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Inspector Jim Carruthers #1
Robbing the Dead
In a small Scottish university town, what links a spate of horrible murders, a targeted bomb explosion and a lecturer's disappearance? Is a terror group involved? If so, who is pulling the strings? And what does something that happened over forty years ago have to do with it?
Having recently returned to Castletown in the hope of winning back his estranged wife, DCI Jim Carruthers finds himself up to his eyes in the investigation.
Struggling with a very different personal problem, DS Andrea Fetcher assists Jim in the hunt for the murderous perpetrators. To prevent further violence they must find the answers quickly. But will Jim's old adversary, terror expert McGhee, be a help or a hindrance?
The first in a new series featuring DCI Jim Carruthers
Having recently returned to Castletown in the hope of winning back his estranged wife, DCI Jim Carruthers finds himself up to his eyes in the investigation.
Struggling with a very different personal problem, DS Andrea Fetcher assists Jim in the hunt for the murderous perpetrators. To prevent further violence they must find the answers quickly. But will Jim's old adversary, terror expert McGhee, be a help or a hindrance?
The first in a new series featuring DCI Jim Carruthers
278 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2017
391 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 20, 2021
I decided it was time to go outside my reading box and pick up something a little different. I saw this brand new little Scottish gem with only 4 reviews critiqued on one of my favorite blogs, and it looked like a good candidate for my mission. The blurb mentions terrorists and bombs, subjects that do not attract me to a book. It is a police procedural though, my favorite type of read, so I decided to dive in and give it a go.
The story kicks off with a bang when a young man is brutally murdered in the streets by an assailant that he is seems to know and is very surprised to see. The scene shifts to the police where we are introduced to DCI Jim Carruthers and his team. I was immediately drawn to Jim and one of his colleagues DS Andie Fletcher. With those two mega-positives right off the bat, I figured I could maybe survive explosions and subversives. Surprisingly, I really became engrossed in this story, bombs and all. I even learned a lot about the history of Welsh nationalists and the IRA, which was really quite intriguing.
We have two story threads involving the initial murder of the young man and the blowing up of a car park at a local university. Are these events related? If so, how? These cases prove most difficult for the team, and it is quite a while before they can piece it all together while dealing with multiple theories, several distinctive persons of interest, and a whole ton of questions. The narrative is pacy, and we get all sorts of surprises along the way. The mood is sinister; there is ongoing intrigue and several good action scenes. I particularly liked the richness of the characterization, with the interpersonal relationships written with much more depth than is usually seen in novels of this type. The author also provides a really good flavor of the Scottish setting without overwhelming the reader with long descriptive passages. The ending was realistic and satisfying.
My overall impression is that this is a highly entertaining read. As a bonus, I am no longer totally adverse to explosions and international incendiaries in my fiction reads. I still however draw the line at vampires. I don’t want to fail to mention this book is the first in the DCI Jim Carruthers series; I definitely plan to seek out book 2 when it becomes available. I highly recommend Robbing the Dead to all fans of crime fiction and thrillers, whether you like reading about terrorists or not.
The story kicks off with a bang when a young man is brutally murdered in the streets by an assailant that he is seems to know and is very surprised to see. The scene shifts to the police where we are introduced to DCI Jim Carruthers and his team. I was immediately drawn to Jim and one of his colleagues DS Andie Fletcher. With those two mega-positives right off the bat, I figured I could maybe survive explosions and subversives. Surprisingly, I really became engrossed in this story, bombs and all. I even learned a lot about the history of Welsh nationalists and the IRA, which was really quite intriguing.
We have two story threads involving the initial murder of the young man and the blowing up of a car park at a local university. Are these events related? If so, how? These cases prove most difficult for the team, and it is quite a while before they can piece it all together while dealing with multiple theories, several distinctive persons of interest, and a whole ton of questions. The narrative is pacy, and we get all sorts of surprises along the way. The mood is sinister; there is ongoing intrigue and several good action scenes. I particularly liked the richness of the characterization, with the interpersonal relationships written with much more depth than is usually seen in novels of this type. The author also provides a really good flavor of the Scottish setting without overwhelming the reader with long descriptive passages. The ending was realistic and satisfying.
My overall impression is that this is a highly entertaining read. As a bonus, I am no longer totally adverse to explosions and international incendiaries in my fiction reads. I still however draw the line at vampires. I don’t want to fail to mention this book is the first in the DCI Jim Carruthers series; I definitely plan to seek out book 2 when it becomes available. I highly recommend Robbing the Dead to all fans of crime fiction and thrillers, whether you like reading about terrorists or not.
March 22, 2017
Scared and feeling fear in his bones, a young male is desperate to escape those pursing him. As the thugs reach him his one thought was why he didn’t run sooner as fists and boots pummelled his body. Close by, hidden in the darkness an older man stood watching, satisfied at last, that the boy who asked too many questions would ask no more. Summoned to the deadly scene in the quaint village of Castletown, DCI Jim Carruthers was at ease driving through the county of Fife, Scotland with the twisty roads, and lush hillsides beyond. Superintendent Bingham demands the case is wrapped up sooner than later assigning several detectives to assist Carruthers along with the very keen Detective Andrea Fletcher. With strong character development, and a mystery to solve, ‘Robbing the Dead’ is an easy going, satisfying novel.
September 24, 2024
Robbing the Dead by Tana Collins is a 2017 Bloodhound Books publication.
This book, as of this writing, is a part of the KU subscription service. I love the KU program, but sometimes I forget to take advantage of it as often as I should. This prompted me to create a shelf specifically for KU books I want to read, which is helping me get the most out of my subscription. This book caught my attention earlier this year. This is the first book in a five-book series- (there have been no new installments since 2020- so I’m not sure what the status of the series is.)
The main character is DCI Jim Carruthers- and the setting is Scotland- which is what drew my interest, I think. Carruthers is drawn into a murder case that is somehow linked to a bombing targeting an antagonistic author who might have a connection to a Welch terrorist group.
This was a mixed bag for me. I liked the plot- but it wasn’t much of a guessing game. It’s one of those situations where we are clued in to who the killer is, and we watch as the DCI and his team try to track him down. There are some elements of urgency added to up the ante, but there were some passages that in the big scheme of things were completely unnecessary and I could have done without those developments since at the end of the day they didn’t add anything to the story’s eventual outcome.
The other issues involved Carruthers trying not to ogle a group of teenage girls who are showing off their taut mid-riffs while tossing in a few body shaming inner thoughts for other teens who might suffer from anorexia or obesity. Then he practically obsesses over the young girlfriend of one of the murder victims, becoming dangerously close to crossing a line. Though he does eventually settle into the role, I had a very hard time warming up to him.
That said, this is a decent enough work of crime fiction. The atmosphere is dark, but not overly so, and the violence is not especially graphic, but there is a gritty undertone, a cheerless moodiness about it.Though the suspense was often a little anticlimactic, the story did hold my interest.
Overall, I’d say this is a solid start to the series- but at this point I’m not sure if I’ll continue with it or not. I’m on the fence about it- but may find myself curious about how things work out for Carruthers as his future role in crime detection will be decided in future installments.
3 stars
*Some sporadic harsh language- frequent use of God’s name in vain and content that could be a trigger for some readers, as well as racist remarks and slurs, and unapolegetic misogyny.
This book, as of this writing, is a part of the KU subscription service. I love the KU program, but sometimes I forget to take advantage of it as often as I should. This prompted me to create a shelf specifically for KU books I want to read, which is helping me get the most out of my subscription. This book caught my attention earlier this year. This is the first book in a five-book series- (there have been no new installments since 2020- so I’m not sure what the status of the series is.)
The main character is DCI Jim Carruthers- and the setting is Scotland- which is what drew my interest, I think. Carruthers is drawn into a murder case that is somehow linked to a bombing targeting an antagonistic author who might have a connection to a Welch terrorist group.
This was a mixed bag for me. I liked the plot- but it wasn’t much of a guessing game. It’s one of those situations where we are clued in to who the killer is, and we watch as the DCI and his team try to track him down. There are some elements of urgency added to up the ante, but there were some passages that in the big scheme of things were completely unnecessary and I could have done without those developments since at the end of the day they didn’t add anything to the story’s eventual outcome.
The other issues involved Carruthers trying not to ogle a group of teenage girls who are showing off their taut mid-riffs while tossing in a few body shaming inner thoughts for other teens who might suffer from anorexia or obesity. Then he practically obsesses over the young girlfriend of one of the murder victims, becoming dangerously close to crossing a line. Though he does eventually settle into the role, I had a very hard time warming up to him.
That said, this is a decent enough work of crime fiction. The atmosphere is dark, but not overly so, and the violence is not especially graphic, but there is a gritty undertone, a cheerless moodiness about it.Though the suspense was often a little anticlimactic, the story did hold my interest.
Overall, I’d say this is a solid start to the series- but at this point I’m not sure if I’ll continue with it or not. I’m on the fence about it- but may find myself curious about how things work out for Carruthers as his future role in crime detection will be decided in future installments.
3 stars
*Some sporadic harsh language- frequent use of God’s name in vain and content that could be a trigger for some readers, as well as racist remarks and slurs, and unapolegetic misogyny.
February 15, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
There are two cases running simultaneously here; first a young man is found beaten to death, then there is a car bombing at a local university. I always love when a book has so much going on, it really captures my interest and maintains it throughout. Though Jim and Andie struggle to tie the cases together initially, it’s soon apparent that there are connections, though they’re tenuous at best. They definitely have a large amount to deal with as the bombing may be linked to a terrorist group and there may even be links to a historical case. As if that isn’t enough to keep them occupied, there are members of the team who are being sloppy and making some pretty heavy mistakes.
I love sinking my teeth into a new series and I’m especially happy if the protagonist is one that I take to straightaway. Both Jim and Andie were easy for me to warm to and I really liked the way they worked together, they had a burgeoning partnership that I’m eager to see more of. They both also had interesting personal backgrounds that humanized them and made me think there will be tons to explore as the series continues. I’m already a fan of this series and as Collins as a debut writer and am anxious for the next book to be released. I think this will appeal to crime fiction fans in general, but with political undertones I also think straight up thriller fans will also be intrigued by this one as it maintained a steady pace and had some great action scenes.
There are two cases running simultaneously here; first a young man is found beaten to death, then there is a car bombing at a local university. I always love when a book has so much going on, it really captures my interest and maintains it throughout. Though Jim and Andie struggle to tie the cases together initially, it’s soon apparent that there are connections, though they’re tenuous at best. They definitely have a large amount to deal with as the bombing may be linked to a terrorist group and there may even be links to a historical case. As if that isn’t enough to keep them occupied, there are members of the team who are being sloppy and making some pretty heavy mistakes.
I love sinking my teeth into a new series and I’m especially happy if the protagonist is one that I take to straightaway. Both Jim and Andie were easy for me to warm to and I really liked the way they worked together, they had a burgeoning partnership that I’m eager to see more of. They both also had interesting personal backgrounds that humanized them and made me think there will be tons to explore as the series continues. I’m already a fan of this series and as Collins as a debut writer and am anxious for the next book to be released. I think this will appeal to crime fiction fans in general, but with political undertones I also think straight up thriller fans will also be intrigued by this one as it maintained a steady pace and had some great action scenes.
March 6, 2017
There is an absolutely abndance of crime related police sagas out there. I have a handful of authors who write those expertly who I am happy eagerly sat waiting patiently for the next instalment.
When I started reading this, it was the cover I took heed to first. I'm always intrigued by covers of books to see if it's related to the story inside. It was.
The blurb got my next vote.
Bloodhounds publishers seem to be delivering some fantastic authors books so I delved in.
Tana Collins is a new author to me.
The story began right away. That was another huge plus. I love dialogue in a book much more than narration, although I am aware there has to be narration. Not overwhelming though with an exasperating amount of discrimination.
The author for me had this balanced out.
Having a crime right at the start of it intrigued me. Then the DI was introduced with gradually his team.
Now I was left thinking. So there are going to be a spat of murders? Serial killer?
I was very wrong in my assumptions, really way of the mark.
Bombing and things like that which I thought was going to make me skip pages in fact had my attention.
The steering of the author for the reader is a handheld motion, she leads you bit by bit.
It's not slow moving at all, but, piecing it together takes an achievement as the Police go onto investigate further.
I have to say how much I love this authors style of writing. She's certainly one I'll be following.
Will wait eagerly for her next book in the series.
When I started reading this, it was the cover I took heed to first. I'm always intrigued by covers of books to see if it's related to the story inside. It was.
The blurb got my next vote.
Bloodhounds publishers seem to be delivering some fantastic authors books so I delved in.
Tana Collins is a new author to me.
The story began right away. That was another huge plus. I love dialogue in a book much more than narration, although I am aware there has to be narration. Not overwhelming though with an exasperating amount of discrimination.
The author for me had this balanced out.
Having a crime right at the start of it intrigued me. Then the DI was introduced with gradually his team.
Now I was left thinking. So there are going to be a spat of murders? Serial killer?
I was very wrong in my assumptions, really way of the mark.
Bombing and things like that which I thought was going to make me skip pages in fact had my attention.
The steering of the author for the reader is a handheld motion, she leads you bit by bit.
It's not slow moving at all, but, piecing it together takes an achievement as the Police go onto investigate further.
I have to say how much I love this authors style of writing. She's certainly one I'll be following.
Will wait eagerly for her next book in the series.
February 15, 2017
As stated in the description this is the first book in a new crime series.
The story starts off really well with the death of a young man. Obviously someone dying in a crime book has readers interests piqued straight away. I had all sorts going through my head as to why someone would kill him. I think for the police they think it will be some sort of straight forward killing. Boy are they wrong!
The mans murder goes way deeper than just a simple murder. I mean come on where would the fun in that be if it was simple? It soon becomes apparent that things are very far from being straight forward. Even I hadn’t envisioned where this mans murder would take the police and events certainly take a turn in a different direction, a very dangerous one at that.
I always worry how I will take to yet another new detective as there is an abundance of crime books featuring detectives around and being a huge crime fan, I have hopefully read a lot of them. I took quite quickly to Carruthers. I especially liked his working relationship with DS Andrea Fetcher. It’s a very professional one and you can tell just how much respect that they have for each other.
Robbing The Dead is a good solid start to a new crime series. It makes for entertaining reading and I very much look forward to what happens next for them team.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story starts off really well with the death of a young man. Obviously someone dying in a crime book has readers interests piqued straight away. I had all sorts going through my head as to why someone would kill him. I think for the police they think it will be some sort of straight forward killing. Boy are they wrong!
The mans murder goes way deeper than just a simple murder. I mean come on where would the fun in that be if it was simple? It soon becomes apparent that things are very far from being straight forward. Even I hadn’t envisioned where this mans murder would take the police and events certainly take a turn in a different direction, a very dangerous one at that.
I always worry how I will take to yet another new detective as there is an abundance of crime books featuring detectives around and being a huge crime fan, I have hopefully read a lot of them. I took quite quickly to Carruthers. I especially liked his working relationship with DS Andrea Fetcher. It’s a very professional one and you can tell just how much respect that they have for each other.
Robbing The Dead is a good solid start to a new crime series. It makes for entertaining reading and I very much look forward to what happens next for them team.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
June 20, 2017
Robbing the dead by Tana Collins is a mystery and thriller read.
In a small Scottish university town, what links a spate of horrible murders, a targeted bomb explosion and a lecturer’s disappearance? Is a terror group involved? If so, who is pulling the strings? And what does something that happened over forty years ago have to do with it?
Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I liked Fletcher and caruther. Dougie I thought he was cheeky I also loved how Fletcher answered him back. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Bloodhound books.
In a small Scottish university town, what links a spate of horrible murders, a targeted bomb explosion and a lecturer’s disappearance? Is a terror group involved? If so, who is pulling the strings? And what does something that happened over forty years ago have to do with it?
Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I liked Fletcher and caruther. Dougie I thought he was cheeky I also loved how Fletcher answered him back. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Bloodhound books.
February 14, 2017
Read 10/02/2017 - 13/02/2017 Rating 5 stars
DCI Jim Carruthers is still reeling from the break up of his marriage when a soldier turns up dead and his friend goes missing while Jim and his team are hunting for clues there is an explosion at a university. For a small Scottish town there is a lot happening and none of it good.
This book forces the reader to hit the ground running as the story unfolds. There is a lot of character building as I would expect from the first book in a series. The author manages to build in depth characters while telling the story and has successfully avoided large chunks of descriptive text. The characters are unique individuals some very likeable while some are unlikeable which brings realism to the book.
While it is police procedural the story is told from several perspectives and I found myself liking baddies and disliking goodies as the story unfolds.
It is a very gripping book and while it is not the usual gory nightmarish thriller that I love I still really enjoyed reading it and I eagerly await the next book in the series. Well worth the 5 stars.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books who provided me with an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
DCI Jim Carruthers is still reeling from the break up of his marriage when a soldier turns up dead and his friend goes missing while Jim and his team are hunting for clues there is an explosion at a university. For a small Scottish town there is a lot happening and none of it good.
This book forces the reader to hit the ground running as the story unfolds. There is a lot of character building as I would expect from the first book in a series. The author manages to build in depth characters while telling the story and has successfully avoided large chunks of descriptive text. The characters are unique individuals some very likeable while some are unlikeable which brings realism to the book.
While it is police procedural the story is told from several perspectives and I found myself liking baddies and disliking goodies as the story unfolds.
It is a very gripping book and while it is not the usual gory nightmarish thriller that I love I still really enjoyed reading it and I eagerly await the next book in the series. Well worth the 5 stars.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books who provided me with an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
September 23, 2017
Has potential.
I found this book to be a but of a slog, my concentration kept wandering and as a result I took frequent breaks from reading (not like me at all). That doesn't mean that its a bad story, its not! The plot just didn't do it for me, but the charachters kept my interest. The author also conjured beautiful imagery of the East Coast of Scotland, vividly.
This does however have the potential to be a good series. I liked the main charachters and can't flaw the author on making them believable, relatable and with an ending that will make me read part 2. X
I found this book to be a but of a slog, my concentration kept wandering and as a result I took frequent breaks from reading (not like me at all). That doesn't mean that its a bad story, its not! The plot just didn't do it for me, but the charachters kept my interest. The author also conjured beautiful imagery of the East Coast of Scotland, vividly.
This does however have the potential to be a good series. I liked the main charachters and can't flaw the author on making them believable, relatable and with an ending that will make me read part 2. X
February 15, 2017
Excellent 1st book in this new hopefully more to follow series.
The police colleagues were believable and at times annoying, which I love.
The story just ran at a good pace and kept me reading.
Vengeance, family drama, a good police tale thats worth reading.
The police colleagues were believable and at times annoying, which I love.
The story just ran at a good pace and kept me reading.
Vengeance, family drama, a good police tale thats worth reading.
May 31, 2017
3.5 stars
Robbing the Dead is a promising start to a new detective series (and I do love a good detective series!), DCI Jim Carruthers and his team are based in Castletown, Scotland – Jim had been away from Scotland but he returned with hopes of winning back his estranged wife however things don’t always go to plan. However, Jim has settled back in Castletown and has a strong team around him.
At the start of this novel, the body of a Welsh RAF airman is found and appears to be a robbery gone wrong. However, when an targeted explosion happens at a local University focused on a professor’s vehicle and another RAF airman goes missing, the robbery theory is soon discounted. Carruthers and his team find themselves investigating a murder as well as a explosion – are the two linked? Seems very coincidental when Rhys is Welsh and the targeted professor had written a book which was pretty scathing about Welsh Nationalism.
This is an interesting read, linking the events of 40 years ago to those in the present day, at times I struggled as I don’t know, in detail, the historical events that are referenced throughout the book. However, that said, this was still an enjoyable read which alongside the investigations, also introduces the reader to the Castletown team. DCI Carruthers is fighting his own personal demons linked with the breakdown of his marriage, and the return of an individual he blames for this does not help matters.
I really liked DS Andie Fletcher’s character as well as the working relationship she has with Carruthers, as Carruthers is relatively new to Castletown, they have an instant bond and can support each other; both professionally and personally. They are not afraid to state a spade is a spade around each other.
Robbing the Dead is a promising start to a new detective series (and I do love a good detective series!), DCI Jim Carruthers and his team are based in Castletown, Scotland – Jim had been away from Scotland but he returned with hopes of winning back his estranged wife however things don’t always go to plan. However, Jim has settled back in Castletown and has a strong team around him.
At the start of this novel, the body of a Welsh RAF airman is found and appears to be a robbery gone wrong. However, when an targeted explosion happens at a local University focused on a professor’s vehicle and another RAF airman goes missing, the robbery theory is soon discounted. Carruthers and his team find themselves investigating a murder as well as a explosion – are the two linked? Seems very coincidental when Rhys is Welsh and the targeted professor had written a book which was pretty scathing about Welsh Nationalism.
This is an interesting read, linking the events of 40 years ago to those in the present day, at times I struggled as I don’t know, in detail, the historical events that are referenced throughout the book. However, that said, this was still an enjoyable read which alongside the investigations, also introduces the reader to the Castletown team. DCI Carruthers is fighting his own personal demons linked with the breakdown of his marriage, and the return of an individual he blames for this does not help matters.
I really liked DS Andie Fletcher’s character as well as the working relationship she has with Carruthers, as Carruthers is relatively new to Castletown, they have an instant bond and can support each other; both professionally and personally. They are not afraid to state a spade is a spade around each other.
June 26, 2021
There’s a lot going on here; a suspicious death, a car bomb followed by the discovery of another body. DCI Carruthers has to try and work out the connection between all three. I love it when I learn something new from a book and here I picked up quite a bit. I have read a few bits in IRA and Bloody Sunday but I had no idea about Welsh nationalist groups. Well not modern ones anyway.
Carruthers himself I like. A man trying to put his life back together after his wife has left him although he does have some seriously creepy moments, crushing on the young woman who’s boyfriend has just been killed and then trying to pass it off to himself as just being caring. I was quite uncomfortable with that. Otherwise a good character. Not much on the supporting cast. We’ve an office full of ‘old skool’ racist, misogynistic males, half arsing their job and living on donuts and the token woman who is decently written as intelligent and someone for the DCI to bounce ideas off.
The story is a good one and I did find it to be a page turner. I liked the Fife setting (a new one for me) and it all comes together really well. I’d like to give book 2 a go and see how all these characters grow and develop especially as the female one might not always be around (no spoilers). I think a thumbs in the middle for now
Carruthers himself I like. A man trying to put his life back together after his wife has left him although he does have some seriously creepy moments, crushing on the young woman who’s boyfriend has just been killed and then trying to pass it off to himself as just being caring. I was quite uncomfortable with that. Otherwise a good character. Not much on the supporting cast. We’ve an office full of ‘old skool’ racist, misogynistic males, half arsing their job and living on donuts and the token woman who is decently written as intelligent and someone for the DCI to bounce ideas off.
The story is a good one and I did find it to be a page turner. I liked the Fife setting (a new one for me) and it all comes together really well. I’d like to give book 2 a go and see how all these characters grow and develop especially as the female one might not always be around (no spoilers). I think a thumbs in the middle for now
July 5, 2019
DCI Jim Carruthers is a man with a lot of baggage, a big heart and a strong sense of truth. I was immediately drawn in from the first chapter. I liked the way the author used the dialogue and sense of place. By chapter 2, I was there in the station with him especially alongside his female colleague Andrea Fletcher. She is one sharp lady, having to deal with her male colleague DS Harris who is downright racist. There are both personal and professional conflicts for Jim with his superiors and working with his old adversary McGhee, linked to his ex wife Mairi. I loved this book.. thank goodness I bought the first 3..
May 16, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book although I had already read later books in the series. I liked the scene settings and the multiple plot lines. I feel that this is perhaps the weakest of the series, but it may be due to the need to give the background of the main characters. The mystery is good and kept me entertained and I liked the rivalry between the characters at times. This is definitely a series that develops with each book as a good series should!
November 19, 2021
The first in a series featuring DCI Jim Carruthers. Set in a small town in Scotland, this novel follows Carruthers as he attempts to reunite with his estranged wife. In the midst of his personal life he has to deal with terrorist attacks, kidnapping and the 'usual' array of crimes.
Not a bad, quick read, enjoyable.
Not a bad, quick read, enjoyable.
November 29, 2018
Loved this book, interesting storyline, brilliant characters and a fantastic setting
January 9, 2022
Enjoyable book. Liked the writing style.
March 10, 2017
This debut from Tara Collins sets the trend of another good detective series.
A young man is found dead. Named Rhys Evans. They discover that he was serving in the RAF at Edenside and his girlfriend (Siobhan) thought the police had been informed about his disappearance.
The RAF police wish to conduct their own enquiries, but the local police force are pushing ahead with their own. Does this have anything to do with another incident? A bomb, planted in a car, goes off at the University. On closer inspection, the car owner Professor Holaway appears to be just an academic. It is only on close inspection that they start to see his background and current interests are what are at the heart of the attack.
The group claiming responsibility for the blast call themselves Bryn Glas 1402, which leads to the detectives to finding out as much as they can about it and the Professors interest.
This storyline was well researched and the characters true to themselves. The working relationship between Carruthers and Fletcher is a great one.
Is it coincidence that three welshmen are together in the RAF. One is dead, and the other one missing .
DCI Jim Carruthers finds himself very drawn to Siobham, partly that she resembles his ex-wife. His colleague, DS Andie Fletcher can see this, and gently warns him off getting involved. He tried to save his marriage by moving back to Scotland, but it didn't make any difference.
Alistair McGhee is drafted in from London because of his experience with Irish terrorist groups. He and Carruthers have met before, but only when McGhee made a pass at his ex-wife. This is not something that Carruthers is able to forget.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to Bloodhound Books for this opportunity.
A young man is found dead. Named Rhys Evans. They discover that he was serving in the RAF at Edenside and his girlfriend (Siobhan) thought the police had been informed about his disappearance.
The RAF police wish to conduct their own enquiries, but the local police force are pushing ahead with their own. Does this have anything to do with another incident? A bomb, planted in a car, goes off at the University. On closer inspection, the car owner Professor Holaway appears to be just an academic. It is only on close inspection that they start to see his background and current interests are what are at the heart of the attack.
The group claiming responsibility for the blast call themselves Bryn Glas 1402, which leads to the detectives to finding out as much as they can about it and the Professors interest.
This storyline was well researched and the characters true to themselves. The working relationship between Carruthers and Fletcher is a great one.
Is it coincidence that three welshmen are together in the RAF. One is dead, and the other one missing .
DCI Jim Carruthers finds himself very drawn to Siobham, partly that she resembles his ex-wife. His colleague, DS Andie Fletcher can see this, and gently warns him off getting involved. He tried to save his marriage by moving back to Scotland, but it didn't make any difference.
Alistair McGhee is drafted in from London because of his experience with Irish terrorist groups. He and Carruthers have met before, but only when McGhee made a pass at his ex-wife. This is not something that Carruthers is able to forget.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to Bloodhound Books for this opportunity.
June 8, 2018
4 stars
DS Dougie Harris is more than a little lazy and often put out by his boss. He’s also a little rough on the ne’er do wells he captures and not at all PC. DS Andrea “Andie” Fletcher is a very professional and smart young woman.
DCI Jim Carruthers was going to talk a holiday and was almost on his way when he was called into a crime scene. A young man, who looks to be from the local RAF Base, was beaten to death. The victim is later discovered to be Rhys Evans. He was left in the doorway to an apartment building. Hi body shows signs of an earlier beating.
The investigation begins. They find out who was involved in the earlier altercation. Andie and Dougie go to speak to them.
The investigation is interrupted when a bomb goes off at a local university. Professor Nicholas Holdaway has disappeared. Superintendent Alisitair McGhee joins the team from the Met. He is a terrorist expert. He and Jim have a history. They do not like one another.
Jim is not convinced that it is Welsh terrorists involved in the bombing. He thinks it’s a more personal reason involving Holdaway personally. When he is finally located, Holdaway tells him he was in Northern Ireland in 1972 during the Bloody Sunday march. He admits he accidentally shot an unarmed woman. He was only nineteen at the time.
Dave Roberts’ body was found in the woods. He was tortured while still alive and then shot. When the police go to the RAF base to look at his lodgings, they find some very interesting things. When they go to his girlfriend’s home, they find a bloody shirt hidden under the kitchen sink. They strongly suspect that it is Rhys Evans’ blood and that they have found the murderer of Rhys.
The reader knows the identity of the mastermind of the whole scheme long before he is revealed in the book. However, this story is gripping reading just getting to the conclusion. It is well written and plotted. The characters are for the most part well drawn. Jim has a basket full of emotions and regrets to deal with. It interferes with his job somewhat. Andi has a big secret and is stalling telling Jim. Dougie is just Dougie. He is an old style copper who doesn’t control himself very well. McGhee is an idiot and misogynistic. But they work as a team – for the most part. They are more or less able to put their petty resentments aside and carry on with their jobs.
A very good book and I can hardly wait to read the next in this series.
DS Dougie Harris is more than a little lazy and often put out by his boss. He’s also a little rough on the ne’er do wells he captures and not at all PC. DS Andrea “Andie” Fletcher is a very professional and smart young woman.
DCI Jim Carruthers was going to talk a holiday and was almost on his way when he was called into a crime scene. A young man, who looks to be from the local RAF Base, was beaten to death. The victim is later discovered to be Rhys Evans. He was left in the doorway to an apartment building. Hi body shows signs of an earlier beating.
The investigation begins. They find out who was involved in the earlier altercation. Andie and Dougie go to speak to them.
The investigation is interrupted when a bomb goes off at a local university. Professor Nicholas Holdaway has disappeared. Superintendent Alisitair McGhee joins the team from the Met. He is a terrorist expert. He and Jim have a history. They do not like one another.
Jim is not convinced that it is Welsh terrorists involved in the bombing. He thinks it’s a more personal reason involving Holdaway personally. When he is finally located, Holdaway tells him he was in Northern Ireland in 1972 during the Bloody Sunday march. He admits he accidentally shot an unarmed woman. He was only nineteen at the time.
Dave Roberts’ body was found in the woods. He was tortured while still alive and then shot. When the police go to the RAF base to look at his lodgings, they find some very interesting things. When they go to his girlfriend’s home, they find a bloody shirt hidden under the kitchen sink. They strongly suspect that it is Rhys Evans’ blood and that they have found the murderer of Rhys.
The reader knows the identity of the mastermind of the whole scheme long before he is revealed in the book. However, this story is gripping reading just getting to the conclusion. It is well written and plotted. The characters are for the most part well drawn. Jim has a basket full of emotions and regrets to deal with. It interferes with his job somewhat. Andi has a big secret and is stalling telling Jim. Dougie is just Dougie. He is an old style copper who doesn’t control himself very well. McGhee is an idiot and misogynistic. But they work as a team – for the most part. They are more or less able to put their petty resentments aside and carry on with their jobs.
A very good book and I can hardly wait to read the next in this series.
March 22, 2023
Genuinely I have no idea how this book is rated so highly. It is awful. I never ditch a book so I did push on to the end but found myself wanting to just give up many, many times.
Utterly one dimensional characters, a lead character who sees every dark haired woman as his next love interest and who sizes up EVERY woman by attractiveness which is thoroughly distasteful. Who never pulls any member of his team up for truly disgraceful behaviour and language and who acts like an uncontrolled emotional idiot.
A supporting character whose only purpose is to be pregnant - token female in every way. Because all women just want to get pregnant and be mothers, obviously... Oh and she's English too. So if casual anti-English rhetoric is your thing, this author has you covered. In fact, I was surprised this author IS a woman as this charcter and all the women in this book are so awfully written that I assumed they were created by a man. The author is also judgy about weight, so enjoy that too.
The plot is ludicrous with so many unrealistic occurrences that I found myself stopping and looking at the damn book with incredulity many, many times. Some really quite charged terms are used unnecessarily so they may offend if you are sensitive. Also, there is a strong anti-English vein running throughout and all of the countries of the UK get to have a bash at the English so brace yourself for some delightful nationalistic radical thoughts.
I added over 40 notes (read on Kindle) when I needed to highlight problems or issues with the story, so that should show just how many things are wrong with this book. Also looks like it was proofread by a visually impaired hamster in the dark. Lots of errors which further detract from the book.
I wouldn't pick up another of this author's books based on those one, and honestly, can't understand how this was published unless self-published. Truly rubbish.
Utterly one dimensional characters, a lead character who sees every dark haired woman as his next love interest and who sizes up EVERY woman by attractiveness which is thoroughly distasteful. Who never pulls any member of his team up for truly disgraceful behaviour and language and who acts like an uncontrolled emotional idiot.
A supporting character whose only purpose is to be pregnant - token female in every way. Because all women just want to get pregnant and be mothers, obviously... Oh and she's English too. So if casual anti-English rhetoric is your thing, this author has you covered. In fact, I was surprised this author IS a woman as this charcter and all the women in this book are so awfully written that I assumed they were created by a man. The author is also judgy about weight, so enjoy that too.
The plot is ludicrous with so many unrealistic occurrences that I found myself stopping and looking at the damn book with incredulity many, many times. Some really quite charged terms are used unnecessarily so they may offend if you are sensitive. Also, there is a strong anti-English vein running throughout and all of the countries of the UK get to have a bash at the English so brace yourself for some delightful nationalistic radical thoughts.
I added over 40 notes (read on Kindle) when I needed to highlight problems or issues with the story, so that should show just how many things are wrong with this book. Also looks like it was proofread by a visually impaired hamster in the dark. Lots of errors which further detract from the book.
I wouldn't pick up another of this author's books based on those one, and honestly, can't understand how this was published unless self-published. Truly rubbish.
June 28, 2020
Not a bad start
That rather lukewarm headline reflects my mixed feelings about this book, which is the first in what is obviously intended to be a series. A certain amount of time is therefore taken up at the beginning establishing the character of DCI Carruthers. Fair enough, but it’s a bit clunky. After that things improve somewhat. The plot is a bit unlikely, but well this side of unbelievable. Some of the other police officers are rather caricatured. DS Harris is a textbook useless, thuggish police officer. Det Supt Bingham is the classic unreasonable superior with only a very few redeeming features. DS Andrea Fletcher is too close to being a Mary Sue.
All this matters because this is a police procedural, not really a whodunit, so the interaction between the police officers is central to the book.
The author also needs to work on his dialogue. All the characters speak the same way, in reasoned, grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs, with the extensive vocabulary of the well-educated middle classes, even though some of them are far from that. Clever use of dialogue can be very revealing of character and can reduce the need for laboured exposition.
All that said, I stuck with the book to the end, and I found myself rooting for the hero. This is a fairly promising beginning to the series, and I shall probably read the next one. With a bit more polish, these novels could be really good.
That rather lukewarm headline reflects my mixed feelings about this book, which is the first in what is obviously intended to be a series. A certain amount of time is therefore taken up at the beginning establishing the character of DCI Carruthers. Fair enough, but it’s a bit clunky. After that things improve somewhat. The plot is a bit unlikely, but well this side of unbelievable. Some of the other police officers are rather caricatured. DS Harris is a textbook useless, thuggish police officer. Det Supt Bingham is the classic unreasonable superior with only a very few redeeming features. DS Andrea Fletcher is too close to being a Mary Sue.
All this matters because this is a police procedural, not really a whodunit, so the interaction between the police officers is central to the book.
The author also needs to work on his dialogue. All the characters speak the same way, in reasoned, grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs, with the extensive vocabulary of the well-educated middle classes, even though some of them are far from that. Clever use of dialogue can be very revealing of character and can reduce the need for laboured exposition.
All that said, I stuck with the book to the end, and I found myself rooting for the hero. This is a fairly promising beginning to the series, and I shall probably read the next one. With a bit more polish, these novels could be really good.
February 14, 2017
When the body of a young RAF man is discovered murdered all sorts of theories are at first thrown around. A lot of the local lads are not best pleased because they are been bypassed for the men in uniform that have a lot more spending power for the ladies of the small Scottish University town. This is a quick paced story that rapidly develops with further murders and attempted murders. The only thing is how the heck can they all be connected?
What a cracking story, a promise from a son to his mother, lives ruined and vengeance that has grown over years. Nothing will stop the end game for a man on a mission, not when he has waited all this time. Wow Tana Collins really breathed life into these characters. I don’t think that I have ever taken to a detective pair as quickly as I did to DCI Jim Carruthers and DS Andrea Fletcher. They both have their own personal problems but are a perfect team. Some of the team made me cringe, well one particular but it makes all for realistic reading.
I read this story in one and I hadn’t a clue where it was going to go but it mixed history with modern day and came up with a belter. I felt so emotionally involved with all the characters both good and bad, you had to feel for them all. An heart breaking story from the past that just continued to claim more innocent lives. I am so looking forward to more books in this series.
What a cracking story, a promise from a son to his mother, lives ruined and vengeance that has grown over years. Nothing will stop the end game for a man on a mission, not when he has waited all this time. Wow Tana Collins really breathed life into these characters. I don’t think that I have ever taken to a detective pair as quickly as I did to DCI Jim Carruthers and DS Andrea Fletcher. They both have their own personal problems but are a perfect team. Some of the team made me cringe, well one particular but it makes all for realistic reading.
I read this story in one and I hadn’t a clue where it was going to go but it mixed history with modern day and came up with a belter. I felt so emotionally involved with all the characters both good and bad, you had to feel for them all. An heart breaking story from the past that just continued to claim more innocent lives. I am so looking forward to more books in this series.
February 20, 2017
Tana starts us off with her debut novel featuring DCI Jim Carruthers and we really get a feel for him and how he likes to work, especially along side DS Andrea Fletcher, as you read in the blurb she is hiding her own personal demons.
The book starts of extremely strongly, with a murder. You are pulled in to the plot very quickly and tension hot's up to who and why, and as it is a small university town, what are the links to the past?
I got a feel for the team and banter, relationships, and personality shone through from the outset, which is sometimes difficult when setting up a series, as well as introducing the team, you have the crimes to concentrate on also. You don't want to lose the reader with too much information, or to be too vague. Tana does this extremely successfully.
The crimes, and plot were interesting especially the why and why now, which slowly comes to light, so you do get answers, but in a drip fed mysterious way. This was done in a way that made the book extremely easy to read.
I look forward to more adventures and finding out where the team go on from here.
A clever and well written start to a Scottish Noir Police series.
The book starts of extremely strongly, with a murder. You are pulled in to the plot very quickly and tension hot's up to who and why, and as it is a small university town, what are the links to the past?
I got a feel for the team and banter, relationships, and personality shone through from the outset, which is sometimes difficult when setting up a series, as well as introducing the team, you have the crimes to concentrate on also. You don't want to lose the reader with too much information, or to be too vague. Tana does this extremely successfully.
The crimes, and plot were interesting especially the why and why now, which slowly comes to light, so you do get answers, but in a drip fed mysterious way. This was done in a way that made the book extremely easy to read.
I look forward to more adventures and finding out where the team go on from here.
A clever and well written start to a Scottish Noir Police series.
March 30, 2017
A small Scottish university town is in thrown into chaos following a grizzly murder and a targeted bombing. Rumours abound of a terrorist plot which may or may not be linked to the disappearance of a soldier and lecturer.
DCI Jim Carruthers, having recently moved back to Castletown to get over his marriage break-up, finds himself dropped into the middle of a seemingly ever-expanding investigation.
In order to stop the violence and solve the crime, Carruthers must work with DS Andrea Fletcher - who has her own problems - to catch the perpetrators. However, the appearance of Jim's old enemy, terror expert McGhee, adds further complications to the investigation.
Robbing the Dead poses many interesting questions particularly in our ever-changing world. Recent events - Brexit, the attack on London last week and the death of Martin McGuinness - added so much depth to this story.
There are lots of narrative strands to keep the reader interested and
Tana Collins has created two really compelling characters in Carruthers and Fletcher and there is plenty of potential for them to appear in more books.
DCI Jim Carruthers, having recently moved back to Castletown to get over his marriage break-up, finds himself dropped into the middle of a seemingly ever-expanding investigation.
In order to stop the violence and solve the crime, Carruthers must work with DS Andrea Fletcher - who has her own problems - to catch the perpetrators. However, the appearance of Jim's old enemy, terror expert McGhee, adds further complications to the investigation.
Robbing the Dead poses many interesting questions particularly in our ever-changing world. Recent events - Brexit, the attack on London last week and the death of Martin McGuinness - added so much depth to this story.
There are lots of narrative strands to keep the reader interested and
Tana Collins has created two really compelling characters in Carruthers and Fletcher and there is plenty of potential for them to appear in more books.
February 26, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this debut novel by Tana Collins and I was very excited to note that this is just the first book in a series.
Jim Carruthers really has his work cut out for him - several murders on his patch which are linked to the IRA somehow, a colleague with some personal issues and another colleague who pushes all his buttons.
I liked the main character, he was very human and although there was a lot going on for him, he did a great job with the investigations. I didn't particularly like his supervisor, Bingham, but that shows the skill of the author because I am pretty sure I wasn't meant to!
All in all, this was a good, solid, police procedural and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
A recommended read from me :)
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to Bloodhound Books.
Jim Carruthers really has his work cut out for him - several murders on his patch which are linked to the IRA somehow, a colleague with some personal issues and another colleague who pushes all his buttons.
I liked the main character, he was very human and although there was a lot going on for him, he did a great job with the investigations. I didn't particularly like his supervisor, Bingham, but that shows the skill of the author because I am pretty sure I wasn't meant to!
All in all, this was a good, solid, police procedural and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
A recommended read from me :)
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to Bloodhound Books.
February 19, 2017
I was very pleased to receive an ARC of Robbing The Dead in exchange for a fair and honest review. Tana Collins is a new writer to me and, on the strength of this exciting novel which is the first of a new series, I look forward to many more! The setting is a small university town in Scotland and the principal cop is DCI Jim Carruthers, ably assisted by the estimable DS Andrea Fletcher, both fascinating characters whose bacl stories will no doubt develop over future books. Murders and explosions and disappearances all make for an excellent and satisfying read.
January 6, 2020
Not for me... I have read and enjoyed other books by this author but this book just didn’t grab me. Everyone was at odds with each other (the good guys and the bad guys), sexism and racism.... and alcohol abuse liberally scattered.... Gave up at 62% because I didn’t care about the characters anymore....
January 26, 2019
I love a good mystery, especially when rooted in Scottish history. “Robbing the Dead” is filled with charismatic characters depicting real life situations. DCI Jim Caruthers finds himself working in Castletown, Scotland. He left behind a good job and lifestyle in London in hopes of saving his marriage. Well that didn’t work out. He is having a rough time reconciling solving crimes and trying to forget the void his wife left behind. DS Andrea Fletcher respects her boss DCI Caruthers and tries to keep him from getting into trouble with Superintendent Bingham. She has her own worries; soon she must make a life changing decision. The story begins with a new case – the death of a young RAF man. He is found brutally murdered. It appears that the young man died as a result of a robbery gone wrong. As Fletcher and Caruthers investigate it becomes apparent that witnesses and suspects are lying. A car bombing at the local University appears to be similar to the IRA bombings in the ‘70’s. Who was the target and why? Could this be part of a new terrorist plot in Scotland? The young victim’s girlfriend Siobhan is devastated by his death. She reminds Caruthers of his former wife. He knows he should keep the relationship strictly business, but he is developing feelings for her. This is not good. Ewan Williams, the antagonist, has been waiting forty years to repay a promise he made to himself. He has a lot of regrets, but has nothing more to lose. Twist and turns abound in this story, keeping you turning the pages late into the night. I highly recommend this great read to all mystery and history lovers.
November 13, 2017
Read this book out of sequence as I read the second in the series first. But it was great to make the acquaintance of Jim Carruthers and Andrea Fletcher again. Obviously less fleshed out than they are in the 2nd book. But the reader can see the start of the dynamic between the two and dear I say it, a romantic and physical attraction?
Jim is a forceful character who can and is a bit of a maverick: whilst Andrea is a more calming character; acting as Jim's conscience and telling him to think before he acts. Mostly to no avail.
This is a fast moving story, written in crisp prose and keeps the reader enthralled throughout.
This book has every thing. Fife, murders, terrorists and did I say Fife.
Though Tana in this first book is just exploring her settings and characters she pulls it off admirably and when you read the second in the series, which you will want to, you will be hooked on these characters.
As I've mentioned in a previous review one of my favourite characters is DS, Harris, a dinosaur, who by a freak of evolution has survived into the second decade of the 21st century.
He is a sexist, chauvinist and an unknowing racist.
What really amuses me is he is generally bemused and hurt by the criticism of his colleagues
A book and series I would highly recommend .
A well deserved 5 stars from me.
Well done Tana and Bloodhoundbooks
Jim is a forceful character who can and is a bit of a maverick: whilst Andrea is a more calming character; acting as Jim's conscience and telling him to think before he acts. Mostly to no avail.
This is a fast moving story, written in crisp prose and keeps the reader enthralled throughout.
This book has every thing. Fife, murders, terrorists and did I say Fife.
Though Tana in this first book is just exploring her settings and characters she pulls it off admirably and when you read the second in the series, which you will want to, you will be hooked on these characters.
As I've mentioned in a previous review one of my favourite characters is DS, Harris, a dinosaur, who by a freak of evolution has survived into the second decade of the 21st century.
He is a sexist, chauvinist and an unknowing racist.
What really amuses me is he is generally bemused and hurt by the criticism of his colleagues
A book and series I would highly recommend .
A well deserved 5 stars from me.
Well done Tana and Bloodhoundbooks
March 25, 2024
My first review,
Ive not read much in recent years, and so far in 2024 ive read half of James Oswald's Inspector Mclean series, and re-fell in love with reading. On hearing a interview of his, where he complemented Robbing the Dead. So for a breather, not a needed one, put down McLean for Carruthers.
The story was very captivating i thought, starting focusing on a local murder for the first quarter of the book, and the usual interrogation of suspects and people, all building nicely, when the second plot begins involving an explosion at a university.
For a bit the story goes in a different direction as we get into the background of Terrorism, Welsh nationalists and the IRA. All told very interestingly and believably i felt (no expert in this area) and as the plot early on came together with this, it all felt satisfying overall.
It didn't come to a hugely surprising end in terms of who the villain of the book was, i could see things coming to a point, however the motivations and plot and twists kept me hooked. Overall after a bit more McLean ill check the second Carruthers book at some stage
Ive not read much in recent years, and so far in 2024 ive read half of James Oswald's Inspector Mclean series, and re-fell in love with reading. On hearing a interview of his, where he complemented Robbing the Dead. So for a breather, not a needed one, put down McLean for Carruthers.
The story was very captivating i thought, starting focusing on a local murder for the first quarter of the book, and the usual interrogation of suspects and people, all building nicely, when the second plot begins involving an explosion at a university.
For a bit the story goes in a different direction as we get into the background of Terrorism, Welsh nationalists and the IRA. All told very interestingly and believably i felt (no expert in this area) and as the plot early on came together with this, it all felt satisfying overall.
It didn't come to a hugely surprising end in terms of who the villain of the book was, i could see things coming to a point, however the motivations and plot and twists kept me hooked. Overall after a bit more McLean ill check the second Carruthers book at some stage
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