The Lost Sister (2009)
"Does for Dundee what Rankin did for Edinburgh" - James Oswald
"...with The Lost Sister McLean serves notice that he’s a new force rapidly rising in the ranks to stand alongside the best Scottish crime fiction writers of today. " - Spinetingler Magazine
Mary Furst is missing. The teenage girl, god-daughter of local hard man David Burns, was a good girl with no history of trouble. But when PI J McNee is reluctantly drawn in to the investigation surrounding her disappearance, he soon discovers that the worst lies people tell are the ones to protect themselves, and that old secrets have a way of impacting on the present.
The second J McNee novel.
Now available in a new edition with cover design by JT Lindroos
Available on Kindle - Amazon UK/Amazon US
Print version (2019) via Amazon UK/Amazon US (or ask your local bookstore)
First published in the UK in 2009 by Five Leaves Publications
"...with The Lost Sister McLean serves notice that he’s a new force rapidly rising in the ranks to stand alongside the best Scottish crime fiction writers of today. " - Spinetingler Magazine
Mary Furst is missing. The teenage girl, god-daughter of local hard man David Burns, was a good girl with no history of trouble. But when PI J McNee is reluctantly drawn in to the investigation surrounding her disappearance, he soon discovers that the worst lies people tell are the ones to protect themselves, and that old secrets have a way of impacting on the present.
The second J McNee novel.
Now available in a new edition with cover design by JT Lindroos
Available on Kindle - Amazon UK/Amazon US
Print version (2019) via Amazon UK/Amazon US (or ask your local bookstore)
First published in the UK in 2009 by Five Leaves Publications
Praise for The Lost Sister
THE LOST SISTER shortlisted for best new voice category in the 2010 Spinetingler Awards
"McLean’s sophomore effort... makes for good reading with its unflinching portrayal of people under extreme stress."
Hank Wagner for Mystery Scene Magazine
"[THE LOST SISTER] excels in establishing J. McNee as a character worth following, someone motivated by a desire to make up for previous failures, a P.I. capable of establishing distinction from so many of his wisecracking, philosophizing brethren."
J Kingston Pierce for Kirkus Reviews
"There’s a violent undercurrent always ready to surface in McLean’s gritty take-no-prisoners prose and storytelling. Once he begins, you are roped in to the end, regardless of how many excuses you make to yourself to put the book down. The noir trinities are keenly and astutely observed: Dirty. Bloody. Menacing. They are all here, delivered expertly by a telling hand. "
Sam Millar for New York Journal of Books
"McLean’s sophomore effort... makes for good reading with its unflinching portrayal of people under extreme stress."
Hank Wagner for Mystery Scene Magazine
"[THE LOST SISTER] excels in establishing J. McNee as a character worth following, someone motivated by a desire to make up for previous failures, a P.I. capable of establishing distinction from so many of his wisecracking, philosophizing brethren."
J Kingston Pierce for Kirkus Reviews
"There’s a violent undercurrent always ready to surface in McLean’s gritty take-no-prisoners prose and storytelling. Once he begins, you are roped in to the end, regardless of how many excuses you make to yourself to put the book down. The noir trinities are keenly and astutely observed: Dirty. Bloody. Menacing. They are all here, delivered expertly by a telling hand. "
Sam Millar for New York Journal of Books
"As with his first book, there are no words or trees wasted in the telling of this bleak story. The author never displays an overfondness for the appearance of his own words on paper, never gets himself between McNee and the reader. The entire story has the bitter ambiance of a "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." all over it. Is it noir? Well, if everyone is wrong going in, and they're wrong or dead coming out, I think that qualifies.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
The Drowning Machine
"...an intense, taut crime story with a caustic PI. Not to be missed by fans of straight-up hardboiled noir.” (4 stars)
RT Book Reviews
"...firmly rooted in the first person PI tradition with enough banter to keep the hard-boiled narrative cracking."
Milwakuee Journal Sentinel
"There’s something in the water across the pond that’s creating my favorite American-style PI writers out of y’know, Europeans. With The Lost Sister, you can go ahead and place McLean and McNee solidly in the company of Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor, Tony Black’s Gus Drury and Ray Banks’ Cal Innes as honorary Yanks... If you’re looking for some ponderous violence and some earnest redemption seeking, this one’s right up your alley."
Jedidiah Ayers for B&N's Ransom Notes
"A new (to me) setting, strong dialogue and a compelling story all make this a must-read, but it's really the main character that is this book's main draw."
I Love a Good Mystery top reads 2010
"...begins to open up McNee’s psychological baggage, making him more human and understandable...for readers who like Brian McGilloway and Michael Koryta, two authors who introduced fresh voices and individual takes on crime."
Library Journal (starred review)
"Scotland lends itself well to the noir tradition but Dundee basks and wallows in the bare knuckles and concrete landings of McLean's superb novel."
I meant to Read That
"...delivers on every level with its great mix of emotion, mystery and thrills."
Keith B Walters at Books and Writers
'Russel D McLean's second novel about tortured Scottish PI J McNee is a dark, downbeat, and wholly driven piece of intense writing that keeps you gripped from the very first page and stays with you long after the last is done. Slick and cynical, it confirms an outstanding new talent in crime noir.'
Zoe Sharp, author of Fourth Day
"No sophomore slump for McLean: with The Lost Sister McLean serves notice that he’s a new force rapidly rising in the ranks to stand alongside the best Scottish crime fiction writers of today. "
Spinetingler Magazine
"...a very highly recommended read, especially for those respectful of good crisp writing, character development and an ability to tell a tale with spot on dialogue and writing skill."
Charlie Stella, author of Johnny Porno
"this excellent second novel proves that [McLean] is no flash in the pan."
Crimesquad.com
"Snappily written heart-thumper... older crime writers should be looking over their shoulders at [McLean] and taking note."
The Skinny
"...a worthy succesor of Lew Archer"
Sons of Spade
"..gripping and intense... [McNee is a] refreshing change from the usual mainstream crime fiction hero."
Euro Crime
"Assured and uncompromising"
The Big Issue in Scotland
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
The Drowning Machine
"...an intense, taut crime story with a caustic PI. Not to be missed by fans of straight-up hardboiled noir.” (4 stars)
RT Book Reviews
"...firmly rooted in the first person PI tradition with enough banter to keep the hard-boiled narrative cracking."
Milwakuee Journal Sentinel
"There’s something in the water across the pond that’s creating my favorite American-style PI writers out of y’know, Europeans. With The Lost Sister, you can go ahead and place McLean and McNee solidly in the company of Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor, Tony Black’s Gus Drury and Ray Banks’ Cal Innes as honorary Yanks... If you’re looking for some ponderous violence and some earnest redemption seeking, this one’s right up your alley."
Jedidiah Ayers for B&N's Ransom Notes
"A new (to me) setting, strong dialogue and a compelling story all make this a must-read, but it's really the main character that is this book's main draw."
I Love a Good Mystery top reads 2010
"...begins to open up McNee’s psychological baggage, making him more human and understandable...for readers who like Brian McGilloway and Michael Koryta, two authors who introduced fresh voices and individual takes on crime."
Library Journal (starred review)
"Scotland lends itself well to the noir tradition but Dundee basks and wallows in the bare knuckles and concrete landings of McLean's superb novel."
I meant to Read That
"...delivers on every level with its great mix of emotion, mystery and thrills."
Keith B Walters at Books and Writers
'Russel D McLean's second novel about tortured Scottish PI J McNee is a dark, downbeat, and wholly driven piece of intense writing that keeps you gripped from the very first page and stays with you long after the last is done. Slick and cynical, it confirms an outstanding new talent in crime noir.'
Zoe Sharp, author of Fourth Day
"No sophomore slump for McLean: with The Lost Sister McLean serves notice that he’s a new force rapidly rising in the ranks to stand alongside the best Scottish crime fiction writers of today. "
Spinetingler Magazine
"...a very highly recommended read, especially for those respectful of good crisp writing, character development and an ability to tell a tale with spot on dialogue and writing skill."
Charlie Stella, author of Johnny Porno
"this excellent second novel proves that [McLean] is no flash in the pan."
Crimesquad.com
"Snappily written heart-thumper... older crime writers should be looking over their shoulders at [McLean] and taking note."
The Skinny
"...a worthy succesor of Lew Archer"
Sons of Spade
"..gripping and intense... [McNee is a] refreshing change from the usual mainstream crime fiction hero."
Euro Crime
"Assured and uncompromising"
The Big Issue in Scotland
