Thank you netgalley and Storm Publishing for this arc.

Logan is found standing over his dad's dead body with a bloody knife in his hand. He confesses, it was him he killed him. Open and shut case right? His aunt maintains that he is innocent and hires a PI to investigate further.
This has pentagrams, ritualist murders, corruption and cover ups, with twists and turns throughout.

Really enjoyed this sequel….and the way these three worked together to solve a mystery without necessarily going above the law in a dangerous manner. Interesting story of ritualistic murder.

A good, intriguing, and gripping mystery. A good example of Scottish Noir that I strongly recommend
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Silent Ritual is #2 in the Teàrlach Paterson series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, The Girl in the Loch and was very happy to be jumping in to the next instalment. I loved getting to know the characters in more depth and was chuffed to see Dee back again. This was a really enjoyable read.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

This was an intense read full of twists and turns. The characters had me turning the pages and the plot itself was fast paced and well thought out. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.

Initially I was thinking what on earth is this book about and I really was tempted to give up a few times but thankfully I persisted and eventually the book really captures you and hooks you in! The three main characters are very enjoyable as they try to piece the pieces together. Storyline wise, it did take me a while to understand/get it but once that happened it was much more enjoyable to read.

"Silent Ritual" by Andrew James Greig is a gripping thriller that masterfully intertwines a multitude of characters and a complex plot, keeping readers hooked from beginning to end. One of the standout aspects of the book is how it raises numerous questions throughout the story, only to expertly answer them all by the conclusion, creating a satisfying and cohesive narrative.

The exploration of secret societies gone rogue is both fascinating and chilling, adding layers of intrigue and danger that propel the story forward. Greig's portrayal of these clandestine organizations is thorough and captivating, making it easy for readers to become engrossed in the mystery and suspense.

While character development isn't the central focus of the book, there are subtle moments that add depth and human connection. The budding romance between the private investigator and one of his employees is a delightful subplot that provides a touch of warmth amidst the darker elements of the thriller. I found myself rooting for their relationship, which served as a bright spot in the otherwise intense narrative.

Overall, Greig's writing style and pacing are commendable, maintaining a steady flow that keeps the reader engaged throughout. "Silent Ritual" is a well-crafted thriller that delivers on its promises, making it a highly recommended read for fans of the genre.

EXCERPT: Seaview Drive is an unremarkable street in a quiet and forgotten backwater of Northwest Glasgow. Twelve story apartment pack families close like battery hens and loom over a squat row of terrace houses huddled on the other side of the street. Built in the 1960s to house families from condemned inner-city slums, the buildings now protest their age like geriatrics. The terrace houses are numbered one to twenty and are eagerly sought after by those cloud-dwellers who yearn for the luxury of a patch of garden and front door at ground level. They nestle at the foot of their towering neighbours, stunted in the perpetual shade these gargantuans cast over an urban concrete jungle.
Number seventeen was unique only due to the shaft of sunlight that threaded between two adjacent tower blocks every midday, throwing a golden beam of light for almost an hour upon its bricks and rough mortar, windows and red roof tiles. Anyone of a religious persuasion might imagine some holy miracle occurred here - a virgin birth or other celestial sleight of hand captured in heaven's spotlight.
Inside, there are signs that differentiate this house from its seemingly identical neighbours. The pentagram etched onto a bedroom floor; the body weeping blood from a hundred deep wounds; the young man frozen into inaction with a knife still held in his hand.

ABOUT 'SILENT RITUAL': An ear-shattering scream pierces the quiet Glasgow street as a mother stands frozen in her doorway, groceries strewn at her feet. Her son holds a bloodied knife while his father lies dead before him.

As Logan Martin begins his prison sentence for the brutal murder of his father, the eighteen-year-old’s aunt hires private investigator Teàrlach Paterson. She believes Logan is innocent and wants Teàrlach to uncover the truth.

Teàrlach’s visit to the Martin family home yields two disturbing discoveries: a pentagram etched under the carpet in Logan's sister’s bedroom, and a link to the sinister deaths of their elderly neighbours—a journal with the same ominous symbol lies in the couple's home.

While ritualistic murders plague the city, bodies placed precisely on an occult pentagram, bound in intricate knots, Teàrlach and his team unearth the sinister inspiration behind the killings in a mysterious ancient map.

Then, two young women are reported missing, and Teàrlach fears the worst. He’s inching closer to a killer who is weaving a complex web of murder rooted in Glasgow’s pagan past. But can Teàrlach stop the twisted soul from carrying out another cruel ritual? This time, one of his own is about to be in grave danger.

MY THOUGHTS: The story begins with a shocking scene: a mother witnesses her son holding a bloodied knife over his dead father. This sets the stage for an intricate and thrilling story.

Teàrlach Paterson is engaged by the boy's aunt who is certain that her nephew didn't murder his father, despite the fact that he has confessed to doing so. The ensuing drama is an edge-of-the-seat ride as bodies, both current and historical, pile up in an investigation that encompasses ritualistic murders, ancient pagan practices, police corruption and a drug manufacturing operation.

The characters are as important to this drama as the intense and disturbing plot. Teàrlach Paterson, Dee and Chloe make an outstanding team, each having their own field of expertise, each committed to solving a case that everyone else thought was resolved. None of them are afraid to put themselves on the line, or into danger.

I have not read the first book in this series, but I will be finding a copy because I want to know more about the backgrounds of these three main characters. This is a series I will be following. Silent Ritual is thrilling, chilling, twisty and addictive.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#SilentRitual #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Prior to writing I have had a career that encompassed aerospace engineering, live sound and music and running my own audio-visual company.

DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Silent Ritual by James Arthur Greig for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

This was such a thrilling read. I hadn’t ever heard of this author before but after reading this book I will definitely be reading the previous book in the series as well as future novels.

This book was so full of twists and turns and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I really enjoyed the main character and look forward to future mysteries.

I really enjoyed this book and was able to read it as a standalone, I think if I had read the first book in the series I would have been able to give this five stars as I’ve been informed that although they are two separate stories there are parts that carry over from the first so if anyone is new to reading this book, please read the first one first!

Leanne Martin came home to find her son, Logan, holding a bloodied knife standing over her dead husband. It looks like an open & shut case but Logan's aunt refuses to believe he is guilty. She asks PI Tearlach Paterson to try & clear her nephew's name. Along with computer whizz Dee & administrator Chloe they look into it. Set in Glasgow (which acts as an additional character almost), at first it seems as if there is nothing to find out but soon they are led down the dark road of witchcraft & the Freemasons. .

This is the second book in the series & I enjoyed it even more than the first. The characters are now bedded in & the story telling keeps you focussed & wondering what surprises are coming next. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

I read the Silent Ritual as a standalone without reading the first book and had no issues following the storyline. This was a bit hard to follow with the number of people within the book. This was really more of a police thriller vs a standard thriller.

Lauren returns home to find her husband Keith dead, and her son Logan is standing nearby with a knife in his hand. Logan confesses to the murder, but his aunt doesn't believe that this is something he would do, its just not the type of person he is. Logan's aunt Nicole hires Private Investigator Teàrlach to help find out the truth. Teàrlach and his team start doing some digging, and become surprised with what they find. The murders continue to happen following a common pattern. Can Teàrlach and his team figure things out before the next body is found?

Silent Ritual is book two in the Privat Investigator Tearlach Paterson series.

This book grabs you from page one, it is absolutely fantastic. This was a book that I had a horrible time putting down and pouted like a toddler when I had too lol.. Logan was 18 when he was arrested for the brutal murder of his father. Other murders occur but nothing is as it seems. Did Logan kill his father, and if so why, and who killed the others or are the murders connected?! Guess you will have to read to find out!

This is the first book I've read from this author and look forward to reading more in the future!
As always read the trigger warnings if they may effect you!

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. The second in the series about Tearlach, a Private Investigator who is charged with finding who murdered Nicole's brother. His son is in prison, having admitted to murder. However, nothing is as it seems. Tearlach begins the investigation with his team, Chloe and Dee. It soon becomes apparent that there is a serial killer about with a possible link to the occult. Initially, I found this story confusing and complex but that didn't last. Once the links were being made I found myself totally gripped.
Tearlach, Chloe and Dee each gave their own personal back stories which come to play a part in solving this murder. They have their individual strengths and work well as a team.
A great story that is very well written. A recommended read for lovers of both thrillers and crime fiction.

Wow, what a page turner!

Eighteen year old Logan Martin is being sent to prison for the stabbing murder of his father, and his aunt has hired a PI - Tearlach Paterson as she believes her nephew to be innocent. As Paterson and team investigates, more odd murders pop up around the area. Various details tie them together as more murders surface.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Andrew James Greig for the eARC.

Only the victims are silent during the ritual; the one conducting them has plenty to say. And I needed a pronunciation guide for the name of the main protagonist — and there seems a lack of unanimity on that point. The one I finally settled on was akin to Charl-eh. Or Charlie. A riveting take on a private eye investigating a disappearance where the entire remaining family went a uniform NO over the very idea of involving police. Let’s just say they had good reason to do so. It is a tale about a desperate return to Druidic beliefs in order for the gods to grant an impossible gift and the lives lost in that pursuit. Recommend.

This was such an intriguing, terrifying and intense read. The setting and everything that happens in book is unsettling. The beginning is creepy and the mystery is deep. The characters are both good and bad. Logan has confessed that he killed his father but did he really kill him? While ritualistic murders are happening and there are strange signs including occult pentagram and map. All the clues are leading to ritual murders and sacrificial ritual while the truth is twisted and shocking. The plot is intricate and interesting. The twists and turns were unpredictable. This was a mind blowing read.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher

Andrew James Greig's "Silent Ritual" is a gripping and chilling mystery that delves into the dark underbelly of Glasgow, blending elements of the occult with a tense investigative thriller. With its intricate plot and compelling characters, this novel is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and supernatural mysteries.

The story begins with an ear-shattering scream that disrupts the quiet of a Glasgow street, as a mother witnesses her son, Logan Martin, holding a bloodied knife over his father's dead body. Convicted for the murder, Logan's fate seems sealed until his aunt hires private investigator Teàrlach Paterson, convinced of her nephew's innocence. This sets off a riveting investigation that takes Teàrlach deep into a world of ancient rituals and sinister symbols.

Greig masterfully sets the tone with his vivid descriptions of the Martin family home and the eerie discoveries Teàrlach makes, such as the pentagram under the carpet in Logan's sister’s room and the disturbing journal found in the home of their elderly neighbors. These elements create a palpable sense of dread and curiosity that propels the story forward.

As ritualistic murders plague the city, Teàrlach and his team uncover a chilling connection to Glasgow’s pagan past through a mysterious ancient map. The bodies, placed precisely on occult pentagrams and bound in intricate knots, add a layer of macabre intrigue to the narrative. Greig's attention to detail in describing these ritualistic elements enhances the novel’s eerie atmosphere.

Teàrlach Paterson is a well-crafted protagonist—resourceful, determined, and haunted by the urgency to prevent further killings. His character adds depth to the story, making the reader root for his success. The secondary characters, including his investigative team, contribute to the plot’s complexity and help to maintain the tension throughout.

The novel’s pacing is excellent, with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The disappearance of two young women intensifies the stakes, leading to a thrilling race against time as Teàrlach inches closer to the twisted mind behind the killings. Greig skillfully weaves together the historical and contemporary aspects of the plot, creating a seamless blend of past and present horrors.

However, while the story is engaging, some readers might find certain plot points a bit predictable. Additionally, the sheer number of secondary characters can occasionally be overwhelming, though each one adds value to the narrative.

Overall, "Silent Ritual" is a compelling and atmospheric thriller that successfully combines elements of crime, mystery, and the supernatural. Andrew James Greig has crafted a story that will captivate readers from start to finish, making it a standout addition to the genre. With its haunting premise and well-developed characters, this novel earns a well-deserved four stars.

I've never read anything by Andrew James Greig and when I got this book to read and review I found out it was the 2nd in the series. I had to go back and read the first book before I read this one, I have to read series in order. While they are both completely separate stories, there are some things from the first book that carryover to the second - explained well enough that you wouldn't have to read the first book to read this one.

I love the characters in the book, Dee is a smart mouth, brillant hacker that can find anything online, Chloe is a little soft spoken and not always sure of herself due to her past and Teàrlach just wants to take care of everybody - clients and employees alike. This is a great mystery that from the beginning doesn't seem like there is a mystery. I had some of it figured out about halfway through, but there were quite a few things that came out of left field that I had no clue were coming! Great summer read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.