Robbing the Dead by Tana Collins

This was written for Eurocrime in 2017. This is Tana’s Debut. She is now writing book 4 in this series.

Robbing the Dead by Tana Collins (2017) Bloodhound Books. 276pp. Paperback. £8.99. ISBN 978-0-9956926-9-5.

This nail-biting debut by Tana Collins introduces her detective, DCI Jim Carruthers, and heralds the arrival of another top notch author of Scottish crime fiction. Set in a small town, called Castleton - that is roughly based on St. Andrews but still has an operational RAF base close by, the novel is a treasure trove of interesting locations that will hook in readers who are past and present residents of this unique university town and keep their attention right to the very last page.

The story starts with a particularly gruesome murder in the town, in a back alley. You are drip fed the fact that the victim is a young Welshman, a member of the RAF and knows his assailant, and also find out about the creepy person watching events unfold. That is all you find out. Even the police don't know much more but very soon this killing is upstaged by a car bomb and what looks like attempted murder. Theories abound but all centre on the fact that somebody doesn't like the intended victim’s opinions of the Welsh, particularly Welsh terrorist groups and those who are fighting for freedom. Carruthers, newly arrived in town, is thought to be out of depth on this case and outside help is drafted in, in the form of terror expert McGhee, who once tried to seduce Carruthers’ now ex-wife. There is no love lost between the men and tensions rise as his eyes fall on Andrea Fletcher; Carruthers’ extremely efficient and capable DS.

In their hunt for the intended victim, who has simply vanished, the would-be murderer, and a motive for this crime, as well as still trying to sort out first murder, Carruthers and Fletcher find themselves face-to-face with aftermath of Bloody Sunday and have to join the dots to find out how everything is connected. They must hurry if they are to be successful as they are not the only ones looking for answers and, indeed, justice.

I loved this book! The story is captivating, well-written and has an ending that you can't see coming. Jim Carruthers is an extremely likeable cop, with enough personal trauma to make him interesting as well as good at his job. The prospect of more books about him and DS Fletcher, in their fight against crime in not-so-sleepy Castleton, is very exciting. In ROBBING THE DEAD Tana Collins has shown, extremely effectively, that she is a force to be reckoned with.

Extremely highly recommended

THE CALLER

This review was written for EUROCIME in 2017.

THE CALLER by Chris Carter. 2017. Simon & Schuster. Hardback. 471pp. £12.99. ISBN 978-1-4711-5630-4.

This is the eighth book in Carter's excellent series featuring LAPD detectives Hunter and Garcia and it is simply fantastic: riddled with tension, plot twists and nastiness, the story is gruesome enough to give you nightmares and addictive enough to keep you up late as you simply must know who did it. Carter takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride and leaves you exhausted at the end.

The story is chilling enough to give Hollywood blockbusters, like SAW, serious competition. It starts with the brutal demise of a decent, sweet, young woman and goes downhill from there. The killer adds a unique twist to his approach as he video calls the close friend or partner of his victim and, after asking questions that give the recipient of the call a fleeting feeling they might be able to save a life, graphically kills their loved one in front of them.

Hunter is completely stuck. He has no real leads, as the killer is extremely good at covering his tracks, and spends many sleepless nights going over things. The killer is also patient and meticulous. Starting with notes made of letters cut from newspapers, he stalks his victims for months, terrifying them, until making his move. One thing is for sure - the killer doesn't waste time and the discovery of a second victim a few nights later takes things up a level. Hunter needs results, especially when the husband of the second victim decides to start an investigation of his own. Hunter has a sharp mind and a keen eye for detail. You really hope he can get to the bottom of this one but, at the same time, really can't see how he can. With his boss anxious for results and the killer upping his game, the pressure is on for Hunter to deliver.

Chris Carter is Brazilian born and writes about cases in America. He qualifies for Eurocrime as he currently lives in London. In his past life he worked in Michigan as part of the District Attorney's Criminal Psychology team. There is no doubt that his experience adds an edge to his work and brings his killers shockingly to life. His opening chapters in this latest novel are first rate and leave you in doubt that this is going to be an excellent book!

Highly Recommended

AFTER HE DIED

AFTER HE DIED by Michael Malone. September 2018. Orenda books. £8.99. 300pp. Paperback. ISBN: 978-1912374335.

Books by Michael Malone always take you on an emotional roller coaster ride and this, his tenth creation, is no exception. Dealing with another painful topic - death of a spouse - and managing to skilfully turn the aftermath of the tragic event into a psychological thriller is no mean feat. Once again I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, mixed with the exhaustion of closely experiencing someone else’s agonies. Malone’s work continues to go from strength to strength and I am delighted to have been introduced to this first rate author’s work.

When we first meet Paula she has just had her world ripped from under her. Her husband has had a heart attack and died. Suddenly and unexpectedly and far too young. She finds the funeral extremely difficult - all the well meaning faces of people she doesn’t know - and longs to escape. When a young woman secretly slips her a note and disappears, Paula is confused. But not as confused as she will become soon after, when she reads the note and goes on to discover that her late husband is not the person she thought he was. Thomas, the successful business man, seems to have been involved in criminal activities in Glasgow, accrued vast wealth through less-than-savoury dealings and may even be responsible for murder. Paula refuses to believe it but is forced into taking action when her home is broken into and her safety threatened.

With her life in danger and her world turned upside down, can she get to the bottom of everything and somehow still hold onto her memories of her husband being the good man she always thought he was, or has she truly been deceived for years? Paula must dig deep into her memories to search for clues to the truth as well as find some strength to continue, when all she wants is to sleep.

A fabulous book. Full of twists and shocks, for you as well as for Paula. A timely reminder for all of us that not everything, or everyone, is as it first appears.

If you have yet to read anything by Michael Malone, then AFTER HE DIED is an excellent place to start. Next please!

Extremely Highly Recommended.

A House of Ghosts

A HOUSE OF GHOSTS by W.C.Ryan. October 2018. Zaffre. £12.99 Hardcover. 432pp. ISBN 978-1-785-76651-0

What a fantastic book! The story telling skills of W.C. Ryan are first rate. This novel is exquisitely crafted and winds you up to a fabulously spine chilling crescendo. The reader can visualise the ghosts in the story along with the characters who have this ability and it is all so naturally presented it is far more frightening than a hyped up horror film. This is not the first book by this author that I have had the pleasure to read. He never disappoints me.

Set at the time of WWI, Donovan is summoned by his boss, C, and sent to Blackwater Abbey for the weekend to attend a seance. We are drip fed the “whys and wherefores” extremely slowly and don’t find out the exact reason for his posting until much later. Indeed, apart from being told there is more to Donovan than meets the eye, and that he is a soldier on secondment to the War Office, we don’t know much about him at all. This adds to his appeal. He seems to be an attractive character and maybe something of a spy. Sent with him on this mission is Kate, an intelligent young woman who also works for C. Her parents are attending the seance, to try and make contact with their son who is missing in action, presumed dead. Kate knows the hosts for the weekend, Lord and Lady Highmount, as she used to be engaged to their son, who is also dead. She is reluctant to go and worried about the outcome, as she is gifted with the ability to see supernatural beings, and knows from previous visits that the house is full of ghosts - who are aware of the fact that she can see them.

To add to the tension, the house is located on an island off the Devon coast and the visitors are taken across to it in a small boat. There is a storm brewing and over the course of the first night it worsens in its intensity; with blizzards and gales lashing the house in a fury. Very appropriate for the claustrophobic setting of the novel and our first introduction to the ghostly visitors who have some very revealing things to say. Lord Highmount is involved in weapons development for the war effort and the secrets being kept in the house are not only supernatural ones. Plans for some of his weapons have reached the wrong hands and Donovan’s task is to track down the guilty party. This is not as easy as it seems and he and Kate soon see bodies begin to pile up around them. The climax to the story will leave you breathless and, with no sign of the storm abating, you can only hope that the rescue party will arrive before it is too late.

If you like crime fiction that stays with you long after you have finished the book, then you will most definitely love W.C. Ryan’s latest offering. It is full of sinister action and suspicious characters, while Donovan and Kate are fantastically likeable and work well together, with just the right amount of attraction between them to keep things interesting.

With grateful thanks to the publisher, Zaffre, for sending me a review copy of this book.

Extremely highly recommended.