First in a series about Detective James Corstorphine, this starts with the discovery of a man hanged by a trap constructed using carved bone and builds up with more murders that point to revenge. This was really good, and I jumped right into the second book. 4 stars.

This was a strong start to the Detective Corstorphine series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed about the crime genre. Andrew James Greig has a strong writing style and was glad I got to start this read. The characters had that overall feel that worked with the world that was built. I was glad I got to read this and get into this world.

What an excellent book this was to read. A fantastic storyline that you thought was going in one direction suddenly took you in a totally different direction. This change really kept you captivated and I didn’t want to put the book down - my sign of an excellent book! Great characters too that helped keep you captivated. Highly recommend this book!

Book 1 in the DI Corstorphine series. A great start to a series, an unusual gripping storyline, good main characters, will be interesting to know how their characters develop over the series.

This was the first in a series featuring DI Corstorphine and was set in the Scottish Highlands. The book started with throwback scene to when a woman is hanged from a tree pleading for the safety of her daughter, before being brought to the current day and another murder.
This book was well written with twist and suspense cleverly woven in. I was captivated from the start and virtually read the book in one sitting.

The Bone Clock was my first read by Andrew James Greig, but it won't be my last.

As it's heart, The Bone Clock is a police procedural, but the vehicle used to deliver the narrative was utterly unique and I doubt it's likely to be done again.

DI Corstorphine is an interesting character, and although he does have a sad past, this doesn't feel like a cliche as it has done in so many other books in the genre.

I also have a copy of The Devils' Cut (Book 2) to read and I'm looking forward to it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for letting me see an advance reader's copy of The Bone Clock by Andrew James Grieg.

This book was previously called Whirligig, and I think this might have been a better title for the reboot. Then, like the main protagonist, I too wouldn’t have had any idea what this strange contraption was at the site of a murder. With the new title, it’s quite clear what it is.

The Bone Clock is the first in the DI Corstorphine Scottish crime series and it introduces recurring characters who appear in the second book too. We meet Corstorphine when he is summoned to a particularly gruesome murder scene in the Scottish highlands.

I loved the characters and I loved the setting, and I loved the tartan noir aspect. Delicious.

However, the detective’s name was my first stumbling block with this book. It’s not really an easy name to read to oneself and I found myself shortening it to Corsto inside my head, or using his first name James.

I had other character name issues too, with two Simons, a Bill and a William, and a Jenny, a June and a Jennifer, which Jenny is also short for (as well as James). This is confusing enough for a reader when the names are too similar in the first place. But when there were also two characters with the same name, I had to make sure I had the right person.

The writing had a bit of an old-fashioned feel to it, I think because of the overlong and complex sentences where shorter, punchier sentences would work much better. There’s a lot of colon usage too, which I also think dates either the writing or the writer.

There were a few continuity issues, such as we had Brian specifically naming someone when in fact it had been James who specifically named the person, there was a question that remained ignored and/or unanswered, a commotion Corsto went to investigate that hadn’t even been mentioned by anyone, and Corsto announced that someone’s sister was on the way when nobody had told him this. It made me wonder if there was text missing in places. Especially with an abrupt ending as well.

Overall, though, it’s a great new series for me, it’s dark, it’s gritty and it’s disturbing. And I look forward to reading more about James Corstorphine and his team.

Four stars.

Amazing! Love this author and this series! If you haven't read this author yet, I would highly recommend him. Start with this book - it's just wow!

The first novel in the DI Corstorphine Scottish crime series, The Bone Clock is a police procedural mystery thriller all packed into one fantastic novel. When a local gamekeeper is found hanging from an oak tree, a link to the past is revealed. And as more people are murdered in a horrendous fashion, the link is even stronger. The question is who are the real victims in this sinister crime. This captivating, fast-paced, page turner is quite emotional, quite disturbing, and quite believable. It is a well-written novel with wonderfully vivid descriptions. The ending is a bit abrupt, but still, a must read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Bone Clock was very easy to get into and very easy to get stuck into, and quick to finish.

Its quite dark and gritty and very well written. The pace of the story was quick and it was a very intriguing read, where you just had to know what would happen next.

I'll happily read and recomend this series.

A new series, new detective and team all set in a rather dark Scotland. The killer is smart and leaves traps of intricate detail to deal with the victims. Not just murder but retribution for past events dealing with children's homes and abuse. Definitely a Scottish noir but keeps the reader engaged. Also good to have a detective who seems real, dealing with the death of his wife some years before but learning to move on. Highly recommended and I don't do that very often these days! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This is a brilliant book in a brand new series.

The gritty plot was at times very dark. My heart was breaking for some of the characters. I was totally hooked and I will highly recommend this book.

I can't wait to read the next one.

The Bone Clock by Andrew James Greig
Detective Corstorphine #1

Riveting read ~ Kept my interest from beginning to end ~ Can’t wait to read more.

What I liked:
* DI James Corstorphine: widowed five years, still has imaginary conversations with his wife, strong leadership qualities, morally sound compass, promised to live for both he and his wife, intriguing
* Corstorphine’s team that work together to put the puzzle pieces together while supporting one another
* That I was quickly immersed in the store from page one
* The way the clues gradually came to light and the connections made
* That I have been to Scotland so could visualize the setting
* That I could understand WHY the murderer was killing the people that were dying and not really wanting that person to be brought to trial
* The intelligence and skills of the killer, the tie-in of the bones used in the bone clocks, and the way each murder was appropriate for the victim
* The message left at Corstorphine’s home on the last page
* That the victims of the orphanage were finally able to tell their stories and perhaps get closure of some sort
* Finding out who the murderer was and being left with questions that are not cliffhangers but have me wanting to read the next book in the series
* Reading a new-to-me author that I would gladly read again
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how evil rather than saintly the nuns at the orphanage were
* Thinking about what happened to the children in the orphanage and wondering how many children suffer similar experiences

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This is a very well written Scottish noir! We are invited to look over the shoulder of Detective Corstophine while he is investigating some troublesome murders, linked by the fact that the victims were all trapped by an intricate bone clock mechanism. The second link is that the victims of this serial killer are no innocent people; they all share a dark secret about something that happened twenty years ago.

While Corstophine tries to unravel the mystery (which I didn't solve, so kudos to the author for that!), he is also troubled by his personal past clouded by the fatal illness of his wife. In a way, it reminded me of the Tony Hill series of Val McDermid, which may be considered as high praise!

The writing is crisp, the story engaging, and I am happy that this is the start of a series and I will be on the lookout for further installments. I cannot wait to read what will happen with the DI and his sidekick Frankie and newbie Lamb.

Excellent !

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

A new series and a unique modus operandi by the killer make this a fascinating read.
With past events colliding with current this is a topical read and thoroughly enjoyable. Can't wait for book 2

The Bone Clock is a chilling and atmospheric crime thriller set in Scotland. It is the first book in the Detective Inspector James Corstophine series by Andrew James Greig. I was looking forward to starting this series as I hadn't read anything by this author and enjoy Scottish crime fiction. It was a brilliant book and kept me engaged throughout.Great characters, storyline and a really atmospheric setting. I look forward to reading the next book with his team and new cases. A fantastic read from start to finish.

Intense and thrilling book, with explosive start. Trigger warning for some subjects ie child abuse
Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

I’m DNFing this book at 62%. It started off promising but slowly I’ve lost interest in the plot. The characters feel really flat and the scenes involving animals are very upsetting.

Number one in the series, this is a great read. I have read other books by this author and they never disappoint. There are triggers for institutional child abuse and corruption here . The plot is intricate but well thought out . The investigating team don't have it easy as they try to solve the historal and present day crimes in the small Scottish highland town led by DI Corstophine. Plenty of suspense as the book comes to a close and a twist I did not see coming . This book grabbed my attention from the start and I remained interested until the last words.
Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this fantastic book

An intense and atmospheric crime mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. Intricately.plotted, clever placing and well written characters made this an enjoyable read and the author an excellent advocate of Scottish noir.