Member Reviews

DC Edward Reekie is having a bad day. It started innocently enough. He and his DI "Bigtoria" picked up Marky Bishop from Grampian Prison and transported him to the village of Glenfarach. Glenfarach is a village specially build to house people who've served their sentences but wouldn't be very well received out in the big wide world. There is a lot of security and a curfew which balances the small band of police and social workers based there.
The weather has turned bad and they have set off back to civilisation when they get a call to turn back as there has been a murder.. With the weather worsening they turn back and face the fact that they won't get home that night. When the evidence is destroyed in the worse way possible, Bigtoria and Edward have to find a way to solve this. Does killing Edward and burying him in a shallow grave qualify?
I love the black humour in this book and once again Stuart Macbride has come up trumps.

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The Dead of Winter is the latest bleak offering from Stuart MacBride which sees the usual chaos and gore and death that you expect from this author.

The main characters are well formed and add to the storyline which moves along at a great pace

So overall another winner from MacBride

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A bit strange this one and unbeliveable. The storyline is a bit far fetched but its an enjoyable read.

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2/5 ok

So I’m a huge Stuart MacBride Fan. I’ve read all the Logan books. Enjoyed them all. I didn’t even mind the last standalone which was pretty wild. So I knew what to expect. I was excited so why do I feel so disappointed?

What starts out with a great first chapter, very slowly descends into a somewhat tired and unbelievable tale. With characters very clearly mimicking the Logan characters - if it ain’t broke and all that - and more toilet humour - if it ain’t broke….. - I just couldn’t get excited by it.

It lacks the usual pace, the jokes just feel old, the characters aren’t as good as who they are based on and it all just feels flat.

Twists are there but really not overly shocking as there was simply no other option than what they turned out to be.

I feel sad I didn’t love this. I feel like MacBride is trying to transition away from Logan and Steele now, yet this book clearly shows he still has them in his head and if this was written as Logan and Steele, it would have been an altogether different proposition. As it is .. Meh

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I read "the coffinmaker's garden" last year and really enjoyed it so was looking forward to this new one. It certainly lived up to expectations with very dark humour, eccentric and very dangerous characters and a sense of foreboding throughout the story. There was also a high body count and lots and lots of snow adding to the general mayhem.
My only added comment would be to request the author finds some more exclamations to add to "hmph" and "urgh"!
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

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Get your thermals on, hot water bottle and comfy warm slippers, you will need it as you will forget the time as you continue to read the new series? way past your bedtime. staring Detective Constable Edward Reekie and DI Victoria Elizabeth Montgomery – Porter AKA “Bigtoria“. All set in a worst snow storm in Scottish history stuck in a village full of prisoners (200+) who have committed all sorts of heinous crimes and out on lockdown, all pretty rough characters with no need to get warm with. A little unusual to start with leaves you wondering what's happening but persevere all will be revealed in time, some nice twists; with McBride's usual wit and one liners as we have all come to love with Logan McRae series, love it.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to pre read prior to publication on the 16th Feb. Nice one.

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Stuart MacBride always gives unique and entertaining stories and this one doesn't disappoint. Twists and turns a plenty, memorable characters, and an original setting all work their magic in this novel. The hero has numerous challenges that seem impossible to overcome, and there are villains galore!
Fabulous read.
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

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This book is definitely best read in cold weather for full empathy with the characters! Full of Stuart macbrides usual dry humour and sarcasm from his characters, it was easy to read. The setting itself, a strange locked village housing dangerous ex-cons had a sinister creepy vibrant was like a character itself. Towards the endvof the book, things got a bit crazy and incredible although in the weird atmosphere of the book it seemed that anything might happen. The only gripe for me was that there was too much description of fight scenes and endless trudging through the snow ( or crumping, which is repeated too many times) and a certain character's twee use of the word Fudge.

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I was so looking forward to this, having enjoyed this author’s previous books. But unfortunately this wasn’t really for me. It starts with real promise and a shocking first chapter.
The book tells the tale of a police constable travelling with his female senior officer to pick up a dying convict and move him to the village of Glenfarach, so he can live out his last days. However, the village is full of ex convicts and then a snowstorm approaches. What follows I found to be an unbelievable story with consistently unlikeable characters. Overall, an OK read, but, not the best from this excellent author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

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Well ... this book certainly opens up in an unexpected manner. The prologue really is one of those killer (every pun intended) moments that draws me into a story, whether I like it or not. And I really did like it. Intriguing, chilling, quite literally for the characters, and with the kind of ending which catches you unawares and, in my case, made me absolutely want to know just what in the hell is going on. It's also the kind of prologue that Stuart MacBride is a master in, creating an overwhelming sense of suspicion from the start, particularly when it comes to one of the key characters. But as to their true nature, and the meaning of that opening scene - well the only way I was going to find out was to read the rest of the book, something that proved to be a rather unexpected, but enjoyable, experience.

Stuart MacBride is adept at developing a rather unique set of circumstances for his characters, especially in his recent books in which his dry sense of humour has really come to the fore. I enjoy that necessarily black humour, and some of the more slapstick elements of it, but I also like the darker side of his writing and some of the really twisted, and often grotesque, crimes that he commits on the page. Well, his characters anyway. It's what drew me to his writing in the first place . With The Dead of Winter, the story tends more towards the dark side - vicious murders, a remote and isolated location cut off from the rest of the country by a sever winter storm - but with enough humour to prevent it becoming oppressively so. Oh, and it's worth mentioning that the 'residents' of the particular community are all convicted criminals, those whose crimes were deemed so heinous, their presence so much of a risk to the rest of the populace, as well as themselves, that they could not be released into normal society. It is a village full of ex-cons, murderers, sex-offenders and the like, and in that kind of setting anything could happen.

The action in this book centres around DC Edward Reekie and DCI Montgomery-Porter, the two officers tasked with transporting an ex-offender to his new home in Glenfarach. Their simple transport job takes a dark turn and they find themselves investigating a murder with only the towns limited, and inexperienced police force as back up. but in a place full of ex-cons, whose word can you trust. And given what we know about what is yet to come from the prologue, that uncertainty can be extended to pretty much anyone who sets foot within the gated community.

I liked Reekie as a character. He is trusting, out upon by his superior, and a bit of whipping boy at times (sound familiar?), but he is determined, if a little accident prone. His enthusiasm is endearing, and sometimes draining, and his attempt to get the community on side using the sugar not vinegar approach leads to some really comedic moments, highlighting that touch of naivety which endeared him to me. As for Montgomery-Porter (aka Bigtoria), she's abrupt, dismissive and very much distracted. A hard character to warm, with or without the thigh high snow drifts.

The rest of the police team are a real mixed bag, from the jaded to the unbelievably inept, but they all add something to the story, as do the various former felons who become a key part of the investigation. From the enthusiastically helpful former forensic psychologist, Dr Singh, to the overly friendly handy woman, Jenna Kirkdale, each one adds to the atmosphere, and the intensity, of the story. Singh's insight proves helpful to the investigation, Jenna's flirting, a welcome distraction from some of the darker moments. And from the vicious nature of some of the people who cannot keep their base urges in check, through to the manipulative nature of others, its a cast of characters who really keep you on your toes, and who manage to keep the finger of guilt moving between the various suspects. And there are a lot of suspects.

The conclusion to this story is fast paced, high stakes, unexpected and very satisfying. It may not have the true darkness that the author's earlier works exuded, but it still hits the spot. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, Stuart MacBride managed to spring another surprise, often bringing a smile to my face. I'm thinking of the very creative use of a snow plough for one thing. Yes there are moments which make the skin crawl, but then we are snowed in with hardened criminals. It was never going to be a happily every after for everyone, was it? If you've enjoyed titles such as No Less the Devil and Now We Are Dead, then you'll eat this up. Heartily recommended.

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We start with a straight forward prisoner transfer. An old lag is dying and is being released after serving his sentence to live out the rest of his life in a village setting. DC Edward Reekie is the officer tasked with this simple job, along with new boss DI Veronica Montogery-Porter, AKA Bigtoria. Their destination isn't any old village as we soon discover. Instead it is where prisoners are relocated to once their sentence is spent but who are deemed not ready/safe for release back into the world! There are strict rules and curfew and tagging and cameras.
Reekie delivers his charge and they set off back from whence they came, only to get a call to return as a body has been discovered. Weather conditions, already treacherous, have worsened and the village is cut off and no other assistance is able to get through.
And so begins a cracking and rather intriguing case for Reekie and Bigtoria to try and get to the bottom of. In a village full of the worst of the worst where should they start? You'd think with all the monitoring that goes on, it'd be open/shut? Well... think again...
I love this author. Both his Logan McRae and Ash Henderson series, and his other stand alone No Less The Devil. You could say I'm a bit of a fan! He has a dark sense of humour that really gels with me and also a writing style that fits my reading style. He also creates some of the best (worst) characters, each of them playing their parts to perfection. As well as all that he has a great imagination (hopefully) for crimes. The darker, the gorier the better for me. And he never disappoints.
If you are already a fan, you will love this book. If you have never read his books before, this might be a good time to start. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

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If you love this author as much as I do I promise that you will not be disappointed. Full of humour as you would expect from this author. Gritty, brutal murders and a brilliant whodunnit. And did I mention snow so much snow. I loved the two main characters DO Victoria Elizabeth Montgomery aka Bigtoria but never say that to her face and her long suffering colleague DC Edward Reekie. This book is a stand alone but I can see and wish that this is the start of a new series.
They are delivering a prisoner to Glenfarach a small village with more cctvthan is expected. Welcome to The Village of the Damned. Let the murder, mayhem and laughs begin. I loved it!!!! Another fantastic five star read from one of my favourite authors.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

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Well, what can I say? It’s always a wild read with Stuart MacBride and this one is no different with his trademark humour, dark story and larger than life characters. To add to the brilliant dramatic and intense atmosphere I was lucky enough to be reading it during a very cold January snow storm in Aberdeenshire. Needless to say I enjoyed this book!

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I’ve only just discovered this author and hisi wonderful thrillers. The raw violence and danger mixed in with wonderful humour and gritty characters have me hooke deform the start . The Dead of Winter starts with DI Victoria Elizabeth Montgomery – Porter (or if she’s out of ear shot, Bigtoria,) and DC Edward Reekie . The two officers are collecting ageing con Mark Bishop, who is being given early release as he has terminal cancer. ‘Marty’ is going to live out his remaining months in the remote Scottish village of Glenfarach,. Only this is not quite what it seems. Glenfarach may look like the quittensentially pretty Scottish village with all the beauty of the Scottish Higlands, daintily covered in snow but nothing is what is seems. Look closer and you will see the street lights are rather larger than you’d expect, to say nothing of the myriad CCTV literally everywhere. If you are really observant you might even see the rather bulky ankles of the villagers. Glenfarach is the home to all the criminals that have served out their prison sentences but for one reason or another they cannot be released to the public. As Constable Reekie drives his surly DI and sick passenger the weather changes and by the time they arrive at their destination it’s obvious they won’t be going anywhere soon. Snowed in with paedophiles, sex offenders, mob killers and other serious offenders is bad enough , and then there’s a murder.
Stuart Macbride’s wonderful writing style with its fascinating story lines cleverly combined with laugh out loud humour keeps you enthralled from the first page. The gore, the fear, the nail biting tension all provide a wonderful read that leaves you just wanting more. A wonderful book but a truly unique writer.

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Another brilliant entertaining novel from Stuart MacBride. Sadly it doesn't feature Logan MacRae (I do miss him) but Edward Reekie is an excellent substitute. The story is mad, chaotic and thrilling. Plenty of twists and surprises and all accompanied by the usual sardonic humour we expect from Stuart MacBride. Highly recommended.

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The Dead of Winter by Stuart MacBride
Publication date - 16th Feb 23
Publisher - Random House, Transworld

Thanks to @netgalley for the arc.

‘The Dead of Winter’ is what Stuart MacBride does best - dark humour, strong characters, great sense of location and a brilliant plot. I flew through this book whilst we were having the bad weather in Scotland and it was if the book gods were looking out for me! Reading this book whilst seeing it snow outside made it very atmospheric, but I would have enjoyed it immensely either way. Was just an added boon!

DC Edward Reekie has been volunteered to accompany his new boss DI Victoria Montgomery-Porter, affectionately known as Bigtoria, whilst she escorts a newly released prisoner, Mark Bishop, to his house in the village of Glenfarach. But Glenfarach is a special place, a remote village in the highland of Scotland where people who would be considered at danger from the public when released from prison reside. It’s a picturesque village with a bakers, library, corner shop and looks like a normal wee community. Just one filled with thief’s, murderers and much much worse. As Reekie and Bigtoria make their way there a huge storm hits them and it’s clear they are about to be snowed in. But whilst they are dropping off Bishop a murder victim is found and Bigtoria is asked to investigate. May the insane chaos commence!

This is the latest stand-alone from Stuart and gives us a whole host of new characters to love and laugh with! If you are a fan of the author this book will feel very familiar to you and if not enjoy! I thoroughly enjoyed it as a long time fan. It had the dark humour that his books thrive upon, great characters in Reekie and Bigtoria (I would happily take a series based on them!) and it takes a lot to make me laugh out loud but I did numerous times. What really impressed me though was the location of Glenfarach and the idea behind it. I loved the concept and it’s a twisted mind that came up with it, it’s surprised me with its originality. From the very beginning you are drawn into this winters tale and you aren’t released until the snow begins to melt! I stayed up way past my bedtime reading as I was caught up in Reekie’s story and had to find out its resolution. It was a tense and fast paced story that had many a twist and turns, fabulous reveals and downright right hilarious dialogue and banter.

This book is absolutely bonkers and I loved it!!

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An enjoyable read, but getting a bit formulaic with the smart alec constable with an unsympathetic, usually female, boss. The idea of a town as described is ridiculous. The criminal fraternity would soon know all about it and take advantage.

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As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot....for one thing, where this novel is concerned, you wouldn't believe it!

This is a very different type of crime novel from the other Stuart MacBride's I've read, but I really enjoyed it. Parts of it made me laugh, parts of it horrified me, and the rest had an ethereal, unbelievable vibe about it.

Some great characters - nice and nasty - and some fabulous, believable dialogue. Who can you trust apart from yourself? Good question...

Looking forward to reading more by this talented author. Would love to see more of the main characters in this novel too!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

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Not a bad book, I liked the whole sertup and idea ,and I liked the humour. As a former forensic
Social Worker I felt really sorry for the poor Social Workers being stuck in that situation, and working 6 days a week, no wonder they all self medicated with booze or illicit drugs! The plot was original, and overall I thought it was a good read.

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Glenfarach is a secluded village deep in the Cairngorms National Park. From the outside it would appear to be idyllic but it hides a dark secret. Glenfarach is where the worst criminals go when they have served their sentence but they can’t be released into the general population.
DC Edward Reekie and DI Victoria Montgomery-Porter are taking notorious gangster Marky Bishop to Glenfarach. Bishop is terminally ill and is being released early to die in peace. Montgomery-Porter is hoping that during the journey he will tell them about other crimes they believe he committed.
Unfortunately, Bishop is not giving anything away and after dropping him off Reekie and Montgomery-Porter are leaving the village when they are called back to assist after the body of one of the residents has been found brutally murdered. When a fast-moving blizzard blocks the roads, they are trapped in the village with no outside contact and only a skeleton staff to help them.
Dark, tense, fast paced and twisting like a country lane this is a book that will make you believe one thing and will then turn it totally on its head.

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