Don't stoke the flames unless you want to get burned . . .

It's not going well for Aberdeen's NE Division: half the force is off sick, all leave's been cancelled, someone's firebombed a hotel full of migrants, and there's a massive protest march happening this Saturday.

With officers dropping like flies, Detective Inspector Logan McRae has to kick off a major murder investigation with a skeleton staff of misfits, idiots, and malingerers until the Top Brass can arrange back-up from other divisions.

But as bad as everything seems, things are about to get much, much worse . . .

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Praise for Stuart MacBride:

'Dark and brilliantly written' - Linwood Barclay, author of I will Ruin You

'MacBride is a damned fine writer' - Peter James, author of Picture You Dead

'Crime fiction of the highest order' - Mark Billingham, author of The Last Dance