I lost my reading mojo this week, so I thought the best way to reignite it would be to read the next book in a series that I had previously enjoyed and therefore The Book of Souls was a natural choice.

This is the 2nd book in the Tony McLean series and again features some violent murders and a serial killer who is murdering young woman in an identical style as The Christmas Killer who a) murdered Tony McLean's fiance 10 years ago and b) just died and was buried causing Tony to have to face up to some very personal and uncomfortable demons.

Talking of demons (see what I did there), if you've read Natural Causes (book 1), then you will know that these police crime books are slightly different from the norm and do touch on the occult and supernatural which gives the story line an edgy and spooky feel.

I really enjoyed this book and thoroughly recommend it if you are looking for something a bit different.

My second book of this excellent police procedural series and there is still so much to enjoy. I know the characters better and they have taken on personalities, although I still have Grumpy Bob and Angus Cadwallader as my favourites. The stories still have a supernatural twist, but not as intrusive this time as in the first case, Natural Causes. If Sherlock Holmes is cerebral, then Tony McLean is a spiritual detective and this case is emotional and haunting, as in the presence of Father Anton.
I did figure out the killer, but well towards the end of the book, which is good, as nobody wants an easy detective read! I have already started reading book 3, The Hangmans Song, an enormous pleasure awaits me I hope. I have left a copy of this review on Goodreads today.

Another great book from James Oswald. A straightforward police procedural with a touch of the supernatural. All the characters are well written and the plot twists and turns beautifully. I can't wait to read the next one

Although i enjoyed the first book in this series, i was pleasantly suprised by this second outing. The pace picked up and the story was really intèresting. I am really looking forward to the next installement

This was a real page turner from the beginning. Will definitely look for this author in future.

Loved this book, they get better with each one. 5 stars. Would highly recommend

Oh I do love a book that holds my attention and keeps a tight exciting pace from start to finish... and this is such a book.
I've never read James Oswald before but would be happy to try more stories from him. I liked the characters and the plot was well planned and edgy enough to have me feeling tense especially towards the conclusion.

My next review is:-

"The Book Of Souls:Inspector McLean 2", written by James Oswald and published on Penguin; paperback / softback edition 4 July 2013. 432 pages. ISBN-13: 978-1405913164

Every year for ten years, a young woman's body was found in Edinburgh at Christmas time: naked, throat slit, body washed clean.

Ten years, ten women.

The final victim, Kirsty Summers, was Detective Constable Tony McLean's fiancée. But the Christmas Killer made a mistake. In a cellar under a shop, McLean found a torture chamber and put an end to the brutal killing spree. Twelve years later, and a fellow prisoner has just murdered the incarcerated Christmas Killer. But with the arrival of the festive season comes a body. A young woman: naked, washed, her throat cut. Is this a copycat killer? Or was the wrong man behind bars all this time?

Or is there a more sinister, frightening explanation?

McLean must revisit the most disturbing case of his life and discover what he missed before the killer strikes again . . .

Detective Inspector Tony McClean comes across as a very decent chap. He is generally most considerate of other people, although there are some whom he considers a liability and complete waste of space. Unfortunately, the prime example of this is his superior officer, to whom he should act with deference and respect, but that is difficult when the man is at best incompetent, obstructive or both and at worst bone idle and a rather nasty bully. Fortunately, Tony manages to keep his hands to himself, but doesn’t have the same level of control over his tongue, which he sometimes runs off whilst he is still searching for his filter!

As the most recently promoted inspector in the station, Tony is trying to do a good job whilst being treated, at times, as little better than the office junior. His efforts and thought processes are belittled and called into question at every possible opportunity and never more so than when he is dealing with a promising lead. Despite all efforts to undermine him, he manages to follow through and come up with solutions, and not just to his own investigations!

There may be small things which escape his notice at times, but they usually come back into his mind at the right time because Tony is an intuitive investigator who pays attention to detail. The only problem with that is that in this investigation, he is beset by memories of an event from many years ago which is obviously intertwined with current events but he just can’t work out how. Eventually one of those details which he observed jogs his memory and things start to fall into place but he really does not like the picture which develops. Once again he puts his life on the line to find the ultimate answer but can he get there in time? I’m not sure I would want to work with this colleague but he does come across as a very hard working and patient police-man.

This second book in the Inspector McClean series was every bit as good as the first one, if not slightly better. It was well paced and kept my interest throughout. Sometimes a series of books can become a bit formulaic but not this one. I have had the opportunity to read all the following five books which were all as good as this one. Strongly recommended.


Best wishes,


Terry

(For eurocrime.co.uk)

Enjoyed the 2nd book. But wasnt quite as good as the 1st one.

This is the second in the DI Tony McLean series, an enjoyable read for me. Kirsty Summers, Tony's fiancee, was the last victim of a serial killer who over a period of ten years killed a person every year at Christmas time. A determined Tony ensured the Christmas Killer was caught, convicted and sent to prison. Twelve years after, the Christmas Killer is fatally stabbed in the shower by another prisoner. In a constantly raining Edinburgh, it is Christmas and a young woman's body is discovered murdered with the same MO as the Christmas Killer...it appears that there is a copycat killer on the loose or is there?. Tony finds himself having to revisit a traumatic case to uncover what is going on. He struggles to cope as there are a series of warehouse fires, not to mention his home going up in smoke, and there is the established feature of the series, conflict with the police hierarchy. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.

Book 2 in the Inspector McLean series and it's just as good as the first.

Well written characters, good humour to lighten up some of the nastier situations, clues dotted around to help piece it all together and an all around good story.

Highly recommend this series, the books, so far, are consistently good and I'm sure that they will all be 5 star reads for me.

The second book in this series is as well written as the first. Most of the original cast return for another complex, gruesome case with a healthy dose of Scottish humour.

Inspector McLean has never truly recovered from the death of his fiancée twelve years ago at the hands of the Christmas Killer who killed a woman every year around Christmas for several years. Now the killer, Douglas Anderson, has been killed in jail but a young woman's body has been found and the similarity to his method of killing is uncanny. Is someone copying Anderson's methods or was the wrong person put in prison in the first place? McLean and his team investigate this and a further two murders while also investigating a series of arsons on only warehouses and factories that are being redeveloped in the city. Then someone close to the team is abducted - is the same killer and can the team find their friend before it is too late. Really enjoyed this second book in the series by James Oswald and look forward to seeing how the characters develop in future books.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the 2nd book in the Inspector McLean series by author James Oswald.
I read the first book in this series last week and was hooked. If you love good British Crime series with strong interesting characters then this is for you. After getting in to the first book I was very quickly thinking about the next one and the one after that. I have to be honest I am already reading and enjoying book 3 and have 4,5,6,7 waiting to read very soon. I would recommend reading this series in order because there is a lot of back stories that will make a lot more sense if read in order.

A serial killer named the Christmas killer has murdered one person each year for ten years, the final victim was Kirsty Summers the fiancee of Detective Constable Tony McLean. This was a big mistake for the killer because Tony Maclean made it his mission to catch the murderer and put him in prison. Twelve years later a fellow prisoner has killed the Christmas killer and all is well until with the arrival of the festive season comes a body. A young woman: naked, washed, her throat cut.
Is this the work of a copycat killer? Was the wrong man behind bars all this time? Or is there a more frightening explanation?

The plots are well planned and excellently paced but what I really enjoy is the interaction between the battling policemen. Lots of in fighting, difficult relationships and some really good sub plots that make this series a bit special. This series has all the good signs of Ian Rankin's Rebus, Stuart MacBrides Logan Macrae and Peter James Roy Grace, Another series for me to follow closely.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Every year for ten years, a young woman's body was found in Edinburgh at Christmas time: naked, raped, throat slit, body washed clean.
Ten years & ten women. The final victim, Kirsty Summers, was Detective Constable Tony McLean's fiancée. However the Christmas Killer made a mistake & by chance Tony visited the bookshop & found a piece of evidence. Then in a cellar under the shop, the police found a torture chamber and put an end to the brutal killing spree.
Now almost a decade later, and a fellow prisoner has just murdered the incarcerated Christmas Killer. But with the arrival of the festive season comes a body. A young woman: naked, raped, washed, her throat cut. Then another body with the same MO is found. There’s also a spate of fires. Edinburgh Detective Inspector Tony McLean has his hands full with the investigations.
I read this immediately after reading the first book in the series Natural Causes, I found it a gripping read my only criticism being the supernatural element which I wasn’t fond of. I did find the pace of the book good & the characters well portrayed. I’m now going to move onto the third in the series

I enjoyed the crime element throughout this book and the characters and if it had been left at that I would have given another star to my rating. The supernatural part was to me just unbelievable and not my thing at all.

The book of souls by James Oswald is a mystery and thriller and general fiction (adult) read.
Every year for ten years, a young woman's body was found in Edinburgh at Christmas time: 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 . . .
This was a fantastic read with brilliant characters. McLean is still my favourite character. Had me on the edge of my seat. Couldn't put it down. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.