Dark Blood

I started with the first Logan McRae book and am working my way through the series. This is definitely the best so far.Most of the familiar characters are back, but there's a new depth to their relationships that at times is surprisingly moving. As always, there are a lot of inter-woven plot lines. Judging from the reviews, some people find this confusing, but I found it a realistic representation of a copper's workload and admired the way MacBride brought most of them together at the end without it feeling forced.Edinburgh is as bleak as always, and so is the overall mood. But unlike some of the earlier novels, this one is relatively free from stomach-turning torture and other horrors (though don't get me wrong: this ain't Young Adult fiction).The writing is crisp, with nary a missed beat. The language feels real and believable. Characters have distinctive voices without sounding like caricatures. And it's a very hard book to put down.As other reviewers have said, this is probably not the best place to start the series, as a fair amount of background knowledge is assumed. So stop reading me, and start reading the other five so you won't have to wait long to read "Dark Blood".

After reading six books in the series I have become a reluctant fan of author Stuart MacBride. His books just gallop along from one violent activity to another. The characters are so complex as to be almost unbelievable. DI Steele is a case in point - she is so 'way out' there, so vulgar, so rough, but in a funny way she becomes almost 'cute' and likeable....but it does take six books to get to this point.There are plots within plots within plots....puts the book into the 'almost cannot put down' category. However if left for 24 hours it can be difficult to pick up where it left off.Nevertheless (and in small doses) Mr MacBride's books are thoroughly enjoyable....I am looking forward to reading book 7 after a short period of recovery reading one of James Oswald's crime mysteries ( a colleague and apparently good friend of Mr MacBride).

Logan McRae books always deal with very brutal and dreadful police cases. The descriptions and storylines make you cringe at their disturbing content, but this is off-set by Stuart MacBride's ability to introduce humourous characters and Scotish dialogue that breaks the tension. I have been reeling one minute at the total brutality of a situation in the book, then the next minute be laughing so much, that I'm unable to read the text because I can't see through the tears!!!I can picture all the colourful characters in my mind as they are deftly described with few words, and I'm able to form a mental picture of who they are, exactly. We have all met some of these characters in real life, at some time. Everyone has met a "Bio-hazard Bob".As with all his books, this is a great read. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who has a sense of humour and who enjoys a gritty, confronting story.

This sixth installment of the Logan McRae series feels bit more like a return to the earlier novels in the series in many ways. Aberdeen and its residents are suffering through another miserable winter, and some old names crop up as Edinburgh's Malk the Knife once more encroaches on the criminal world of Aberdeen. It's a complex plot involving rivaling criminal gangs while the Aberdeen police force spend a rather exorbitant amount of money protecting a man newly released from prison after imprisoning and raping an older gentlemen (though only convicted once, it is common knowledge that he is a serial offender).Many recurring characters appear here - even Colin Miller makes a cameo! And there are several laugh-out-loud hilarious scenes of dialogue and banter (many surrounding a new addition to the DS pool - Biohazard Bob). Logan himself continues to fall far from his once hero/goldenboy status. But even through his struggles and missteps, he remains a likable and sympathetic hero. Logan continues to carry the scars of the previous novels which adds to the realism of the entire series. This installment is fairly fast-paced, too, and I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series!

I'm quite a fan of Logan McRae detective series. The plots are usually great and the characters are entertaining. In this sicth book, the writing seems a bit lazy. Logan makes odd choices which get him into toruble with his superiors, who themselves don't make a very professional impression. Hopefully this next book will be up to the usual standard.

It is hard to imagine less rewarding place to be a police officer than notorious Aberdeen, Scotland. Horrendous weather, people out of their minds, everything possible goes wrong at every opportunity. Of course, in a fictional Aberdeen- I've never been to a real one. Stuart MacBride continues his terrific series, filled with picturesque characters and heavily peppered with dark, crass humor. Just my taste. Apology to the faint hearted or hopelessly prudish.

These books are not for the weak of stomach. They involve violent and often gruesome crimes. What I like best about the books is that they are realistic concerning what really happens within the police force in Scotland. The author doesn't mince words. I love DI Steel. Her and McRae are my favorite duo. McRae is an every man's guy who speaks what is on his mind although it sometimes gets him in trouble. I really hope that this series continues.

This has to be one of the best Stuart MacBride books I have read, and have read all of them and can't wait for the next one.There are several twists and turns and its impossible to pick the 'who dunnit'until almost the end. If you like mystery, thriller police procedurals you will totally enjoy this book.

Stuart macbride pens another book that is hard to put down, his gritty story tells another gripping tale of violence and humour intertwined into a page turner that's great to read, hope the next book follows on in the same way.

Ich habe 12 Bücher von Mac Bride gelesen und bin begeistert. Sie sind spannend, witzig, voller schwarzem Humor und hintergründig. Lesen, lesen, lesen!

Each time I crack one of MacBride's novels, I presume he can't top the last one. And, each time I'm wrong. The series gets better and better.

As usual, Logan and crew tumble through the bad guys and while risking life and limb catch all of them. The scenes are shocking and bloodthirsty but are hilariously funny ( oh dear, does that say something about the reader). The story is so well written with pace and style. I am slowly working my way through all the books and now look forward to book 7.

fast paced. dry humour