The Missing and the Dead by Stuart MacBride
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the ninth book in the Logan McRae series and it is the one I have enjoyed the most. I am not sure what exactly makes it better, but I think it is not as unremittingly bleak as some of its predecessors. There is a fine line between ‘dark’ and ‘bleak’. The darkness is there in plenty in the types of crime being committed, something that can be said for all of the books. However, in this story, DS McRae has been posted back to uniform for ‘development’ reasons and seems to be relishing in his role as duty sergeant. Gone are the alcoholism, navel gazing, self destructive behaviours etc. and with that. comes a lighter touch, hence less bleakness distracting from the darkness of the central crime, the murder of a wee girl.
Throughout the book are calls from control asking officers to attend and deal with numpties doing senseless things (pissing in doorways, driving erratically etc.), cows loose on the road and these capture cleverly what must be an achingly boring job for an intelligent and ambitious PC such as his sidekick, Calamity Jane. Of course, McRae finds himself incapable of not sticking his nose in where it is not wanted and, as ever, irritates senior officers all over the place. And throughout, his own mind numbingly irritating tormentor, DCI Steel, is there in the background winding him up like a toy doll.
I am already looking forward to book number 10.
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The 39 Steps by John Buchan
