37 Responses to Prayer for the Dead

  1. pat September 10, 2014 at 8:41 am #

    we’ll done. I love the characters you have built up. You are selling yourself too cheap on kindle. I listen to the audio versions. Do they count I. Your sales figures.

  2. Jan September 10, 2014 at 10:03 am #

    I echo the above comment above from Pat and also buy the audio book version.

    Amazon – Available for pre-order. This item paperback and hardback will be released on 12 February 2015.

    Waiting for audio version though πŸ™‚

  3. Carol September 10, 2014 at 10:06 am #

    and I have to wait until February to read it? well done for getting it written but your books are so good that every wait seems an age. I shall just have to go back to the beginning and start them again, there’s got to be some consolation for a failing memory with age.

    • jameso September 10, 2014 at 11:48 am #

      Thanks, Carol. I hope your memory isn’t failing that badly! Also when you consider book five will come out less than two years after book one, I think I’m spoiling you all a bit!

  4. Dorothy September 12, 2014 at 7:36 pm #

    Great news. Look forward to reading it in February. Please do keep spoiling us all. You have created a fine character in Inspector McLean.

    • jameso September 13, 2014 at 9:03 am #

      Thank you Dorothy. He’s got plenty more adventures ahead of him.

  5. Elke September 17, 2014 at 8:17 pm #

    Can’t wait to read this one. Discovered the first one a few weeks back and read them all in a matter of days – it’s been a long time since I’ve read something so nicely written, and a great plot with it! Onto the Ballad series next then πŸ˜‰

    • jameso September 17, 2014 at 8:52 pm #

      Thanks, Elke. You’re my kind of reader!

  6. Tegan September 28, 2014 at 12:41 am #

    I am so excited to see the new cover design. I’m only new to the series, I have read books 1 and 2, and I just downloaded book three, when I saw that it was released this year I was worried I had caught up to you!
    I love the books, the first time I’ve been caught up in a series in a long time!

    Thanks for writing them!!

    • jameso September 28, 2014 at 11:07 am #

      Thanks for reading them! I had three pretty much ready to go when Penguin published the first, so they’ve come out in quick succession. Things will start to slow down a little once Prayer for the Dead is out next February, but there’s plenty more to come!

  7. Gert-Jan Bennink October 12, 2014 at 6:36 am #

    Keep your promise, speed and quality! I don’t like to wait,but I know the waiting will be worthwile. Thanx from Holland for MacLean and company. Wonderful reading material.

    GJHB

  8. Nicola Christie November 4, 2014 at 4:42 pm #

    Hello James
    Like others above, I am new to your books and have devoured them in quick succession. Just about to finish Dead Men’s Bones and am so happy there is another one coming out very soon. Please keep writing!

    • jameso November 6, 2014 at 3:22 pm #

      Hi Nicola,

      So pleased to hear you liked the books. I hope you’ll like Prayer for the Dead. And don’t worry, I’ve plenty more in store for Tony and his colleagues!

  9. doreen November 19, 2014 at 8:03 pm #

    I love your books on audio the reader brings the books to life.

    • jameso November 20, 2014 at 8:54 pm #

      Thank you. I am very fortunate to have Ian Hanmore as my narrator. He is brilliant.

  10. TommyK December 4, 2014 at 9:17 am #

    Echoing the other comments here – I came across your books on audible and absolutely love them. Am now the proud owner of all four novels. Great characters, plots and locations. Really well written and the narration adds to the overall experience.

    Delighted to hear the next one is due out in February (although I guess the audible version will be slightly later?)

    Ideal for my drives down to Norwich – 7 and a half hours pass by in a flash! Although, as I’ve now completed the series, my next couple of journeys will have to be without Inspector McLean, Grumpy Bob, Dagwood et al as company. Ho hum…may have to listen to a couple of Rankin books instead…

    Thanks for making my long journeys very enjoyable!

    • jameso December 5, 2014 at 4:56 pm #

      You’re very welcome! Audiobooks are ideal for long car journeys. Also for afternoons spent in a tractor going up and down a field with a topper mower or roller! I’m really pleased you’ve enjoyed them so far. Prayer for the Dead has been recorded (the wonderful Ian Hanmore again) and will probably come out the same day as the hardback, 12th February. In the meantime, Stuart MacBride’s audiobooks are good, or for something slightly different, Stephen Briggs reading Terry Pratchett.

  11. Nina Fiore December 15, 2014 at 8:26 pm #

    Can’t wait! Oh well, gives me time to prepare myself for the frustration felt about McLean’s poor treatment by certain colleagues. He gets results after all! Stop the bullying!

    • jameso December 15, 2014 at 8:28 pm #

      Ah, but they bully him because he gets results!

  12. Inken December 29, 2014 at 1:37 pm #

    Read the first McLean because Amazon suggested it and couldn’t stop…..had to buy the other three immediately (two thirds through number 4) and can’t wait for number 5! February? I’ll keep counting the days! Please don’t stop with Tony anytime soon!

    • jameso December 29, 2014 at 5:20 pm #

      Thank you. Very pleased to hear you’ve enjoyed them so far. I’ll be starting on book six soon, and there will be more to come after that.

  13. Melanie February 9, 2015 at 9:52 pm #

    I was “forced” to read Natural Causes when I had nothing else to read and then ended up buying the whole series, you spin a good yarn James and I cannot wait for the 12th of February to read the next McLean, keep them coming!

    • jameso February 9, 2015 at 9:56 pm #

      Thanks! (And to whoever forced you to read Natural Causes, too!)

  14. Izumi February 11, 2015 at 4:22 am #

    Hi James,

    And here I thought I am about to go through Tony-McLean’s-withdrawal-syndrome… This is fantastic news! Much appreciated the update that has certainly made my cramps magically disappear.

    Agreed with Nina (commenter above) regarding poor treatment from Dagwood. I have such short fuse, so whenever Tony snapped at Dagwood, I’d do a little victory dance!

  15. Lucy February 22, 2015 at 5:51 pm #

    Hi James
    I have just finished Book Of Souls and enjoying the series so far.
    During the cold winter and tucked up warm I am enjoying your books, thank you for helping me pass away the cold winter nights.

    Are you planning any book signings in London/Essex area?

    • jameso February 23, 2015 at 4:54 pm #

      Hi Lucy,

      Pleased to hear you’re enjoying the series. Alas, I’ve nothing planned for the south at the moment. I am a full time livestock farmer, so getting away for more than an evening here and there is difficult. I’m hoping to make it into one of the big London Waterstones next month when I’m down for a meeting with my publisher. If it comes off, then I’ll be posting details here and on my twitter and facebook feeds.

  16. Lucy February 23, 2015 at 8:23 pm #

    hi James
    Thank you for replying to my post and I will keep an eye for details.

  17. donna March 6, 2015 at 8:07 pm #

    Have listened to all 5 books so far. I get so engrossed in them, the characters draw you in I hope none of them leave any time soon!!! Thank you James for returning my interest in a good book, can you hurry up with book 6 though

    • jameso March 6, 2015 at 8:43 pm #

      Going as quickly as I can!

  18. Conny March 9, 2015 at 10:20 am #

    Just finished book 5 – read them all in a row as I just couldn’t stop, hehe. I stumbled upon book 1 when I was looking for some crime stories for my Kindle. Did a test read and was caught hook, line and sinker especially by the supernatural aspects. The main characters are utterly loveable (or hateable in a few cases but books where you can’t hate anybody are boring anway). Can’t wait for the next book.

    • jameso March 9, 2015 at 11:33 am #

      Thank you! I’m working on book six at the moment.

      • Conny March 9, 2015 at 3:58 pm #

        Yay! Happy Bunny *G*

  19. Annie July 16, 2015 at 8:05 pm #

    Just read all five of your books, one after the other! I like crime novels, and was drawn to the series by the setting in my home town of Edinburgh. Really not into supernatural but can forgive this because the stories and characters are so grounded, and very believable. Lots of interesting characters, descriptions and facts, and too – in other words, well written and a pleasure to read. I’m really quite fond of Tony McLean and suppose my ideal would be for him to find a (or another) good woman, and then leave the police and use some of his considerable wealth to enjoy life with her. But not yet, please! I need at least another five books!

    • jameso July 19, 2015 at 7:18 pm #

      Hi Annie,

      Thanks for reading the books, and for letting me know how you felt about them. I’m not about to send Tony off into the sunset with his best girl by his side any time soon, so don’t panic about that. I can’t promise five more books though – let’s see how I get on with the next three first!

      • Gert-Jan Bennink August 14, 2015 at 9:28 am #

        Dear mr. Oswald,

        thanx again from Holland for Prayer for the Dead. Allthough I wish for something more (Amy MacDonald) for DI McLean in his personal life, I do like this guy, you delivered once more a very fine book.
        I also do like Ian Rankin, but the difference in atmosphere is significant. The background, Edingburgh, feels like home, I’m looking forward for (at least) the next five books from you. No promise, but a kind of expectation.

        Another needy admirer,

        Gert-Jan Bennink
        Groningen

  20. Morgan May 1, 2016 at 6:20 am #

    I wish a movie of the 5 Books of the ballad of Sir Benfro became a series of movies like they did with Harry Potter

    • jameso May 1, 2016 at 10:20 am #

      I would love for that to happen too! Alas, no call yet from Mr Spielberg…

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