Mark of the Devil

Having read the previous books in this series I was very much looking forward to Mark Of The Devil, and I was not disappointed. DI Jim Carruthers is an interesting creation with a good back-story, and Tana Collins writes convincingly about Jim and his colleagues and about the Scottish setting. When a body is found on a beach, Carruthers becomes involved in a multi-faceted case involving art theft and sex trafficking, and he ends up travelling to Estonia! This is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to further instalments.

Mark of The Devil is the 3rd in the Jim Carruthers series, but it is the first that I have read. It can easily be read as a standalone and I didn't feel that I has missed out on anything by not reading books one and two.

What a hook to kick off the novel. The discovery of a woman's body at the bottom of the cliffs; slabs of raw meat placed along the top. Add to the mix the theft of some extremely valuable paintings and you might be forgiven for thinking how the hell is the author going to tie all this together?

But tie them together she did, right into a neatly packaged, action packed and heart racing 280 pages of brilliance! Part police procedural, part thriller "Mark of the Devil" contains it all from Brexit to people trafficking taking the reader on a journey from a not so very quiet village in Fife to Estonia. It just never let up from the start to finish!

DI Jim Carruthers is the protagonist of the series; he clearly has some baggage from his wife leaving him and his demotion from DSI. In some respects he struck me as slightly old-fashioned in his manner while at the same time there is definitely a little bit of the maverick about him! He is certainly a very observant man, noticing things like a colleagues haircut to the clothes they were wearing. I couldn't work out if this was endearing or irritating but I certainly enjoyed getting inside of his head!

The rest of the police team,  strong-willed DS Andrea Fletcher and DS Gayle Watson alongside the slightly slothlike and traditionalist DS Harris made for an interesting combination. There is obviously a bit of a back story to this trio and while I didn't need to know it all for this book it certainly piqued my interest and made me want to find out more! Carruthers' relationship with his superior, Bingham was also explored and it became clear that there have been some difficulties along the way with this partnership and I certainly ended up with a slightly different view of Bingham than I started with by the time I finished the book.

A fast paced, cleverly plotted novel with enough action and police work to keep the armchair detectives amongst us happy. A great sense of place, especially the references to the Viru Hotel in Tallinn in Estonia, giving no spoilers away but I was straight onto Mr Google to check for accuracy and what a fascinating story which gave the novel that added extra edge!

I'm ashamed to say that as a huge Scottish Crime Fiction fan this series has been missed off my radar but now that I've discovered Tana Collins I shall certainly be making sure that I follow her work!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of Mark of the Devil, the third police procedural to feature DI Jim Carruthers , set in the Kingdom of Fife.

Jim and his team are not getting anywhere fast with a series of art thefts when an anonymous call tells them there is a dead body at the foot of the local cliffs. Murder, suicide or accident? Even the pathologist isn't sure but everyone is sure it throws up more questions than answers.

I enjoyed Mark of the Devil which is the first novel in this series that I have read. It is suspenseful and widens out from a "simple" investigation into something much wider involving Eastern European criminal gangs and people trafficking. It is well plotted and paced with several twists and turns, some more obvious than others although it does depend on anonymous calls on a couple of occasions for momentum. The Estonian scenes seem a bit muddled and could be clearer but with Jim feeling out of his depth I guess they reflect that well.

Jim Carruthers is an interesting protagonist. He is obviously smart and motivated but seems rather detached and I didn't get a good feel for him so perhaps I should have started at the beginning of the series. Otherwise the book works well as a stand alone. The other characters are not particularly well defined either but in a plot driven novel like this it doesn't matter and the plot is good enough in this case to sustain it.

Mark of the Devil is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending. 3.5*

The first book by Tana Collins that I have read but she is on my radar now and will certainly read others.
A body is discovered on a beach, did she jump or was she pushed ? What starts as a simple investigation into the death of a young woman soon turns into an investigation involving Eastern European criminal gangs and people trafficking.
Sadly for me the characterisation seemed to be a little lacking and I didn't engage with DI Jim Carruthers at all. Perhaps if I had read the previous books it would have helped. Saying that the plot is fast paced and there is enough action to keep you reading. Overall a good read.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for the eARC.
This third in the D. I. Jim Carruthers series was a great read. I particularly enjoyed his trip to Estonia, a country I knew very little about. After this book and Google I now know a heck of a lot more and would love to visit.
As if the theft of valuable paintings in and around Fife isn't enough to keep the team busy, the body of a young woman is found on the beach ... whether or not she was pushed or committed suicide is still a mystery. A peculiar tattoo on her ankle proves to be the 'brand' of a vicious gangster from Estonia, so it's assumed she may have been one of his prostitutes. She was also pregnant. Near her were pieces of poisoned meat, probably placed there to kill birds of prey.
The meat leads them to question the owner of a large shooting estate, Barry Cuthbert. Caruthers has the feeling all three cases are linked and after sneaking onto the estate during a party, sees a helicopter landing with the likely gangster and a group of scantily clad girls, confirming his suspicions.
After contacting the Estonian Police in Tallinn, he ends up flying there to try to bring an end to the group of the Estonian Mafia. They're a huge problem in Estonia and now they are obviously making inroads into Scotland, smuggling girls, drugs and most probably also stealing art.
His time in Talinn is very exciting and interesting, making for a good ending and a nice setup for the next in the series. I'm looking forward to that and excited to have found another Scottish author to add to my list of favourite.

This is the third book in the Inspector Jim Carruthers series. but thte first for me. However, it was easy for me to get to know his character and also his sergeant Andie Fletcher.
Caruthers is investigating art thefts in his area, when a body is discovered appearing to have fallen off a cliff. Was it suicide or murder? There seems to be a link between the dead woman, organised crime from Eastern Europe, people trafficking, sex workers, and mysterious disappearance or killing of anybody who comes too close to the truth. It had everything for me, and I've already bought books one and two, because I am hooked.

This series just keeps getting better and better. I absolutely loved this fast paced read.

DI Jim Carruthers and the team are investigating a series of art thefts when they receive the tip off that a woman's body is on the beach. They also find some suspicious items on the cliff above and an unusual tattoo on her body.

Local estate owner would like Jim to believe he knows nothing but gut instinct makes Jim think he's up to his neck in everything that's going on. One of his young gamekeepers is pulled dead from the sea - what did he know and why would it have cost him his life? There are links to Estonia, people trafficking and Eastern European gangs. Are the cases connected and if so, where's the connection? Fast paced and an enjoyable read which I'd recommend (when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it which is always a sign of a good read). I also liked how the main characters are developing - we are learning more about them and the people they are.

This is my first book by Tana Collins and the Det Carruthers series, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mark of the Devil and the twists and turns, it had it all theft, murder, prostitution, smuggling, corrupt police, cross borders to solve the case, if you love a good thriller of whodunit, this is the one for you. Thank you to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to preview in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mark of the Devil is the third book in the Inspector Jim Caruthers. I wouldn't say it was essential to have read the first two in the series but some readers may benefit from having read them.

The story had me gripped from the off. You can't beat a discovery of a body to have you racing through those pages which is exactly what the author had me do. The whole setting as always just captures your imagination and the story very much came a live in my head.

Jim reminds me a bit of Taggart. He's a bit of a stickler and prefers his own company. He certainly comes across at times as being a grumpy old Scotsman. A very loveable one as the reader can't help but take him into their heart.

The story line certainly takes some twists and turns as I would never have envisioned what was in store for me from the beginning of the book. The case that Jim and the team find themselves working on certainly runs a lot deeper and sent shivers down my spine. 

Mark Of The Devil is yet another great read in the series. Dark, chilling and had me enthralled through out. If you haven't read any of these books yet, would highly recommend giving them a go.

Mark of the Devil by Tana Collins
Inspector Jim Carruthers #3

Jim Carruthers was an interesting man to get a glimpse of. He is a leader but he is also a man who is independent in his thinking and actions and as part of a police team that does not always sit well with his boss. The descriptions of his team make me think they work well together with a few much more on the ball than others. I think I like Jim but at times he seems a bit less astute than he should be and that can cause him trouble of one sort or another. With murders, art theft, prostitutes, human trafficking, Russian-Estonian mafia and more to contend with this book took me on a rollercoaster ride. When the trip to Estonia took place I did wonder if that was realistic but even if it wasn’t it added a fillip of additional interest and information that made the story that little bit “more”. I enjoyed reading about Scotland and Estonia and would like to get to know Jim and his team better. I am actually wondering how the new DCI and Jim will get along and how his chief will grow as the series progresses.

If you are looking for a police procedural with mystery, murder and interesting happenings then this just might be the book for you. I can honestly say that coming into the series on the third book was not a problem as the story stands quite well on its own. That said, given a chance I would gladly read the previous books in the series to find out more about why Jim was demoted and what his other cases were.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

Happy publication day! What a brilliant series, I have been lucky enough to read all the books so far and they just get better and better. This is the best one yet! Loved it.

Mark of the Devil is book three in the Inspector Jim Carruthers series and is best read in order as it does makes references to previous books in the series. 3 different cases to solve… But do they all link together? Will Carruthers solve them all in time.

A very fast paced read. It was lovely to be back with the familiar characters and team. I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to the next book already. A perfect series I would recommend to you all. Well written with a clever plot! Addictive. Can easily be devoured in one sitting. Another well deserved five stars.

Ohmygoodnessme this book made me tired! Why? Because I was on tenterhooks all the way through, feeling as though I was hanging from a rollercoaster ride upside down! 'Mark of the Devil' is full to the brim with excitement, grit, intensity, as well as a graveyard full of death. 

A young woman with an outlandish tattoo was found dead. No identification with her. Half of a missing face thanks to the local wildlife. And that tattoo. A lot of people have tattoo's so why was that one any different? Someone must know what it means, right?

Carruthers now has to get to the bottom of an unexplained death, as well as trying to find the art thief. Are they both linked? Carruthers is determined to find out, even if that means travelling outside of his comfort zone. Literally.

It's not often I say this, but, I could read 'Mark of the Devil' over and over again, and still find something new to be shocked about. With such a complex storyline taking the lead in this book, Tana Collins ensured that her characters weren't going to be hiding in the background by making their personalities extremely colourful so that they were on par with the strong storyline. Even though I had a couple of the characters cards marked early on, I still couldn't put all of my eggs in one basket and say that they were involved for definite - there was a lot more to this book than someone pinching some art and a woman losing her life, that's for sure!

I must admit that Carruthers' boss made me frown on more than one occasion. I couldn't quite work out why a big boss in a police station, refused to keep his eyes and ears open and listen to his team. Pot kettle black sprang to mind!!

'Mark of the Devil' just kept on giving with every page I turned. The pace was on fire, the characters played their parts well, and the author, well, she has written such a cleverly crafted novel which left me wanting more! As soon as I finished the book I was having withdrawal symptoms, that's how much I loved this book. It was dark, severely twisted and incredibly memorable - I cannot wait to read more from this author as her books are out-flipping-standing.

I was immediately attracted by the cover of this book and its catchphrase: "vengeful killers, innocent victims and a determined detective"

It all starts when Jim Carruthers and his team who are on a theft investigation of works of art are called for a murder on a deserted beach. They struggle to find the identity of the victim. They will wonder if their investigation of the robberies and the mysterious young woman are unrelated.

A captivating story, I immediately hooked on the story Haste read the previous and next books.

It's a 4 star from me! Tana Collins just keeps delivering with this series. This is the third book to feature DI Jim Carruthers and there is some very good character development in this book. Set in Scotland, Carruthers and his team investigate a body on cliffs and a series of art thefts. How are they linked to an Estonian gang? With murder, art theft, prostitution and people smuggling and a clever plot, this book is worthy of 4 stars. Check out the Hotel Viru in Tallinn, Estonia for added historical interest! Thank you Net Galley for my copy. i reviewed on Facebook, Goodreads and Amazon.

The first inspector carruthers mystery I’ve read and I’ll be looking for the others now. Great characterisation and a strong storyline made for a very enjoyable read