Broken Skin

By: Stuart MacBride

Narrated by: John Sessions

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the pale grey light of a chilly February, Aberdeen is not at its best. There's a rapist prowling the city's cold granite streets, leaving a string of tortured women behind. But while DS Logan McRae's girlfriend is out acting as bait, he's dealing with the blood-drenched body of an unidentified male, dumped outside Accident and Emergency.

When a stash of explicit films turn up, all featuring the victim, it looks as if someone in the local bondage community has developed a taste for violent death, and Logan gets dragged into the twilight world of pornographers, sex-shops, and S&M. To make matters worse, when they finally arrest the Granite City Rapist, Grampian Police are forced by the courts to let him go: Aberdeen Football Club's star striker has an alibi for every attack.

Could they really have got it so badly wrong? Logan thinks so, but the trick will be getting anyone to listen before the real rapist strikes again. Especially as his girlfriend, PC Jackie 'Ball Breaker' Watson, is convinced the footballer is guilty, and she's hell-bent on a conviction at any cost.

©2007 Stuart MacBride (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London UK

Critic Reviews

"John Sessions brings the brilliantly drawn cast of characters to gorgeous - and horrible! - life." (Kati Nicholl, The Express)

GRITTY CRIME set in Aberdeen, Scotland

MacBride's characters are WONDERFUL, especially his hero?? Detective Sergeant Logan McRae. I question hero, because McRae is real enough to make 'blinders' of mistakes and errors of judgement. He is very human. The other character that I wait for is McRae's boss, Steele. Steele is magnificent! She's a bawdy, forthright, humourous and fearsome character. Actually she's much more than this, but you'll have to listen yourself to get the full measure of this creation. Quite honestly I wouldn't mind if there was NO plot because the interaction of the characters is so engaging. There is plot though and GOOD PLOT. John Sessions doesn't narrate - he performs brilliantly. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS !

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great story line

Loved it, and but struggled with the different levels of volume which made it difficult to hear at times.

Still funny, still good

I've anjoyed all the Logan Mcrae novels i've listened to so far. I think this i my 3rd. The best part is the comedy. There's always a serious mystery or 2 going on, but the characters are just so amusing, i always find myself laughing out loud. Good stuff. Narration was good too, definitely fits with the characters and the comical asides.

Don't bother

This is not a thriller, and could barely be called a mystery. It is just a day to day operation of a police station, and all the frustrations they go through trying to catch the bad guys.

They use the F___ word so many times, you would think they were young boys experimenting with their first really bad word. I would guess it is used easily over 100 times!

The reader was fantastic and very enjoyable. Perhaps he is the only reason I did not throw this one against the wall !!

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story, shame about the narrator

You know how they say golf is a good walk spoiled? This is the same, on two counts. First, Broken Skin is another great MacBride McRae story, aren't they all - complicated, witty, gritty, but who on earth decided to abridge it down to half a story and that John Sessions would be a good reader for it. Those two points alone stripped the stars from the rating. I have the paperback, I know the bits that are missing and they are IMPORTANT to the story. It makes me wonder whether the audiobook producers actually read the story at all. And John Sessions, a word of advice, stick to the comedy impressions, dear, because a serious audiobook narrator you are not. Sorry, but that is this experienced listener's opinion. YMMV of course.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

awesome

just newly introduced to Stuart MacBride and he's awesome.. superb writer and I cant put my audio book down..already on book four ....fantastic!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

nae fae Aberdeen

Thi could've gotten somebody that could die an Aberdeen accent like, it's kinda jarrin ti hear Sessions attempt it, bit onybidy fae Aberdeenshire kens that's nae the way Aberdeen folk spik at a.

7 of 11 people found this review helpful

Great storyline

Very exciting , keeps you wondering where it will go next , always a great ending

Superb

Written and read just brilliantly. I love the series and the humour contained is an added bonus, Sessions reads it with his portrayal of characters in his superbly comical fashion. Very highly recommend.

Continues to entertain

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Third book i've listened to by this author. Funny likeable characters. At times laughed out loud. Looking forward to next in series.

Great Story.

Enjoyed listening. Great story to listen to. kept me entertained to the end. Now for dome more .

In love with Logan McRae

I've now read all the Logan McRae series I'm having them read to me in audible ..... I've had the bejesus scared out of me and I love it