The Rest Is Death cover art

The Rest Is Death

Inspector McLean, Book 14

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The Rest Is Death

By: James Oswald
Narrated by: Ian Hanmore
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About this listen

 The gripping new thriller in the Sunday Times-bestselling phenomenon that is the Inspector McLean series, from one of Scotland's most celebrated crime writers

A macabre ancient secret. An innovative biotech company connected to the highest levels of government. And the trail of bloodshed in its wake.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony McLean is called to investigate a break-in at Drake BioTech, a trendsetting Edinburgh start-up. It's well below McLean's pay grade, but given the extensive political connections of its eccentric owner Nathaniel Drake, he doesn't have a choice. Even if nothing appears to have been stolen.

A missing person case turns complicated for DI Janie Harrison when a body is found half-buried in woods outside the city. The missing man shows no signs of trauma, the cause of his death a mystery. But when another man - linked to the break-in - is discovered dead in similarly mysterious circumstances, the police suspect there may be some connection between the two.

McLean is convinced the answer lies with the strange ancient artefact clutched in the second dead man's hands. But when the two bodies are stolen from the mortuary, and the artefact goes missing from evidence, the race is on to prevent yet more death.


Praise for James Oswald:

'The new Ian Rankin' Daily Record

'Creepy, gritty and gruesome' Sunday Mirror

'Crime fiction's next big thing' Sunday Telegraph©2025 James Oswald Crime Thrillers Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scotland Exciting Scary
All stars
Most relevant
I love each instalment of this wonderful series and this is one of the best. Brilliant characters and excellent narration.

Fantastic

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I have listened to every James Oswald McLean book and I love them all-the narrator is perfect, the plots are intriguing and the mixture between magic and police work is unique and compelling. The main characters are likeable and you want to root for them, as are the cats!

Never disappoints-a great alternative mystery

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As excellent as ever, I love these books. It's an excellent series, with fantastic characters and interesting stories.

Excellent

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I read this book once, then decided to start at Number wand re read the whole series. It was worth it. Brilliant author and reader though poor Richie’s’ eyebrows, or lack of, get fat too many mentions; more books please?!

Brilliant!

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Great story and narrator. But oh dear, Angus King, let himself down as tartan noir's most popular narrator. Even as a non Scot, non gaelic speaker, I know that Somerled is pronounced Sorley. Minor I know, but irritating when it gets repeated.

Nobody checks pronunciation?

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