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Tuesday 9 March 2021

Book Review: A Dark So Deadly by Stuart MacBride

A Dark So Deadly by Stuart MacBride book cover

AD* | Welcome to the Misfit Mob...

It’s where Police Scotland dumps the officers it can’t get rid of but wants to: the outcasts, the troublemakers, the compromised. Officers like DC Callum MacGregor, lumbered with all the boring go-nowhere cases. So when an ancient mummy turns up at the Oldcastle tip, it’s his job to find out which museum it’s been stolen from.

But then Callum uncovers links between his ancient corpse and three missing young men, and life starts to get a lot more interesting. O Division’s Major Investigation Teams already have more cases than they can cope with, so, against everyone’s better judgement, the Misfit Mob are just going to have to manage this one on their own.

No one expects them to succeed, but right now they’re the only thing standing between the killer’s victims and a slow, lingering death. The question is, can they prove everyone wrong before he strikes again? 


A Dark So Deadly is a suspenseful crime thriller packed with shocking twists and turns.

This is not a short book, but it is well-paced and remains engaging throughout. It is almost like several books rolled into one - multiple cases crop up throughout the story, and each brings its own subplot to the overall arc. Of course, the individual cases tie together in surprising ways, but reading about each unique crime is interesting.

DC Callum MacGregor is an endearing and likeable character. Down on his luck and struggling with the repercussions of a difficult choice, things only seem to get worse as Callum's life quickly spirals downhill out of control. Yet despite the high stakes and intensity of the case, he remains (for the most part) approachable and honest. Callum is a great character with strong morals - which is ironic, considering the reason why he ended up in the Misfit Mob!

The other police officers in the Misfit Mob are as eclectic and eccentric as you can imagine. From feminist new girl Franklin to jelly-baby-loving 'Mother', the senior officer leading the team, you never quite know what you are going to get with this bunch. Despite that, each has their own reasons for ending up in the Misfit Mob and their backstories are gradually uncovered throughout the book. 

The cases themselves are gruesome yet intriguing. With a serial killer on the loose, mummified bodies showing up all over town, and a cast of shifty characters as suspects, there's definitely plenty to keep Callum and his colleagues busy. 

A Dark So Deadly is a strong crime thriller set in rainy Scotland. Suspenseful and mysterious, it's full of surprises right to the end!

Rating: 3 stars

A Dark So Deadly is available to buy now. 

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* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Will you be reading the book? Let me know in the comments below! 

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