Now We Are Dead

Detective Sergeant Roberta Steel returns in this standalone spinoff from Stuart MacBride's Logan McRae series. Recently demoted for planting evidence, Steel now works shoplifting cases in Aberdeen while privately pursuing Jack Wallace, a suspected rapist who was freed due to her misconduct. Working alongside Detective Constable 'Tufty' Quirrel, Steel maintains her conviction about Wallace's guilt even as she handles her new position's mundane duties. The narrative follows her determined efforts to prove Wallace's involvement in a series of assaults, despite her damaged credibility and limited resources. The book draws unexpected inspiration from A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, incorporating playful references while maintaining its crime thriller core. This connection creates an intriguing contrast between the dark subject matter and lighter moments shared between Steel and Tufty. The story explores themes of justice, redemption, and the sometimes blurry line between right and wrong in law enforcement. MacBride examines how far an officer might go to catch a criminal, and what happens when proper procedure collides with moral certainty.

Readers highlight Detective Roberta Steel's dark humor and complex character development throughout this spin-off novel. The book maintains MacBride's signature gritty Aberdeen atmosphere while exploring a different perspective from his Logan McRae series. Liked: - Steel's fierce determination and unapologetic personality - Balance of serious crime plot with comedic moments - Detailed police procedural elements - Strong supporting characters Disliked: - Pacing drags in middle sections - Some readers found Steel too abrasive as protagonist - Plot threads occasionally feel disconnected - Graphic content and language too intense for some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Common reader comments note the book works better for those familiar with the Logan McRae series. Several reviews mention the authentic portrayal of police work, with one reader stating "MacBride captures the mundane and dramatic aspects of investigations with equal skill."

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🔍 The character of Detective Sergeant Roberta Steel first appeared in MacBride's Logan McRae series before getting her own standalone novel 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The book is set in Aberdeen, Scotland, nicknamed "The Granite City" due to its distinctive architecture built from local grey granite 📚 The A.A. Milne references throughout the book create an unusual juxtaposition between children's literature and crime fiction - a technique rarely seen in the genre 🎭 Stuart MacBride is known for balancing dark crime elements with humor, earning him the nickname "Tartan Noir" author - a term for Scottish crime fiction that blends hardboiled detective stories with local culture 🏆 The author won the Crime Writers' Association's Dagger in the Library Award for his body of work, which includes this book and the popular Logan McRae series