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Ed James
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Ghost in the Machine (Police Scotland Crime Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Ed James (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 8,943 ratings
Revised 2025 edition...

Think you're safe online? Think again.

DC Scott Cullen is still green — just three months with Lothian and Borders CID. When a woman vanishes after meeting a date on Schoolbook, Edinburgh’s trendiest new social network, Cullen thinks it’s a routine missing person.

Then her body is found.

As a second woman is found dead, the hunt for a serial killer begins. DI Brian Bain is convinced it’s the ex-husband. Cullen isn’t so sure — and he’ll risk everything to make sure the right person is brought to justice.

With the killer still out there, Cullen’s about to find out just how personal murder can get.


A gritty, gripping and wholly satisfying modern crime novel, Ghost in the Machine asks if we’re ever safe online, and how do we know who to trust? For fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart McBride, Alex Smith and JD Kirk, Ghost in the Machine is the novel that introduced readers to ambitious maverick Detective Scott Cullen, whose Police Scotland series has set the bestseller charts alight.

This is a fully rewritten version of the book.

The Police Scotland series:
  1. Dead in the Water (revised 2024)
  2. Ghost in the Machine (revised 2025)
  3. Devil in the Detail (revised 2025)
  4. Fire in the Blood (revised 2025)
  5. Stab in the Dark (revised 2025)
  6. Cops and Robbers (revised 2019)
  7. Liars and Thieves
  8. Cowboys and Indians
  9. The Missing
  10. The Lost Souls (coming late 2025)
  11. The Hunted
  12. Heroes and Villains
  13. The Black Isle
  14. The Cold Truth
  15. The Dead End
Read more
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  1. Book 2 of 14
    Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers
  2. Print length
    333 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    14 April 2012
  6. File size
    2.5 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 14 books in this series.

In this series (14 books)

Kindle Edition

From the Publisher

Binge the Scott Cullen series now, with the covers to all eight books

Product description

About the Author

Ed James writes crime fiction, predominantly the Scott Cullen series of police procedurals set in Edinburgh and the surrounding Lothians. Ed also writes science fiction and mainstream fiction, but with a crime bent. Ed lives in the East Lothian countryside, 25 miles east of Edinburgh, with his girlfriend, six rescue moggies, two retired greyhounds and a flock of ex-battery chickens. He works in IT, but doesn't wear sandals or have a beard. His blog - edjamesauthor.com - is a log of his work, his thoughts on his writing, and a place for his word count OCD to express itself. His music tastes will creep in now and again.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007U7GQHM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grey Dog Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 14 April 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 333 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 14 ‏ : ‎ Police Scotland Edinburgh Crime Thrillers
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 8,943 ratings

About the author

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Ed James

Ed James

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Ed James is a Scottish author who writes crime fiction novels across multiple series and in multiple locations.

His latest series is set in the Scottish Borders, where Ed now lives, starring DI Rob Marshall – a criminal profiler turned detective, investigating serial murders in a beautiful landscape.

Set four hundred miles south on the gritty streets of East London, his bestselling DI Fenchurch series features a cop with little to lose and a kidnapped daughter to find.

His Police Scotland books are fronted by multiple detectives based in Edinburgh, including Scott Cullen, a young Edinburgh Detective investigating crimes from the bottom rung of the career ladder he’s desperate to climb.

The DS Vicky Dodds books put Dundee on the Tartan Noir map, featuring a driven female detective struggling to combine her complex home life with a heavy caseload.

Formerly an IT project manager, Ed filled his weekly commute to London by writing on planes, trains and automobiles. He now writes full-time and lives in the Scottish Borders with a menagerie of rescued animals.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
8,943 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this British murder mystery engaging and well-paced, with a cleverly written storyline that keeps readers guessing until the end. The characters are well-developed, with one review noting how the leading man's weaknesses make him more human, and the book is easy to read and understand. While some customers appreciate the level of detail, others find it excessive, and opinions on readability are mixed, with several customers describing it as frustrating.

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EnjoymentStorylineCharacter developmentWriting qualityPaceMystery contentLevel of detailReadability
730 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’720 positive10 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a pretty good first novel, with one customer noting it's a continuous read.

"...This book was a great read and despite seeing the 1 and 2 star reviews I went into it expecting much less than I normally would and came out with..." Read more

"...A great first installment of a series and a main character that readers can relate to and want to be successful." Read more

"...A good start to the series." Read more

"...about 4 out of 5... the story was gripping right until the end, excellent job!" Read more

671 customers mention ‘Storyline’618 positive53 negative

Customers find the storyline compelling and cleverly written, describing it as a well-paced thriller that is quite well plotted, with one customer noting how each chapter explores the plot and characters.

"...The writing is tight with pithy chapters that propel the reader along at a steady pace, with just enough descriptive prose to set the scenes...." Read more

"...This is a fast paced police procedural novel that I really enjoyed, good plot and lots of character interaction...." Read more

"...The first chapter is eventful and pacey, and this sets the tone for the rest of the book...." Read more

"The story is great, the characters are great, the timing is great, it's well written and on the surface, there's not a lot wrong with this book...." Read more

311 customers mention ‘Character development’255 positive56 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are well created and relatable, with one customer highlighting how the leading man's weaknesses make him more human.

"...procedural novel that I really enjoyed, good plot and lots of character interaction...." Read more

"...The characters are strong and in some cases highly-strung especially Cullen's boss who seems one step away from a nervous breakdown throughout the..." Read more

"The story is great, the characters are great, the timing is great, it's well written and on the surface, there's not a lot wrong with this book...." Read more

"...This flows really easily, outlines the characters without getting too stuck into their personal back stories. Would I recommend it?..." Read more

303 customers mention ‘Writing quality’262 positive41 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it extremely well written and easy to read and understand, with one customer noting the author's good use of language and dialect.

"...The writing is tight with pithy chapters that propel the reader along at a steady pace, with just enough descriptive prose to set the scenes...." Read more

"...This is a very fast-paced book, told almost exclusively in dialogue which leaves little room for description or mood-setting...." Read more

"...story is great, the characters are great, the timing is great, it's well written and on the surface, there's not a lot wrong with this book...." Read more

"...This is a very good introduction to what I hope will be a long running series, and I'm already looking forward to the next one." Read more

112 customers mention ‘Pace’95 positive17 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as a fast-paced police procedural that keeps moving.

"...The writing is tight with pithy chapters that propel the reader along at a steady pace, with just enough descriptive prose to set the scenes...." Read more

"...This is a fast paced police procedural novel that I really enjoyed, good plot and lots of character interaction...." Read more

"...This is a very fast-paced book, told almost exclusively in dialogue which leaves little room for description or mood-setting...." Read more

"The story is great, the characters are great, the timing is great, it's well written and on the surface, there's not a lot wrong with this book...." Read more

66 customers mention ‘Mystery content’58 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery content of the book, which keeps readers guessing until the end, reminiscent of Rebus murder mysteries, with one customer noting the detailed investigation of multiple murders.

"...Very interesting characters and relationships together with a fast paced plot...." Read more

"...There are many twists and turns, blind alleys and misdirection throughout the book, but they keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting to get to..." Read more

"It was nice reading about early internet investigations...." Read more

"...The plot is intriguing & kept me guessing to the end, the location descriptions add to the reality of the story...." Read more

119 customers mention ‘Level of detail’77 positive42 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the level of detail in the book, with some finding it engaging while others find it excessive and technical.

"...Dialogue is pretty strong and never feels forced and the geography is described will for the benefit of those that don't know the area...." Read more

"...through and well constructed police procedural although it got a little too technical for me on the odd occasion...." Read more

"...There is great attention to detail in all aspects of this book, from the complexities of police culture and procedures to the technical side of..." Read more

"...What we are given in this book is a detailed insight into police procedures - the grunt-work rather than the glamour, and it's all done from the..." Read more

51 customers mention ‘Readability’12 positive39 negative

Customers find the book boring and frustrating to read.

"...The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is that I found it a little plodding (no pun intended) at times...." Read more

"This book was okay for passing the time but did not engage me fully...." Read more

"...very good light - the majority of them are either mysognists, drunks, stupid, lazy, arrogant or a combination of most of these...." Read more

"...Much of the story is written in dialogue so as I was reading it I felt as if I was there in the investigation listening to all the..." Read more

Unreadable due to printing error.
1 out of 5 stars
Unreadable due to printing error.
How do I return this book? I have only just picked it up to read, had two other Ed James to get through first, to find it had been cut and bound totally wrong. Its not just upside down and back to front, its worse than that, the chapters are back to front as well.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Flatfield
    5.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe the 1 star reviews
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I really don't get where the lower star reviews come from for this work. I try to be an objective reviewer and as a professional writer myself I am always honest. Read my others and you'll see I am always honest, often brutally. This book was a great read and despite seeing the 1 and 2 star reviews I went into it expecting much less than I normally would and came out with much more than I had hoped for. Ed James, is a writer to watch.

    At last a detective who isn't a sociopath, alcoholic or depressive. A normal copper doing his job, you may think wont make for interesting reading, but here you'd be wrong, Cullen is an oasis of calm within his department headed by the monstrous Bain, a thoroughly unlovable character.

    The writing is tight with pithy chapters that propel the reader along at a steady pace, with just enough descriptive prose to set the scenes. The authors knowledge of modern computers and programming is used to great effect and is just enough to show that he knows what he's talking about, rather than it becoming like a technical manual. I liked the invention of the social networking site and its later reference to Facebook made it relevant.

    There were at times a few too many characters to keep track of, and at one point when someone mentioned 'the Asian officer' I had to stop and think, who is the Asian officer? I do think maybe trimming the officers down would have been better, but this said it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

    This was a great read, realistic with well structured dialogue kept the story fresh through to the climax.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • WorcesterBlue
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great start to the series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 August 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased this book quite awhile ago but have never got around to reading it until now. I had read a couple of ok novels by this author and no longer fancied it but under duress decided to take a look. So glad I did this is a very good police procedural novel that is the first book in the Scott Cullen series. All of a sudden I feel like reading more of this author and particularly this series. Very interesting characters and relationships together with a fast paced plot.

    Detective Constable Scott Cullen is relatively new to CID and is beginning to find his feet. He is assigned a Missing Persons case, a young recently divorced woman named Caroline Adamson has disappeared whilst on a date. Cullen’s investigations start to uncover problems in her private life but there is a mystery to who she was on a date with. What appeared to a routine missing person turns into a murder hunt when Caroline’s body turns up.

    This is a fast paced police procedural novel that I really enjoyed, good plot and lots of character interaction. Scott Cullen is a character that I can see developing the more I read and look forward to more in this series.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Mark Tilbury
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great first installment of a series and a main character ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2015
    Verified Purchase
    DC Scott Cullen hasn’t been a detective for very long before he is given a missing persons case. A single mother has disappeared whilst on a date and her private life and events surrounding her divorce get examined. The use of social media sites and internet dating are a big part of the story and they are used to show how the characters tie together.

    The first chapter is eventful and pacey, and this sets the tone for the rest of the book. The story continues at the same speed with DC Cullen attempting to solve the case in the midst of workplace bullying and backstabbing, whilst the people he is investigating hide behind their on-line personas.

    The setting of Edinburgh took me away from the usual settings of more southern cities and the use of local dialect made the events in the story seem all the more real. Much of the story is written in dialogue so as I was reading it I felt as if I was there in the investigation listening to all the conversations.

    This police procedural story stands out from many others due to its originality. Its use of social media and other technologies is effective without being complicated. The author’s use of dialogue kept the focus on the characters and what their roles and responsibilities were in the investigation.

    A great first installment of a series and a main character that readers can relate to and want to be successful.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bottomless Hole
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good start to the series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 December 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Set in Edinburgh, this book tells the tell of a series of women who arrange to meet a guy from 'Schoolbook', a rival to Facebook, only to walk almost immediately into his fist, a night of torture and death. Scott Cullen, the central character and a Detective Constable is part of the team assigned to track the killer down.

    This is a very fast-paced book, told almost exclusively in dialogue which leaves little room for description or mood-setting. The characters are strong and in some cases highly-strung especially Cullen's boss who seems one step away from a nervous breakdown throughout the book. Indeed the relentless sarcasm, bickering, bitchiness and arguing in the department leaves one breathless at times and wondering just how it can function so well.

    Many may try and make obvious comparisons between this and the Inspector Rebus books but ti do so would be to miss the point entirely. Yes they are police procedurals, yes they are set in Edinburgh but that is really where the similarities end. This book does not try to copy the works of Rankin and I am sure they have and will continue to develop their own army of followers.

    A good start to the series.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • 🐭 Miki101.Micha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommendable Police Procedural ...
    Reviewed in Italy on 24 November 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first of four (until now) crime ebooks about the DC Scott Cullen in the Lothian and Borders Division, based at Edinburgh.

    A young mother disappears and DC Cullen, Sundance Kid for his awful superior with a knack for naming his subordinates after movie characters, has to find her. Yeah, they will find her, sure, but it's an other type of crime and felon they will be after then! Soon they will be looking for a very serious serial perpetrator...

    I bought all the other stories written by this very promising author too, because the characters are well developed and the crime is highly credible, especially in our days of the Facebook/Twitter generation...
    Look out, what You are looking for!
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  • Imma
    5.0 out of 5 stars Imma
    Reviewed in Spain on 6 December 2014
    Verified Purchase
    My husband, from Edinburgh never heard of Ed James. He was well surprised. Not only he loved the book but visualized every street and place mentioned in it. He's looking forward to read the next one.
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  • MRM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read (and I'm not easily impressed)
    Reviewed in Australia on 11 December 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A great read. What starts off a bit slow (and I admit I almost stopped reading after a few pages) then takes off on a rollercoaster and edge of seat thriller. The humour is good and you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. I did get a bit annoyed at the way the author moves back in time at the end of the book and those parts could have been easily edited out. This stumbled the almost flawless narrative. But this is a minor miss in an otherwise great book.

    Two thumbs up and recommended!
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  • Mej
    3.0 out of 5 stars Readable
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on 19 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Readable but nothing very special. I always finish any book i am reading so that it gets a fair chance, this one was just middle of the road
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  • Peter J Campbell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ghost in the Machine
    Reviewed in Canada on 4 September 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting story. I quite enjoyed this book. A very interesting list of characters to keep you reading and turning the pages.
    Report

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