The Bone Clock by Andrew James Greig is the first book in the new Detective Corstorphine series and what a great and gripping start it was. It was a 5 star read and I love the new character. Detective Corstorphine. Looking forward reading more about him and his cases. This book was a superb read from start to finish.

"The Bone Clock" by Andrew James Greig is a disturbing, 5-star read! This is the first book in a Scottish crime series featuring Detective Inspector James Corstorphine. DI Corstorphine is called to a grim crime scene where a gamekeeper is found hanging from a tree—a location already known to the police from a previous crime. The killer has used a bone-crafted clockwork mechanism, and DI Corstorphine, along with his small team, must race against time to stop the murderer before more victims fall prey to these eerie devices.

The writing is solid and the pacing kept me engaged throughout. The motive behind the killings is rooted in deeply disturbing crimes from the past. I recommend checking for trigger warnings, as some content could be upsetting for some readers.

While I had a strong hunch about the killer and their connection to the story, the final twist still delivered a satisfying payoff. This was my first read by Andrew James Greig, and I’m definitely looking forward to book two in the series—as well as exploring more of his work.

Thanks to Storm Publishing, Andrew James Greig, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

I loved this book it was suspense and drama who was doing the murders it was good loved the ending I all so like the characters
Frankie and D corstorphine
I would like more information on the characters and there backgrounds
but I really enjoyed the setting and ending

I'm really happy to have downloaded this book, Andrew J. Greig is a new author for me and I loved the story! Detective Corstorphine is unsure of himself but he always hides it to save face. He's been a widower for five years and still yearns for his dead wife and has conversations with her in his mind. Their small town is being wracked by the most unsettling murder cases all with strange pieces holding them together and the small police force is doing their best to stay on top of the investigation even when it may hurt them. The Bone Clock is a chilling and gripping story of revenge against people who have abused children and are now getting to be killed even though those in power are trying to keep the story and the cases under wraps. Highly recommended!
I thank Mr. Greig, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

So exciting and quite nerve wracking due to the level of intensity and suspense!
This is a dark novel , realistic and at times disturbing but absolutely unputdownable

This was a very entertaining read, featuring some remarkably ingenious methods of murder!

A gamekeeper perishes in the same manner and location as a young reporter did years prior. Is this a coincidence, or is there something more sinister at play?
Shortly thereafter, another death occurs, this time involving a respected member of the small town's community. Could these deaths be connected, and what is the significance of the bone mechanisms and coins discovered at the crime scene?
The narrative takes a darker turn with the emergence of allegations concerning the mistreatment of children years ago.
Will Detective Inspector James Corstorphine and his small police team be able to solve this mystery and apprehend the perpetrator?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book set in the Scottish Highlands, although I did predict the murderer early on, and the clues were easy to find.

Andrew James Grieg’s The Bone Clock is a gripping, fast-paced mystery that wastes no time plunging readers into its dark and intricate narrative. From the explosive opening to the steady rise in tension, this novel keeps readers on edge as the body count climbs and detectives race to uncover the chilling thread connecting the murders.

Grieg’s writing is sharp and atmospheric, painting a vivid portrait of both place and psyche. The investigative elements are compelling, driven by a team of detectives whose pursuit of the truth is as relentless as it is fraught with personal and professional obstacles. As the mystery deepens, so too does the emotional weight of the story, touching on themes of trauma, justice, and the long shadows of past sins.

Readers should be aware that the novel tackles some extremely difficult subject matter, including sexual assault. These elements are handled with seriousness and sensitivity, but they are central to the plot and may be distressing for some. Grieg does not shy away from the harsh realities that shape his characters and their world, adding depth and gravity to the narrative.

The Bone Clock is a chilling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of gritty crime fiction and psychological thrillers. It’s a novel that not only entertains but also challenges its audience to confront uncomfortable truths.

Andrew James Greig has just jumped onto my favourite authors list, this story had me gripped from the first page, I have for many years been an avid reader of thriller and mystery books and I can honestly say that I have never come across a concept of a story that remotely resembles this one.
In the beautiful, remote Scottish Highlands DI James Corstorphine is a lonely figure, still grieving for the wife who died five years ago but feeling guilty about wanting to move forward.
Nothing ever happened in the small Highland town, the odd shop lifter, fly tipper, rustler kept the Police Department ticking over until......... A distraught, battered and bruised Margo McDonald walked into the station, she had found her husband hanging from a tree, a tree known locally as "The Hanging Tree", a tree where twenty years earlier a young journalist had taken her life.......or had she ?
The gruesome scene that met the DI and his DC, Frankie McKenzie, was one that would be burned into their memory, made to look like suicide but on closer examination, the death had been planned with military precision and with a macabre mechanism that left them totally perplexed.
As more murders occurred, all with a different MO but all with the same macabre mechanism timing their death, Corstorphine knew that there had to be a common denominator, what or who linked these deaths ?
This story is action packed and fast pa Lamb growing up, it covers some very emotive subjects, it covers corruption in the highest and unexpected places, even though his job is on the line and he is in a David and Goliath situation, DI Corstorphine is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.
I love how this team is so tight knit and loyal, the characters are all well rounded, likeable and believable, I love how Frankie supports her DI, I could feel Sgt McKee's discomfort, I could see Pc Lamb growing up and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Thank you Storm Publishing for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.

Wow this book was so good! This is my first book by this author. The beginning started out a bit slow for me but still kept me intrigued enough to want to keep reading. It really picked up by the 50% mark and man I didn’t want to put it down. Excited to read more from this author.

The Scottish Highlands setting is integral to this dark and intense crime thriller. It features Detective Inspector Corstorphine and his close-knit investigative team. The crimes are disturbing, but the reader soon discovers that the motives behind them are even more terrible. The investigation is authentic and detailed, with many conflicts before its successful resolution. There is a believably complex cast of characters and a measured unravelling of the dark deceit surrounding the crimes. I like the dynamic of the investigation team, the likability of DI Corstorphine and his driven nature, and the uniqueness of the disturbingly clever murder methods.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Bone Clock by author Andrew James Greig is fast-paced, intense, exciting and thrilling, and a good start to the DI Corstorphine Scottish Crime series. Someone has committed a gruesome series of murders and there’s no sign they will stop soon. Detective Inspector James Corstorphine discovers a connection between this first current murder to a journalist who died at the same hanging tree twenty years earlier. It’s not much to go on, records are scarce, everyone he interviews is uncooperative and seems to be hiding something. Each death is different which leads Corstorphine to believe there is some (crazy) method to the murders, but his staff is small and inexperienced at investigating this level of killing. Add in the fact that the instruments of death are made of human remains and clock mechanisms and you’ve got quite the baffling mystery.

Author Greig does an excellent job of maintaining the suspense level throughout the book, and of providing clues and red herrings to keep you guessing again and again. Corstorphine is still grieving the death of his wife and the side story of his efforts to reenter the world of friends and dating and activities is compelling. The ending was just open enough to make you wonder what Corstorphine’s life will look like going forward. I received an advance copy of The Bone Clock from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. It was very entertaining and I am eager for the next book in the series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

The Bone Clock
by Andrew James Greig
Pub Date: Apr 17 2025

The Bone Clock is the first book in the DI Corstorphine Scottish crime series. It takes place in the Scottish Highlands.

It's a unique story about murders with clockwork details. There is some sexual abuse but the author did not get graphic about it which I appreciated. The main characters were very likable, the writing style was excellent, all in all a great mystery read!

Synopsis: The young oak tree with freshly budding leaves seemed unremarkable until his eyes travelled down to the wooden plaque set into the ground. The words sent an icy chill through his They shall remember you. In the Scottish Highlands where secrets settle like mist in the glens, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is summoned to a macabre scene – a gamekeeper hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap of wire and bone.

Thank you #TheBoneClock #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me an E-ARC of this fantastic 1st book in a new series!

I loved the book. It is a very, very well-written mystery story. I am sure you would also love to read it.

A promising start to a new series with a compelling lead character. The plot is intriguing and offers plenty of potential, though it took me some time to settle into the setting. At times, the story felt a bit scattered, which made it hard to stay fully focused. However, the pacing and structure improved noticeably toward the end, making the last stretch especially enjoyable. I'm definitely interested to see where the story goes next and will be picking up the next book in the series.

When a man is found hanging from a tree where a woman had hanged herself years ago the police are called in. The death is ruled a murder and police begin to wonder if there's a connect to the woman's suicide, or was it suicide. All the clues are pointing to a group of children who were put in an orphan's group home.
The story is based on dark subjects of abuse and may upset some people. I found the story dark and a little too long for what it needed to be but I was pleased at the outcome.

This was a good book! 1st in the DI Corstorphine series and it felt like a good starter. It was slightly slow to start with but when it picked it up, it really picked up. We get introduced to the characters and hopefully we learn more about them in the next book. Plenty of twists and the chapters were a good length. For me, the ending was such a disappointment (even though it does lead on nicely to the next book) and I had been hoping for more. Will I read the 2nd book? Probably!

This is a re-release of the book originally titled Whirligig and then released in March 2020 - not the best time !! So it has a new name and cover and for me, one which probably suits the book more as most people would associate the previous title with a modern day dryer and not the original 15th century one. AJC introduces us to his detective called Corstorphine who like most modern detectives has his own personal woes to deal with. The rural Highland setting is very atmospheric and adds to the mystery surrounding the deaths. Well worth a read. Overall 4.5*

Thanks to Netgalley/Storm for the ARC to review.

The Bone Clock is an exquisite masterpiece like no other. Murder mystery lovers will rejoice with this intricate, spellbinding story.  How can you catch a killer that is never there? 💫💫💫💫💫

Oscar is found hanging from the old oak, famously known as the Hanging Tree. The tree is famous for a hanging that occured many years ago. It was believed that June Stevens, a reporter, hung herself there. Detective Constable Frankie McKenzie and DI James Corstorphine will head this investigation after Reverand Simon McLean, retired DI Brian Rankin, the sheriff and Lord Lagan are dead or their lives are threatened.
The Bone Clock will have you guessing from the start and you will never see the twists coming!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing.

A woman is hung from a tree and claimed as a suicide attempt. Decades later another man is hung in the same spot, which sets off a chain of murders and secrets uncovered in a sleepy Scottish town.

*****

This is my first book by this author, and I loved the writing style. His voice is clear, there were twists and turns, strong leads, and corrupted humanity woven into each of them. It was very graphic in terms of morbidity (but thankfully not abuse), which enhanced the book with how detailed the killer is enacting their revenge.

I do wish we had a little bit more secrecy into who the killer is, as the way it was included felt very obvious to me right out of the gates. The red herrings were almost highlighted as they were brought up, and it led me to seeing the lead detectives as a bit slow, when everything was right in front of their faces. Despite this, it was still a great read, and I was up late into the night finishing it to finally get the resolution I was searching for - which was genuinely so good!

I can't wait to be brought back into these detectives lives again for the next book in the series!

*****

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE BONE CLOCK - An extremely interesting and intriguing read that had me immersed in the pages until the end. It was easy to figure out the killer but the MOs are unique, at least for me. Good characters, interesting story lines and a variety of reactions and hindrances to the investigations. Source: Netgalley. 5*

THE GRAVEYARD BELL - An improvement over Silent Ritual with the wordiness. Interesting story lines, a variety of characters, a steady pace and interesting descriptions of the locale and people. Source: Netgalley. 5*

SILENT RITUAL - An interesting but wordy book with good story lines and good characters. While an interesting story, the wordiness made it hard to keep my focus reading, too easy to set down. Gruesome crimes but not graphically gory. Source: Netgalley. 3*