The identity of the victim is very quickly established through his fingerprints, but the person or persons responsible for his death takes the detectives considerably longer. Various members of the team research different aspects of the case. They contribute pieces of evidence which eventually fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The focus of the book is on the methods the P Division detectives use to determine who committed the crime, and coincidentally discover the solution to an old unsolved crime as well.

One of the outstanding features of The Man With No Face is the way the forensic evidence is presented and how this evidence allows the police to identify the victim, in addition to leading them to the perpetrators of the crime. The condition of the body allows the pathologist to determine even such a seemingly unrelated point as the victim had probably been born to an alcoholic mother late in her child bearing years. The technician whose job it is to obtain fingerprints from the corpse carefully explains how that is done. (It's not easy)

Turnbull is also a master of characterization, both of people and places. By the end of the book, the personality of each member of the detective squad is well known, from the aging Sussock not far from retirement to the twenty-something Abernethy. The city of Glasgow itself is well portrayed –"The most Victorian city in the UK." Differences between the English and the Scots are also well described. Indeed, Turnbull's comments on human nature in general are insightful. "Three is the most powerfully loyal of all human groups. Two will fall out, four will split into two groups, but three will remain constant."

The cover blurb alludes to "fast plotting," a rather odd comment. To include the amount of detail, both forensic and characterization, the action must slow down. For the reader who enjoys non-stop action, this book may not appeal. Not that much happens. The crime has been committed prior to page one. There are no bloody battle scenes, high-speed chases or cliff-hanging confrontations.

What you do get are various engaging detectives tracking down different leads which yield clues connected to the crime. In the end, these clues ingeniously fit together to provide a fascinating and satisfying solution.

--Andy Plonka