Stuart MacBride is a Scottish writer, most famous for his crime thriller set in the "Granite City" of Aberdeen and featuring Detective Sergeant Logan McRae.
Stuart MacBride was born in Dumbarton, Scotland and raised in Aberdeen. He studied architecture at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. His careers include scrubbing toilets offshore, graphic design, web design and IT/computer programming. MacBride claims his origins in writing lie in science fiction, however maintains that his upcoming book, Halfhead, is not science fiction. In his words, "crime fiction set in Victorian times is historic crime fiction, crime fiction set in the 21st Century is crime fiction, however set it 60 years in the future and it's bloody sci-fi!"
MacBride's publishing deal was secured with the writing of Halfhead, however the publishers were more interested in Cold Granite, concerning DS Logan MacRae. He was signed on a three-book Logan deal, which was further extended to six books. In 2009 he signed another deal, allowing him to write two more Logan books, and two standalone novels, the first of which is due after the sixth installment of the Logan MacRae series.
He now lives in north-east Scotland with his wife, Fiona and their cat Grendel. He is reputed to be a passionate potato grower, but claims to have a "vegetable patch full of weeds".
The first Logan McRae book finds the detective returning from a year of sick leave to investigate a serial killer preying on children.
Dying Light (2006)
A naked prostitute is found murdered down by Aberdeen docks. Logan, recently assigned to the unpredictable D.I. Steel’s team, has to investigate this as well as that of an arsonist whose idea of fun is to burn squatters to death.
Broken Skin (2007)
A serial rapist is at large in the Granite City and Logan's girlfriend is being used as bait to catch the culprit. On top of this, a murder victim dumped at the local hospital turns out to feature in a stash of explicit films. Logan is dragged into the seedy world of pornography in an attempt to find the killer.
Published in America as Bloodshot
Flesh House (2008)
The fourth book was released in mid-2008.. According to MacBride's blog, it is his favourite, although was 'annoying' to write and edit! On his website, MacBride warns readers to "expect cannibalism". Readers have been known to comment that they have experienced nightmares and prolonged bed-wetting as a result of reading this book.
Blind Eye (2009)
Blind Eye concerns a serial killer who preys on Polish migrant workers. It's Summer in the Granite City, but even the sunshine can't improve the mood at Grampian Police Headquarters. Aberdeen's growing Polish community is under attack from a serial offender who leaves mutilated victims to be discovered on building sites...eyes gouged out and the sockets burned. Detective Sergeant Logan McRae is assigned to the investigation, codenamed Operation Oedipus, but with the victims too scared to talk, it's going nowhere fast. When the next victim turns out to be not a newly arrive eastern european, but Simon McLeod, owner of the Turf n' Track bookies, Logan suddenly finds himself caught up in a world of drug wars, prostitution rings and gun-running courtesy of Aberdeen's oldest and most vicious crime lord.
Dark Blood (2010)
Published on 29 April 2010. Richard Knox has served his time, so why shouldn't he be allowed to live wherever he wants? Yes, in the past he was a violent rapist, but he's seen the error of his ways. Found God. Wants to leave his dark past in Newcastle behind him and make a new start. Or so he says. Detective Sergeant Logan McRae isn't exactly thrilled to be part of the team helping Knox settle Northumbria Police -- the man who put Knox behind bars for ten years...supposedly here to 'keep an eye on things'. Only things are about to go very, very wrong. Edinburgh gangster Malk the Knife wants a slice of the development boom Donald Trump's golf course is bringing to the Granite City, whether local crime lord Wee Hamish Mowat likes it or not. Three heavies from Newcastle want a 'quiet word' with DSI Danby about a missing mob accountant. And Richard Knox's dark past isn't done with him yet!
Shatter The Bones (Due July 2011)
This will be the first of two Logan novels which will be separated by stand-alone novels.
Book Number The Eighth (Due 2014)
The final Logan book under MacBride's current contract.
MacBride's first published work that does not feature Logan McRae. Set in America, it follows a roadtrip undertaken by gangsters. According to thrillerbook.com, Sawbones contains “optional scenes of shootouts, dismemberments and castration”.
Sawbones was written for Barrington Stoke's 'Most Wanted' series of books, designed for reluctant and emerging readers. As such it is considerably shorter than any of MacBride's other works at only 18,500 words.
Halfhead (2009)
Often classified as science fiction, MacBride's first future-crime novel was published in September 2009. The book, "Halfhead" (the name of the author's blog), was written before the Logan McRae series, and was the text that gained MacBride his publishing deal, but it is only now set to see the light of day. It has been rewritten and edited, and has caused MacBride much grief, the process meaning he is behind on writing the sixth Logan MacRae novel.
The plot revolves around Glasgow, and is set in the not-too distant future. Criminals are 'halfheaded' for their crimes. Essentially, their lower jaw is cut off, and they are given menial tasks to aid the community. However, one 'halfheading' doesn't go according to plan...
Standalone Novel 1 (Due 2011)
This is the first of two standalone novels which have been included in MacBride's new publishing contract. It will bear no relation to the Logan McRae series.
Standalone Novel 2 (Due 2013)
This is the second of two standalone novels which have been included in MacBride's new publishing contract. It will bear no relation to the Logan McRae series.
Detective Sergeant Logan McRae: The main character in Stuart MacBride's books. A Detective Sergeant with Grampian Police based at Police Headquarters (FHQ) in Queen Street, Aberdeen. The series starts just as he returns from a years sick leave after being stabbed 23 times in the stomach by Angus Robertson, "The Mastrick Monster". He is seen by his colleagues as a very capable and useful member of the team, and for his part is fiercely loyal to those he respects.
WPC Jackie Watson: Known as "Ball Breaker", she is Logan’s girlfriend through most of the books. She has a reputation for having a very short temper and this has got her into trouble on more than one occasion.
Dr. Isobel MacAlister: Logan’s ex-girlfriend and the Chief Pathologist.
Colin Miller: A Glaswegian journalist working for the Press and Journal.
Detective Inspector David Insch: D.S Logan’s first boss. A very overweight man who does not suffer fools gladly and has a fondness for large packets of sweeties. Insch is also an aspiring director and actor and throughout the books is involved in amateur dramatics.
Detective Inspector Roberta Steel: Logan’s chain-smoking boss when he is sent to her team in Dying Light. An unashamed lesbian with a talent for inappropriate comments, she is charge of the "Screw-up Squad" - a team of officers who have lumped together due to their seemingly poor ability to solve even the simplest of cases.
Detective Constable Simon Rennie: Recently made a DC, Rennie was expected to be a bit of a screw up from the start after being assigned to DI Steel's screw-up squad. He does later prove himself to be of some use by pointing out things the team have missed and even being a capable firearms officer.
Samantha - A gothic forensic analyst, she begins dating Logan in Blind Eye.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Finnie: Sarcastic DCI introduced in Blind Eye.
Detective Sergeant/Detective Inspector Beattie: Nicknamed Beardy Beattie. An unfit DS promoted to DI ahead of DS McRae in Blind Eye.
Detective Chief Superintendent Bain: Head of Grampian Police CID.
