Natural Causes

Tony McLean has just become a detective inspector in Edinburgh, when he is handed an unusual case.  A desiccated body has been found behind a bricked in wall. It would appear to be that of a young girl.  He and his DS, Bob Laird, aka Grumpy Bob, were on a robbery investigation when they were called away to the case.  The coroner, Dr. Cadwallader, suggests that the girl died somewhere between fifty and sixty years ago.

DC Stuart MacBride has been assigned to McLean's robbery investigation team and he immediately discovers similarities to previous robberies. Meantime Chief Superintendent McIntyre wants McLean to help DCI Duguid with an unusual murder case.  McLean can't help but feel if this particular investigation goes south, he becomes the patsy.  Fortunately the following day, Duguid tells him that the case has been solved.

McLean now focuses on the robbery investigation, but not for long as Duguid sends him out to another murder case.  However, that case is apparently solved the next morning when McLean shows up at the business partner of the victim to find him dead and a suicide note.  However, this doesn't sit well with McLean.

The bodies keep piling up, and one of them is the lawyer for McLean's grandmother who recently passed away.  Duguid wants to know why the lawyer had recently changed his will, leaving everything to McLean.  However, everything changes when an attempt is made on McLean's life.  Only for the sacrifice of a WPC did he make it out okay.

Author James Oswald has more deaths awaiting the reader plus several unusual twists before he reveals what is behind the deaths.  When I started to read this murder mystery, I wasn't sure whether it was something I was going to enjoy, however it wasn't long before the author had my attention.  A very good read, and I am looking forward to the sequels.