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Ed James
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Stab in the Dark: A completely riveting Scottish detective thriller full of twists and turns (Police Scotland Crime Series Book 5) Kindle Edition

by Ed James (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,449 ratings
A dead body in a twisted car. A detective torn in two.

DC Scott Cullen likes to play hard and fast with the rules. While it might antagonise his colleagues and superiors, it gets results. Resistance to his cowboy attitude, coupled with fears about a forthcoming police restructure, mean that things aren’t looking good for the maverick cop, especially when his personal life begins to crumble.

The body of a young man found in a totalled car at the foot of a West Lothian shale bing looks like a straightforward case.

But when that seemingly accidental death turns into two undeniable murders, Cullen gets caught in the risky crossfire of several different investigations.

With the case shining a light on the murky underworld of football hooliganism, Cullen takes a stab in the dark as things become unexpectedly too personal for comfort.

Can Cullen catch the killer before they strike again, or were his colleagues right about him all along?

Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart McBride, Alex Smith and JD Kirk, Stab in the Dark continues the bestselling Police Scotland series.

Praise for Stab in the Dark:

"Classic Scottish noir: bad food, bad moods, too much booze and tight plots" – Twitter

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Proper modern gritty Scottish crime drama" – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Unputdownable! Just gets better with each book" – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Three cheers for Ed James… If you have not yet started these brilliant stories then what are you waiting for?" – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Can Scott Cullen keep thrilling us? Yes he can… Yet again a great novel from Ed James. A really good story and an insight into police procedure that is believable and compelling" – Amazon review

The Police Scotland series:
  1. Dead in the Water
  2. Ghost in the Machine
  3. Devil in the Detail
  4. Fire in the Blood
  5. Stab in the Dark
  6. Cops and Robbers
  7. Liars and Thieves
  8. Cowboys and Indians
  9. The Missing
  10. The Hunted
  11. Heroes and Villains
  12. The Black Isle
  13. The Cold Truth
  14. The Dead End
Read more
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  1. Book 5 of 14
    Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers
  2. Print length
    358 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 15, 2014
  5. File size
    2.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Covers for all eight Scott Cullen books

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DTG5BTM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grey Dog Books (January 15, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 15, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 358 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 2,449 ratings

About the author

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Ed James

Ed James

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Ed James is a Scottish author who writes crime fiction novels across multiple series and in multiple locations.

His latest series is set in the Scottish Borders, where Ed now lives, starring DI Rob Marshall – a criminal profiler turned detective, investigating serial murders in a beautiful landscape.

Set four hundred miles south on the gritty streets of East London, his bestselling DI Fenchurch series features a cop with little to lose and a kidnapped daughter to find.

His Police Scotland books are fronted by multiple detectives based in Edinburgh, including Scott Cullen, a young Edinburgh Detective investigating crimes from the bottom rung of the career ladder he’s desperate to climb.

The DS Vicky Dodds books put Dundee on the Tartan Noir map, featuring a driven female detective struggling to combine her complex home life with a heavy caseload.

Formerly an IT project manager, Ed filled his weekly commute to London by writing on planes, trains and automobiles. He now writes full-time and lives in the Scottish Borders with a menagerie of rescued animals.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
2,449 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a really good read with a great weave of a story, and one review mentions it has twists and turns. Moreover, the writing style is very tightly written, and customers appreciate the character development.

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13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a really good read and enjoy the series, with one customer noting that each Scott Cullen book gets better.

"...Bits of humor sprinkled throughout. A good writer. Thanks Ed." Read more

"...Scott Cullen is still a bit "full of himself" - but it is a great series" Read more

"Good read! Very realistic plot but the pacing is maybe a bit slow. Good character development and very realistic politics. Good job...." Read more

"Each Scott Cullen book gets better and Ed James continues to improve his suspenseful thriller with bits of surprises to keep all the reading and..." Read more

11 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer highlighting its twists and turns, while another appreciates the character interactions between Cullen and Bain.

"...The story, which moves right along, had a couple of interesting turns that kept me off-balance. Bits of humor sprinkled throughout. A good writer...." Read more

"...This book's story hits really close to home as some regular supporting characters are caught in the mess...." Read more

"...The interpersonal storylines, for me, are always fascinating and Ed never disappoints in fleshing them out just a little further with each book...." Read more

"...Several murders need solving and groups of footballer fanatics need sorting while Detective Constable Cullen is trying to completely alienate his..." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as tightly written and noting that the author is a good Scottish writer.

"...If you enjoy crime fiction and solid writing with a great atmosphere and cast of characters, you will very much enjoy Stab in the Dark." Read more

"...Bits of humor sprinkled throughout. A good writer. Thanks Ed." Read more

"...Ian Rankin is one of my favorite Scottish writers, and Ed James has really fought to make his way onto that list." Read more

"...He is growing as a person which is a testament to Ed James thoughtful writing skills...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...crime fiction and solid writing with a great atmosphere and cast of characters, you will very much enjoy Stab in the Dark." Read more

"I enjoyed the many characters and their dialogue. The story, which moves right along, had a couple of interesting turns that kept me off-balance...." Read more

"...Very realistic plot but the pacing is maybe a bit slow. Good character development and very realistic politics. Good job...." Read more

"...I've left it too late now to remember the plot but the characters have just grabbed me and won't let go...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a big fan of Ed James, his work in general, and especially the Scott Cullen novels. Stab in the Dark is very tightly written, fast paced, great characters in Cullen and the cast around him. If you enjoy crime fiction and solid writing with a great atmosphere and cast of characters, you will very much enjoy Stab in the Dark.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Rankinesque
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the many characters and their dialogue. The story, which moves right along, had a couple of interesting turns that kept me off-balance. Bits of humor sprinkled throughout. A good writer. Thanks Ed.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Erik Deckers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ed James isn't messing around
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I won't give away the ending, suffice to say that I was staggered by it. This book's story hits really close to home as some regular supporting characters are caught in the mess.

    Ian Rankin is one of my favorite Scottish writers, and Ed James has really fought to make his way onto that list.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, but too much about Cullen's life
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    As an American I somehow rather like Scottish police procedurals, and Died in the Wool is not a bad example, but I think that the convolutions of Scott Cullen's personal life combined with police politics get to be a bit too much of the book for my taste. I've read all 4 in the series, so I do like them, but they would be more to my taste if the case itself were more of the book, rather than all the politics of the DCIs, DSx, DCs and whatever. Does every cop in Scotland work for somebody he can't stand? And what is it about sports in the UK, (or is it just soccer) that generates more or less organized violence? Maybe I'm just oblivious, but that kind of hooliganism seems rare in US sports. While Died in the Wool is perhaps an introduction to the soccer gang phenomenon, it didn't give me much insight into what it's about, or engender much interest in it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Deborah T
    5.0 out of 5 stars Our Cullen grows up
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Without giving away any plot, Scott spends a fair amount of time grappling with a couple of big personal setbacks that seem to forge him for the better. Although, personally, I thought he was behaving like a colossal prat regarding one of them. I suspect the author intended this response. He's a cheeky man like that.

    The investigation itself was a big one, in scope and personnel. Teams that shouldn't have been working together got drawn in, personalities clashed on many departmental levels. The interpersonal storylines, for me, are always fascinating and Ed never disappoints in fleshing them out just a little further with each book.

    If this is your first Ed James novel: You won't regret it....but do yourself an enormous service and read the other 3 Scott Cullen's as well.

    Well done again, Ed. Squeeeeee!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • lindaluane
    4.0 out of 5 stars scott cullen
    Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is the fourth in the Scott Cullen series

    The main crime revolves around a body found in a car at the bottom of a 'bing' (a scottish term for a big heap) but leads take the team to other possible crimes. Then when they go to the victim's house they discover another body
    Scott Cullen is still a bit "full of himself" - but it is a great series
    One person found this helpful
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  • THX255
    5.0 out of 5 stars DC Cullen can be his own worst enemy.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    In this fourth release of the series, Ed James has provided his best story line to date. Several murders need solving and groups of footballer fanatics need sorting while Detective Constable Cullen is trying to completely alienate his colleagues with his cowboy investigation style. All this while informing everyone around him that he should already have been promoted to Detective Sergeant. Cullen will have to become more of a team player to solve these crimes.
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  • Travelingshoes
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Good read! Very realistic plot but the pacing is maybe a bit slow. Good character development and very realistic politics. Good job. Looking forward to the next one.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • A McCulloch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stab in the Dark Ed James
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Definitely worth a read, brilliant, football hooliganism at its worst. Lothian and Borders police get their men. Or so they think. Turmoil of twists. Read to the end. Worth it
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  • Danic
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bonne surprise !
    Reviewed in France on September 16, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Voir mon commentaire pour le titre "Bottleneck", 5ème de la série, du même auteur, avec les mêmes personnages et des enquètes toutes très intéressantes.
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  • Tiffin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and original thriller
    Reviewed in Australia on March 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    More of the very clever Scott Cullen, Well written and original tale with some very gory bits. When will we see Scott rewarded for his hard work, although he may be a bit of a cowboy but then who ever would take any notice of Bain. Bring on the next one Ed, I'm really liking your writing.
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  • Edith Schwarz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Dyed in the Wool - Ed James
    Reviewed in Spain on April 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the book, DC Scott Cullen proves another good character of British detective, and the Story set in a part of Britain I do not personally know that well gives me the feeling I learn more about the country I used to live in for 25 years. Good twists in the story line, too, all together a good read.
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  • neilmac
    4.0 out of 5 stars Stronger
    Reviewed in Australia on March 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Getting stronger every book characters getting better twists in the plot getting better all in all a good read.bring on the next one.
    Report

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