Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
If you’re familiar with Stuart MacBride, you’ll already know you’re in for something gritty, grim, and laced with sharp humour. And the Corpse Wore Tartan drops us straight into the bleak, biting world of Scottish crime fiction, where the weather is miserable, the crimes are worse, and the sarcasm is razor-sharp.

Set against a distinctly Scottish backdrop, the story blends murder mystery with MacBride’s signature dark comedy. From the opening pages, there’s an immediate sense that this isn’t going to be a neat or comfortable investigation. It’s messy, unpredictable, and full of characters who feel all too real.

✅ What I Liked:
MacBride’s biggest strength is his voice, and it’s on full display here. The dialogue crackles with wit, often balancing laugh-out-loud moments with genuinely disturbing scenes. That contrast keeps the story engaging and stops it from becoming too heavy, even when the subject matter is grim.

The setting is another standout. There’s something about Scottish crime fiction that just hits differently, and the atmosphere here is almost a character in itself. You can practically feel the cold seeping through the pages.

I also loved how the plot unfolds. It doesn’t spoon-feed you answers, instead letting the mystery build gradually with plenty of twists along the way. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, it shifts direction.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
At times, the pacing can feel uneven. There are moments where the story lingers a little too long in certain scenes, which slightly disrupts the tension.

Some readers might also find the humour a bit too dark or biting, especially when it’s placed alongside quite graphic or unsettling content. It works for the tone MacBride is going for, but it won’t be for everyone.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
If you enjoy crime fiction that doesn’t play it safe, this is absolutely worth picking up. It’s perfect for readers who like their mysteries gritty, their characters flawed, and their humour unapologetically dark.

Fans of Scottish noir, police procedurals, or authors like Ian Rankin will feel right at home here.

💭 Final Thoughts:
And the Corpse Wore Tartan is a strong entry in MacBride’s catalogue, delivering exactly what fans expect while still keeping things fresh. It’s dark, clever, and often surprisingly funny in all the right (and wrong) places.

It’s not the kind of book you read for comfort, but it is the kind you tear through because you need to know what happens next.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

Final Rating ★★★★ – Dark, witty crime with a tartan twist