Where to Start Reading Craig Robertson
If you are new to Craig Robertson’s gritty brand of Tartan Noir, the best starting point is his bestselling debut novel, Random (2010). Although it begins the long-running Narey & Winter series, it is a unique thriller that introduces Glasgow's dark side through the eyes of a serial killer. For readers who prefer a standalone psychological mystery, starting with The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill (published under his pseudonym C.S. Robertson in 2022) offers a haunting, voice-driven story that requires no commitment to a broader series.
The DS Rachel Narey & Tony Winter Series
This is Craig Robertson’s flagship series. It follows Detective Sergeant (later Detective Inspector) Rachel Narey and police photographer Tony Winter as they solve gruesome crimes in Glasgow and across Scotland. While the books are largely self-contained investigations, the personal and professional relationship between Narey and Winter evolves significantly over time. For this reason, reading the series in publication order is highly recommended.
1. Random (2010)
Robertson’s debut introduces readers to a serial killer dubbed "The Cutter" by the press. The killer picks seemingly unconnected victims in Glasgow and uses a different method for every murder. While Rachel Narey and Tony Winter appear in this book, they play secondary roles, as the narrative is heavily focused on the killer's perspective. It earned a CWA New Blood Dagger nomination and established Robertson as a major voice in Scottish crime fiction.
2. Snapshot (2011)
In this second installment, Tony Winter and Rachel Narey take center stage. When Winter takes a photo of a crime scene, he notices a detail that the police missed—a detail that links a series of murders. This book officially cements their partnership as they hunt down a killer who uses photography to document their deeds.
3. Cold Grave (2012)
Set during a bitter Scottish winter, this atmospheric novel takes the duo to a remote island on Loch Lomond. A grave is discovered containing a body frozen in the ice for twenty years. As Narey and Winter dig into the past, they uncover secrets that the local community has desperately tried to keep buried.
4. Witness the Dead (2013)
In this fast-paced thriller, Glasgow’s historic Necropolis graveyard becomes a crime scene when a body is found laid out on a tomb. Narey and Winter are pulled into a dark investigation involving historical injustices and modern-day vengeance, testing their analytical skills to the limit.
5. In Place of Death (2015)
A series of bizarre deaths across Glasgow leads Narey and Winter to investigate the city's abandoned spaces and subterranean tunnels. The killer seems to be recreating famous historical deaths, forcing the detectives to decipher a macabre puzzle before the next victim is selected.
6. Murderabilia (2016)
Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize, this standout novel dives into the dark web market for "murderabilia"—items associated with infamous killers. When a collector of macabre artifacts is murdered, Narey and Winter must navigate a disturbing subculture where death is a hot commodity.
7. The Photographer (2018)
Tony Winter is forced to confront a case that strikes close to home. A predator is using the guise of professional photography to stalk victims in plain sight. As the investigation intensifies, the boundaries between Winter's professional duties and personal life begin to blur dangerously.
8. Watch Him Die (2020)
Taking the series to a global stage, this high-concept thriller follows a killer who live-streams their crimes to a captive online audience. Narey and Winter must race against the clock to locate the killer before the next broadcast begins, navigating a complex web of digital clues.
Standalone Novels
Craig Robertson has written several standalone novels, both under his own name and his C.S. Robertson pseudonym. These books showcase his versatility in crafting atmospheric, character-driven mysteries outside the confines of a police procedural.
The Last Refuge (2014)
Published under his own name, this standalone thriller is set in the isolated, wind-swept Faroe Islands. It follows John Callum, a man fleeing a dark past in Scotland who seeks sanctuary in a remote Faroese village. However, when a local is found murdered, John's foreign presence makes him the prime suspect, forcing him to solve the crime to save himself.
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill (2022)
Written under the pseudonym C.S. Robertson, this novel introduces Grace McGill, a woman whose job is to clean the homes of people who have died alone and remained undiscovered for weeks. Grace is a recluse who becomes obsessed with the stories behind the lives of the deceased, leading her to uncover a decades-old secret that someone is willing to kill to protect.
The Trials of Marjorie Crowe (2024)
Also written under the C.S. Robertson pen name, this mystery centers on Marjorie Crowe, a quirky, reclusive woman living in the fictional Scottish seaside village of Kilgoyne. When Marjorie witnesses a murder and is subsequently accused of the crime herself, she must confront her past and the suspicious villagers to prove her innocence.
Anthologies and Short Stories
Bloody Scotland (2017)
Craig Robertson is a key figure in the Scottish crime writing community and contributed to this landmark anthology. The book features stories from twelve top Scottish crime writers, each inspired by an iconic building in Scotland. Robertson's contribution, "The Twa Corbies of Cardross," is set at the modernist ruins of St Peter's Seminary in Cardross.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, there are a few useful tips to keep in mind. First, be sure not to confuse Craig Robertson, the Scottish crime fiction writer, with Craig A. Robertson, the American science fiction author known for the Ryanverse series. Second, the pseudonym C.S. Robertson was adopted by the author to write standalone novels with a stronger focus on unique, voice-driven female protagonists, whereas his work as Craig Robertson is heavily rooted in Glasgow-set Tartan Noir police procedurals.