A Devil's Share

The death of  a guide at a whisky tasting at the Durie family's whisky distillery leads to Duncan Bone and his team helping to uncover a web of crime and corruption including drug smuggling plus a family feud. The team works with other departments of the Scottish police to solve the serious crime-wave they have uncovered. Also working with the team on this case is Detective Superintendent Laverty who will replace Duncan's boss when he retires. She is determined to get to know how the team works before she formally takes charge.

There is always danger in police work but when investigating a drug smuggling crime syndicate the danger is magnified. With two team members out of action there is additional pressure for the team as they assist with this case. Duncan also needs to discover who the man with the red hair is who has been following him and damaging his property. 

A Devil's Share by T G Reid is book 8 in the DCI Duncan Bone series. All the books in this series are crime stories that make you just want to keep reading as the plot is revealed. This book even more so. I will now have to wait until next year until the next installment is published and the story continues. 

Burn It All Down

Book seven in the DCI Duncan Bone series by T G Reid is Burn It All Down. This time Duncan Bone and his team investigate the death of a doctor whose body is discovered in his burnt out house. The doctor's wife has also disappeared. A message left on the fence suggests that this death is an act of revenge. When an ambulance worker is found badly injured by a burnt out truck it appears that the medical profession is being targeted.

The horror of the fires reignites the fears haunting DCI Bone making the investigation more challenging as he fights to control his PTSD. Like the other books in this series, Burn It All Down is not just a gripping account of crime to be solved but also describes the relationship between members of the investigation team, including often amusing banter, as they strive to solve the case.

Night Comes Falling

Earlier this year I borrowed and read the first five books in the DCI Duncan Bone series by Scottish author, T G Reid. I then put in a Suggested Purchase for the next three books in the series which arrived together for me this week. Consequently I have been enjoying binge reading Scottish crime books for the past few days.

When a body is found on an isolated road it is first thought it was the result of a hit and run incident. However it soon becomes obvious that this was a murder. Duncan Bone and his Rural Crime team soon discover that there are many suspects who may have committed the crime, especially as it is revealed that the victim was a womaniser. The investigation becomes more complicated as there may be a connection with murders that occurred forty years previously. Then another body is discovered. It is obvious that the team needs to move quickly to solve the crimes.

Night Comes Falling by T G Reid is book six in the DCI Duncan Bone series. Once again this is a fast moving crime thriller that keeps the reader guessing about who committed the crime. 

Isle of the Dead

Isle of the Dead by T G Reid is number 5 in the DCI Duncan Bone crime series of books set in Scotland. During a swim in the loch, Duncan notices that there has been a dramatic change in the weather. He retreats back to his cabin by the loch as a storm envelops the region. During the night Duncan notices lights on an uninhabited island in the loch. Next day he convinces one of the locals to take him to the island to investigate, although the conditions are still not good for a boat trip on the loch. It is then that the body count begins.

The roads are blocked with snow drifts and power and communication systems are down so it is some time before members of his team are able to assist him with the investigation. The crimes have also occurred in another jurisdiction so two crime teams are working together. He also later learns that one of the suspects is also under suspicion for other crimes.

The Isle of the Dead continues the eventful story of the lives of DCI Bone and his team as they investigate crime in their area and also try to look after their families. In this book, the Scottish weather and local environment contribute to the atmosphere and threat of danger as the police team attempt to discover the murderer.

The Killer Parade

Civic Week Celebrations are about to begin in town and the star of the final show will be a local singer made good. However, when Dee Dee is found murdered DCI Duncan Bone and his team have to work overtime to catch the killer, especially as he has left a message that this will not be the last murder. Although the police recommend that the celebrations should be put on hold, the organisers are determined that the parade and other events will go ahead. 

There are obvious suspects, but when links are made to a similar murder that occurred in another town many years ago the police suspect that they may be dealing with a serial killer. 

The Killing Parade by T G Reid is number 4 in the DCI Duncan Bone series. Like the other books in the series it is a fast paced crime novel that encourages the reader to keep reading to discover what will happen next. The camaraderie and humour that exists between the team members continues to be a feature though there are still challenges to be faced in life outside work for some of the team. However they all look out for each other and provide additional support when required.

Dead Man's Stone

DCI Duncan Bone is still on sick leave when he receives a message to visit a dying man in a prison hospital. The man refuses to talk to anyone else. Bone reluctantly visits the prison where the man tells him where to find an item hidden at a former POW camp. The item is a biscuit box containing a photograph of a possible crime. Investigation proves that the victim in the photo is a teenager believed to have committed suicide in 1979.

It is agreed that DCI Bone can work from home to assist investigating the case. However, as some of the other people identified in the photo are murdered, he takes control of solving the crime - especially as a former senior police officer may be involved. Obviously the investigation is a race against time before more people are killed. 

The DCI Bone series consists of more than just thrilling crime stories as T G Reid allows the reader into the  lives of the main characters. Bone has been suffering from severe PTSD as a result of events in the first novel in the series and is striving to regain control of his life. His wife left him and in the second book she refused him access to their young son but part way through book three she reverses her previous decision. Mark Mullens' father has dementia and his attempts to keep an eye on his father and do his best to help him is another story throughout the novels. Another sub-plot is that DI Rhona Walker and her partner have adopted a baby girl.

Dead Man's Stone is another fast faced crime thriller by Scottish author, T G Reid. It is number 3 in the DCI Duncan Bone series.

Blood Water Falls

A school travels to photograph the scene as the first sun's rays for the morning strike the waterfall on the Solstice. A dedicated environmentalist, when he goes to investigate something suspicious in the water the teacher is killed. At first the disappearance of the teacher is treated as a missing person case but as days pass DCI Duncan Bone and his team are called in to help with the investigation. Then a body is found behind the falls.

With many possible suspects this is not an easy case to solve. It is further complicated by certain members of the media demanding answers and causing the police hierarchy to demand a rapid solution to the case.

A major aspect of the book is the interaction between the members of the police team as they work on the case. As they strive to discover the truth and make an arrest there is still time for occasional humour and an insight into the lives of the officers away from work. Duncan Bone is still fighting PTSD which creates an additional challenge. He is also still coming to terms with the separation from his wife and infrequent contact with his son.

As well as being a crime novel Blood Water Falls by TG Reid is a character driven novel. Descriptions of the local Scottish environment is also a feature of the book.

Dark is the Grave

Duncan Bone is on sick leave recovering from his last case when a suspect detonated a bomb killing himself and injuring the detective. Although becoming physically fit again, Duncan Bone is still suffering from the effects of PTSD. His wife has left him and he is trying to gain permission to spend extra time with his son.

One morning he receives a recording showing the death of a young policewoman. The film brings back the trauma of his previous case locating the perpetrator of a series of police murders. He immediately takes the film to the police and is put back in charge of the case to find this copy cat murderer before more police are killed. There are a number of obvious suspects. It is obvious that the new killer knew the 'peek-a-boo' killer well but who is responsible? Duncan Bone and his team must quickly find who is responsible for the new murders and why the killings have recommenced.

Dark is the Grave by Scottish author T G Reid is the first book in the DCI Duncan Bone series. It is a fast paced murder mystery and I look forward to reading further books in the series.

Changing Australian Education

The subtitle to this book by Alan Reid is 'How policy is taking us backwards and what can be done about it'.

In this book Alan Reid looks at the current state of Australian education policy and the need to change, the problems with Australian education policy, discusses changing the education narrative including the process for thinking about the future of education in Australia then suggests new policy directions specifically for Australian education.

In the first section of the book the author outlines his concerns about the way education in Australia and other countries is evaluated. He discusses at length the world wide education evaluation programs, particularly the standardised testing that occurs in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Fifteen year old students from a selection of schools from 72 countries (2015) sit scientific literacy tests plus reading literacy or mathematical literacy tests. PISA testing occurs every three years and the tables are constructed providing current world rankings and whether a country has moved up or down the ladder. [The results of the 2018 tests were recently announced resulting in media concern about the state of education in Australia compared with the rest of the world - article in Sydney Morning Herald 6 December 2018] Alan Reid argues how PISA provides inaccurate readings of Australian educational outcomes especially as the tests are held on a narrow section of the curriculum, the current tests are done on computer which benefits some students over others, only a selection of schools in a selection of countries take part and in some cases a country is represented by one city or region, styles of education vary from country to country and generally the tests do not provide a reading of educational standards generally. The style of education in schools varies greatly in different countries as we have seen when comparing education in some countries with the emphasis on achieving the highest results with schools in Australia where students are encouraged to participate in sport and other interests as well as their studies.

At present education policy appears to be largely designed to address the results of PISA and the Australian NAPLAN tests rather than the needs of individual students allowing them to receive a good general education. One of the outcomes should be to prepare students to participate actively in the future development of our country.

This is the 21st century and Alan Reid strongly suggests that people actively engaged with the education of young people should have a strong say in the formation of the public education policy in this country, rather than bureaucrats and politicians devising policies in reaction to standardised tests that may not have much validity except to create a story for the press.

An interesting look at education in Australia today with suggestions as to how a better, more equitable system could be devised to benefit the range of students in Australia.

NB Once this period of home education ends due to COVID-19 it will be interesting to view any changes that then flow on to education in Australian schools.