Close to the Bone (Logan McRae, Book 8) cover art

Close to the Bone (Logan McRae, Book 8)

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About this listen

The eighth Logan McRae novel in the No.1 bestselling crime series from Stuart MacBride.

Every murder tells a story. But not every victim tells the truth.

‘A terrific writer … McRae is a delight’ The Times

Sticks and stones may break your bones…

The first body is chained to a stake: strangled, and stabbed, with a burning tyre around its neck. But is this a gangland execution or something much darker?

Someone’s leaving little knots of bones on DI Logan McRae’s doorstep, but he’s got bigger concerns. Rival drug gangs are fighting over product and territory; two teenage lovers are missing; someone’s crippling Asian immigrants; and Logan’s been lumbered with an ambitious new Detective Sergeant and gained the unwelcome attention of the local crime boss.

When another body turns up, the similarities between these murders and the plot of a bestselling novel seem like more than just a coincidence. And perhaps those little knots of bones are more important than they look…

 Action & Adventure Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Police Procedural Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Exciting Feel-Good Scary Witty

Critic reviews

Praise for Stuart MacBride:

‘MacBride is the natural heir to the late and much lamented Reginald Hill’ Andrew Taylor, SPECTATOR

‘MacBride is a damned fine writer – no one does dark and gritty like him’ Peter James

‘Fierce, unflinching and shot through with the blackest of humour; this is crime fiction of the highest order' Mark Billingham

‘Some of the grittiest crime-writing in the field’ Independent

‘Admirers of tough, modern crime novels will be in seventh heaven – or should that be hell?’ Express

‘Ferocious and funny’ Val McDermid

‘Hard-hitting prose with a bone-dry humour and characters you can genuinely believe in, Stuart MacBride’s novels are a real treat’ Simon Kernick

All stars
Most relevant
Not sure whether it was badly orchestrated scene changes or the limited repertoire of character voices, but in places, I struggled to get a handle on what was happening. Almost felt like it was more of a film script, rather than a novel, at times - like a change in visuals was the missing ingredient.

Seriously considered "returning" my purchase for much of the first few hours, but decided to stick with it until the end. A decision I'm probably 70% happy with.

OK story, variable performance

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This was the best of the Logan McRae books so far by a country mile. That’s not to say the others have been poor but this one really pulls all the characters to date together

Excellent as an audio book. How can one narrator do so many accents and voices effectively?!!

Best of the Logan McRae books so far!

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Book 8 in the engaging Logan McRae series.
Witchcraft and gang warfare is in play in Aberdeen when a body turns up chained to a stake, strangled, stabbed and with a burning tyre around its neck.
McRae’s home, a static caravan in a not so nice area, is being decrorated with old bones. There are two missing teenagers, homeless people shoplifting and Inch is running security for a major film in the area. All of these plus a mountain of paper work, a keen new Detective Sargeant and acting Detective Inspector Logan doesn't have a moment to himself.
Stuart MacBride continues to write enthralling stories. The narrator also makes the story come alive.

MacBride continues to write enthralling stories

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gory entertaining and funny as ever.
DCI Steel is one of fictions great creations alongside other notable characters returning again.

Tartan Noir at its best

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Performance perfect as always . By accident and maybe poor planning reading out of sequence but it leads to some ah that explains that moments. Not sure in today’s politically correct police how long Ms Steel would last but here fictional world life would be poorer without her disreputable behaviour, potty mouth and kindness and appalling delivered care and heaven help us wisdom


Logan is complex damaged often wrong but always well intentioned. Must be Catholic with that much guilt and self doubt


Immerse yourself and enjoy



Recoil, laugh,be horrified listenable romp

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