best of all their Aberdonian Scottish vernacular… which I just adore. And now I’m going to spend the next fews days spouting off in the worst Scottish accent ever.
MacBride has got such command of his characters, dialogue, and, best of all their Aberdonian Scottish vernacular… which I just adore. And now I’m going to spend the next fews days spouting off in the worst Scottish accent ever.
January 13, 2019
The tenth story in the Logan McRae series see him dealing with a missing person murder, a brewing drug turf war, a new superintendent who takes a dislike to him, DCI Steel, professional standards and the usual bevy of unsavoury characters that usually crop up. There's also the impending decision to take Samantha off life support and the death of Wee Hamish Mowat which puts him in the crosshairs of lunatic henchman Reuben.
I love this series but I do wish there was some happiness for Logan in his personal life, I think he's suffered enough over the last few books and whilst it was sad it was also time for him to let Samantha go. Aside from this it was the usual black humour and break neck speed of the story that kept me glued to it for the two days it took me to read it. Another fantastic addition to the series which for the first time truly tested Logans ethics and left me wondering what direction this character will now go.
I love this series but I do wish there was some happiness for Logan in his personal life, I think he's suffered enough over the last few books and whilst it was sad it was also time for him to let Samantha go. Aside from this it was the usual black humour and break neck speed of the story that kept me glued to it for the two days it took me to read it. Another fantastic addition to the series which for the first time truly tested Logans ethics and left me wondering what direction this character will now go.
May 17, 2018
The only flaw for this book for a new reader would be that it makes much more sense if you read the earlier books in the series. This much more than a police procedural, with very well drawn characters, and a maelstrom of emotion and pressure piling up in a week in Sergeant Logan McRae's life based in his police house in Banff. Violent in places, events move along to a tumultuous climax.
January 12, 2016
The wait has been long but it was worth it. Another stunning book from Mr MacBride. It has everything you want from a Logan McRae story, twists, turns and misdirections galore along with the wit and banter that you come to expect of any story featuring our hapless hero and DCI Steel.
So Logan is still out in the sticks, still running B division, still not quite having managed to finish repairs to his house. Compared to Aberdeen CID, the pace in the boondocks is frantic (is there a bigger police crisis known to man than the vending machine running out of chocolate?). Logan and his team are busy protecting the streets of Banff and Macduff and trying to prevent the Great Bacon & Cheese robbery, while also coordinating the search for a missing local businessman, a search which turns up something very unexpected in the woods. Enter stage left Steel and her Major Investigation Team including the ever odd Rennie, and the stage is set for another entertaining tale.
Throw in a Superintendent from Serious Crimes, who seems to take an instant dislike to Logan, the reason for which you won't see coming, a tragic side tale many stories in the making, a healthy dose of double crossing, the rapidly ailing Wee Hamish Mowat and Logan's new 'bestest buddy' Reuben right at his throat (guts, face, back shoulder - anything is a fair target really...) and a cameo appearance by Malk the Knife, and the few short days the story is set over may well be some of the longest in Logan's life.
Honestly, I kind of want Logan to catch a break sometime, and the guy has more lives than a cat, deftly proven again in this story several times - they don't call him Lazarus for no reason. But then again, you kind of don't want him to have it easy, as it's almost more fun that way. With Steel's, how shall we say, unorthodox approach to policing under the spotlight from the Ginger Whinger Napier, it makes you wonder what the future holds for this unlikely pairing. The ending may surprise some, but I have to say it's left me wanting to read more and desperate to see what is next for the dear, battered and (apparently) big eared Logan McRae.
The writing is excellent, the descriptions of the characters and the setting are in MacBride's unique style (can't see the Banff & Buchan Tourist Board being thrilled with the way the weather is described - having been to Aberdeen and Banff in the dead of winter it's absolutely accurate but doesn't exactly say come up and see us sometime) and there were, for me at least, some real laugh out loud moments. Steel's obsession with food never diminishes and there is double crossing galore - you won't know who to trust.
If you love Logan and Steel as I do, you'll no' be disappointed by this tale. So grab yourself a dram of Sporran McGutRot (unless you've got £49k lying around and fancy a bottle of Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection), sit back and savour the moment.
So Logan is still out in the sticks, still running B division, still not quite having managed to finish repairs to his house. Compared to Aberdeen CID, the pace in the boondocks is frantic (is there a bigger police crisis known to man than the vending machine running out of chocolate?). Logan and his team are busy protecting the streets of Banff and Macduff and trying to prevent the Great Bacon & Cheese robbery, while also coordinating the search for a missing local businessman, a search which turns up something very unexpected in the woods. Enter stage left Steel and her Major Investigation Team including the ever odd Rennie, and the stage is set for another entertaining tale.
Throw in a Superintendent from Serious Crimes, who seems to take an instant dislike to Logan, the reason for which you won't see coming, a tragic side tale many stories in the making, a healthy dose of double crossing, the rapidly ailing Wee Hamish Mowat and Logan's new 'bestest buddy' Reuben right at his throat (guts, face, back shoulder - anything is a fair target really...) and a cameo appearance by Malk the Knife, and the few short days the story is set over may well be some of the longest in Logan's life.
Honestly, I kind of want Logan to catch a break sometime, and the guy has more lives than a cat, deftly proven again in this story several times - they don't call him Lazarus for no reason. But then again, you kind of don't want him to have it easy, as it's almost more fun that way. With Steel's, how shall we say, unorthodox approach to policing under the spotlight from the Ginger Whinger Napier, it makes you wonder what the future holds for this unlikely pairing. The ending may surprise some, but I have to say it's left me wanting to read more and desperate to see what is next for the dear, battered and (apparently) big eared Logan McRae.
The writing is excellent, the descriptions of the characters and the setting are in MacBride's unique style (can't see the Banff & Buchan Tourist Board being thrilled with the way the weather is described - having been to Aberdeen and Banff in the dead of winter it's absolutely accurate but doesn't exactly say come up and see us sometime) and there were, for me at least, some real laugh out loud moments. Steel's obsession with food never diminishes and there is double crossing galore - you won't know who to trust.
If you love Logan and Steel as I do, you'll no' be disappointed by this tale. So grab yourself a dram of Sporran McGutRot (unless you've got £49k lying around and fancy a bottle of Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection), sit back and savour the moment.
August 31, 2016
Writing a long term series has to create some issues for authors that probably some of we fans rarely consider. All we want is the next book. IN THE COLD DARK GROUND is the 10th in the Logan McRae series from Stuart MacBride, and I'm really sorry about this but I want the 11th pretty well now. As in straight away.
It goes without saying that I've always been a huge fan of this series, and aside from the wonderful, strong, often slightly eccentric characters, the reason for that is the constant changes in circumstance that McRae, DCI Steel and those around them find themselves dealing with. Lives change in these books, not always in a good way, and IN THE COLD DARK GROUND everyone seems to end up dealing with some really hefty crap.
Whilst you'd think that the personal would be more than enough for McRae to be going on with, along comes the pain-in-the-neck upper echelon type in the form of a new Superintendent of the Serious Organised Crime Task Force who muscles her way into his investigation of a missing person who turned up dead in very odd circumstances. Mind you, that's nothing compared to how close Professional Standards are getting to DCI Steel - close enough to find McRae doing a turn as a tightrope walker between a couple of particularly tricky snakepits. Mind you, nothing from the professional side of life compares to the bucket loads of grief that come to McRae when Wee Hamish Mowat dies leaving rival gangs eyeing his territory, and McRae in charge of his estate.
Needless to say, IN THE COLD DARK GROUND is exactly the sort of slightly manic action, pressure, personal complications, don't blink or you'll miss something roller-coaster that is a Logan McRae novel. There's always just enough to tweak the heart strings, more than enough to make a reader laugh, and the slightest feeling that everybody's gone a bit mad. As you'd probably do when the weather's always wet, cold and dank, the police house remains a dump, your colleagues are still a bunch of numpty's and what was already a really sucky personal life has just got a whole lot bloody worse.
As much as I'd love to say that if you're a new reader to this series than just get on with it, it's one that you really have to read in order. The personal / professional crossover is pretty complicated and there's so much history to McRae, Steel and the rest of the mad bunch that you're really going to have to know who is what, and how they all ended up in the middle of nowhere dodging Professional Standards, staring at some very odd home movies.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
It goes without saying that I've always been a huge fan of this series, and aside from the wonderful, strong, often slightly eccentric characters, the reason for that is the constant changes in circumstance that McRae, DCI Steel and those around them find themselves dealing with. Lives change in these books, not always in a good way, and IN THE COLD DARK GROUND everyone seems to end up dealing with some really hefty crap.
Whilst you'd think that the personal would be more than enough for McRae to be going on with, along comes the pain-in-the-neck upper echelon type in the form of a new Superintendent of the Serious Organised Crime Task Force who muscles her way into his investigation of a missing person who turned up dead in very odd circumstances. Mind you, that's nothing compared to how close Professional Standards are getting to DCI Steel - close enough to find McRae doing a turn as a tightrope walker between a couple of particularly tricky snakepits. Mind you, nothing from the professional side of life compares to the bucket loads of grief that come to McRae when Wee Hamish Mowat dies leaving rival gangs eyeing his territory, and McRae in charge of his estate.
Needless to say, IN THE COLD DARK GROUND is exactly the sort of slightly manic action, pressure, personal complications, don't blink or you'll miss something roller-coaster that is a Logan McRae novel. There's always just enough to tweak the heart strings, more than enough to make a reader laugh, and the slightest feeling that everybody's gone a bit mad. As you'd probably do when the weather's always wet, cold and dank, the police house remains a dump, your colleagues are still a bunch of numpty's and what was already a really sucky personal life has just got a whole lot bloody worse.
As much as I'd love to say that if you're a new reader to this series than just get on with it, it's one that you really have to read in order. The personal / professional crossover is pretty complicated and there's so much history to McRae, Steel and the rest of the mad bunch that you're really going to have to know who is what, and how they all ended up in the middle of nowhere dodging Professional Standards, staring at some very odd home movies.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
November 14, 2019
In The Cold Dark Ground, is a wonderfully entertaining book featuring Sergeant Logan McRae. Stuart MacBride has outdone himself yet again with this clever, sometimes dark, and at other times, hysterically funny novel.
Fans of the series will relish the interplay between McRae and his former boss, DCI Steel. These two, socially connected through McRae’s ex-wife, share a sort of love / hate relationship that produces some of the funniest exchanges ever to grace a police procedural or murder mystery. Additionally, MacBride has given us a whole host of ancillary Scotland police officers that bring humorous contributions to the goings on within the department.
The rewarding plot is sufficiently complex and includes no less than two unexpected twists. McRae is troubled by his own moral conscience as the death of Aberdeen’s criminal leader, one “Wee” Hamish Mowat, results in McRae inheriting a rather large sum from the crime boss, along with an invitation to replace Mowat and lead the organization in order to avoid an ensuing power struggle and war between various gang leaders. But it also unleashes all sorts of savagery by Reuben, a sadistic underboss previously held in check, who is intent on killing McRae, very slowly and painfully.
In addition, Professional Standards (the equivalent of Internal Affairs), want McCrae’s assistance in investigating DCI Steel for suspected tampering with evidence in order to convict a rapist. And if that weren’t enough, he is about to finally disconnect the life support equipment that has been keeping his comatose girlfriend alive for the past five years. Talk about having a bad day!
All of this, while McRae, Steel, and yet another central character who will become an important part of McCrae’s life, work to solve a series of murders that appear to be tied into Organized Crime.
I confess to being a big fan of the series and, in particular, Logan McRae and the crazy, oversexed lesbian, DCI Steel. The author has an amazing talent for dialogue, creating a sense of place that is the cold gray precipitous Aberdeen, Scotland, and for crafting enjoyably engaging plots.
I look forward to reading every one of the Logan McRae series, and happily rate this, five stars.
Fans of the series will relish the interplay between McRae and his former boss, DCI Steel. These two, socially connected through McRae’s ex-wife, share a sort of love / hate relationship that produces some of the funniest exchanges ever to grace a police procedural or murder mystery. Additionally, MacBride has given us a whole host of ancillary Scotland police officers that bring humorous contributions to the goings on within the department.
The rewarding plot is sufficiently complex and includes no less than two unexpected twists. McRae is troubled by his own moral conscience as the death of Aberdeen’s criminal leader, one “Wee” Hamish Mowat, results in McRae inheriting a rather large sum from the crime boss, along with an invitation to replace Mowat and lead the organization in order to avoid an ensuing power struggle and war between various gang leaders. But it also unleashes all sorts of savagery by Reuben, a sadistic underboss previously held in check, who is intent on killing McRae, very slowly and painfully.
In addition, Professional Standards (the equivalent of Internal Affairs), want McCrae’s assistance in investigating DCI Steel for suspected tampering with evidence in order to convict a rapist. And if that weren’t enough, he is about to finally disconnect the life support equipment that has been keeping his comatose girlfriend alive for the past five years. Talk about having a bad day!
All of this, while McRae, Steel, and yet another central character who will become an important part of McCrae’s life, work to solve a series of murders that appear to be tied into Organized Crime.
I confess to being a big fan of the series and, in particular, Logan McRae and the crazy, oversexed lesbian, DCI Steel. The author has an amazing talent for dialogue, creating a sense of place that is the cold gray precipitous Aberdeen, Scotland, and for crafting enjoyably engaging plots.
I look forward to reading every one of the Logan McRae series, and happily rate this, five stars.
January 25, 2016
ARC received from goodreads - thank you
Bloody Brilliant MacBride indeed!
WOW!! There is so much I want to say about this book but there are so many shocks/surprises/ revelations - call them what you will - that I would hate to ruin the story for future readers. Its certainly a rollercoaster of a read & I've run the full gamut of emotions - there's been heartpounding tension, shuddering with the violence (& some stomach turning!) & gasps of astonishment as somethings were revealed, a lump in my throat & a tear nearly shed...& yet there's still room for a smirk at the delicious touches of humour....and, & I can't believe I'm going to say this. I even went "aw" as Steel showed her sympathetic side (albeit very briefly!)
Possibly my favourite of the series :o)
Bloody Brilliant MacBride indeed!
WOW!! There is so much I want to say about this book but there are so many shocks/surprises/ revelations - call them what you will - that I would hate to ruin the story for future readers. Its certainly a rollercoaster of a read & I've run the full gamut of emotions - there's been heartpounding tension, shuddering with the violence (& some stomach turning!) & gasps of astonishment as somethings were revealed, a lump in my throat & a tear nearly shed...& yet there's still room for a smirk at the delicious touches of humour....and, & I can't believe I'm going to say this. I even went "aw" as Steel showed her sympathetic side (albeit very briefly!)
Possibly my favourite of the series :o)
December 1, 2017
I've now read all ten novels in this police procedural set in Scotland.
December 30, 2017
I've grown to love this series ... wonderful human policing, but dark humour and poignancy ... not to mention great characters which burst off the page, full of life. Except the dead ones, like Samantha, which actually caused me to shed a tear. Love, love, love Logan though, and Roberta Steel just cracks me up ... I think she'd be immense to meet. Well done, Mr MacBride!
March 5, 2022
Book 10 done and dusted , not his best certainly not the worst either . Some very gritty chapters indeed , with a spattering of comedy too . Wouldnt be a MacBride book without either
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