Mark of the Devil

Inspector Jim Carruthers #3

by Tana Collins

A murder in a remote town puts a Scottish detective on the trail of a deadly international conspiracy in this tense crime thriller.

While Det. Chief Inspector Jim Carruthers and his team are busy investigating a series of art thefts, they receive an anonymous tip about the body of a young woman on a deserted beach. The bizarre clues to the woman's murder include a strange tattoo, a set of binoculars and a slab of meat left on the cliffs.

The trail leads to a local shooting estate and its wealthy owner. Carruthers starts to wonder if the missing art, the dead woman, and the estate are all connected. And when the body of a young gamekeeper is pulled from the sea, Carruthers finds himself entering a sinister world of international crime and police corruption. On a case that extends far beyond Fife, Carruthers is out on a limb against powerful individuals who are ready to kill anyone who gets I their way.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Suspense

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2018

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark of the Devil is the third book in the Inspector Jim Caruthers. I wouldn't say it was essential to have read the first two in the series but some readers may benefit from having read them.

The story had me gripped from the off. You can't beat a discovery of a body to have you racing through those pages which is exactly what the author had me do. The whole setting as always just captures your imagination and the story very much came a live in my head.

Jim reminds me a bit of Taggart. He's a bit of a stickler and prefers his own company. He certainly comes across at times as being a grumpy old Scotsman. A very loveable one as the reader can't help but take him into their heart.

The story line certainly takes some twists and turns as I would never have envisioned what was in store for me from the beginning of the book. The case that Jim and the team find themselves working on certainly runs a lot deeper and sent shivers down my spine. 

Mark Of The Devil is yet another great read in the series. Dark, chilling and had me enthralled through out. If you haven't read any of these books yet, would highly recommend giving them a go.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of Mark of the Devil, the third police procedural to feature DI Jim Carruthers , set in the Kingdom of Fife.

Jim and his team are not getting anywhere fast with a series of art thefts when an anonymous call tells them there is a dead body at the foot of the local cliffs. Murder, suicide or accident? Even the pathologist isn't sure but everyone is sure it throws up more questions than answers.

I enjoyed Mark of the Devil which is the first novel in this series that I have read. It is suspenseful and widens out from a "simple" investigation into something much wider involving Eastern European criminal gangs and people trafficking. It is well plotted and paced with several twists and turns, some more obvious than others although it does depend on anonymous calls on a couple of occasions for momentum. The Estonian scenes seem a bit muddled and could be clearer but with Jim feeling out of his depth I guess they reflect that well.

Jim Carruthers is an interesting protagonist. He is obviously smart and motivated but seems rather detached and I didn't get a good feel for him so perhaps I should have started at the beginning of the series. Otherwise the book works well as a stand alone. The other characters are not particularly well defined either but in a plot driven novel like this it doesn't matter and the plot is good enough in this case to sustain it.

Mark of the Devil is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending. 3.5*

[Chris Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the previous books in this series I was very much looking forward to Mark Of The Devil, and I was not disappointed. DI Jim Carruthers is an interesting creation with a good back-story, and Tana Collins writes convincingly about Jim and his colleagues and about the Scottish setting. When a body is found on a beach, Carruthers becomes involved in a multi-faceted case involving art theft and sex trafficking, and he ends up travelling to Estonia! This is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to further instalments

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark of the Devil by Tana Collins
Inspector Jim Carruthers #3

Jim Carruthers was an interesting man to get a glimpse of. He is a leader but he is also a man who is independent in his thinking and actions and as part of a police team that does not always sit well with his boss. The descriptions of his team make me think they work well together with a few much more on the ball than others. I think I like Jim but at times he seems a bit less astute than he should be and that can cause him trouble of one sort or another. With murders, art theft, prostitutes, human trafficking, Russian-Estonian mafia and more to contend with this book took me on a rollercoaster ride. When the trip to Estonia took place I did wonder if that was realistic but even if it wasn’t it added a fillip of additional interest and information that made the story that little bit “more”. I enjoyed reading about Scotland and Estonia and would like to get to know Jim and his team better. I am actually wondering how the new DCI and Jim will get along and how his chief will grow as the series progresses.

If you are looking for a police procedural with mystery, murder and interesting happenings then this just might be the book for you. I can honestly say that coming into the series on the third book was not a problem as the story stands quite well on its own. That said, given a chance I would gladly read the previous books in the series to find out more about why Jim was demoted and what his other cases were.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the DI Jim Carruthers series.
In this story, we have art theft, murder and trafficking! Lots going on for Jim and his team to investigate, with Jim ending up in Estonia to try and solve these cases. We also get some interesting history about Estonia in this book too. As this series progresses, we are seeing more of how the team all work together and getting to know them all a little bit more.
I highly recommend this book and the series.

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy publication day! What a brilliant series, I have been lucky enough to read all the books so far and they just get better and better. This is the best one yet! Loved it.

Mark of the Devil is book three in the Inspector Jim Carruthers series and is best read in order as it does makes references to previous books in the series. 3 different cases to solve… But do they all link together? Will Carruthers solve them all in time.

A very fast paced read. It was lovely to be back with the familiar characters and team. I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to the next book already. A perfect series I would recommend to you all. Well written with a clever plot! Addictive. Can easily be devoured in one sitting. Another well deserved five stars.

[Livia Sbarbaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carruthers is back.....whoop whoop

DI Jim Carruthers and DS Andrea Fletcher have their work cut out for them...Whilst investigating a series of art thefts...a body of a young woman is found after an anonymous phone call...This leads them to an estate run by a chap Carruthers takes an immediate dislike to...the thing is Chapman has connections with the local golf club also with Carruthers boss...Then when someone dissapears..the case begins to take an even darker turning...To catch a devil though...you sometimes need to go right into the circle of hell...and Carruthers is soon on a plane...but before the end game there will be betrayal, murder...and Carruthers life may be in danger....but who can he trust...and will be make the connections? I raced through the pages...I loved how Fletcher is thinking ahead....how Carruthers though not a team player...is always one step ahead of the game...This authoress is one to watch out for.....Can't wait to see what happens next ...All the stars ....Loved it..

[Alexina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having previously enjoyed Tana’s Carruthers series, I was looking forward to delving in to this read. It can be read as a stand-alone.

A fabulous title, with an intense and gripping first chapter that peaked my interest and inquisitive mind.

I do love a novel that starts with a dead body - I know a bit grim, but it hooks me in every single time, tapping in to my inner sleuth.

This was very much a mystery that I wanted to be in on, with extremely current undertones, and mentions of Brexit and people trafficking.

I really felt I got to know the team more in Mark of the Devil, although Collins does give us a cracking plot driven novel rather than full on police procedural, which I personally love.

if you enjoy well-paced and twisted plotlines, set within a great placement as a backdrop character this is definitely the book/series for you.

I highly recommend you read Mark of the Devil.
#markofthedevil #Netgalley #bloodhoundbooks

Thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy, all thoughts in my review are my own.

[Kitty · Rating 1 out of 5]

kuulge, asi ei saa olla ainult minu vastumeelsuses krimi ja põnevike kui žanri suhtes. see on ikka objektiivselt päris halvasti kirjutatud raamat.

see teos võiks huvi pakkuda kellelegi, kes ei ole oma krimka usutavuse ega huvitavuse suhtes eriti nõudlik (peaasi, et oleks mõni surnud naine ja mõni suhteprobleemidega detektiiv ja kuskil natuke korrumpeerunud politseinikke ja kuskil taustal hirmus idaeuroopa maffia) ja kes tahab hirmsasti näha, kuidas šoti kirjanik tuleb toime suures osas Eestis ja eestlaste osalusel toimuva loo kirjutamisega. spoiler: halvasti! lipp lipi peal, lapp lapi peal, traagelniidid paistavad kaugele välja.

tundub, nagu oleks mingis versioonis kogu lugu toimunud üheksakümnendatel, aga siis tõstetud ümber kuskile 2016. aasta kanti. kahjuks jäid tõstmisel maha nii kogu Tallinna kirjeldus (jaa, Viru hotell on linna kõrgeim pilvelõhkuja!) kui näiteks peategelasest detektiiv, kes ei kasutanud oma töös kunagi internetti.

see detektiiv oli muidugi üldse idioot. ei, kogu see raamat oli täiega lollakas.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark of The Devil is the third in the Jim Carruthers series, but it is the first that I have read. It can easily be read as a standalone and I didn't feel that I has missed out on anything by not reading books one and two.

What a hook to kick off the novel. The discovery of a woman's body at the bottom of the cliffs; slabs of raw meat placed along the top. Add to the mix the theft of some extremely valuable paintings and you might be forgiven for thinking how the hell is the author going to tie all this together? But tie them together she did, right into a neatly packaged, action packed and heart racing 280 pages of brilliance! Part police procedural, part thriller "Mark of the Devil" contains it all from Brexit to people trafficking taking the reader on a journey from a not so very quiet village in Fife to Estonia. It just never let up from the start to finish!

DI Jim Carruthers is the protagonist of the series; he clearly has some baggage from his wife leaving him and his demotion from DSI. In some respects he struck me as slightly old-fashioned in his manner while at the same time there is definitely a little bit of the maverick about him! He is certainly a very observant man, noticing things like a colleagues haircut to the clothes they were wearing. I couldn't work out if this was endearing or irritating but I certainly enjoyed getting inside of his head!

The rest of the police team,  strong-willed DS Andrea Fletcher and DS Gayle Watson alongside the slightly slothlike and traditionalist DS Harris made for an interesting combination. There is obviously a bit of a back story to this trio and while I didn't need to know it all for this book it certainly piqued my interest and made me want to find out more! Carruthers' relationship with his superior, Bingham was also explored and it became clear that there have been some difficulties along the way with this partnership and I certainly ended up with a slightly different view of Bingham than I started with by the time I finished the book.

A fast paced, cleverly plotted novel with enough action and police work to keep the armchair detectives amongst us happy. A great sense of place, especially the references to the Viru Hotel in Tallinn in Estonia, giving no spoilers away but I was straight onto Mr Google to check for accuracy and what a fascinating story which gave the novel that added extra edge!

[Kaisha (The Writing Garnet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com

Ohmygoodnessme this book made me tired! Why? Because I was on tenterhooks all the way through, feeling as though I was hanging from a rollercoaster ride upside down! 'Mark of the Devil' is full to the brim with excitement, grit, intensity, as well as a graveyard full of death.

A young woman with an outlandish tattoo was found dead. No identification with her. Half of a missing face thanks to the local wildlife. And that tattoo. A lot of people have tattoo's so why was that one any different? Someone must know what it means, right?

Carruthers now has to get to the bottom of an unexplained death, as well as trying to find the art thief. Are they both linked? Carruthers is determined to find out, even if that means travelling outside of his comfort zone. Literally.

It's not often I say this, but, I could read 'Mark of the Devil' over and over again, and still find something new to be shocked about. With such a complex storyline taking the lead in this book, Tana Collins ensured that her characters weren't going to be hiding in the background by making their personalities extremely colourful so that they were on par with the strong storyline. Even though I had a couple of the characters cards marked early on, I still couldn't put all of my eggs in one basket and say that they were involved for definite - there was a lot more to this book than someone pinching some art and a woman losing her life, that's for sure!

I must admit that Carruthers' boss made me frown on more than one occasion. I couldn't quite work out why a big boss in a police station, refused to keep his eyes and ears open and listen to his team. Pot kettle black sprang to mind!!

'Mark of the Devil' just kept on giving with every page I turned. The pace was on fire, the characters played their parts well, and the author, well, she has written such a cleverly crafted novel which left me wanting more! As soon as I finished the book I was having withdrawal symptoms, that's how much I loved this book. It was dark, severely twisted and incredibly memorable - I cannot wait to read more from this author as her books are out-flipping-standing.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for the eARC.
This third in the D. I. Jim Carruthers series was a great read. I particularly enjoyed his trip to Estonia, a country I knew very little about. After this book and Google I now know a heck of a lot more and would love to visit.
As if the theft of valuable paintings in and around Fife isn't enough to keep the team busy, the body of a young woman is found on the beach ... whether or not she was pushed or committed suicide is still a mystery. A peculiar tattoo on her ankle proves to be the 'brand' of a vicious gangster from Estonia, so it's assumed she may have been one of his prostitutes. She was also pregnant. Near her were pieces of poisoned meat, probably placed there to kill birds of prey.
The meat leads them to question the owner of a large shooting estate, Barry Cuthbert. Caruthers has the feeling all three cases are linked and after sneaking onto the estate during a party, sees a helicopter landing with the likely gangster and a group of scantily clad girls, confirming his suspicions.
After contacting the Estonian Police in Tallinn, he ends up flying there to try to bring an end to the group of the Estonian Mafia. They're a huge problem in Estonia and now they are obviously making inroads into Scotland, smuggling girls, drugs and most probably also stealing art.
His time in Talinn is very exciting and interesting, making for a good ending and a nice setup for the next in the series. I'm looking forward to that and excited to have found another Scottish author to add to my list of favourite.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young gamekeeper finds a body beneath a cliff. He relates this information to his boss nearby, only to be told to leave it be. The activity that they are engaged in is illegal and they must not be caught. Meanwhile, DI Jim Carruthers is in the mist of multiple art heists. The only common denominator is that all the victims belong to the same wealthy golf club. An anonymous caller notifies the police of the body near the cliff. When Carruthers and his team arrive at the location the body is that of a young woman with a unique tattoo on her ankle. At first it appears that she either fell accidently or successfully attempted suicide. Binoculars and a cigarette butt are found near the cliff; did they belong to the woman? Also found was a slab of meat on a rocky point which Carruthers thinks might have to do with illegal poisoning birds of prey. Are the death and the illegal activity related somehow? The pathologist Dr. Mackie believes the dead woman to be on Eastern European nationality. So why was she in Scotland? The woman’s likeness is published in the local paper; maybe someone can identity her. Someone does call. Now Carruthers has a name and a possible connection to Estonia. Little did Carruthers know what a dangerous international adventure he was in for. If you like spies, secrets, intrigue, and a really great mystery you are going to love this book. I highly recommend you read “Care To Die” first in order to gain a better understanding of the juicy characters and the mystic land of Scotland.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art thefts, murder on the beach and the poison of birds what they have in common.
First I know nothing about Scotland so I was very confuse about where this plot was taking Fife or Castletown, maybe it was because I read the 3 book only?
The half part is very slow just running in circles about the same thing like: who is stealing this pictures and why the girl has that tatoo? What that means?
The author did a good job writing how the police works and their few resources. In this book there is a lot of meetings that just add nothing to resolve the crimes. There is a little bickering btw the cops. That show us who likes their own works or not.
We have a suspect that his name Barry Cuthbert and Jim Carruthers make cross my eyes because I was trainding the name of one and the another. The villain is ok like all the just want to save his won ass.
That where the other goes downhill because suddenly there is a new plot conspiration and just want to Jim to comeback to his country. Its goes and yet does not have a good development.
First book that the lives of the cops are a huge deal yeah they have their problems but what really matters is resolving the crimes.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, and although it's not necessary to have read the previous ones to understand what's going on it might help to fully grasp the main character.

Jim Carruthers is a great character, and the story is entertaining and with enough twist and turns to keep you guessing until the end.

An art theft case becomes a sex trafficking case, and the action moves from Scotland to Estonia. Lots of fast-paced action from the very beginning and a clever end makes this an enjoyable book.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, and although it's not necessary to have read the previous ones to understand what's going on it might help to fully grasp the main character.

Jim Carruthers is a great character, and the story is entertaining and with enough twist and turns to keep you guessing until the end.

An art theft case becomes a sex trafficking case, and the action moves from Scotland to Estonia. Lots of fast-paced action from the very beginning and a clever end makes this an enjoyable book.

[Myreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately attracted by the cover of this book and its catchphrase: "vengeful killers, innocent victims and a determined detective"

It all starts when Jim Carruthers and his team who are on a theft investigation of works of art are called for a murder on a deserted beach. They struggle to find the identity of the victim. They will wonder if their investigation of the robberies and the mysterious young woman are unrelated.

A captivating story, I immediately hooked on the story Haste read the previous and next books.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a 4 star from me! Tana Collins just keeps delivering with this series. This is the third book to feature DI Jim Carruthers and there is some very good character development in this book. Set in Scotland, Carruthers and his team investigate a body on cliffs and a series of art thefts. How are they linked to an Estonian gang? With murder, art theft, prostitution and people smuggling and a clever plot, this book is worthy of 4 stars. Check out the Hotel Viru in Tallinn, Estonia for added historical interest! Thank you Net Galley for my copy.

[Liz Mistry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so you start with one crime, followed by another seemingly completely disparate crime which then link up . Throw in a curmudgeonly Jim Carruthers, a flawed but endearing Andie and a complexity of plot that is artfully managed and you have all the ingredients for a grand read. The fact that its set in Fife is just an added bonus. this is book three, but i'd start at book 1 and work your way through, Five stars from me .

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written crime series

Interesting, well written and well paced third book in this series. I'm enjoying very much the crime story and also the characters personal stories intertwined with it. Will definitely be looking forward to the next one!

[Kate McIlwraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner of a book.Love the way the author teases out snippets of information which keeps the reader turning the pages to find out more. Highlighting real and important issues as well. Love the characters especially Carruthers and his easy working relationship with Fletcher
Worth of 5🌟

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Jim Carruthers and I enjoyed it as much if not more than the previous 2. This book involves people trafficking, sex slaves and art theft. Love the characters. It was an easy book to read, flowing really well. Highly recommended.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a readable and fun crime thriller that covers important international issues in a sensitive manner, with interesting characters.

3.5/5

[Craig Gillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third book in the series and I’ve loved them all. The characters are brilliant with great personalities and the storyline is clever and well worked out

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Mark K.Astley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my third read in the Inspector Carruthers series. Pretty average plot, with stilted and expositional dialogue. I don't think I've found a replacement for Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus.

[Elizabeth Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this series!

[Amanda Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book by Tana Collins that I have read but she is on my radar now and will certainly read others.
A body is discovered on a beach, did she jump or was she pushed ? What starts as a simple investigation into the death of a young woman soon turns into an investigation involving Eastern European criminal gangs and people trafficking.
Sadly for me the characterisation seemed to be a little lacking and I didn't engage with DI Jim Carruthers at all. Perhaps if I had read the previous books it would have helped. Saying that the plot is fast paced and there is enough action to keep you reading. Overall a good read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Inspector Jim Carruthers series. but thte first for me. However, it was easy for me to get to know his character and also his sergeant Andie Fletcher.
Caruthers is investigating art thefts in his area, when a body is discovered appearing to have fallen off a cliff. Was it suicide or murder? There seems to be a link between the dead woman, organised crime from Eastern Europe, people trafficking, sex workers, and mysterious disappearance or killing of anybody who comes too close to the truth. It had everything for me, and I've already bought books one and two, because I am hooked.

[Debi Samuels · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*. Rather mediocre. It wasn't bad but not amazing either. I honestly couldn't find anything specific about this book or outstanding in any way. Plot was okay, pace was okay, character development okay, ending okay. I wasn't disappointed but in no way is this a page turner. It's not a book I'd read a second time.