I have literally no idea how to start reviewing this book. I mean, I could just grab one of my previous reviews and copy and paste, because I genuinely think that there is nothing original left to be said about how much I love this series. Because I really do. I was suckered in by the perfect blend of the run of the mill police investigation and the hint of the supernatural. A brilliant combination of crime thriller and something a little more fantastical. Each book brings something a little ... off kilter, pitting our dear Tony McLean against characters of nefarious intent and unearthly skills. Not everything can be written off as a display of the occult, but it's not all straight forward criminal mastermind stuff either.

The series started off with a bang, and when it came to conveying the inexplicable, Mr Oswald has a great talent for making it all believable. This is quite a difficult series to define. It doesn't fit squarely in any particular genre - not clean police procedural and not so quite dark as to make it horror either. It floats, beautifully in my opinion, somewhere in between. And with the last two titles there has been a noticeable loosening of the artistic reins, with the last book, The Gathering Dark and this, Cold As the Grave, returning more obviously to the otherworldly essence of the series that made me fall in love with it to begin with.

Can you tell where this is going yet? Indulge me a little and read on anyway. It's the least you can do now I've found my (really really long) stride.

I don't really want to say too much about the plot. The blurb above tells you all you need to know. Poor old Tony McLean has a real knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a chance discovery whilst watching over a march through the heart of Edinburgh, puts him front and centre in a rather harrowing investigation. Mummified remains are discovered in an abandoned room but, seeing as how this is a Tony McLean novel, you know that nothing is going to be as straight forward as it seems. Faced with old foes, illegal immigrants, travelling circuses and missing children, Tony and the team have their work cut out for them if they hope to prevent any more tragedies from occurring.

What I love about this series is the way in which James Oswald has developed the characters. They really make the series for me. Beyond the already established team of Tony, Grumpy Bob (still love that guy and so happy his retirement is only taking as far as the basement and the cold case team), Duguid who is, bizarrely, still growing on me, Kirsty Ritchie, and Janie Harrison, you have the friends who shape and inform Tony's life - his partner Emma, Madame Rose and Angus Cadwallader. They are all so richly drawn, and add such texture to the story because I can easily make an emotional connection with each and every one of them. There is some trait in each character . that you can identify with. Hell - even Mrs McCutcheon's Cat. I know I look forward to seeing what they will do in each book, how they will become part of the story. Sometimes you laugh with them, at other times you may cry but they are always there and it is always special.

Added to this you have those who operate on the other side of the law. In a story which mixes reality with something a little more ... out there, it would be easy to make all the bad guys appear to be too outlandish. Too much of the pantomime villains in designer suits. As well as a new kind of threat, a new foe as it were, there is a familiar face back to haunt Tony once more, although you will need to read the book to find out who that is. Whether their intentions are as altruistic as they maintain ... I have to say I side with Tony on being more than a little suspicious on that front, but it does add a delicious, if devious, twist to the story and I can't to see how their reappearance plays out in future books.

This is, at times, a rather harrowing story to read. It deals with missing children, the plight of immigrants on the streets of Edinburgh, and examines a real life socio-political problem, and does so without merely turning it into a source of entertainment. It is a very current topic, although given a McLean twist, but you can't ignore the emotional turmoil that lies beneath the surface, or how relevant the story is in modern society. The book had the ability to leave me both outraged and heartbroken, with some truly powerful scenes throughout.

James Oswald uses setting to great effect in the story. From the dark space in which the mummified body is found, to the ways in which he contrasts the relative opulence of his won home against the very basic, and in some cases, slum like conditions, or worse, that some of the other characters live in, each scene is so realistically drawn, that the ambience of the location sets not only the tone, but also the underlying atmosphere that informs the story. You get to see a far darker side of Edinburgh that is painted in the tourist brochures, and yet the prose is so wonderfully descriptive that it still takes you to the heart of what is, when all is said and done, a beautiful city. Much like the story, each setting has a kind of duplicitous nature, the facade, be it beautiful or stark, hiding the true nature of what lies within. From circus tents, to townhouses, to country estates, the vivid narrative creates an image in your mind as clear as any picture could.

The pacing in the book is perfect, fast enough to keep me totally intrigued, whilst not rushing over the quiet and sombre moments in a bid to just escalate the action. There are moments of tension that had me, as a reader, perched on the edge of my seat, wondering what may happen. Then there were scenes in which the silence and near stillness of Tony and Emma's world was so overwhelmingly simple and honest that it was almost bruising, the emotion conveyed so convincingly that it made my heart ache. I just loved the way the author managed the balance between the two, making me both desperate to read on but almost scared to turn the page.

And that's all I can say really. To give you more would probably end in spoilers and we wouldn't want that now. Either that or I will sound like a stuck record, because how many ways are there to say 'just read the bloody books because they are bloody fabulous and you know it makes sense'?

So yes. I loved this book. Loved the blend of the magical, the villainous and the otherworldly, and loved, as always, DCI Tony McLean and his very special band of partners in crime fighting. I cannot wait for the next book, and can only take solace in the fact that although I've another twelve months to go until I'm reunited with Tony McLean, I can fill the void with a little bit of Constance Fairchild a later this year.

Cold as the Grave by James Oswald

Tony McLean has recently been promoted to Chief Inspector – and he’s not enjoying it at all. Suddenly, his world has shrunk to a small office and a desk laden with paperwork and reports. He wants to be out there policing. And so, when he gets the chance, he pops out to help with monitoring a rowdy demonstration on the streets of Edinburgh. A door slightly ajar off a quiet street grabs Tony’s attention. In it he finds the mummified remains of a corpse. This looks like a cold case. The body must have been lying there hidden for years. But a post mortem reveals that the body is that of a young girl and, far from having been dead for years, it’s only been a matter of days. And she will not be the last to die in this strange, cruel, cold way. As first on the scene, Tony is determined to play his part in solving one of the most puzzling cases of a career full of puzzling cases.

Cold as the Grave is the ninth novel in James Oswald’s Inspector McLean series – easily one of my favourite series of any kind, whatever the genre. As these books always do, Cold as the Grave went straight to the top of my reading pile and came with me on holiday to Spain. It was the perfect choice. As is usual with the series, there is within these pages a tantalising hint of something dark and sinister, something possibly not entirely human, at work in Edinburgh, and it is engrossing.

Cold as the Grave tells a fantastic story, deliciously complex in plot, and at its heart is a group of people on the fringes of Edinburgh society, its refugees, particularly vulnerable children. Tony McLean is a man who will do everything he can for them. But the forces against him are sinister and dark.

I love the way in which these books contain a hint of the supernatural. This isn’t something I normally go for in fiction but James Oswald makes it work. Weaving through the story is a strand that features fortune tellers, cats, monsters, genies and, perhaps, the personification of evil itself, a figure that McLean has come up against before. There is a dangerous force loose in society. How real that force is, as opposed to being unreal or inhuman, is a question with no answer. It’s wonderfully done and I love how it makes the book so chilly and creepy, with a touch of horror, while also presenting such a realistic and gripping police procedural. The two are married together seamlessly. And then there’s that Edinburgh setting – it’s excellent.

It’s the character of Tony McLean who pulls it all together and unites the two worlds, the light and the dark. There’s a sensitivity to him. He’s warm and caring. His relationship with Emma continues to confuse his personal life and this is dealt with so gently. It’s impossible not to care deeply for this wonderful man.

Cold as the Grave is my favourite of the series, which is no mean feat. I can’t wait til Tony McLean returns.

My thanks to Headline for an eARC via NetGalley of James Oswald’s ‘Cold as the Grave’, the 9th in his acclaimed Inspector McLean series of police procedurals set in Edinburgh.

I have read a number of earlier books in the series though have fallen a bit behind. I didn’t attempt to get up to date before reading this one as I know that authors and publishers will provide background as they appreciate that some readers will be new to an ongoing series or will not have read all of them.

In this outing for McLean he is uneasy about his recent promotion to Chief Inspector. During an operation to contain a far-right protest he comes across what appears to be the long dead body of a child in an unused basement. The building she was found in houses a charity that assists refugees. What first appeared to be a cold case is suddenly top priority when certain aspects come to light.

The theme of refugees, asylum seekers, and illegal immigrants is addressed here including their exploitation by traffickers and xenophobic responses by some factions of society. Including this topical social issue distinguishes this novel from many police procedurals as does Oswald’s signature inclusion of elements of the occult and supernatural.

This latter element is what drew me to the series after it was recommended by a friend. I am pleased to see that Oswald has continued to incorporate these elements into the narrative. However, this remains very much a police procedural rather than an urban fantasy with McLean seeking logical explanations for the uncanny.

I enjoyed this very much and certainly recommend it. There were a few ongoing aspects from earlier books that were carried over. However, this didn’t prove too distracting and made me resolve to go back and read the books that I had missed in the series in the very near future. I would also unconditionally recommend the series.

Cold as the Grave is the 9th book in the Inspector, now Chief Inspector, McLean series by James Oswald and like the previous eight books it is another absorbing and engaging read.

The book deals with the topical issue of refugees and the dangers they face.

McLean and his regular colleagues all appear as the author builds up the tension towards an excellent finish although there is another twist to follow.

There is no sign of fatigue in this series and it is highly recommended

The latest in the Tony McLean series is as good, if not better than its predecessors. James Oswald deserves more recognition as a first class writer of police procedurals. The plot is brilliantly constructed and the characters are all 3D. This would make a really good tv series. Tony is a fabulous creation, a down to earth, honest policeman but with an understanding of the supernatural. It is this nod to the paranormal that sets Oswald above his contemporaries; never overdone or totally unbelievable, it adds texture to the narrative. A tour de force of its genre.

As always another great book from this author. I love the way he manages to intertwine the supernatural element into the whole story. Would highly recommend this book. 5 stars

This is a stunning addition to James Oswald's blend of the supernatural and crime fiction series set in Edinburgh featuring the embattled and weary Tony McLean, now unhappily a Chief Inspector trapped in a significantly more management role, deluged with paperwork and handling budgets. His frustrations push him to get out on the streets where the far right are boldly marching, despite the inclement weather. Finding himself on a side street with a broken in house with an open door, he finds himself in the creepy basement where the mummified body of a child is discovered. The house has a refugee charity based within it. His relationship with Emma is on tenterhooks, a fragile affair after the tragedy that befell the couple. He is trying to be there for her, but the case is to push both of them to their limits.

The apparent cold case turns into something else entirely when the post mortem makes it clear that the child died in recent days rather than the long gone past. How did the body come to be in this condition? The house turns out to be owned by the elderly Peter Winterthorne, a member of the 1960s psychedelic rock group, the Loopy Doos, and the refugee charity is run by Sheila Begbie, who does all that she can to support refugees. Answers are hard to come by and the child's identity remains a mystery suggesting she was part of the refugee community surviving in a desperately hostile environment. Additionally, refugees are subject to dreadful abuse and exploitation, compounding their trauma after escaping nightmarish war zones. The last thing the refugees are going to do is open up to the police, fearing deportation and detention centres. As further murders take place, the mystery deepens further to incorporate Middle Eastern myths and folklore of djinns, magic lamps and wishes, although more a horror story than the tale of Aladdin and the more benign genie of the lamp. Madame Rose returns, and we have another fortune teller Madam Jasmina who tells a tale that stretches credulity.

Matters are exacerbated with the return of the vile Mrs Saifre who is showing a touch too much interest in McLean, offering information that the police are not in a position to ignore. He is right in questioning her motives, and his fears of a hidden agenda prove to be all too accurate. This is dark, and atmospheric storytelling, highly imaginative with oodles of suspense of tension that will have you turning the pages frantically until you reach the end. Oswald highlights the difficult environment that refugees face and the horrors of their exploitation and powerlessness in our contemporary times, whilst spinning the darkest of yarns around the issue. As usual, Oswald gives us a stellar addition to this most enthralling of crime series. I am avidly looking forward to the next one in the series. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

This is a 5* read from James Oswald in the Chief inspector Mc Lean series, fast becoming my favourite author. How did we get to book 9? Tony finds the body of a young child and this throws him into a hunt to find the killer as the body count rises. A touch of the supernatural in this fast paced and exciting thriller with lots of mysteries going on and plenty of action.I loved this book and would highly recommend it. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook.

Yet again Oswald knocks all previous books out of the park with Cold As The Grave.
McLean, Grumpy Bob and a host of other characters return in a timely and disturbing new case that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
This book had a particular significance for me as a Scottish lass currently volunteering with refugees in Athens, one of whom I discussed the book with and the rare Amaraiac language is his mother tongue. He was happy to learn that the author is highlighting the plight of his people and confirmed all of the mythology used in the book is accurate, so thanks also to Mohammad Anas Altaweel for teaching me more about the history of his region.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Cold as the Grave, the ninth novel to feature DCI Tony McLean of the Edinburgh police.

By accident Tony finds the body of a mummified child and hands the investigation over to the cold case unit but nothing in this novel is straightforward and he quickly finds himself back in charge.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cold as the Grave which is an exciting read with plenty of action, twists and turns and a supernatural element. Normally I’m not so keen on the supernatural as I find it difficult to believe but Mr Oswald allows it to evolve naturally with Tony McLean debunking it so often over the course of the novel that I didn’t give it much credence. That and the fact that I was so caught up in the story it just seems to fit in. I found how it fits in ingenious.

The novel is a real page turner with several mysteries going on, how the young girl died, who she is and why. At heart it is a procedural so there are interesting details of how the police go about a stranger murder but not too much as Tony isn’t one for the rule book so he is more often off than on piste, a fact that doesn’t escape his superiors. I like the pacing of the novel which is fairly fast with reveals and developments in every chapter, meaning never a dull moment and an absorbing read. Mr Oswald also takes the time for social issues, in this case the plight of refugees and how they are treated in this country. It would break your heart.

Tony is chafing at his new promotion to Chief Inspector as it doesn’t allow him time in the field, so being the obstinate man he is he investigates regardless. I can see conflict in his future but he won’t care. I like the care and sensitivity he brings to his cases which mixed with a hard headed objectivity makes him a great character.

Cold as the Grave is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Love this series, gets better all the time, if you want a believable main character then Tony McLean is the one, his life is a roller coaster, if you like police procedural you'll love this, enjoy, I have