The Peat Dead

Inspector Angus Blue #1

by Allan Martin

On the Scottish Hebridean Island of Islay, five corpses are dug up by a peat-cutter. All of them have been shot in the back of the head, execution style.

Sent across from the mainland to investigate, Inspector Angus Blue and his team slowly piece together the little evidence they have, and discover the men were killed on a wartime base, over 70 years ago.

But there are still secrets worth protecting, and even killing for.

Who can Inspector Blue trust?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2019

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in paperback, it's excellent, so real life like. Scottish Hebridean Island of Islay, with unexplained death, maybe more than one, a bloodbath. CID need to take a look. The bodies could be very old Middle Ages, Dark Ages. The SOCOs had all done their archaeological training, but what the police really needed was an expert Dr Hendricks, who is specialised in the archaeology of crime scenes. Five dead bodies are buried under peat. The job for Inspector Agnes Blue is to piece together information on the dead bodies that have been found. I certainly recommend The Dead Peat it's a well written book with decades old crimes.

[Suds Maclennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Peat Dead by Allan Martin my 1st book by this Author .
I loved this book from the Start, the descriptions of Islay and the atmospheric scenery, the sea I could almost smell the salt as I was transported to the beautiful Hebridian Island, which I have been to before and brought back memories.
The story of 5 bodies found in the Peat and the investigations into how they got there was excellent, it was history mixed with murder and in Scotland-perfect!
The CIO Angus Blue (great name) and I think im right in saying Blue is a name linked with Oban and the Isles , Angus Blue has a lot of work ahead of him to figure out who killed these people and exactly how old the bodies are.
In comes a forensic archaeologist and other specialists, the work with the locals as the dig into the past to find out the truth.
There's more murder and lots of plot twists , I love AB as a character he has morals and a quiet confidence about him ,he gains respect without even trying.
Great book I enjoyed a great deal.
5 stars 🌟

[Anne Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful depiction of a Hebridean island (Islay) and a very plausible plot. Good to have characters that aren’t too off the wall. The conflict between justice and the abuse of power by the state is well presented. Very poignant flashbacks bring home the casual brutality of those in power. Hope to see Inspector Blue again soon.

[David Gilchrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the way the story unfolds was really good. Not too keen on the frantic pace of the last third of the book. A book that will stay in the memory, I will read more from this author if he writes more.

[Tiina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Päris 5 välja ei tule, jätan 4,5 ümardamata. Lõpplahenduse täiuslikkusest jäi minu arvates natuke puudu. Siiski üle pika aja üks mõnusalt eriline krimka. Jumaldan selliseid krimilugusid, kus politseijuurdlusel ja omavahelisel koostööl on suurem rõhuasetus, kui iga inspektori eraelul. Nagu nt ka Cara Hunteri teoste puhul. Siin teosss oli muidugi rohkem surmasid.
Šotimaa lääneranniku saar Islay kujutamise eest võiks tegelikult anda täispunktid.
Igatahes tõeliselt nauditavalt kulgev raamat. Soovitan!
Pole viskisõber, aga isegi minus tekitas tunde, et peaks eelarvamustevabalt siiski mõnd Islay delikatessi mekkima.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book set on the Scottish Island of Islay. What a well constructed and believable plot.
Inspector Blue is sent over from Oban to investigate when a number of bodies were uncovered in the peat bog. It transpires they were buried during the wartime. However there are those who do not want these crimes uncovered and will go to extreme lengths to prevent the truth coming out. It resonates with political events even today which is quite chilling. I could see this as a TV drama and would love to read more from this author.

[Sille · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alustades positiivse poole pealt tuleb märkida, et tõlge oli ladus ja et 'tibanatu(ke)' on nii tore väljend (originaalis vist a wee bit?).
A kõige muu kohta mul eriti midagi head öelda ei ole. Algus oli täitsa korralik, siis aga sumbus see kõik stereotüüpsete tegelastega kobav-kohmakasse uimerdamisse, mis omakorda läks lõpus üle absurdseks actioniks ja päädis konspiratiivse alternatiivajaloolise lõpplahendusega.
Ja see kõik oli nii kohutavalt igav.
Ja dialoogid tekitasid mus üsnavarsti tahtmise pead vastu seina peksta, nõnda puised olid need ning nõnda palju kordi pöördusid kõik üksteise poole eesnime kasutades ja ette-taha tänades.
Caol Ila viski mainimine tuletas selle turbamaitse kohe keelele ning tekitas mõningaid isiklikke assotsiatsioone, aga üldiselt oli seegi kohmakas ja puine, kuidas peategelase iga viskilonksu juurde üritati keevitada mingeid degustaatorite leksikast pärit stampväljendid (vana kummik kerge kirsisuitsu järelmaitsega või umbes nii). (Kui oleks võtnud lonksu viskit iga kord, kui raamatus mõnd viskikoda mainiti, siis poleks see lugemine küll kuigi kaugele jõudnud ja võib-olla olekski parem olnud.)
Ning kõige lõpuks tahaksin ma taas kord oiata meeskirjanike (ehkki mitte ainult nende) kombe peale tuua sisse naistegelasi, kes peaks justkui olema eksperdid, aga kes ei täida mitte mingisugust professionaalset rolli, vaid eksisteerivad ainult selleks, et meespeategelasel saaks mingid õrnad tunded tärkama hakata.

[Gaby Meares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable police procedural - the first in a series featuring Inspector Blue from Oban. I bought this book while staying in Oban, so that makes it extra special. I love the very detailed taster notes of all the single-malts he tries during this case! But seriously, Martin takes a hard look at the abuse of power by those who think they are above the law, both now and historically. A cracking good plot, that I will not forget in a hurry.

[Triinu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minu arvamuse leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...

[C VOKINS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book as I love a good peated whisky. Its a simply written, engaging criminal romp around Islay. Loved the characters, even if they were a bit stereo typical. The twist of history and a nod to a changing world we are currently living in. I can imagine this being televised and think it would make a great mini series.

Also note, you could play a form of whisky bingo (drink a dram each time a distillery is mentioned)...but you'd be pretty drunk, pretty quick.

[Zoe Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing depiction of the beautiful Islay (which I visited last year) and this is giving me the TV series Shetland vibes, but must admit I lost track of the suspects and the whodunnit didn't really land with me as realized I don't care for historical murder cases, the entertainment comes from when these people are still knocking about

[Keith Chaple · Rating 1 out of 5]

With the story right up to the end. The revealed motivation behind the perpetrators actions is beyond ridiculous in its absurdity. This is more like science fiction than fiction. No wonder the book was so cheap on Amazon. First and last book by this author.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, the book starts off well enough but devolves into a far fetched conspiracy alternate history thing. Martin seems awfully paranoid about 20th and 21st century history.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Peat Dead is a crime novel set on the Hebridean island of Islay, which is pronounced as if there is no ‘y’ there in case you don’t know. It follows Inspector Angus Blue as he tries to discover what happened to five bodies discovered in a peat bog. As he and his team start to investigate, it becomes clear that, although the deaths of these people may have happened many years ago, there are those who would still like what happened to them and why to remain a mystery. And Inspector Blue and his team may be putting themselves in danger as they investigate.

I thought this was a very well-written novel with plenty to intrigue and hold the attention. I have visited Islay and think the author has done a fabulous job of conveying the spirit of the island – and yes I do use that word deliberately! Islay is famous for its many whisky distilleries and you can experience a virtual tasting tour of them all in this book. There was a real sense of tension throughout the book as I wondered not only if Inspector Blue would solve the case but also if he and his team would be safe. The scenes told in flashback add to the mystery and give voice to the dead. There was also a really interesting and unsettling subplot about the political landscape of a Britain which I could well imagine becoming reality post-Brexit. The Peat Dead is a really atmospheric police procedural novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m pleased to know that there is a second novel coming which will be set on the neighbouring island of Jura – another whisky island and somewhere else I’ve visited.

[Evelyn Fenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A peat cutter finds a body. Is it ancient? Or merely old? How many more lie buried? Was it foul play? (Probably not a spoiler to say yes, give this is a thriller.) Who wants to cover up the murder(s), and why?

Enter Inspector Angus Blue, who puts together a great team of characters to investigate the crime.

I love this book. Pluses: (1) Location. This is what made me pick it up. Set in a part of Scotland I know well, I treasured the familiar names, places, culture, even the weather.

(2) Characters: the main character (Blue) and his colleagues are sympathetic and driven by the quest for justice. There is no overblown angst driving Blue’s backstory, and what romance there is is slow, decorous, and subsidiary to the plot; the right balance to give character depth without detracting from the main plot.

(3) The plot: twisty, with a remarkably high body count. All the ends of the various sub-plots weave together in a satisfying way, and the background of political cover-ups and vested interests adds some noir to what might otherwise be a fairly cosy romp.

My minor quibble is the proofing could have been tighter. I got distracted by smart quotes pointing in the wrong directions.

[Carolien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very accomplished debut set mainly on the island of Islay, famous for its whisky distilleries. A body is found when two farmers are out cutting peat and DI Inspector Angus Blue is dispatched from Oban to go and confirm whether the body is recent enough to warrant a murder investigation. It is soon established that there are in fact 5 corpses and some indication that they were executed during WWII when a military base was on the island. But someone in the very present time definitely do not want the deaths to be investigated and will go to very extreme lengths to make sure their secrets are not revealed. A complex plot, a lovely setting and an introduction to an interesting team, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I promptly ordered the next 3 books in the series.

[Vivien Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! I enjoyed the mix of chilling political agenda, a brutal historic crime and the authentic island setting. Well-written, it gripped me from the word go. Realistic characters and an intelligent plot, very pertinent to today's unsettled political climate. The book's premise that past actions carry present day consequences is spot on. The past doesn't always remain buried - even though there are those who will do anything to try and ensure it does! The author obviously knows the island and its people. The subtle humour adds extra depth to the story. Police procedural/ Brexit Noir! Looking forward to the next in the series - and maybe even seeing this one on television!!

[Agnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

My second Christmas gift of a novel taking place on Islay. The earlier book I read taught me a lot more about Islay than this one, which didn’t have as many insights. As far as crime fiction/thriller, it was ok. Bodies uncovered from a WWII-era crime lead to coverups, assassinations, and shoot-outs in modern day. It needed some strong editing, both for the copy and content (e.g., What happened to Tatiana? That scene made no sense). Reading it over a week, I had a bit of a hard time keeping track of all the modern day characters, did not think the flashbacks added to the story, and found the premise to be unlikely.

[Catface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, good plot, *desperately* needs editing. The dialogue and exposition are clunky and there are so many plot threads that are fun but ultimately go nowhere that it's a bit distracting. It feels a shame as Martin has written a solid thriller here and has been let down by the lack of editing (to the extent that there are a couple of misplaced words).

That said, I really enjoyed the flashback scenes and I loved the way the story was gradually revealed this way. The twist ending is exciting and definitely plausible, although the denouement is a bit messy. I also really liked the way the themes about 'British studies' and how that was resolved :-)

[Edith McEwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant holiday read while staying on mainland across from Islay. The book is written with feeling and knowledge of the island setting, people and recent history. I loved the way the dialogue was constructed because it authentically (IMO) captured some of subtle difference in relationships/mutual regard between the islands and central belt. Been recommending this one to friends and family. Hopefully there will be further adventures with Inspector Blue.

[Alison Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this crime novel set on the Scottish island of Islay. A historic crime when bodies from WW2 are discovered buried in a peat bog. But who is so desperate to ensure the past remains secret? Bodies pile up as Inspector Angus Blue is sent from Oban to lead the investigation. An interesting character with a past I’d like to know more about. An explosive finale and senior police officers who are not afraid to roll their sleeves up. A good new series to get my teeth into.

[Ashley Gaskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent

Intriguing, fascinating and expertly-written. So refreshing to read a crime novel that’s engaged with current issues. Excellent characters, and a marvellous evocation of place. The historical reasoning in regard to Churchill is entirely believable: the mythologising of him that has taken place based on his own writing and political expediency.
So glad that I have the next book to look forward to.

[Sue Burden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that slowly pulls you in. After meeting Allan Martin at our local Waterstones and knowing how he set about writing this first novel, you can see his writing process in the first half the book. By the end you have a more vested interest in the characters and the author has settled in to the swing of things. An interesting story with a some good twists and turns. Looking forward to reading the next book.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but I do find it annoying when authors ride their political hobby horses. To use the secrecy that war requires to blacken a figure in history's name is weak to say the least. The characters were quite interesting and the book quite well written. The setting lovely. To want orderly immigration and integration is not a bad thing either. Our history should be told warts and all but it is too easy rewrite it to suit the politics of the day.

[Alexander Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read from an author I had never heard of! Neatly plotted (and fast-paced) with interesting characters. I also agree with the politics hinted at in the narrative; especially the author's dismissal. through the mouth of the central character, of an insidious little politico/religious organisation that's been operating openly in Scotland and Northern Ireland for FAR too long! But, back to the novel. I hope we'll be seeing a follow-up in the not-too distant future!

[Adam Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric with an interesting balance of plotting that leans both on speculative history and actual history the only really weakness of The Peat Dead is some spectacularly bad dialogue, and slightly underwritten characters, but neither were enough to stop me from enjoying this novel, although it doesn't come close to Will Smith's Mainlander, which is the benchmark for island based thrillers (and I've read a lot).

[Patricia Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heady stuff!

I liked this book immensely for a number of reasons. Having spent an interesting holiday in Islay looking for ancestors and drinking whiskey, it brought back happy memories It offered sound detective work coupled with interesting historical investigation and also reflected my own feelings about the pseudo British hype from our Westminster government

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable holiday read. I loved the setting on Islay, it took me straight back to our holiday there but the whisky descriptions made me giggle. They were a bit laboured and unnecessary although I guess they added some light-hearted fun. Best bit was the big reveal twist at the end. Quite a thought. I applaud the author's politics.

[Fiona MacBain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoying this intriguing crime thriller set on a small Scottish island. Loads of atmosphere, a diverse cast of characters and a gripping story, with brilliant grisly detail and some flashes of black humour. An excellent read, very well written.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly enjoyable read. It cleverly blended two mysteries -- one from the 1940s and the present day one, set off by the past one. I also enjoyed the whiskey tasting notes liberally mixed into the narrative!