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Ed James
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Liars and Thieves: An absolutely unputdownable gripping crime thriller full of twists (Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers Book 7) Kindle Edition

by Ed James (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 2,807 ratings
Murder at Christmas. A tragic New Year.

A novel in two parts.

Christmas Steps
On a cold Christmas Eve in Edinburgh, Detective Constable Scott Cullen investigates the gruesome murder of a local businessman.

Battling a brutal hangover and with the lure of a promotion dangled in front of him, Cullen has the lingering feeling his days as a cop might just be numbered.

Windchill
Cullen’s peaceful return from holiday is scuppered when the body of a barman is found with a knife in his gut.

What seems to be a straightforward case of violent jealousy soon reveals itself to have much darker links; revelations of mounting debts, out of control gambling and organised crime lead to the discovery of another body.

Cullen sets out to solve the murders, but can he untangle the web And will he get that promotion? Or be kicked out of the force?

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

Praise for Liars and Thieves:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A must for crime-fiction fans" – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Ed James has gone from strength to strength… If you liked the previous books in the Scott Cullen series, you’ll love [this]!" – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Very difficult to put down. There were so many twists that kept me on the edge of my seat… If you’re a Rebus fan then you will definitely love Scott Cullen" – Amazon review

‘⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "What an incredible book. I loved it from start to finish. The best one so far" – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Excellent new instalment of a readable, fast-paced series" – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A gritty, gripping story" – 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 7 of 14
    Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers
  2. Print length
    386 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 13, 2014
  5. File size
    4.5 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 ‏ : ‎ B00N0XK22A
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grey Dog Books (October 13, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 386 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 2,807 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

4.3 out of 5 stars
2,807 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging, with one noting its twisty plot, and they appreciate the well-written characters and fast-paced narrative. Customers enjoy the book, with one describing it as fun mindless entertainment.

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18 customers mention "Story quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a great mystery with a good plot.

"...They both need a course in S**t-Kicking 101. The plot was tightly worked, very straightforward without much deviation from solving the..." Read more

"...The story in this book was very good but the use of foul language seems to have increased or perhaps I have just become more sensitive/aware of it...." Read more

"...I enjoyed how the two seemingly seperate stories entwined, and set up some future action. As always, well done, Ed!" Read more

"Good, solid writing. Good characters and settings. Plot was good, descriptions and action good. Solid police procedural. Enjoyed all of them." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...For the already fans of the series, this one is a nice bit of character development of our hero...." Read more

"Good, solid writing. Good characters and settings. Plot was good, descriptions and action good. Solid police procedural. Enjoyed all of them." Read more

"Ed James does a great job of developing the characters in the Scott Cullen series. They are real,down to earth, believable. James does it again...." Read more

"...Full of action and realistic police procedures. Great to see the characters change, mature and evolve...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting that the language has improved.

"...As always, well done, Ed!" Read more

"Good, solid writing. Good characters and settings. Plot was good, descriptions and action good. Solid police procedural. Enjoyed all of them." Read more

"The language has improved, but the main character is still whiney, drinks too much and is very immature...." Read more

"Not a bad read" Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, describing it as fast-moving and hard to put down.

"Windchill is the 6th installment in the Cullen series, with a fast paced, twisty plot that kept me guessing right up to the end...." Read more

"...Two stories in this one, fast-paced and satisfying. Looking forward to the next one, definitely. P.S. Don't be afraid of the language...." Read more

"...They are real,down to earth, believable. James does it again. Can't wait for Book 7." Read more

"WINDCHILL is fast moving, with lots of colorful dialogue, which helps the pace of the story...." Read more

4 customers mention "Enjoyment"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with one describing it as fun mindless entertainment.

"...Two stories in this one, fast-paced and satisfying. Looking forward to the next one, definitely. P.S. Don't be afraid of the language...." Read more

"I have enjoyed reading the Cullen books. Appreciate the tie ins with football and the general atmosphere...." Read more

"...It was a joy to read . Can't wait to read next book. I hope I am not disappointed." Read more

"Fun mindless entertainment. Interesting perspective on Scottish culture." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Lil' Ol' Lady
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Cullen yet!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Windchill is the 6th installment in the Cullen series, with a fast paced, twisty plot that kept me guessing right up to the end. Out of all the Cullen books so far, Windchill is my favorite. I liked the format of having a quick solve at the beginning, followed by a longer, tougher case. Cullen matures and evolves into the "team player" his superiors have wanted him to be and the dynamic of Cullen and sidekick Buxton make for a good team. I have to say, they're really inept at self-defense. They both need a course in S**t-Kicking 101.

    The plot was tightly worked, very straightforward without much deviation from solving the crime. While Cullen's personal life has a larger role in the previous books, Sharon has only a small part in this one and even less about Bain. And really, there really isn't room for it in Windchill, it would've bogged down the story.

    Although I confess, I missed Bain, the man everyone loves to hate.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kathy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I have read several books by Ed James and have enjoyed them. The story in this book was very good but the use of foul language seems to have increased or perhaps I have just become more sensitive/aware of it. I could do without that. Yes, I hear it everywhere but that's not the point.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Deborah T
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect addition to the series
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Always love keeping up with DC Cullen. For the already fans of the series, this one is a nice bit of character development of our hero. I enjoyed how the two seemingly seperate stories entwined, and set up some future action. As always, well done, Ed!
    One person found this helpful
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  • A. L. Caissie
    3.0 out of 5 stars continuity flaws
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I really hate continuity flaws; they jump out at me and bug me all the way through a book. In the previous book in this series Chantal Jain was promoted to DS, something that bothered Scott Cullen enormously. In this book she is a DC again with no explanation. Also, in the previous book Sharon O’Neill had a miscarriage at 8 weeks. In this book she talks about losing her daughter. Seriously, you cannot tell the sex of an 8 week old miscarried fetus. I also find it disconcerting that the officers asking so many leading questions, which basically gives the suspect the answer, e.g. “Were you with Joe on Friday” vs “Who were you with on Friday?”
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good, solid writing
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Good, solid writing. Good characters and settings. Plot was good, descriptions and action good. Solid police procedural. Enjoyed all of them.
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  • HelenH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cullen's Latest Adventure(s)
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Great addition to the Ed James oeuvre, and his character Scott Cullen. While readers get a lot of the police, the cases and their solutions, we learn more about Scott and what he's up to. And he's up to a lot, in his personal as well as private life. Two stories in this one, fast-paced and satisfying. Looking forward to the next one, definitely.

    P.S. Don't be afraid of the language. It's how people talk these days.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Erik Deckers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cullen finally getting his head on straight
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Detective constable took a bit of a ticking in the last book, But he's finally getting his act together. He has given up drinking And seems to be making smarter choices at work and it's finally getting the recognition and adulation that he deserves. He's able to solve the crime without butting heads with his superior and seems to get along better with everyone in this squad.

    That does seem to be an awful lot of sniping and griping among the different detectives and officers in the series , so much so that it all seems very dysfunctional. I am wondering if this is what life is like in the Scottish police force or if it's exaggerated a bit for our benefit.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Edward Beavers
    4.0 out of 5 stars Windmill a bit windy
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I never know with Ed James what to expect with Scott Cullen and his troop. I like how they seem to know the who before they know the what of the story being told. It's good that the mystery isn't to overdone in Ed's manner of telling the story. The beauty of these crime mysteries is you keep guessing til the end. Looking forward to more Scott Cullen crime mysteries in the future.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tiffin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very chilly but a great read
    Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Somewhat different as this was two books in one but I enjoyed both of them. It seems that Scott is finally growing up and taking some responsibility for his actions. At last he's got his well deserved promotion and hopefully got rid of the awful Bain. I have now also bought "Cowboys and Indians" and beside this one I'm looking forward to reading more of Scott and crew so please Ed, keep them coming.
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  • Andrew King
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Good read
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  • Andrew Brock
    4.0 out of 5 stars Aye, worth a wee Squizzy
    Reviewed in Australia on January 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I've read all six in this series so far (number six is really two novellas), and they have definitely got 'it'. Cullen's not quite a threat to Rebus, but for fans of Scottish police procedurals these books are a must read. If the real Scottish police are half as incompetent as this mob, then we should be very worried!
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  • sb2020
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read...again!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I was very much wanting to enjoy this book and for the most part did so. The 2 linked stories took a while to get used to but worked out in the end. I didn't see the ending coming even though the clues were building up, particularly in Part 2. In a series such as this I do enjoy the recurring characters, some more than others but you build up a bigger picture about them through each book. Scott Cullen's character is both compelling and frustrating in equal measures. I enjoy how he is bright and can work out where to go and what needs to be done next, sometimes in a clumsy maverick way...but he generally gets results. He also wants me to shake him and say 'grow up and stop whinging!', I quite liked Buxton's comment about him being another Bain!...he really doesn't know how close to the mark he is. However, we did see something of a 'light-bulb moment' during this book and Cullen finally realises he needs to change if he wants to be taken seriously and achieve the DS position he craves and feels he deserves. I will be looking out for Book 7 when it is due for release next year...hopefully the wait won't be too long .
    I thoroughly look forward to the next book and to seeing
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  • Carole Johnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Back and Better Than Ever
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Having pre-ordered "Windchill", I was not disappointed. The book is split into two sections - Christmas and New Year and gives the reader a sense of time passing normally, which can be tricky in crime stories. The dialogue was well constructed and Cullen' s realisation of his life plan is tangible. Old faces turn up again, albeit in passing, but their presence is felt (Bain) and I hope that they are woven into the next book too. The conclusion was very good, with a twist at the end where I genuinely emitted a small yelp of delight in those getting their just rewards, good and bad. I have read this series in small sections daily on the (high) school run and have found myself leaving home earlier in order to get more reading done, which is always the sign of a good book! I have recommended this series (and Shot Through The Heart) to my friends too. Aside from the odd spelling mistake, it is an excellent read.
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