All That's Dead: The new Logan McRae crime thriller from the No.1 bestselling author (Logan McRae, Book 12)

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I always worry slightly about how much Logan McRae can actually be involved in an investigation, being that he now works for Professional Standards. A year after being stabbed, McRae is welcomed back to Professional Standards with a case that could be a career killer.

Ably assisted by the bizarre yet charming Tufty and Rennie, still looking for Logan’s approval at every turn. Against a backdrop of the continuing arguments for and against Scottish independence, a violent prisoner, Haiden Lochhead, son of ultra-Nationalist Gary Lochhead, escapes and begins his personal campaign of abduction and torture of people he feels have betrayed the Nationalist cause.Which will come out on a semiregular basis and deal with such important issues as cats, hens, horses, and whatever publishing stuff is on the go at the time. MacBride treads quite carefully and cleverly through the Independence quagmire, and I suspect probably manages the almost impossible feat of not offending either side – or perhaps of offending both equally, which works just as well! You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.

However, Logan also has to deal with the fact that the cop that runs this investigation has, let's say a black spot on his record. Logan McRae is tasked with keeping an eye on the investigating Detective King and this puts him smack-bang in the middle of it all. MacBride's books have always been ambitiously plotted and firmly character-driven … They are only getting richer and more rewarding.Media interest in the Professor is high, the pressure from their superior officers unrelenting as they want results - preferably yesterday! What I thought very funny is the fact that everybody in the book keeps complaining about the weather. Bees bumbled their way between the flowering weeds that lined the drive, hoverflies buzzing amongst the thunderheads, house martins reenacting the Battle of Britain – jinking and swooping and diving, while a clatter of jackdaws looked on from the farmhouse roof. Professor Wilson an high profile anti-independence campaigner has gone missing, leaving nothing but bloodstains behind. But I want a Scotland of the Enlightenment; a nation of fairness and equality; a nation that cares about the smallest, weakest person living here every bit as much as the biggest, richest one.

I'm a big fan of MacBride because I love his style, I love his plots and I love his leading characters. Personally I could swing for Tufty, who annoys the hell out of me, but I've got to admit that I laughed a lot as I read and listened. Brutal violence, shocking beliefs, hate and anger mixed with swearing galore - if these guys had a swear box they would be minted, and dark humour. The case is complicated by another high-profile disappearance, and made murky / mucky by the receipt of various body parts belonging to the presumed alive earlier victims.

It is equally interesting to see the once feckless Logan MacRae turn into the voice of reason and often the only adult in the room. I’m delighted to resume my membership of the Logan McRae fan club, and am happily looking forward to his next outing now.