In the Cold Dark Ground: Logan McRae, Book 10

By: Stuart MacBride

Narrated by: Steve Worsley

Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

The new Logan McRae novel from the number-one best-selling author of The Missing and the Dead and A Song for the Dying.

Sergeant Logan McRae is in trouble.... His missing-persons investigation has just turned up a body in the woods - naked, hands tied behind its back, and a bin bag duct taped over its head. The Major Investigation Team charges up from Aberdeen, under the beady eye of Logan's ex-boss, Detective Chief Inspector Steel. And, as usual, she wants him to do her job for her.

But it's not going to be easy: a new superintendent is on her way up from the Serious Organised Crime Task Force, hell-bent on making Logan's life miserable; Professional Standards are gunning for Steel; and Wee Hamish Mowat, head of Aberdeen's criminal underbelly, is dying - leaving rival gangs from all over the UK eying his territory.

There's a war brewing, and Logan's trapped right in the middle, whether he likes it or not.

©2015 Stuart MacBride (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

Praise for The Missing and the Dead:

"Exciting...a guaranteed best-seller." (Literary Review)
"New Logan McRae novels are close to the top of my unmissable list, and yet again MacBride delivers. His chaotic cop hero is at his best. Superb storytelling." (Sun)
"Another from MacBride's fantastic series of Logan McRae novels." (Sunday Mirror)
"Stuart's meticulous research shows. At times it feels like you are sitting in the back of a police car overhearing conversations between real policemen." (Sunday Sport)
"Skilful storytelling...strong characterization...both intriguing and engrossing." (Laura Wilson, Guardian)
"The multiple plots move fast." (Independent)
"MacBride is the natural heir to the late and much lamented Reginald Hill." (Andrew Taylor, Spectator)
"MacBride is a damned fine writer - no one does dark and gritty like him." (Peter James)
"Fierce, unflinching and shot through with the blackest of humour; this is crime fiction of the highest order." (Mark Billingham)
"Some of the grittiest crime-writing in the field." (Independent)
"Admirers of tough, modern crime novels will be in seventh heaven - or should that be hell?" (Express)
"Ferocious and funny." (Val McDermid)
"Hard-hitting prose with a bone-dry humour and characters you can genuinely believe in, Stuart MacBride's novels are a real treat." (Simon Kernick)

MacBride Wraps Up Some Major Story Arcs

While MacBrides books can be at times painfully violent, if you can listen to the first scene then you too can become a McRae fan. In this book a lot of story arcs that had been going on for several books in the series get a wrap up-- and some others are introduced. That means it may not be the best place to start the series. However, I'm not sure if Audible has all of the unabridged books on the US site. You have to listen to them unabridged if you really want to appreciate MacBride's tartan noir.

There's a shake up in how characters are presented-- who would have guessed that Napier of Internal Affairs-- well, I'm not going to spoil this, but it's a surprise.

DI Roberta Steele has a very rough time in this book. But not as rough as crime boss Wee Hamish, who keeps trying to stave off a bloody struggle for his empire. Then there is McRae's girlfriend who has been in a vegetative state for the last few books. And poor old McRae as usual, who seems to rarely catch a break.

The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger-- but the type that whets your appetite about where the series is going next rather than the type that makes me want to jump up and down on my Kindle Fire.

Narration is excellent and adds to the story.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A rather solid four stars

I read the reviews of one star and the five stars and tried to listen to the novel with an open mind. Some of the extreme criticism of the one star review seemed to be warranted, but not to the emotional degree indicated . The violence was borderline but the narrative was sound and the characters were first rate. I found the story to be a little too long. This is my first MacBride novel, I'll probably listen to others but not right away. I will need a little time before I tackle another one. I suggest the book be read if your looking for an in depth emotional roller coaster ride . Mike Dunn

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The cold dark ground

Love this series but with thisbok mot particularly happy dith Logan Mcrae. Hope he redeems himself in the last book.

a good series

This is a fine author, these books have become a favorite of mine. Some involve subjects not to my liking - those involving the mob, for instance - which I cannot read seriously nor rate .... But I find the writing intelligent, humorous, tightly plotted. These are fine books for serious mystery fans.

The characters are amazing

MacBride develops characters like no one else!!! Lumps and all ... Quite lumpy are his characters and they will make you laugh out loud. The narration is amazing and I can't imagine not listening to the books with the appropriate Scottish accent. My only regret is that the next book isn't written yet. MacBride always seem to finish the tale ....but leaves you wanting the next bit RIGHT NOW!!!! ... And that isn't happening and unfortunately I am as patient as Steel!!

Do not buy this book!

Never finished the book. Awful story line, awful narrater , awful book! Do not recommend!

0 of 6 people found this review helpful

Darker, Colder, more conflicted - very Aberdeen.

Logan and DCI Steel are back to stop Aberdeenshire's next big crime wave. Logan's loyalty to his family, his conscience, and the law is truly tested whilst the snow falls, butties are eaten and smelly criminals are apprehended - all a cold February in Banff. This novel is lighter on gore than some of the previous ones, but heavier on the stuff that makes you really feel for the characters: it's quite dark. The pacing is excellent, and Steve Worsley's Doric is top-notch as always, ye ken.

It's refreshing read a series that shows the mental toll that being at the centre of all the horror, pain, and compromise of Logan's life have had on his character. Often by this stage in a long-running series the main character has built a wall of cynicism around himself, just to survive being the protagonist, that his development is either paused or re-set each novel. Stuart Macbride avoids making Logan a mental superman, rather than just a character that's luckier than most. Consequently it is psychologically darker than his previous novels - and since you should probably not start with book ten (there are a few in-jokes that have built up as the series has gone on) you'll know that it's really rather dark.

Stuart Macbride even lampshades Logan's protagonist nature by pointing out that he's still a DS, with his feet on the ground, despite having been at the centre of every single high-profile crime in Aberdeen. I'm glad that Macbride has managed to keep Logan's career 'realistic' without having to read about organisational management and policy in Police Scotland - and I love where the next book is potentially headed. Ther humour that stems from the real front-line of policing keeps the tone readable.

Through the series of novels, Macbride has shown that real terror stems not only from the psychopath with the knife as with his first novel, but also from facing yourself in the mirror after the consequences of your own compromises have exposed your loved ones to suffering. It's definitely a cold, dark day for our Logan McCrae.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Brilliant

Another fantastic addition to the series. These books have everything. Genuine characters, exciting storylines and a great setting. I particularly like the way that everything that Logan has to endure is reflected in his developing character. He's a fully fleshed out person with believable and conflicted thought processes.
The narration by Steve Worsely is wonderful.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Another absorbing Logan McCrea

Just love these novels. Well read and detailed if only Police Scotland really had this officer

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

He does it again

Would you listen to In the Cold Dark Ground again? Why?

Yes I would, so many plot twists and asides.

What did you like best about this story?

The black humour and the relationship between Logan and Steele.

Which character – as performed by Steve Worsley – was your favourite?

DCI Steele .

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was taken aback in a few places and certainly a few gasps.

Any additional comments?

This series gets better and better, I can't wait to see what happens next to Logan and co.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good but gory!

Excellent narration, definitely a book that you need to have read the earlier novels to fully understand. Lots of gore, and I feel DI Steel might be becoming too much of a caricature. Good twists though.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

great book a must read.

really enjoyed listening to the new book. brings out the worst and the best in all characters. Good description of landscape and the struggles every day folk have. fantastic book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

One man traverses a minefield of problems

Would you consider the audio edition of In the Cold Dark Ground to be better than the print version?

Steve Worsley is excellent and I would listen to this over reading it every time

What did you like best about this story?

This is another great Logan McRae book and sees Logan having to work a very thin line between the police and the crime world. Brilliant

Which scene did you most enjoy?

There is a scene later on in the book where Logan ends up down a bank at the side of the road. Brilliant!

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the next.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

nooo not steel

loved it .as always.
whens the next one coming!!! not next year please i could be dead by then .

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Perfect combination of Author and Narrator

Any additional comments?

I have followed this series from book 1 and have never been disappointed. I often wonder if the author Stuart MacBride often starts laughing as he writes these books. The one-liners rattle off at a non-stop pace and the images are priceless. For example DCI Steel describing her dream which included Helen Mirren and a Toblerone? The plot entwined in subplots, the intrigue, the wonderful black humour and of course DCI Steel, perhaps one of the best characters ever created, make this a must listen. At times I was laughing out loud, whilst other times actually feeling physically nauseous, the descriptive nature of some of the beatings, the pigs or the "snow globe" incident spring to mind. The baddies are truly ugly horrendous people and almost seem impossible to beat. My only concern is that Logan decides to move to the darker side of law enforcement. Im not sure if I could take that and the burning question what happens to DCI Steel? Roll on book 11. Come on Stuart get writing but please go easy on the pig scenarios, the grunting and screaming in the last few pages almost put me off my lunch!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

logan character disappoints!

Great listen as always but logan macray has gone way down in my estimation he's always a bit of a wimp but treachery and hypocrisy? can't say anymore or I'll spoil it but disappointed in this character now.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful