A Gripping Listen

An excellent, gripping book. I really enjoyed the fact the lead detective was not the usual run of the mill. The story kept me held right to the last page/listen!

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27 people found this helpful

Thoroughly enjoyable 'Scot Cop' novel

Any additional comments?

Either I keep choosing Scot Cop stories or there seems to be a lot of them about at the moment! Either way I love them! This one is set in Edinburgh and mentions places within the local area. The narrator is a chap with a nice Scottish accent which adds authenticity to the characters (he also narrates Stuart MacBride's recent books). I very much enjoyed this story and have downloaded the next, having never heard of the author before now.

This is a pretty regular cop story, ticks along nicely, has enjoyable characters, doesn't dawdle in the story-telling and has a couple of interesting crimes to investigate. It does have an ever-so slightly 'supernatural/fantasy' moment or two as one of the crimes seems to be tinged with some devil-worship sort of vibe, but this is not a strong theme so don't let this put you off if you are not a 'fantasy' sort of person (I'm not a fan myself and wouldn't consider reading John Connolly for example, so I was glad that there was only the odd mutter of hocus-pocus and only to do with that one case!). I would definitely recommend this story to others!

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14 people found this helpful

Too grisly for me.

The reading is excellent, the hero is impeccable but the story surely belongs in the "Horror" genre. Take heed, those hoping for a great detective read will groan aloud as I did as yet another and then another ritualistic disembowelling are tutted over by weary officers and only fine, upstanding Mclean realises the demoniacal links and quietly saves the day.

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1 person found this helpful

Great listen

If you like "Rebus" you'll enjoy this.

Good plot. Good characters with the pieces of the puzzle coming together gradually and not all at the end.

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Excellent thriller!

I enjoyed this routine detective novel. I raised it's game though because of the lightness of touch James Oswald has. Pleasant characters are used to full extent and have relatively 'normal lives' which is a rarity in this genre.

The narration is excellent, Ian Hanmore giving depth to all characters.

One sadness is that I didn't feel I could visualise the characters as Oswald doesn't seem to fully round them. Maybe I missed it but is McLean tall short, fat or thin. Is he fresh faced, or world weary, hirsute or bald, muscular or weedy???

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Outstanding!

Thrilled to stumble across such an amazing writer , storyline and awesome narrator! So pleased to know there are so many more in the series ahead of me! Highly highly recommend!

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Natural Causes

A new series for me and on the whole I found it enjoyable. I had a reasonable amount of sympathy for the main character although his full back story wasn't told. I expect that will come out in the next novel. Not loads of gore and what there is, is done with good taste.

The plot moves along nicely and it's peppered with red herrings which kept me interested. My only gripe with the story is the supernatural element as it's not something I read a lot of and it kinda detracted from the ending but on saying that I did know it was contained within the book.

I will buy the next one to see how the characters grow.

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Not the best

Having read a previous James Oswald and greatly enjoyed it, I was looking forward to this book.

Unfortunately it just did not deliver the standard I was expecting.
May be I was looking forward to it too much and that has affected my judgement, but I will not be returning for more.

On a positive note Ian Hanmore is a fabulous narrator.

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Excellent novel, well narrated

Being a big Rebus fan, Inspector Maclean offers something different and unique. Loved the characters and the way he goes about his business within the police force and Edinburgh. Well narrated and I have already downloaded the next 4 books. Cant wait.

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James Oswald IS the next Ian Rankin.

Loved tge whole thing. IannHanmore is a brilliant narrator - I'm sure he could recite the Edinburgh phone directory and make it interesting! Paired with James Oswald though, a blend made in Audible heaven. I don't care for those Audibles with several different narrators and Hanmore proves it's totally unnecessary - Madame Rose, Emma and MacLean all are entirely different 'voices' from Hanmore - and spot on!
Oswald always tells a good tale - even on my third listen of this, it's still like new and his sceptical introduction to Madame Rose exactly what any self-respecting Svcottish man would expect.
No spoilers - I *think* this is the first in the series (I have them all) and they get better and better.
Would like it though, if Audible displayed their number in the series so I don't have to do an internet search before choosing a title to read. I like them in order, personally.

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