The Bob Skinner Series by Quintin Jardine

Enter the gritty world of Quintin Jardine’s Bob Skinner series, the bestselling Scottish crime fiction saga following Detective Chief Constable Bob Skinner—Edinburgh’s toughest cop who leads the city’s Criminal Investigation Department with uncompromising determination, tactical brilliance, and a fierce loyalty to his team. Set against the backdrop of Scotland’s capital city from 1993 to present.

Blending intricate police procedurals, political intrigue, and deep personal drama, the Bob Skinner series delivers authentic Scottish crime fiction at its finest. From terrorist attacks during the Edinburgh Festival to cold cases spanning decades, Skinner navigates the dark underbelly of the city while balancing the demands of his high-pressure career with his complex family life.

Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, Peter Robinson, and Scottish crime thrillers, the Bob Skinner novels are essential reading for anyone who loves Edinburgh-based mysteries, complex detectives, police politics, and layered investigations spanning multiple books.

Bob Skinner by Quintin Jardine — Complete Series (38 Books)

Follow DCC Bob Skinner from his explosive debut investigating a mutilated corpse in Edinburgh’s alleys through his rise to Chief Constable, his battles with terrorists, serial killers, and political conspiracies, to his recent semi-retirement as a private investigator.

📖 The Early Years (Books 1-8)

The original investigations establishing Skinner as Edinburgh’s toughest cop:

• The Debut: Skinner’s Rules (1993) — The mutilated corpse of a lawyer launches Skinner’s career and a hunt for a ritualistic killer.
• Terrorism: Skinner’s Festival (1994) — An Edinburgh Festival bombing reveals a professional terrorist group demanding Scottish independence.
• Trail of Death: Skinner’s Trail (1994) — Murder in an affluent suburb leads to Spain and a web of vice and corruption.
• Golf & Murder: Skinner’s Round (1995) — A country club partner found dead in a Jacuzzi with his throat cut on the eve of a major golf tournament.
• Ordeal: Skinner’s Ordeal (1996) — A mid-air explosion kills the British and American defense secretaries; Skinner faces his greatest professional crisis.
• Mission: Skinner’s Mission (1997) — An Edinburgh car showroom torched with a body inside; Skinner must help a criminal to catch a killer.
• Ghosts: Skinner’s Ghosts (1998) — Two brutal murders and tabloid allegations about Skinner himself test his career and marriage.
• Judges: Murmuring the Judges (1998) — An armed robbery trial takes a macabre turn; Skinner faces murder and organized crime.

🕵️ The Middle Period (Books 9-18) — Click to expand

• Gallery Whispers (1999) — A terrorist threat and a serial killer on Edinburgh’s streets; Deputy Chief Constable Skinner has his hands full.
• Thursday Legends (2000) — Old scores settled in blood; a brutal murder leads Skinner to suspect his own friends.
• Autographs in the Rain (2001) — Skinner discovers the dangers of celebrity when a film star enters his life and death follows.
• Head Shot (2002) — Skinner travels to New York to hunt a serial killer who has brought terror to Manhattan.
• Fallen Gods (2003) — The discovery of his brother’s body in a drug den threatens to destroy Skinner’s personal and professional life.
• Stay of Execution (2004) — International terrorism stalks Edinburgh; Skinner confronts his darkest demons to fight evil.
• Lethal Intent (2005) — A life-changing dilemma: would you kill to save a life? Skinner faces an impossible choice.
• Dead and Buried (2006) — Murder follows its own twisted logic as Skinner investigates killings with bizarre motives and means.
• Death’s Door (2007) — A serial killer sets the most devious traps; Skinner desperately hunts a murderer with lethal cunning.
• Aftershock (2008) — Still reeling from a colleague’s death, Skinner discovers a disturbed serial killer is closer than anyone imagined.

⚡ The Later Investigations (Books 19-28) — Click to expand

• Fatal Last Words (2009) — A famous author dies at the Edinburgh Book Festival as Skinner stands on the edge of a career-defining moment.
• A Rush of Blood (2010) — A Lithuanian entrepreneur’s suspicious suicide and a mystery girl drugged and dumped lead to deception and revenge.
• Grievous Angel (2011) — In the dark of night, death casts a shadow; Skinner revisits his past to assuage his demons.
• Funeral Note (2012) — A shallow grave hides deep secrets; an exhumed body reveals long-buried truths.
• Pray for the Dying (2013) — Family ties hide deep wounds; Skinner uncovers a trail of evil that hits close to home.
• Hour of Darkness (2014) — Blood will out, always; Skinner faces a case that calls every part of his life into question.
• Last Resort (2015) — After thirty years of service, former Chief Constable Skinner faces the possible end of his career.
• Private Investigations (2016) — Death is a hard habit to break; Skinner plunges into a gruelling case where no score will go unsettled.
• Game Over (2017) — The deadliest contests are fought on the sidelines; a supermodel’s death masks a deeper conspiracy.
• State Secrets (2017) — A shocking act of violence at the Palace of Westminster draws Skinner into a web of politics and enemies.

🎯 Recent Cases (Books 29-38) — Click to expand

• A Brush with Death (2018) — When millionaire Leo Speight is found poisoned, Skinner joins his old team to solve the high-profile case.
• Cold Case (2018) — Is a killer still on the loose? Skinner investigates a thirty-year-old mystery with deadly implications.
• The Bad Fire (2020) — New Year’s Day finds two men dead; Skinner faces the darkest deeds hidden from sight.
• The Roots of Evil (2020) — The gripping mystery where buried horrors surface and long-buried secrets threaten to destroy.
• Deadlock (2021) — Sir Robert Skinner heads an international security firm while investigating a deadly conspiracy.
• Open Season (2022) — Amidst a family celebration, a cataclysmic storm uncovers long-buried horrors and a thirty-year-old double murder.
• The Cage (2023) — The brand new mystery featuring the legendary Bob Skinner in a complex new investigation.
• Secrets and Lies (2024) — The latest gripping mystery in the bestselling series; Skinner uncovers deadly deceptions.
• Dead Man’s Tale (2025) — The upcoming thriller continuing Sir Robert Skinner’s adventures (publication scheduled for 2025).

Note: The Bob Skinner series follows DCC Bob Skinner from 1993 through 2025, chronicling his rise from Head of CID to Chief Constable and eventually to private investigator and security consultant. Set primarily in Edinburgh, the series features recurring characters including Detective Superintendent Maggie Rose, Detective Inspector Mario McGuire, and Skinner’s family members. The series is best read in publication order starting with Skinner’s Rules, though later books (particularly from Last Resort onwards) focus on Skinner’s post-retirement career.