The young oak tree with freshly budding leaves seemed unremarkable until his eyes travelled down to the wooden plaque set into the ground. The words sent an icy chill through his heart: They shall remember you.
In the Scottish Highlands where secrets settle like mist in the glens, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is summoned to a macabre scene - a gamekeeper hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap of wire and bone. Still grieving his wife's death, Corstorphine finds himself hunting a killer who crafts elaborate deathtraps from human remains - clockwork mechanisms that deliver murder with chilling precision.
When the victim's pregnant girlfriend Margo - her face a map of bruises - shares a reporter's notebook found among her boyfriend's possessions, Corstorphine discovers a connection to a journalist who died at the same hanging tree twenty years earlier. But Margo guards secrets of her own, and speaking the truth in this Highland community carries a deadly price.
As the deaths mount, Corstorphine must confront his own ghosts while racing to uncover what links the victims. His investigation leads to a devastating truth: the killer isn't just taking lives - they're delivering retribution decades in the making.
The first in the DI Corstorphine Scottish crime series, from a CWA New Blood Dagger Longlist author and McIlvanney Best Scottish Crime Novel Finalist will have you reading late into the night. The perfect page-turner for fans of LJ Ross, Ann Cleeves, and Val McDermid.
Previously published as Whirligig.
About the Author :
Andrew James Greig writes crime and speculative fiction inspired by the wild and rugged Scottish landscape where he lives. Andrew spends his time writing, exploring islands and playing music. His first book was selected for the CWA New Blood Dagger award and was a finalist for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Fiction in 2020. Born in London, he moved to Bristol where he studied engineering, providing the sound for Glastonbury and WOMAD festivals and touring the world with bands. In his saner moments he designed electronics and software systems for international aerospace companies. A member of the Society of Authors and regular contributor to literary festivals and events, he is as equally at home on the stage as on a windswept mountain top. Inspiration comes from the places he's seen on his travels but mostly from the people he meets along the way and the tales they have to tell.
Review :
'Oooh I absolutely loved this book! First book in a new series and it was a great start! It definitely got the heart pumping!!... It had great suspense... fantastic characters and some wild twists and turns! I highly recommend reading this book and series!' Reader review, 5 stars
'A must-read for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and anyone who loves their thrillers dark, intelligent, and utterly unputdownable. Prepare to be up all night!' Reader review, 5 stars
'A chilling and atmospheric tale... Greig's writing is razor-sharp, his descriptions immersive, painting the Highlands as both breathtaking and sinister. The intricate plotting, combined with a deeply compelling protagonist, makes for an utterly engrossing read.' Reader review, 5 stars
'This was an absolute 5 star read, amazing read... got me hooked in a way that I had to finish it!... This book had tons of mystery and lots of twists that I love. Set in Highlands it fits perfectly with the book's vibe. I absolutely love this book.' Reader review, 5 stars
'I loved every minute I spend reading the Bone Clock - this isn't your typical murder mystery fare, it is a clever an artfully constructed police procedural that I couldn't put down... Thought provoking and original, this story gets an enthusiastic 5 stars from this reviewer!' Reader review, 5 stars
'What a cracker! A truly brilliant book - I didn't want to put it down... Humble characters that I already love and mastery of story telling... Don't hesitate - read this book!' Reader review, 5 stars
