Books by James Oswald

The twelth book in the Sunday Times-bestselling phenomenon that is the Inspector McLean series, from one of Scotland's most celebrated crime writers

The gripping new thriller in the brilliant Constance Fairchild series, from one of Scotland's foremost crime writers.

The tenth book in the Sunday Times-bestselling Inspector McLean series, from one of Scotland's most celebrated crime writers

From one of the UK's biggest crime writers - the man who brought you the bestselling Inspector McLean novels - comes the second book in his Constance Fairchild series, NOTHING TO HIDE

The ninth book in the Sunday Times-bestselling phenomenon that is the Inspector McLean series, from one of Scotland's most celebrated crime writers

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.

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' GuardianWhen 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

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of The Damage Done by James Oswald, read by Ian Hanmore. The sixth book in James Oswalds phenomenal Inspector McLean series set in Edinburgh. 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 McLeans 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 Oswalds writing is in a class above Express Creepy gritty and gruesome Sunday Mirror

Sunday Times bestseller Prayer for the Dead is the fifth novel in the bestselling Inspector McLean series by author James Oswald.'The hallmarks of Val McDermid or Ian Rankin: it's dark, violent, noirish' The Herald***'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 '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

Dead Men's Bones is the fourth novel in James Oswald's phenomenal Inspector McLean series set in Edinburgh and is already a Sunday Times Top Five bestseller. 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 realizes 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 the James Oswald and the Inspector McLean series: '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

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of James Oswalds gripping new Inspector McLean crime thriller Natural Causes, read by the actor Ian Hanmore. A young girls mutilated body is discovered in a sealed room. Her remains are carefully arranged, in what seems to have been a cruel and macabre ritual, which appears to have taken place over 60 years ago. For newly appointed Edinburgh Detective Inspector Tony McLean this baffling cold case ought to be a low priority - but he is haunted by the young victim and her grisly death. Meanwhile, the city is horrified by a series of bloody killings. Deaths for which there appears to be neither rhyme nor reason, and which leave Edinburghs police at a loss. McLean is convinced that these deaths are somehow connected to the terrible ceremonial killing of the girl, all those years ago. It is an irrational, almost supernatural theory. And one which will lead McLean closer to the heart of a terrifying and ancient evil . . .

The Book of Souls is James Oswalds second electrifying thriller in the Detective Inspector McLean series. Every year for ten years, a young womans body was found in Edinburgh at Christmas time: naked, throat slit, body washed clean. Ten years, ten women. The final victim, Kirsty Summers, was Detective Constable Tony McLeans fiance. But the Christmas Killer made a mistake. In a cellar under a shop, McLean found a torture chamber and put an end to the brutal killing spree. Twelve years later, and 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 sinister, frightening explanation? McLean must revisit the most disturbing case of his life and discover what he missed before the killer strikes again . . . The Book of Souls is the second in the Detective Inspector Mclean series. The first was Natural Causes and the upcoming third will be called The Hangmans Song. Fans of Ian Rankin, Peter James and Stuart McBride will love James Oswalds work. Praise for James Oswald: A star of Scotlands burgeoning crime fiction scene Daily Record Crime fictions 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: its dark, violent, noirish The Herald A good read The Times An excellent start to what promises to be a fine series Guardian

The Hangman's Song is the thrilling third novel in James Oswald's Inspector McLean series set in Edinburgh.Look out for the fourth instalment in the bestselling Inspector McLean series, Dead Men's Bones, available for pre-order from Penguin.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'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