Old Bones Lie by Marion Todd

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Old Bones Lie by Marion Todd. It's the first book of hers I've read but I'm sure it won't be the last. My thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for the invite and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

DI Clare Mackay is about to face a test of her loyalty…

When a report comes in that a van containing two prison officers and a convicted jewel thief is missing, the police in St Andrews work quickly to locate the vehicle. Their efforts prove in vain when no trace is found and they realise the wives of both officers also appear to have left the area. Is this a case of corrupt guards springing a felon, or innocent people caught in the crossfire?

DI Clare Mackay leads the team but has to do without her right hand man; DS Chris West is a cousin to one of the missing prison officers and must not be involved in the case. With a new sergeant at her side plus a previously unencountered DCI, Clare’s people skills are pushed to the limit. Especially once she realises her boss is keeping her on the sidelines. Just what is it that Clare doesn’t know? And if she has to choose between keeping secrets from a friend, or letting slip something that could see a culprit go free, which path will she take?

A compelling addition to the bestselling series by a much-loved Scottish crime author, perfect for fans of Caro Ramsay, Lin Anderson and Alex Gray.

Old Bones Lie is out tomorrow, published by Canelo Crime. 

My Review

I read the blurb for this book some time ago and it appealed to me. I missed the bit that said it was part of a series so hadn't realised that was the case when I started it. Actually, I didn't find out until I finished it. But, you know what? It made no difference to my reading, or my enjoyment of the book which should give you an idea of how well this worked as a standalone. 

Clare Mackay and her team are tasked with solving the mystery of a missing prison van, containing two prison officers and a prisoner, convicted of the robbery of a jeweller's  shop a year earlier. And Clare's team cannot trace  the officers' wives either. Clare's partner, DS Chris West is related to one of the prison guards and so is removed from the inquiry to look into tractor vandalism on local farms. But before Clare's team can get their teeth into the case of the missing prisoner and guards, Clare has to deal with a new partner, transferred from another station, and a DCI who is brought in, sidelining Clare and her team from the prison mystery, leaving her with another inquiry which Clare is convinced is linked to the prison break and is confused as to why she has been taken off that one... The truth is not what she expected. 

Old Bones Lie is a police procedural but one that involves secrets and lies between officers. People deliberately not told the truth, or not given the full picture. Sometimes for the right reasons, sometimes maybe not. And that all changes the dynamic between teams and team members. Especially with the addition of new personnel, even if they are only temporary. 

Clare was easy to like. She's straight up, fair and kind with her team, but firm when she needs to, determined to get the job done. I loved the glimpses into her home life and her relationship with Al. He used to be her boss and even though they're now sharing a home she still tends to think of him as ' the DCI'. Thought that was super cute. And it was nice to see a main character with a pretty steady home life - doesn't seem to happen very often! It might not have always been the case, of course. I also enjoyed her relationship with Chris. Whilst she's still his boss, the two of them have an easy relationship, and there is a fair bit of humorous banter between them. It was good to have a few lighter moments. I also must mention Max, drafted to be Clare's temporary right hand man, desperate to impress Clare. He's really keen, maybe too keen sometimes, but good at his job. And he makes good coffee, what more do you need?!

The story is more than just that of a prison break  - there are secrets aplenty discovered along the way, some of them really quite shocking. I certainly didn't see a couple of them coming. There's no big denouement but that's OK because everything is explained. Old Bones Lie is a well written, even handed police procedural with an appealing central character. An easy read, perfect for taking on holiday. 

The Author

A native of Dundee, Marion studied music with the Open University and worked for many years as a piano teacher and jobbing accompanist. A spell as a hotel lounge pianist provided rich fodder for her writing and she began experimenting with a variety of genres. Early success saw her winning first prize in the Family Circle Magazine short story for children national competition and she followed this up by writing short stories and articles for her local newspaper.

Life (and children) intervened and, for a few years, Marion’s writing was put on hold. During this time, she worked as a college lecturer, plantswoman and candle-maker. But, as a keen reader of crime fiction, the lure of the genre was strong, and she began writing her debut crime novel. Now a full-time writer, Marion lives in North-east Fife, overlooking the River Tay. She can often be found working out plots for her novels while tussling with her jungle-like garden and walking her daughter’s unruly but lovable dog.