JAMES OSWALD

The Hangman's Song is the thrilling third novel in James Oswald's Inspector McLean series set in Edinburgh. A young man is found hanging by a rope in his Edinburgh home. A simple, sad suicide, yet Detective Inspector Tony McLean is puzzled by the curious suicide note. A second hanged man and another strange note hint at a sinister pattern. Investigating a brutal prostitution and human trafficking ring, McLean struggles to find time to link the two suicides. But the discovery of a third convinces him of malicious intent. Digging deeper, McLean finds answers much closer to home than he expects. Something terrifying stalks the city streets, and bringing it to justice may destroy all he holds dear. The first two titles in the series, Natural Causes and The Book of Souls, are both available as Penguin Paperbacks and ebooks. Praise for James Oswald: "A star of Scotland's burgeoning crime fiction scene". (Daily Record). "Crime fiction's next big thing". (The Sunday Telegraph). "Literary sensation...James' overnight success has drawn comparisons with the meteoric rise of EL James and her Fifty Shades of Grey series". (Daily Mail). "Fifty Shades of Hay". (The Times). "Oswald is among the leaders in the new batch of excellent Scottish crime writers". (Daily Mail). "The new Ian Rankin". (Daily Record). "The hallmarks of Val McDermid or Ian Rankin: it's dark, violent, noirish". (The Herald). "A good read". (The Times). "An excellent start to what promises to be a fine series". (Guardian James). Oswald is the author of the Detective Inspector McLean series of crime novels. The first two, Natural Causes and The Book of Souls, are also available as Penguin paperbacks and ebooks. He has also written an epic fantasy series as well as comic scripts and short stories. In his spare time he runs a 350-acre livestock farm in North East Fife, where he raises pedigree Highland Cattle and New Zealand Romney Sheep.

This is the fifth novel in the bestselling Inspector McLean series by Sunday Times bestselling author James Oswald. 'Are you ready to be reborn? The search for a missing journalist is called off as a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber, deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove, a mysterious network of caves and passages sprawling beneath Edinburgh, the victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification. Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake off the suspicion that there is far more to this case than meets the eye. The baffling lack of forensics at the crime scene seems impossible. But it is not the only thing about this case that McLean will find beyond belief. Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies, he must track down a killer driven by the darkest compulsions, who will answer only to a higher power...'Are you ready for the mysteries to be revealed?' Praise for James Oswald: "A star of Scotland's burgeoning crime fiction scene." (Daily Record). "Crime fiction's next big thing." (The Sunday Telegraph). "Literary sensation...James' overnight success has drawn comparisons with the meteoric rise of E L James and her Fifty Shades of Grey series. " (Daily Mail). "Fifty Shades of Hay." (The Times). "Oswald is among the leaders in the new batch of excellent Scottish crime writers." (Daily Mail). "The new Ian Rankin." (Daily Record). "The hallmarks of Val McDermid or Ian Rankin: it's dark, violent, noirish." (The Herald). "An excellent start to what promises to be a fine series." (Guardian). "Classy, occasionally brutal, and with the odd suggestion of the supernatural, this will doubtless be another deserved hit. Oswald's writing is in a class above most in this genre." (Daily Express). James Oswald is the author of the Inspector McLean series of crime novels. The first four, Natural Causes, The Book of Souls,The Hangman's Song and Dead Men's Bones are also available as Penguin paperbacks and ebooks. He has written an epic fantasy series, The Ballad of Sir Benfro, which is published by Penguin, as well as comic scripts and short stories. In his spare time he runs a 350-acre livestock farm in North East Fife, where he raises pedigree Highland Cattle and New Zealand Romney Sheep.

A present-day intrigue reawakens disturbing shadows from the past in this latest Inspector McLean thriller. When an Edinburgh Police Vice Squad raid goes embarrassingly awry, Inspector Tony McLean finds himself haunted by echoes of his first case. Something he had thought long buried has now resurfaced. The memory won''t fade as McLean struggles to find the elusive connections between a series of gruesomely strange deaths in the city. His investigations begin to concern the powers that be - and once again, McLean''s stubborn refusal to toe the line puts his career, and possibly his life in danger. In chasing the monsters of the present, McLean must also confront shadows of the past - but at what cost? Is it too late to undo the damage that has been done...The Damage Done follows Natural Causes, the R&J summer highlight, The Book of Souls, The Hangman''s Song, Dead Men''s Bones and Prayer for the Dead. Praise for the Inspector Series: "Creepy, gritty and gruesome." (Sunday Mirror). "Crime fiction''s next big thing." (Sunday Telegraph). "The new Ian Rankin." (Daily Record). "Oswald''s writing is in a class above most in this genre." (Daily Express). "The hallmarks of Val McDermid or Ian Rankin: it''s dark, violent, noirish." (Herald). "Oswald is among the leaders in the new batch of excellent Scottish crime writers." (Daily Mail).

No good deed goes unpunished...When a police raid in Edinburgh goes horribly wrong, the only silver lining for Inspector Tony McLean is a discovery that could lead to a long-lost girl from his early days on the beat. Haunted by the mystery of what happened to her, McLean begins to dig into a case he thought long buried. But the shadows of the past are soon eclipsed by crimes in the present as a series of strange and gruesome deaths shock the city. As McLean's investigation draws him ever deeper into the upper echelons of Edinburgh society, it will not only be his career on the line - but his life as well...Praise for James Oswald 'The new Ian Rankin' Daily Record 'Oswald's writing is in a class above' Express 'Creepy gritty and gruesome' Sunday Mirror

When a body is found in a tree in The Meadows, Edinburgh''s scenic parkland, the forensics suggest the corpse has fallen from a great height.Detective Inspector Tony McLean wonders whether it was an accident, or a murder designed to send a chilling message?The dead man had led quite a life: a disgraced ex-cop turned criminal kingpin who reinvented himself as a celebrated philanthropist.As McLean traces the victim''s journey, it takes him back to Edinburgh''s past, and through its underworld - crossing paths with some of its most dangerous and most vulnerable people.And waiting at the end of it all, is the truth behind a crime that cuts to the very heart of the city...

Inspector McLean returns in the seventh instalment of James Oswald's gritty, compelling crime series, for his most mysterious murder investigation yet ...The roots of murder run deep ...'Unsettling atmosphere, strong sense of place and a canny twist: Oswald easily outstrips the formulaic work of bigger names' Guardian When a body is found in a tree in The Meadows, Edinburgh's scenic parkland, the forensics suggest the corpse has fallen from a great height. Detective Inspector Tony McLean wonders whether it was an accident, or a murder designed to send a chilling message? The dead man had led quite a life: a disgraced ex-cop turned criminal kingpin who reinvented himself as a celebrated philanthropist. As McLean traces the victim's journey, it takes him back to Edinburgh's past, and through its underworld - crossing paths with some of its most dangerous and most vulnerable people. And waiting at the end of it all, is the truth behind a crime that cuts to the very heart of the city...*** PRAISE FOR THE INSPECTOR McLEAN SERIES 'Crime fiction's next big thing' Sunday Telegraph 'Oswald's writing is in a class above most' Daily Express 'Creepy, gritty and gruesome' Sunday Mirror 'The new Ian Rankin' Daily Record 'Hugely enjoyable' Mirror 'Oswald is among the leaders in the new batch of excellent Scottish crime writers' Daily Mail

The search for a missing journalist is called off as a body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber, deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove, a mysterious network of caves and passages sprawling beneath Edinburgh, the victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification. Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake off the suspicion that there is far more to this case than meets the eye. The baffling lack of forensics at the crime scene seems impossible. But it is not the only thing about this case that McLean will find beyond belief. Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies, he must track down a killer driven by the darkest compulsions, who will answer only to a higher power...

The latest book in the Sunday Times bestselling phenomenon that is the Inspector McLean series, from one of Scotland's most celebrated crime writers. The charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned out gamekeepers cottage, hidden away in woodland to the west of Edinburgh. What is at first assumed to be a tragic accident begins to take on a more sinister aspect as Detective Inspector Tony McLean digs deeper.There is far more to the victim than her humble surroundings suggest . . .Praise for James Oswald:'The new Ian Rankin' Daily Record'Creepy, gritty and gruesome' Sunday Mirror'Crime fiction's next big thing' Sunday Telegraph

Dead Men's Bones is the fourth novel in James Oswald's phenomenal Inspector Mclean series set in Edinburgh. A family lies slaughtered in an isolated house in North East Fife ...Morag Weatherly and her two young daughters have been shot by husband Andrew, an influential politician, before he turned the gun on himself. But what would cause a rich, successful man to snap so suddenly? For Inspector Tony McLean, this apparently simple but high-profile case leads him into a world of power and privilege. And the deeper he digs, the more he realises he's being manipulated by shadowy factions. Under pressure to wrap up the case, McLean instead seeks to uncover layers of truth - putting the lives of everyone he cares about at risk...The first three titles in the bestselling Inspector McLean series - Natural Causes, The Book of Souls, and The Hangman's Song, are all available as Penguin paperbacks and ebooks. Fans of Ian Rankin and Stuart MacBride will love James Oswald's writing. Praise for James Oswald: "A star of Scotland's burgeoning crime fiction scene". (Daily Record). "Crime fiction's next big thing". (The Sunday Telegraph). "Literary sensation ...James' overnight success has drawn comparisons with the meteoric rise of E L James and her Fifty Shades of Grey series". (Daily Mail). "Fifty Shades of Hay". (The Times). "Oswald is among the leaders in the new batch of excellent Scottish crime writers". (Daily Mail). "The new Ian Rankin". (Daily Record). "The hallmarks of Val McDermid or Ian Rankin: it's dark, violent, noirish". (The Herald). "A good read". (The Times). "An excellent start to what promises to be a fine series". (Guardian). "Classy, occasionally brutal, and with the odd suggestion of the supernatural, this will doubtless be another deserved hit. Oswald's writing is in a class above most in this genre" (Daily Express). James Oswald is the author of the Detective Inspector McLean series of crime novels. The first three, Natural Causes, The Book of Souls and The Hangman's Song are also available as Penguin paperbacks and ebooks. He has written an epic fantasy series, The Ballad of Sir Benfro, which is published by Penguin, as well as comic scripts and short stories. In his spare time he runs a 350-acre livestock farm in North East Fife, where he raises pedigree Highland Cattle and New Zealand Romney Sheep.

From one of the UK''s biggest crime writers - the man brought you the bestselling Inspector McLean novels - comes a phenomenal new series guaranteed to have your heart in your mouth. Undercover ops are always dangerous, but DC Constance Fairchild never expected things to go this wrong. Returning to their base of operations, an anonymous office in a shabby neighbourhood, she finds the bloodied body of her boss, and friend, DI Pete Copperthwaite. He''s been executed - a single shot to the head. In the aftermath, it seems someone in the Met is determined to make sure that blame for the wrecked operation falls squarely on Con''s shoulders. She is cut loose and cast out, angry and alone with her grief... right until the moment someone also tries to put a bullet through her head.There''s no place to hide, and no time to cry.

The new book in the brilliant Constance Fairchild series, from one of Scotlands foremost crime writers. THE NEW IAN RANKINDaily RecordOSWALDS WRITING IS A CLASS ABOVEExpressSuspended from duty after her last case ended in the high-profile arrest of one of Britains wealthiest men, DC Constance Fairchild is trying to stay away from the limelight. Fate has other ideas . . .Coming home to her London flat, Constance stumbles across a young man, bloodied, mutilated and barely alive. She calls it in and is quickly thrown into the middle of a nationwide investigation . . . It seems that the victim is just the latest in a string of similar ritualistic attacks. No matter that she is off-duty, no matter that there are those in the Met who would gladly see the back of her, Con cant shake her innate determination to bring the monsters responsible for this brutality to justice. Trouble always seems to find her, and even if she has nothing to hide, perhaps she has everything to lose . . . CRIME FICTIONS NEXT BIG THINGSunday TelegraphA WONDERFUL, FAST-PACED THRILLER Michael Wood

From one of the UKs biggest crime writers - the man brought you the bestselling Inspector McLean novels - comes a phenomenal new series guaranteed to have your heart in your mouth. Undercover ops are always dangerous, but DC Constance Fairchild never expected things to go this wrong.Returning to their base of operations, an anonymous office in a shabby neighbourhood, she finds the bloodied body of her boss, and friend, DI Pete Copperthwaite. Hes been executed - a single shot to the head. In the aftermath, it seems someone in the Met is determined to make sure that blame for the wrecked operation falls squarely on Cons shoulders. She is cut loose and cast out, angry and alone with her grief... right until the moment someone also tries to put a bullet through her head.Theres no place to hide, and no time to cry.

THE WAGES OF SIN . . . IS DEATHI love this brilliant cast of characters READER REVIEWAnother page-turner in a great series! READER REVIEWAs usual, a brilliant read from James Oswald READER REVIEWThe partial collapse of a disused Edinburgh church reveals a dead body in the rubble, his head badly smashed by falling masonry. Soon identified as an old ex-con - Kenny Morgan - his death is put down to a heart attack and deemed non-suspicious.Tony McLean is approached by a notorious crime lord who suggests the police should be looking into Morgans death more closely. Despite struggling with his recent retirement, he is reluctant to involve himself.But when a second man is found dead in another disused church, his forehead branded with a cross, this time it is clearly murder.Theres a killer stalking the streets of Edinburgh. Is it time for McLean to get back to doing what he does best?Praise for James Oswald:The new Ian RankinDaily RecordCreepy, gritty and gruesomeSunday MirrorCrime fictions next big thingSunday Telegraph

A BURNT-OUT CAR | A VANISHED BODY | CORRUPTION IN THE RANKSBest Scottish crime writer READER REVIEWThe further into this series I delve, the more I love it READER REVIEWIve enjoyed all of Oswalds books and this is up there with the best of them READER REVIEWWhen a member of the Police Scotland team fails to clock-in for work, concern for her whereabouts is immediate . . . and the discovery of her burnt-out car in remote woodland to the south of Edinburgh sets off a desperate search for the missing woman.Meanwhile, DCI Tony McLean and the team are preparing for a major anti-corruption operation - one which may raise the ire of more than a few powerful people in the city. Is Anya Renfrews disappearance a co-incidence or related to the case?McLeans investigations suggest that perhaps that Anya isnt the first woman to have mysteriously vanished in these ancient hills. Once again, McLean cant shake the feeling that there is a far greater evil at work here . . .Praise for James Oswald:The new Ian RankinDaily RecordCreepy, gritty and gruesomeSunday MirrorCrime fictions next big thingSunday Telegraph

I am left with only one regret. That I may have finished it too quickly READER REVIEWAs for Tony, well hes his usual maverick self . . . and he has a new cat READER REVIEWRevisiting Tony McLean is always a good read, but this is absolutely the top of the pile READER REVIEWThe charred remains of an elderly woman are discovered in a burned out gamekeepers cottage, hidden away in woodland to the west of Edinburgh.What is at first assumed to be a tragic accident begins to take on a more sinister aspect as Detective Inspector Tony McLean digs deeper.There is far more to the victim than her humble surroundings suggest . . .Praise for James Oswald:The new Ian RankinDaily RecordCreepy, gritty and gruesomeSunday MirrorCrime fictions next big thingSunday Telegraph

Her lifeless body is hidden in the dark corner of a basement room, a room which seems to have been left untouched for decades. A room which feels as cold as the grave.Thrilling right to the end READER REVIEWHats off to James Oswald READER REVIEWOne of my favourite crime series READER REVIEWAs a rowdy demonstration makes its slow and vocal way along Edinburghs Royal Mile, Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLeans team are on stand-by for any trouble. The newly promoted McLean is distracted, inexplicably drawn to a dead-end mews street . . . and a door, slightly ajar, which leads to this poor girls final resting place.But how long has she been there, in her sleep of death? The answers are far from what McLean or anyone else could expect. The truth far more chilling than a simple cold case . . .Praise for James Oswald:The new Ian RankinDaily RecordCreepy, gritty and gruesomeSunday MirrorCrime fictions next big thingSunday Telegraph

ENTER THE DARKEST CORNERS OF EDINBURGH IN THIS GRITTY, MYSTERIOUS AND SPINE-TINGLING MURDER INVESTIGATION . . .Full to the brim with intrigue. You will not be disappointed5***** Reader ReviewGrips you from the beginning and doesnt let go 5***** Reader ReviewUnsettling atmosphere, strong sense of place and a canny twist: Oswald easily outstrips the formulaic work of bigger namesGUARDIAN_______The roots of murder run deep . . . When a body is found in a tree in The Meadows, Edinburghs scenic parkland, forensics suggest the corpse has fallen from a great height. Which makes Detective Inspector Tony McLean ask the question: was it an accident, or a murder designed to send a chilling message? . . . As McLean traces the victims journey, it takes him back to Edinburghs past, and through its underworld - crossing paths with some of its most dangerous and most vulnerable people.And waiting at the end of it all, is the truth behind a crime that cuts to the very heart of the city . . ._______PRAISE FOR THE INSPECTOR McLEAN SERIESOswalds writing is in a class above mostDaily ExpressCreepy, gritty and gruesomeSunday MirrorHugely enjoyableMirrorOswald is among the leaders of excellent Scottish crime writersDaily Mail

Two victims. Nothing connects them, except that someone buried them in the exact same way.Seven hundred years apart.Oh my goodness, what a rollercoaster of a ride. READER REVIEWEvery page draws you in. READER REVIEWDo yourself a favour and read James Oswalds series. I can almost guarantee you wont stop at one. READER REVIEWAn archaeological dig at the old South Leith parish kirkyard has turned up a mysterious body dating from around seven hundred years ago. Some suspect that this gruesome discovery is a sacrifice, placed there for a specific purpose.Then a second body is unearthed. This victim went missing only thirty years ago - but the similarities between her death and the ancient womans suggest something even more disturbing.Drawn into the investigation, Inspector McLean finds himself torn between a worrying trend of violent drug-related deaths and uncovering what truly connects these bodies. When a third body is discovered, and too close for comfort, he begins to suspect dark purpose at play - and that whoever put them there is far from finished.Praise for James Oswald:The new Ian RankinDaily RecordCreepy, gritty and gruesomeSunday MirrorCrime fictions next big thingSunday Telegraph

Each year for ten years, a young womans body was found in Edinburgh at Christmastime: naked, throat slit, body washed clean. The final victim, Kirsty Summers, was Detective Constable Tony McLeans fiancee. But the Christmas Killer made a mistake, and McLean put an end to the brutal killing spree. Its now twelve years later. A fellow prisoner has just murdered the incarcerated Christmas Killer. But with the arrival of the festive season comes a body. A young woman: naked, washed, her throat cut. Is this a copycat killer? Was the wrong man behind bars all this time? Or is there a more frightening explanation? McLean must revisit the most disturbing case of his life and discover what he missed before the killer strikes again . . .