The Bone Clock is a novel by Andrew James Greig, this book introduces Detective Inspector James Corstorphine, marking the first installment in the Detective Corstorphine series.
THE BOOK IS set in the Scottish Highlands, and the story begins with DI Corstorphine investigating a chilling crime scene where a gamekeeper found hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap made of wire and bone. As Corstorphine delves deeper, he uncovers connections to a journalist’s death at the same tree two decades earlier. The investigation reveals a series of murders linked by elaborate death-traps crafted from human remains, pointing toward a killer delivering retribution decades later. A really good book that is engaging from the beginning until the last page. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It's sunny days for Storm Publishing with the release of another brilliant book from Andrew James Greig. The Bone Clock introduces us to Detective Inspector James Corstorphine and his small team in the Scottish Highlands. I'll go ahead and tell you to plan on reading it in one setting. It's one of those books that's literally too good to put down. It's a scintillating start to the new series. It's a tale that could be ripped from the headlines. Corstorphine's challenge is to bring some buried crimes from the past out into the open. It won't be easy because of the players involved. I like the dogged determination of the DI to find justice for the victims. The supporting cast is a good one too. The Bone Clock also features a terrific twist which Greig makes work. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Secrets have a way of resurfacing, no matter how hard one tries...

Years ago, there were a few children that went missing, but as they were orphans, no one gave it much thought. Then a apparent suicide from a local reporter started a few tongues wagging. With no forward movement, things are quiet for many years, until a couple of gruesome deaths start a whirlwind of activity in the town. With a few mysterious clues, and the clues pointing in disturbing directions, the detectives are trying to prevent future deaths.

Five major suspects, five gruesome deaths, and a handful of children who have been missing for decades, time is running out to stop the killer.

Who is going to be next?

I absolutely LOVED this book! I read this in one sitting. What an amazing new series to follow. I look forward to reading many more books from this author.

A fast-paced police procedural. This is the first in the series featuring DI James Corstorphine, previously published under the title Whirligig.
A murder enquiry soon turns into an investigation into historic child abuse. The book has good characters, that hopefully will be developed as the series progresses. This is an enjoyable and compulsive read. There were a few holes in the plot and I guessed the murderer fairly early on. Nevertheless, it was a very entertaining read.

This really is one of my new favourite series (for reference I've currently read the first 2 books at time of reviewing) The characters in these books, especially the DI are fantastically written. There really is something honest but brutal about the way Greig portrays the policing world, the hardships and pure corruption. The fact its set in the Scottish Highlands makes it almost feel like a cosy novel but mixed with thriller. If you are a crime fiction reader these books really will appeal to you, they draw you in so you never want to get to the end. There are some gory parts, some twists and turns but if that appeals to you i cannot recommend these books more!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Andrew James Greig and Storm Publishing📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

The Bone Clock by Andrew James Greig is book 1 in the Detective Corstorphine series. It is published on 17 April. Thank you to Storm, Netgalley and the author for the advance reader copy to read and review. This book was previously published as Whirligig. A dead rabbit is the only witness to Oscar’s death. Margot, his partner, is greeted by the sight as she makes her escape. Soon there are more deaths but how are they linked? DI James Corstorphine is still coming to terms with the loss of his wife 5 years previously and dipping his toe into the dating game. He is based at a very small Station near Inverness that has 5 employees – himself, the Duty Sergeant Hamish McKee, DC Frankie McKenzie, PC Phil Lamb and PC Bill McAdam. The characters are an interesting mix, relegated to this backwater town. There is humour mixed through, which is welcome in the darkness. A fascinating story which has its tentacles in the past history of the town, with the depravity and evil behaviour coming through very clearly.

The Bone Clock is my first Andrew James Greig novel, but it won’t be my last. Greig’s construction of the bright, but small police force in the Scottish Highlands, led by a clever Detective Inspector Corstorphine, a widower, made me feel like I was there with them.

The historic case behind the naming of a local tree “the hanging tree” was the catalyst for the newest murder, which at first glance didn’t look like it shared anything at all with the reporter who died there decades ago. Initially, it just looked like the town bully crossed the wrong person, maybe even his battered girlfriend.

As more evidence is found, to include confessions given over the phone only, DI Corstorphine puzzles it all out…but is he too late to do anything about it? Williamsburg the killer always remain two steps ahead? Or will he get blamed by the powers-that-be for daring to name names in their sleepy Highlands town?

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this wonderful ARC!!

This book absolutely kept me on the edge of my seat! The whole time I’m turning pages trying to figure out “Who dun it?”, and the ending just completely took me by surprise! The only reason I knocked a star off was because it was written in third person and sometimes the character transitions were hard to follow. Other than that this was a fast paced thriller, and it was excellent!

I'm becoming quite a fan of this author's work. His PI Teàrlach Paterson series is fantastic. This new series is just as good. DI James Corstophine is the head of a very small police force in a small town in the Scottish Highlands. He's called to the scene of a murder. A game keeper hung in a tree, the trap set and sprung by a bizarre clockwork mechanism made from bone. Then another murder, and another! At each scene, a similar mechanism made of bone, but each murder completely different. It takes a lot of work by James and his small team to link everything back to an event from 20 years ago. James doesn't let the cases go, regardless of pressure from the powers that be. He's a strong character with a good team. The story is fast paced and takes place over the course of about 10 days. Plenty of red herrings and twists. And the most unusual methods of murder! Thoroughly enjoyable!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Andrew James Grieg for the free ARC. All opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy of The Bone Clock by Andrew James Greig.
When a body is found in the glen by the old oak tree no one could imagine what would ensue.
A crime was committed over 20 years ago, it was covered up then,
Now someone is out for blood and vengeance.
How many will die before Detective Inspector James Corstorphine gets to the truth.
A great start to a new series.
I love this author's books.

I happily turned the pages in this Scottish based Police crime novel. Good start for a new series. I always think characters make a crime series work. The characters here are entertaining, leading me to want to know more. The mechanism of murder was uniquely inventive, although I’ve read similar plots before, and I easily worked out the culprit. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying this book. I look forward to meeting DI Corstorphine and his colleagues again in the next instalment. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for a review.

This is an extremely smart, original, well-written book. I've read one other by this author (different series) and he continues to impress me. Great characters! I can't wait to see where he takes them, especially DI Corstorphine. I particularly loved that he called his evidence board "the crazy wall." My only negative, and it's a small one, is that the ending was too abrupt. I did guess the murderer fairly early on and patted myself on the back for getting it right, though that didn't stop me from waiting with bated breath to see how all of the answers were revealed. I couldn't read that last 10% fast enough; it kept me on the edge of my seat. As soon as I finished, I started the second book in the series. You'll want to add this to your TBR list immediately.

Very, very clever story. Thrilling, chilling and bodies aspilling. The first in a series and the story is great, a series of murders with an chilling offset of abuse in a local orphanage linking crimes for the detective. Thank you storm and netgalley for arc.

Tartan Noir is hit and miss for me, and I’m happy to report that this was a hit. A small but compelling team investigates a stream of twisted murders that may tie to historic child abuse at an orphanage. DI Corstorphine is not used to it. He’s a widower who still talks to his late wife and has been dealing with petty crime for years, but he’s still capable of tackling this complex case. His right-hand woman is Frankie, young but resourceful. There is a rookie who is trying his best, and an older officer close to retirement who, unlike these types of characters, still cares. The murders are gruesome and well planned by someone very smart, so it won’t be easy to find out whodunit. This is such a case in which the victims are victimizers themselves, so I was conflicted. I wanted the team to succeed but I was also rooting for the killer. The dialogue is fresh and the plot very well structured. Every murder leads to a new revelation. I also liked the baddie. Corstorphine is very likable and honorable. I’m a fan!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Storm Publishing.

Wow! What can I say! That was an intense, rollercoaster ride of a thriller. Gruesome at times and horrifically sad at others. I was hooked from the start and found it almost impossible to put down. The plot was incredible and so intricate. Definitely one to read

Having enjoyed previous books by this author, I was delighted to be asked to review this book. What a devilishly clever plot. Historical abuse and coverups come to light as the various players involved are removed one by one in macabre and unusual ways. Yet, there are clues left behind deliberately. The police involved in this are not the main players, however, we are given a little insight into them as this is a start of a series, and they are characters that will develop. The final removal of the most odious character was delightful, making me wonder how can someone be so pleased to revel in a character getting his comeuppance. I look forward to reading the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for bringing this author into my orbit.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Bone Clock by Andrew James Grieg due to be published April 17, 2025.

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. He finds himself searching for a killer with an unusual way of murdering his victims. Corstorphine soon finds a connection to another murder at the same tree twenty years ago. As other murders happen, can DI Corstorphine make the connection and solve the mysteries in time?
This was my first book by this author. I loved getting to know new characters and this thriller had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn’t wait to see who was behind all the murders.
I highly recommend this one and look forward to the next book!
#NetGalley #AndrewJamesGrieg #StormPublishing #TheBoneClock