The death of a distillery owner on a Scottish mountain becomes the focus of a small town investigation. It was determined that the cause of death was due to a heart attack, but the victim's sister insisted that he was poisoned.
During Detective Inspector Corstorphine’s investigation into the victim’s family, he learned that their daughter was kept locked in her room under heavy sedation. Someone was stalking the victim's son as he scattered his father’s ashes on the mountain peaks his father had so often visited. When a painting in the home of the victim’s sister was defaced and smeared with blood, numerous clues began to pile up, further suggesting the cause of death of the distillery owner was someone close to the family.
When Corstorphine discovered that a young friend of the daughter had committed suicide years before, it now appeared that he was facing a killer seeking vengeance for the child's murder, who must be found before another death occurs.

Book 2 featuring DI James Corstorphine and his team and after the first rollercoaster of a ride in book one this one didn't have the same momentum and where i was hoping for some of the holes being filled in from that book unfortunately this wasn't the case, the story starts off slowly a growing drug problem a and catalytic converter thefts but when a acquaintance of Corstophines dies of a suspected heart attack little does he and his team realise that all is not what it seems.
It was definitely a slower pace than the first but I stll look forward to the next novel.

Book two of this series and it held up to the first book very well. What a wild ride. Super intense, edge of your seat, and holding on for dear life!

A rise in the local crime figures is giving DI James Corstorphine and his team cause for concern. Knowing that the powers that be will be soon bearing down on him, the DI sets his team the tasks of solving, amongst other issues, the upsurge in catalytic converter thefts, and the growing drugs trade that has recently sprung up in the town. However these crimes soon become secondary to the major events that rock the local community. Needless to say the smaller criminals get their comeuppance eventually!

Book 2 in the DI James Corstorphine series set in the Scottish Highlands, and another intriguing plot with interesting characters. Now the team characters are settling in, it is encouraging to see them grow and evolve.

I didn’t like this book as much as the first, as I found it a little slow to get going. However, once the action started I did enjoy it.

A good read, but a little disappointing after Book 1.

3.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

This outing for Corstorphine is every bit as good as the first. The death of a lone hiker is first thought to be a heart attack, but it soon becomes clear that there is something more sinister occurring. The remaining members of his family all seem to have secrets, including his daughter, who is locked in her room under sedation. There are further complications as a seemingly unrelated woman commits suicide by jumping in front of a train.
Andrew James Greig writes a great book. This is the second of his that I have read, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity for more.

The Devil’s Cut by Andrew James Greig centres on the mysterious death of Jack McCoach, a distillery owner found deceased atop a remote Scottish mountain. While forensics suggest natural causes, Jack’s sister, Patricia, claims he was murdered, having received this revelation during a séance. She also believes the rest of the family is in danger.
DI Corstorphine and his team investigate the case and uncover a series of unsettling events, including a young girl’s suicide, a Peeping Tom, and a dysfunctional family.
The Devil’s Cut draws readers in from the very beginning, as it is an action-packed mystery with an intricate plot and complex characters. The story unfolds smoothly, the pacing is excellent, and the book kept me turning the pages.
This is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone. I will definitely be reading more books by Andrew James Greig. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Love this author. A tad gory in places but not too much. immense plot building and fab plot. Loved it

There’s someone out to get the McCoach family, and it’s up to DI Corstorphine and his team to stop them. It starts when the owner and patriarch of the family collapses while hiking on a mountain. Soon after, another member of the family is attacked and (some) of the remaining members are fearing for their lives. They’re a weird family for sure – moonlight dancing, a mentally ill daughter confined to her room, a mother who cares more about their money than her children’s safety. It’s not hard to see why someone is seeking revenge! But for what? Corstorphine can’t see any type of motivation for these violent acts, just a strange and unlikeable family. Will he figure it out in time?

Yes, of course. Although that’s not to say there are no more bodies, because there are. This author must enjoy making readers squeamish because it’s no better than the previous book as far as gory crimes. But I don’t mind – it keeps your interest and isn’t the same old shooting or stabbing method. And the attacks made even more sense when they identified the perpetrator, which was great because they weren’t too obvious or outlandish.

I’m not sure if there are more in this series to come, but I’ll keep an eye out, as it’s interesting to see the progression of Corstorphine and the members of his team. I want to see more good things for them!

Detective Inspector James Corstorphine once again has a complicated, but interlinked set of murders to solve, once again linking back through the history of the place he lives and works in. A very good read.

I don't think this author is for me. I read the first book in this series and whilst I liked it, it didn't wow me. After seeing this author's writing style I tried to get into book 2 but it was a struggle. It 's pretty long winded and slow paced. I found my attention constantly wavering. I didn't gel with any of the characters either. so it ended up as a DNF. While not for me I will say the murders are always cleverly done.

The second in the Detective Inspector Corstorphine series but not a patch on the first. I felt the character development was lacking and found myself not liking the recurring characters as much as I had before. I found the entire story quite fanciful and yet boring. Long periods of nothing happening and then a rush of story that is over before it really begins. The end did tie matters together and I certainly enjoyed the last 10% of the book more than the rest. Given how much I enjoyed the first in the series (now published under a new name) I would try more in the series.
I’m grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for this honest review

Thanks to the Storm publishing and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Devil's Cut by Andrew James Grey is a clever mystery / police procedural with interesting characters.

However, I greatly preferred the first book in this series (The Girl in the Loch) by this author.

One reason is that when the serial killer is unmasked, I did not find his motivation plausible,
Additionally, I did not find this entry as engaging as the first of the series, I found my attention wandering and I would have to keep rereading chapters so that I knew what was going on. Additionally, I found out protagonist more hopeful in the first book, had I read this as a stand alone I am not sure I would have finished it.

I highly look forward to the next book in this series as this author is capable of writing highly addictive mysteries.

4* Good 2nd book from this author, though you do need to suspend disbelief that these events take place in the quiet temoteness of a small Scottish town/village.

This is a decent read with a large red herring that just managed to not totally irritate me when all was revealed, because of what came to light as having been done to a certain character. Said character's monologuing/thoughts that readers are privy to hinted at a lot, but didn't deliver in the end, making me wonder at the build-up and then letdown, with said person shrugging off their persona, past, thoughts, accountability and actions without a care. Hmmm. I think, respectfully, better editor input could've helped that aspect of the tale be more organic.

There was policing happening but the tale relied on luck, and the tale's location that enabled a vital piece of evidence not to have just been swept away, exposed to the elements as it was. That was very convenient but also quite transparent.

Still, it was good enough that I'd read more from this author. Corstorphine is hearing his late wife's words, and seeing her in his mind's eye, less, and I liked how a fairly organic encounter may be bringing him back to the land of the living. I liked seeing this bold ethnic female character, both as a professional and as a romantic interest. She seemed independent, feisty, and sure of herself. I sensed a bit of conflict to do with her personal life, but perhaps she and Corstorphine may help each other there. I'd like to see more of what happened at the end of the tale blossom for them both.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.

This is my 2nd 5 star read by this author, first was the previous book in this series. This is also got me hooked very early on.

In this book we have the murder of a distillery owner, even though forensic says it was natural causes but DI James has his own reservations. Then the sister of the victim claims that he was murder. James also finds it interesting that the daughter of the victim is locked up most of the time and the son also has some mystery around him. Another suicide somehow ties in to this and all the clues are coming from a weird place too. Overall tons of twists and turns and good mystery that I love. I
Will most definitely continue this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with this eARC. All opinions are my own honest opinions.

Packed with action and very entertaining, this gripping crime thriller will keep you on alert.

As DI Corstorphine is back with this twisty storyline, when a distillery owner’s body is found, his investigation will make you guess until the very end.

Also set at Scottish highlands, this gem is a must read for all the mystery thriller lovers.

Thank you so much Storm Publishing for sending me this book. Highly recommend!

Even better than book 1 in the series! Apart from the gruesome details of the murders, this was excellent! The plot was complex with a few unexpected turns, and until I did not have a clue about what happened and why. I enjoyed the descriptions of the hiking trails enmeshed with the weather... The police team is very relatable, not spending much time over their own problems, which keeps the reader fully immersed in the investigation. Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Andrew James Greig's The Devil's Cut is a compelling crime thriller that delves into themes of sanity, family secrets, and supernatural intrigue. Serving as the second installment in the DI Corstorphine series, the novel follows Detective Inspector James Corstorphine as he investigates the mysterious death of a distillery owner in the remote Scottish Highlands. Despite initial findings suggesting natural causes, unsettling occurrences within the deceased's family suggest a more sinister undercurrent.

Greig skillfully intertwines elements of psychological suspense with supernatural hints, creating a narrative that keeps readers guessing. The portrayal of Corstorphine and his team's dynamics adds depth to the story, balancing the darker themes with moments of levity. The Scottish setting is vividly depicted, enhancing the novel's atmospheric tension.

While The Devil's Cut can be appreciated as a standalone read, familiarity with its predecessor, Whirligig, enriches the experience, providing a deeper understanding of character backgrounds and ongoing plotlines. Some readers may find the pacing deliberate, particularly in the initial chapters, but the intricate plot and character development make the investment worthwhile.

Overall, The Devil's Cut is a solid addition to the crime thriller genre, offering a blend of suspense, supernatural elements, and rich character exploration. It's a recommended read for fans of Scottish crime fiction and those who appreciate a thoughtfully crafted mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I read this and The Bone Clock back to back and I daresay this one is even better than the first. The main characters are developing as the series progresses and I love the path the author is taking with James and Frankie's personal lives. Whether you figure out the mystery or not, you'll enjoy the ride right to the very end. The setting becomes its own character, which I absolutely love to see. This one had more humor than the first, and I was laughing out loud at the scenes with Weasel. It's one of those stories you can't read fast enough. Highly recommend this author!

My first DI Corstophine book and I liked it a lot. The book opens with a strong start as someone dies, seemingly naturally, and the rest of the book follows the family and what happens next. A family member insists it is not natural causes and the team decide they need to investigate to find out more. It's fast paced with some likeable characters, with a few twists along the way as we learn more about the family. I enjoyed getting to know James Corstorphine as a character and look forward to reading more of him.
Thanks NetGalley and Storm for the ARC.

The summit was just a few more minutes’ climb as the bottle slipped from his weakening grip. He was aware that he was dying. Not here. Not now. Not alone. Through the pain, his mind screamed a silent final eulogy! Well I thought book two was going to follow book one?! It really didn’t?! I enjoyed book one tremendously! This book was a good read but felt like a whole different series! I would definitely recommend reading this book but it wasn’t one of my top favorites! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!