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  • The Gathering Dark

  • Inspector McLean, Book 8
  • By: James Oswald
  • Narrated by: Ian Hanmore
  • Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (816 ratings)
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The Gathering Dark cover art

The Gathering Dark

By: James Oswald
Narrated by: Ian Hanmore
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Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Gathering Dark by James Oswald, read by Ian Hanmore.

A truck driver loses control in central Edinburgh, ploughing into a crowded bus stop and spilling his vehicle's toxic load. The consequences are devastating.

DI Tony McLean witnesses the carnage. Taking control of the investigation, he soon realises there is much that is deeply amiss - and everyone involved seems to have something to hide.

But as McLean struggles to uncover who caused the tragedy, a second crisis develops: the new Chief Superintendent's son is missing, last seen in the area of the crash....

Brilliantly plotted and utterly compelling, this is the gripping new novel in the best-selling Inspector McLean series.

©2017 James Oswald (P)2017 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about The Gathering Dark

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Warmly Supernatural!

Another quality episode in a series which delivers a real hard edge of the modern world alongside whispers of the creepy supernatural while somehow wrapping them up in a cuddly blanket. There are true elements of horror here but with devices like Madame Rose and Mrs McCutcheon's cat as well as the warmth invested in his characters Oswald achieves an excellent balance.

Of course some of that warmth comes from the deliciously smooth tones of Ian Hanmore who will surely always be the voice of Tony McLean and company. His is a voice I could, in fact have, listened to for hours.

I wouldn't say it is always as intense as some of the earlier books but it's very engaging throughout and the various parts of the ending draw it together very impressively. In fact for anyone who is invested in these characters it doesn't just drift off it delivers a smart punch to the jaw to jolt you out of any complacency and leaves you wanting the next book to come quickly!

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12 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Comfortable read but so repetitive.


Finally, the supernatural is openly supernatural but for a very short spell, what has not changed is the pandering to the new readers; we are told about the car, his wife and Madam Rose ( A character that contributes very little to the plot but political correctness ) and the cats at noxious.
This is book eight and the conspiracy theories have not advanced one bit, also the characters are becoming stuck in a groove that seems to just go on repeat.
I had looked forward to this book but find it disappointing and repetitive, time to develop characters and storyline, time to take a chance, the Alfa Romeo is parked in the garage and readers are very forgiving; no need to fear losing it.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Darkness continues...

I think Tony could cut a break at this stage-good story and excellent narration, but a bit of happiness is long overdue....come on Mr Oswald!

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A very enjoyable read

The first time I listened to this book I felt a bit disappointed. I had waited for it for a long time and when I finished it I didn’t think it had as good a plot as the previous books. However it prompted me to listen to the whole series in order and when I listened to this book for a second time I found it more enjoyable and I realised that there was considerably more to the plot than I had given it credit for the first time.

It is a good story with an odd end, but there are lots of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and as always there is a sprinkling of the supernatural. Mrs McCutcheon’s cat and Madam Rose are my favourite characters in the series as a whole but it is hard to identify a favourite character in this book. I rather liked the new Chief Superintendent but it seems that there will be more changes to get used to in the next book.

I like the supernatural element, I think he gets it just right. Best of all I like the wonderful narration by Ian Hanmore, he brings the books to life.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

always a good read

A good follow to bk 7 and as always the story is spread widely and pulling all the threads together at the end. The narration is excellent and has a timbre to it that impacts the story to a greater level.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another great Tony McLean tale

James Oswald has this amazing knack of making supernatural events seem almost normal and Tony McLean seems to have an equally good knack of getting involved in these weird events.

I have read all of this series and they just get better and better. Some of the characters feel like old friends, like Madam Rose and Angus Cadwallader.

I bought and downloaded this the day it was released and have devoured it, as I have all the others. Very entertaining and if there is an audio version of a page turner, this is it!

Ian Hanmore is as brilliant as ever, his voice is so lovely to listen to and he reads women very well too, something a lot of male narrators struggle with.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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loved this book

loved this book, gripping from the start to the end. a 5 star listen, this series is brilliant.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Book

Loved this book. The story was excellent and had lots of twists and turns. I would recommend this novel to any and everyone.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

dark and gripping

yet another well constructed storyline, introducing a more human sadness into the finale. how can you follow this yet more sadness for Tony.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

More of Tony being a work-obsesssed dolt

Getting a bit tiresome really.
"McLean knew he should ring Emma... but he didn't. He'd make it up to her later"
That's the theme of the whole book really - forgetting to check up on her for the whole day when she's been rushed to hospital, neglecting to call when he really should, missing antenatal classes... Makes me want to punch him in the face, which is not what I want in a main character.

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1 person found this helpful