Back of the Book

The wages of sin is death.

The 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 Morgan’s 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.

There’s a killer stalking the streets of Edinburgh. Is it time for McLean to get back to doing what he does best?

Book Review

As a body is uncovered in an Edinburgh disused church. Detective Janie Harrison is tested both with solving the crime and finding her feet without Tony McLean.

I think I must have been living under a rock for the past few years. I am a huge crime fiction fan, I have been a co-organiser for an event all about crime fiction. I have met and heard James Oswald read at a crime fiction event and yet I had it stuck in my head that Mr Oswald wrote paranormal crime and therefore it wouldn’t be my thing. That will teach me to think. I couldn’t be more wrong, this is book THIRTEEN in the McLean series and I was blown away by the writing.  A series featuring Edinburgh is like a chef’s kiss to me. I adore the Helen Fields Luc & Ava series and I haven’t found anything that I felt connected to, until now. This may be the thirteenth book but let me say that I read it and didn’t feel I was missing any big plots or character dynamics having not read the others. This to me says everything about the dedication the author puts into their writing. I will be going back to book one and starting my time working through them. But if you just wanted a very satisfying read, then you could pick this book up.

Janie Harrison is a brilliant character, strong-willed, hardworking and someone you would know and be friends with. With McLean retired and looking after his wife. Janie has to find her way and her place amongst the team. I loved her attitude and I respected that the book and the characters’ choices were relatable and they weren’t doing anything far-fetched. 

Edinburgh features in the book and I gain a lot from picturing the character in that environment. From John Lewis’s cafe to Gorgie Road. Being from around Edinburgh heightens my enjoyment of the book. It awakes all my senses and how Mr Oswald doesn’t over-explain situations is refreshing.  I know readers love short chapters and this book has those.

Overall a brilliant and enjoyable experience, I highly recommend For Our Sins to readers who enjoy solving crimes alongside the characters. Five out of five stars from me. 

Now I need to get started on the back catalogue of books, lucky me!

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