This Scottish thriller is the first in the Rhona MacLeod series.
Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod visits a crime scene where a handsome young rentboy has been brutally killed. Afterwards she cannot just put the case aside:
“The boy who had been abused and strangled in that hideous little room looked so like her, he could have been her brother.”
Like many other ebooks, this one was not exactly perfectly edited, yet it was an exciting story about middle-aged men who prey on young boys, handsome and vulnerable teenagers who could have been their own sons.
Rhona and her assistant Christy both get far too involved in this case. Besides Rhona fears that her lover, the gentle Irish musician Sean is slipping away from her – or is it the other way round? No matter what, the tough Glasgow woman is an intriguing protagonist, and my attention was caught from the first page.
A dark and bleak mystery of the very best Scottish tradition, and in some ways it reminded me of Denise Mina´s Garnethill trilogy. I bought the ebook myself, and I am happy that I grabbed volume two and three as well. (Via Smashwords you can get them almost for free).
djskrimiblog 
I usually like books set in Scotland and a forensic protagonist — I’ll have to add this to my list.
Dorte – Thanks for the review. One thing I like about Smashwords and other E-book sites is that you can find new authors and series like this to enjoy without spending a lot of money.
Thank you Dorte for this review and for remind me I need to tackle soon Denise Mina´s Garnethill trilogy.
Almost free? Cool, I pick it up.
Dorte, Does rentboy mean what I think it means? I’m assuming a male prostitute. Meanwhile, I’m reminded that I wanted to read more Denise Mina. Hope you are feeling good being back in school.
Beth: yes, this one has several things to recommend it.
Margot: this new trend of selling your backlist for a modest sum is not bad at all 🙂
José: I think you will appreciate Garnethill.
Clarissa: no need to think twice.
Barbara: male prostitute is right. It is funny because I don´t always think about the fact that I read so many different Englishes, and that some of the new terms I learn are also new to some of you 🙂
So far, it has been great to be back. Students are never more enthusiastic than the first weeks after the long holiday.
Well, you clinched it for me with the comment about SmashWords. Will I ever get caught up on my reading?!? 😉
Kelly: sorry for tempting you again! – but at least I am sure I didn´t ruin you in the process this time 😀