Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
HarperCollins (2009), 467 pages
Description
Stuart MacBride's Number One bestselling crime series opens with this award-winning debut. DS Logan McRae and the police in Aberdeen hunt a child killer who stalks the frozen streets. Winter in Aberdeen: murder, mayhem and terrible weather... It's DS Logan McRae's first day back on the job after a year off on the sick, and it couldn't get much worse. Three-year-old David Reid's body is discovered in a ditch: strangled, mutilated and a long time dead. And he's only the first. There's a serial killer stalking the Granite City and the local media are baying for blood. Soon the dead are piling up in the morgue almost as fast as the snow on the streets, and Logan knows time is running out. More children are going missing. More are going to die. And if Logan isn't careful, he could end up joining them.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member reading_fox
A very competetantly written fortnight in the life of a Detective Sergent of Aberdeen's finest men (and women) in blue. It does feel like the middle of the series, but sufficient back story is given to explain previous events in the characters lives.
Logan Mcrae is our heoric DS. He's been off sick
There's plenty of humour along the way, as well as some well crafted interactions amoung the police. Whether its a bolshy Detective Inspector or a bunch of the 'lads' out for a drink to erase the memories of a hard day, the details seem to fit. The police work also feels equally realistic, plenty of assumptions about what could have happened, finding some evidence to support it, and later realising that other interpretations are possible - very human, unlike some police stories out there. The triggers that form these assumptions are also given in sufficient detail to make it obvious to the reader what is going on. The annoying habit some authors have of giving insights from the perpetrators point of view is completely avoided, which keeps the tension going right up to the end.
Some of the characters were a little bit overdone - if DI Insch really ate that many sweets he wouldn't have any teeth left, nor be able to fit through a doorway. Likewise DI Steel, and also Aberdeen's weather, which I'm sure can't be unrelentingly bad for two straight weeks.... most of the time. I didn't spot any obvious plot holes, which is another point its favour, and all the various investigative threads were eventually tidied up, not too neatly, but realistically.
Overal very enjoyable, and a name well worth looking out for more.
Logan Mcrae is our heoric DS. He's been off sick
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for a year following a stabbing in a previous (undetailed) case, and still feeling a bit tender, he returns to work on a typically bitter Aberdeen winter's day. His first case is the discovery of a dead boy, found murdered and abandonded in a ditch. The attending pathologist is his ex-girlfirend which doesn't hep matters. When another child goes missing, a gentle start back to work is out of the question, and its 16 hours days until the cultprit is found.There's plenty of humour along the way, as well as some well crafted interactions amoung the police. Whether its a bolshy Detective Inspector or a bunch of the 'lads' out for a drink to erase the memories of a hard day, the details seem to fit. The police work also feels equally realistic, plenty of assumptions about what could have happened, finding some evidence to support it, and later realising that other interpretations are possible - very human, unlike some police stories out there. The triggers that form these assumptions are also given in sufficient detail to make it obvious to the reader what is going on. The annoying habit some authors have of giving insights from the perpetrators point of view is completely avoided, which keeps the tension going right up to the end.
Some of the characters were a little bit overdone - if DI Insch really ate that many sweets he wouldn't have any teeth left, nor be able to fit through a doorway. Likewise DI Steel, and also Aberdeen's weather, which I'm sure can't be unrelentingly bad for two straight weeks.... most of the time. I didn't spot any obvious plot holes, which is another point its favour, and all the various investigative threads were eventually tidied up, not too neatly, but realistically.
Overal very enjoyable, and a name well worth looking out for more.
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LibraryThing member Joybee
This was a new author for me, and I loved it. A great 'hardboiled' crime novel with memorable characters. A very intricate plot that kept me enthralled til the end. The main character, DS Logan McRae, is very lovable (constantly blushing) and has a knack for solving mysteries. I can't wait to
It is DS McRae's first day back on the job after a serious injury, and things start off bad. A young boy's body is found. As more bodies of children turn up, and others are kidnapped, it is a race against time to find the person who is responsible.
As a side note there is a possible budding relationship forming between Logan and a fellow officer, WPC Jackie Watson. And there are multiple 'gross out' points in the book as decomposing bodies and autopsies are described.
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continue with the series. It is DS McRae's first day back on the job after a serious injury, and things start off bad. A young boy's body is found. As more bodies of children turn up, and others are kidnapped, it is a race against time to find the person who is responsible.
As a side note there is a possible budding relationship forming between Logan and a fellow officer, WPC Jackie Watson. And there are multiple 'gross out' points in the book as decomposing bodies and autopsies are described.
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LibraryThing member ForfarLibrary
I did like the main character and particularly the unflattering portrayal of his ex-lover. All the missing littlies - I found it a little hard to follow who was who sometimes, but perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention. Aberdeen in winter was brilliantly written. I will look out for more in this
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series. - Fiona Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
It's SD Logan's first day back on the job after a near fatal stabbing and a year off on sick leave. There's someone killing children in the city and the local media are a step ahead of the police.
His new boss DI Insch doesn't suffer fools gladly and regards most people as fools. His ex-girlfriend
With several twists and turns this is an interesting story.
His new boss DI Insch doesn't suffer fools gladly and regards most people as fools. His ex-girlfriend
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is the chief pathologisst and is trying to freeze him out.With several twists and turns this is an interesting story.
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LibraryThing member RachelfromSarasota
For American fans of Ed McBain's 87th precinct books, Stuart MacBride's Cold Granite will come as a welcome addition to the world of police procedurals. Chock full of vivid descriptions of Aberdeen, Scotland, the book can transport the reader from the sunniest of climes to the constant drizzle and
The author's great talent, I think, lies in the creation of atmosphere -- the hearty, well-lubricated police get-togethers at a local bar; the stench and slime of vivid crime scenes; the bleak interrogation rooms of the local police headquarters. American that I am, I had no problem fancying myself in Scotland, after reading MacBride's lucid descriptions.
And MacBride has limned some memorable characters, as well. From the pushy but likable crime reporter to the beautifully icy pathologist, MacBride's characters seem fully real. In fact, his protagonist, detective Logan MacRae, is almost the weakest character in the book -- not because of MacBride's descriptive talents, but simply because MacRae breaks the mold of the usual detective protagonist. He's not always in control, not brooding nor bitter, and it takes him quite a while to figure out what's going on beneath the surface of a number of similar crimes.
That said, I found this book heavy-going. I finished it quickly, but often had to force myself to pay attention to every page. That is my own personal weakness, though, not the author's. I am just not a big fan of police procedurals in general, though this one was a well-written debut.
A fan called this a "Tartan noir" but I must respectfully disagree. Though the weather throughout the book is bleak, the characters are not. MacBride sprinkles a generous dose of humanity into every character; even the villains are sympathetically painted.
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gloom of an Aberdonian winter. The author's great talent, I think, lies in the creation of atmosphere -- the hearty, well-lubricated police get-togethers at a local bar; the stench and slime of vivid crime scenes; the bleak interrogation rooms of the local police headquarters. American that I am, I had no problem fancying myself in Scotland, after reading MacBride's lucid descriptions.
And MacBride has limned some memorable characters, as well. From the pushy but likable crime reporter to the beautifully icy pathologist, MacBride's characters seem fully real. In fact, his protagonist, detective Logan MacRae, is almost the weakest character in the book -- not because of MacBride's descriptive talents, but simply because MacRae breaks the mold of the usual detective protagonist. He's not always in control, not brooding nor bitter, and it takes him quite a while to figure out what's going on beneath the surface of a number of similar crimes.
That said, I found this book heavy-going. I finished it quickly, but often had to force myself to pay attention to every page. That is my own personal weakness, though, not the author's. I am just not a big fan of police procedurals in general, though this one was a well-written debut.
A fan called this a "Tartan noir" but I must respectfully disagree. Though the weather throughout the book is bleak, the characters are not. MacBride sprinkles a generous dose of humanity into every character; even the villains are sympathetically painted.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
Protagonist: Detective Sergeant Logan MacRae
Setting: present-day Aberdeen, Scotland
Series: #1
Relentless rain reflects the mood that permeates this début set in Aberdeen,
Scotland. DS Logan MacRae, just returned from a lengthy convalescence caused
by a suspect's vicious knife attack, is thrown
investigation of a murdered child. To make matters worse, the victim's
family learns of the death from a reporter before the police have a chance
to inform them. More children go missing, and soon the populace of Aberdeen
is screaming for blood. Juggling an exhausting caseload, the leak within the
department, a reporter who hounds him for exclusives, and a volatile city,
MacRae has to find the strength to eliminate all the distractions and try to
anticipate the killer's next move.
MacBride's strengths are his characterization and a raft of intriguing
subplots. I found Cold Granite almost impossible to put down and closed it
with a "Wow!"
Setting: present-day Aberdeen, Scotland
Series: #1
Relentless rain reflects the mood that permeates this début set in Aberdeen,
Scotland. DS Logan MacRae, just returned from a lengthy convalescence caused
by a suspect's vicious knife attack, is thrown
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headfirst into theinvestigation of a murdered child. To make matters worse, the victim's
family learns of the death from a reporter before the police have a chance
to inform them. More children go missing, and soon the populace of Aberdeen
is screaming for blood. Juggling an exhausting caseload, the leak within the
department, a reporter who hounds him for exclusives, and a volatile city,
MacRae has to find the strength to eliminate all the distractions and try to
anticipate the killer's next move.
MacBride's strengths are his characterization and a raft of intriguing
subplots. I found Cold Granite almost impossible to put down and closed it
with a "Wow!"
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LibraryThing member MarkKeeffe
Typical crime drama. I've read so many of these now they are getting a sameness about them.
LibraryThing member Eruntane
Crime novels aren't really my thing, but I read this one because it's set in Aberdeen where I live. It was quite enjoyable, with some witty moments. Some very gruesome ones too, though. I thought the ending got a bit too melodramatic and rather spoiled the gritty vibe that had been built up
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throughout the rest of the novel. Still, I probably will read some more of Stuart MacBride's books. Show Less
LibraryThing member Joycepa
A police procedural of the more or less hard boiled type. Set in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Detective Sergeant Logan MacRae has returned from recovering from near-fatal stab wounds to the Grampian Police Force to face immediately a dead child and the possibility of a serial paedophile killer. Other dead
While not consciously a spin-off of Ian Rankin’s series, this is close enough to merit comparison. And comes up lacking in almost every respect. MacBride does a very good plot, but his writing runs the spectrum from pathetic to adequate to “precious”. Someone either told him or he learned in a writing course that you have to be clever with words to stand out from the crowd, and MacBride took this too much to heart. For example, there is the use of the verb, ‘to sulk”. A house sulked, the sky sulked, something else sulked. None of it worked. Another example: “she scrabbled backward”. Scrabbled?? No.
There are some good parts. MacBride does a good job in writing about the more or less adolescent interactions between members of the police force, which I found believable enough. He uses quite a few Aberdonian words, such as ‘shoogled’ (to scoot along a bench or seat) that lend a nice atmosphere to the story. His descriptions of the weather convinced me never to visit Aberdeen. His characters have potential but he simply does not know how to handle them. One character in particular was really well done, though—a female Detective Inspector who turns out to be quite a womanizer!
The denouement was weak enough, but the writing was so awkward and inadequate that it made the ending almost boring.
The "granite" of the title refers to the traditional building material of Aberdeen. The cover art bears no resemblance whatsoever to anything that occurs within the story.
This debut novel is so awkward that I have no desire to read any further in the series.
Detective Sergeant Logan MacRae has returned from recovering from near-fatal stab wounds to the Grampian Police Force to face immediately a dead child and the possibility of a serial paedophile killer. Other dead
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children appear as well as a puzzling adult corpse, causing more than a little confusion within the police ranks. In addition, it’s clear that someone inside the Grampian Police Force is giving inside information to a notorious journalist.While not consciously a spin-off of Ian Rankin’s series, this is close enough to merit comparison. And comes up lacking in almost every respect. MacBride does a very good plot, but his writing runs the spectrum from pathetic to adequate to “precious”. Someone either told him or he learned in a writing course that you have to be clever with words to stand out from the crowd, and MacBride took this too much to heart. For example, there is the use of the verb, ‘to sulk”. A house sulked, the sky sulked, something else sulked. None of it worked. Another example: “she scrabbled backward”. Scrabbled?? No.
There are some good parts. MacBride does a good job in writing about the more or less adolescent interactions between members of the police force, which I found believable enough. He uses quite a few Aberdonian words, such as ‘shoogled’ (to scoot along a bench or seat) that lend a nice atmosphere to the story. His descriptions of the weather convinced me never to visit Aberdeen. His characters have potential but he simply does not know how to handle them. One character in particular was really well done, though—a female Detective Inspector who turns out to be quite a womanizer!
The denouement was weak enough, but the writing was so awkward and inadequate that it made the ending almost boring.
The "granite" of the title refers to the traditional building material of Aberdeen. The cover art bears no resemblance whatsoever to anything that occurs within the story.
This debut novel is so awkward that I have no desire to read any further in the series.
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LibraryThing member fordbarbara
Great series - great characters - humorous at times but hard
LibraryThing member Bestine
This gritty procedural, a first novel set in Aberdeen, Scotland, knocked my socks off when I checked it out from the library. I always agonize over adding new 'buy in hardcover' authors to my list, but Mr. MacBride sure passed the audition.
LibraryThing member KAzevedo
MacBride's strong ability to create atmosphere with description and dialect create a sense of being a part of the Scottish police force in this debut police procedural. There are many likable characters and unlike many such stories, those on the force seem mostly reasonable and realistic. I
The writing is sometimes overworked I think, but there are good twists to the interwoven plotlines that will keep most readers guessing as to the resolution. It's a dark story of serial child killings, mob retaliation, and broken families, with gruesome descriptions of postmortems and the dead, but there is also some humor to lighten things up. There are perhaps too many coincedental plotlines involving children that create red herrings, but ultimately, I enjoyed the book and will read the next in the series.
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particularly liked that Logan, the Detective Sergeant and protagonist, is just a mid-level cop who makes mistakes and sometimes tries to cover them up, but is mostly honest. He is inept at relationships, but is not set in his ways and has lots of room to grow.The writing is sometimes overworked I think, but there are good twists to the interwoven plotlines that will keep most readers guessing as to the resolution. It's a dark story of serial child killings, mob retaliation, and broken families, with gruesome descriptions of postmortems and the dead, but there is also some humor to lighten things up. There are perhaps too many coincedental plotlines involving children that create red herrings, but ultimately, I enjoyed the book and will read the next in the series.
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LibraryThing member jimrbrown
Excellent first book by Stuart Macbride which does for Aberdeen what Ian Rankin did for Edinburgh. It sounds a very seedy city. Some of it is a bit brutal with some harrowing post mortem scenes reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell. Excellent characters and Logan McRae's personal life has got plenty of
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potential for later books. I have the second book in the series and after reading this book I am on the look out for the third and subsequent ones. Show Less
LibraryThing member adpaton
I was delighted to find the first of the McRae stories, having already read the sixth and fourth [in that order] and been seduced by MacBride's darkly humorous writing style. I confess to an unladylike delight in books which feature sadistic violence, so Macbride is tailor made for my perverse
I like the way the plot starts mid-story as it were, with McRae having returned to duty after a long time off duty recovering from vicious stab wounds to the stomach which almost result in his becoming addicted to painkillers. He is put to work with Detective Inspector David Insch, a large, irrascible man who constantly stuffs himself with sweets - anything from liquorice allsorts to fizzy cola bottles - but despite his appearance and manner, is efficient and bluffly likable. Logan is plunged back in the deep-end when he is set to work on a series of abductions and murders of little boys.
He meets former star reporter Colin Miller, exiled from Glasgow into the provinces after been threatened by crime boss 'Malk the knife': Colin seems to have an informant in the Grampian police team who feeds him information Logan wants to stay secret but it turns out his stoolie is none other than McRae's former girlfriend, the lovely and icily elegant Isobel McAlister, police pathologist.
MacBride is one of the few writers who has not had to improve with practise: he starts good, as evidenced by this books, and just goes on getting better [excuse the contradiction in terms] and I shall be looking for books 3, 5 and 7 in the series to fill the gaps in my collection.
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pleasure as McRae deals with stomach-turning behaviours and horrible, nasty people. I like the way the plot starts mid-story as it were, with McRae having returned to duty after a long time off duty recovering from vicious stab wounds to the stomach which almost result in his becoming addicted to painkillers. He is put to work with Detective Inspector David Insch, a large, irrascible man who constantly stuffs himself with sweets - anything from liquorice allsorts to fizzy cola bottles - but despite his appearance and manner, is efficient and bluffly likable. Logan is plunged back in the deep-end when he is set to work on a series of abductions and murders of little boys.
He meets former star reporter Colin Miller, exiled from Glasgow into the provinces after been threatened by crime boss 'Malk the knife': Colin seems to have an informant in the Grampian police team who feeds him information Logan wants to stay secret but it turns out his stoolie is none other than McRae's former girlfriend, the lovely and icily elegant Isobel McAlister, police pathologist.
MacBride is one of the few writers who has not had to improve with practise: he starts good, as evidenced by this books, and just goes on getting better [excuse the contradiction in terms] and I shall be looking for books 3, 5 and 7 in the series to fill the gaps in my collection.
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LibraryThing member gogglemiss
Work weary detective sergeant Logan McRae hunts down a serial killer of mutilated, dead children and he has plenty of obstacles along the way. He has been off sick for a year and is still on medication..
This a very gritty,and no holds barred book, with a very unflattering weather picture of
This a very gritty,and no holds barred book, with a very unflattering weather picture of
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Aberdeen where it all happens, Unrelenting rain, snow in sub zero temperatures, and every gory detail explained, during post mortems. If this was a film, I would not be watching it, but there was a lot of humour in this book, (I loved DI Insh who kept eating various sweets. after giving up smoking, his comments were priceless) . The suspense never let up. Show Less
LibraryThing member mikedraper
Sgt. Logan McRae returns to the Granite City police department after being out for a year with an on the job injury.
He's the type of person that is assigned to cases that are difficult or need a speedy resolution and when a child's body is found, murdered and dismembered, he's given the case.
When
McRae works for a controlling, authoritative supervisor. Det. Inspector Insch is a large, bald man McRae compares to a well-dressed Buddah but not as friendley.
Insch also does pantomine at the local theater when off duty and tries to get other employees on the job to buy tickets to the theater.
Another body is found. This time it's a girl and killed in a different manner. The police are worried that they have two child killers at work in their small community.
McRae is eminently believable. He's the type of character the reader likes and believes that if they were in a similar position as McRae, they'd act as he does.
I enjoyed the story and the setting and look forward to more books about Sgt. Logan McRae.
He's the type of person that is assigned to cases that are difficult or need a speedy resolution and when a child's body is found, murdered and dismembered, he's given the case.
When
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he tries to inform the child's parents about finding the body of their child, he learns of their distress because the press had already contacted them and they were shocked by the news the press didn't give any compassion to them.McRae works for a controlling, authoritative supervisor. Det. Inspector Insch is a large, bald man McRae compares to a well-dressed Buddah but not as friendley.
Insch also does pantomine at the local theater when off duty and tries to get other employees on the job to buy tickets to the theater.
Another body is found. This time it's a girl and killed in a different manner. The police are worried that they have two child killers at work in their small community.
McRae is eminently believable. He's the type of character the reader likes and believes that if they were in a similar position as McRae, they'd act as he does.
I enjoyed the story and the setting and look forward to more books about Sgt. Logan McRae.
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LibraryThing member -Eva-
DS Logan McRae returns to the Aberdeen police force after having had a year off to recuperate from being stabbed 23 times and gets thrown into a case involving a pedophilic serial killer. Although the characters are not cynical enough to completely warrant the Noir label, the story is certainly
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grim and gruesome enough. And rainy and snowy and cold. And really, really good. This is MacBride's first novel, but there is no sign of that - talk about hitting the ground running (including the little nod to Ian Rankin)! Our hero is a reasonably clever guy without having any "magic" inspiration and the numerous plotlines (which all get tied up at the end) keep the interest piqued. The stakes are high, the characters utterly believable, and the resolution not an easy guess, albeit a little bit overdramatic. Not at all shabby for a first novel - I'm definitely going to read more of this locale and these characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member sogamonk
First on the Logan McRae series, good police procedural. Enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member VickiTyley
Gritty Scottish police procedural. While I like the tone of the book and MacBride's writing style, I'm not at all comfortable with the graphic nature of what a sexual sadist is doing to children under five. Not sure that I want to read a story where poor wee bairns have their genitals sliced off
It hasn’t put me off reading more of MacBride’s work, though.
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and objects inserted where they shouldn't be. Different matter if the victims were paedophiles.It hasn’t put me off reading more of MacBride’s work, though.
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LibraryThing member Balthazar-Lawson
I really enjoyed this book of murder and misadventure in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. This setting is different to the usual setting of books I read and helped to make it more enjoyable. The characters are flawed but so believable and help to make this the perfect start of a series.
LibraryThing member lkernagh
I am going to start off by calling this a page-turning read for me. What else could it be if it only took me two days to read 464 pages? Logan McRae is a rather likeable cop and I was kind of surprised that he doesn't come with a lot of psychological damage/baggage. Physical damage he has in spades
Overall, a really good read and I will read more of this series.... but I think I need to take a bit of a break from dark reads like this one before I think about diving into book two in the series.
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but he is a pretty well-balanced guy. Even his acting DI, Insch, started to grow on me as the story progressed. I really liked the tight, complex plot and the ending.... well, I am just glad I read the last 4 chapters during the day while enjoying some wonderful summer weather and not in the dead of night all alone with a storm brewing outside. I was a little bugged that MacBride took his own sweet time to disclose the scant details he did of the Mastrick Monster case that is part of McRae's past (pre-Cold Granite) and the graphic and gory details contained in this story pretty much pushed my blood and gore limits with its more than a few cringe-worthy moments. Overall, a really good read and I will read more of this series.... but I think I need to take a bit of a break from dark reads like this one before I think about diving into book two in the series.
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LibraryThing member RowingRabbit
What can I say...it's Stuart MacBride. Smart, tightly plotted & laugh out loud funny, usually at the most inappropriate times. Highly recommend this series.
LibraryThing member RuthieD
What a page turner. I absolutely relished this. I first 'met ' Logan half way through the series and I enjoyed it, but parts didn't make sense. It's definitely a series you need to start at the beginning to understand fully.
Logan is just so likeable , though he does have a lot of slightly
I'd forgotten about DI Steel. It is gritty, and realistic sounding. He's a very talented author. The victims are so ...pathetic in the proper sense and the outrage the police feel at the crimes is palpable.
Went and bought Dying Light before completion.
Logan is just so likeable , though he does have a lot of slightly
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unbelievable flashes of brilliance. Insch was my surprise favourite character....my fellow sugar/sweet holic. I'd forgotten about DI Steel. It is gritty, and realistic sounding. He's a very talented author. The victims are so ...pathetic in the proper sense and the outrage the police feel at the crimes is palpable.
Went and bought Dying Light before completion.
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LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Cold Granite
4 Stars
Following a year of recuperation, DS Logan McRae is hoping for a slow return to the Aberdeen force. However, with the discovery of the body of a 3-year-old boy, McRae is thrust into a heartbreaking and horrific investigation. As the bodies begin piling up and several children go
***Warning***: This book contains graphic and disturbing descriptions of child murder, and is not for readers offended by this type of story and writing.
The plot is comprised of several seemingly unrelated threads that MacBride ultimately weaves together to form a unified whole. While some of the plot twists are obvious, others come as a surprise and the finale is intense and satisfying. MacBride's writing is brisk with sufficient humor to offset the terrible nature of the crimes without being callous or cold-blooded.
DS Logan McRae is an appealing mix of experience and naiveté. While he is a skilled investigator with excellent instincts, he is almost childlike when it comes to personal and professional relationships.
The secondary characters are well-developed whether it is McRae's tetchy boss with his penchant for charity pantomimes or the smarmy journalist with his loathsome attitude or the feisty and capable WPC assigned to keep McRae out of trouble.
In sum, Cold Granite is a riveting police procedural with engaging characters and a complex and multifaceted storyline. Highly recommended for fans of British crime novels and the writing of Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter.
4 Stars
Following a year of recuperation, DS Logan McRae is hoping for a slow return to the Aberdeen force. However, with the discovery of the body of a 3-year-old boy, McRae is thrust into a heartbreaking and horrific investigation. As the bodies begin piling up and several children go
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missing, the press is convinced that a serial killer is on the loose, and McRae will have to use all of his wits and experience to uncover the truth. ***Warning***: This book contains graphic and disturbing descriptions of child murder, and is not for readers offended by this type of story and writing.
The plot is comprised of several seemingly unrelated threads that MacBride ultimately weaves together to form a unified whole. While some of the plot twists are obvious, others come as a surprise and the finale is intense and satisfying. MacBride's writing is brisk with sufficient humor to offset the terrible nature of the crimes without being callous or cold-blooded.
DS Logan McRae is an appealing mix of experience and naiveté. While he is a skilled investigator with excellent instincts, he is almost childlike when it comes to personal and professional relationships.
The secondary characters are well-developed whether it is McRae's tetchy boss with his penchant for charity pantomimes or the smarmy journalist with his loathsome attitude or the feisty and capable WPC assigned to keep McRae out of trouble.
In sum, Cold Granite is a riveting police procedural with engaging characters and a complex and multifaceted storyline. Highly recommended for fans of British crime novels and the writing of Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter.
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LibraryThing member Jebbie74
A definate read for anyone who loves a good police procedural. Two thumbs up and I can't wait to read his next one!
Subjects
Awards
Barry Award (Winner — First Novel — 2006)
Waverton Good Read Award (Longlist — 2005)
International Thriller Writers Award (Nominee — First Novel — 2006)
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Longlist — 2007)
Language
Original publication date
2005
ISBN
0007298978 / 9780007298976
Other editions
Cold granite by Stuart MacBride (Paper Book)