James Oswald’s The Rest is Death is the fourteenth instalment in the DCI Tony McLean series. And what a book this is! If ever a book in this series was designed to show why Madame Rose exists, this is the one. From the outset, we are drawn into a tense and distinctly spooky scenario and things only get more interesting from there!

Oswald cleverly intertwines crime investigation with supernatural elements, delivering a narrative that captivates from start to finish. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Edinburgh, the novel begins with what appears to be a routine break-in at Drake BioTech, a cutting-edge biotech firm owned by the extremely wealthy and politically connected Nathaniel Drake. Though this seems to be just an act of vandalism by animal rights activists, DCI Tony McLean is given the case due to Drake’s influential ties and the level of his investment in Edinburgh. ​

In parallel, DI Janie Harrison investigates a missing person report, one she has only taken on because she was at school with the missing man’s girlfriend. Well mostly that, but she’s also drowning in overtime forms and that’s really not her forte, although she knows it comes with her new promotion.

Then a man is found half-buried in the woods, devoid of any visible injuries or discernible cause of death. Something doesn’t add up for Tony about the bio-tech break-in. He doesn’t take to Nathaniel Drake at all, a position that is exacerbated by discovering that he lives near McLean in a house that McLean’s arch nemesis once inhabited.

Then another body is discovered – and this one has a direct link to the bio-tech laboratory. This one also has a strong connection to Janie Harrison’s case. As Janie investigates, she finds a gang boss whose team are mainly Serbians and that leads her to a case of modern slavery that she just can’t ignore. Janie is more like McLean than she knows as she takes risks and cuts a few corners to get the job done.

When a mortuary attendant is attacked and two bodies are stolen, McLean and Harrison must act swiftly to get to the truth of this strange case. Madame Rose, as ever, is unsurprised, but has some very helpful observations to make in her typically cryptic fashion. There is much to-ing and fro-ing as Madame Rose both anticipates the needs of McLean and Janie, but also sends out strong warning vibes.

Oswald’s portrayal of DCI Tony McLean is both nuanced and compelling. McLean is a dedicated and intuitive detective, whose instincts, coupled with his relentless pursuit of truth often leads him into uncharted territory. His character is enriched by his interactions with both Madame Rose and DI Janie Harrison, whose determination and investigative acumen complement McLean’s approach, adding depth to the narrative.​

A hallmark of Oswald’s writing is the seamless integration of supernatural elements into the crime genre. In The Rest is Death, an enigmatic ancient artifact serves as the conduit for these mystical aspects, introducing an eerie and suspenseful dimension to the story. This blend of the otherworldly with procedural investigation challenges the characters to confront phenomena beyond conventional understanding, enhancing the novel’s intrigue.​ James Oswald also has the ability to lead you on a wild goose chase with misdirection and a touch of pure wickedness. He can also make you feel quite sad at times and this book is no exception.

The pacing of the novel is very well judged, with Oswald adeptly balancing moments of intense action with periods of procedural investigation. This rhythm ensures sustained engagement, as we are drawn deeper into the complexities of the plot. Oswald’s prose is both vivid and precise, effectively capturing the moody ambiance of Edinburgh and the unsettling undercurrents that permeate the plotline.​

Verdict: The Rest is Death is a brilliant read for both its characterisation (though I am worried about Emma) and its ability to fuse crime fiction with supernatural intrigue. With compelling characters, an intricate plot, and atmospheric setting, the novel is a rewarding read for both longtime fans of the series and newcomers alike. If you are seeking a crime novel that transcends conventional boundaries, this book is a must have!

An interesting one this in that it is only an innocuous break-in at a bio-tech company but because the top dog at the company has influence, it means McLean is sent to investigate a crime that he normally wouldn't.
All is not as it seems though and never is with McLean as a dead body turns up in the woods in almost perfect condition but clutching an object in his hands. McLean believes this object is connected to the biotech company when another dead body is found but this one is linked to the bio-tech firm.
Curiosity is building with McLean and when he thinks he has a chance the dead bodies get stolen from morgue.
He is now racing to find his bodies and stop more odd deaths and prove his belief that all roads lead to the bio tech outfit.

Oswald as ever writes a good book and it moves along nicely and keeps you reading if only to find out what is causing the deaths. Included are the usual suspects in the book and the unusual as well as the weird. Well worth the read as are the previous ones in the Oswald series

Really enjoyed this book and James Oswald rarely disappoints, if ever..
A little bit of an unusual crime, but nevertheless a good read.

this was a first for me. i read the blurb and my interest was piqued so i took the risk. its well into the series. so i was afraid id be left out. but i wasnt. not in a way that meant i couldnt follow and enjoy this anyway. i do want to go back and read the others(or start!) because the characters in this one are far worth investing reading time into.
i really enjoyed getting to know them. they are a great team. a great detective and even the supporting characters all held the plot together purposefully.
it had a bit of grit,crime and politics. with a hint of that eerie tone woven throughout the whole plot so your left uncertain and a bit fearful at certain points. like the updated "hes behind you" moments.
it didnt feel like the crime or the story was cliche or too far fetched. i really enjoyed this book and can understand why hes a much loved author and a much loved detective. bring on more i say.

It feels like a long time since the last Inspector McLean book so it’s great to have him back and safely report it was worth the wait as James Oswald delivers one of the best in sone time,

Macabre, creepy, superbly written and with all our favourite characters returning, James Oswald spins another police procedural thriller with a darkly supernatural twist.

It’s fine stuff, crafted so well, the tension builds perfectly and it almost writes like a movie with the dastardly villain and billionaire reaching for immortality.

This is what i read this series for and I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Great stuff from James Oswald

DCI McLean is a bit bemused that he has been asked to attend a break in at Drake Biotech. It might be something to do with politics and the fact the owner is a billionaire and will be bringing much needed jobs to the area.
Meanwhile DI Janie Harrison is asked by an old schoolfriend to look into the disappearance of her Serbian boyfriend.
Slowly the two separate investigations take on lives of their own and become intertwined in a dangerous game that someone is playing.
An entertaining read that needs you to suspend belief in places.

Superb! James Oswold has the knack of penning crime novels with a believable supernatural element to the story. A bllionaire, mad professor, police under pressure as the body count rises and plenty of human emotions and actions. One the best crime novels of the year for sure.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean is called to investigate a break-in at Drake BioTech, a trendsetting Edinburgh start-up. It's well below McLean's pay grade, but given the extensive political connections of its eccentric billionaire owner Nathaniel Drake, he doesn't have a choice. A missing person case turns complicated for DI Janie Harrison when a body is found half-buried in woods outside the city. The missing man shows no signs of trauma, the cause of his death a mystery then another man - linked to the break-in - is discovered dead the police suspect there may be some connection between the two, especially when both bodies are stolen from the mortuary.
The fourteenth book in the series & what a brilliant series it is & I look forward to my annual ‘Tony fix’. Another intriguing case with a touch of the supernatural. I love Tony who once he gets his teeth into a case he won’t let go & Janie has learned from the master. I also love the supporting characters even down to Tony’s two adopted cats. I always find the author’s books hard to put down & this was no exception & I read it in two sittings. There’s plenty of mystery, edge of the seat moments, suspense, twists & turns. A well written book which I loved & highly recommend
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

A break in at Drake BioTech appears to be a routine crime, nothing more than a case of vandalism, but because the company is owned by a billionaire with connections to the powers that be, the case is handed to/dumped on DCI Tony McLean, and Tony being Tony he is not buying that this is just a break in with a bit of vandalism thrown in. In the meantime DI Janie Harrison is investigating a missing persons case, a case that escalates when the missing person is found buried in some woods, there is no obvious cause of death and the victim appears to have been buried alive, while the death itself is mysterious when a second body is discovered under similar circumstances the deaths appear to be linked to the biotech company. A mysterious artifact is found in the hands of the second victim, which has McLean’s spidey senses tingling, the case becomes more difficult when the bodies are stolen from the morgue, and then the artifact goes missing from the evidence store.

This was a really good instalment in the Inspector McLean series.

What I love about the Inspector McLean series, aside from the setting as I do have a soft spot for Edinburgh where I spent a good few summer holidays as a child, it that it is my favoured genre of crime fiction, or police thriller if you like, but with a twist (and yes - I know Tony is a DCI again now, but he'll always be Inspector McLean to me). I spent a lot of time as a child with my nose buried in books of Scottish ghost stories, alongside the Famous Five, Secret Seven, the Hardy Boys etc, so having the two differing genres blended in a delightful mashup for grown ups really does tick the boxes. And The Rest Is Death is a very clear example of where James Oswald manages to blur the lines between dull police process and something a little more supernatural to perfection. With an opening chapter that really lays out the direction for what lies ahead, I was immediately drawn into the intrigue, the tension and the oh so delightfully creepy possibilities from the start. What followed did not disappoint.

After such an opening it was almost jarring to join dear old McLean as he investigates a rather mundane and totally below his pay grade break in at a biotech company. Needless to say it is money and connections that have forced the attention of the higher ups and, by extension, Tony McLean. Meanwhile recently promoted DI Janie Harrison is finding the responsibilities of the role - i.e. death by admin - hard to acclimatise to, secretly relishing the chance to look into a missing persons case that is brought to her by a former school friend. Now this being a James Oswald novel, you can bet your bottom dollar that neither case is as straightforward as it seems, and it's not hard to draw the parallels between what they uncover in their respective investigations, and the scenes we bore witness to at the start. And for me - a horror turned crime fiction addict - it is absolute heaven.

I love the characters in this series. James Oswald has drawn them all so perfectly that those who are series regulars feel almost like family, albeit a slightly unusual and occasionally eccentric one. For those who love her unparalleled insight into life, and the more unusual aspects of McLean's cases, Madame Rose is back on the scene and making her presence known with her typical cryptic observations. She always just seems to be around at the most appropriate times, a harbinger of not doom per se, but certainly a sign that we all need to take note as what is going to happen next will be most unexpected. Or perhaps not - this is a James Oswald book and without the expected unexpected, it really wouldn't be the same ...

Janie Harrison again plays a large part in the story and I love having witnessed her development as a character over the years. Her case is really tough, and a little unnerving in a delightfully dark way. She is out of the shadows of her former mentor well and truly and as had been proven before, as a character she is well and truly capable of carrying the story and the investigation. The wider cast of characters all add their own light and shade to the story, the author using the various egos and quirks to deceive and misdirect as the cases progress. And for anyone concerned, both Mrs McCutcheon's and Cecily Slater's cats are both still going strong as is Grumpy Bob, who puts in a very welcome cameo appearance once again.

This is a dark and twisted case, with a pulsing beat of tension ebbing through it from the very start. The writing and scene setting is perfect as always, giving me a real sense of space, there is a perfect blend of the general investigation and the otherworldly, and a strange sense of plausibility about elements of the book perhaps driven by the fact that some of the characters seem modelled on people we are unfortunate enough to have to witness in real life. But then the Mr Oswald also managed to blindside me with some of the personalities, and, much as you might expect in life, not everyone is who they appear to be on the surface. I powered through this book and if, like me, you love the slightly more fey or unearthly aspects of the series, this one is a real winner. Definitely recommended.

‘The Rest is Death’ by James Oswald is the fourteenth book in the DCI Tony McLean series. I have followed this series from the start and always look forward to the latest instalment. This is a police procedural series with a subtle difference with a touch of supernatural.

A break in at Drake BioTech appears to be a routine crime, nothing was taken but because the company is owned by the influential owner Nathaniel Drake, DCI Tony McLean is asked to lead the investigations. DI Janie Harrison, meanwhile is investigating a missing person that escalates when a body is found buried in the woods. The death alone is mysterious, no visible injuries but another body, linked to the biotech break-in, is discovered under similar circumstances.

An ancient artifact is discovered in the hands of one of the deceased which hints at something far more sinister surrounding the deaths. McLean is on the case but his task is made more difficult when both the bodies and the artifact disappear from the mortuary.

James Oswald books are so well written and I really enjoy the added supernatural intrigue. I don’t really enjoy supernatural books but I feel he gets just the right measure for my liking. Tony McLean is an excellent character and I feel I have built up a good picture of him. I could easily imagine this as a television series.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

So pleased to return to these characters that I enjoy spending time with. Every McLean book is an absolutely excellent read; tartan noir with a touch of the supernatural. I love the appearances of Madam Rose, who is the best character in all of crime fiction. I don’t usually reread books, but I have with this series. James Oswald is a must read author and I highly recommend these books. This works as a standalone, but read in order if possible.

A new DCI Tony McLean mystery is always welcome with its subtle blend of a standard police procedural with a touch of the supernatural. All his usual characters appear, even a guest appearance by Grumpy Bob! The mystery around a body half buried in woodland sets things off with links to Serbian building gangs,a mysterious laboratory being constructed with the backing of an American billionaire all combine after a break in at the lab. All skilfully blended with the ever present hint of weird it all builds brilliantly to the satisfactory denouement.

The Rest is Death is the latest book in the Tony McLean series by James Oswald and once again it delivers another top notch story that keeps the reader hooked from the first page to the last.

Highly recommended.

A tightly knitted, fast paced, multilayered story that talks about futuristic science, ancient dark powers and modern dark powers that exploit people and their needs.
A novel that is high on my "happy to be sleep deprived" and I had to stop reading because it can be an issue if you have to go to work.
That said I think it's one of the best in this exciting series, mixing the right level of creepiness and suspence.
There's a lot of character development, there's some heartbreaking moments, and there's humor.
Love it, a page turner I strongly recommend
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I've read most of the Tony McLean books and enjoyed them all so I was keen to read this latest one. It's another police procedure with a hint of supernatural and the expected twists and turns. I'm beginning to wonder whether it's safe to go to Edinburgh. James Oswald tells a good story well.

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

Another great book in the DCI McLean series. I had kind of worked out the plot but still loved every page of this book. The characters keep developing with DI Janie Harrison taking a larger role. There is an underlying supernatural edge which adds an extra creepy twist. Look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley for opportunity to review.

Just brilliant! James Oswald never lets you down if you like a good thriller, with a touch of the supernatural. Back with DCI Mc Lean in Edinburgh, this is full of twists, a clever plotline and oozing with tension right from the start. I love the characters, especially Madame Rose and the quirkiness of the plot took me by surprise, although I should have been prepared having read all the previous books in the series. Another 5* read from a great author. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

It's rare for a series to maintain momentum after 10 or so books, often settling into a comfortable rhythm, but Oswald's potent mix of procedural thriller and supernatural drama continues to entertain magnificently.

McLean himself may be in a new position of authority, but he hasn't let that go to his head as the now-DCI investigates a break in at a laboratory seeking to find ways to extend the human lifespan on behalf of an eccentric tech magnate, who we initially suspect to be styled after Elon Musk, but thankfully has a far more interesting character arc. Meanwhile, the disappearance of an immigrant worker is puzzling Janie Harrison, especially after the discovery of a half-buried body complicates the case. But is there a connection between the two cases? Oswald teases out the dual narratives expertly, moving the reader from the more procedurally oriented opening to the creepier endgame in such a way that we -- like Tony and Janie -- can suspend our disbelief in the supernatural elements and see that, whether we believe or not, true evil comes not from ghosts or demons but from human greed and ego.

It is, in short, a gripping procedural that leads to an unsettling endgame in a series that remains unique within the tartan noir set -- Oswald's power as a storyteller shows no signs of diminishing, and his characters remain brilliantly relatable both in their professional and personal lives -- THE REST IS DEATH is dark, unsettling, unique and hugely compelling.

Well researched story which was highly atmospheric. I always enjoy this authors stories as I have read almost all of them and as police procedurals they compare well with such authors as Ed McBain and his 87th Precinct series in their general descriptive detail and the banter and wry humour between the various detectives in the department.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean is called to investigate a break-in at Drake BioTech, a trendsetting Edinburgh start-up. It's well below McLean's pay grade, but given the extensive political connections of its eccentric owner Nathaniel Drake, he doesn't have a choice. Even if nothing appears to have been stolen.

A missing person case turns complicated for DI Janie Harrison when a body is found half-buried in woods outside the city. The missing man shows no signs of trauma, the cause of his death a mystery. But when another man - linked to the break-in - is discovered dead in similarly mysterious circumstances, the police suspect there may be some connection between the two.

McLean is convinced the answer lies with the strange ancient artefact clutched in the second dead man's hands. But when the two bodies are stolen from the mortuary, and the artefact goes missing from evidence, the race is on to prevent yet more death.

There are some elements of science fiction or mysticism in the story which I found fascinating and added to the overall enjoyment of the book and one has to remember that the same author using the name J.D.Oswald writes a classic fantasy series The Ballad of Sir Benfro. It is a really very extraordinary police procedural that was most enjoyable and I hope that this very talented and experienced author continues to write such imaginative books of this high quality. Strongly recommended.
(I would like to thank Netgalley and Kindle for an advance copy of The Rest is Death)