The Devil Stone- Blog Tour

 

Author: Caro Ramsay 

Publisher: Cannon Gate Books 

Publishing Date: 31st August 2023

Many thanks to the publishing team and Random Things Tour for my physical copy of the book and a spot on the tour

Blurb 

A macabre massacre of a wealthy family brings DCI Christine Caplan to the Highlands in her first thriller in a new series from master of Tartan Noir, Caro Ramsay 

In the village of Cronchie, a wealthy family are found brutally murdered. The Devil Stone, an heirloom rumoured to bring death if removed from their home, is the only thing stolen. The key suspects are known satanists. But when the investigating officer disappears, DCI Christine Caplan is pulled in to investigate.

Caplan knows she is being punished for a minor misdemeanour when she is seconded to the Highlands, but she’s confident she can quickly solve the murders and return home to her fractious family. But as she closes in on the truth, it is suddenly her life, not her career, that is in danger.

My Thoughts

My first read from the author and I was impressed and will check out their other books too. I knew this would be an interesting read but turned out to be more dark then I initially thought. 

When DCI Caplan has to take the work move she does so as begrudgingly. The break away may get her some time away from her from her own family. Her husband is unemployed and depressed and her 2 children one who is achieving well but stuck and another who has no interest. We do not get to find out loads about Caplan but we do get some insight to her home and those personally around her. Which makes me think this is a build up to her character 

The wealthy family in the book go by The McGregor family and all but one is murder. Which then sets the plot off, that is this all staged by young Adam the only surviving person in the family or is it a set up and Adam is also caught up in and needs finding. The two teenagers who are known satanists who find the family which also makes them suspects or are they are a red herring. So already the ball is rolling with different views and I found the story line to be very intricate so it provides enough detail to keep you going and all the little loose ties along the way come joining back. 

We get to meet a a variation of characters, some not all likeable and some really questionable. What Caplin thought would be a quick task has turned out to be rather large and potential puts her at risk. The death count also goes up and this is when Caplan looks closer to her new team for answers and finds more than what she bargained for. 

The chapters flowered really well and kept me interested and did not become complicated with police jargon. The first few chapters had be sucked in  and I was invested all the way to the last page!.