I thoroughly enjoyed this. Seven books in and all of the characters are wonderfully familiar and well established. The plot was compelling and suitably complex and twisty, as usual. The action was frequent and satisfying. And the hunger to continue with the series does not diminish.

Here's the thing. You hoard a book because it's a favourite series, and there's no sign of the next one yet. But then there are noises about the next one, but that's not out for ages, but you can't wait any longer so you read the one you've had tucked away. Then you've not got that little thing of joy hidden away in the bookcases anymore. So now you're stuck in that horrible no man's land, because the next book's not out for ages, and you've given into temptation. It's a nightmare.

Mind you, that's about the only complaint I can come up with about SHATTER THE BONES. But then I'm a huge fan of Stuart MacBride's Logan McRae series. He's one of those writers that combine violence, brutality and some truly shocking story lines with absolute laugh out loud moments, a heap of creative swearing, some terrific insights into human nature and, in this case, social commentary into the bargain. There's a sense of urgency, lunacy and hurtling madness about most of the investigations in the McRae books that feels real. There are believable, fantastic characters performing over and above the call of duty, desperately hanging onto family and personal in the middle of an absolute storm of crazy.

In SHATTER THE BONES MacBride is also taking a wee shufty at the madness of reality TV - the way that a frenzy of interest and concern whips up when a mother and daughter are kidnapped, an interest that seems unlikely to have occurred without their TV profile. In amongst the kidnapping, the reactions, an investigation hampered by a total lack of forensic information, and some very cunning acts on the part of the kidnappers, further hinderance comes from closer to home. When the serious crimes squad sends in an "expert" you just know that things are going to get complicated, but the level of idiocy of this bloke is beyond the pale.

Whilst a lot of the madness, and the characters and their personal situations are carrying forward from the earlier books (thank goodness DI Steele remains a standout as frankly I'd be spitting the dummy well hard if she backed off), there are things that are moving forward. McRae's actually in danger of developing a personal life of his own, the relationships between the team are expanding a little, and ranks are progressing. There's also more than a few smacks around the head at the end of this book, and there's a final scene that's an absolute kicker.

CLOSE TO THE BONE is out in January 2013. I might ... just ... last ... until ... then.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/shatter-bones-stuart-macbride

Bit slow to start but raced away at the end.

3.5

I wasn't as keen on this book as I have been on some of the others in the series but I don't know whether that's more about what's happening in my life than the book. I thought the incompetence of the police, the sheer, flat out, that-would-never-happen, aspects of this case (random police officers commandeering trained firearms officers guns anyone?) along with the whole dick swinging 'my agency is better than your police force' shenanigans from the SOCA liaison officer made parts of this story utterly ridiculous. The actual crime they were trying to investigate was background noise.

Don't get me wrong, it's well written and fairly amusing but it's just preposterous.

The ending I hated..

The revelation is pretty f’ed up

While I loved the first couple Logan McRae books, I went off them when MacBride brought in Insp. Steele and turned McRae into a gormless wimp. In this outing (#7), however, Steele is barely in it and the story benefits greatly. Allison and her daughter Jenny are rising stars on a reality show to find Britain's next great talent. But they've been kidnapped and threats are issued that they will be killed if "enough" ransom is not raised.

This was a good one.

I'm not a huge fan of Steele and she didn't play a huge role in the novel so that's definitely a plus. It's been awhile so I don't remember all of the plot points, but I can summarize it pretty quickly I think...

A reality mother and daughter go missing. The kidnappers say that if the public raises "enough" money (non specific number), they will release the two. The kidnappers are all part of a college group but the main culprits are actually the mother and the tv show creator. They put it together to raise more interest in the show and the act.

There was also a side story between Logan and a local drug dealer. I can't remember, not because it wasn't an interesting side story, but rather because my memory stinks.

Overall, a good read. Wish I could remember more so I could be more specific. I'll do better next time. :D