Shatter the Bones

Publisher's Summary

The new Logan McRae thriller set in gritty Aberdeen, from the bestselling author of Cold Granite and Dark Blood.

'You will raise money for the safe return of Alison and Jenny McGregor. If you raise enough money within fourteen days they will be released. If not, Jenny will be killed. 'Alison and Jenny McGregor – Aberdeen's own mother-daughter singing sensation – are through to the semi-finals of TV smash-hit Britain's Next Big Star. They're in all the gossip magazines, they've got millions of YouTube hits, and everyone loves them.

But their reality-TV dream has turned into a real-life nightmare. The ransom demand appears in all the papers, on the TV, and the internet, telling the nation to dig deep if they want to keep Alison and Jenny alive. The media want action; the public displays of grief and anger are reaching fever-pitch. Time is running out, but DS Logan McRae and his colleagues have nothing to go on: the kidnappers haven't left a single piece of forensic evidence. The investigation is going nowhere.

It looks as if the price of fame just got a lot higher…

©2010 Stuart MacBride (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

"A terrific writer … bodies abound, blood flows freely and McRae is a delight." ( The Times)

"Some of the grittiest crime-writing in the field … etched in the darkest of hues and with dialogue so sharp you might cut yourself." ( Independent)

"Hard-hitting prose with a bone-dry humour and characters you can genuinely believe in, Stuart MacBride's Logan McRae series of novels are a real treat." ( Simon Kernick)

Like the Logan MacCrae series? You'll like this.

More of the same smart but gritty detective work from Logan MacCrae in this book. The toxic atmosphere in the station is still there, as are the life-like relationships with the other officers. The raw (but funny) Scottish street humour is also present, along with a healthy dose of colloquial Scottish terminology, which might cause some head-scratching for non-Brits. Overall a good read.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Narrator excels in illustrating McBride's wit.

the story was engaging. the writer's skill in drawing human characters stands out. the narrator makes it all come alive using his ability
with accents to color the humor and pathos in each part of the story. I laughed out loud to hear the characters flip out in their Scottish raging. Just loved this book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another Great Novel

I am on #7 in the Logan McRae series. Again I'm very impressed by plot and character development. On to #8!

Addictive listening !

Loving these Aberdeen based crime novels. Each one becomes more interesting in the development of the characters. Inspector Steele's wit and humor keeps things light. Brilliantly done!

Very average

I've listened to most of this series, but kind of gave up because the formula started getting a bit annoying... the Bosses yell, and don't listen, the papers blame the cops for not solving crimes the day they happen, and Logan never, ever gets a day off. Of course, there are some great parts to this series - primary among that is the funny characters, like Steel, but i guess the annoying parts just got too repetitive for me. Anyway, it's been a couple years so i thought i'd try another, and i'm kind of sorry i did. The formula is still the same, and this one wasn't quite as funny. And the previous narrator seemed better to me as well.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful

difficult to understand the narrator

Would you try another book from Stuart MacBride and/or Steve Worsley?

I love reading macbride books but found the 3 I have just purchased in audible format impossible to understand with any ease due to the strong accent of the narrators. Having to replay constantly to understand dialogue is frustrating. Then again, most people say they can't understand us Aussies either!....

What could Stuart MacBride have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Change narrators ( unfortunately including himself- sorry)

How did the narrator detract from the book?

a/a

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I'm sure the stories would have been as good as other macbride books but unable to finish in audible format

Any additional comments?

Love Logan and his fellow characters in the cop shop!

1 of 5 people found this review helpful

This book is terrible

The child porn stuff was too much to take. A lot of fluff without any real investigation to the case.

1 of 7 people found this review helpful

Another great book from MacBride

I have enjoyed all of MacBride's books and was eagerly awaiting this release. I was not disappointed.

Twists and turns through the book mean that you are left guessing who dunit until the last few pages.

Get it - you wont regret it

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Fast and funny. A great read!

A great, fast paced story with brilliant characters. This is the first book in ages that has made me want to work longer just so I could listen a bit more!

Despite the gore, profanities and sometimes infuriating incompetence of certain characters, this novel is really funny. I especially loved the descriptions of people in the book, and have got some of the insults stored for future use!

The narration was great too. It was really nice to hear a Scottish novel read by a Scottish narrator. I have never read (or listened to) anything by Stuart MacBride before, but I'm now a fan, and am just about to download another of the Logan McRae series!

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Great and gripping excitement

Once again Stuart McBride takes us on a big dipper of tension, wonderful characters, and humour. This story is not for everyone, but devotees of Logan McCrae will love it. Once again Logan McCrae picks his way through a heap of criminal matters, using his unconventional manner, but often achieving the right result, but not always keeping to the rules. One of my favourite characters is Det. Insp. Steel, a difficult, cantankerous, foul mouthed, yet with a hidden warmth and affection. If you like your books un predictable, then this is for you, however, read the previous books first and in order. Enjoy!!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Expected more - unpleasant listening

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I found the subject matter distasteful, and the references to child molestation and bestiality very difficult to listen to. I didn't listen after the first hour, and as such don't know if it was a joke but really don't find this funny.

Has Shatter the Bones put you off other books in this genre?

I enjoy other books in the genre, but avoid those that include child molestation. I have enjoyed Stuarts other books.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Shatter the Bones?

The description of the child being scared in the video. The description of bestiality, and obvious relish of the behaviour of the sex offenders.

Any additional comments?

I am amazed that the book has got such rave reviews, and tried to continue in the belief that it must be me.
Having just completed Robert Galbraith's excellent book, perhaps I expected more. Sadly this book did not deliver.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

KEEP 'EM COMING

I started reading Stuart MacBride after hearing him being interviewed on the radio. His humour definitely struck a chord, and continues to do so. No matter how profane, gory, irreverent or surreal, his books make me laugh out loud - a lot. Having him read his own book was a bonus. (Note for Stuart - never let strangers read your stuff ever again.)

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Maybe it's because I'm an Aberdeen quine...

Hugely entertaining though totally implausible but with the best array of North East accents I've heard since 'Scotland the What?'. I've not lived in Aberdeen for 20 years now so perhaps nostalgia played a part but I'll be going back and listening to the previous Logan McRae books. At least until the next Connelly comes out.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A laugh and a cringe

Entertaining! A good book should entertain! McBride's characters always make me laugh and the extremes of incompetence, implausibility, success and violence marry to make a very listenable book. I look forward to the next but I like a year between them!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A hard listen, but worth it.

Would you consider the audio edition of Shatter the Bones to be better than the print version?

In a way, yes. When reading, you put your imagination to how people talk, how their accent sounds. When a books is read out loud to you, particularly by someone who can do all the accents as brilliantly as Steve Worsley, it brings everything alive. For those of you not familiar with the Aberdonian accent, it can be quite strong, so listen carefully.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I've always loved Logan McRae. He's had some tough times with a dodgy love life and a career dogged with incompetent colleagues and senior officers who care more for politics than policing, but he has a heart of gold and a caring nature and always tries to do the right thing.

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

Logan - Steve really seemed to connect with him as a character right down to the bone (no pun intended).

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

Absolutely. As with all McBride's books, you are torn this way and that, one minute raging with anger, the next howling with laughter at his dark gallows humour.

Any additional comments?

There were a couple of continuity errors, getting the names / gender wrong, etc, but that didn't detract at all. It is a hard hitting story, and consequently there is a LOT of bad language, so don't say you weren't warned.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent

Still listening at 4am couldn't switch off well read and well written touches of humour just to keep the roller coaster running

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Full of action and realism

loved it. Exciting, funny and sad all in one. Another great listen. Brilliantly read the characters are so alive!