Thank you to Andrew James Greig, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

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 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.


I was unaware that this is part of a series, but I didn't feel like I was confused or missing any part of a background story. This was much different from the normal thrillers I read, but I actually really enjoyed it. I found PI Teàrlach Paterson and his team, Dee and Chloe, very well developed. What seemed to be an open and shut case in regards to Logan being guilty of murdering his father and taking a plea of guilty, was only the beginning. This book is very fast paced and intriguing, as it hooks the reader right from the beginning. There is always a twist or turn that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew. Time is of the essence in these murders and you can feel the tension building. This book is a twisted and dark puzzle and all the pieces come together in quite a shocking and unsettling conclusion; an ending that I found satisfying and complete. This book publishes on Publishes June 28, 2024.

This book was a bit different from my regular reading! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, and a few twists and turns! The story was different but interesting! I would recommend reading this one but it wasn’t one of my top favorites! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Silent Ritual by Andrew James Greig is book 2 in the PI Tearlach Paterson series. It is published on 28 June. Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley and the author for the advance copy. Tearlach, Dee and Chloe have been hired to find the person who killed Keith Martin, a murder his son, Logan, had gone to prison for. Other murders are taking place and Chloe discovers pagan rituals are playing a part. Fascinating characters, and I really liked them. Chloe is a bit more front and centre in this book and it’s good to learn a bit more about her. Then there is Dee, a computer hacker, who now works for Tearlach. I love Andrew’s writing. It draws you in, is engrossing, and you just need to keep reading. I found it a gripping read.

Teàlach Paterson #2

The second novel in this very good series has a devilish start as Lauren Martin arrives at her Glasgow home to discover her husband Keith is dead and her son Logan holding a blooded knife. Logan is just seventeen when he’s found guilty of his father‘s murder and is incarcerated in Barlinnie Jail. This is two months ago, however, Logan’s aunt and Keith’s sister doesn’t believe Logan is guilty for one minute and he’s hired PI Teàrlach (pronounced Sher-Loch, clever, eh?!) who is ably assisted by Dee and Chloe. Although he’s unconvinced, Teàrlach starts to investigate and makes an unsettling discovery of a concealed pentagram in the Martin household. In addition, be very wary of one particular taxi driver….. What is going on in the bonnie city of Glasgow?

I absolutely loved the first book in the series and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I’m pleased to say it’s very different in every possible way from the first. This is dark, dark Tartan Noir, so obviously I’m well and truly there for it! It’s extremely well written, Andrew James Greg has a real way with words. For example, there’s one chapter entitled Poetry and his words are indeed poetic and there are some beautiful descriptions. Where the writing needs to be raw, it’s exactly that and in other places it’s brimming with dramatic tension.

The plot line is extremely intriguing and it follows a fascinating occult element, intertwined with aspects of Glasgow and its surrounds, there’s folklore and so on. It’s both twisty and twisted and what is uncovered is unsettling, unnerving, uncomfortable or downright shocking and horrifying. It seems that there are coincidences, and even a conspiracy to get to the bottom of. It becomes increasingly dangerous and at one point I find myself shouting ‘No’…. It gets very close to home, too close. The ending is a good one, partly dramatic and the ultimate is a smile.

What of the characters? Fantastic. They all feel very authentic, you can visualise them and also like them. They rely on each other‘s different skills and that’s what makes them a good team. I like the vibes between Teàrlach and Dee too!

Overall, another immersive read from start to finish.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Whew! I was able to read 2 books while we drove out of state to attend my son’s graduation. This was a mystery that is long, but thoroughly engaging! It takes place in Glasgow. I love reading investigations in other countries!

Teàrlach is a private investigator, and runs his small office with Dee and Chloe. This is a very dark one- involving some ghastly description of the kidnapping and corpses in the story. There are many characters. It begins with murder conviction Logan’s aunt asking Teàrlach to look into the murder because she does not believe Logan is guilty.

From there the investigation leads into researching the Freemasons, possible witchcraft, drugs, you name it!
It is a slow burn because each aspect of the case is very carefully looked into by the three main characters. I was afraid I would get lost with everyone and everything involved. However, the author does a fantastic job of drawing the reader in, connecting every aspect, providing clues, and an ending after a twisty ride that is very satisfying.

I found out after I finished that this is the second book in the series. You can read as a stand alone, but I am going back to read the first because it might explain a few things about the back stories of the 3 main character!

Highly recommend if you like dark, twisty, intelligent puzzles!!

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Andrew James Greig for allowing me to read the ARC of "Silent Ritual" in exchange for an honest review.

It seems to be a closed case, a father murdered, a son confessed and found guilty. Yet, the sister of the murdered man is not convince and is adamant in her task to proof her nephews innocent. In her attempt, she hires Private Investigator Teàrlach Paterson and his team to dig deeper into the case of her brother's death and the family Martin.

Relucantly agreeing, Teàrlach and his team seem to be walking into one dead end after another, yet more and more do they too begin to question the son's guilt.

At the same time, the city of Glasgow is terrorised by brutal murders. Quickly, Paterson and his team find a connection between them, all due a pentagram they find in Logan Martins sisters room and in the house of the deceased neighbours.

Ritualistic murders, a innocent prisoner ... and atop of that, two young women go missing, one of them being the sister of Logan, the boy who allegedly murdered his father so brutally.

Time is playing against them.

The book is incredibly fast paced, which is something I did enjoy a lot, there was not one single moment to catch your breath, always something happening to twist your thoughts into another direction just when you thought you found the right one. The omniosity of the ritual murders did add another splash of mystery and darkness to the overall already intriguing case.

I LOVED the way you had glimpses into different POV's all around the story, without a doubt think that this kind of writing needs to be practised more often.

I enjoyed this book. It has a good pace and a good plot. I took off one star because a bit was predicable but I read a lot of thrillers so it could just be me. I would recommend this book

PI Teàrlach Paterson returns with his team, Dee and Chloe. They are asked to look into a recent murder, where a young man, Logan Martin was found with a bloody knife and his father, Kevin, dead. The victim had been stabbed in a frenzy and his son admits to the murder. The victim’s sister is convinced that her nephew did not commit the crime and that he is covering for his mother and sister. Thinking they are onto a lost cause Paterson agrees to take on the case for one week, convinced that the police have the right man in Barlinnie prison. However, delving deeper with the skill of Dee’s hacking and Chloe’s determination, the team discover a trail of connected murders, with a pentagram holding the clues.

The second book in this series and the intrigue and twists continue. Clever narrative (though the explanation of various knots was lost on me!), great writing and a plot with fascinating characters.

Very enjoyable, thoroughly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.