The Violent Hour

Hardback Published on: 02/07/2026
Price: £20.00
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Synopsis

'A thrilling page turner . . . The Violent Hour is James Oswald at the height of his powers'
IMRAN MAHMOOD

'A fast-paced procedural with plenty of surprises - while this might have been my first Tony McLean outing, it certainly won't be my last'
TARIQ ASHKANANI

'Written with real skill and heart . . . a propulsive and gripping read from start to finish'
DOUG JOHNSTONE

'Gripping and sharply observed . . . a real page-turner!'
CHARLOTTE ESSEX

'Gruesome and gripping . . . The Violent Hour is another standout'
ROBBIE MORRISON

'James Oswald at his finest, his darkest, his most inventive'
R. D. McLEAN

'Do yourself a favour and read James Oswald's series. I can almost guarantee you won't stop at one' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
READER REVIEW

'The Violent Hour should be on everyone's TBR' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
READER REVIEW

'Another "must-read" from James Oswald' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
READER REVIEW

________

Festival season. The streets are filled to bursting with tourists, and Edinburgh is gripped by a stifling heatwave. Not the best time for one of the most violent murders the city has witnessed in years.

The victim of the murder cannot be identified; its brutal nature of the shocking both the public and the police. What could possibly have inflicted such gruesome injuries? Was it a wild animal on the loose, or the beginning of some horrific gang warfare?

Another body is found on Musselburgh Beach: naked, comatose . . . but this time still alive. DI Tony McLean can't shake the feeling that there is a connection to the killing - but there are few leads for him and the team to go by.

The police are at a loss, and the city is on edge - will the killer strike again?

Praise for James Oswald:

'The new Ian Rankin' Daily Record

'Creepy, gritty and gruesome' Sunday Mirror

'Oswald's writing is in a class above most' Daily Express

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
  • ISBN: 9781472298935
  • Number of pages: 384
  • Dimensions: 238 x 154 x 34 mm
  • Weight: 600g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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The Violent Hour
An Exciting Thriller
The Violent Hour is a dark atmospheric story in the Inspector McLean series , it is both a police procedural and also there is a supernatural element which... READ MORE
Chrissie Mortimer
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Violent Hour
Mythology meets modern traffickers
Thanks to James and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Violent Hour prior to the publication date. This quirky tale is intriguing as the tension exist... READ MORE
LoraineG
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Violent Hour
A brilliant edition to the series
A badly mutilated body is discovered, limbs appeared to have been ripped from the victim in this unimaginable crime. Detective Inspector Jane Harrison is t... READ MORE
Rob
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Violent Hour
Brilliant storytelling
Book 15 in the DCI Tony McLean series from James Oswald and as a devoted fan I can confirm they just keep getting better and better. The Violent Hour has e... READ MORE
Psychoticpat
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Violent Hour
Another brilliant read by the author.
The DI Tony Mc Lean series is one of the best in the Scottish crime fiction series. There is a touch of the supernatural in this latest adventure with Mc L... READ MORE
Martha Brindley
The Violent Hour
A gripping police procedural
The Violent Hour is the fifteenth book in the Inspector Tony McLean series and James Oswald once again demonstrates why this series is so popular. He blend... READ MORE
Mary Picken
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Violent Hour
My First But Not My Last!
The Violent Hour is the first book which I have ever read from James Oswald, and the 15th in the DI. Tony McLean series. But after really liking this, ten... READ MORE
Leeanne. W
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.