A really intelligent, well plotted and well written book. What starts out as a seemingly tidy death of a bully and wife abuser turns into a series of perfectly executed deaths of despicable men who are linked by an extremely dark secret. I really enjoyed reading this book and strangely found myself routing for the executioner. A welcome change from the usual murder/police procedural book. Andrew James Greig is one to look out for.

The Bone Clock is a gripping and atmospheric Scottish crime thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Set in the mist-covered Highlands, the novel follows Detective Inspector James Corstorphine as he investigates a chilling series of murders where the killer crafts grotesque deathtraps from human remains. The haunting imagery and dark themes set the tone for a complex, intense story that delves into secrets, retribution, and a decades-old mystery.

Corstorphine, still grieving the death of his wife, is a compelling protagonist. His personal demons, combined with the eerie nature of the crimes, create a layered, emotionally engaging narrative. The connection between the current killings and a journalist’s death twenty years earlier adds an intriguing historical twist, making the investigation feel even more urgent and mysterious.

The writing is sharp and evocative, capturing the isolation of the Highlands and the oppressive weight of the past that looms over the characters. The twists and turns of the investigation are well-crafted, and the mounting tension keeps you turning the pages, eager to uncover the truth.

While the book is a strong start to the DI Corstorphine series, I felt that some of the secondary characters, particularly Margo, could have been developed a bit more. However, the focus on Corstorphine and the eerie atmosphere more than makes up for this.

Overall, The Bone Clock is a dark, twisted, and thoroughly engaging crime novel that will appeal to fans of Scottish crime fiction and those who enjoy atmospheric thrillers with a strong emotional core. The intricate plotting and unsettling mystery make this a page-turner that’s hard to put down.

Wow!!! WOW AND WOW...snyone not reading Andrew needs to get with the programme. Read the first, and the 2nd...sorry Andrew but Where's the 3rd. I want it NOW

The Bone Clock, the first in a new series by Andrew James Greig, is a gripping tale that is part serial killer, part revenge plot, part cold case, part police procedural - the book hits all of the things that make a fascinating thriller at once.
Well-written and fast-paced, the author keeps you turning the pages and guessing to the very end. Along the way, the author looks at the serious social issues of child and spousal abuse, and the victimization of the helpless by those in power. It makes for a gripping, sometimes gut-wrenching book, and leaves the reader wanting more.
I was lucky to be invited to read an ARC of #TheBoneClock from #NetGalley.

Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is investigating a series of devious murders, seemingly unlinked, until he starts examining the history of the small town he lives in. To give too much of the plot will spoil this for new readers, but this is very well written and worth a go if you like intricateely plotted mysteries.

The first in a new series from this author and it certainly hit the ground running!

Set in Scottish Highlands, DI Corstorphine is in charge of a small team. Nothing much happens in the area apart from the usual minor crimes, so when a body is found dangling from the infamous Hanging Tree, the team have their work cut out to step up a gear.

With a dark and dangerous undercurrent running throughout the investigation, Corstorphine has to upset a lot of the locals and those in authority to get to the heart of the crime.

A clever and devious plot line, a proper revenge thriller! Though the culprit was quite obvious from early on, and the ending seemed a little abrupt, it was still a very good read.

I really like the PI Teàrlach Paterson books by this author and it looks like this new series will become another favourite.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

A great police procedural set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
A series of elaborate murders are happening and it’s up to Corstorphine to find out who, and why this is happening in his small town.
This is novel one and Im just about to start Two which is shaping up to be a great new series.
Thank you for an advanced copy

Wow this story The Bone Clock by Andrew James Greig is excellent, the story is graphic and deals with themes of abuse and it kept me up at night only because I couldn’t put it down and just when I thought hmmmm it’s got to be ………… the story flipped and I had to start again. The characters are all interesting and I look forward to reading more about them, my only moan would be the bit regarding the chief didn’t seem to be resolved, but I can live with that.

DNF at 55%

I skimmed the rest because the subject matter got too dark for me. This book contained graphic violence and a lot more swearing than I'm comfortable with. It wasn't a bad story although I did suspect the killer very early on, but the content wasn't for me. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for letting me try it.

A great start to a series.
Was an intense read but I really liked it so many twists and turns
Can't wait for more from this author x

Wow what a book. I couldn’t put it down. First in a new series with Detective Corstorphine and DC Frankie McKenzie. A nearly decaputsted body is found near a tree where there was a ‘suicide’ years ago. There a bone cogs and a coin found nearby. There used to be an orphanage run by nuns years ago. Needless to say there’s corruption but it’s so skilfully done. I absolutely loved it. Already reading the next one

This was an absolute 5 star read, amazing read. This is my first book by this author but this book got me hooked in a way that I had to finish it!

Here we have our DI James who is called to gruesome crime scene, it’s clearly a work of someone that took their time to commit this crime. While going through his own personal crisis James dives into this mystery. The victim’s partner give him an interesting information that ties this crime to a crime that happened 20 years ago in this same place. This book had tons of mystery and lots of twists that I love. Set in Highlands it fits perfectly with the book’s vibe. I absolutely love this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for proving me with this eARC. All opinions are my honest opinions.

Who loves a murder mystery?🙋🏻‍♀️
This book is clever yet disturbing. Set at a small atmospheric village in Scotland, detectives are investigating a man found hanging from a tree.

This dark and gritty storyline was well written, and I really enjoyed the characters. Kept me engaged until the end.

I definitely recommend.

Thank you Storm Publishing for inviting me to read this book. Opinions are my own.

Hugely entertaining Scottish Noir thriller that introduces us to Detective James Corstophine and his team in a small town in the Scottish Highlands.

When a gamekeeper is found hanging from an old oak tree ensnared by an intricate device made of bones, a series of events begin that have links to the past and the old orphanage that used to exist.
20 years earlier a reporter was found hanging from the same tree, the cause of death ruled a suicide. But was the case investigated properly or was there a cover up? A seemingly untroubled and well liked reported suddenly taking her own lie?

The Bone Clock is a great start to a series that is both different and familiar at the same time. Some very very dark subject matters with an intricately woven story with a unique method of revenge.

Great story telling, a likeable main protagonist and enough twists and turns make this one that easy to recommend.

Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

4.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this thriller! It reminded me a bit of Criminal Minds, with the nature of the crime and the MO, which I loved. I definitely was surprised by the ending, I was convinced I knew who the killer was but was completely thrown off. I love books that keep you guessing until literally the very end, questioning every single character as a suspect as new information and evidence comes to light, which the author does very well. I couldn't put this book down towards the end and definitely want to read more by this author and highly recommend it!

4* Lacks 'gelling with the reader' factor for me, but a very decent tale, with admirable leads, and a killer I had to admire and feel for, one I wasn't sorry they got away with it.

I think the blurb feels a tad misleading, as the mentioned female DI isn't a lead character, but a very good investigator and support to the DCI, whose tale this is. Though he's widowed and clearly struggling to get back into the land of the living, he's hard to gel with because he's so closed-off. His redeeming quality is that he still sees and hears his late wife, and he seems to be trying to heed her words and counsel. The tale is strangely emotionless, though, and I didn't feel as if I got to know any characters, or was vested in them personally, though I will absolutely be reading more of this series (and was grateful and greedy for book 2 that I happened to get a copy of).

The story is set in remote Scotland with different policing and lawmaking rules that as a Brit in England, I didn't quite understand. It's very different and it feels as if sadly, power and prejudice, threats and politics prevent the truth from being outed and justice done. So, thank goodness that the killer had planned their revenge thoroughly, orchestrated it under the cover of literal and figurative darkness, and got away with it. I particularly liked the casual little physical display that revealed their identity and that they did a flit under the cover of darkness, getting away with justice and revenge. I've not often admired a killer or been on their side, but this one was justified in their actions, and very, very clever with it, yo the point of admiration. I did feel a little sorry for the DCI when the killer's reveal came, but he gets over this aspect of the tale quite nicely in book 2! And, I think he wouldn't have wanted to pursue the killer even if he could've.

Despite not feeling I got to know and like the leads, I really enjoyed this cleverly done tale of revenge best served cold, with a dash of French flair.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.

Thanks to the Storm publishing and Netgalley for this outstanding 5 star eARC.

I loved every minute I spend reading the Bone Clock, by Andrew James Greig - this isn't your typical murder mystery fare, it is a clever an artfully constructed police procedural that I couldn't put down.

A stellar introduction to Detective Inspector James Corstorphine , a small town detective up against an extremely big town crime as he and his team attempt to unmask a serial killer who is one of a kind.

A fascinating well written mystery that anyone who enjoys solid police procedurals will enjoy. Reminiscent of some of the more solid mysteries I enjoy such as Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne series, this detective has natural talent to it the pieces together, he is just newly challenged by a serial killer with victims who seem initially unconnected, as the storyline develops, all the gears eventually mesh together to create a storyline you won't soon forget.

This story begs the question, when the worst type of abusers and killers have escaped justice, is it so wrong for someone to take matters into their own hands? Thought provoking and original, this story gets an enthusiastic 5 stars from this reviewer!

Another great book in the series. I really like this small team and how they work together in a self sufficient way doing a lot of things specialists would do in bigger teams/ areas. This one starts with the murder of one of the area's bad boys, known as a domestic abuser and feared by many. James and Frankie quickly realise he has not died by suicide, but has been murdered, then other connected murders follow. There are a couple of red herrings along the way. I must admit, some of the parts about the bone gears went slightly over my head, but not enough to take away from what was happening.
I look forward to more in this series.
Thanks NetGalley and Storm for the ARC.

Scottish Highlands Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is called to investigate a grisly murder scene – perhaps the worst he has ever encountered. A local gamekeeper is found hanging from an oak tree, his body tightly wrapped in a layer of wire and bone. His investigation leads him to a killer who handcrafts intricate layers from human remains to serve as death traps complete with clock-like mechanisms that deliver the final blow to the victim.
The victim’s pregnant girlfriend Margo-clearly the victim of an abusive relationship, aids in the investigation by providing a reporters notebook found among the gamekeeper’s possessions. Corstorphine discovers from the notebook that a young journalist was found hanging at the same tree twenty years before. Margo, fearful for her own life, is reluctant to reveal what she knows about the secret past of the Highland community.
The deaths soon mount and as Corstorphine deals with the ghosts of his own past to desperately find the killer. He soon finds the shocking truth. The killer is delivering pay back for the innocent victims of the wrongful crimes committed in the town.

Andrew James Greig's The Bone Clock is a gripping crime thriller that introduces readers to Detective Inspector James Corstorphine and his team as they delve into a series of intricate murders in the Scottish Highlands. The novel masterfully weaves together multiple perspectives, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the investigation from various angles. The team's dynamic is both engaging and authentic, with Corstorphine's character standing out as both relatable and complex. The Scottish setting adds a rich layer of atmosphere, enhancing the novel's immersive experience.

The plot is both original and thought-provoking, with the author tackling sensitive subjects with empathy and depth. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for thorough character development and a deep dive into the narrative's complexities. While some readers might find the detailed character exploration a departure from traditional action-driven thrillers, it adds a unique depth to the story. The ending, though satisfying, leaves room for anticipation, making readers eager for the next installment in the series.

Overall, The Bone Clock is a standout addition to the crime thriller genre, offering a fresh perspective with its character-driven approach and atmospheric setting. It's a must-read for those who appreciate a blend of suspense, emotional depth, and intricate storytelling.