Song of the Dead

DI Westphall, Book 1

By: Douglas Lindsay

Narrated by: Mr Angus King

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Book one in the DI Westphall series.

A dead man walks into a police station. He tells a tale - bizarre as it is grotesque - of kidnap and organ harvesting. John Baden's story of being held prisoner for 12 years sounds far-fetched - but it's all about to get much, much stranger.  

DI Ben Westphall has been given the case because of his background in MI6. He also has a knack for getting inside people's heads and seeing things others would miss. Westphall is no ordinary detective, and this is no ordinary case.  

When his suspects start dying, Westphall realises someone is killing to cover up the truth. But what exactly is the truth? To find out, he'll have to question everything he's been told, before there's no one left to ask.

©2018 Douglas Lindsay (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

"Richly atmospheric...Lindsay solidifies his place as one of the rising stars of tartan noir." (Publishers Weekly)

Excellent suspense with just a little more...

The book keeps you on the edge of your seat with the, “who done it” suspense, but there is something more. I cannot put it into words in a review without ruining the enjoyment of the subtleties when listening to book. I would highly recommend this book. For me, it had many of the qualities I look for in an audio book.

5

Masterfull writing and an excellent narrator bring us a rare
mystery novel. It is layer upon layer of what could be simple
murder or... not. I'm going to listen to this a 2nd time now that the ending has made everything clear and the MI6 boss demands proof of All that has happened -
just an over the top modern mystery.

Rambling story and dull characters

The way this book was promoted was misleading. Not enough time spent on the mystery/story and a lot of time spent on endless back stories and a ridiculous amount of existential angst and philosophical ramblings from the lead detective which got in the way of the story for me. This book is not for anybody looking for a traditional mystery. disappointing!

Sixth Sense Scottish Detective Style

I have listened to all three books available. The writing is beautiful, the characters are interesting and developing more as individuals as the series grows. The mysteries are well crafted, and a cut above many current formula books getting five star ratings. I like Angus King, he is perfect for the moody Scottish melancholy being written about in the DI Westphall Series. I am looking forward to book number four.

This is the dullest book

Ive ever seen thru to the end. Wouldnt have done it except I can almost listen to Angus King narrating anything. There are copious amounts of minutia that could have been edited out. But then the story would have been very short. I felt no attachment to the characters. To be fair, Im not a fan of woo-woo, so that was another strike. So sorry i cant find anything good to say beyond the narration.

Good enough that want to read more

no sure o Westphall, seems a wee bit airy-fairy for me... but there's enough in the book that I want to learn more about the lad

Excellent!

Definitely atmospheric. Also, great narrator. In my last review of a book also narrated by Mr. King, I wondered if it was the lack of his skill (I previously had not listened to a book narrated by him), or the mystery/thriller (new author's first book of a new series) he read, that was not great. Well, my apologies to Mr. King. He sure did a great job narrating this book, which was great as well. I will look for more books to listen to from this author, and narrator.
Audible addict,
Scotty

Not my favorite

I struggled to get through this story, it's painstakingly slow. just when you think it's finally moving, and will shed some light on the story, it takes five steps back and your worse off. The only thing that kept me somewhat involved was Angus king, he's a brilliant Narrator, and I love all the other books he's narrated. But sadly I got to about chapter 42 and fast forward to the end. Glad i did because the ending was lack of a better word, boaring!

Took some getting used to; too much mind chatter

Accent was wonderful but took my ear time to adjust. Story was complicated, but too much chasing around in main character's thoughts. Not my cuppa ...

different enough to make it interesting

Narrator well suited to the book. Interesting central character. Will buy more by this author.

What a cracker!

I love the fact with audible I’ve expanded my repertoire of authors and this does not disappoint! This book got devoured in a day and a half! The narrator is top class, he gives the main character such a like ability that I couldn’t stop listening. Great story, lots of twists and turns and kept me guessing right to the end...I’ve started Book 2 already!

Decent, but inconsistent

For a series debut, this was good enough, but the story kept going off on odd tangents that confused the overall theme. If it had had less diversions, the plot would have flowed better, but this is something that can be improved upon and I look forward to the next in the series.

Wish I read the reviews first!

I was expecting a Scottish police detective novel. I’m not sure what this is! Confusing. Like another reviewer, I had to keep backpedaling to see if I had missed something. Apparently, I had not. If you like other worldly, this is for you. If you want good detective fiction, it’s not. Couldn’t get to the end.

Got to the end and went Eh???

Stupid number of twists and turns mean story is as slippery as an eel. Less is more.

Not for me

Listened to a couple of chapters and then threw the towel in. Story was dire and narration was just okay. Bought as a DD thankfully. Way too many other books to keep me occupied during lockdown.

Awful doesn't cut it

Worst audio book I have ever bought kept listening in hope
WhY a waste of my time goodness knows what I was thinking sorry for the August not my bag all over the place shocking
Q

Highly Enjoyable.

An excellent detective novel based in the Highlands and Eastern Europe. This was the first book in the series and I look forward to hearing more.
Some pretty awful things happen, but the descriptions of blood and gore are muted, rather than detailed and upsetting. Life however in a regional Scottish Police Force, in Dingwall and the surrounding areas are lovingly detailed.

This could have been good

If it wasn’t so dark and maudlin this could have been good , but then it gets bloody ridiculous by introducing parallel universe claptrap every now and then , it’s a shame , it had a lot going for it , especially , as there was almost no bad language which is a pleasant change in a police procedural novel .

Hard to finish

Started ok but when the main character started to get clues from dead people visiting him in dreams and sensing things that weren't real but he could feel them etc. - that's where a detective story looses my interest at least. Beside that, much too long for the very simple content.

It's a bit confusing!

I got completely lost in parts! I stuck with it just to find out what the heck the story was about! I felt like I'd missed massive chunks of the story but checked back, so know I hadn't. It's definitely a very disjointed, odd story! I feel like killing characters were added just to make sure you're awake! And random tales of infidelity interjected into the story added no value... if you like weird, this one's for you! All that said, I kinda want to know what happens next!! so I guess the author did his job well! Angus King, as always, brought the characters to life! Cannot fault the narration at all!