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Fiona MacLeish #1
The Flood
Entering the kitchen, Fiona let out a gasp. The body lay askew on the floor and a trickle of blood ran from the man’s nose and across his cheek. Fiona felt deep fear as she looked down at the man she never thought would meet this kind of end…
Still haunted by the historic murder of her parents, PC Fiona MacLeish has been told by Police Scotland that she must take a break from the demands of a busy force. So she’s returned to her remote childhood home in the Borders, where she grew up with her aunt. A place where nobody even knows she’s in the police force.
But when a terrifying storm cuts the small farming community off, and the bloodied body of one of her aunt’s neighbours is found, she realises the very place she has gone to find peace may be far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.
And, as the rain hammers down and the flood waters rise, the killer who is moving amongst them is getting braver…
If the killer finds out Fiona is really a police officer, she may be next. Has Fiona got what it takes to discover which of the trusted people in the tiny rural community is a murderer before they strike again?
The Flood is the first book in the Fiona McLeish series. With an unforgettable setting, a strong female lead and packed with twists, this is the perfect read for fans of JM Dalgliesh, JD Kirk and Simon McCleave.
Readers love G.N.
‘ I’m still shaking from this heart-pounding thriller… Chilling! Riveting! Dark! Action-packed! Twisted! Everything a thriller should be! ’ The Secret Book Sleuth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight … grabs you and pulls you full throttle into his pulse-pounding, gripping and exciting thriller .’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Just the right balance of action and suspense … Engaging with the most cleverly crafted jaw-dropping moments sneaking in and what an ending, bloody hell, I had to lie down in a dark room after that! Action, twists, turns and a bloody good story! What more can you ask for?’ Chapter in my Life ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ From the first page I was totally hooked , it's fast-paced, full of suspense and intrigue, it was like being on a rollercoaster that wouldn't stop. Brilliant story … An absolute gem of a book!!!! ’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ What a treasure this book is! I loved every minute of it and I was swept up by the fast-paced story.’ B for Bookreview ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This is an edge of your seat thriller !’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Hooked from the beginning… great action… great flow… great characters . You are completely invested in the outcome.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Still haunted by the historic murder of her parents, PC Fiona MacLeish has been told by Police Scotland that she must take a break from the demands of a busy force. So she’s returned to her remote childhood home in the Borders, where she grew up with her aunt. A place where nobody even knows she’s in the police force.
But when a terrifying storm cuts the small farming community off, and the bloodied body of one of her aunt’s neighbours is found, she realises the very place she has gone to find peace may be far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.
And, as the rain hammers down and the flood waters rise, the killer who is moving amongst them is getting braver…
If the killer finds out Fiona is really a police officer, she may be next. Has Fiona got what it takes to discover which of the trusted people in the tiny rural community is a murderer before they strike again?
The Flood is the first book in the Fiona McLeish series. With an unforgettable setting, a strong female lead and packed with twists, this is the perfect read for fans of JM Dalgliesh, JD Kirk and Simon McCleave.
Readers love G.N.
‘ I’m still shaking from this heart-pounding thriller… Chilling! Riveting! Dark! Action-packed! Twisted! Everything a thriller should be! ’ The Secret Book Sleuth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight … grabs you and pulls you full throttle into his pulse-pounding, gripping and exciting thriller .’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Just the right balance of action and suspense … Engaging with the most cleverly crafted jaw-dropping moments sneaking in and what an ending, bloody hell, I had to lie down in a dark room after that! Action, twists, turns and a bloody good story! What more can you ask for?’ Chapter in my Life ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ From the first page I was totally hooked , it's fast-paced, full of suspense and intrigue, it was like being on a rollercoaster that wouldn't stop. Brilliant story … An absolute gem of a book!!!! ’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ What a treasure this book is! I loved every minute of it and I was swept up by the fast-paced story.’ B for Bookreview ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This is an edge of your seat thriller !’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Hooked from the beginning… great action… great flow… great characters . You are completely invested in the outcome.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Audiobook
First published September 22, 2023
86 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 14, 2023
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley, and Bookoutune and the author G.n.smith for an early copy of her book.
This is a new author, PC Fiona Macliesh goes to stay with an aunt,when a storm arrives they have to get out.she checks on a neighbours and discovers a man's body and no sign of his wife he was killed by whom? a slow read prefer fast paced books.and very repetitive wanted more twists and turns.
This is a new author, PC Fiona Macliesh goes to stay with an aunt,when a storm arrives they have to get out.she checks on a neighbours and discovers a man's body and no sign of his wife he was killed by whom? a slow read prefer fast paced books.and very repetitive wanted more twists and turns.
September 12, 2023
I was very interested in the blurb for this book; A police officer concealing her identity while stranded amongst a group of neighbors and one of them is a murderer.
It was an intriguing read and the beginning of the story held my attention right away. G. N. Smith does a great job of introducing Fiona who is a very capable and like-able character. She is quick thinking and fact oriented. She needs to be in order to outwit the killer and prevent any further murders.
The story was easy to follow until I came to the very detailed descriptions of Fiona’s physical movements. Maybe it was because I was listening to the audio but I just couldn’t understand what was happening. I kept rewinding and trying to picture the sequences in my mind but I just couldn’t grasp them. I was lost after that because the book is quite full of detailed paragraphs of how the water and people moved in the storm. I feel like The Flood would make a great action film though!
The other thing I had a hard time with was that Fiona voices every thought she has and why. There are detailed explanations to why or why not so-and-so was the killer. This happened repeatedly with the same suspects as she wavered back and forth in her suspicions.
The ending was very abrupt. As I was waiting for the next sentence the narrator let me know if I wanted to know more I could find out in the sequel. That was kind of funny.
Something I learned that I didn’t know was what an Aga is. Because of the narrators accent I had to guess the spelling but I found out it’s a traditional Scottish stove. There are plenty Aga images on Google and I found them pretty interesting.
All in all, it was a fun read but I wish I could have understood more of what was happening.
Many thanks to Bookouture Audio and G. N. Smith for the arc via NetGalley.
It was an intriguing read and the beginning of the story held my attention right away. G. N. Smith does a great job of introducing Fiona who is a very capable and like-able character. She is quick thinking and fact oriented. She needs to be in order to outwit the killer and prevent any further murders.
The story was easy to follow until I came to the very detailed descriptions of Fiona’s physical movements. Maybe it was because I was listening to the audio but I just couldn’t understand what was happening. I kept rewinding and trying to picture the sequences in my mind but I just couldn’t grasp them. I was lost after that because the book is quite full of detailed paragraphs of how the water and people moved in the storm. I feel like The Flood would make a great action film though!
The other thing I had a hard time with was that Fiona voices every thought she has and why. There are detailed explanations to why or why not so-and-so was the killer. This happened repeatedly with the same suspects as she wavered back and forth in her suspicions.
The ending was very abrupt. As I was waiting for the next sentence the narrator let me know if I wanted to know more I could find out in the sequel. That was kind of funny.
Something I learned that I didn’t know was what an Aga is. Because of the narrators accent I had to guess the spelling but I found out it’s a traditional Scottish stove. There are plenty Aga images on Google and I found them pretty interesting.
All in all, it was a fun read but I wish I could have understood more of what was happening.
Many thanks to Bookouture Audio and G. N. Smith for the arc via NetGalley.
September 4, 2023
The story was really great, although I found the repetitiveness of the book a bit distracting. That is the only part of the book I would change. I found the book very fast paced, and full of tension and suspense, with a lot of action and a lot going on at all times.
Fiona MacLeish, a Scottish police detective finds a body on the floor of her aunt's neighbour's house, but there is a big storm outside, which has caused a huge flood in the area, so she is not able to do much for him, as her and her aunt are trying to escape the storm. They meet up with other residents once they get to relative safety, and they all have to work together to get out of the flood, and to find out who the murderer is.
This is a great book, which I highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Fiona MacLeish, a Scottish police detective finds a body on the floor of her aunt's neighbour's house, but there is a big storm outside, which has caused a huge flood in the area, so she is not able to do much for him, as her and her aunt are trying to escape the storm. They meet up with other residents once they get to relative safety, and they all have to work together to get out of the flood, and to find out who the murderer is.
This is a great book, which I highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
September 11, 2023
For anyone that understands the reference, this very much gives ‘Sweet Home’ vibes with the almost locked room mystery and the survivors of a storm that results in a bad flood within their little town.
Setting and writing was nice, but I didn’t really care for any characters that weren’t the MC, Fiona, and her aunt. I felt like the circle of neighbours were underdeveloped so I didn’t care if they caught the killer or not, the thrilling part was Fiona against the clock.
Setting and writing was nice, but I didn’t really care for any characters that weren’t the MC, Fiona, and her aunt. I felt like the circle of neighbours were underdeveloped so I didn’t care if they caught the killer or not, the thrilling part was Fiona against the clock.
September 16, 2023
I really, really, enjoyed this terrific, new novel and new-to-me-author. I hovered between rating it 4-1/2 or 5 stars, so rounded it up. It's the first book in a new series titled Fiona MacLeish #1. Fiona is an intelligent female lead who is a police officer, but wants to be a detective. The well-narrated audiobook by Helen McAlpine goes down as one of my favorites for 2023 and I can't wait for book #2.
I'd like to thank the author, GN Smith, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the well-done ARC audiobook. I really loved this story and finished it in 2 days. The author's writing was fast-paced, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially with the fabulous narrator, and her spot-on and enjoyable Scottish accent. I'll never hear the word "murder" again without thinking of Helen McAlpine saying "mare-der" in a tone that lands me right into the Scottish highlands. There was a lot of action and high intrigue from the very start. Fiona, a Scottish police officer is off-duty on a work-sanctioned break following a previously difficult case, when a fierce storm creates a deadly flood in the Scottish countryside where she's visiting and staying with her dear Aunt Mary.
Fiona and her aunt are fleeing the area when they decide to check on a nearby elderly couple. Fiona (alone) discovers kindly George, the elderly man's, very recent dead body, while his wife is missing.... Could she also be murdered, caught in the vicious flood, or could she be the murderer?? Although Fiona tries to preserve the crime scene of the murder, it becomes a difficult risk with the flood quickly moving in on them.
They and a small group end up at a nearby farmer's home on higher ground, when another murder sets Fiona and the group on edge. No one but Aunt Mary knows that Fiona is a police officer, which gives Fiona the edge to keep track of each of the characters and figure out just who murdered two people. There is so much tension and excitement, not knowing what will happen next, and if there will be another mare-der. The setting is pretty basic, the farmer's home and nearby outdoors, similar to a locked room mystery, and the characters all seem to have hidden secrets.
Get this one! You won't be sorry, especially on audio.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE GOODREADS LIBRARIANS!!!!
Hi GoodReads Librarians, I am hoping one of you can add this new audiobook by G.N. Smith, published by Bookouture, called The Flood and narrated by Helen McAlpine - thanks so very much:
The Flood (A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller Book 1)
A totally unputdownable crime novel
by G.N. Smith
Narrated by Helen McAlpine
https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the...
I'd like to thank the author, GN Smith, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the well-done ARC audiobook. I really loved this story and finished it in 2 days. The author's writing was fast-paced, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially with the fabulous narrator, and her spot-on and enjoyable Scottish accent. I'll never hear the word "murder" again without thinking of Helen McAlpine saying "mare-der" in a tone that lands me right into the Scottish highlands. There was a lot of action and high intrigue from the very start. Fiona, a Scottish police officer is off-duty on a work-sanctioned break following a previously difficult case, when a fierce storm creates a deadly flood in the Scottish countryside where she's visiting and staying with her dear Aunt Mary.
Fiona and her aunt are fleeing the area when they decide to check on a nearby elderly couple. Fiona (alone) discovers kindly George, the elderly man's, very recent dead body, while his wife is missing.... Could she also be murdered, caught in the vicious flood, or could she be the murderer?? Although Fiona tries to preserve the crime scene of the murder, it becomes a difficult risk with the flood quickly moving in on them.
They and a small group end up at a nearby farmer's home on higher ground, when another murder sets Fiona and the group on edge. No one but Aunt Mary knows that Fiona is a police officer, which gives Fiona the edge to keep track of each of the characters and figure out just who murdered two people. There is so much tension and excitement, not knowing what will happen next, and if there will be another mare-der. The setting is pretty basic, the farmer's home and nearby outdoors, similar to a locked room mystery, and the characters all seem to have hidden secrets.
Get this one! You won't be sorry, especially on audio.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE GOODREADS LIBRARIANS!!!!
Hi GoodReads Librarians, I am hoping one of you can add this new audiobook by G.N. Smith, published by Bookouture, called The Flood and narrated by Helen McAlpine - thanks so very much:
The Flood (A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller Book 1)
A totally unputdownable crime novel
by G.N. Smith
Narrated by Helen McAlpine
https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the...
September 22, 2023
The story takes place one night as a horrendous storm causes a flood and cuts off the Borders, Scotland.
PC Fiona MacLeish is trying to get her aunt out of the house, while her aunt finishes up, Fiona goes to check on the neighbours and is shocked to find her neighbour dead and his wife missing.
With the floods getting worse through the night, the group of house owners have to get to higher ground. Fiona starts to find bodies in the area, who is killing bee neighbours and friends? It has to be one of the group she is with.
This is an enjoyable and cosy read. Not overly fast paced but a few twists to keep my attention.
Overall a good read and I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
PC Fiona MacLeish is trying to get her aunt out of the house, while her aunt finishes up, Fiona goes to check on the neighbours and is shocked to find her neighbour dead and his wife missing.
With the floods getting worse through the night, the group of house owners have to get to higher ground. Fiona starts to find bodies in the area, who is killing bee neighbours and friends? It has to be one of the group she is with.
This is an enjoyable and cosy read. Not overly fast paced but a few twists to keep my attention.
Overall a good read and I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 23, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Wow, I don't know where to start. Fiona was supposed to be off duty but now she's trapped by a flood with neighbours and one of them is a murderer ! Throughout the book, I could sense the adrenaline building up with the danger of the flood AND of the murderer. It was a really enjoyable book and even before I finished it, I already wanted to read the second in the series.
Wow, I don't know where to start. Fiona was supposed to be off duty but now she's trapped by a flood with neighbours and one of them is a murderer ! Throughout the book, I could sense the adrenaline building up with the danger of the flood AND of the murderer. It was a really enjoyable book and even before I finished it, I already wanted to read the second in the series.
September 8, 2023
THANK YOU Netgalley and Bookouture for this opportunity to ARC review this book!
Fiona is a police detective taking a break from work by staying in her childhood home with her aunt. This small village/farm is getting flooded and they all seek safety in one of the neighbours house that’s at a safe high level. This is when Fiona finds out along the way another neighbour is murdered. So now In that safe house, who did it???
For a plot like this, I didn’t really feel much tension. And also, this book was too descriptive that it was both amusing and boring sometimes. Like I understood more about the flood measures but really, every thing they did was there in the book. Also this book was slightly too repetitive.
However, I loved the dynamics of these characters
And how it was a one-night locked house setting. Written in just one POV, I had fun reading the journey of these characters in the flood and uncovering the mystery behind the murder.
Fiona is a police detective taking a break from work by staying in her childhood home with her aunt. This small village/farm is getting flooded and they all seek safety in one of the neighbours house that’s at a safe high level. This is when Fiona finds out along the way another neighbour is murdered. So now In that safe house, who did it???
For a plot like this, I didn’t really feel much tension. And also, this book was too descriptive that it was both amusing and boring sometimes. Like I understood more about the flood measures but really, every thing they did was there in the book. Also this book was slightly too repetitive.
However, I loved the dynamics of these characters
And how it was a one-night locked house setting. Written in just one POV, I had fun reading the journey of these characters in the flood and uncovering the mystery behind the murder.
September 23, 2023
Set in a rural location in Scotland, Storm Odin wreaks havoc on the village residents. With no way out due to the flooding and a murderer on the loose, can Fiona work out who the killer is before they kill again?
This thriller was a little slow for me and felt repetitive in places. I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters either.
The author did a good job of setting the scene though, and I didn’t guess who the killer was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy.
This thriller was a little slow for me and felt repetitive in places. I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters either.
The author did a good job of setting the scene though, and I didn’t guess who the killer was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy.
January 30, 2024
I have read and loved so many books by this author under his many names, most of them among my top books. But not this one. It is very slow and repetitive .
But I have started book 2 in the series- The Island, and that is a lot better, more like the author I know.
We can all have an off day!
But I have started book 2 in the series- The Island, and that is a lot better, more like the author I know.
We can all have an off day!
September 5, 2023
This is the first time I've read a book by this author and I was really intrigued by both the dark cover and intriguing blurb.
This is book 1 of the Fiona MacLeish crime thriller series.
Fiona is staying with her Aunt Mary in the remote Scottish borders when an oncoming storm threatens to flood the nearby river and properties around it.
Fiona and Mary are just clearing out to travel a safe distance, but wonder about the elderly couple in the neighbouring property.
When Fiona goes to check if they're ok, she finds George dead and his wife missing - George, looking as though he'd been murdered!
This was a very slow burn murder mystery which although it had it's moments of real tension, I was not on the edge of my seat or on high alert throughout.
There was a fair cast of characters to explore and it was really good to get into their backstories and see their personalities change and develop over the course of the book.
I also enjoyed seeing the dynamics between the different families. Not all were locals, some older, some younger and all with different backgrounds which made for some interesting bickering once things started to get tough.
I also had no clue who the murderer was or why and went through various scenarios whilst reading.
The setting was obviously very limited, being blocked in by the flood, trees and landslides meant that all the action occurred in and around the local farm, whose buildings were on higher ground and as yet, clear of the flood waters.
This, at first, created a great atmosphere and provided some tension - but I found that the survival attempts got a little repetitive after a time.
I liked that I never worked out who was killing or why, until it was revealed? There were so many interlinking stories that it was impossible to work it out before being given all the information and seeing the different threads come together.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I just dipped in attention at the start of the last third, before it picked back up.
This is book 1 of the Fiona MacLeish crime thriller series.
Fiona is staying with her Aunt Mary in the remote Scottish borders when an oncoming storm threatens to flood the nearby river and properties around it.
Fiona and Mary are just clearing out to travel a safe distance, but wonder about the elderly couple in the neighbouring property.
When Fiona goes to check if they're ok, she finds George dead and his wife missing - George, looking as though he'd been murdered!
This was a very slow burn murder mystery which although it had it's moments of real tension, I was not on the edge of my seat or on high alert throughout.
There was a fair cast of characters to explore and it was really good to get into their backstories and see their personalities change and develop over the course of the book.
I also enjoyed seeing the dynamics between the different families. Not all were locals, some older, some younger and all with different backgrounds which made for some interesting bickering once things started to get tough.
I also had no clue who the murderer was or why and went through various scenarios whilst reading.
The setting was obviously very limited, being blocked in by the flood, trees and landslides meant that all the action occurred in and around the local farm, whose buildings were on higher ground and as yet, clear of the flood waters.
This, at first, created a great atmosphere and provided some tension - but I found that the survival attempts got a little repetitive after a time.
I liked that I never worked out who was killing or why, until it was revealed? There were so many interlinking stories that it was impossible to work it out before being given all the information and seeing the different threads come together.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I just dipped in attention at the start of the last third, before it picked back up.
January 22, 2024
// thank you to the publishers and net galley for giving me access to this audiobook arc!
i think this review is more the result of straying away from my own genre preference than the actual objective quality of the book itself, because this one just wasn't really for me.
to start with what i liked: the narrator had a wonderfully scottish accent, which made the setting feel all the more real. that said, it started getting a bit grating after a few hours, just because the unique pronunciation of certain words would stand out to me and take me out of the text. i also think the setting of a flooding valley that traps all inhabitants and the female protagonist were very interesting choices and made for a very interesting text.
however, i think several of the characters in the valley felt a bit too similar to be entirely distinguishable, and this made for a more confusing plot than was necessary. equally, i don't think the way the mystery was rounded up was very satisfying--the best mysteries are the ones where the reader *could've* seen it coming, but didn't, whereas here, there was no way for the reader to have guessed that ending (or at least, i couldn't identify any way for the reader to get any of the information fiona used to link it all together). furthermore, the writing got a bit repetitive, especially the internal dialogue the protagonist would undergo to try and figure out who the murderer was many times throughout the text.
perhaps fans of a fun scottish mystery would enjoy this one, but it just wasn't for me :)
i think this review is more the result of straying away from my own genre preference than the actual objective quality of the book itself, because this one just wasn't really for me.
to start with what i liked: the narrator had a wonderfully scottish accent, which made the setting feel all the more real. that said, it started getting a bit grating after a few hours, just because the unique pronunciation of certain words would stand out to me and take me out of the text. i also think the setting of a flooding valley that traps all inhabitants and the female protagonist were very interesting choices and made for a very interesting text.
however, i think several of the characters in the valley felt a bit too similar to be entirely distinguishable, and this made for a more confusing plot than was necessary. equally, i don't think the way the mystery was rounded up was very satisfying--the best mysteries are the ones where the reader *could've* seen it coming, but didn't, whereas here, there was no way for the reader to have guessed that ending (or at least, i couldn't identify any way for the reader to get any of the information fiona used to link it all together). furthermore, the writing got a bit repetitive, especially the internal dialogue the protagonist would undergo to try and figure out who the murderer was many times throughout the text.
perhaps fans of a fun scottish mystery would enjoy this one, but it just wasn't for me :)
September 22, 2023
With thanks to Netgalley Bookouture and the author for an advanced copy of this to review and give an honest opinion. Fiona McLeish is a police officer on leave to recuperate when a huge storm blows in. There follows a night of murder mayhem and doubts. I was gripped by this story within the first few pages. It is full of twists and turns and the excitement level is through the roof. I couldn't put this book down and wanted to zoom to the end to find out who did it and if the victims were actually dead. But I stuck with it as the story was well told and I wanted to savour every word and sentence. Highly recommend this book and can't wait to read The Island which is book 2.
September 17, 2023
The Flood is not what I would call a crime thriller, it was more of a locked room, a whodunnit mystery.
Set in a valley in the Scottish borders we meet Fiona MacLeish, the main character. She is on leave from being a police constable and decides to go to her Aunt Mary’s home the place she grew up.
Fiona tells the reader frequently how she wanted to be a detective so she can find out who murdered her parents. But she can’t do exams due to the trauma of being told her parents were dead when she was in an exam at school.
An epic storm is about to hit, and as the water is rising it starts to flood, Fiona decides to check on an elderly neighbour and finds him dead, with no sign of his wife either.
Trying to get out of the valley proves hard and she realises that they are trapped until the storm stops and the water levels start to drop. The safest place to go is the farmhouse which is a little higher than the other homes beginning to flood.
A group of people are already at the farmhouse, and they are all trapped together. It isn’t long before people start getting annoyed with being trapped arguments happen and then more people are murdered. Who is the murderer?
This is quite slow going throughout, it is very descriptive both inside the farmhouse and outside too which I would expect as it lays out just how flooded and trapped everyone is from the outside world. I did like Fiona, she is a great main character, not afraid to get her hands dirty and tell people a few home truths if needed and her Aunt Mary has a special place in my heart!
I switched to audio a third of the way through and I found that much better, the accents were fantastic, and I think it made the book so much better, a real feel of Scottish people.
Overall it was a good book, not as gripping as it could have been, but enough in there to keep you guessing throughout.
Set in a valley in the Scottish borders we meet Fiona MacLeish, the main character. She is on leave from being a police constable and decides to go to her Aunt Mary’s home the place she grew up.
Fiona tells the reader frequently how she wanted to be a detective so she can find out who murdered her parents. But she can’t do exams due to the trauma of being told her parents were dead when she was in an exam at school.
An epic storm is about to hit, and as the water is rising it starts to flood, Fiona decides to check on an elderly neighbour and finds him dead, with no sign of his wife either.
Trying to get out of the valley proves hard and she realises that they are trapped until the storm stops and the water levels start to drop. The safest place to go is the farmhouse which is a little higher than the other homes beginning to flood.
A group of people are already at the farmhouse, and they are all trapped together. It isn’t long before people start getting annoyed with being trapped arguments happen and then more people are murdered. Who is the murderer?
This is quite slow going throughout, it is very descriptive both inside the farmhouse and outside too which I would expect as it lays out just how flooded and trapped everyone is from the outside world. I did like Fiona, she is a great main character, not afraid to get her hands dirty and tell people a few home truths if needed and her Aunt Mary has a special place in my heart!
I switched to audio a third of the way through and I found that much better, the accents were fantastic, and I think it made the book so much better, a real feel of Scottish people.
Overall it was a good book, not as gripping as it could have been, but enough in there to keep you guessing throughout.
October 1, 2023
They say it’s grim up north but nothing is quite as grim as torrential rain, melting snow and flooding but Fiona MacLeish has all three, cut off from the outside world both physically and technologically. That’s before she finds a murder victim!!
Mother Nature definitely didn’t play ball in helping Fiona solve the slow demise of this small community. In fact she made Fiona’s job immensely difficult with the flooding, fallen trees and chilling temperatures. I could feel the dark atmospheric character of the elements leap out at me as I huddled under my blanket. The whole ambiance of the book was darkened by the elements battering my cast before me.
Without deterring from the present predicament, I was also invested in Fiona’s backstory. She joined the police to solve her parents’ murder. I for one desperately want to know whether she gets that closure, justice or not. For someone to lose their parents at such a young age is just horrible so I would love over the course of this series for Fiona to get some level of closure and maybe justice.
Smith has written a locked room murder mystery in a remote hamlet. Think Clue (as in the mid 80s cult classic film) but serious and in the Scottish Borders. I felt claustrophobic as I followed Fiona around the dark and murky landscape and got in her head, trying to solve the murders. I was handed a finite set of suspects, but none really with a motive for murder, yes a grudge for maybe sending someone to Coventry but not the extreme of murder.
Smith has pulled off another excellent crime thriller. There are differences to his other offerings – every character got a proper name for starters but this slight change in style is no detriment to this fan’s enjoyment of what looks to be another cracking series from the Scotsman. I need to hop over to The Island and find out what’s in store for Fiona next!
Mother Nature definitely didn’t play ball in helping Fiona solve the slow demise of this small community. In fact she made Fiona’s job immensely difficult with the flooding, fallen trees and chilling temperatures. I could feel the dark atmospheric character of the elements leap out at me as I huddled under my blanket. The whole ambiance of the book was darkened by the elements battering my cast before me.
Without deterring from the present predicament, I was also invested in Fiona’s backstory. She joined the police to solve her parents’ murder. I for one desperately want to know whether she gets that closure, justice or not. For someone to lose their parents at such a young age is just horrible so I would love over the course of this series for Fiona to get some level of closure and maybe justice.
Smith has written a locked room murder mystery in a remote hamlet. Think Clue (as in the mid 80s cult classic film) but serious and in the Scottish Borders. I felt claustrophobic as I followed Fiona around the dark and murky landscape and got in her head, trying to solve the murders. I was handed a finite set of suspects, but none really with a motive for murder, yes a grudge for maybe sending someone to Coventry but not the extreme of murder.
Smith has pulled off another excellent crime thriller. There are differences to his other offerings – every character got a proper name for starters but this slight change in style is no detriment to this fan’s enjoyment of what looks to be another cracking series from the Scotsman. I need to hop over to The Island and find out what’s in store for Fiona next!
October 26, 2023
The Flood by G.N. Smith is the first book in the new PC Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series and what a great book. Fiona MacLeish is a Scottish Police Detective and has been ordered to step back from her role in her job in the the Police Force in Scotland. Haunted by the murder of her parents, she is dangerously close to breaking point: and is back in her remote childhood home with her Aunt Mary, nestled in a valley on the Scottish border. But there’s a terrifying Storm Odin coming, this will play havoc on the village residents causing a huge flood in the area and the water is rising quickly. Fiona and Aunt Mary are clearing out quickly to travel a safe distance from the flood, but is wonder about their elderly neighbouring property. Fiona goes to check if they're ok and to see if they need any help. Only to find George dead and his wife missing.
On closer inspection, it looks like George has been murdered!
Now, with no way out.......the water is rising quickly there is a murderer on the loose and where is George's wife?
Can Fiona work out who the killer is before they kill again?
WoW this is so tense with great twist and turns that will have you sitting on the edge of my seat especially as I have a storm where I live and its pouring down! Great setting for this book. lol
This new series was addictive that made me want to read and find out more about this new character PC Fiona MacLeish which I did like. I am looking forward reading more books within this series.
Big thank you to netgalley, and Bookouture and the author G.N.Smith for an early copy of her book.
On closer inspection, it looks like George has been murdered!
Now, with no way out.......the water is rising quickly there is a murderer on the loose and where is George's wife?
Can Fiona work out who the killer is before they kill again?
WoW this is so tense with great twist and turns that will have you sitting on the edge of my seat especially as I have a storm where I live and its pouring down! Great setting for this book. lol
This new series was addictive that made me want to read and find out more about this new character PC Fiona MacLeish which I did like. I am looking forward reading more books within this series.
Big thank you to netgalley, and Bookouture and the author G.N.Smith for an early copy of her book.
September 7, 2023
I'm always intrigued by a new crime thriller series, and this one sounded right up my street - a remote and atmospheric setting, a weather hazard causing in a locked-room-type situation. Give me all the tension!
And The Flood certainly lives up to its promise. The atmosphere is great, the flood helps build the mystery up at a steady pace, and the characters are easy to engage with. Fiona is a strong lead, too, so it was great to get to know her and see how she would unravel this investigation.
It's more of a cosy mystery than an intense thriller with too many twists and turns, but there was still a lot that I was interested to find out and a few surprises thrown in along the way, too, so I enjoyed it all the same.
And although I did find the story a little repetitive at times, I think this is the case for many debut authors who soon learn to condense their ideas, so I definitely look forward to moving on to book two!
And The Flood certainly lives up to its promise. The atmosphere is great, the flood helps build the mystery up at a steady pace, and the characters are easy to engage with. Fiona is a strong lead, too, so it was great to get to know her and see how she would unravel this investigation.
It's more of a cosy mystery than an intense thriller with too many twists and turns, but there was still a lot that I was interested to find out and a few surprises thrown in along the way, too, so I enjoyed it all the same.
And although I did find the story a little repetitive at times, I think this is the case for many debut authors who soon learn to condense their ideas, so I definitely look forward to moving on to book two!
January 29, 2024
Thank you Bookouture Audio for allowing me to read and review The Flood (A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller Book 1) on NetGalley.
Narrator: Helen McAlpine
Stars: 2.5
There is a flood in a rural farming area somewhere in possibly Scotland, I don't recall. Not recalling is the theme carried out several days after finishing the book. Briefly, I could have edited this down to at least a novella and in my mind a short story.
My issues in no particular order:
1. The narrator was just okay.
2. I didn't like or dislike any of the characters; I didn't connect to them.
3. The farming background bored me. It felt like filler.
4. The ending was difficult to read. The author 75% into the book attempts to give extreme personalities to the characters.
5. Sexuality of character victim trope is not for me.
If you enjoy slow storylines, bantering between characters, and farming stories this may be for you.
Published: 09/22/23
Narrator: Helen McAlpine
Stars: 2.5
There is a flood in a rural farming area somewhere in possibly Scotland, I don't recall. Not recalling is the theme carried out several days after finishing the book. Briefly, I could have edited this down to at least a novella and in my mind a short story.
My issues in no particular order:
1. The narrator was just okay.
2. I didn't like or dislike any of the characters; I didn't connect to them.
3. The farming background bored me. It felt like filler.
4. The ending was difficult to read. The author 75% into the book attempts to give extreme personalities to the characters.
5. Sexuality of character victim trope is not for me.
If you enjoy slow storylines, bantering between characters, and farming stories this may be for you.
Published: 09/22/23
October 10, 2023
Book 1 in what is looking like a new superb series.
The Flood By G N Smith is a great start to a series.
The flood waters are rising. And so is the body count…
Police officer Fiona MacLeish has been ordered to step back from her role in Police Scotland. Haunted by the murder of her parents, she’s dangerously close to breaking point: and is back in her remote childhood home nestled in a valley on the Scottish border. But there’s a terrifying storm coming…
Fiona has gone staying with her aunt, the woman who has always been there for her, the woman who brought her up after losing her parents. Fiona and Aunt Mary soon become trapped when their attempt to leave the valley is stopped with a mud slide blocking the road. The only thing they can do is return to one of the farm houses that the other locals have gone to. The problem now is Fiona knows one of the neighbors in the farm house is a killer. What she doesn't know is who the killer is. It could be anyone of them. Fiona will need her police nose and skills to sniff out which one of her aunts friends or neighbors is a brutal murderer.
A gripping, intense and exciting read. Especially when you are reading it while 'Storm Agnes is forecast for your area. I could feel the tension, the fear but also the determination to come out the other side of the storm that has hit the valley.
Superb read, loved every bit of it and I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
2 The Island
3 The Shelter
Baton down the hatches a storm is about to hit..
The Flood By G N Smith is a great start to a series.
The flood waters are rising. And so is the body count…
Police officer Fiona MacLeish has been ordered to step back from her role in Police Scotland. Haunted by the murder of her parents, she’s dangerously close to breaking point: and is back in her remote childhood home nestled in a valley on the Scottish border. But there’s a terrifying storm coming…
Fiona has gone staying with her aunt, the woman who has always been there for her, the woman who brought her up after losing her parents. Fiona and Aunt Mary soon become trapped when their attempt to leave the valley is stopped with a mud slide blocking the road. The only thing they can do is return to one of the farm houses that the other locals have gone to. The problem now is Fiona knows one of the neighbors in the farm house is a killer. What she doesn't know is who the killer is. It could be anyone of them. Fiona will need her police nose and skills to sniff out which one of her aunts friends or neighbors is a brutal murderer.
A gripping, intense and exciting read. Especially when you are reading it while 'Storm Agnes is forecast for your area. I could feel the tension, the fear but also the determination to come out the other side of the storm that has hit the valley.
Superb read, loved every bit of it and I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
2 The Island
3 The Shelter
Baton down the hatches a storm is about to hit..
November 12, 2023
Typical locked room “who done it” detective novel. It’s just not really my type. I was pretty bored with it in the middle. The last chapters were exciting to find out who was committing the murders but way too much time was spent on pointless information. Pages and pages written on what a tractor was doing in the storm, for example. I gave it a 3 because it is probably appealing to those who like detective novels but it’s just not my type. I prefer thrillers that are fast paced. I was bored through a lot of it and reading it felt like a chore until the end.
November 16, 2023
A tidy murder mystery that clips along at a brisk pace with an appealing main character. Set in Scotland the audio book has a likeable narrator telling the story in the 1st person. This is the first book in a series about policewoman Fiona MacLeish and while I'm not usually one for series, I'll definitely read this series. 4 stars
September 21, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ahead of time!
3.5 stars (rounding up to 4)
I had never heard of this author before but I thought the cover looked very interesting! Yes...I'm one of those people that judges a book by it's cover. Don't judge me! Thrillers are my favorite genre and the description sounded like something I would like. I'm also a fan of audiobooks and the Scottish accent made the book even more fun. I love that it has a lead female police officer. I feel books are 99% male protagonist police officers. It was a little slow starting out. I struggle to finish books that don't have me wanting more within the first 2 chapters. It didn't have as many twists on who may have done it. I did still enjoy it and will probably read the next one because I liked Fiona so much!
3.5 stars (rounding up to 4)
I had never heard of this author before but I thought the cover looked very interesting! Yes...I'm one of those people that judges a book by it's cover. Don't judge me! Thrillers are my favorite genre and the description sounded like something I would like. I'm also a fan of audiobooks and the Scottish accent made the book even more fun. I love that it has a lead female police officer. I feel books are 99% male protagonist police officers. It was a little slow starting out. I struggle to finish books that don't have me wanting more within the first 2 chapters. It didn't have as many twists on who may have done it. I did still enjoy it and will probably read the next one because I liked Fiona so much!
September 14, 2023
The Flood is a great detective audio thar had me huesding right to the end.
Although it took me a few chapters to really get into it, I still enjoyed the story.
Great characters that we get to know really well. A bit of insight into each one that definitely let's us see why they do and say what they do.
The narrator, for me was great and held the story throughout. I would certainly listen to them again. A narrator really can make an audio stand out that little bit more.
An all round good read test us certainly worth a few of your reading/ listening hours.
Although it took me a few chapters to really get into it, I still enjoyed the story.
Great characters that we get to know really well. A bit of insight into each one that definitely let's us see why they do and say what they do.
The narrator, for me was great and held the story throughout. I would certainly listen to them again. A narrator really can make an audio stand out that little bit more.
An all round good read test us certainly worth a few of your reading/ listening hours.
November 14, 2023
A gripping and atmospheric crime novel with a strong female lead and a thrilling plot. Set in a remote Scottish village during a devastating storm, the story follows Police Constable Fiona MacLeish as she investigates the murder of a local resident. With the village cut off from the outside world and the floodwaters rising, Fiona must race against time to catch the killer before more people are harmed. A unconventional whodunnit I immensely enjoyed, the missing fifth star would reflect an emphasis on lengthy and detailed descriptions of certain situations non essential to the plot.
September 22, 2023
‘As the waters start to rise, they find the first body…’ - cover tag line.
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC and to Bookouture Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘The Flood’ by G.N. Smith. The audiobook is narrated by Helen McAlpine.
First body..chilling. This is Book 1 in the Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series.
The titular character is a constable with Police Scotland currently taking a mandated break from duty following a traumatic case. She has been visiting her Aunt Mary at her remote cottage in the Scottish Borders. It was where Fiona had grown up following the murder of her parents, an event that continues to haunt her and had caused her to join the police. Now the visit has been cut short by a storm.
Storm Odin is no ordinary winter storm but a mega storm and there are widespread flood warnings in place across the Northern U.K.. The river waters are already rising in the valley. In the opening chapter Fiona and her aunt are preparing to evacuate.
Before setting off Fiona checks on their elderly neighbours to ensure that they are safe. She is shocked to find the body of Mr Edwards with bruising around his throat indicating that he was strangled. Torn between her duty as a police officer and needing to ensure her aunt’s safety, Fiona is uncertain how to proceed.
With the realisation that the torrential rain has already cut off the small farming community, Fiona thinks it likely that the murderer is still nearby. She and Mary take refuge with other local residents at the highest standing farm. Fiona has kept the fact that she works for the police a secret and so must undertake any investigation on the quiet. Then another victim is found and everyone is on high alert. Tempers fray and the storm continues to wreck havoc. No further details to avoid spoilers.
I will admit that I find storms accompanied by high winds and flooding terrifying even in fiction. Add a murderer on the loose and consider me already on the edge of my seat. I admired how effectively Smith pitched his readers into the building maelstrom of Storm Odin from the opening chapter as Fiona dashes around helping her aunt gather a few treasures, well aware that it was going to be impossible to save the cottage.
‘The Flood’ wasn’t the type of police procedural that I am used to as Fiona was cut off from the usual resources available during a murder investigation. Plus, as she frequently points out, she is not a detective though is able to draw on her experience and instincts.
Indeed, she does a lot of speculation about whodunnit as internal dialogue often flip flopping between suspects. I didn’t find this approach worked that well for me though I appreciated that in this situation surrounded by the danger presented by the storm, she was trying her best to sift through possibilities.
With respect to the audiobook edition, Helen McAlpine is an experienced voice actor whose narration of a series of Scottish cosy mysteries I have been enjoying. Clearly ‘The Flood’ is a more serious kind of crime fiction though I felt that she found the right pitch to convey the sense of threat being experienced from both nature and humans.
Overall, I found ‘The Flood’ an engaging read and while I found if a little rough around the edges, I certainly wanted to know more of Fiona’s story. As Book 2, ‘The Island’ was published at the same time I shall be reading on.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC and to Bookouture Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘The Flood’ by G.N. Smith. The audiobook is narrated by Helen McAlpine.
First body..chilling. This is Book 1 in the Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series.
The titular character is a constable with Police Scotland currently taking a mandated break from duty following a traumatic case. She has been visiting her Aunt Mary at her remote cottage in the Scottish Borders. It was where Fiona had grown up following the murder of her parents, an event that continues to haunt her and had caused her to join the police. Now the visit has been cut short by a storm.
Storm Odin is no ordinary winter storm but a mega storm and there are widespread flood warnings in place across the Northern U.K.. The river waters are already rising in the valley. In the opening chapter Fiona and her aunt are preparing to evacuate.
Before setting off Fiona checks on their elderly neighbours to ensure that they are safe. She is shocked to find the body of Mr Edwards with bruising around his throat indicating that he was strangled. Torn between her duty as a police officer and needing to ensure her aunt’s safety, Fiona is uncertain how to proceed.
With the realisation that the torrential rain has already cut off the small farming community, Fiona thinks it likely that the murderer is still nearby. She and Mary take refuge with other local residents at the highest standing farm. Fiona has kept the fact that she works for the police a secret and so must undertake any investigation on the quiet. Then another victim is found and everyone is on high alert. Tempers fray and the storm continues to wreck havoc. No further details to avoid spoilers.
I will admit that I find storms accompanied by high winds and flooding terrifying even in fiction. Add a murderer on the loose and consider me already on the edge of my seat. I admired how effectively Smith pitched his readers into the building maelstrom of Storm Odin from the opening chapter as Fiona dashes around helping her aunt gather a few treasures, well aware that it was going to be impossible to save the cottage.
‘The Flood’ wasn’t the type of police procedural that I am used to as Fiona was cut off from the usual resources available during a murder investigation. Plus, as she frequently points out, she is not a detective though is able to draw on her experience and instincts.
Indeed, she does a lot of speculation about whodunnit as internal dialogue often flip flopping between suspects. I didn’t find this approach worked that well for me though I appreciated that in this situation surrounded by the danger presented by the storm, she was trying her best to sift through possibilities.
With respect to the audiobook edition, Helen McAlpine is an experienced voice actor whose narration of a series of Scottish cosy mysteries I have been enjoying. Clearly ‘The Flood’ is a more serious kind of crime fiction though I felt that she found the right pitch to convey the sense of threat being experienced from both nature and humans.
Overall, I found ‘The Flood’ an engaging read and while I found if a little rough around the edges, I certainly wanted to know more of Fiona’s story. As Book 2, ‘The Island’ was published at the same time I shall be reading on.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
July 7, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "The Flood" in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is book 1 in what I believe is a fantastic new series. The writing style had me hooked from page one and the description of the weather, the scenery was so vivid that I felt as if I was standing there with Fiona MacLeish watching everything unfold.
The setting is Scales Valley just as Storm Odin hits Scotland. The valley is low-lying and between Odin and the snow melt, the river is quickly rising and the homes in the valley are in immediate danger of flooding. Fiona is visiting her Aunt - her only family when they realize they need to evacuate. Fiona rushes over to George and Isla Edwards home because she is worried that the elderly couple might need help and their home is the lowest lying in the valley. What Fiona finds there can only be described as gruesome. Who would kill and lovely old man and where is Isla?
As Fiona and her Aunt try to drive to safety they are blocked by downed trees and a landslide. They decide that it would be safer to stay at the home of William and Elsie because the farmer has the highest land in the valley. With one road in and out of the valley everyone is trapped, no rescue party is on the way and the safest thing to so is taking refuge at the farmhouse. Everyone starts blaming the farmer and each other over all sorts of grievances. Fiona is vigilant to see if anyone gives themselves away as having killed George. She says nothing at first to see if she can catch the killer unawares.
As other bodies are located everyone is suspect. Fiona spends a lot of the story trying to figure out who the killer is and what their motive would be for each killing. Sometimes she stretches her theory to fit the facts and she fixates on everything that people say as a possible motive.
The story has a 'locked room' feel because everyone is trapped together not only in the farmhouse but in the valley. Knowing that one of them is a killer adds to the tension in the book. I would definitely give more than 5 stars if it was possible. I'm eagerly awaiting more stories for Fiona in the future.
This is book 1 in what I believe is a fantastic new series. The writing style had me hooked from page one and the description of the weather, the scenery was so vivid that I felt as if I was standing there with Fiona MacLeish watching everything unfold.
The setting is Scales Valley just as Storm Odin hits Scotland. The valley is low-lying and between Odin and the snow melt, the river is quickly rising and the homes in the valley are in immediate danger of flooding. Fiona is visiting her Aunt - her only family when they realize they need to evacuate. Fiona rushes over to George and Isla Edwards home because she is worried that the elderly couple might need help and their home is the lowest lying in the valley. What Fiona finds there can only be described as gruesome. Who would kill and lovely old man and where is Isla?
As Fiona and her Aunt try to drive to safety they are blocked by downed trees and a landslide. They decide that it would be safer to stay at the home of William and Elsie because the farmer has the highest land in the valley. With one road in and out of the valley everyone is trapped, no rescue party is on the way and the safest thing to so is taking refuge at the farmhouse. Everyone starts blaming the farmer and each other over all sorts of grievances. Fiona is vigilant to see if anyone gives themselves away as having killed George. She says nothing at first to see if she can catch the killer unawares.
As other bodies are located everyone is suspect. Fiona spends a lot of the story trying to figure out who the killer is and what their motive would be for each killing. Sometimes she stretches her theory to fit the facts and she fixates on everything that people say as a possible motive.
The story has a 'locked room' feel because everyone is trapped together not only in the farmhouse but in the valley. Knowing that one of them is a killer adds to the tension in the book. I would definitely give more than 5 stars if it was possible. I'm eagerly awaiting more stories for Fiona in the future.
August 27, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Flood, the first novel to feature PC Fiona MacLeish of Police Scotland.
Fiona is staying with her aunt in the Borders when the valley starts to flood. As she checks on the neighbours she finds George’s body, strangled to death and his wife missing. With the community cut off she soon realises that she is mingling with a killer, who may strike again at any time.
I have mixed feelings about The Flood and have decided on four stars for the excitement and tension of the second half. It is a very visual novel with plenty of detailed descriptions of the characters grappling with the storm and the damage it has caused. This is completely lost on me as I have no visualisation ability whatsoever and while I can get the tension and end result I cannot picture how they do it. As a result I spent a lot of the novel reading the incomprehensible. It has put me off reading the follow up, The Island, which also seems to take place in bad weather. This is a purely personal issue, so I think that most readers will appreciate the circumstances and the solutions the characters find, along with the accompanying graphic descriptions.
As I said the novel is crackling with tension as the storm wreaks havoc, more characters disappear and Fiona struggles with trying to catch a murderer, although her constant guessing from little knowledge is wearing and a touch repetitive. Still, she makes progress and is eventually able to identify the killer. There are few hints about the motive before the denouement, so it is difficult to guess in advance, especially with most of the characters at each other’s throat.
I like Fiona, who seems to be a smart, sensible woman with a level head. The same can’t be said for the other female characters and I felt the whiff of misogyny in their depictions. It was unpleasant reading.
The Flood is not for me, but it is a tense read that most readers will enjoy.
Fiona is staying with her aunt in the Borders when the valley starts to flood. As she checks on the neighbours she finds George’s body, strangled to death and his wife missing. With the community cut off she soon realises that she is mingling with a killer, who may strike again at any time.
I have mixed feelings about The Flood and have decided on four stars for the excitement and tension of the second half. It is a very visual novel with plenty of detailed descriptions of the characters grappling with the storm and the damage it has caused. This is completely lost on me as I have no visualisation ability whatsoever and while I can get the tension and end result I cannot picture how they do it. As a result I spent a lot of the novel reading the incomprehensible. It has put me off reading the follow up, The Island, which also seems to take place in bad weather. This is a purely personal issue, so I think that most readers will appreciate the circumstances and the solutions the characters find, along with the accompanying graphic descriptions.
As I said the novel is crackling with tension as the storm wreaks havoc, more characters disappear and Fiona struggles with trying to catch a murderer, although her constant guessing from little knowledge is wearing and a touch repetitive. Still, she makes progress and is eventually able to identify the killer. There are few hints about the motive before the denouement, so it is difficult to guess in advance, especially with most of the characters at each other’s throat.
I like Fiona, who seems to be a smart, sensible woman with a level head. The same can’t be said for the other female characters and I felt the whiff of misogyny in their depictions. It was unpleasant reading.
The Flood is not for me, but it is a tense read that most readers will enjoy.
September 22, 2023
Atmospheric Novel Can Get Repetitive At Times. This is one of those detective novels - not really a police procedural, since it is almost a "locked room" scenario (with the "room" in question being a sequestered area of a small town) with only a single detective available - where the setting seems as much as character as any of the actual human characters. Smith manages to put the reader right in the titular flood and the fight for survival from both the elements and the murderer that only our detective knows lurks in their midst. And yet, in repeating the detective's personal motivation *so* often... Smith does in fact get repetitive enough to at least warrant mentioning in the review. Indeed, it becomes as tedious at times as seeming *every* Batman movie with a new actor portraying the character having to do some version of Thomas and Martha Wayne's murders, or every new Spiderman movie having to do some version of Uncle Ben's murder. With those franchises... guys, we get it. We already know these characters. With this particular book... the first mention was solid character development. Maybe a reference back here or there could have been good. But to be hit with a near word for word repetition of the motivation *so many times*... the editing could have been better here, at minimum. Beyond this though, the story itself was quite strong indeed, even within the "locked room" type space, and the overall plotting was quite solid, with the tension ratcheting up at a fairly steady pace and the reveals coming at enough of a clip to keep the pages turning. Overall a strong series starter and I'm interested to see where we're going here. Very much recommended.
September 14, 2023
Fiona, an off-duty police officer, finds herself facing unexpected challenges when a flood hits her aunts' town. While her aunt prepares to evacuate Fiona takes it upon herself to check on her elderly neighbours, leading to a grim discovery of one neighbour's death and the other's disappearance. With communication lines down and the town's exit blocked, they seek refuge at a nearby farm, but Fiona harbours suspicions that a killer lurks among them.
My experience with this story was marked by an unexpected and prolonged focus on the flood, which I found overly detailed, to the point where my attention waned. I struggled to connect with a lot of the characters, who felt underdeveloped. Fionas back story was repeatedly mentioned leading me to believe it would become part of this one however nothing came of it. The story lacked the tension I expected given its premise. Furthermore, the excessive descriptive elements alternated between being fascinating and tedious. While I appreciated the insight into flood-related measures, it sometimes felt like every little detail was meticulously documented, leading to occasional boredom. Repetition was also a minor issue.
At times, I found it challenging to discern whether this book aimed to be a murder mystery or an exploration of the flood's impact, as both aspects were presented with equal importance, creating a distracting imbalance. However, after saying all that if you like a mystery and descriptive scenes are your thing then definitely give this one a go.
My experience with this story was marked by an unexpected and prolonged focus on the flood, which I found overly detailed, to the point where my attention waned. I struggled to connect with a lot of the characters, who felt underdeveloped. Fionas back story was repeatedly mentioned leading me to believe it would become part of this one however nothing came of it. The story lacked the tension I expected given its premise. Furthermore, the excessive descriptive elements alternated between being fascinating and tedious. While I appreciated the insight into flood-related measures, it sometimes felt like every little detail was meticulously documented, leading to occasional boredom. Repetition was also a minor issue.
At times, I found it challenging to discern whether this book aimed to be a murder mystery or an exploration of the flood's impact, as both aspects were presented with equal importance, creating a distracting imbalance. However, after saying all that if you like a mystery and descriptive scenes are your thing then definitely give this one a go.
August 11, 2023
Large quantities of melting snow... Torrential rain... Strong winds... A flood... and a dead body. This is what it all starts with. Not an ideal situation especially when you are stuck in a small valley with a few people and one of them is a killer. Questions are who is responsible and maybe even more important are they going to kill again and who are in their sights?
Fiona has her work cut out for her. Who can she trust apart from her aunt? She is forced to look over her shoulder constantly whilst battling the elements.
Little by little she pieces together every snippet of information she has and unmasks the culprit.
In times of need people who don't always see eye to eye are forced to work together in order to protect themselves against the threat of mother nature. For the killer this gave them the perfect opportunity to put their plan into action...
Fiona is a strong person, mentally as well as physically and giving up is not in her dictionary. She will do everything and more she can to help others even if it means she has to risk her own life. She does not see herself as a hero. She is just simply doing her ob.
For me it was maybe a bit too slow paced, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. The second book in the series is the next on my list. I am looking forward to find out what Fiona will have to deal with this time.
This book is a promising start to a new series. 4 stars
Thank you
Fiona has her work cut out for her. Who can she trust apart from her aunt? She is forced to look over her shoulder constantly whilst battling the elements.
Little by little she pieces together every snippet of information she has and unmasks the culprit.
In times of need people who don't always see eye to eye are forced to work together in order to protect themselves against the threat of mother nature. For the killer this gave them the perfect opportunity to put their plan into action...
Fiona is a strong person, mentally as well as physically and giving up is not in her dictionary. She will do everything and more she can to help others even if it means she has to risk her own life. She does not see herself as a hero. She is just simply doing her ob.
For me it was maybe a bit too slow paced, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. The second book in the series is the next on my list. I am looking forward to find out what Fiona will have to deal with this time.
This book is a promising start to a new series. 4 stars
Thank you
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