The Hangman’s Song: A Detective Inspector McLean Novel

A rash of suicides usually isn’t cause for alarm, but Det. Insp. Tony McLean becomes sure the hangings are linked in Oswald’s chilling third installment of his Edinburgh-based series. McLean, who’s primarily occupied with the slow recovery of his girlfriend, crime scene photographer Emma Baird, who nearly died at the hands of a serial killer in 2014’s The Book of Souls, doesn’t immediately see a connection between the deaths. The victims don’t seem to know each other or be connected in even a tangential manner, leading McLean’s superiors—who already dislike the DI for his refusal to play along with office politics—to conclude that there’s no need for a homicide investigation. At home, Emma wakes up from a coma with no memory of him, their relationship, or even her professional career. Oswald juggles the multiple story lines with ease, and McLean is a reluctant, empathetic hero who refuses to quit until he’s solved the case. Agent: Marc Gerald, Agency Group. (Jan.)