The Dead of Winter by Stuart MacBride

The Dead of Winter by Stuart MacBride

Publication date - 16th Feb 23

Publisher - Random House, Transworld

Thanks to @netgalley for the arc.

‘The Dead of Winter’ is what Stuart MacBride does best - dark humour, strong characters, great sense of location and a brilliant plot. I flew through this book whilst we were having the bad weather in Scotland and it was if the book gods were looking out for me! Reading this book whilst seeing it snow outside made it very atmospheric, but I would have enjoyed it immensely either way. Was just an added boon!

DC Edward Reekie has been volunteered to accompany his new boss DI Victoria Montgomery-Porter, affectionately known as Bigtoria, whilst she escorts a newly released prisoner, Mark Bishop, to his house in the village of Glenfarach. But Glenfarach is a special place, a remote village in the highland of Scotland where people who would be considered at danger from the public when released from prison reside. It’s a picturesque village with a bakers, library, corner shop and looks like a normal wee community. Just one filled with thief’s, murderers and much much worse. As Reekie and Bigtoria make their way there a huge storm hits them and it’s clear they are about to be snowed in. But whilst they are dropping off Bishop a murder victim is found and Bigtoria is asked to investigate. May the insane chaos commence!

This is the latest stand-alone from Stuart and gives us a whole host of new characters to love and laugh with! If you are a fan of the author this book will feel very familiar to you and if not enjoy! I thoroughly enjoyed it as a long time fan. It had the dark humour that his books thrive upon, great characters in Reekie and Bigtoria (I would happily take a series based on them!) and it takes a lot to make me laugh out loud but I did numerous times. What really impressed me though was the location of Glenfarach and the idea behind it. I loved the concept and it’s a twisted mind that came up with it, it’s surprised me with its originality. From the very beginning you are drawn into this winters tale and you aren’t released until the snow begins to melt! I stayed up way past my bedtime reading as I was caught up in Reekie’s story and had to find out its resolution. It was a tense and fast paced story that had many a twist and turns, fabulous reveals and downright right hilarious dialogue and banter.

This book is absolutely bonkers and I loved it!!