For Our Sins by James Oswald is book 13 in the DI Tony McLean series. It is published on 15 February. I am a long-time reader of this series and was lucky enough to receive an ARC through Wildfire, Netgalley and the author. The Tony McLean takes a back seat in this series. He has been on long-term sick leave and possible retirement. DS Janie Harrison has had to step up as have the rest of the team as no replacement has been forthcoming to fill the empty DI position. A series of murdered hard-core criminals at old churches may lead back to an historic crime. During the course of the story, it is sprinkled with short flashbacks providing the reader with information about what happened in 1982-83. This series has some fascinating characters. Love Madame Rose, a medium as well as having other talents. There is also Angus Cadwallader, the pathologist who is easing into retirement with Tom MacPhail, his assistant, taking on a more leading role. I love this series and find each book a pleasure to read. For Our Sins is a great addition to the series.

For Our Sins is the 13th book in the Inspector McClean series by James Oswald, although it’s the first book I’ve read by James I’m now looking forward to reading the previous 12 in this series!
In short, the Major Investigation Team led by DS Janie Harrison is investigating a case which starts with a body found in a partially collapsed church but when another body is discovered in another church it would seem that they are linked to a disturbing historic crime.
It’s a cracking crime novel, the case itself is dark and sinister, however, the story is more than just about the investigation, it’s fully character driven giving plenty of fodder for further storylines. I loved it.
Big thanks to James Oswald, Headline and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

I just love James Oswald. I will now just patiently wait for the next one humph! Tony McLean after Logan McRae is my book crush. I just think Tony is a great character. He ticks all the boxes, I just wish he had been in this book more but I do really like Janie so it was kind of acceptable. I really enjoyed this story. Well rounded characters and the ending was tied up neat and tidy. Highly recommended as always.

James Oswald's Tony McLean series always delivers, and For Our Sins is a delight, even though the Inspector does not feature heavily as he is taking a break to look after Emma. In his absence his colleagues are looking into the deaths of ageing gangsters whose bodies are found in disused churches. How are the deaths linked? Will Tony relent and be lured back to work?

For Our Sins is the first book that I have read by James Oswald, despite hearing such good reviews regarding this author, and series. This is how I find myself reading the thirteenth book in the DI McLean series, without having read the previous twelve. I have clearly missed out on so much of the backstories of these characters, but in no way did this spoil my enjoyment or understanding of the book.

Our story starts in 1983, with a young boy, at the mercy of his Catholic priest. Though it is immediately clear, that this priest’s view on God’s love should earn him a place behind bars, and in eternal hell.
Our other timeline, current day, sees the Major Investigation Team, led by DS Janie Harrison, investigating a complex case. A body found in a partially collapsed church has strong links to a long running, aging crime gang, responsible for much of the city’s criminal enterprise.

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was gripping and gritty, without the over the top plot twists that can take a book into farce and implausibility. The shortage of staff within in the team, and associated pressures reinforce how realistic the story feels.

The characterisation is very strong. Each are distinct, fully formed, quirky and very human. There were many characters I liked, and a few I didn’t, which is always a good balance. I love to hate a character, and mentally plot their downfall, hoping that the author is of the same opinion.

As I mentioned previously, I have plunged into this series very late. I wish I had read from the first book, Natural Causes. Not because I felt my enjoyment of this highly recommended, 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book was marred, but because I have missed out on so many great reads.
There are clearly many long running characters, some of which are more prominently featured than others; but they all bring something to the story, they show their mettle. I really look forward to reading more of their futures, and pasts.
I really hope that James Oswald is planning a fourteenth book in this series, in the meantime, I will head back and start from the beginning.

Bodies are turning up in disused Edinburgh churches, and while the first death is dismissed as an accident when the next body turns up and it is an acquaintance of the first body Inspector McLean's old team are called in to investigate, in McLean's absence Janie Harrison is given a temporary promotion to Inspector but she finds herself butting heads with the powers that be while trying to investigate the deaths. For me this is probably the weakest book in the series, with McLean being absent for a large chunk of the story the focus falls on the other characters and as they have always been supporting characters they aren't developed enough to lead the story, the other issue is the victims, these are not innocent victims they are or have been involved in organised crime and so you don't really care if they were murdered and if the killer will be caught.

I cannot express just how much I have been looking forward to James Oswald's latest in his Edinburgh based series featuring DI Tony McClean, although he has retired to care for Emma after she had suffered a debilitating stroke. All the long established characters return, including DS, soon to be Acting DI, Janie Harrison, snowed under with work, and having the misfortune to work under her sleazy, useless and narcissist of a boss, Detective Superintendent Peter Nelson, a recent arrival from Aberdeen. She has to handle his unwanted creepy advances, and is called out to a dead body that has to be hastily pulled out of a church that scarily collapses. The dead man is Kenneth Morgan, a career criminal released from prison 10 years ago, apparently clean since them, but it appears not to be a suspicious death.

Janie accepts this, but is left with the burning question of why Morgan, a staunch lifelong Catholic, should inexplicably be in this deconsecrated church at night. However, this turns out later to be possibly a case of murder when other murdered bodies of criminals turn up in churches, branded by a cross on their foreheads, fuelling an intense media scrutiny with a serial killer running amok in the city. All of the victims are part of the ruthless and brutal criminal gang led by the elderly Archie Seagram, who has managed to evade the police through the years. Seagram, clearly a terrified man who fears becoming the next target, gets in touch with McLean, trying to encourage the retired detective to investigate, telling him it is a mistake for the police to assume this is about a turf war. McLean is not inclined to get involved until later when his circumstances change. and he joins Janie on the case by becoming a consultant.

It is Janie that takes centre stage, and she rises magnificently to the role of running a particularly complicated and taxing case, working all the hours, in a team seriously short of the necessary people. Janie is low on self esteem and is far from convinced that she is ready to be a DI, but she is clearly marked for a great future in the force. As can be relied on, there are elements of the gothic and supernatural, although that only becomes clear later. It is a delight to be reacquainted with the distinctly offbeat cast that we have come to know so well, such as the wonderful Madame Rose. The insertion of an intriguing thread from the early 1980s, and the trauma of a young boy being abused by Father Eric O'Connell who ends up being murdered by burglars had me intensely curious as to just how it was all going to connect with present day events.

This is a brilliant addition to the series, and I am hoping the author does not take long in coming up with the next in this exceptional Scottish series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

After a bit of a gap, it was great to finally get to read the thirteenth book in this excellent crime fiction series set in Edinburgh and featuring DI Tony McLean. As he had resigned at the end of the last book, to look after his partner Emma who is recovering from a stroke, Tony McLean does not at first feature quite so prominently as he usually does. DS Janey Harrison takes the lead in the investigation as a suitable replacement for DI McLean has not yet been found. She is well up to the task, though the responsibility weighs heavy.
When a body is found in the ruins of an old church building, unidentifiable due to the falling masonry, it is not immediately thought to be suspicious. This changes when two more bodies are found in similar circumstances, all linked to the criminal underworld. Unexplained flashbacks to something that happened back in the 1980s are scattered through the narrative, but do they have any relevance to this investigation?
For Our Sins has all the features we have come to expect from this series – strong and capable female officers (most of the senior officers here are female), a troublesome senior officer who is acting inappropriately, a hint of the supernatural, some familiar characters from previous books (always a pleasure to encounter Madame Rose), and most important, Mrs McCutcheon’s cat and the other one are always there to welcome Tony when he comes home.
As readers of this series will already know, trouble and strange occurrences follow Tony McLean and this case is no exception. It was well worth the long wait, and we can only hope that he plans to come back for good in the next book. Only time will tell.

For Our Sins sees the return of recently retired DI Tony McLean who seems not to be fully enjoying his retirement.

The death of a local gangster sees McLean’s old colleagues under pressure to find out what has happened and it isn’t long before Tony is dragged back in as an adviser.

The story is the usual highly entertaining read from James Oswald with excellent main and supporting storylines that keeps the pages turning.

Highly recommended.

This is book 13 of the Scottish crime Inspector McLean series and although it can be read as a stand alone I would highly recommend reading all of this excellent series. Oswald has built up some interesting and intriguing characters throughout the series and with the characters progression and the ever changing plot this is a superb addition to the series
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as I know I will again with the next addition
Highly recommended

Fantastic to see Tony McLean back whilst also developing other characters. To use the old cliche, it's a page-turner.

Mc Lean is back! Well, sort of back but you will have to read the book to find out. I absolutely loved this read, with Janie Harrison stepping up to acting DI and investigating a series of murders. The developing characterisation is excellent and the plotting is filled with surprises and twists. fast paced, with plenty of tension, this is a must read in this 13th book in the series to feature DI Tony Mc Lean, one of the best in the genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

After an extended break, McLean is back and its triumphant return.

This 13th book in the series steps back from where it was headed as the supernatural element is back seated in favour of a solid, powerful police procedural.

With McLean taking a back seat for much of the book, it allows the backing cast to step up and come to the fore and it almost feels like James Oswald has given his hugely successful series a bit of a refresh, a reboot and I’m all for it.

Superb crime writing

An interesting read this one as it is not the usual Inspector McLean in charge so to speak. Instead he is side lined by the fact he retired and refuses to go back despite getting asked time and again by the higher ups.

What we have is a dead body found when a church collapse and it to all intents and purposes appears to be a heart attack or so they have decided. A crime villain believes or knows otherwise but doesn't know who to tell so he arranges to speak to Tony McLean and advise him that all is not what it seems with the death. Tony though is retired and can't really do much and to some extent doesn't want to due who it was suggesting it.
Then another body turns up in with similar m.o. to the first and that means McLean maybe needs to look into it. Retired though his hands are tied a bit but he can't still influence and find some things out.
That then is the basis of the story and you have two enquiries at times the main police one and McLean's and he tries to influence steer the other.
How it goes and what happens is for you to read and find out and I would strongly advise you to.

This book is as ever well written and thoroughly readable and is what you expect from James Oswald. I just wanted to read it and for it not to end but all good things as they say. If you haven't read the series then your missing a treat and to some extent it may be better if you did read them before this one.
Like I say though if you read this you won't be disappointed.

This is only the 2nd time I have read something by James Oswald. I remember the first time thinking I really like this author and then, unfortunately, forgot all about him until I came across his name again, and I´m so glad I did!

This maybe number 13 in the series, but it doesn´t prevent you from picking up snippets from the previous books to understand the dynamics between the main characters. Intriguing plot, cleverly written, all based in the beautiful city of Edinburgh.

After reading this, I will be searching for the previous books in the series, so that I can catch up properly.

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

I've read and enjoyed every single book in the series and I'm happy to share my initial panic with this book. The central character missing in the midst of a new case, with a plethora of new characters for me to try and get my old brain to remember. Clearly out of my comfort zone.
Quickly though, normal service is resumed, with some faces returning and the plot quickly hitting top speed. This author is incredibly skilled at pacing the book and the story is strong and enthralling. A strong return and the next generation looks promising.
I'm grateful to the publishers for allowing me to read this early.

Number 13 in James Oswald's Inspector McLean series opens as one would expect with a gory death. DS Janie Harrison has been left holding the fort after McLean's sudden resignation at the end of book 12 and everyone is missing him as much as he is missing police work. However he made a promise to Emma.....! Janie makes an heroic effort to solve the murders as they pile up despite low numbers of police officers and an unhelpful superintendent. McLean manages to keep in the loop via various contacts and pops up as a consultant before the end. Another great story with the little added touch of the occult which we have come to expect in these stories. Recommended++
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Another excellent installment in the Scottish Noir series with a supernatural twist.
Inspector McLean takes a bit of a back seat for this episode, but is still very much involved in the story. The story moves along at a good pace and has a few twists, but I feel that the main thrust of this story is to move some of the minor characters of the DI McLean universe into a more sharp focus (Quentin Jardine's "Bob Skinner" series is also very good at the back story being as important as the "whodunnit").
An easy read on the Kindle and a real page turner making you want to know what is happening next.
I look forward to the next Constance Fairchild book, which also inhabits the world of McLean and Rose and Emma et al. and the police forces of England and Scotland...

I've read the first 8 Inspector McLean books and enjoyed them, giving most 4 stars. This book is the 13th so I've missed some. This is clearly Netgalley's fault for giving me other books to review. I must catch up with books 9 to 12 although this story still works as a standalone. It has the same police procedure theme with a hint of supernatural as well as twists and dodgy cops. The author has allowed McLean to develop and I like the way the protégé is being brought in. This is another good story well told.

I discovered James Oswald by reading his Benfro books - simply the best dragon story I've ever read. If you like dragons, read Benfro.

Good plot, Good to see Tony taking a bit of a back seat in the investigation.
The regular cast are all there including Madam Rose but like Tony, more in the background.
The spotlight was on the up and coming detectives and a bit more flesh added to their characters.