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It's DS Logan McRae's first day back on the job after a year off on the sick, and it couldn't get much worse. Three-year-old David Reid's body is discovered in a ditch: strangled, mutilated and a long time dead. And he's only the first. There's a serial killer stalking the Granite City, and the local media are baying for blood. Soon the dead are piling up in the morgue almost as fast as the snow on the streets, and Logan knows time is running out. More children are going missing. More are going to die.
Detective Chief Inspector Roberta Steel got caught fitting up Jack Wallace - that's why they demoted her and quashed his sentence. Now he's back on the streets, and women are being attacked again. Wallace has to be responsible, but if Detective Sergeant Steel goes anywhere near him, his lawyers will get her thrown off the force for good. The Powers That Be won't listen to her, not after what happened last time. According to them, she's got more than enough ongoing cases to keep her busy.
Lovers and business partners Niamh and Ruairidh are owners of a small Hebridean company, Ranish Tweed. Their fabrics have become internationally sought-after in the world of fashion. But the threads of their relationship are beginning to fray. As they prepare for an important showing at a Parisian fabric fair, Niamh accuses Ruairidh of having an affair with a Russian fashion designer they work with - a fight that ends with Ruairidh storming off. Moments later, Niamh watches in horror as the car containing her life partner explodes in a ball of flame. With Niamh a prime suspect in the murder, the Parisian police hound her....
Reykjavik, August 1941. When a travelling sales rep is found murdered in a Reykjavik flat, killed by a bullet from a Colt 45, the police initially suspect a member of the Allied occupation force. The British are in the process of handing over to the Americans, and the streets of Reykjavik are crawling with servicemen whose relations with the local women are a major cause for concern. Flovent, Reykjavik's sole detective, is joined by the young military policeman Thorson, the son of Icelandic emigrants to Canada.
DI Henderson is settling into new offices and a new house, but the murder of a young man on a cross-channel ferry diverts his attention. He is soon drawn into the dark world of wine fraud. The DI isn’t allowed to travel to France where the victim once worked, but he's assisted by private investigator Harvey Miller. Miller stakes out the vineyard but receives a beating for his trouble. Henderson believes that Daniel Perry, an east London gangster, leads the gang.
Detective Chief Inspector Ryan retreats to Holy Island seeking sanctuary when he is forced to take sabbatical leave from his duties as a homicide detective. A few days before Christmas, his peace is shattered, and he is thrust back into the murky world of murder when a young woman is found dead amongst the ancient ruins of the nearby priory. When former local girl Dr. Anna Taylor arrives back on the island as a police consultant, old memories swim to the surface, making her confront her difficult past.
It's DS Logan McRae's first day back on the job after a year off on the sick, and it couldn't get much worse. Three-year-old David Reid's body is discovered in a ditch: strangled, mutilated and a long time dead. And he's only the first. There's a serial killer stalking the Granite City, and the local media are baying for blood. Soon the dead are piling up in the morgue almost as fast as the snow on the streets, and Logan knows time is running out. More children are going missing. More are going to die.
Detective Chief Inspector Roberta Steel got caught fitting up Jack Wallace - that's why they demoted her and quashed his sentence. Now he's back on the streets, and women are being attacked again. Wallace has to be responsible, but if Detective Sergeant Steel goes anywhere near him, his lawyers will get her thrown off the force for good. The Powers That Be won't listen to her, not after what happened last time. According to them, she's got more than enough ongoing cases to keep her busy.
Lovers and business partners Niamh and Ruairidh are owners of a small Hebridean company, Ranish Tweed. Their fabrics have become internationally sought-after in the world of fashion. But the threads of their relationship are beginning to fray. As they prepare for an important showing at a Parisian fabric fair, Niamh accuses Ruairidh of having an affair with a Russian fashion designer they work with - a fight that ends with Ruairidh storming off. Moments later, Niamh watches in horror as the car containing her life partner explodes in a ball of flame. With Niamh a prime suspect in the murder, the Parisian police hound her....
Reykjavik, August 1941. When a travelling sales rep is found murdered in a Reykjavik flat, killed by a bullet from a Colt 45, the police initially suspect a member of the Allied occupation force. The British are in the process of handing over to the Americans, and the streets of Reykjavik are crawling with servicemen whose relations with the local women are a major cause for concern. Flovent, Reykjavik's sole detective, is joined by the young military policeman Thorson, the son of Icelandic emigrants to Canada.
DI Henderson is settling into new offices and a new house, but the murder of a young man on a cross-channel ferry diverts his attention. He is soon drawn into the dark world of wine fraud. The DI isn’t allowed to travel to France where the victim once worked, but he's assisted by private investigator Harvey Miller. Miller stakes out the vineyard but receives a beating for his trouble. Henderson believes that Daniel Perry, an east London gangster, leads the gang.
Detective Chief Inspector Ryan retreats to Holy Island seeking sanctuary when he is forced to take sabbatical leave from his duties as a homicide detective. A few days before Christmas, his peace is shattered, and he is thrust back into the murky world of murder when a young woman is found dead amongst the ancient ruins of the nearby priory. When former local girl Dr. Anna Taylor arrives back on the island as a police consultant, old memories swim to the surface, making her confront her difficult past.
What happened to Jacques Gaillard? The brilliant teacher at the École Nationale d’Administration, who trained some of France’s best and brightest as future prime ministers and presidents, vanished ten years ago, presumably from Paris. This ten-year-old mystery inspires a bet—one that Enzo Macleod, a biologist teaching in Toulouse, France, instead of pursuing a brilliant career in forensics back home in Scotland, can ill afford to lose.
A dedicated man is dead in the Yorkshire dales---a former university professor, wealthy historian, and archaeologist who loved his adopted village. It is a particularly heinous slaying, considering the esteem in which the victim, Harry Steadman, was held by his neighbors and colleagues---by everyone, it seems, except the one person who bludgeoned the life out of the respected scholar and left him half-buried in a farmer's field.
Three very different women come together to complete an environmental survey. Three women who, in some way or another, know the meaning of betrayal.... For team leader Rachael Lambert, the project is the perfect opportunity to rebuild her confidence after a double betrayal by her lover and boss, Peter Kemp. Botanist Anne Preece, on the other hand, sees it as a chance to indulge in a little deception of her own. And then there is Grace Fulwell, a strange, uncommunicative young woman with plenty of her own secrets to hide....
It is a cold January morning, and Shetland lies beneath a deep layer of snow. Trudging home, Fran Hunter's eye is drawn to a splash of color on the frozen ground, ravens circling above. It is the strangled body of her teenage neighbor, Catherine Ross. The locals on the quiet island stubbornly focus their gaze on one man - loner and simpleton Magnus Tait.
Adrian McKinty was born in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. He studied politics and philosophy at Oxford before moving to America in the early 1990s. Living first in Harlem, he found employment as a construction worker, barman, and bookstore clerk. In 2000 he moved to Denver to become a high school English teacher and it was there that he began writing fiction.
First-year detective Kathleen Doyle is a plucky Irish redhead of humble origins and modest means. Chief Inspector Michael Acton is her antithesis: a British lord turned cop. He's tall, handsome, and enigmatic - to a fault. He also has a knack for solving London's most high-profile crimes. Acton selects Doyle out of the newbie squad to partner with him on a series of investigations because she always knows when someone is lying - a trait that comes in handy when interviewing suspects and witnesses.
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of The Book of Souls by James Oswald, read by the actor Ian Hanmore.
Every year for 10 years, a young woman's body was found in Edinburgh at Christmastime: naked, throat slit, body washed clean. The final victim, Kirsty Summers, was Detective Constable Tony McLean's fiancée. But the Christmas Killer made a mistake and McLean put an end to the brutal killing spree.
Twelve years later, and a fellow prisoner has murdered the Christmas Killer. But with the festive season comes a body; naked, washed, her throat cut. Is this a copycat killer? Was the wrong man behind bars all this time? Or is there a more sinister explanation? McLean must revisit his most disturbing case and discover what he missed before the killer strikes again....
I bought this having bought the first in the series and really enjoyed the story and especially the supernatural elements. It kind of reminds me of Stuart MacBrides Logan McRae although not as vivid. I enjoy the character of Tony and supporting characters. The next book has not been released yet and there are some loose ends not tied up so hopefully they will be cleared I will definitely be getting the next book and would really recommend the series.
I felt the narrator was very clear and did not distract from the story.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
It was always going to be a big test for James Oswald to follow up on the excellent opener to this series. It's one I think he passes with flying colours and he doesn't pull any punches with another hard-hitting novel. This one puts a slightly higher emphasis on the supernatural element. Fortunately he doesn't make the mistake of neglecting his well rounded characters which were such a strong element of the first book. They are further developed and the lead is put under some intolerable pressure, hounded at every step of course by his less than perfect boss, Dagwood.
What brings these books up to five star status though is the narration by Ian Hanmore, he and Oswald are a marriage made in heaven. Hanmore's cultured Scottish accent literally purrs through descriptive text, chills to the bone when required and yet raises itself handily for some of the lighter moments.
So, an author and a narrator both of whom are well worth watching out for have created a genuinely immersive audiobook experience!
One strong recommendation on this series would be to read them in order. I think you could enjoy them individually but enough of the storyline is continuous to make it worth starting at the beginning.
Bravo Messrs Oswald and Hanmore!
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
I enjoyed this book where we are reunited with Inspector McLean and his team. The narration by Ian Hanmore is quietly hypnotic and draws you right in.
There are more grim murders and without giving anything away several novel twists with a paranormal spin.
The reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars overall was that I felt that the plot was slightly samey in one or two places however this did not stop my enjoyment of what is becoming a good series.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
If you could sum up The Book of Souls in three words, what would they be?
Gripping, intriguing and exciting.
What did you like best about this story?
As usual Mr Oswalds talent for writing shines through again. The story is dark and at times quite gruesome. Can't wait for book 3!
What about Ian Hanmore’s performance did you like?
Ian Hanmore is totally brilliant as a story teller, the ease with which he goes from one character to another is mind blowing. A very talented man.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
A must see!
Any additional comments?
I highly recommend all James Oswalds books. Start at book 1, obviously! You won't be disappointed.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
What made the experience of listening to The Book of Souls the most enjoyable?
A really good plot- kept me listening into the wee hours when I should have been asleep!
What other book might you compare The Book of Souls to, and why?
His previous one of the series- also a good listen.
What about Ian Hanmore’s performance did you like?
I really enjoy Ian Hanmore and actually seek books read by him
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Too many as one is really a part of everything.
Any additional comments?
I will continue to listen and seek books in this series.One gets fond of the characters.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
What made the experience of listening to The Book of Souls the most enjoyable?
following from the first book it was easy to switch into the main character and then absorb the new story line
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Book of Souls?
the ghost like element to the story which was also present in the earlier book
What about Ian Hanmore’s performance did you like?
made the characters come to life in a way that fitted the Edinburgh scene
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
many smiles
Any additional comments?
I listen to the book walking the dog and when driving long distances. I really enjoy the audio experience
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Definitely: a story that is very compelling, filled with frustration,confusion love and Loss. Oswald tells a story that Is true to the crime genre with the touch of the supernatural weirdness.
What other book might you compare The Book of Souls to, and why?
Natural causes as this is the sequel book, inspector McLain is featured again still presumed by his job, death, therapy and Dagwood.
Have you listened to any of Ian Hanmore’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Lived the narrator the accent brought the story alive
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The effect of the fires on the inspector
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
A great story line which really rings true
Who was your favorite character and why?
Obviously the Inspector McLlean
What does Ian Hanmore bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
One is brought into the story as if one was there. He transmits the events and you image straight away the characters
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Could be true but hope not
Any additional comments?
Only critism was that in this second novel nothing was mentioned about the large inheritance that Inspector McLean had received in the first novel. A little strange.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I'm glad I returned Mclean's Edinburgh police station.
Anderson the 'Christmas killer' is dead (his wife's murderer), so why are women turning up around the city with their throats cut, and laid naked in running water, the exact same method as before?
In this sequel you see the stalwart Mclean is close to cracking, put under intolerable pressure, trying to come to terms with Kirstie's death, and having to work thorn in the side 'Dagwood', who at every turn belittles and goads Mclean.
This has even more of a supernatural flair than the prequel, a solid storyline, with dark under currents it made me want to find out more.
Although it's a full story there's questions left unanswered which means I will be hot on the heels of book three which I hope will come out soon.
The strength of this book is the characters, the weaker side did it have to be so very sombre, the light relief when it came was always very welcome..
Still fast becoming a fan of this author..
Wonderful narration by Ian Hanmore, I can't imagine anyone else playing Mcleans character,
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Would you listen to The Book of Souls again? Why?
I'm unlikely to listen again. I never re listen to my books
Who was your favorite character and why?
Inspector McLean. Its hard not to enjoy the main character.
What does Ian Hanmore bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Ian Hanmore breathes life into the characters in a way I never could. Having the right accent for the Edinburgh location is a good start of course.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There isn't much to be moved by in a detective novel?
Any additional comments?
Overall this is an enjoyable read and an excellent sequel to Natural causes which it makes sense to read first.DI McLean is a well written character that gets further built upon from our initial introduction in Natural causes. A good and credible storyline topped off with an excellent performance by Ian Hanmore - roll on book 3!
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful