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Inspector McLean #11
What Will Burn
The eleventh book in the Sunday Times-bestselling Inspector McLean series, from one of Scotland's most celebrated crime writers.
The charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned-out game-keepers cottage, hidden away in woodland to the west of Edinburgh. Clearly no accidental fire, Detective Inspector Tony McLean suspects that neither is this simply a grim arson attack. There is far more to the victim than her humble surroundings might suggest, and something ritualistic to her horrific murder.
Nor will it be the only case of death by fire that Tony and his team will be faced with. This is only the beginning, and with such evil clouding the air, Tony begins to wonder what else will burn...
The charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned-out game-keepers cottage, hidden away in woodland to the west of Edinburgh. Clearly no accidental fire, Detective Inspector Tony McLean suspects that neither is this simply a grim arson attack. There is far more to the victim than her humble surroundings might suggest, and something ritualistic to her horrific murder.
Nor will it be the only case of death by fire that Tony and his team will be faced with. This is only the beginning, and with such evil clouding the air, Tony begins to wonder what else will burn...
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
122 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
February 5, 2021
James Oswald's offbeat Edinburgh crime series, featuring DI Tony McLean, with elements of the supernatural, is a favourite of mine, and whenever there is a new addition, I feel a sense of joy in anticipation of reading it. Tony is on suspension after events in the last book, protecting his team as he takes the flak for not following procedure, despite the courage he displayed. This and the severe staff shortage means that it is DC Janie Harrison who arrives on the scene of a home fire and the badly burned body of the elderly 90 year old Cecily Slater. It could have been an accident, but it is hard to tell as it had all happened a week ago, with little in the way of forensic evidence left. Waiting on the post mortem, Janie is left merely to write up the details of the incident. So begins a story with historical echoes of the persecution of women, labelled as witches, the horrors of which have crept back into Edinburgh and, unfortunately, our contemporary realities.
A new Chief Superintendent has been appointed, Gail Elmwood, from the London Met, who on the surface makes a good impression as Tony returns, demoted to DI, something that bothers him not one whit, as he takes over the murder inquiry into Cecily's death. The PM reveals that she was badly assaulted prior to being set on fire. He has virtually nothing to go on, Cecily saw barely anyone in her daily life, who could possibly hate her so much to do this to her? In the meantime, there are women protesting outside a hotel at a conference on men's rights run by the notoriously powerful lawyer, Tommy Fielding, with connections to the Chief Constable. The odious Fielding has made his name successfully defending men from charges such as rape and brutal attacks on women. In a story where it takes some time for Tony to realise just how dangerously manipulative Elmwood is, there are a string of almost 'impossible' male deaths, and it looks as if Cecily's murder is destined to remain unsolved or is it?
One of the highlights of this stellar crime series is the return of what have by now become beloved offbeat characters, such as the remarkably prescient Madame Rose, the antiquarian bookseller and medium, with her house full of cats. There are the crossover characters from Oswald's other series featuring Constance Fairchild, such as the young Isobel 'Izzy' DeVilliers, with her horrendously traumatic history of abuse. Emma is absent, doing vital forensic work in Kigali, with Tony having no idea of when she will return. What I loved seeing is Janie growing in self confidence as she becomes acting DS, showing all the signs of becoming a similar kind of independent maverick as Tony, just as much at home with the supernatural elements too. This was a wonderful addition to the series with its focus on the incel movement, and the men who hate and are contemptuous of women, their twisted logic driven by their fear, loathing and anger. One of the most interesting threads is that of Gary Tomlinson and the details of how he becomes radicalised. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
A new Chief Superintendent has been appointed, Gail Elmwood, from the London Met, who on the surface makes a good impression as Tony returns, demoted to DI, something that bothers him not one whit, as he takes over the murder inquiry into Cecily's death. The PM reveals that she was badly assaulted prior to being set on fire. He has virtually nothing to go on, Cecily saw barely anyone in her daily life, who could possibly hate her so much to do this to her? In the meantime, there are women protesting outside a hotel at a conference on men's rights run by the notoriously powerful lawyer, Tommy Fielding, with connections to the Chief Constable. The odious Fielding has made his name successfully defending men from charges such as rape and brutal attacks on women. In a story where it takes some time for Tony to realise just how dangerously manipulative Elmwood is, there are a string of almost 'impossible' male deaths, and it looks as if Cecily's murder is destined to remain unsolved or is it?
One of the highlights of this stellar crime series is the return of what have by now become beloved offbeat characters, such as the remarkably prescient Madame Rose, the antiquarian bookseller and medium, with her house full of cats. There are the crossover characters from Oswald's other series featuring Constance Fairchild, such as the young Isobel 'Izzy' DeVilliers, with her horrendously traumatic history of abuse. Emma is absent, doing vital forensic work in Kigali, with Tony having no idea of when she will return. What I loved seeing is Janie growing in self confidence as she becomes acting DS, showing all the signs of becoming a similar kind of independent maverick as Tony, just as much at home with the supernatural elements too. This was a wonderful addition to the series with its focus on the incel movement, and the men who hate and are contemptuous of women, their twisted logic driven by their fear, loathing and anger. One of the most interesting threads is that of Gary Tomlinson and the details of how he becomes radicalised. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
September 16, 2021
In a gamekeeper’s cottage just outside Edinburgh the body of an elderly woman who has been savagely beaten and then burnt to death is discovered. Soon after, the bodies of several recently-divorced men are discovered in various parts of the city; all having died by mysterious means. All deaths seem somehow linked to slimy defence lawyer, Tommy Fielding and his organisation known as “Dad’s Army”.
It’s always a pleasure to get re-acquainted with Detective Inspector Tony McLean (recently demoted through no fault of his own) and his team including Janie Harrison, Lofty Blaine, Grumpy Bob and ex-Superintendent Duguid. Tony’s already heavy caseload is further complicated by the advances of his new boss, Chief Superintendent Gail Elmwood, whom, it appears, has a “history” with Fielding.
Once again, James Oswald has managed to produce an intricately-plotted novel which seamlessly manages to credibly blend supernatural elements into a crime thriller. The melding of the two genres is something which several other lesser authors have attempted recently with disastrous results. Here, the master shows them how it’s really done.
It’s always a pleasure to get re-acquainted with Detective Inspector Tony McLean (recently demoted through no fault of his own) and his team including Janie Harrison, Lofty Blaine, Grumpy Bob and ex-Superintendent Duguid. Tony’s already heavy caseload is further complicated by the advances of his new boss, Chief Superintendent Gail Elmwood, whom, it appears, has a “history” with Fielding.
Once again, James Oswald has managed to produce an intricately-plotted novel which seamlessly manages to credibly blend supernatural elements into a crime thriller. The melding of the two genres is something which several other lesser authors have attempted recently with disastrous results. Here, the master shows them how it’s really done.
January 19, 2026
The charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned-out game-keepers cottage, hidden away in woodland to the west of Edinburgh. Clearly no accidental fire. Is this simply a grim arson attack? There is far more to the victim than her humble surroundings might suggest, and something ritualistic to her horrific murder.
We start with the brutal murder of a 90-year-old woman in her cottage. Her killers have been told their entire lives that she was a witch, and they 100%, believe this. It may be harder for the reader to accept, but her killers absolutely believe that she will have powers that extend well beyond the grave.... but the killers also totally believed this to be so. Soon a series of bizarre deaths, deemed to be accidental... begin to occur.
All the dead men have something in common...they had all been violent and abusive...they had all been divorced or had marriages ended in other ways...and none were allowed to have any contact with their children. They all could be labeled as totally nasty "pieces-of-work". They are all, however, being manipulated by a lawyer; Tommy Fielding who has started something he calls “Dads’ Army,” and actually begins to defend their rights. Tommy Fielding is the perfect villain. He has friends in "high places"; he plays golf with the chief constable, and just what his connection is to Lord Bairnfather? We don't find out until later, that Tommy Fielding...the lawyer... is the nephew of the woman that was murdered.
Tony McLean, who is returning from yet another suspension, is assigned the case. He is also trying to manage a difficult, and at times embarrassing, relationship with his new chief superintendent; Gail...who has come to Edinburgh from the Met in London. Readers of crime novels will probably suspect by her handling of this case, that she has probably had some previous "going on's" with the lawyer, Tommy Fielding. McLean seems to always be in some 'mix-up" with his relations with his fellow officers and he is usually portrayed as a bit...well a lot... unorthodox, but also as being liked and well respected. I've read a lot of this series and always felt a little sorry for Tony. Seems he just can't help himself and he doesn't really try very hard.
The author must have had a difficult job of believably combining Tony's police job of investigating the murder while still making it work with the "witch theme" that he had somehow, very successfully managed. It was interesting and very clever the way that he wrote Tommy Fielding's handling of the trial. Fielding's constant referral to the women as “witches” and then how he convinced his associates...who all seemed to have less intelligence than a box of rocks... that the old women actually were witches and indeed did have evil powers... but then we learned that this was not the first time that this had happened. Uncountable numbers of women had identified themselves with the murdered woman in the present, as witches centuries ago, and perhaps the murdered old woman actually was capable of exercising a powerful influence from beyond the grave.
We start with the brutal murder of a 90-year-old woman in her cottage. Her killers have been told their entire lives that she was a witch, and they 100%, believe this. It may be harder for the reader to accept, but her killers absolutely believe that she will have powers that extend well beyond the grave.... but the killers also totally believed this to be so. Soon a series of bizarre deaths, deemed to be accidental... begin to occur.
All the dead men have something in common...they had all been violent and abusive...they had all been divorced or had marriages ended in other ways...and none were allowed to have any contact with their children. They all could be labeled as totally nasty "pieces-of-work". They are all, however, being manipulated by a lawyer; Tommy Fielding who has started something he calls “Dads’ Army,” and actually begins to defend their rights. Tommy Fielding is the perfect villain. He has friends in "high places"; he plays golf with the chief constable, and just what his connection is to Lord Bairnfather? We don't find out until later, that Tommy Fielding...the lawyer... is the nephew of the woman that was murdered.
Tony McLean, who is returning from yet another suspension, is assigned the case. He is also trying to manage a difficult, and at times embarrassing, relationship with his new chief superintendent; Gail...who has come to Edinburgh from the Met in London. Readers of crime novels will probably suspect by her handling of this case, that she has probably had some previous "going on's" with the lawyer, Tommy Fielding. McLean seems to always be in some 'mix-up" with his relations with his fellow officers and he is usually portrayed as a bit...well a lot... unorthodox, but also as being liked and well respected. I've read a lot of this series and always felt a little sorry for Tony. Seems he just can't help himself and he doesn't really try very hard.
The author must have had a difficult job of believably combining Tony's police job of investigating the murder while still making it work with the "witch theme" that he had somehow, very successfully managed. It was interesting and very clever the way that he wrote Tommy Fielding's handling of the trial. Fielding's constant referral to the women as “witches” and then how he convinced his associates...who all seemed to have less intelligence than a box of rocks... that the old women actually were witches and indeed did have evil powers... but then we learned that this was not the first time that this had happened. Uncountable numbers of women had identified themselves with the murdered woman in the present, as witches centuries ago, and perhaps the murdered old woman actually was capable of exercising a powerful influence from beyond the grave.
February 13, 2021
This is the 11th book in the Inspector McLean series by author James Oswald. I have read all the previous ten books and enjoyed everyone of them. Inspector McLean is a great character, well written plots with a touch of quirkiness thrown in. For me I felt a little let down by this one and although I still enjoyed it, I finished the book feeling it was not quite at the same high standard as previous books. I would recommend the series highly and it is well worth a read.
Detective Inspector Tony McLean is called upon to investigate the charred remains of an elderly woman, found in a burned-out game-keepers cottage, hidden away in woodland to the west of Edinburgh. Foul play is evident and McLean is sure there is a lot more to it than a simple arson attack.
These novels are a little quirky because of the supernatural touches, normally something I tend to shy away from but James Oswald keeps the perfect balance for me. Great characters and well written plots with a touch of supernatural.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Inspector Tony McLean is called upon to investigate the charred remains of an elderly woman, found in a burned-out game-keepers cottage, hidden away in woodland to the west of Edinburgh. Foul play is evident and McLean is sure there is a lot more to it than a simple arson attack.
These novels are a little quirky because of the supernatural touches, normally something I tend to shy away from but James Oswald keeps the perfect balance for me. Great characters and well written plots with a touch of supernatural.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2023
What Will Burn (Inspector McLean, #11) by James Oswald.
I've enjoyed this series so much and have read all 11 books. There are certain series I look forward to and this is among my favorite. The character of Tony McLean is likable as well as realistic in all his relationships whether private or at his work. This particular book also featured another favorite character of mine and that is Madame Rose. A rather maternal woman with supernatural abilities. She brings another dimension into the story that adds to the mystery at hand.
The story begins with an horrific murder of an elderly woman, Cecily Slater. The recluse was burned alive in her tiny home by a gang of cut throats out for revenge that made sense only to themselves. Tony along with his faithful assistant Harrison aren't finding the necessary clues needed to get to the bottom of this poor woman's murder. Then again tony has been demoted and may not have the same capacity to investigate as before. This demotion holds no power over Tony. He could care less and finds his agents are still with him as before.
The Dept. has a new Chief Superindentant. Gail Elmwood hails from London and has her sights on Tony, which is something he can well do without.
This book was a welcomed arrival however I gave it 4 stars as it did not measure up to most of the other McLean stories in this series.
I've enjoyed this series so much and have read all 11 books. There are certain series I look forward to and this is among my favorite. The character of Tony McLean is likable as well as realistic in all his relationships whether private or at his work. This particular book also featured another favorite character of mine and that is Madame Rose. A rather maternal woman with supernatural abilities. She brings another dimension into the story that adds to the mystery at hand.
The story begins with an horrific murder of an elderly woman, Cecily Slater. The recluse was burned alive in her tiny home by a gang of cut throats out for revenge that made sense only to themselves. Tony along with his faithful assistant Harrison aren't finding the necessary clues needed to get to the bottom of this poor woman's murder. Then again tony has been demoted and may not have the same capacity to investigate as before. This demotion holds no power over Tony. He could care less and finds his agents are still with him as before.
The Dept. has a new Chief Superindentant. Gail Elmwood hails from London and has her sights on Tony, which is something he can well do without.
This book was a welcomed arrival however I gave it 4 stars as it did not measure up to most of the other McLean stories in this series.
March 21, 2021
I Mathew Hopkins Witchfinder General here by introducing a new form of exection
Burn witch burn.
James I hated witches and by end of his life he killed 1000s innocent females and his son Charles I sent England into ungodly rule.
This very strange crime when 90y old crippled woman is beaten by mob then burn to death as if she was wicked witch.
But its lot more that just that because lot of Murders too. Wierd murdere
Burn witch burn.
James I hated witches and by end of his life he killed 1000s innocent females and his son Charles I sent England into ungodly rule.
This very strange crime when 90y old crippled woman is beaten by mob then burn to death as if she was wicked witch.
But its lot more that just that because lot of Murders too. Wierd murdere
March 2, 2021
I don't think I will ever tire of James Oswald. He is one of my favourite authors, and this series never fails to give the reader an engrossing read. On perfect form, he's done it again with 'What Will Burn'.
Five stars, more if I could.
Would I read it again? Yes, and again!
Five stars, more if I could.
Would I read it again? Yes, and again!
March 7, 2021
I enjoy this series so much. Great mystery, great characters, you feel like you’re right there in the story as it unfolds. The thread of the supernatural gives the added atmosphere. Highly recommend this series.
January 31, 2021
Having never read James Oswald’s many books despite owning several, I was excited to be able to read an early copy of his latest Inspector McLean series, “What Will Burn”.
When the charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned-out game-keepers cottage hidden away in woodland, Detective Inspector Tony McLean suspects that this is neither an accidental fire or a grim arson attack. There is far more to the victim than her humble surroundings might suggest, and something ritualistic to her horrific murder. When more ‘weird’ deaths occur, it becomes apparent that they could be connected and together with a slimy ‘Dad’s Army’ men’s rights lawyer and mygonistic activist, Tommy Fielding, it’s possible there’s a more ‘supernatural’ cause to events.
I liked DI McLean, a hardworking, moralistic, experienced detective that didn’t come across as arrogant or permanently troubled with his own demonic emotions and life. His partnership with DS Janie Harrison was endearing and I enjoyed their camaraderie.
There’s a side theme which kept me intrigued from the first page, my particular favourite subject in stories and the author managed to keep it the right side of realistic and believable.
I thought Oswald’s writing was second to none and was classy, professional and very addictive. I shall be acquiring all the other books in the series that I don’t own and I am looking forward to binge reading his fabulous books.
James Oswald is the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Inspector McLean and DC Constance Fairchild series. His first two books, “Natural Causes” and “The Book of Souls”, were both shortlisted for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award. He is also one of Scotland’s most celebrated crime writers.
Thank you to Antonia Whitton for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
You can buy “What Will Burn” from the following link -
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/jam...
When the charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned-out game-keepers cottage hidden away in woodland, Detective Inspector Tony McLean suspects that this is neither an accidental fire or a grim arson attack. There is far more to the victim than her humble surroundings might suggest, and something ritualistic to her horrific murder. When more ‘weird’ deaths occur, it becomes apparent that they could be connected and together with a slimy ‘Dad’s Army’ men’s rights lawyer and mygonistic activist, Tommy Fielding, it’s possible there’s a more ‘supernatural’ cause to events.
I liked DI McLean, a hardworking, moralistic, experienced detective that didn’t come across as arrogant or permanently troubled with his own demonic emotions and life. His partnership with DS Janie Harrison was endearing and I enjoyed their camaraderie.
There’s a side theme which kept me intrigued from the first page, my particular favourite subject in stories and the author managed to keep it the right side of realistic and believable.
I thought Oswald’s writing was second to none and was classy, professional and very addictive. I shall be acquiring all the other books in the series that I don’t own and I am looking forward to binge reading his fabulous books.
James Oswald is the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Inspector McLean and DC Constance Fairchild series. His first two books, “Natural Causes” and “The Book of Souls”, were both shortlisted for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award. He is also one of Scotland’s most celebrated crime writers.
Thank you to Antonia Whitton for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
You can buy “What Will Burn” from the following link -
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/jam...
February 10, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of What Will Burn, the eleventh novel to feature DI Tony McLean of the Edinburgh Police.
After a three month suspension and a demotion to DI Tony returns to work and is asked to investigate a strange case, 90 year old Cecily Slater has been found burned to death in her remote gamekeeper’s cottage. The more the team investigate the more they realise that there is much more to Cecily Slater than first appears and more to her murder than a simple attack and she’s not the last death the team will be investigating.
I thoroughly enjoyed What Will Burn, which is an engrossing read with an unusual plot line. Quite often in this series there is a hint of the supernatural that can be rationalised away but this is unambiguous. I’m not normally a fan of this genre, preferring the more tangible, logical and down to earth, but this won me over with its compelling narrative and and multiple events to puzzle over. It held my attention throughout.
The novel is mostly told from Tony’s point of view with other characters chipping in as and when. This includes some puzzling flashbacks to older times, which took me a while to work out, but once I cottoned on I came to see them as inspired. It is impossible to say more without spoilers, but, believe me, this is a clever novel, mixing the past and present, the prosaic and the fantastical, all while making the reader question every new character and their motives.
It might be because I am Scottish and the novel offers familiarity but I always feel really comfortable reading this series, even when the subject matter is uncomfortable, or at least outside my comfort zone. Most of this is due to the characterisation and dialogue. This novel is no different. With the odd exception and Madame Rose the psychic springs to mind, the reader can recognise the characters as realistic and authentic. The same with the dialogue and its frequent cynicism, it’s the same mindset we hear most days.
What Will Burn is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
After a three month suspension and a demotion to DI Tony returns to work and is asked to investigate a strange case, 90 year old Cecily Slater has been found burned to death in her remote gamekeeper’s cottage. The more the team investigate the more they realise that there is much more to Cecily Slater than first appears and more to her murder than a simple attack and she’s not the last death the team will be investigating.
I thoroughly enjoyed What Will Burn, which is an engrossing read with an unusual plot line. Quite often in this series there is a hint of the supernatural that can be rationalised away but this is unambiguous. I’m not normally a fan of this genre, preferring the more tangible, logical and down to earth, but this won me over with its compelling narrative and and multiple events to puzzle over. It held my attention throughout.
The novel is mostly told from Tony’s point of view with other characters chipping in as and when. This includes some puzzling flashbacks to older times, which took me a while to work out, but once I cottoned on I came to see them as inspired. It is impossible to say more without spoilers, but, believe me, this is a clever novel, mixing the past and present, the prosaic and the fantastical, all while making the reader question every new character and their motives.
It might be because I am Scottish and the novel offers familiarity but I always feel really comfortable reading this series, even when the subject matter is uncomfortable, or at least outside my comfort zone. Most of this is due to the characterisation and dialogue. This novel is no different. With the odd exception and Madame Rose the psychic springs to mind, the reader can recognise the characters as realistic and authentic. The same with the dialogue and its frequent cynicism, it’s the same mindset we hear most days.
What Will Burn is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 17, 2021
Whoop! Tony McLean is back with a bang. They’re all here in this 11th outing of our favourite unruly detective. After the events of the last book, Tony’s on suspension awaiting news of his fate and thus it is Acting D.S. Janie Harrison who is sent to a game-keepers cottage tucked away in the in the wooded grounds of Bairnfather Hall.
90 year old Cecily Slater has been burned to death but whether by accident or design is hard to tell. There’s little in the way of forensics and with staff shortages it’s not looking like a priority, though when it is discovered that Cecily Slater was the aunt of Lord Bairnfather, they realise that he will want to be kept abreast of the investigation.
Tony’s return to work coincides with the appointment of a new Chief Super. Gail Elmwood is smart, says all the right things and is clearly looking to get on Tony’s good side. She’s even made sure he only steps down one rank when his punishment is meted out. Now he’s back to plain D.I. and he’s more than happy that he can lose all that paperwork and get back to doing a job he loves.
When the post mortem reveals that Cecily Slater was badly hurt prior to her death, he realises that they’ve been slow to react and finding her killer is not going to be easy.
D.S. Janie Harrison, meanwhile, is attending to a bit of a rammy outside a major Edinburgh Hotel where the well-known and rather obnoxious lawyer Tommy Fielding is holding a conference on men’s rights. Women are protesting against the vile tactics used by this man in defending his clients against charges of rape and sexual assault.
That’s what’s going on on the surface. Underneath, however, there are much bigger ripples.
In a story where James Oswald employs his created universe to bring in one character we have met in his Con Fairchild series, we are also deliciously treated to Madame Rose and to a brief appearance by Jane Louise Safire, so you know that something is very definitely afoot. We also meet another intriguing character who feels more than fleeting and I have the sense that ripples from this story will continue to resonate across future books.
Cleverly interlacing past and present, Oswald draws clear parallels between what happened centuries ago and events of the present day. Atmospheric, intriguing and beautifully executed, this is Oswald on excellent form. There’s humour – not least in the visual image of Tony tootling round Edinburgh in Emma’s electric car and quite a lot of wry observation. We celebrate the reappearance of Grumpy Bob and the promotion of two women within the team. I loved seeing the character of Janie Harrison come into her own with excellent results.
As two investigations proceed in parallel and more deaths occur, it becomes clear that they are all related. But what the connection is and how their macabre deaths occurred is something that will require more than an obvious police approach. Oswald has written some excellent strong voices into this book, many of them women and while they’re not all likeable, that strength underpins the ripples of ‘otherness’ that permeate this book, drawing you into to a perfectly understandable and acceptable alternative version of what’s going on. The forces of good v evil are at work here, even though it’s not always obvious quite who is good and who is evil.
As Madame Rose tells Tony; “It annoys you when I speak of dark forces and the balance of things. It is out of kilter all the same, though, whether you believe it or not. I fear it will be up to us to put it right. Again.”
Verdict: I hung on every word of this delicious, pacy tale. I love the sense of supernatural forces that underpin this series and I’m delighted by the characters and even more pleased to see that Janie Harrison has learnt some maverick ways from McLean which are bound to stand her in good stead for what’s to come. A splendid addition to an unmissable series.
90 year old Cecily Slater has been burned to death but whether by accident or design is hard to tell. There’s little in the way of forensics and with staff shortages it’s not looking like a priority, though when it is discovered that Cecily Slater was the aunt of Lord Bairnfather, they realise that he will want to be kept abreast of the investigation.
Tony’s return to work coincides with the appointment of a new Chief Super. Gail Elmwood is smart, says all the right things and is clearly looking to get on Tony’s good side. She’s even made sure he only steps down one rank when his punishment is meted out. Now he’s back to plain D.I. and he’s more than happy that he can lose all that paperwork and get back to doing a job he loves.
When the post mortem reveals that Cecily Slater was badly hurt prior to her death, he realises that they’ve been slow to react and finding her killer is not going to be easy.
D.S. Janie Harrison, meanwhile, is attending to a bit of a rammy outside a major Edinburgh Hotel where the well-known and rather obnoxious lawyer Tommy Fielding is holding a conference on men’s rights. Women are protesting against the vile tactics used by this man in defending his clients against charges of rape and sexual assault.
That’s what’s going on on the surface. Underneath, however, there are much bigger ripples.
In a story where James Oswald employs his created universe to bring in one character we have met in his Con Fairchild series, we are also deliciously treated to Madame Rose and to a brief appearance by Jane Louise Safire, so you know that something is very definitely afoot. We also meet another intriguing character who feels more than fleeting and I have the sense that ripples from this story will continue to resonate across future books.
Cleverly interlacing past and present, Oswald draws clear parallels between what happened centuries ago and events of the present day. Atmospheric, intriguing and beautifully executed, this is Oswald on excellent form. There’s humour – not least in the visual image of Tony tootling round Edinburgh in Emma’s electric car and quite a lot of wry observation. We celebrate the reappearance of Grumpy Bob and the promotion of two women within the team. I loved seeing the character of Janie Harrison come into her own with excellent results.
As two investigations proceed in parallel and more deaths occur, it becomes clear that they are all related. But what the connection is and how their macabre deaths occurred is something that will require more than an obvious police approach. Oswald has written some excellent strong voices into this book, many of them women and while they’re not all likeable, that strength underpins the ripples of ‘otherness’ that permeate this book, drawing you into to a perfectly understandable and acceptable alternative version of what’s going on. The forces of good v evil are at work here, even though it’s not always obvious quite who is good and who is evil.
As Madame Rose tells Tony; “It annoys you when I speak of dark forces and the balance of things. It is out of kilter all the same, though, whether you believe it or not. I fear it will be up to us to put it right. Again.”
Verdict: I hung on every word of this delicious, pacy tale. I love the sense of supernatural forces that underpin this series and I’m delighted by the characters and even more pleased to see that Janie Harrison has learnt some maverick ways from McLean which are bound to stand her in good stead for what’s to come. A splendid addition to an unmissable series.
March 26, 2021
What Will Burn, the eleventh of James Oswald’s books featuring Tony McLean, sees my favourite detective back from suspension, demoted to DI, but rather pleased to be getting back to doing what he does best. There is a fly in the ointment, however, in the shape of the new Chief Superintendent, Gail Elmwood. Having intervened in Tony’s case to prevent his punishment being any more severe, she oversteps the mark in what she expects from him in return. It’s difficult to decide whether her behaviour or that of Tommy Fielding was the more disturbing.
In a cottage deep in the woods, the charred remains of Cecily Slater are found and, at first, assumed to be the result of a tragic accident. The postmortem soon puts paid to that idea; before being set on fire she had been brutally beaten. Meanwhile, Tommy Fielding QC, who habitually defends men accused of violence against women, has been holding seminars on men’s rights in an Edinburgh hotel, and preaching his particularly offensive brand of misogyny. More men die in ‘weird’ circumstances, and are handed over to Tony to investigate, but could they all be connected?
I am not normally a fan of the supernatural, but it seems perfectly plausible here, and gives the Tony McLean books a unique quality, something that makes them stand out from the crowd. In What Will Burn, James Oswald skillfully blends the historical with the contemporary, and shows how the negative attitudes of some men towards women have never really changed.
The role of women is very much at the heart of What Will Burn. James Oswald writes wonderfully convincing female characters; in fact the majority of McLean’s team are female officers, two of whom get promoted in this story, and it’s good to see Janey Harrison going from strength to strength.
Tony’s interactions with Mrs McCutcheon’s cat when he gets home late in the evening, and the scene where Cecily Slater’s cat seems to be waiting for him, bring a touch of humour that lightens the all-pervading sense of unease in What Will Burn. This series just keeps getting better, and I look forward (patiently) to reading the next one.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for a digital copy to review. #WhatWillBurn #JamesOswald
In a cottage deep in the woods, the charred remains of Cecily Slater are found and, at first, assumed to be the result of a tragic accident. The postmortem soon puts paid to that idea; before being set on fire she had been brutally beaten. Meanwhile, Tommy Fielding QC, who habitually defends men accused of violence against women, has been holding seminars on men’s rights in an Edinburgh hotel, and preaching his particularly offensive brand of misogyny. More men die in ‘weird’ circumstances, and are handed over to Tony to investigate, but could they all be connected?
I am not normally a fan of the supernatural, but it seems perfectly plausible here, and gives the Tony McLean books a unique quality, something that makes them stand out from the crowd. In What Will Burn, James Oswald skillfully blends the historical with the contemporary, and shows how the negative attitudes of some men towards women have never really changed.
The role of women is very much at the heart of What Will Burn. James Oswald writes wonderfully convincing female characters; in fact the majority of McLean’s team are female officers, two of whom get promoted in this story, and it’s good to see Janey Harrison going from strength to strength.
Tony’s interactions with Mrs McCutcheon’s cat when he gets home late in the evening, and the scene where Cecily Slater’s cat seems to be waiting for him, bring a touch of humour that lightens the all-pervading sense of unease in What Will Burn. This series just keeps getting better, and I look forward (patiently) to reading the next one.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for a digital copy to review. #WhatWillBurn #JamesOswald
March 27, 2021
Another great entry in Oswald’s Tony McLean series — a police procedural that contains a touch of the supernatural. Good writing, interesting characters, and an engaging, if predictable, plot line. It was so much fun that I completed the book within 24 hours, stopping only to rest my aging eyes and feed my cats. I liked the fact that DS Janie Harrison is playing a larger role now, and that both main villains — Tommy Fielding and Chief Superintendent Gail Elmwood — received their comeuppances at the end. I also loved that, in a story that was primarily about how men mistreat women, the tables were turned, with Tony squirming under the not-so-subtle touches and innuendos from his superior officer, Gail Elmwood. Some sly humour there.
Finally, Mrs. McCutcheon’s cat now has a companion.
The Interludes about the treatment of witches during the 16th century were illuminating, although not for the squeamish.
I have followed this series from the beginning and am glad that now I can download the newest books on my Kindle instead of waiting six to eight weeks for them to be shipped from the UK. I did notice that the Kindle version is available in Canada but not in the US. This is unusual as generally books are available in both countries simultaneously.
Finally, Mrs. McCutcheon’s cat now has a companion.
The Interludes about the treatment of witches during the 16th century were illuminating, although not for the squeamish.
I have followed this series from the beginning and am glad that now I can download the newest books on my Kindle instead of waiting six to eight weeks for them to be shipped from the UK. I did notice that the Kindle version is available in Canada but not in the US. This is unusual as generally books are available in both countries simultaneously.
April 22, 2021
It takes a good story for me to tolerate the hocus pocus of McClean's travails. It has been a while since I read the previous in the series, but I found myself immersed in the familiar characters incredibly quickly.
Despite McLean being male, this is ostensibly, a novel about women, both in and outside of Police Scotland. The plotlines similarly weave through two story strands. One insidious and ambition driven, the other following through the workings of an extreme misogynist who grooms a group of similar men to foment their anger.
I wished that McLean hadn't been given the line "I don't believe in coincidences" quite so often through the story, I got it the first time! But that is small criticism from such an absorbing, another absorbing read
Despite McLean being male, this is ostensibly, a novel about women, both in and outside of Police Scotland. The plotlines similarly weave through two story strands. One insidious and ambition driven, the other following through the workings of an extreme misogynist who grooms a group of similar men to foment their anger.
I wished that McLean hadn't been given the line "I don't believe in coincidences" quite so often through the story, I got it the first time! But that is small criticism from such an absorbing, another absorbing read
January 24, 2022
There is nothing not to love about a Tony McLean novel. Excellent plot, just the right amount of juju that we’ve come to expect and a cracking story with great characters. This was an unexpected treat as I assumed I’d read it in hardback….but no, so I’ve sorted that and won’t be making the same mistake when the next Constance comes out in paperback.
I cannot recommend this series highly enough. Consistently good and consistently entertaining.
I cannot recommend this series highly enough. Consistently good and consistently entertaining.
February 18, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ gore score 2/5
I really enjoyed the book.
#11 in the Inspector McLean series.
I have only read one other in the series. It reads well as a stand a lone, there are references to previous enquiries but nothing that left me feeling that I’d missed out on something important.
The first chapter really intrigued me and got me dangling on the hook.
DI McLean is back with a newly promoted acting DS Harrison to investigaute a burned elderly woman’s corpse is found in a remote location.
There’s a good serving of the supernatural which adds loads of interest for me.
I like the little quips of humour throughout.
Fav quote ’Do you know what Pro Bono means...... Isn’t he the singer in the old Irish band’
It tickled me the way Tony acquired another cat.
There’s enough Scottish dialect to ground it to the location, but not enough to make reading hard work.
I like the character of Janie Harrison, she is likeable and compassionate. McLean comes over as a tough nut, but he has a softer side.
It’s a long book at 432 pages , it has a good steady pace although a bit slow between 60-70%.
I found the first half of the book held my attention far more than the second, although this might have more to do with me not managing to get in concentrated reading sessions in the later part of the book. I liked the ending.
I really enjoyed the book.
#11 in the Inspector McLean series.
I have only read one other in the series. It reads well as a stand a lone, there are references to previous enquiries but nothing that left me feeling that I’d missed out on something important.
The first chapter really intrigued me and got me dangling on the hook.
DI McLean is back with a newly promoted acting DS Harrison to investigaute a burned elderly woman’s corpse is found in a remote location.
There’s a good serving of the supernatural which adds loads of interest for me.
I like the little quips of humour throughout.
Fav quote ’Do you know what Pro Bono means...... Isn’t he the singer in the old Irish band’
It tickled me the way Tony acquired another cat.
There’s enough Scottish dialect to ground it to the location, but not enough to make reading hard work.
I like the character of Janie Harrison, she is likeable and compassionate. McLean comes over as a tough nut, but he has a softer side.
It’s a long book at 432 pages , it has a good steady pace although a bit slow between 60-70%.
I found the first half of the book held my attention far more than the second, although this might have more to do with me not managing to get in concentrated reading sessions in the later part of the book. I liked the ending.
November 5, 2021
My favorite of the series, this latest Inspector McLean book was mesmerizing, and the story moved swiftly and in such a fascinating direction. Especially welcome was more Madame Rose, one of my favorite characters. This series is one of my all-time favorites, I hope there are more Inspector McLean stories yet to come.
June 10, 2022
From the first outing for Inspector McLean this series has been one of my favourites. I love the mix of crime and the supernatural, lightened by touches of humour.
The eleventh book in the series, What Will Burn, is no exception. The writing is just so good, the characters are well developed, and I love the Edinburgh setting.
Highly recommended.
The eleventh book in the series, What Will Burn, is no exception. The writing is just so good, the characters are well developed, and I love the Edinburgh setting.
Highly recommended.
December 11, 2020
I must say I started reading this as soon as I got it as I am a big fan of this series. McLean is a good character (as are his friends) although the stories can be odd and dark at times. This book didn't disappoint - kept me guessing to the end. A really well told story that pulls you in. Thank you for the ARC
March 7, 2021
I love this series, it goes from strength to strength and I particularly love the magical elements to the crimes. DS McLean is back to solving crimes after his ill fated stint as a manager and the gang is back in action. Great stuff.
December 29, 2021
4+ stars
September 17, 2024
Tony McLean is returned to duty following suspension caused by the great and good and money did not like his tactics in the last case, he is demoted to Detective Inspector. A new Chief Superintendent coming north from London's Metropolitan Police. Falling straight back into a case of a 90-year-old reclusive woman who is found badly beaten and her house set on fire. The book starts off as a straightforward police procedural and gradually moves into the supernatural as witchcraft starts to feature. The ending was, however, inconclusive.
3 stars.
3 stars.
January 13, 2022
This series just gets better and better! And once again Oswald does not disappoint as we meet familiar faces who also seem to grow with every new instalment.
Read
January 8, 2026Ready for the group read!
March 22, 2021
First and foremost thank you to Antonia Whitton at Headline Books and of course James Oswald for an ARC copy of this fantastic book.
I absolutely love this series from James Oswald - Inspector Tony McLean is a detective with Police Scotland in Edinburgh who I stumbled across four or five years ago on audible.
Whilst these books are essentially crime fiction there is an undertone of the occult prevalent throughout, which is the particular reason I fell in love with this series.
I love the way Tony McLean is always trying to steer towards the reasonable and most plausible explanation for things that occur at his crime scenes but cannot deny that there are other things afoot in his beloved Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.
James Oswald paints a picture in your mind with his writing and I always find that I have been living inside his descriptions of Inspector McLean’s investigations - such is the calibre of his writing.
It was a pleasant surprise to note the cross over from the Constance Fairchild novels in the form of her half sister Isobel and I wonder if there may be further cross overs to come?
This instalment starts with the brutal murder of a seemingly innocent old lady who kept to herself and had no great connection to the world outside her cottage. Who would do such a thing, and in such a cruel and painful manner?
But of course that’s only the beginning of the trouble come to plague him with the cases he is dealt. With unexplained but seemingly accidental deaths popping up in quick succession, can Inspector McLean figure out what the connection is and why these people seem to be dying in very strange manners?
James Oswald has once again shown me why he is one of my 2 favourite authors. He never fails to write something that I love and think about long after I have finished the book. I have become very invested, not only in the life/career of Tony McLean but also his friends a colleagues, like Janie Harrison, Madame Rose and of course, who could forget, Mrs McCutcheon’s Cat 🐈⬛. Although Em is off in Africa helping with a mass grave dig, I feel like she is still visible within the book and of course Tony’s heart.
If you haven’t already read this series then I suggest you move all other planned books aside and get started! You won’t regret it!
“His voice wavered as the match in his fingers flickered in anticipation of greater things”
I absolutely love this series from James Oswald - Inspector Tony McLean is a detective with Police Scotland in Edinburgh who I stumbled across four or five years ago on audible.
Whilst these books are essentially crime fiction there is an undertone of the occult prevalent throughout, which is the particular reason I fell in love with this series.
I love the way Tony McLean is always trying to steer towards the reasonable and most plausible explanation for things that occur at his crime scenes but cannot deny that there are other things afoot in his beloved Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.
James Oswald paints a picture in your mind with his writing and I always find that I have been living inside his descriptions of Inspector McLean’s investigations - such is the calibre of his writing.
It was a pleasant surprise to note the cross over from the Constance Fairchild novels in the form of her half sister Isobel and I wonder if there may be further cross overs to come?
This instalment starts with the brutal murder of a seemingly innocent old lady who kept to herself and had no great connection to the world outside her cottage. Who would do such a thing, and in such a cruel and painful manner?
But of course that’s only the beginning of the trouble come to plague him with the cases he is dealt. With unexplained but seemingly accidental deaths popping up in quick succession, can Inspector McLean figure out what the connection is and why these people seem to be dying in very strange manners?
James Oswald has once again shown me why he is one of my 2 favourite authors. He never fails to write something that I love and think about long after I have finished the book. I have become very invested, not only in the life/career of Tony McLean but also his friends a colleagues, like Janie Harrison, Madame Rose and of course, who could forget, Mrs McCutcheon’s Cat 🐈⬛. Although Em is off in Africa helping with a mass grave dig, I feel like she is still visible within the book and of course Tony’s heart.
If you haven’t already read this series then I suggest you move all other planned books aside and get started! You won’t regret it!
“His voice wavered as the match in his fingers flickered in anticipation of greater things”
May 24, 2021
What Will Burn is the latest (book 11) in the Edinburgh based Inspector McLean series. I started reading these last March when Lockdown kicked in and it's fair to say they were a big part of what got me through it. When I was asked if I would like to review an early copy of the new one it was a bit of a no-brainer really. So here we are. . .
WWB begins with an old woman burned to death in an old Game Keeper's cottage in the woods. As McLean is suspended after his last case it is left to DC Janie Harrison to investigate but the crime scene is already a week old.
By the time McLean is back on the job, busted back down to Di there is already plenty of other stuff going on, not least of which is a women's protest at a conference for men's rights in the city being run by the repugnant lawyer Tommy Fielding.
As is often the case in this series there are supernatural overtones and with links to historical witchcraft cases and more weird and mysterious deaths that soon comes to the forefront.
What I like about this series is that McLean is not your regular 'troubled maverick' copper. Yes, he's got issues with some of the staff but then, who hasn't. He does seem happier having been demoted and if I'm being honest I'm kinda glad he has been too - it's more chance for him to get into the nuts and bolts of the case without having to make excuses to do so.
As always there are the occasional characters that pop up (I'm looking at you Madame Rose, psychic and cat collector) and there is a crossover from Oswald's other crime series as well (I guess paying back the favour from when Madame Rose popped up in that one). McLean's partner Emma is away with work which probably gives them both a bit of much needed space but he has Mrs McCutcheon's Cat for company (one of my favourite characters)
The supernatural element doesn't make this veer away from what it is at heart - a good solid piece of Crime Fiction in a series I would say is one of the best out there today
Very Highly Recommended
WWB begins with an old woman burned to death in an old Game Keeper's cottage in the woods. As McLean is suspended after his last case it is left to DC Janie Harrison to investigate but the crime scene is already a week old.
By the time McLean is back on the job, busted back down to Di there is already plenty of other stuff going on, not least of which is a women's protest at a conference for men's rights in the city being run by the repugnant lawyer Tommy Fielding.
As is often the case in this series there are supernatural overtones and with links to historical witchcraft cases and more weird and mysterious deaths that soon comes to the forefront.
What I like about this series is that McLean is not your regular 'troubled maverick' copper. Yes, he's got issues with some of the staff but then, who hasn't. He does seem happier having been demoted and if I'm being honest I'm kinda glad he has been too - it's more chance for him to get into the nuts and bolts of the case without having to make excuses to do so.
As always there are the occasional characters that pop up (I'm looking at you Madame Rose, psychic and cat collector) and there is a crossover from Oswald's other crime series as well (I guess paying back the favour from when Madame Rose popped up in that one). McLean's partner Emma is away with work which probably gives them both a bit of much needed space but he has Mrs McCutcheon's Cat for company (one of my favourite characters)
The supernatural element doesn't make this veer away from what it is at heart - a good solid piece of Crime Fiction in a series I would say is one of the best out there today
Very Highly Recommended
February 20, 2021
My thanks to Headline/Wildlife for granting my wish for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘What Will Burn’ by James Oswald in exchange for an honest review. As I began reading on publication day, I bought its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Ian Hanmore, for an immersive reading experience.
This is the eleventh in Oswald’s acclaimed Inspector McLean series of police procedurals set in Edinburgh. The books are always structured so that they can be read as stand-alones. In order to avoid spoilers I won’t say too much about the plot.
Detective Inspector Tony McLean has just returned from a three month suspension and has been demoted, something that actually suits him. He also has a new boss, Chief Superintendent Gail Elmwood, formerly with the Met. She quickly begins to shake things up in the department.
When the charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned-out game-keepers cottage, on an estate to the west of Edinburgh, it is quickly evident that it was not an accidental fire. McLean also doesn’t believe that this was a case of arson, especially when it is apparent that there is far more to the victim’s situation than her humble surroundings first suggested. Yet this is only the first in a string of deaths with ritualistic overtones that Tony and his team investigate.
I have been a huge fan of this series from its start and feel that it continues to be one of the best examples of Tartan Noir available. In addition, I have always appreciated Oswald’s understated inclusion of elements of the supernatural in his plots.
It was good to see an appearance by Madame Rose, the enigmatic antiquarian bookseller and medium, along with Isabel ‘Izzy’ DeVilliers, who was introduced in Oswald’s crossover Constance Fairchild series.
Overall, this proved a highly engaging police procedural and another great addition to this fascinating series. Now comes the wait for Book 12!
This is the eleventh in Oswald’s acclaimed Inspector McLean series of police procedurals set in Edinburgh. The books are always structured so that they can be read as stand-alones. In order to avoid spoilers I won’t say too much about the plot.
Detective Inspector Tony McLean has just returned from a three month suspension and has been demoted, something that actually suits him. He also has a new boss, Chief Superintendent Gail Elmwood, formerly with the Met. She quickly begins to shake things up in the department.
When the charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned-out game-keepers cottage, on an estate to the west of Edinburgh, it is quickly evident that it was not an accidental fire. McLean also doesn’t believe that this was a case of arson, especially when it is apparent that there is far more to the victim’s situation than her humble surroundings first suggested. Yet this is only the first in a string of deaths with ritualistic overtones that Tony and his team investigate.
I have been a huge fan of this series from its start and feel that it continues to be one of the best examples of Tartan Noir available. In addition, I have always appreciated Oswald’s understated inclusion of elements of the supernatural in his plots.
It was good to see an appearance by Madame Rose, the enigmatic antiquarian bookseller and medium, along with Isabel ‘Izzy’ DeVilliers, who was introduced in Oswald’s crossover Constance Fairchild series.
Overall, this proved a highly engaging police procedural and another great addition to this fascinating series. Now comes the wait for Book 12!
October 3, 2021
DNF at 35%
There was too much dialogue and time in offices it just got tedious and boring. There were some interesting parts though, in particular the broom being “light” for the female. I would have loved to see where that goes, I think its such a cool concept that every woman was a slight bit of “witch” or magic in them.
Disappointed it was too weighed down to finish.
There was too much dialogue and time in offices it just got tedious and boring. There were some interesting parts though, in particular the broom being “light” for the female. I would have loved to see where that goes, I think its such a cool concept that every woman was a slight bit of “witch” or magic in them.
Disappointed it was too weighed down to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2021
If you have read any of the previous Inspector McLean novels at all the you will know that this is no ordinary Detective fiction. On a basic level, yes, this is a story of a police investigation into a potential murder. Or potentially an accidental fire. As readers we know the truth as we are cast as the voyuer when the event occurs, but for the police it is not quite so obvious or straightforward. At least not in the beginning. But the thing is, when it comes to a case that is going to reside with the Specialist Crime Division in Edinburgh (think CID with a PR spin), particularly anything that ends up on the desk of Detective Inspector Tony McLean, there really is no such thing as a straightforward death. To quote the character's themselves, everything is always just a little 'weird'.
Now I don't want to give any spoilers for the story, and the main premise of it will be apparent very early on in the book, believe me, but it is fair to say that James Oswald's novels always have an element of the otherworldly or supernatural about them, and this one is no different. Readers are treat to not just one 'weird' death but several, all of which made me smile. The manner of dispatch is certainly original, and whilst the act of murder is kept largely of the page, at least after the opening scenes, there is no doubting what has happened and why each of the victims was a target.
I love that this series gives us such a broad range of characters. From the colourful and larger than life Madame Rose, whose presence in a novel almost always precedes something a little out of the ordinary, through to McLean's police colleagues (Grumpy Bob is back - love Grumpy Bob!), we are always faced with people we can root for and people who we (I) would cheerfully throttle. This time we are faced with two very different but equally predatory characters who will make your blood boil. One is on the side of good (allegedly) but whose ambition, flirtation and seniority put McLean in a very difficult position. The other is most definitely on the side of wrong, a misogynistic and vile character who I struggled to find one redeeming quality in at all. But both were compelling to read about for different, but ultimately more or less the same, reasons. And not only are we faced with these two, for want of a better term, bullies, but we also meet some faces from the past, the return of at least one of which nearly always spells bad news for McLean. I love that the author has chosen to keep his two police series largely apart but still within the same worlds meaning that characters are able to traverse the two series. Not our two protagonists, but certainly those who inhabit their lives.
One of the key aspects of this book which I really liked, and given the nature of the backstory it makes perfect sense, was seeing Janie Harrison really beginning to take centre stage. This is a story which very much has the role of women, both historically and in the here and now, professionally and otherwise, at its heart. Harrison is someone who has grown immensely as a character over the course of the past few books and changes at the top give her the opportunity to prove her worth in an acting DS role. There are elements of the story, especially the ending, that made me wonder just how we may see this, and Harrison's character, develop moving forward. There is certainly the promise of more, and that is what I love about this series. The fact that whilst we are treated to a solid and intriguing police investigation, the drama, the tension, the pitch perfect pacing, there is always that 'other' layer on top. The sense that there is something more than most of the characters will accept and understand, no matter how much of the 'weird' they see whilst working for McLean. And there is always plenty of the 'weird'.
When my sister reads this book she will understand why it made me smile so much. Why it ticked the boxes for me and why I most definitely think that my mother would have approved. It would have made her chuckle too. I can't say exactly why this hit the spot without leaving what I think would be a bit of a spoiler, but if you read the book carefully you will understand the subtext and how this book is still as strong a social commentary as any of its predecessors, in a way which engaged me and gave me exactly the kind of entertaining escapism I needed.
Now I don't want to give any spoilers for the story, and the main premise of it will be apparent very early on in the book, believe me, but it is fair to say that James Oswald's novels always have an element of the otherworldly or supernatural about them, and this one is no different. Readers are treat to not just one 'weird' death but several, all of which made me smile. The manner of dispatch is certainly original, and whilst the act of murder is kept largely of the page, at least after the opening scenes, there is no doubting what has happened and why each of the victims was a target.
I love that this series gives us such a broad range of characters. From the colourful and larger than life Madame Rose, whose presence in a novel almost always precedes something a little out of the ordinary, through to McLean's police colleagues (Grumpy Bob is back - love Grumpy Bob!), we are always faced with people we can root for and people who we (I) would cheerfully throttle. This time we are faced with two very different but equally predatory characters who will make your blood boil. One is on the side of good (allegedly) but whose ambition, flirtation and seniority put McLean in a very difficult position. The other is most definitely on the side of wrong, a misogynistic and vile character who I struggled to find one redeeming quality in at all. But both were compelling to read about for different, but ultimately more or less the same, reasons. And not only are we faced with these two, for want of a better term, bullies, but we also meet some faces from the past, the return of at least one of which nearly always spells bad news for McLean. I love that the author has chosen to keep his two police series largely apart but still within the same worlds meaning that characters are able to traverse the two series. Not our two protagonists, but certainly those who inhabit their lives.
One of the key aspects of this book which I really liked, and given the nature of the backstory it makes perfect sense, was seeing Janie Harrison really beginning to take centre stage. This is a story which very much has the role of women, both historically and in the here and now, professionally and otherwise, at its heart. Harrison is someone who has grown immensely as a character over the course of the past few books and changes at the top give her the opportunity to prove her worth in an acting DS role. There are elements of the story, especially the ending, that made me wonder just how we may see this, and Harrison's character, develop moving forward. There is certainly the promise of more, and that is what I love about this series. The fact that whilst we are treated to a solid and intriguing police investigation, the drama, the tension, the pitch perfect pacing, there is always that 'other' layer on top. The sense that there is something more than most of the characters will accept and understand, no matter how much of the 'weird' they see whilst working for McLean. And there is always plenty of the 'weird'.
When my sister reads this book she will understand why it made me smile so much. Why it ticked the boxes for me and why I most definitely think that my mother would have approved. It would have made her chuckle too. I can't say exactly why this hit the spot without leaving what I think would be a bit of a spoiler, but if you read the book carefully you will understand the subtext and how this book is still as strong a social commentary as any of its predecessors, in a way which engaged me and gave me exactly the kind of entertaining escapism I needed.
March 10, 2021
A very strong instalment in the brilliant Inspector McLean series. Once again, Oswald gets the combination of Tartan Noir and supernatural thriller spot on.
Following the events of ‘Bury Them Deep’, McLean has been suspended from the force. In his absence, Detective Constable Harrison has seen her workload increase, and resources spread thinly across a number of cases that deserve their full attention.
One of these cases is the death of Lady Cecily Slater. On the face of it, a simple cut-and-dry case of a 90 year-old recluse dying in a tragic house fire, when her former game keepers cottage is set ablaze. However, as Slater is the aunt of the current Lord Bairnfather, Harrison is charged with making sure the death is investigated thoroughly. It quickly becomes apparent that their may be more to this death than meets the eye, something that wouldn’t have been missed without the cuts to forensics and staff numbers.
McLean is reinstated to the force shorty after this, and his return coincides with a new Chief Superintendent. Gail Elmwood is everything that McLean is not: slick, political and ambitious. It becomes apparent that she was behind Tony’s swift return to policing, and she expects payment for this favour.
Alongside all of this, Men’s-rights lawyer/Incel icon; Tommy Fielding, is radicalising disillusioned young men, who have-rightly or wrongly-felt the full brunt of the legal system. His growing support has seen demand to attend his seminars increase, but has also seen opposition from numerous parties. When the protests come to a head, it isn’t long before Harrison and McLean cross paths with Fielding. It quickly becomes evident that Fielding’s increased public profile, the arrival of the new Chief Super, and the death of Cecily Slater might not be entirely unrelated...
I thoroughly loved this book. With McLean’s demotion back to Detective Inspector, Tony has gotten back to what he does best-solving crimes, and ruffling the feathers of those in power. While the supernatural elements aren’t as evident in this story as in previous instalments, there is still a lot of murky evil for Tony to tangle with. Villains old and new show their faces, and remind us, as well as McLean, that he still has quite the battle on his hands, if he wants to keep this brand of esoteric crime under control.
The increased presence of Janie Harrison in this instalment was also very welcome. She has been a great character since being introduced in the McLean series, and expanded on in the Constance Fairchild books. With the increasing crossover between the two series-especially noticeable here-you can only hope that her profile will continue to grow.
In concluding, it feels like my annual dip into the world of McLean is over all-too-quickly. Hopefully there’ll be another Constance Fairchild book this year to tide me over. If not, I can’t wait for the next McLean instalment!
Following the events of ‘Bury Them Deep’, McLean has been suspended from the force. In his absence, Detective Constable Harrison has seen her workload increase, and resources spread thinly across a number of cases that deserve their full attention.
One of these cases is the death of Lady Cecily Slater. On the face of it, a simple cut-and-dry case of a 90 year-old recluse dying in a tragic house fire, when her former game keepers cottage is set ablaze. However, as Slater is the aunt of the current Lord Bairnfather, Harrison is charged with making sure the death is investigated thoroughly. It quickly becomes apparent that their may be more to this death than meets the eye, something that wouldn’t have been missed without the cuts to forensics and staff numbers.
McLean is reinstated to the force shorty after this, and his return coincides with a new Chief Superintendent. Gail Elmwood is everything that McLean is not: slick, political and ambitious. It becomes apparent that she was behind Tony’s swift return to policing, and she expects payment for this favour.
Alongside all of this, Men’s-rights lawyer/Incel icon; Tommy Fielding, is radicalising disillusioned young men, who have-rightly or wrongly-felt the full brunt of the legal system. His growing support has seen demand to attend his seminars increase, but has also seen opposition from numerous parties. When the protests come to a head, it isn’t long before Harrison and McLean cross paths with Fielding. It quickly becomes evident that Fielding’s increased public profile, the arrival of the new Chief Super, and the death of Cecily Slater might not be entirely unrelated...
I thoroughly loved this book. With McLean’s demotion back to Detective Inspector, Tony has gotten back to what he does best-solving crimes, and ruffling the feathers of those in power. While the supernatural elements aren’t as evident in this story as in previous instalments, there is still a lot of murky evil for Tony to tangle with. Villains old and new show their faces, and remind us, as well as McLean, that he still has quite the battle on his hands, if he wants to keep this brand of esoteric crime under control.
The increased presence of Janie Harrison in this instalment was also very welcome. She has been a great character since being introduced in the McLean series, and expanded on in the Constance Fairchild books. With the increasing crossover between the two series-especially noticeable here-you can only hope that her profile will continue to grow.
In concluding, it feels like my annual dip into the world of McLean is over all-too-quickly. Hopefully there’ll be another Constance Fairchild book this year to tide me over. If not, I can’t wait for the next McLean instalment!
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