Having read all of the DI Clare McKay books by Marion Todd I was was delighted to receive the sixth installment through netgalley.

The book didn't disappoint and I was willing Clare and her team on all the way to solve the crime after two prison officers wives are abducted and we follow the story of who took them and why.

I cannot wait to see what Clare and her team are given to solve next.

I have become rather fond of the characters in this series, an enjoy the security of returning to St Andrews nick to see what’s happening. Old Bones Lie starts off at a really fast pace and remains unrelenting as the story unfolds. That’s always been one element that draws me into Marion’s writing, the impossibility of being able to put the book down. As it was, I finished in a single day, reading into the wee small hours.
DI Clare McKay isn’t perfect, but she’s excellent when it comes to getting the job done. Old Bones Lie came with a twist as she was unable to have her usual support from DS Chris West. Their repartee is an enjoyable element of the series, and I certainly missed their sparring. That said, the change in the dynamic brought an enjoyable new character with DS Max Evans and his magical coffee skills.
There are the anticipated twists and turns, but I never imagined the twists that would come from meeting DCI Ben Ratcliffe. The depth of research is plain to see, but the skill is in the storytelling, and I honestly believe that this is her best yet.
The way that three potentially unrelated crimes merge together had me gripped and I genuinely couldn’t have imagined where the story was going to go next. The timeline is easy to follow with excellent character development and some tense moments. Once again, the sleepy village of Wormit saw some action.
The books all work as a standalone, but I would highly recommend reading some of the earlier offerings and getting to know all the regular characters.

If you have not read any of Marion Todd’s previous books, you are missing out and this is as good as any to start with.
Storyline keeps going to the very last page, unlike some books, easy to imagine characters and a nice straight forward read, it’s the twists and turns that keep you guessing and thinking right to the end.
Waited for a while for a title by this author to appear and certainly not disappointed.
Recommend.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, it had me gripped from the first chapter to the last
When a Prison va goes missing with 2 officers and a convicted jewel thief on board DI Clare Mackay is tasked with finding the missing men. Unfortunately her right hand man DS Chris West won't be able to help as his cousin is one of the missing guards. When it becomes clear this isn't a standard escape attempt a new DCI is brought in to help but the new DCI is clearly hiding something and if she is being kept in the dark how can Clare expect to solve the case.
I love Clare Mackay, she is a brilliant detective but also relatable, compassionate and looks after her team. There is a lot going on in this story, I kept thinking I knew where it was going and then something changed and I was back to square one. Brilliant writing.

Marion Todd is one of my favourite authors and I have read all of her books. This book in the DI Mackay series doesn’t disappoint with twists and turns from start to finish. Great read ,couldn’t put it down. Thanks to Netgalley for chance to review

I have read this series before and I do like the setting in St Andrews and the lead detective Clare. This is absorbing, well written and well paced crime. Easy to read and very enjoyable.

3.5 stars rounded down

DI Clare MacKay #6

When a report comes in that a van containing two prison officers and a convicted jewel thief is missing, the police in St. Andrews work quickly to locate the vehicle. Their efforts prove in vain when no trace is found and they realise the wives of both officers also appear to have left the area. Is this a case of corrupt guards springing a felon, or innocent people caught in the crossfire.

I have read all the books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite gel together for me. I found the pace a little slow. When Clare discovers her partner, DS Chris West is related to one of the missing prison guards, she has to put him on a different case. She is now working with DS Max Evans. There's three separate crimes being investigated but how are they all linked? There's lots of twists and plenty pf suspects. I'm sure I will be in the minority and lots of readers will love this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #MarionToddfor my ARC of #OldBonesLie inexchange for an honest review.

Old Bones Lie is the sixth outing for author Marion Todd's D I Clare Mackay and it's another winner. The story starts with a bang and carries the reader with both great writing and a very good story. It can be read on its own but personally I'd start with the first in the series See Them Run and work forwards but it's not essential, jumping in with Old Bones Lie is as good a place as any! The good news is that Old Bones Lie sees the author maintaining the strong standards that run through the series. Really excited to see where the next book will take us. I now look forward to Todd's Clare Mackay books with the same anticipation I used to reserve for Rankin's Rebus. For me Marion Todd is now sitting comfortably along side Caro Ramsay as the two best crime writers in Scotland today and I hope Todd's books keep reaching a wider audience. Old Bones Lie is an easy recommendation. An easy five stars.

When you're stuck in covid isolation, this is the ideal book to be reading at such a time. Certainly took my mind off the boring day, lots of twists, and just when you think you've got it all worked out, guess what, you most certainly have not. Excellent writing, not a author I have read before, however will be looking for more of their work.

This is #6 in the DI Clare Mackay series, but can easily be read as a standalone. I’ve read the previous five books and really enjoyed them so was looking forward to the next instalment. It didn’t disappoint and I was gripped right the way through.

Two prison officers are taking a convicted robber to his uncle’s funeral but during the return journey, all three of them – and the van – go missing. It seems that both of the prison officers’ wives are missing as well. Have the prison officers gone rogue, or have they been forced into this?

DI Clare Mackay’s sergeant, Chris, can’t work with the team on this because one of the prison officers is his cousin, and a DCI is drafted in to head up the search, so Clare is a bit out of sorts. Then a body is discovered…

If the author is reading this – I hope there’s going to be a book 7!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I enjoy police procedurals and reading one set in Scotland is a bonus. This is the fourth Detective Clare Mackey that I have read and it is my least favorite. It plodded and the clues were so obvious to make the story trite. If you ever watched an old melodrama with the villain leering from out behind the curtains or slinking away from the crime scene - well that is how this book read for me. There is a more than an annoying amount of chauvinism, inner office politicking, deception by colleagues and no one fighting to take the high road, plus a very dissatisfying ending left me hoping for more.

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for a copy

I loved the book. Read such a good book after a very long while.

I loved the protagonist Clare and her team of associates. I loved the few personal touches but I loved the plot most of all. The book had enough twists and turns to keep me awake till late.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. This doesn't impact my opinion in any way.

DI Clare Mackay’s sixth outing is easily the best in the series so far, as Marion Todd continues to go from strength to strength as a crime writer. The characters are rounded and engaging, and the relationships are believable. The plot has as many twists and turns as the back roads to Cupar, and the local details added extra interest (some weel kent places for this Fife bookworm.) This time, the plot centres around a missing prisoner and the two prison officers escorting him. To further complicate Clare’s caseload, a second major crime takes place on her patch, and new faces make their presence felt in St Andrews’ police station. Another cracking read from this Caledonian Crime Colllective alumni - and the hope that there are many more to come!

Old Bones lie is the 6th book in the D.I. Clare Mackay series.
When prisoner Paul Devine goes missing after is let out of prison to attend a funeral with his prison guards. D.I Clare Mackay and her team lead the investigation to find out where they are. But then their wives go missing after two men arrive at there home armed and dressed in balaclavas. Clare’s DS Chris West is a cousin of one of the guards, so he is taken off the case and given the task to investigate expensive machinery that has been stolen off a farm.
After losing her DS to another case, Clare must deal with a new one DS Max Evans. She has reservations at first but, her soon realises her is a good cop and he also make a dam good cup of coffee.
As the investigation deepens a body is found which the think it is the body of Kim white who works in the jewellery shop that Paul Devine stole from. She is also introduced DCI Ben Ratcliffe who takes over the investigation from Clare. But doesn’t 100 percent trust him as he is acting cagey towards her. Is there a link between both the cases? Only time will tell.
Thank you, Canelo, for a copy of Old Bones lie. This is another intriguing episode in the series with lots of twists and turns. I did enjoy this but found it quite complex. And I missed the usual banter between the team. 4 stars from me.

DI Clare MacKay does it again in Marion Todd's latest addition to an already great series. Old Bones Lie contains several mystery threads that definitely keep you guessing until the very end. I also like the subtle ways in which Todd weaves MacKay's personal life into the book without making it the main focus. We know just enough to have confidence in MacKay and I appreciate the fact that she doesn't rely on Gibson. Basically the type of book you read in one or 2 sittings.

A Test Of Integrity..
The sixth in the Detective Clare Mackay series finds the detective with a case which may test her own integrity as well as that of those around her. With missing prison officers, a missing van and jewel thief, the situation is bad enough, but when it’s realised that the wives of the missing officers are also unable to be located the situation is compounded. A tightly crafted procedural with a good sprinkling of human nature, a well crafted cast of characters and an immersive, twisting plot. A worthy addition to this formidable series.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This instalment focusses on the escape of a man imprisoned for armed robbery and the murder of the witness who testified against him, with some farm equipment thefts thrown in for good measure. I found this complicated, but I think I have worked out what went on. Clare is asked to pass the search for the escaped prisoner to another senior officer, Ben, (although she is for ever working on that aspect too) and this thread was intriguing, with Ben acting oddly at times.

Another strong instalment in this series.

I was hooked right from the prologue- the action in this book started really quickly and drew me in, not that I needed much tempting, having read the previous 5 DI Clare Mackay books and having been eagerly awaiting this next instalment. The characters I love are back, with some new faces too- hoping Max (with the good coffee!) stays around to become a familiar face!
This book is fast paced, and along with the usual police procedures we’ve come to expect from Marion Todd, came a term I’d learnt from Line of Duty (CHIS) - all that TV watching has come in useful for something! There was also character development, with Clare and Al’s relationship progressing, along with that of Chris and Sara. It’s a good balance too, not too focused on the personal lives of the characters to overshadow the story- and what a story it was! Without giving anything away, it was full of twists and turns and not your average crime!
As a local reader, I love all the reference to places I know, or have heard of- I think there should be a Clare Mackay bus tour next!
For those who haven’t read the other previous books, there’s nothing stopping this being a standalone book for you, but you would miss out on the relationships between the characters, and their ‘back stories’. Definitely one of my favourite series’ of books!
I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This is the 6th in the series of the DI Clare Mackay books.

When a prison van containing two prison guards and dangerous criminal Paul Divine goes missing without a trace, it's down to DI Clare Mackay and her team to investigate and discover the whereabouts of the vehicle and it's occupants. Clare quickly discovers that not only are the two wives of the guards have also disappeared, but one of the guards is DS Chris West's cousin. Deciding that he is too close to the case, she re deploys him to another investigation involving expensive machinery that has been stolen from a local farm. Not only does Clare have to continue the investigation without Chris, she has to work with a new DS Max Evans, As events unfold and a murder is discovered, Clare is told another DCI will be bought in to work on the investigation in to the missing prison van and the very secretive DCI Ben Ratcliffe arrives to take over, leaving her to continue investigating the murder. When the victims of Paul Divine's burglary are looked in to further as there are concerns for their safety, and Paul's brother Anthony acting suspicious Clare is felt left in the dark, what is DCI Ben hiding from her, and how are all these people connected?

This was another brilliant installment to the DI Clare Mackay series, I couldn't stop reading, plenty of twists and turns along the way, and just when you think you have it figured - you don't!! I really like that Al is always 'The DCI'!

I was eagerly waiting for the next book, and it didn't disappoint! Congratulations Marion, it was a work of art!

DI Clare Mackay and DCI Al Gibson have finally moved in together and all seems to be rosy on that front (thank goodness).

A prison van containing a prisoner on compassionate leave to attend a funeral goes missing along with the prisoner and two prison guards escorting him. The prisoner was convicted or armed robbery of a local high-end jewellery store so Clare puts officers on guard of the store, its owner, and the assistant who actually identified the man and got him convicted. But when she goes to the woman's isolated cottage, she finds a dead body in the shed and £20,000 in cash hidden in a bag of compost (ericaceous in case you were wondering).

With a murder and two missing prison guards, not to mention an escaped prisoner, Clare's boss brings in a DCI from another station to take over the disappearances while Clare focuses on the murder, but she can't help but think the two are linked and that the missing prisoner is her prime suspect.

This is police procedural at its best. Following down clues, missing things, circling back and double-checking. Things not being as obvious as you might originally have thought. Things that make no sense.

Having received an ARC of the fifth book, and then having bought the previous four and devoured them, I can honestly say that Marion Todd has joined my list of autobuy/request authors. The crimes are different (not a serial killer every time like some authors), the interaction with the other characters at the police station is good and there has been some real character development from when Clare first came to St Andrews.

Overall, another intriguing and gripping detective story.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.