A Winter Grave: a chilling new mystery set in the Scottish highlands

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Most of this gripping, thought-provoking story is set in the near future, almost 30 years from the present, in the Highlands of Scotland. The three things I mentioned above were total surprises for me because I didn’t know this before I started reading and this added to my reading pleasure. It was 2051 and Detective Cameron Brodie was a veteran cop out of Glasgow, when a body was discovered deeply entombed in the ice high above the little village of Kinlochleven. Cameron Brodie, a Glasgow detective, sets out on a hazardous journey to the isolated and ice-bound village. As another storm closes off communications and the possibility of escape, Brodie must face up not only to the ghosts of his past, but to a killer determined to bury forever the chilling secret that George Younger's investigations had threatened to expose.

Winter Grave by Peter May | Hachette UK A Winter Grave by Peter May | Hachette UK

When the body of investigative journalist George Younger is discovered entombed in an ice tunnel in the Mamore Forest, veteran Glasgow detective Cameron Brodie volunteers to investigate. I was confused and found that I wasn’t enjoying this tale much at all - I was already considering giving up on it. Familiar landmarks, such as the Citizens’ Theatre and the Central Mosque lie decaying under several feet of water, and there is an epidemic of cockroaches.Also I never ended up caring for any of the characters, which made the book's powerful moments less impactful. There are some very good dynamics between the key characters especially Cameron and Addie with that situation being in constant flux.

A Winter Grave by Peter May | Waterstones

There are flashbacks to the present with climate change deniers and greedy industries where profits are placed ahead of the earth's health, and the population feels helpless midst scientific warnings. His backstory slowly emerges as he reveals it to his daughter and it is extremely poignant and heartfelt. She takes a selfie which captures her, the tunnel and, to her horror, a mans body entirely encased in the ice. Glasgow Police DI Cameron Brodie, fresh from failing to get murder conviction due to technical complications, rejects his DCI’s request to accompany the pathologist to perform a post mortem on Younger, and, noting his expertise in hill walking, examine the scene. Scotland has its independence and has made itself self sufficient in energy by building a nuclear power plant.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Winter Grave by Peter May for review. Melting ice sheets have resulted in Scotland being constantly hit by raging snow storms and thick ice.