Body Politic

This book takes place in 2020 Edinburgh, Scotland. After years of rioting and chaos, during which time the United Kingdom was dissolved into dozens of city-states, Edinburgh achieves stability thanks to the Council of City Guardians and their vision of a new Age of Enlightenment. There have been no murders in the city for five years until now, when the body of an auxiliary is found dead and mutilated. The signs are there that an old serial killer known as the Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) Man is back.

Quintillian Dalrymple is a disgraced Guardsman. Years ago, unable to capture the ENT Man, he was demoted to the Parks Auxiliary. Quint knows that these murders can't be tied to the ENT Man, because he's the only one who really knows what happened show more to him years ago. When a second murder takes place, Quint is asked by the Guardian Council to investigate the murders.

This is an interesting book. The Edinburgh here is an austere city, where almost everything we know is banned: music, television, private cars, and computers. Even first names are banned. People are referred to as “Citizen” and the Auxiliary is called by their barracks name and number, i.e., Heriot 07. This is the first book written by this author, and the first of currently six books in the dystopian crime series. Body Politic also won Johnston the John Creasey Award for best first crime novel. I felt like the characters were a little flat but the incredible Edinburgh of the future was very realistic. I would definitely consider giving this author another chance in the second book of the series, Bone Yard. show less

It's the year of 2020, an Edinburgh of a dystopian future, where the City is run as a republic, ruled over by a group of Guardians that are riddled with corruption, though supposedly incorruptible.
Quint is a disgraced, former "cop" who is called back into service when it appears that a former serial killer is back in operation in a crime-free city.
The future is dreary. Freedom is no more. Relationships are basically discouraged.
Thought it was going well until there was a bit of an information dump to give back story to the arrival of the city state and the "Enlightenment".
Audible book was narrated well.
On the whole, not quite 3 stars. Was glad to finally get to the end.

This book is one in a series set in Edinburgh, Scotland in the 2020's after the world economy has collapsed into scattered city-states due to wars and drugs. Edinburgh is tightly run by the Guardians with the support of auxiliaries, who are referred to by their numbers rather than their names. The Guardians proclaim the city crime-free, but then hire Quint (Quintilian) Dalrymple to solve the crimes that occur. Quint is supported by a great group of friends and acquaintances who are interesting and well fleshed out. The series is amusing and entertaining.

This, the first book, introduces us to Quint who is brought in to solve the murder of a woman auxiliary. The murder resembles a cold case. We meet Davie, Quint's side kick.