It looks like just another legal case for Alex Skinner. A suicide questioned by the dead woman's former husband, who thinks she was being framed to prevent a scandal coming out.

But when Alex herself comes under threat, her dad Bob Skinner steps in...

Another fantastic instalment in the wonderful Bob Skinner series, with its brilliant cast

Another fine read in the well established Skinner Series. A slightly different approach with daughter Alexis taking more of a lead role while Sir Bob acts with the Scottish police force in a mentoring role.
Alex takes on a cold case linked to Marcia Brown who was believed to have committed suicide after being caught shoplifting . Alex sets on a private investigator . The case becomes more complex with lives in danger including Alex. The old familiar faces in the force appear investigating a crime that links in far reaching ramifications and an apparently simple investigation turns into a national and international operation. Full of twists , turns and subterfuge. My thanks to Headline publishing and NetGalley for an ARC copy to review

This is the 31st book in the Skinner series by Quintin Jardine and we’ve followed Bob Skinner from his beginnings as a Chief Superintendent, head of Edinburgh’s CID in Skinners Rules to his role now as retired Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner albeit someone who keeps his hand in as a special constable/mentor as and when required. In The Bad Fire a case from 9 years previous is reopened by Skinner’s solicitor daughter Alex but is there more to the story than a simple case of shoplifting? Alex is about to find out looking into the past may cause lasting repercussions that may be felt for some time to come.

The Bad Fire is an amazing mystery with an ingenious plot full of twists, turns and suspense set amongst the familiar backgrounds of Edinburgh, Glasgow and the surrounding areas that had me hooked from the first chapter. Quintin Jardine has developed the knack of creating characters that this reader wants to know more about and with this series, this is exactly what we get. I love the supporting cast of secondary characters who’s careers we have followed from the side lines, cheering on each promotion almost as if they were friends and with Bob Skinner taking a back seat in this book they are given a chance to shine. I cannot recommend this series strongly enough.

The Bad Fire is the thirty-first instalment in the superb, bestselling Bob Skinner series, set in Edinburgh, Scotland, and featuring Scot and ex-Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner and his hardworking, intrepid team of truthseekers. The story in each book is self-contained and so potential readers can jump in literally anywhere they want along this epic journey without having any issues with following everything. The plot in this instalment is one of my favourites so far and revolves around a possible miscarriage of justice in a case where everything turns out to be far from what it initially appears. Almost a decade ago, local politician and resident of Kilmarnock, Marcia Brown, committed suicide just before the commencement of her trial for the petty crime of shoplifting; a crime she very much disputed claiming she had been framed. Her widower, David Brass, approaches Alexis Skinner, Robert's daughter, in the hopes of getting her case reopened. After all, it's only a dead woman's dignity and name at stake. No-one involved, however, could have foreseen the danger in which they were aligning themselves.

I am a long-time admirer of Jardine's books having read every single one in this current series. With its trademark grit and the traditional no-bull Scottish attitude frequently on show here, this is a must-read for any crime connoisseur. I know it sounds almost like a cliche but pick this up only when you have the time to devour every last page in a single, nail-biter of a sitting as once it whets your appetite you are hurtled like a full-speed runaway train down the tracks in a story which boasts both breadth and depth, a subtle sophistication and razor-sharp black humour to lighten the investigative endeavours. It is an authentic page-turner with plenty of tension, twists and misdirection thrown at you left, right and centre which masterfully keeps you off-kilter. This is both an unmissable episode and series. Roll on book number thirty-two. Unreservedly recommended. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

It's the second book I read in this series and it's starting to a favourite.
It's a gripping and engrossing read that kept me hooked till the end.
I love the well thought cast of characters, the well crafted plot and the solid mystery.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Another great thriller,with a great cast of characters. All the usual suspects get involved in an old case and a new one,lots of twists and a surprise ending.

Having read all of this series I was really looking forward to reading this advanced copy from Netgalley. It doesn’t disappoint ,Quentin Jardine keeps the series fresh by bringing new characters to the fore, weaving in previous stories skilfully. It is a great page turner and I looked forward to sitting down for my next instalment. Great stuff .

This series is now at book 31 and still as fresh as ever. We have some familiar characters as well as some from the past. Bob Skinner may be coasting down to retirement, heaven forbid, but his daughter Alexis is baying at his heels with a cold case in this latest episode. This is a classic detective series, beautifully written with descriptive passages and plenty twists wrapped up in a fantastic plot. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Really enjoyed the previous Bob Skinner tales & this one didn’t disappoint.

Some background knowledge from the earlier books would be helpful when reading this to appreciate the ongoing characters storyline.

This had me engrossed with the usual Scottish setting, dry humour & challenging chanchers!

4.5 stars

Another great read from Quintin Jardine. It is always a pleasure to follow the development of this varied cast of characters. Another story where Bob Skinner takes more of a back seat to allow other members of his family to show a different slant on events in Edinburgh. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headine for an advance copy of The Bad Fire, the thirty-first novel to feature former Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner.

David Brass approaches solicitor advocate Alexis Skinner with a view to re-opening his ex-wife’s case from nine years ago. Marcia Brown, a local politician in Kilmarnock, committed suicide shortly before she was due in court on a charge of shoplifting, a charge she denied, claiming she was framed. Little do Alex and her investigator, Carrie McDaniels, realise how dangerous the decision to accept the case will be.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bad Fire which is a gripping, high octane read with plenty of twists and a neat line in irony. Unlike many of the previous novels it is told in the third person from various points of view, apart from the opening and closing chapters which are first person narratives from Alex Skinner. This is a nice touch, comparing the naivety of before the events with a survivor’s take at the end as it says so many things without articulation.

I found the plot engrossing and it held my interest from start to finish so I read it in one sitting. Part of the attraction, I must admit, is the partial location in the West Coast of Scotland where I live and the Scottish humour and dialalogue as there’s always something comforting about knowing the places mentioned but mostly it’s the plot. Mr Jardine has the reader jogging along with certain assumptions leaving them free to marvel at the action scenes until those assumptions don’t seem so solid. It’s cleverly done and brings several bombshell revelations which conclude a great read.

I have been reading this series for years and am very familiar with the host of characters who make an appearance. I like the familiarity they bring but this familiarity makes me unsure if new readers will find so many characters initially confusing and off putting. Stick with it and you’ll come to love them. Bob Skinner doesn’t take quite such a starring role in this novel, leaving much of the emotional reaction to his daughter Alex and much of the investigating to DCI Lottie Mann and DI “Sauce” Haddock. Instead he has more of a consulting and, Bob being Bob, manipulative role. He looms over the novel.

The Bad Fire is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Nine years ago local councillor Marcia Brown took her own life after being accused of shoplifting from a local supermarket. It's always been assumed that she couldn't live with the shame. People were surprised that she committed suicide just before the court case when she had been adamant that she would fight to clear her name. She said that she'd been set up because she was hot on the trail of corruption in the council. Her ex-husband has contacted Alex Skinner, Solicitor Advocate as well as retired Police Constable Bob Skinner's daughter, and asked that she look into clearing Brown's name: it's something which he feels that he has to do in memory of his son who was murdered recently.

It sounds quite simple, doesn't it? Just chase up the people involved in a shoplifting case from nine years ago and check out their stories, see if there's anything which ought to be followed up or if there are any loose ends which can be pulled. Alex Skinner isn't even going to do it herself: she'll use an investigator. Normally she'd use her father if he had the time, but there's a possibility that police corruption could be involved and she'd hate to embarrass him. So, on her father's recommendation she called in Carrie McDaniels.

Perhaps, just perhaps, all might not have been done as it should have been done. Some of the people involved in the shoplifting incident seem to be suspiciously involved with each other and with Marcia Brown's main antagonist on the council. Why did a detective sergeant from CID turn up at the supermarket to make the arrest when it's something that would normally have been done by uniform? Then there's a disappearance and Alex Skinner is attacked in her own home.

Few detective series stand the test of time: you're no longer quite so excited when you realise that there's a new book out soon. Then there comes a point when you find that you've actually missed a book and you're not actually worried. Even John Rebus isn't quite the draw that he used to be and you begin to wonder if the author is that interested any more, or if it's the publishers who are pushing for more when the well has all but run dry. One of the few exceptions to this is Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner novels. I've read or listened to every one, never found one to be a disappointment and of the thirty-one books this is my twenty-eighth review. I am still excited when a new book's on the way and I even have note in my diary, just chance I might forget.

The Bad Fire didn't disappoint. There was a steady build up of tension until it became almost unbearable as we got close to the end and just when I thought it was all sorted out there was one final dramatic twist. The clues were all there, but I didn't see it coming. You'll recognise a good number of the characters, but they support the story, rather than dominating it and one character you've met before comes to play a part you'd never have thought possible.

Now I've got to wait another year for the next installment, but I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy. In the meantime, the series I'll be looking out for are Susan Hill's Simon Serrailler novels and Stuart MacBride's Logan McRae. Bob Skinner is in good company.

The Bad Fire is the 31st book in the Bob Skinner series by Quintin Jardine and it is another excellent police thriller with numerous twists and turns along with a storyline that keeps you turning the pages.

Over the years the author has created a large cast and this time it is Bob's daughter, Alex, who is the main focus of the story.

This book can easily be read as a standalone as there is sufficient backstory to allow you to fully enjoy the book.

Definitely recommended

The Bad Fire (Bob Skinner series, Book 31)

I absolutely love this series of books. I get so excited when I know a new one is due out, and it was no different this time around.
Back with the familiar characters that I feel I've grown with over the years. Back being nosey wanting to know what the latest thing is in their lives.
I find when reading a series of books you become just as involved in the characters lives as you do in the story lines.
This time around things are mainly based around Alexis Skinner, 'Big Bob's eldest child. Alex has turned into a woman to be reckoned with In her own right and not just as the daughter of 'Sir Bob'.
I have to say although we are at book 31, the author has kept each and every book fresh and topical. There is no fear that as the series has gone on that it's started to go stale, no fear of that at all. Each and every one of this series is a first class read and once started I always struggle to put the books down until I've read them all. I know one day i will start right back at the beginning and do a major re read of these books. I don't want this series to end 'EVER.

Although Bob Skinner is no longer a serving officer, he is certainly still heavily involved in the force. Its almost like he can't help himself, he always seems to still be in the thick of every major case.
Alexis has taken on a case that opens up a whole can of worms, a cold case trying to determined if a death was suicidal, accidental or something else. Alexis takes the case and enlists the help of one of her investigators and the story becomes a whole lot crazier. What a fantastic storyline this was to follow. I really didn't want this book to end, as always Quintin Jardine could write a book with 2000 pages and i'd still want to read more.

Love love love this author really enjoyed this book it kept you interested in all the twists and turns and I cannot wait to find out what will happen next to the family

Cripes! We are on book 31 of this series and it's still not gone stale. Mostly due to the author developing the characters well and changing their direction frequently along the way. Bob Skinner is no longer a Policeman but is still often called upon for his expertise. Well, he did have a long and varied career! In this book we also focus on his daughter Alexis and how she takes on a case referred to her by her father.
Marcie Brass was arrested for shoplifting. A crime she vehemently denied at the time. Then, just before she went to trial, she committed suicide, thus affirming everyone of her actual guilt. But her husband has never been convinced. Nor their son who was recently murdered, his killer awaiting trial.
Taking the case, Alexis starts to see things that interest her so she calls in her own investigator to wheedle out what hasn't already been said. Then tragedy strikes and the case takes a rather dark turn. What started out as proving the innocence of a woman swiftly switched to one of murder, mystery and mayhem as Bob and Alexis fear for their lives when the stakes get higher.
I have read pretty much every book in this series. First introduced to it when I found the first 7 or so on a charity bookshelf in a pub - so thanks to whoever donated them. They went all round my family and then back to the pub for someone else to discover!
But that's by the by. I've been with Bob Skinner trough think and thin, marriages, deaths, affairs, job changes, and now we have his daughter Alexis taking the reins. Well, Bob is getting on a bit and eventually... well, that's not quite yet...!
We also, and I loved this part, reconnect with a familiar face from Bob's past... but I'll leave you to discover who as the author intends. I won't spoil it!
So, the plot is, well, on face value initially, a bit simple but as more layers are peeled back and more of the truth is uncovered, things take a bit of a turn and things spiral out a bit for our characters. Nothing out of left field I hasten to add. Just layer upon layer of secrets and lies and motives that I didn't see coming, truth be told. But, once all is said and done, when the whole sordid truth was exposed I was left exhausted but satisfied; applauding the author for a well plotted book.
All in all, another cracking addition to an already well established and respected series. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and was delighted to have it. I've been a fan of Quintin Jardine and Bob Skinner since Book 1 and they never fail to provide a good read.
The book starts with questions raised over the death by suicide of a west coast councillor 9 years in the past. her son later takes his own life after years of investigation into her death and her husband wants the case reopened. Bob, now retired and supposedly only becoming invovled occasionally with Police Scotland as a consultant, becomes involved as does his daughter, Alex in her professional role. Alex's life is threatened and an investigator she had employed is brutally murdered so Bob is determined to find out what is going on. These books have become darker as the series progresses, and this one is certainly not for the faint hearted. It is well written and the story is gripping.

Faces and characters from Bob's past reappear and the character development of some are very surprising. The way people's lives and attitudes change over period is acknowledged along with the ability for people to turn their lives around. Not all are interested in that though and are still 'baddies'!
This is a definite 5 star for me.

As expected from this brilliant writer another classic detective novel . The way Scotland is written about is special as are all the characters and their stories ,

The latest in long line of Skinner novels., focussed on Edinburgh but now encompassing Scotland as a whole. The series is, I think, of varying quality, but I enjoyed this instalment.

As is often the case with this series in this episode Bob Skinner, now Sir Robert & supposed to be retired, does not hog the narrative. He shares the focus with the new generation as the story carried by his daughter, her private investigator and active police detectives.

Whilst providing many of the pleasures of series crime stories- familiarity of characters together with a reliability of narrative- The Bad Fire provides plot twists which mean it cannot be considered run of the mill.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, which I have enjoyed reading.
This is Book 31 in the Bob Skinner series and whilst Sir Bob Skinner is no longer a senior policeman, he is still called upon for his experience and advice. The storyline starts really with his eldest daughter, Alexis and her taking a case on at her father’s request. The investigator Alex hired to look into Marcie Brass’s death and charge of shoplifting was murdered and the investigations into her death and Marcie Brass’s death moves into people smuggling and Pakistan.
It was an interesting storyline and with an intriguing introduction to a very old character, who is asked to look after Alex. This was an unforeseen interlude and has a major impact on Alex’s and Dominic Jackson future.
Highly recommended.