A Rattle of Bones – Douglas Skelton
In 1752, Seamus a’Ghlynne, James of the Glen, was executed for the murder of government man Colin Campbell. He was almost certainly innocent.
When banners are placed at his gravesite claiming that his namesake, James Stewart, is innocent of murder, reporter Rebecca Connolly smells a story. The young Stewart has been in prison for ten years for the brutal murder of his lover, lawyer and politician Murdo Maxwell, in his Appin home. Rebecca soon discovers that Maxwell believed he was being followed prior to his murder and his phones were tapped.
Why is a Glasgow crime boss so interested in the case? As Rebecca keeps digging, she finds herself in the sights of Inverness crime matriarch Mo Burke, who wants payback for the damage caused to her family in a previous case.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, A Rattle of Bones is a tale of injustice and mystery, and the echo of the past in the present.
My thanks to Polygon for providing a review copy of A Rattle of Bones.
When you’re selecting a new book to read you always hope you pick one which you will enjoy. This is particularly important if you are selecting an audiobook. The time you expect to devote towards reading a story means you will be looking for a rewarding return for that investment. What can you do to reduce the risk of selecting a disappointing read?
Well I recommend picking up a book by Douglas Skelton, he always delivers a tight, gripping thriller. Skelton will perfectly balance tension, humour and the human engagement needed from characters to make them authentic and believable. He consistently delivers and with his Rebecca Connolly series he seems to be hitting new highs.
A Rattle of Bones is the third book in the series, you don’t need to have read either of the two previous novels to enjoy this one. Rebecca is a journalist working for a news agency in Inverness. Events in Thunder Bay and The Blood is Still have left her somewhat rattled and there has been some turmoil she has had to endure but Rebecca is made of strong stuff and plugs on. What she did not anticipate was a direct threat to her safety when a face-to-face confrontation takes an unexpected turn. Someone doesn’t like Rebecca’s reporting of certain events and makes it clear he will be watching and wating for the chance to make her pay.
It’s a chilling opening to the story and places a constant threat over Rebecca for the whole story.
Personal threats don’t stop Rebecca from working and she finds herself investigating the imprisonment of James Stewart, convicted for killing his lover, the politician Murdo Maxwell. Maxwell’s body was found in a locked room in his home, Stewart was unconcious beside him with a bloody poker in his hand and it was clear to the police and prosecutors that Stewart killed Maxwell while under the influence of drugs – his sentencing was but a formality.
Ten years later there are now doubts over Stewart’s guilt. Banners have been erected which suggest there has been a miscarriage of justice – Stewart is innocent. Rebecca agrees to run a story which alerts readers to the possibility James Stewart did not murder Murdo Maxwell, she then finds herself in a lawyer’s office under the promise he can cast further light on the matter.
Rebecca is about to become caught up in a complicated drama which has its roots over a decade earlier. Long memories, rivalries and personal pride make people do unpredicable things and Rebecca is caught up in the mix. Oh and don’t forget…someone is out to get her.
If every book was as enjoyable as this I’d be a happy reader.
A Rattle of Bones is published by Polygon and is available now in paperback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08Q3M2L36/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0