Review of The Devil Stone by Caro Ramsey

Today is our stop on the blog tour for The Devil Stone by Caro Ramsay. 

Welcome to the world of DCI  Christine Caplan, a very competent police officer  who has her own troubles. Recently demoted and with home life concerns, she is sent to a small village, Cronchie, in the Highlands of Scotland to strengthen an investigation into the horrific murder of the local landowner`s wealthy family in what seems to be a satanic ritual. Of all the valuables in the mansion, only the Devil Stone is missing, as is the youngest son, Adam. This stone is believed to be the lode of the McGregor`s considerable wealth and power – legend has it that it bleeds.

Christine thinks that this will be a simple case as two ne`er-do–wells, Bainsy and Scott Frew, known thieves and Satanists, are arrested for the crime – that is, until the chief investigating officer, DCI Oswald, disappears on the night the murders are discovered. He is later discovered drowned in his vehicle in the nearby loch. The remaining team are now to be led by Christine.

 As the case progresses it appears that there is far more to be discovered linking Cronchie and the small offshore island run as a self-contained retreat by a man called Allenach, known as The Magus. 

Is this idyllic self-sustaining and beautiful island the haven for murkier things? Events turn darker and more dangerous when there are attempts on Christine`s life and the lives of her family back home. Is it possible that there are those who badly need her out of the way because she is getting too close to some sort of truth as two deaths, one connected with this case and one she was involved with as a witness in Glasgow are caused by a new form of recreational drug called Snap? Where does the Devil Stone fit in?

I would thoroughly recommend this book as a compelling read. It`s lowering atmosphere and hidden twists keep the reader mesmerised. More of DCI Christine Caplan please, Caro Ramsay!!

Thank you to Random Things Tours for including us. Check out the banner below to follow the other stops on the tour.

About the Author

Caro Ramsay is the Glaswegian author of the critically acclaimed Anderson and Costello series, the first of which, Absolution, was shortlisted for the CWA's New Blood Dagger for best debut of the year. The ninth book in the series, The Suffering of Strangers, was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2018.