Dark is the Grave

DCI Bone #1

by T.G. Reid

A dead cop. A damaged detective. A copycat killer on the loose.

When the chief suspect in the notorious Peek-a-boo cop killer case blew himself up, almost taking lead investigator DCI Duncan Bone with him, the psychologically damaged detective thought his days on the force were over. But when another PC is abducted and murdered in the same deranged Peek-a-boo fashion, Bone is persuaded to return to lead the new investigation. But as Bone and his team hunt a copycat killer, and with time running out before yet another cop is slain, Bone’s terrifying past returns to tear open old wounds and push him to very edge of the abyss.

Can DCI Bone end the killing before the killing ends him?

Set among the dramatic hills and glens of Scotland's Campsie Fells, Dark is the Grave is the first in a series of edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers that will keep you guessing right up to the nail-biting, heart-stopping climax.

Perfect for fans of JD Kirk, Alex Smith, David J. Gatward and J.E. Mayhew.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Scotland, Audiobook, Ebooks

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2021

About the author

TG Reid is a bestselling British crime novelist. His DCI Bone Scottish detective series has topped the Amazon charts in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Since publication of Book 1 in the series, Dark is the Grave, in 2021, he has sold over 300,000 books and surpassed 50 million page reads on Kindle Unlimited.

This bestselling series continues to grow from strength to strength, with many more books still to come, and plans to adapt DCI Bone for TV. Sign up to the author’s mailing list to keep informed about future release dates, giveaways, and exclusives.

TG Reid grew up in his native Scotland and the DCI Bone series is set in and around his hometown, among the brooding hills and glens of Scotland’s Campsie Fells. After working as a musician and English lecturer, TG turned to full-time writing and has never looked back. He now lives in Bath with his wife, daughter and hyper-neurotic cat.

TG Reid’s books will appeal to readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric, edge-of-you-seat mysteries with added touches of Scottish humour.

Readers can reach him via his website at www.tgreid.com or find him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

DARK IS THE GRAVE by TG Reid, is the debut crime thriller featuring DCI Duncan Bone, from the Rural Crime Unit of the Scotland’s Police Force.

A dead cop. A damaged detective. A deranged killer on the loose.

DCI Duncan Bone is a psychologically damaged detective, after a chief suspect in a cop killer case, (notorious Peek-a-boo cop killer case) blew himself up, almost taking lead investigator DCI Duncan Bone with him. Bone had led the team in the Robert Meiklejohn murder case. Bone was lucky to be alive, but now suffers from PTSD, hallucinations and panic attacks. He lost his wife, Alice to divorce during this time, and tries to spend restricted time with his six-year-old son, Michael. Bone has been off on medical leave for a year and thought his days on the force were over.

Bone receives a disturbing video in the mail, showing the murder of a woman. When another PC is abducted and murdered in the same deranged Peek-a-boo fashion, Bone is persuaded to return to lead the new investigation.

But as Bone and his team hunt a copycat killer, and with time running out before yet another cop is slain, Bone’s terrifying past returns to tear open old wounds and push him to very edge.

Can DCI Bone end the killing?

This was a fast-paced well-written crime thriller that will appeal to a wide audience of readers with well developed characters and intense twists and turns from beginning to end, that will keep you guessing until the end. Looking forward to book 2 in the series.

Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for my digital copy.

[Ed Napiorkowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book with a lot of promise but which in my personal opinion unfortunately fails to deliver.
The main character is an incompetent police officer who is both totally inconsistent in their approach to the case and more often than not a bullying fool in his relationships with the majority of others he encounters.
If I were to compare the book to a recipe, all the ingredients of a five star crime thriller are there but the quality of those ingredients and portioning is all wrong and as such I felt it was generous to rate it at two stars. Perhaps I have been spoilt with the likes of Peter Grainger, Robert Braithwaite, J D Kirk or David Gatwood? IMHO this book is not even close to any of the works from those authors.
I found it hard to engage or empathise with the main character who at times was just stupid, saying and doing stupid things, blustering along, yelling and screaming at superiors, consistently making dumb choices yet supposed to be displaying professional experience as a senior crime investigator. I would have sacked him in the start and not invited him to participate in the second investigation at all. The solving of the case all too conveniently comes together in a predictable outcome but quite honestly I found the book difficult to finish.
I cannot recommend this book and I will not be seeking to read any more in the series.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

DARK IS THE GRAVE introduces DCI Duncab Bone who resides in Scotland. He's been on medical leave for almost a year. The last case he worked pitted him against The Peek-A-Boo Killer. This particular killer went after female cops and murdered them in horrendous ways. He would film their deaths and then send to Bone. Ultimately the killer blew himself up, almost taking Bone with him. Bone now suffers debilitating PTSD, hallucinations. He's lost his wife to divorce and because of the psychological damage he's suffered, his time with his young son is limited.

Receiving an anonymous package delivered to his door, Bone discovers a film showing the murder of a woman. Bone is ultimately called back to work, to lead his team, to investigate the murder of what turns out to be another female officer of the law.

It's a copycat killer ... taking up where the original Peek-A-Boo Killer left off. With time running out before another cop is slain, Bone's terrifying past returns to tear open the old wounds and push him to the very edge of sanity.

Although the author is better known for writing short stories, this is his first in police thrillers. T G Reid also writes critically acclaimed, award-winning, dark literary thrillers under the pen name of Tom Gillespie.

With a well-written plot and an intriguing story line, it was easy to find myself totally absorbed with following the twists and turns swirling around an evil-intentioned killer and the one man who wants him more than anything. It's fast-paced action from start to finish leading to an explosive conclusion. The characters are finely drawn, the damaged Bone is unique, the killer is horrendous. The secondary characters lend a touch of credibility.

Many thanks to the author / The Book Club Reviewer Group for the digital copy of this British Crime Fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Effie Saxioni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ωραίο κόνσεπτ,χωρίς να είναι φοβερά πρωτότυπο ως προς την σύλληψη και την εκτέλεση.Υπήρχαν αρκετές δυνατές περιγραφές,καθώς και στιγμές "αυθόρμητου" χιούμορ που ελάφραιναν την ανάγνωση.
3/5

[Ceecee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The two stars says it all. Awful central character, ok plot but will not continue series. Oddly.

[Liz Mistry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a new series! I'm always full of high hopes when I start a new police procedural series and in Dark is the Grave I wasn't disappointed. This is a series that promises to get better and better. With a beautifully (can you use that word in this context) flawed lead detective, a loyal and quirky team and a stonker of a case to kick off, I was pulled into the pages of the book and barely drew breath till the end.

There is something so satisfying about revisiting a past case and all the baggage that comes with that. I loved the way Reid, doesn't pull his punches in the scenes depicting PTSD. This portrayal felt so real to me and made the plot line even more appealing. Witty, well plotted and with appealing characters, I can't wait for Book 2 so I sincerely hope the author is behind his keyboard as we speak.

[Pat K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on audiobook.
First in a series, Scottish police mystery. Excellent narrator.
DCI Bone is drawn back to work after serious injury while apprehending and killing a killer who has murmured several police officers in gruesome ways.
The descriptions of the violence is graphic, some swearing, no sex scenes.
It took me awhile to be fully hooked on this one, but once I was it was an exciting well written mystery.
I’ve already bought the next few in the series.

[Kasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A jeszcze dwie części przede mną. Nic nie przykuło mojej uwagi, ani główny złol, ani policjant ani nawet Szkocja.

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark is the Grave is a crime novel with a beating heart and a raw location. I’m late to this party but everyone needs to do themselves a favour and read this series now. I’ve never preordered the next book so quick!

Well, what a freaking ride Dark is the Grave was!

This was something that I kept thinking to myself while reading this banger of a crime novel. Now its no surprise that I love crime novels based in my homeland of Scotland. There’s just something about the rugged nature of the countryside that lends itself to something sinister, something mysterious – there’s just so much to be gleamed from the very sinister presence hidden in the small town of Scotland. And to find out to my surprise that this series is set in the Campsie Fells not too far from where I live, was a welcome surprise.

As soon as I picked this book up, I was in title and book cover heaven. It was a match made in crime heaven. It’s poetic in a dark and haunting way, and that prologue hit me where I breathe. Props to the author who got the reader to care immediately, I mean he also got your heart beating in a palpitating rhythm, but we won’t talk about that.

Dark is the grave introduces DCI Duncan Bone who is off work with PTSD after the disastrous conclusion of the peek-a-boo killer. The author did a fantastic job in showing the darker side of being a police officer. His relationship has broken down, and he’s had limited contact with his young son – which I really flet tugging at the heartstrings with having young children myself.

Bone receives an anonymous package in the mail and discovers that he’s been sent a video of a female police officer being buried alive. It’s extremely triggering as it appears that they’ve got a copycat killer on their hands. Initially he doesn’t feel ready to go back to work after his superior officer, Gallacher approaches him to lead his team to investigate this new killing. He reluctantly agrees on the proviso that he is given full reign without any interference.

A copycat killer is taking off where the Peek-a-boo killer left off, the team is really against the clock before, yet another cop is killed. The investigation is hampered by several individuals – notably the chief prosecutor for the procurator fiscal and an officer leading internal investigations who just wants to pull Bone down.

Alongside the story, I loved the relationships between Bone and his team. There’s the usual bluster and piss taking that you’d come to expect between colleagues but there’s also this deep-seated respect and care for each other. One officer is really struggling with the decline of his father’s faculties and although it interferes with the ongoing investigation you can tell that everyone has his back and wants to help. It was a ray of sunshine in a never-ending storm.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧


I’m assuming this title is undergoing. a change of publisher. Or there’s a new instalment afoot. As I note there are several years old reviews. No matter, it introduced me to this series and I’m grateful for that.


The first in a Scottish detective series. Dark Is The Grave opens with a missing cop, a case that rings alarm bells of a copy cat killer sounding in the station and sees a semi disgraced DCI Bone, who is currently on sick leave recovering from physical and psychological injuries from his last case, whipped back to work. Initially I felt a bit confused by the references to the past and kept checking that this was the first in the series, when details of the last case were revealed and new characters introduced I felt like I’d missed a book, rather than hearing a backstory play out, but it didn’t take long for me to get to grips with the writing style, and i ended up really enjoying the story. The plot was smart, not entirely original and a little bit predictable in points, but enjoyable all the same. The title is packed with slightly dark humour that I really appreciated.

I’d definitely read more in the series.

I enjoyed Steve Worsley’s narration 🎧

Huge thanks to Quest from W F Howes LTD and NetGalley for the opportunity to reviews this ELC 🎧

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Is The Grave is book one in the new series by T. G. Reid called DCI Bone. Detective Chief Inspector Bone thought his law enforcement career was over due to the damage caused by the Peek-a-boo cop killer. When a young PC was abducted and killed like in his last case, Detective Chief Inspector Bone's boss persuaded him to return to work and lead the new investigation. However, was Detective Chief Inspector Bone ready to return, or will this case put him over the edge? The readers of Dark Is The Grave will continue to follow Detective Chief Inspector Bone's investigation to discover what happens.

Dark Is The Grave is the first book I have read by T. G. Reid, and it is excellent. I engaged with this book from the first page and will continue reading other books in this series. I love T. G. Reid's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Dark Is The Grave was well-written and researched by T. G. Reid. I like T. G. Reid's description of Dark Is The Grave settings, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of Dark Is The Grave will learn about the problems that can affect law enforcement officers. Also, the readers of Dark Is The Grave will learn about the Hero Worship Syndrome and how it can affect the community.

I recommend this book.

[Sandra Leivesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Duncan Bone is on sick leave after being caught in an explosion that killed the Peek-a-Boo killer, who murdered three cops. But Bone has to return to work when a copycat killer starts sending him messages.

This is an absolutely cracking debut police procedural by T G Reid, set among Scotland’s Campsie Fells. It ticked all the right boxes for me and had me hooked right from the start. The writing is superb; it is well plotted and perfectly paced. The use of the Scottish vernacular gave the book a real sense of location, even though I had to look up some words! (heid-the-baw, hooz of the arse, but ‘n’ ben)

DCI Bone is an interesting and likeable character. He’s a dedidated copper with problems in his personal life. I also liked his team, who we got to know a little as the book progressed. There were several twists and turns, and I tried to work out who the copycat was. The clues were there but I failed miserably! The climax of the book was thrilling, and I couldn’t help a little smile of satisfaction at the very end!

If you’re a crime thriller fan then this is a must read book. Trust me! Can’t wait to meet DCI Bone and his colleagues again in the next one.

[Sarnfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent premise, poor execution. Some of the description and dialogue was just trying too hard to be edgy and came off as rather laughable. A description of someone’s vomit adds little to the story especially when it comes in a scene steeped in action. Just a distraction. The main character was an asshole — sure he’d apparently been through the wringer but that still didn’t make him a sympathetic character or someone I want to spend any more time with on the page. The book itself was not well edited, quite a few glaring errors, such as using the word “literary” when it should have been “literally.” A sloppy product reflects badly on the story imo. Won’t be reading further in this series.

[Rose Hill · Rating 1 out of 5]

The one star is for the Scottish setting. Tortured, adversarial writing, weak plot line, absolutely tedious. DCI Bone is a thoroughly unpleasant character whose angry, aggressive demeanour is unrelenting, there is literally nothing to like here not a singular redeeming quality. Will not be continuing with the snarling DCI Bones.

[Jean Shimmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I foolishly started reading quite late at night and suffice to say Bone kept me up all night, and saw the dawn in with me!
Great characters, cracking storyline and can’t wait for more.
Loved it!

[Stephen Lacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't bother. Unattractive characters, unconvincing dialogue, overly grotesque murders, and a feeble plot.

[Sarah Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Dark is the Grave’ is the first book in the DCI Bone series from TG Reid. I listened to the audiobook and loved Steve Worsley’s spirited narration. He really brought each character to life, in a way that only a highly skilled voice actor can do. I enjoyed the book and especially appreciated the authenticity, in terms of the realistic Scottish speech and use of common Scots terms. The interview between author and narrator was an unexpected surprise at the end! I look forward to more from this writer, narrator and series. 

[Elizabeth Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 3.5 star

[Ann Bradbury · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first in a series. When it opens, DCI Bone is on sick leave and living in a dirty, neglected flat. He is suffering from PTSD following a bomb blast which killed a suspect and badly injured him to the extent of needing a metal plate in his skull. His anger issues following his injury have finished his marriage, and he now has only weekly managed visits with his son.

The dead man was a serial killer who specialised in murdering police. Bone opens the post and finds a USB stick containing a video showing a person being murdered in a copycat manner. When he reports it to his boss, the man asks him to come back and head up his old team. A police woman is missing and she might be the victim in the video.

It's possible that other readers might enjoy the story more, but I found the characters mostly unlikeable. Bone is full of anger and argues with people throughout the book, threatening violence and clashing with his boss. I started to wonder why his boss wanted him back in the first place with the damage he is doing to the enquiry. A certain person comes into the story part way through and it was obvious to me that this was the copycat killer. Other developments in the story were predictable also. Given the generally unlikeable nature of the characters which the competent couple of policewomen on the team can't outweigh, being minor players, I don't intend to read any more of these.

[Ruhani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another series to add to my list of police procedurals. I liked Bone and the team and how the mystery unraveled. Just wish it was a little bit longer - it seemed to end very abruptly.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in and around the Campsies in Scotland, we are introduced to DCI Bone who had been seriously injured in his last case and is almost fully recovered when a copycat killer starts murdering police officers again, and so Bone is recalled. This is the first in a new series and hits the ground running with a good descriptive narrative and makes you want to keep turning the pages. Quite a few vernacular words are in the story which not everyone may understand so a point may be to add a page with a "translation" for people!! Otherwise a great read and I would highly recommend it.
Thanks to Tom for the ARC to review.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldnt stop listening, at first I was a bit confused about the plot but I got into it and then liked it and really wanted to know how it got resolved. I even got really involved in the side stories and cant wait to see how they develop. I also enjoyed the different locations as I hadn't listened/read set in this part of Scotland.

The narrator really added to the story and made each character unique.

I was given a free copy via the book club -audible listeners but the review is entirely my own.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with a bang. DCI Bone and his team are investigating the death of one of their own, a young and gifted police officer. They find CCTV footage of her being placed in a hole in the ground and the dirt and rock shovelled over her, while she was still alive. This connects back to a previous case of Bone’s, but the perpetrator died in an explosion which left Bone himself badly injured. I loved the twists and turns in this case. If this is to be a series, I’ll be there reading them.

[Alan Hughes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Formulaic with two dimensional characters. I found it for not cantie my attention as I could not care for any of the characters

[Kristine Kocan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by TG Reid and I loved it! Can’t wait to dig into the second book in the DCI Bone series.

[Katalin I · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was looking for a new Scottish “sweater-detective” series I could get into, but I’m not sure this is it. Hard to explain what I was missing. Depth, I guess. Both in characters and plot and especially human psychology. I’m still deciding how I feel about DCI Bone et al. I like Walker, and Mullens is at least funny. (The humor pushed me to go 3 stars). Bone seems impulsive and angry who just jumps to quick conclusions along the investigation, not to mention loses his shit annoyingly quickly but I guess he’s got PTSD so let’s see how his arc will be in the next book. I’ll give the second book in the series a try and review that too which will decide if I continue.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Book one of a police procedural set in Scotland. Enjoyable read with interesting characters, good plot, well paced.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark is the Grave is the first book in a gripping new Scottish crime series featuring DCI Duncan Bone. Still on sick leave after having been seriously injured in an explosion that killed the Peek-a-Boo killer, DCI Bone receives a gruesome film of another killing, and has no choice but to return to active duty, even though he may not be quite ready. This has to be the work of a copycat killer, but the clock is ticking and DCI Bone and his team must stop them before any more police officers die.
The action is set in the area around the Campsie Fells just north of Glasgow which makes an unusual and interesting setting for a crime novel; I grew up not too far away and really enjoyed revisiting the area. It made a pleasant change from big-city settings and reminded me of JD Kirk’s crime novels in this respect.
The characterisation is convincing with each member of the team quite clearly defined, and humorous dialogue often used to offset the grimly dark storyline. DCI Bone is a flawed and troubled character, but this does not stop him being an excellent detective. The pace is fairly relentless as the killer could strike again at any time. The author makes it difficult for us to determine who the killer is by introducing several red herrings, but this is only to be expected. As usual, I was almost at the end of the book before I worked it out. I read a lot of crime fiction and was very impressed with Dark is the Grave; I have already pre-ordered the next one in the series – Blood Water Falls – and look forward to reading it later in the year. Thanks to TG Reid for a digital copy that I review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in series featuring a Scottish crime unit led by Detective Chief Inspector Duncan Bone. As the story begins, DCI Bone is on leave from the Rural Crime Unit of (fictional) Kilwinnoch Police Station in central Scotland. He still suffers from PTSD after handling the “Peek-a-boo” serial killer case; as Bone was moving in to arrest the suspect, the latter set off an explosive device, killing himself and almost killing Bone in the process. But Bone’s marriage didn’t survive the trauma, and he doesn’t get to see his six-year-old son Michael as much as he would like.

The “Peek-a-boo” killer was targeting police, in the most gruesome fashion. Bone and his crew know they got the right man, but now there is a copycat killer going after the police, and taunting Bone about it as well. Detective Superintendent Roy Gallacher asks Bone to come back to work and head up the investigation.

Bone rejoins his partner, DI Rhona Walker, along with DI Mark Mullens and DC Will Harper, and they start chasing clues. They are somewhat hampered however when one of the suspects who happens to be important and powerful calls for an investigation against Bone and his tactics. Special Investigator Sarah Tennyson arrives from Edinburgh Central to harass Bone and and his team.

Evaluation: This is a face-paced and terrifying thriller full of twists and turns from the very first pages to the very end. It was quite entertaining, enough so to get me to order the next in the series right away.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Scottish Prison service is about as efficient as a Scotrail Trolley Service"

As a Scot who has read a lot of Scottish police procedurals and tartan noir crime books in my lifetime, it takes something quite original to keep my interest piqued for the entirety of a novel. Dark Is The Grave managed to do just that.

The humour is SO GOOD - a lot of it is on point for Scottish readers and I really appreciated that!

The main detective, Bone, is a typical but just-as-we-like-them Scottish antihero. He merges rulebreaking and a passion for catching the culprit and keeping his team and loved ones safe in perfect harmony.

After being on leave due to severe trauma that happened at the end of the investigation to catch the elusive "peek-a-boo" killer, Bone is thrust back into a hauntingly similar investigation and is faced with a race against the clock to get to the bottom of things before his PTSD gets the better of him. Absolutely compelling.

This novel gripped me from about chapter 2 right until the last moment- and I DIDN'T SEE THE KILLER COMING which is a rarity for me.

Both myself and my mum who coincidentally bought and read this on kindle yesterday give this book five stars!