X-Book

The Violent Hour

Inspector McLean (Book 15)

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Added to cart

Continue shopping or head to checkout

View cart
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'A thrilling page turner . . . The Violent Hour is James Oswald at the height of his powers'
IMRAN MAHMOOD

'A fast-paced procedural with plenty of surprises - while this might have been my first Tony McLean outing, it certainly won't be my last'
TARIQ ASHKANANI

'Written with real skill and heart . . . a propulsive and gripping read from start to finish'
DOUG JOHNSTONE

'Gripping and sharply observed . . . a real page-turner!'
CHARLOTTE ESSEX

'Gruesome and gripping . . . The Violent Hour is another standout'
ROBBIE MORRISON

'James Oswald at his finest, his darkest, his most inventive'
R. D. McLEAN

'Do yourself a favour and read James Oswald's series. I can almost guarantee you won't stop at one' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
READER REVIEW

'The Violent Hour should be on everyone's TBR' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
READER REVIEW

'Another "must-read" from James Oswald' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
READER REVIEW

________


Festival season. The streets are filled to bursting with tourists, and Edinburgh is gripped by a stifling heatwave. Not the best time for one of the most violent murders the city has witnessed in years.

The victim of the murder cannot be identified; its brutal nature of the shocking both the public and the police. What could possibly have inflicted such gruesome injuries? Was it a wild animal on the loose, or the beginning of some horrific gang warfare?

Another body is found on Musselburgh Beach: naked, comatose . . . but this time still alive. DI Tony McLean can't shake the feeling that there is a connection to the killing - but there are few leads for him and the team to go by.

The police are at a loss, and the city is on edge - will the killer strike again?

Praise for James Oswald:

'The new Ian Rankin' Daily Record

'Creepy, gritty and gruesome' Sunday Mirror

'Oswald's writing is in a class above most' Daily Express

Critics Review

A fast-paced procedural with plenty of surprises - while this might have been my first Tony McLean outing, it certainly won't be my last.
Tariq Ashkanani, author of THE MIDNIGHT KING
The Violent Hour is James Oswald at the height of his powers. A thrilling page turner with plenty of mystery but also with a healthy dose of gore. Another very welcome outing for Tony McLean. James just gets better and better - despite the new Alfa . . . ! I've always been a huge fan of his writing (and the writer himself). One of very few crime novelists who really understands the genre. He writes with intelligence and beauty. Every page is a delight and an experience. You always learn something new. I've learned about Beserkers!!
Imran Mahmood, author of YOU DON'T KNOW ME
Written with real skill and heart, The Violent Hour is a propulsive and gripping read from start to finish.
Doug Johnstone, author of THE SPACE BETWEEN US
A gripping and sharply observed police procedural combined with something much darker at play. There is a thrilling climax where the personal stakes for Inspector McLean couldn't be higher. Oswald writes with his usual wit and the fast-paced plot means this is a real page-turner!
Charlotte Essex, co-producer of KILLING EVE and author of ALL SHE BURNS
James Oswald has carved out his own unique space in the crime fiction landscape, crafting powerful police procedurals often tinged with supernatural overtones. The Violent Hour is another standout. Gruesome and gripping with just the right amount of gallows humour, and characters whose humanity shines through in the face of the almost inhuman threats they face.
Robbie Morrison, author of EDGE OF THE GRAVE
James Oswald at his finest, his darkest, his most inventive . . . the beautiful tension between the down-to-earth realities of McLean and his squad's investigative techniques and the possibly fantastical nature of the crimes they investigate has always been a highlight, but here it's deployed to powerful effect as McLean slowly realises that what looks like an especially violent assault may in fact be related to ancient Viking curses and legends. That Oswald can balance these two halves of his unique take on genre and keep the readers' belief suspended perfectly is a testament to his skill and his ability. He approaches crime like no one else in the genre, and has gone from a promising and unusual voice to a must-read veteran whose books I will recommend to readers everywhere.

And while McLean himself is a superb series lead, his supporting cast continue to grow and pull on our emotions - Madame Rose and Mrs McCutcheon's Cat (may our favourite feline live forever) may be the most dependable and recognisable, but seeing Janie Harrison and other officers truly step forward in the last few books has shown that these books are about more than our hero; they're about a team of characters we care about in such a way that we - like McLean, even if he might grumble about admitting it - have to come to think of as fast friends.
R. D. McLean, author of THE FRIDAY GIRL
Creepy, gritty and gruesome
Sunday Mirror
Oswald's writing is in a class above most
Daily Express
James Oswald is one of this country's consistently superior crime writers
MICHAEL WOOD, author of DCI Matilda Darke series
Author James Oswald
Narrator Ian Hanmore
Series Inspector McLean, The Inspector McLean Series
Duration 10 hours
Release Date
ISBN 9781472298973
Format Audiobook
Publisher Headline
Genre Crime and mystery fiction, Crime and mystery: cosy mystery, Thriller / suspense fiction
Availability AU, GB, IE

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.