“Dying Light” is not a light novel. Like its predecessor, the subject is disturbing and, at times, shockingly brutal. It delves into the sordid life of prostitutes, and the sick realm of arsonists. It is the author's dark Scottish sense of humor that makes it engrossingly readable, and his vividly drawn characters lighten the telling of the horrible crimes about which his plot revolves. His relationship with his peers and superiors in his police work keeps it all in perspective, and the result is a very strong and compelling crime novel that is laced with humor and held together with the glue of the real and human qualities of the main characters.

In an interesting twist in the somewhat overworked genre of legal heroes, Logan suffers the humiliation of a come-down from his recent reign as the media's favorite star when he is called to account for a police raid that went terribly wrong. Consequently, he was reassigned to the dreaded “Screw-up Squad,” the division to which the “no-hopers” go to repent and try to work their way back to a higher status. It is during this temporary demotion under a most unpleasant D.I. Roberta Steel, who makes his life even more miserable with her penchant for stealing credit, placing underserved blame, and cutting more investigative corners than a four-handed tailor, that our hero becomes involved in his latest investigative adventure.

In spite of his almost untenable situation, McRae manages to out-shine his fellow officers once again, and it is mainly because of his independent nature and stubborn determination, with a little good old fashioned luck tossed in, that he comes out once more “on top”.

Stuart McBride is great find. He has come up with a style and a geography that takes us away from the formulaic and into an original and habit-forming good read. I can hardly wait for the next one.
Review by Litera Scripta