Skinner's Ordeal

Bob Skinner #5

by Quintin Jardine

Skinner faces both the biggest case of his career and crippling personal crisis in this thrilling fifth novel in Quintin Jardine's bestselling Edinburgh crime series.

A mid-air explosion; a plane plunges to disaster from the Scottish skies, the British and American Defence Secretaries among the victims. Out of the blue, Edinburgh's Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner finds himself leading the biggest investigation of his career. As Skinner's ordeal reaches its crescendo, the police pursue their suspects one by one, until at last they are brought to a dramatic, thrilling, but tragic conclusion.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Detective, Scotland

448 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 1996

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[Claire Hayward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was the plot a bit ridiculous? Yes. Was is it entertaining? Yes. 😂 it was also $5 so I can’t complain too much

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

After an airliner explodes in the air killing two hundred and four passengers with only a small child as a survivor, ADC Skinner is having nightmares. When he goes running at night he is attacked and stabbed. As he fights for his life and sanity, his team must find out who planted the fatal bomb and route out a spy.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this series

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4 1/2 star read. I enjoyed the fifth book in Jardine's excellent DCC Bob Skinner series. A commuter jet has crashed in Scotland and Bob is called to the scene after the crash. It's a traumatic experience for him and the crash becomes problematic when it is discovered that two very important men are on the plane, one British and one American. When they realize that this was not an accident, there are a lot of suspects and Bob and his team are involved in the process. But the experience has unnerved Bob and a horrible experience happens and he lies near death. And while Bob is out of commission, his team works hard to find the culprit and determine exactly what happened on that plane, who did it and why, Bob has to face up to the secrets in his mind. A good read.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skinner’s Ordeal is the fifth book in the Bob Skinner series. The first three books did not wow me in the way I had hoped, yet the fourth book became a clear favourite. Were it not for the excessive golf, I would have given the story a four-star rating. It did, however, leave me eager for the fifth book. I went in with hopes that things were finally reaching the point where I was to be truly addicted to the series.

While this fifth book did keep me turning the pages, I did not enjoy it as much as the fourth book. The storyline was overly dramatic and exaggerated, yet it was gripping enough. However, what let me down was the characters. They were finally becoming interesting in book four, yet this fifth book reverted them back to being close to insufferable. Everything they did was either predictable or it felt condescending. Add in the drama and the (completely unbelievable, yet somehow glaringly obvious) twist at the end of this one and I found myself solidly in the dislike category by the time I was finished. I am certainly curious about where the overall story is going, yet I fear my dislike of the characters is only going to grow.

I find myself in a very complicated situation, now. I am eager to keep reading to see what happens, yet I am going in with the expectation of being annoyed with the characters. Fingers crossed things play out in a way that will change my mind.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skinner as DCC takes on the crash of an early morning commuter jet from Heathrow to Edinburgh over Lammermuir. The flight exploded mid air carrying both the American and British Defence Secretaries suggesting explosives and possible terrorist activity.

Skinner is mugged on a very early morning run and stabbed and ends up in hospital with life threatening injuries. During his hospital stay a friend and psychiatrist helps him with some deep unresolved issues regarding a plane crash 20 years ago and the death of his first wife Myra from a car accident.

The investigations into the current plane crash comes up with 4 possible suspects until Skinner on the road to his own recovery comes up with another theory.

Page turner. Enjoyed. Skinner is a ruthless man, likeable and unlikeable at the same time and is willing to hurt his current marriage in the effort to find who cut the brake line in his car which Myra was driving that day. A story for another book which I’ve read.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quinton Jardine’s Recovery!

When I read Skinner’s Round, the fourth in the series (I’ve come late to this author), I thought the bubble had burst after three good previous books. Round was a bit contrived and the combination of a posh golf club and big country house where all the suspects were gathered was a bit Agatha Christie for my
liking.
But in Skinner’s Ordeal he has bounced back with an explosive, literally, effort that had me hooked from the first page. The disaster which has just occurred and the reaction of the responders was chilling, reminiscent of the experiences of those who attended Lockerbie, Grenfell Towers or 9/11. Excellent writing and a great plot thereafter.

[Helen O'Toole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly entertaining & I especially enjoy authors who write quite short chapters. A perfect book to read whilst waiting for an appointment etc. Very complicated plot but it kept my interest right to the end. Probably should give it close to 4 stars as I enjoyed the characters and I thought it very valuable that the author demonstrated why people need proper counselling after witnessing horrific events. Bob Skinner is a great character and as this book was a bargain $5 at the newsagent, I think I obtained great value. Will be reading more of Quintin Jardine.

[Dr Susan Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Skinner - easy enough to read even though 94 chapters(!) and a areasonable story but the ending disappointed me as you are left hanging and the baddie gets short shrift. Skinner is immobilised for much of the story fighting his own demons after anhorrendous start in a plane crash scenario. Being hypnotised in hospital bringsforth much of his back story. I find Jardine somewhat tedious with his use of ‘big man’, ‘little soldier’, ‘little woman’, etc. Let’s see if I tackle another.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid police procedural as Skinner and his team investigate the downing of a plane carrying some important figures. Skinner is mugged in the midst of the investigation and we learn something of his past. The book relies on your having read previous books in the series as names and titles are thrown in willy nilly without much of an introduction.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. Beginning was good, middle dragged on and felt like some stuff didn’t need to be in it, but since it’s a series I understand it adds more to the characters. I was so shocked when Adam killed Robin! That guys a good accent. It got a little too political for me.

[Bill McFadyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ian Rankin is the king of Edinburgh crime - but Quinton Jardine is no slouch. A page turner with a good few twists.

[Gio Marioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

K

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, well written, plane disaster--a who done it!

[Barbara Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this and immediately want to start the next in the series, to see what happens next.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good if a little dated technology wise

[Joe Crouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is up with that ending?

[Annie Weatherly-Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant but sad and moving as well as a great thriller.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skinner's Ordeal by Quintin Jardine is the 5th book of the Bob Skinner police-procedural mystery series set in late-20th-century Scotland. Skinner is "Scotland's toughest cop", however investigating a major plane crash caused by sabotage nearly unravels him. For this incident, Skinner commands a task force with key players from government, espionage and law enforcement. The unfamiliar organizational structure and chain-of-command of the various groups made it harder to me to follow plot nuances, but the story quickened pace and provided interesting surprises by its resolution. I was astonished by the abrupt cliff-hanger ending (it doesn't seem necessary, to keep readers following this great series).

[Afsana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this and this wad another good book in the kinner series

was a bit disappointed with skinners reaction to sarah being called into the scene

it was nic to hear more about his past and i think they have set up a future story well

[Steve Tripp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Clever and intriguing .. a few too many characters to keep track of and not being Scottish, I can't relate to some of the vernacular, but overall it was entertaining and a good way to pass my time on the commute to work.

[Chris Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have started reading this series and intend to complete it as soon as possible. This book was without doubt the best so far. All the main characters got involved and for once it wasn't the Bob Skinner show. Excellent book.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read in this series.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook read by James Bryce
Missed this when it came out originally, but it was released recently as an audiobook. Very well read. A story with quite a lot going on. Very enjoyable.

[Fiona Padgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't care for this storyline about plane crash in Lammermuir Hills. Not always sure I like Bob Skinner but definitely didn't care for him in this novel. Will persevere with series though I think

[Clare Irwin]

Great book in the Bob Skinner series!