Blood of Crows by Caro Ramsay

This is now the fourth of Caro Ramsay’s series following DI Colin Anderson and his colleagues, most prominently DS Costello, whose first name isn’t often used (because it, and her middle name, are odd and dated). This series has hit its stride – the characters, and the realisation of their world is very well handled by this point. The plot kicks off with various unsettling incidents, such as a ten year old girl getting killed in such a way that she dies in DI Anderson’s arms – it’s chilling and effective from the start.

The plot then gradually shows how much of the seemingly random crimes across the city may be connected, and may even have a relationship to old Glasgow crime. But it also introduces new crime, in the form of Russian gangsters – the title refers to the tattoos of crows that they sport – so there’s a culture clash element as well. This is a lengthy book, but quite engrossing as various tensions and shocks play out, and the various plotlines start to come together satisfyingly. This being a modern crime novel though, the ending isn’t neat and tidy – it’s the trendy sort of moral conundrum. Worth your time. [Ryan Agee]