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Stuart MacBride
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Birthdays for the Dead: The gripping No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling crime suspense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat! Kindle Edition

by Stuart MacBride (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 2,419 ratings

Twelve years. Twelve dead girls. Thirteen will be unlucky for some.

The Number One bestselling crime thriller from the award-winning Stuart MacBride. A bloody, brilliant and brutal story of murder, kidnap and revenge.

Detective Constable Ash Henderson has a dark secret…

Five years ago his daughter, Rebecca, went missing on the eve of her thirteenth birthday. A year later the first card arrived: home-made, with a Polaroid picture stuck to the front – Rebecca, strapped to a chair, gagged and terrified. Every year another card: each one worse than the last.

The tabloids call him ‘The Birthday Boy’. He’s been snatching girls for twelve years, always just before their thirteenth birthday, killing them slowly, then torturing their families with his homemade cards.

But Ash hasn’t told anyone what really happened to Rebecca – they all think she ran away – because if anyone finds out, he’ll be taken off the investigation. And he’s sacrificed too much to give up before his daughter’s murderer gets what he deserves…

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Ash Henderson
  2. Print length
    487 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  5. Publication date
    January 5, 2012
  6. File size
    1.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Taking a break from his Logan McRae series, MacBride offers a stand-alone whose premise is pure, twisted genius. Ash Henderson, a big, bruising police detective in fictional Oldcastle, Scotland, has been chasing a killer who snatches girls before their thirteenth birthday, tortures them to death, and then sends birthday cards—with gruesome photos—to the girls’ families each year thereafter. The kicker? Henderson has been getting the birthday cards, too, but won’t tell anyone his missing daughter is also a victim: if he’s taken off the case, he’ll lose his chance to catch the “Birthday Boy” himself. This has all the hallmarks of MacBride’s best books—gruesome violence, foul weather, pitch-black humor, and entertainingly mismatched protagonists (Henderson is paired with “freak-show” forensic psychologist Alice McDonald). But despite all this has to offer readers so inclined, MacBride needs an editor who’s not afraid to use a knife, as the book feels about 100 pages and one plot twist too long. On the other hand, those who enjoy spending time in MacBride’s dark world may not mind a bit. --Keir Graff

Review

Praise for Birthdays for the Dead: 'MacBride is a damned fine writer -- no one does dark and gritty like him' PETER JAMES Praise for Stuart MacBride: 'Fierce, unflinching and shot through with the blackest of humour; this is crime fiction of the highest order' Mark Billingham 'Some of the grittiest crime-writing in the field' Independent 'Admirers of tough, modern crime novels will be in seventh heaven -- or should that be hell?' Express 'Ferocious and funny' Val McDermid 'Hard-hitting prose with a bone-dry humour and characters you can genuinely believe in, Stuart MacBride's novels are a real treat' Simon Kernick

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005OECQ68
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (January 5, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 5, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 487 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 000734418X
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 2,419 ratings

About the author

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Stuart MacBride

Stuart MacBride

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Stuart MacBride is the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae and Ash Henderson novels. He’s also published standalones, novellas, short stories, and a slightly twisted children’s picture book for slightly twisted children.

Stuart lives in the wilds of northeast Scotland with his wife Fiona; cats Gherkin, Onion, and Beetroot; some hens; some horses; and an impressive collection of assorted weeds.

© Author Photo: Stuart MacBride

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
2,419 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this crime thriller for its fast-paced narrative and engaging characters, appreciating the humor in its dark storyline. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting it's a well-written mystery thriller. While the plot receives mixed reactions, with some praising its great twists while others find it contrived, customers consider it worth the time and money to read.

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38 customers mention "Readability"34 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, enjoying every page and considering it worth the time and money to read.

"...The character development of the two as the novel progressed was worth seeing...." Read more

"...a terrifying path and affects all those around him, leading to a fantastic finish that left me thinking about it two books and a couple of weeks..." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book...." Read more

"...I liked it so its 4 stars for a good read." Read more

23 customers mention "Humor"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and compelling, appreciating the humor in its dark and disturbing storyline.

"...+ The plot. Unique enough to be interesting, but not over the top. Negatives: -..." Read more

"...for stories that shed light on different cultures made this a more interesting read, but by the final third, I could not put it down...." Read more

"...It is, nevertheless, a fascinating and well written mystery thriller." Read more

"...I am enjoying this series immensely. Would like to meet the author, Fiona, and Griselda. However, I'll take a pass on the thousands of spiders." Read more

22 customers mention "Writing quality"17 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, particularly MacBride's style, with one customer noting it's a page-turner that captures the reader's attention.

"...Now lets get to it: Positives: + The writing...." Read more

"...However, it is one of the best novels of its kind I have read though I hope the police in this story are not typical of the far-from-London law..." Read more

"...However, the story was compelling and I really enjoy MacBride's writing. I'm probably going to continue reading the Ash Henderson books." Read more

"Seems like a good book, but way too English for me. I cant even understand what they're saying. Auther can't be all bad...." Read more

18 customers mention "Pacing"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, finding it fast-paced and easy to get caught up in, with one customer noting how the story moves effortlessly.

"...This was sure a 180 from the Logan McRae series. Bloody, dark and utterly relentless.... and yet? I liked it more then the McRae series...." Read more

"...All in all a first rate thriller that merits some initial persistence. Stuart Macbride ranks with Ian Rankin as a top crime writer...." Read more

"...She was the perfect foil for an angry, depressed man and her meandering monologues on anything and everything lightened the whole book...." Read more

"...me forget that I was exercising so that I was able to exercise faster and longer than usual...." Read more

13 customers mention "Character development"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, finding them engaging, with one review highlighting the talented psychiatrist protagonist.

"...+ The characters. Ash and Alice are both interesting characters. The character development of the two as the novel progressed was worth seeing...." Read more

"...Bodies are discovered, our latest psychiatrist displays great talents, and Ash's problems get infinitely worse...." Read more

"...On the other hand Ash could also, on occasion, be quite a nice person and his partnership with psychologist, Alice McDonald, absolutely made this..." Read more

"...Despite his often poor decision making, he is a sympathetic character and even becomes quite likable at times...." Read more

8 customers mention "Development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the development of the book, describing it as gritty and getting better as it progresses, with one customer noting it goes from strength to strength.

"...Plus she was super smart and her insights into other's behaviour were always instructive...." Read more

"...I was tempted to stop reading. At about half way through it got very good. A lot of twists & turns in it...." Read more

"Birthdays for the Dead is a gritty and fantastic novel. The characters are believable and likeable...." Read more

"...This writer goes from strength to strength , I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys there thrillers with all the gory details." Read more

45 customers mention "Plot quality"28 positive17 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot of the book, with some praising it as a first-rate thriller with great twists, while others find it contrived and too violent.

"Yikes. This was sure a 180 from the Logan McRae series. Bloody, dark and utterly relentless.... and yet? I liked it more then the McRae series...." Read more

"...not compensate for characters which are less than convincing, gratuitous violence, and unconvincing developments in the plot." Read more

"...However, the story was compelling and I really enjoy MacBride's writing. I'm probably going to continue reading the Ash Henderson books." Read more

"...All in all a first rate thriller that merits some initial persistence. Stuart Macbride ranks with Ian Rankin as a top crime writer...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Caotico09
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow.Wow.Wow.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Yikes. This was sure a 180 from the Logan McRae series. Bloody, dark and utterly relentless.... and yet? I liked it more then the McRae series. Now, don't judge Stuart MacBride by this book. I would seriously suggest reading the McRae series first, because Birthdays for the Dead is not a book that leaves you with a "warm fuzzy".

    Birthday's follows Ash Henderson, a cop who is a 'good guy' but lacking in certain moral areas. It doesn't help that he is in-debted to the local mob. Add in a psychopath killer who sends the victim's parents explicit photos of children, and the fact that one of the missing children is Ash's, and Ash is lucky to not just have a mental breakdown. Now lets get to it:

    Positives:
    + The writing. While i always thought the McRae novels were hit-or-miss in this aspect, Birthdays for the Dead knocks it out of the park. The best thing about mystery novels is trying to come up with a solution before the book gives it to you. This book is great at that, it lays out scenarios that had me going "it has to be xxx", then "xxx" is arrested by Ash, and turns out not to be the guy. This makes for an enjoyable, on-the-edge-of-your-seat read.
    + The characters. Ash and Alice are both interesting characters. The character development of the two as the novel progressed was worth seeing. As they are put through tougher and tougher situations, the layers are stripped away and the characters gain depth- instead of falling flat.
    + The plot. Unique enough to be interesting, but not over the top.

    Negatives:
    - Cringe-worthy violence (like seriously, if violence/gore turns your stomach, do NOT read this one)
    - No warm-feelings at the end of this one.
    - There were a few boring why-is-this here moments with side characters (ie: Rhona/Shifty) that felt like filler that could of been left out.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Elaine Bergstrom
    4.0 out of 5 stars Holy s***e, this was a great read!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    First off, this is my first novel by MacBride so I have nothing to compare it with. However, it is one of the best novels of its kind I have read though I hope the police in this story are not typical of the far-from-London law enforcement in Great Britain. DC Ash Henderson has to deal with murderous loan sharks out to break his legs (or worse), a police profiler so fearful she provides comic relief in the story, and the dark secret that the serial killer he is pursuing made his older daughter one of his victims. Perhaps my genuine love for stories that shed light on different cultures made this a more interesting read, but by the final third, I could not put it down.

    Like the British version of the TV series Shameless, getting used to the British slang (undefined in Kindle) was off putting, but once the story started rolling, I forgot about it. If this is a lesser MacBride novel, I can't wait to read one of the great ones.
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  • earlybird
    3.0 out of 5 stars I definitely enjoyed seeing MacBride do something different
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It's brutal! I'm a fan of the Logan McCrae series. I definitely enjoyed seeing MacBride do something different. I'm giving 3 stars because the violence in this book is hard to take and I don't like Ash Henderson as a character. However, the story was compelling and I really enjoy MacBride's writing. I'm probably going to continue reading the Ash Henderson books.
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  • Mark Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Birthday for the Dead
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    BOOK REVIEW
    "Birthdays for the Dead"
    by
    Stuart Macbride
    For McBride fans DC Logan McRae does not appear in this novel and Aberdeen only does peripherally. The book's cover gives a clue to the story `TWELVE YEARS. TWELVE DEAD GIRLS, THIRTEEN WILL BE UNLUCKY FOR SOME' All alas too true as the novel opens with a horrific prelude involving a tortured young girl before the curtain rises on the opening chapter. In some ways this introduction reminded me of a developing painting where the artist creates tiny unconnected portions and slowly welds them into a whole.
    The narrator awakes rather bruised and battered, we have no idea who he is as he opens a cigar box containing several numbered cards showing a young girl in progressive stages of brutal mutilation. Each bears the message "Happy Birthday". Five years since his daughter disappeared, five cards one delivered on each of her birthdays today being the latest.
    He wakes a very badly beaten lout asleep on his sofa then drives off to work, his mobile rings and an Irish harridan warns him if he has not repaid £3000 as part of his massive debt by noon next day he will receive a friendly reminder. this guy has big problems whoever he is.
    Arriving at his workplace we learn he is something in the police. There is a conference in progress where CID discuss a long running case in where a serial killer kidnaps a girl each year just before her 13th birthday, on that date he tortures her to death. He takes many photographs in the process. These he makes into cards he sends to the parents each year, no matter where they move to he finds them; our narrator is one such parent. The painting grows but there remains a lot to be inserted.
    At long last our narrator's identity and rank are revealed Detective Constable Ash Henderson. We also gradually learn that he is not the nicest of persons. He has another daughter, now twelve and living with her mother. She divorced Ash when she discovered his affair with an attractive lady journalist.
    Two psychiatrist profilers have been assigned to the investigation the first could take no more of it and retired to a whisky sodden existence in The Shetland Isles. His replacement went even further by committing suicide.
    His replacement, just arrived, is a lady with a heap of personal phobias of her own although top of her class at Edinburgh University. Ash is assigned to work with her and at long last that painting starts taking some sort of form.
    That is about all I can tell you except under no circumstances be put off by the vagueness of the opening chapters. While things heat up very slowly they will eventually turn into a raging inferno. Bodies are discovered, our latest psychiatrist displays great talents, and Ash's problems get infinitely worse.
    All in all a first rate thriller that merits some initial persistence.
    Stuart Macbride ranks with Ian Rankin as a top crime writer. The best of the genre no longer involve New York or L.A. Scots towns and cities now merit at least as much attention.
    One word of advice however, if you are squeamish it's best to leave this one well alone.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • L. D. Godfrey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Birthdays for the Dead
    Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Stuart MacBride's novel Birthdays for the Dead is a great read. I started the book as soon as it arrived and it was one of those novels that you don't want to put down. The main character, Detective Constable Ash Henderson is almost the stereotypical cop character,you know the type. They have been beaten by life,divorced,living only for the job because the rest of their lives are in ruins,but still standing or almost standing.When I say that Henderson was beaten,I mean figuratively and literally. This guy was being beat up or beating someone up in almost every chapter. This is one rough guy. Henderson doesn't believe in taking prisoners with his give harder than you get mentality,after all some creepy serial killer has his daughter,a fact that he has kept to himself for years not even sharing with his ex-wife or the police. Then you have Dr Alice McDonald, her real name is Charlotte but she likes Alice better. Alice is a forensic psychologist, new to the force, described as delightfully quirky. She is top of her class, intuitive, intelligent and completely helpless in the face of her own fears. I loved this character, she provides the comic relief that is much appreciated for while MacBride doesn't keep hitting you over the head with the violence he also never lets you wander far away from it either.I can't say I have read all of MacBridefs work or even most but I can tell you that this won't be the last. Say what you want about recurring characters, I found this pair a class act and I hope they show up again. MacBride does a great job spinning this plot, laying out the very colourful characters and bringing it all together.
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  • Abhishek Kumar
    3.0 out of 5 stars okay
    Reviewed in India on December 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is the second book by the author i have read which is not as good as the first one but still a one time read if you are interested in the writer .
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  • Mrs. E. J. Mcbrien
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book as I have read all the Logan and Steel books and thought would give this a go. I must admit the previous previews slightly put me off as being all blood and guts etc but, hey ho give it a go, and so glad I did. I think I even enjoyed this more than some of the logan books. I found it was quite gory in detail but at the same time, as others have said, it has its humouress side, especially Alice the psychologist, brilliant character. If you like a bit of excitement, blood and guts and humour then this is for you. I found it hard to put down as the story didn't waiver in the least. Well done SB hope the 2nd in this series is as good, if not better, as I have just purchased it.
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  • 1837
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Stuart Macbride beauty
    Reviewed in Australia on October 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Another Stuart Macbride beauty
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  • HaSi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Birthday...
    Reviewed in Germany on August 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Schonungslos, spannend, überraschend. Als Fan von MacBride bin ich vielleicht nicht ganz objektiv, aber dieses Buch ist wirklich gut. Skurriele aber glaubwürdige Charaktäre, interessante Wendungen, schwarzer Humor und böse Überraschungen.
    Ich hatte beim Lesen den Eindruck, dass MacBride hier einiges rauslässt, was er in einer Serie (MacRae) nicht kann.
    Absolut lesenswert. Ich werde mir die Deutsche Version auf jeden Fall auch noch besorgen .
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