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Douglas Lindsay

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The Unburied Dead: An Unmissable Scottish Crime Thriller (DS Thomas Hutton Crime Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Douglas Lindsay (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.0 3,981 ratings

Book 1 of 11: DS Thomas Hutton Crime Series

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THE FIRST HUTTON. CAPTIVATING. COMPULSIVE. CHILLING.

“I loved this book. It’s dark, grimly humorous, with twists, reversals and surprises that made me go “holy sh*t!” out loud, more than once…” Murderati

THE UNBURIED DEAD introduces Thomas Hutton, the coarse, melancholic, drink-fuelled, sex-addicted police sergeant Tartan Noir has been waiting for.

A killer stalks the streets of Glasgow, his attacks bestial in their ferocity. The police are lost, and soon, as the past begins to haunt them, they themselves become targets.

Step forward Detective Sergeant Hutton, adrift in a sea of love, lust, deception, alcohol, and murdered colleagues. And lost though he is, the dead will not rest, the past will not be buried, and Hutton must find the answers before the killer strikes again…

“Lindsay is an underrated writer with an eccentric, blisteringly satirical voice.” SUNDAY EXPRESS

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0717BCZYP
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Long Midnight Publishing (May 30, 2017)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 30, 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1610 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #318,479 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #600 in Lawyers & Criminals Humor
- #764 in Dark Humor
- #3,914 in Serial Killer Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
4.0 3,981 ratings

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Douglas Lindsay

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Scottish Field once described Douglas Lindsay as “a master of comic crime.” Readers should note this is because he writes comedy crime novels, not because he murders people while dressed as a clown.

He is the author of thirty-seven novels. His first book became Coen Brothers-esque film comedy, THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMSON, starring Robert Carlyle and Emma Thompson.

His series include:

• The DS Hutton & DI Buchan Glasgow crime novels

• Barney Thomson, nine comic novels and several novellas

• Detective Inspector Westphall – ‘Establishes Lindsay as someone deserving to be spoken of as a master.’ Shots Magazine

He lives in Somerset, England

Find out more at www.douglaslindsay.com and listen to the podcast at coldseptember.podbean.com. The podcast, COLD SEPTEMBER, is also available on Apple, Amazon and Spotify.

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4 out of 5

3,981 global ratings

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James B.

Hard Boiled, Dark, and Darkly Humorous Scottish Police Procedural

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2021

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This whole series is outstanding, and every time I finish a book, I’m delighted to find another waiting. This is a relatively hard boiled police procedural, and there is a lot of swearing and a bit of graphic sex, perhaps more than a bit, so if those things will bother you, look elsewhere. Think of John Rebus, but darker, though not without considerable humor (and the sex), and some Bob Dylan added to the mix, and you have at least a glimpse of what Detective Sergeant Hutton has to offer. He is a deeply haunted man, and we don’t know much about why (that comes in the next volume), but he self-medicates with alcohol and sex, having left three marriages in his wake. However, Hutton is also a capable detective, as his immediate superior, Taylor, another Dylan fan. They fight against the bureaucracy and corruption of the higher ranks of Police Scotland while working their patch of Glasgow. The book zips along with good writing and suspense. Not everything is resolved, as in life, but most lines of enquiry are put to rest. Highly recommended with the caveats mentioned.

3 people found this helpful

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MME, Texas reader

Glasgow in the winter: cold, gray, wet, and murderous.....

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2012

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It's three days before Christmas and a young woman, on her way home from the cinema, is brutally murdered and mutilated. Glasgow's jaded and cynical Detective Sergeant Thomas Hutton and his dysfunctional department get the case. Like many of his colleagues, Hutton drinks too much, is divorced, lonely, weary, and wonders why he ever joined the police. In addition, he suffers post traumatic stress from his service in the Balkans. Soon--while juggling an ex-wife, an unexpected infatuation, lack of sleep, and the paperwork on his desk--Hutton finds himself hearing confessions, keeping secrets from his superiors, and investigating a former colleague who has gone missing. Then another murder happens and another--this time close to home--and the case becomes personal in ways Hutton doesn't even want to consider, and makes him question everyone and every thing he thinks he knows.

More than a police procedural, The Unburied Dead is a searing, darkly humorous portrayal of the men and women whose job each day is to solve petty, domestic, and horrific crimes on Glasgow's mean streets, and of what the job does to them. Hutton's first person narrative is blunt and derisive, revealing his self-hatred as well as a general disdain for the human condition. The dialogue, particularly between detectives, sounds true: a blend of complaints, insults, Scottish cant, and mundane conversation about the difference between James Bond films and books, and the quality of fast food. Author Lindsay puts language in the mouths of his characters that is realistic and often harsh, the way real people in stressful jobs really talk--both about themselves and the public they serve. The majority of the narrative is Hutton in first person, which gives us an immediate and intimate insight into his character and thinking. But we also see the killer's third person point of view in chapters that are chilling and sad. Lindsay does a nice job of building and holding suspense, with enough twists and turns and mistaken witness accounts, one from Hutton himself, that keeps the reader guessing. The only negative is the ending and the exposure of the villain, which, after the buildup, I found somewhat disappointing. Otherwise, this is a very well written, tough and gritty, dark but funny police mystery/thriller with a deeply flawed yet sympathetic main character and narrator. The Unburied Dead is the first in an apparent series featuring the hapless DS Hutton and I look forward with great anticipation to the next one. Highly recommended.

10 people found this helpful

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Gigi

Somewhat disappointing

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013

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The author did a very good job of defining the protagonist' s character. He's a very complex, and to some degree, troubled man. I'll be interested in seeing how he's developed in future stories.

Even so, I really wasn't sure what direction the author was trying to take. His depictions of this story's police personnel leaves you with the impression that they're all inept, with much of the story focusing on this. At times the writing became heavily pornographic.

Definitely not what you expect from a book described as "police procedural".

One person found this helpful

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Mr.Bill

An Enjoyable Read, Very Entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2021

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I think the internal dialogue that is an ongoing conversation with DS Hutton is genius. At the most unexpected moments, we actually know what he's thinking. No matter how dangerous or serious the situation Hutton's dialogue made me chuckle. I found the book to be a solid crime thriller with likeable characters and look forward to reading the next book.

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ChronOhio

I've become infatuated

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2013

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"The Unburied Dead" is the third of Douglas Lindsay's writings that I've read in the last few months. While it is not the best -- I'd give that to "We Are the Hanged Man" -- it is very close. The plot is quite interesting, with dozens of red herrings cluttering the landscape. But the best part, for me, is the sense of place and personality that comes through in Lindsay's writing. His own voice does not overpower his attempts to convey character; each person is distinct. I have a friend who has written probably 35 novels, of which I've read four or five. And despite his efforts to define his characters -- protagonists as varied as a farm wife and a Chicago cop -- they all end up sounding the same. Not so with Lindsay, who can clearly differentiate among a Galwegian detective and a London detective. And that's one of the major requirements of good writing: characters who are distinct and memorable. The reason this review is four stars and not five is that the ending is a little too intent on tying up loose ends.

6 people found this helpful

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Julie Campbell

Dark and funny and brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2013

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Dirty cops circling the drain on one hand, a serial killer on the other, DS Thomas Hutton and his fellow coppers in Hull have their hands full. Lindsay writes fleshed out, believable characters and a storyline that never slows down. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Please do not give weight to reviewers who give it only one star because it's not the zombie novel they thought it was going to be (this is the author's fault, why?), or the one who apparently is looking for a serial killer story that doesn't have any ugly bits.

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Top reviews from other countries

D'arce Bunn

Fantastic Fast Paced Police Procedural

Reviewed in Canada on October 29, 2020

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Violent, sarcastic, humorous and realistic! Characters are more than believable and the fast pace never slows. A thoroughly enjoyable jaunt amidst Scottish crime!

ozzieinfrance

Christmas will never be the same

Reviewed in France on February 8, 2021

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Dark comedy, human pathos, the cynicism of police corruption and ineptitude all mingle together with the obsessions of a psychotic serial killer. Set in cold, grey Glasgow during a tumultuous Christmas-New Year week. Perhaps a little too dark, blood-soaked and painful for some but a page-turner with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on his toes.

Lindylou

Brilliant

Reviewed in Spain on October 8, 2014

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A well written book and the story draws the reader into it. Makes you feel a part of it all
Well done Douglas and I look forward to the next DS Thomas Hutton book

K. Nixon

Cracking noir

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2014

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A woman's body is found, she's been brutally murdered, stabbed over a hundred times. DCI Bloonsbury, once a superstar detective but now a washed up alcoholic, takes charge of the case. As more bodies appear Bloonsbury's faded abilities become a liability and DS Thomas Hutton is in the thick of it, he has theories of his own. But there's a problem, it seems the killer is closer to home than anyone wants to believe and there's a whiff of corruption...

I thoroughly enjoyed The Unburied Dead, Lindsay doesn't mess around with the story, he just gets right into it from the outset and then drives at a heady pace where events whip past the reader. The narrative is clipped, often using the bare minimum of words.

At the outset the reader meets Hutton, a man whose difficult past overlaps and complicates his present. He's a copper, not the brightest, but tenacious and ultimately wants to get to the truth, regardless of cost. His personal life is all over the place, several divorces behind him, along with a multitude of one night stands and affairs. Hutton joined up because of Bloonsbury, but the guy is a disappointment these days, and spends most of his time drunk.

The Unburied Dead is mainly written in first person (Hutton), present tense which helps keep up the pace. Periodically the author also drops in short chapters in third person where we're in the mind of the deranged killer. Again it works well and adds an extra layer. The story is set up to and over Christmas, but the season of goodwill doesn't extend to the investigating team and the victims, it's a nice offset.

The characters are excellent, the vast majority of which are police. Almost to a person they have their problems, quirks and behaviours. Besides Hutton and Bloonsbury there's DI Taylor, a good detective but another with a messy life - the job has destroyed his marriage. Then Superintendent Miller, an attractive woman who seems to sleep with everyone (including Hutton, whilst his wife is trying to rekindle their relationship) and Crow, an ex-copper who now lives in his own detritus, among others.

One aspect I really enjoyed was the way the author utilised the characters. Although there is brevity in the tale Lindsay shows interactions between the players, how and why they live their lives with wry observations of life thrown in. One example is a night out where everyone gets drunk, a constable in particular who dances in an increasing state of undress and then isn't allowed to forget it.

An excellent, well written story that will appeal to readers of gritty, down to earth crime / noir.

**Originally reviewed for Books and Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**

6 people found this helpful

GJFree

Disappointing

Reviewed in Germany on February 15, 2014

Verified Purchase

The concept is good, DS Hutton is a well-developed character and likeable character.
Some of the other characters are not, unfortunately. I could quess who the killer was fairly early. Not a riviting read, despite being fairly short I had to make an effort to finish. My consolation - it was free on Kindle.
.
Several reviewers on the UK site mentioned that s/he was put off by profanity and grapic acts (sexual), I didn't find
the language or the sexual encounters were written in a way that could be described as prurient - some readers are very delicate !

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The Unburied Dead: An Unmissable Scottish Crime Thriller (DS Thomas Hutton Crime Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

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Douglas Lindsay

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