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Douglas Lindsay
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The Unburied Dead (DS Thomas Hutton Crime Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Douglas Lindsay (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 4,364 ratings

THE FIRST HUTTON. CAPTIVATING. COMPULSIVE. CHILLING.

“I loved this book. It’s dark, grimly humorous, with twists, reversals and surprises that made me go “holy sh*t!” out loud, more than once…” Murderati

THE UNBURIED DEAD introduces Thomas Hutton, the coarse, melancholic, drink-fuelled, sex-addicted police sergeant Tartan Noir has been waiting for.

A killer stalks the streets of Glasgow, his attacks bestial in their ferocity. The police are lost, and soon, as the past begins to haunt them, they themselves become targets.

Step forward Detective Sergeant Hutton, adrift in a sea of love, lust, deception, alcohol, and murdered colleagues. And lost though he is, the dead will not rest, the past will not be buried, and Hutton must find the answers before the killer strikes again…

“Lindsay is an underrated writer with an eccentric, blisteringly satirical voice.” SUNDAY EXPRESS
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  1. Book 1 of 11
    DS Thomas Hutton Crime Series
  2. Print length
    272 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    30 May 2017
  6. File size
    1.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 11 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0717BCZYP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Long Midnight Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 30 May 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 11 ‏ : ‎ DS Thomas Hutton Crime Series
  • Customer reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 4,364 ratings

About the author

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Douglas Lindsay

Douglas Lindsay

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Scottish Field once described Douglas Lindsay as “a master of comic crime.” Readers should note this is because he writes comedy crime novels, not because he murders people while dressed as a clown.

He is the author of thirty-seven novels. His first book became Coen Brothers-esque film comedy, THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMSON, starring Robert Carlyle and Emma Thompson.

His series include:

• The DS Hutton & DI Buchan Glasgow crime novels

• Barney Thomson, nine comic novels and several novellas

• Detective Inspector Westphall – ‘Establishes Lindsay as someone deserving to be spoken of as a master.’ Shots Magazine

He lives in Somerset, England

Find out more at www.douglaslindsay.com and listen to the podcast at coldseptember.podbean.com. The podcast, COLD SEPTEMBER, is also available on Apple, Amazon and Spotify.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
4,364 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book keeps them thoroughly entertained with a gritty crime story full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the last chapter. They appreciate the main character's first-person perspective, the black humor, and the realistic, down-to-earth style. The writing quality receives mixed feedback, with some praising it while others criticize the excessive use of bad language. The pace also divides opinions between those who like it and those who find it slow going.

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332 customers mention ‘Readability’323 positive9 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, with one mentioning it's a good page-turner.

"Crime novels are my genre of choice and this one was a refreshing read. The others writing you can hear the Scottish accents in your minds eye...." Read more

"...Overall this was an enjoyable read that held my interest right to the end." Read more

"Essentially, this book is a good one but here we go again with a main character battling his demons with drink and casual relationships while..." Read more

"...Definitely a book worth reading and if you find it hard at the beginning I would suggest you definitely give it a second shot. A good read." Read more

260 customers mention ‘Storyline’218 positive42 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, praising its good plot and many twists and turns.

"...I thoroughly enjoyed The Unburied Dead, Lindsay doesn't mess around with the story, he just gets right into it from the outset and then drives at a..." Read more

"...The twists and turns are great, and whenever you think you have solved the mystery another curve ball is thrown your way and you find yourself back..." Read more

"...The style of the Author is fantastic; he has created a character that is real, funny, sceptical and well almost human?..." Read more

"...and misogyny doesn’t exist all the way through and there are some good twists and turns to the story." Read more

96 customers mention ‘Character development’76 positive20 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the main character who tells the story and has an unusual background, with one customer highlighting the good banter between characters.

"...The characters are excellent, the vast majority of which are police. Almost to a person they have their problems, quirks and behaviours...." Read more

"...That apart, I think that the characters were reasonable...." Read more

"...A very entertaining read. Scene setting and character filling is excellent, author understands when less is more...." Read more

"...After the next few chapters I was hooked, DS Hutton is a great character, he swears a bit and sleeps around but as you read on it becomes clear why..." Read more

67 customers mention ‘Humour’57 positive10 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, particularly its black style, with one customer noting it's fun in a dark sort of way.

"...There's a sprinkling of black humour which helps to give a realistic feel...." Read more

"...interactions between the DS Hutton and his work colleagues were written very well and I found myself on tenterhooks a lot...." Read more

"...of the Author is fantastic; he has created a character that is real, funny, sceptical and well almost human?..." Read more

"...The author has a most entertaining writing style and supplies plenty of twist and turns in the storyline to keep readers engrossed and flicking the..." Read more

50 customers mention ‘Suspenseful’50 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful, with plenty of intrigue and surprises that keep them guessing until the last chapter.

"...The corruption and sordid nature gave a refreshing twist to the story. Definitely revommend" Read more

"...soar but aside from this a well worked out plot with a few red herrings to keep interest...." Read more

"...chat=racters are all well described and become real whilst the mystery is well hidden until the right period in the story...." Read more

"...im honest it was a slightly disappointing end but I stil enjoyed the suspense and twists" Read more

27 customers mention ‘Style’22 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style, finding it realistic and down-to-earth, with one customer noting its unpretentious nature.

"...of Scotland, the snow, the rain the grey skies, the Scottish Lochs are so well drawn I felt as if I was in the car with the police officers...." Read more

"...Plot driven with all of the twists and turns. A very visual writer, some of the images from the character's time in Bosnia will never leave me...." Read more

"...He's also a very engaging narrator - has an eye for the grotesque & a wicked sense of humour that just about keeps him sane...." Read more

"...The characters were in the main very well drawn, particularly both Hutton himself, who was very believable, and the serial killer, although I felt..." Read more

129 customers mention ‘Writing quality’75 positive54 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it very well written and appreciating its first-person narrative style, while others criticize the excessive use of bad language and find the sentences stilted.

"...The others writing you can hear the Scottish accents in your minds eye. The corruption and sordid nature gave a refreshing twist to the story...." Read more

"Sorry but gratuitous bad language while it may be reflective of some parts of society, is for me a turn off especially in a book...." Read more

"...The Unburied Dead is mainly written in first person (Hutton), present tense which helps keep up the pace...." Read more

"...What I loved the most was the way Lindsay writes, he's a master with his words...." Read more

38 customers mention ‘Pace’23 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pace of the book, with some enjoying it while others find it very slow going and inefficient.

"...the story, he just gets right into it from the outset and then drives at a heady pace where events whip past the reader...." Read more

"...The story was slow to start and DS Thomas Hutton was not the most likable detective....at the beginning...." Read more

"...I could not put it down once I started. It is fast paced, dark and Moody...." Read more

"...As it turned it I found it to be an excellent book and finished it in one sitting, I simply didn't want to stop reading...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • ZEBRASAYSMOO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing crime novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Crime novels are my genre of choice and this one was a refreshing read. The others writing you can hear the Scottish accents in your minds eye. The corruption and sordid nature gave a refreshing twist to the story. Definitely revommend
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  • Ian Barker
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty and believable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 September 2013
    Verified Purchase
    DS Thomas Hutton's life is complicated. A veteran of the Bosnian conflict he's twice divorced, on the verge of getting back together with one of his ex-wives, sleeping with the boss and chronically overworked. Add to that the fact that it's almost Christmas and someone is committing a series of murders. These at first appear random but as the bodies and the clues stack up they begin to point to someone close to home.

    Set in Glasgow this is a gritty and believable portrait of detective work. The story unfolds mainly through Hutton's viewpoint but with the odd contribution from other characters, including the unknown killer. There's a sprinkling of black humour which helps to give a realistic feel.

    Bar a handful of minor typos there's little to fault in the writing though the story feels a tad derivative at times. Overall this was an enjoyable read that held my interest right to the end.
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Depressing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Essentially, this book is a good one but here we go again with a main character battling his demons with drink and casual relationships while investigating. I admire the honesty of the reasons behind the behaviour which are absolutely valid but somehow my compassion battery started running lowvin about the middle of the book. It was just so miserable. It really could be a psychology handbook with a murder thrown in- now that might be a good suggestion for University reading lists! I don't want to read the second one as apparently he spirals downwards further- while still investigating of course so it's goodbye from mevon this character!
    One person found this helpful
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  • KN
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cracking noir
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A woman's body is found, she's been brutally murdered, stabbed over a hundred times. DCI Bloonsbury, once a superstar detective but now a washed up alcoholic, takes charge of the case. As more bodies appear Bloonsbury's faded abilities become a liability and DS Thomas Hutton is in the thick of it, he has theories of his own. But there's a problem, it seems the killer is closer to home than anyone wants to believe and there's a whiff of corruption...

    I thoroughly enjoyed The Unburied Dead, Lindsay doesn't mess around with the story, he just gets right into it from the outset and then drives at a heady pace where events whip past the reader. The narrative is clipped, often using the bare minimum of words.

    At the outset the reader meets Hutton, a man whose difficult past overlaps and complicates his present. He's a copper, not the brightest, but tenacious and ultimately wants to get to the truth, regardless of cost. His personal life is all over the place, several divorces behind him, along with a multitude of one night stands and affairs. Hutton joined up because of Bloonsbury, but the guy is a disappointment these days, and spends most of his time drunk.

    The Unburied Dead is mainly written in first person (Hutton), present tense which helps keep up the pace. Periodically the author also drops in short chapters in third person where we're in the mind of the deranged killer. Again it works well and adds an extra layer. The story is set up to and over Christmas, but the season of goodwill doesn't extend to the investigating team and the victims, it's a nice offset.

    The characters are excellent, the vast majority of which are police. Almost to a person they have their problems, quirks and behaviours. Besides Hutton and Bloonsbury there's DI Taylor, a good detective but another with a messy life - the job has destroyed his marriage. Then Superintendent Miller, an attractive woman who seems to sleep with everyone (including Hutton, whilst his wife is trying to rekindle their relationship) and Crow, an ex-copper who now lives in his own detritus, among others.

    One aspect I really enjoyed was the way the author utilised the characters. Although there is brevity in the tale Lindsay shows interactions between the players, how and why they live their lives with wry observations of life thrown in. One example is a night out where everyone gets drunk, a constable in particular who dances in an increasing state of undress and then isn't allowed to forget it.

    An excellent, well written story that will appeal to readers of gritty, down to earth crime / noir.

    **Originally reviewed for Books and Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Andie
    4.0 out of 5 stars I love books with a twist!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2014
    Verified Purchase
    No, I am not going to give the story away - but I almost didn't persevere with the book at the beginning. The story was slow to start and DS Thomas Hutton was not the most likable detective....at the beginning. But, the story did grip me and I found it hard to put down. The twists and turns are great, and whenever you think you have solved the mystery another curve ball is thrown your way and you find yourself back to the drawing board. The interactions between the DS Hutton and his work colleagues were written very well and I found myself on tenterhooks a lot. Once the book was in full swing I found it hard to put down. Definitely a book worth reading and if you find it hard at the beginning I would suggest you definitely give it a second shot. A good read.
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  • Ruby
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic page turner I couldn't put this book down.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 September 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely loved this book couldn't stop reading it and was disappointed when I finished it. The style of the Author is fantastic; he has created a character that is real, funny, sceptical and well almost human? I can't understand why some reviewers think he is misogynistic? He's a man isn't he? That's unfair, he's a troubled man and he's looking for someone who he can share his nightmares with, someone who will let him off-load his worries but this is just part of his character. He knows he has to face his demons on his own, the past experiences are what make him cynical, hard-nosed and a womaniser yes but that's part of this characters curse.
    The scenes created by Lindsay, his descriptions of Scotland, the snow, the rain the grey skies, the Scottish Lochs are so well drawn I felt as if I was in the car with the police officers.
    What I loved the most was the way Lindsay writes, he's a master with his words. It's almost like Woolf's stream of consciousness with Robert Downey's Sherlock Holmes action. There is little in the thoughts of Hutton's internal dialogue by way of pronoun and this made the book so real for me.
    I will be reading more of his work when I get the chance.

    Ruby Lord
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Lindylou
    4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in Spain on 8 October 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A well written book and the story draws the reader into it. Makes you feel a part of it all
    Well done Douglas and I look forward to the next DS Thomas Hutton book
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  • ozzieinfrance
    5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas will never be the same
    Reviewed in France on 8 February 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Dark comedy, human pathos, the cynicism of police corruption and ineptitude all mingle together with the obsessions of a psychotic serial killer. Set in cold, grey Glasgow during a tumultuous Christmas-New Year week. Perhaps a little too dark, blood-soaked and painful for some but a page-turner with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on his toes.
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  • James B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hard Boiled, Dark, and Darkly Humorous Scottish Police Procedural
    Reviewed in the United States on 7 February 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This whole series is outstanding, and every time I finish a book, I’m delighted to find another waiting. This is a relatively hard boiled police procedural, and there is a lot of swearing and a bit of graphic sex, perhaps more than a bit, so if those things will bother you, look elsewhere. Think of John Rebus, but darker, though not without considerable humor (and the sex), and some Bob Dylan added to the mix, and you have at least a glimpse of what Detective Sergeant Hutton has to offer. He is a deeply haunted man, and we don’t know much about why (that comes in the next volume), but he self-medicates with alcohol and sex, having left three marriages in his wake. However, Hutton is also a capable detective, as his immediate superior, Taylor, another Dylan fan. They fight against the bureaucracy and corruption of the higher ranks of Police Scotland while working their patch of Glasgow. The book zips along with good writing and suspense. Not everything is resolved, as in life, but most lines of enquiry are put to rest. Highly recommended with the caveats mentioned.
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  • Dodo
    2.0 out of 5 stars Pseudo-Coolness aus dem letzten Jahrhundert
    Reviewed in Germany on 18 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    In der "Crime Noir"-Zeit gab es große Autoren wie Raymond Chandler und Verfilmungen mit Humphrey Bogart, die Helden waren zynische, kaltschnäuzige Macho-Typen, die einen "Schlag" bei Frauen hatten und oft Kette rauchten.
    Einen ähnlichen Typen versucht Douglas Lindsay zu schaffen. Kurz gesagt: es gelingt nicht gut. Zum einen, weil hier einfach jegliche Ironie fehlt, die man eben z.B. bei Chandler immer wieder liest, zum anderen, weil die Hauptfigur völlig unglaubwürdig daher kommt.
    In den britischen Rezensionen brachte es jemand so auf den Punkt, dass es klingt, als würde ein Teenager eine Story über einen "knochenharten" Typen schreiben, wie er ihn sich eben so vorstellt. Genau das trifft meiner Meinung nach zu.
    Der "Held" soll ein ehemaliger britischer Soldat sein, der u.a. im Jugoslawien-Krieg eingesetzt war. Nur passt es überhaupt nicht zusammen, wenn einerseits plakativ auf Gräueltaten an Kindern verwiesen wird, andererseits dem Mann seine eigenen Kinder ziemlich wumpe sind.
    Zudem ist der Humor nach meinem Geschmack auch eher flach und wenig originell, als Parodie auf Sam Spade u.a. wären die ersten Seiten vielleicht besser.
    Der Plot, dass ein Frauenmörder in Schottland umgeht, ist auch nicht gerade hochoriginell.
    Insgesamt ein eher durchschnittlicher "Potboiler" nach Schema F.
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  • D'arce Bunn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Fast Paced Police Procedural
    Reviewed in Canada on 29 October 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Violent, sarcastic, humorous and realistic! Characters are more than believable and the fast pace never slows. A thoroughly enjoyable jaunt amidst Scottish crime!
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