Detective Corstorphine

The young oak tree with freshly budding leaves seemed unremarkable until his eyes travelled down to the wooden plaque set into the ground. The words sent an icy chill through his heart: They shall remember you. In the Scottish Highlands where secrets settle like mist in the glens, Detective Inspector James Corstorphine is summoned to a macabre scene – a gamekeeper hanging from an ancient oak, ensnared by an intricate trap of wire and bone. Still grieving his wife's death, Corstorphine finds himself hunting a killer who crafts elaborate deathtraps from human remains – clockwork mechanisms that deliver murder with chilling precision. When the victim's pregnant girlfriend Margo – her face a map of bruises – shares a reporter's notebook found among her boyfriend's possessions, Corstorphine discovers a connection to a journalist who died at the same hanging tree twenty years earlier. But Margo guards secrets of her own, and speaking the truth in this Highland community carries a deadly price. As the deaths mount, Corstorphine must confront his own ghosts while racing to uncover what links the victims. His investigation leads to a devastating truth: the killer isn't just taking lives – they're delivering retribution decades in the making. The first in the DI Corstorphine Scottish crime series, from a CWA New Blood Dagger Longlist author and McIlvanney Best Scottish Crime Novel Finalist will have you reading late into the night. The perfect page-turner for fans of LJ Ross, Ann Cleeves, and Val McDermid. Previously published as Whirligig. Readers love Andrew James Greig's books: 'OMG that was an intense, keep you on the edge, read!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow, this book was thrilling and kept me hooked throughout!' Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Gripping, intense and chilling... Highly recommended.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A standout thriller that combines a gripping investigation with the dark allure of the occult… The well-crafted plot, rich character development, and atmospheric setting make it a must-read for fans of the genre… readers are both entertained and haunted by the story long after they turn the final page.' A Look Inside Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is an absolutely fantastic series! ... action packed from the very beginning and definitely kept me turning the pages.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I honestly had goosebumps reading this.'Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Amazing! I really didn't want to put it down (who needs to sleep?!).' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just Wow! What a read. Couldn't put it down.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Compulsive… I couldn't put it down.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely hoovered it up.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Brilliant to the very last word… you won't be able to put this book down.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The best crime novel I've ever read.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The summit was just a few more minutes' climb as the bottle slipped from his weakening grip. He was aware that he was dying. Not here. Not now. Not alone. Through the pain, his mind screamed a silent final eulogy. When a distillery owner's body is discovered on top of a remote Scottish mountain, forensics confirm that he died of natural causes. But the dead man's sister claims he was murdered. As Detective Inspector Corstorphine delves into the victim's family, disturbing questions emerge. Why is the daughter kept sedated and locked in her room? Who is stalking the son as he scatters his father's ashes on lonely mountain peaks? Each clue – from a haunting painting defaced in blood to a deadly botanical poison – points to someone with intimate knowledge of the family. Then a young woman's suicide becomes entwined with the case, and Corstorphine must confront a killer whose vengeance traces back to a childhood act with devastating consequences. From a CWA New Blood Dagger Longlist author and McIlvanney Best Scottish Crime Novel Finalist, The Devil's Cut weaves a haunting tale of family loyalty and unspoken truths in this atmospheric Scottish crime thriller. If you love LJ Ross, Ian Rankin and Ann Cleeves you'll love Andrew James Greig. Readers love Andrew James Greig's books: 'OMG that was an intense, keep you on the edge, read!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow, this book was thrilling and kept me hooked throughout!' Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Gripping, intense and chilling... Highly recommended.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A standout thriller that combines a gripping investigation with the dark allure of the occult… The well-crafted plot, rich character development, and atmospheric setting make it a must-read for fans of the genre… readers are both entertained and haunted by the story long after they turn the final page.' A Look Inside Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is an absolutely fantastic series! ... action packed from the very beginning and definitely kept me turning the pages.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I honestly had goosebumps reading this.'Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Amazing! I really didn't want to put it down (who needs to sleep?!).' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just Wow! What a read. Couldn't put it down.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Compulsive… I couldn't put it down.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely hoovered it up.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Brilliant to the very last word… you won't be able to put this book down.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The best crime novel I've ever read.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Detective James Corstorphine's blood ran cold. His wife never left her clinic door unlocked. Inside, her receptionist sat bound and gagged, tears streaming down her face. "He's taken Shamila." But Shamila's abduction is just the beginning. When human remains are discovered dressed as a scarecrow in a Highland farmer's field, Corstorphine realizes the cases are connected. The victim worked at Carstairs State Hospital – the same institution where Shamila once treated the criminally insane. As Corstorphine traces the killer's obsession with Shamila, another body is found – a young woman strangled in the village, her face hidden beneath a scarecrow's mask. With the ancient festival of Samhain approaching and shadows lengthening across the glens, a book of cryptic clues arrives at Corstorphine's door. As Corstorphine races to decode the killer's macabre messages can he save Shamila before she becomes the final victim? An atmospheric page-turning Scottish crime thriller from CWA New Blood Dagger Longlist author Andrew James Greig. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, Ian Rankin, and Ann Cleeves. Readers love the Detective Corstorphine series: 'Absolutely blew my socks off, it's brilliant! A real page turner that I finished in a few hours - once I had started I just didn't want to stop. Continuing from book one I really like the characters that the author has created for this series. Easy to connect with them. So this is much more than just a Police procedural. There are things to make you laugh too. (Like a taser firing, very much ouch!)' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Packed with action and very entertaining, this gripping crime thriller will keep you on alert… will make you guess until the very end. Also set at Scottish highlands, this gem is a must read for all the mystery thriller lovers. Highly recommend!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another amazingly clever plot featuring DI Corstorphine and his team…The twists are unbelievable and it has you hooked from the start. I couldn't put it down.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Simply awesome!… Fast paced and unrelenting, one twist after the next. Superb.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Oooh I absolutely loved this book! First book in a new series and it was a great start! It definitely got the heart pumping!!… It had great suspense... fantastic characters and some wild twists and turns! I highly recommend reading this book and series!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A must-read for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and anyone who loves their thrillers dark, intelligent, and utterly unputdownable. Prepare to be up all night!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A chilling and atmospheric tale... Greig's writing is razor-sharp, his descriptions immersive, painting the Highlands as both breathtaking and sinister. The intricate plotting, combined with a deeply compelling protagonist, makes for an utterly engrossing read.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This was an absolute 5 star read, amazing read... got me hooked in a way that I had to finish it!... This book had tons of mystery and lots of twists that I love. Set in Highlands it fits perfectly with the book's vibe. I absolutely love this book.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐