There is very little to go on however, and most of those involved feel they are getting nowhere fast. I can’t give much more away without big spoilers, trust me, you’ll just have to read it for yourself. His vivid rendering of his characters’ appearances, bodily emissions and even eating habits mean this isn’t a novel to read over dinner. Stuart MacBride is one of my favourite authors and although not perfect, this story is up there with his best in my opinion. For the first two thirds of this book, I was in 5-star territory and then, for a while, it felt like I was on a roller-coaster and the plot went a little haywire.

No Less the Devil trailer – STUART MACBRIDE No Less the Devil trailer – STUART MACBRIDE

We are introduced to female protagonist Detective Sergeant Lucy McVeigh and her sidekick Dunk in this gritty Scottish Crime thriller. We at Penguin Random House Australia acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Custodians and the first storytellers of the lands on which we live and work.

I hope it may be the start of a series - there were certainly story lines there which could be followed up.

No Less the Devil proof copies are in – STUART MACBRIDE No Less the Devil proof copies are in – STUART MACBRIDE

However, the book is very long, it’s quite random at times and feels very disconnected, then chuck in a lot of characters, add in some very silly, juvenile dialogue that doesn’t match the very dark events then you begin to get the picture.Benedict Strachan, accused of murdering a homeless man when he was only eleven, has recently been released from prison and informs McVeigh someone is after him. It won't put me off reading another MacBride novel but I might handle any further books I pick up with a little more caution and some blue nitrile gloves! With the case going nowhere the investigating team are restructured and DS Lucy McVeigh and her partner DC Duncan "The Dunk" Fraser are given the task of reviewing the victims and the murder scenes in the hope that someone will remember something that will help them close a case that has ground to a halt after seventeen months. I did find that I got more accepting of the twist as I read on, but personally I’m not sure the added craziness and stretch of credibility was necessary as the novel was heading for a pretty thrilling ending without it.

No Less the Devil’ by Stuart MacBride Book Review: ‘No Less the Devil’ by Stuart MacBride

Not only has she got Professional Standards breathing down her neck but the family of a man she killed is harassing her. And to be fair, three quarters of this book featuring DS Lucy McVeigh and her hilarious sidekick DC Fraser aka The Dunk, was trademark MacBride excellence. I received a suprise copy of No Less the Devil by Stuart McBride from Penguin Books Australia and immediately my husband stole it and read it. There were times when I thought I was getting to grips with it and enjoying it to other times when I couldn’t wait to finish. Not just comedy relief, but a statement of where he fits into this cultural environment—-fiction based on reality.He has recently been released from prison after serving many years for the murder of a homeless man when he was eleven. Whilst it is definitely an unsettling direction for the book to take, I did find myself coming to terms with it as I read on. Then very abruptly, a totally unpredictable twist asks us to re-interpret everything we thought was happening. A serial killer, nicknamed the Bloodsmith, has been on the loose for seventeen months and McVeigh finds herself involved in the investigation.

No Less the Devil - Stuart MacBride - The Bookery No Less the Devil - Stuart MacBride - The Bookery

There's something about being handed a wadge of cash as you clamber off the minibus from the heliport, having spent the last two weeks offshore and the last two hours in an orange, rubber romper suit / body bag, then blowing most of it in the pubs and clubs of Aberdeen. NO LESS THE DEVIL is no exception to that but, take my word for it, it is EXCEPTIONAL in one other major way. We celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, traditions and living cultures; and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. I'd love to find out what happens next for Lucy but suspect this will unfortunately be a stand alone novel.It is made clear that MacVeigh has a traumatic past, she is suffering from PTSD, for which she is forced to see her no good therapist, we do eventually learn the details of the 'event', something she is not allowed to forget about, with Sarah Black hellbent on ensuring she continues to pay. One thing is for sure, once you get over the initial shock, it’s a wild ride, very original and definitely edgy, but will you applaud or jeer at the end? Despite all the obstacles, McVeigh and the Dunk are successful in unearthing new clues to the identity of "the Bloodsmith", including apparent links to the elite St.