A much better book than the first one which was shite. The banter between the polis is entertaining even if the plot is very predictable. ( )

This is the second book in the Scottish crime series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jack Logan. Logan, in his mid-forties, has just transferred from Glasgow to Inverness four months after working a case up there (detailed in the first book, Litter of Bones). Glasgow held too many bad memories for him, and the Fort William DCI wanted to transfer anyway. So now he was back working with the team he had grown to know and like previously: Detective Inspector Ben Forde, Detective Sergeant Caitlyn McQuarrie, Detective Constable Hamza Khaled, Detective Constable Tyler Neish, and local Police Constable Sinead Bell.

Before he even could get settled at his new job however, Ben called him on the drive up from Glasgow and asked him to stop at a crime scene by Loch Ness. A body of a woman had washed up. The victim, Mairi Sinclair, a 31-year-old school teacher and single mom of a 14-year-old son, was not only killed and thrown in the lock, but tortured in bizarre ways before her death.

There were a number of suspects including Mairi’s ex-husband, who happened to be working for a Russian drug lord with whom Logan had dealings with before: Bosco Maximuke. Mairi also had been involved in a sexual relationship with a local climbing instructor, and had been having somewhat irregular contacts with a coworker, as indicated by texts on Mairi’s phone.

As the team gets closer to answers, the dangers to all of them mount and the tension ratchets up exponentially.

Evaluation: The story is a page-turner, with plenty of scary moments and unseen twists and turns. This series is addictive for those who appreciate thrillers. ( )

Excellent book. Enjoyed it as mich as A Litter of Bones, book one. I love the characters also and the interaction between Jack and Tyler. Jack gives him a hard time ( )

Good thriller, believable characters. I didn't guess the murderer until near the end. Will buy more from this author. ( )