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DCI Tom Douglas #6
The Sixth Window
THE TRUTH HURTS – BUT LIES ARE DEADLY
After eighteen months of grieving for her husband Bernie, killed in a horrific hit and run accident, Natalie Gray has found love with her husband’s best friend - Ed Cooper - and has moved herself and fifteen-year-old daughter, Scarlett, into his home. But Natalie begins to suspect Ed has a dark side - and even darker intentions.
Desperate to get her daughter to a place of safety, she and Scarlett move to a new home that holds secrets of its own. But has removing Scarlett from one potential threat placed her in far greater danger?
DCI Tom Douglas is also chasing the truth, as his investigation into the suicide of a teenage girl draws him ever closer to Natalie and Scarlett. But will he be too late to protect them from the peril they face, or from the truths that will tear their lives apart?
Praise for The Sixth Window
‘I am in awe of Rachel Abbott’s plotting! The Sixth Window is Abbott at her best’ Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner
‘The tension that built throughout this book simply blew me away’ Angela Marsons, author of Silent Scream
‘Masterly and compelling. I couldn't put it down until its heart-stopping conclusion.’ Robert Bryndza author of The Girl in the Ice
After eighteen months of grieving for her husband Bernie, killed in a horrific hit and run accident, Natalie Gray has found love with her husband’s best friend - Ed Cooper - and has moved herself and fifteen-year-old daughter, Scarlett, into his home. But Natalie begins to suspect Ed has a dark side - and even darker intentions.
Desperate to get her daughter to a place of safety, she and Scarlett move to a new home that holds secrets of its own. But has removing Scarlett from one potential threat placed her in far greater danger?
DCI Tom Douglas is also chasing the truth, as his investigation into the suicide of a teenage girl draws him ever closer to Natalie and Scarlett. But will he be too late to protect them from the peril they face, or from the truths that will tear their lives apart?
Praise for The Sixth Window
‘I am in awe of Rachel Abbott’s plotting! The Sixth Window is Abbott at her best’ Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner
‘The tension that built throughout this book simply blew me away’ Angela Marsons, author of Silent Scream
‘Masterly and compelling. I couldn't put it down until its heart-stopping conclusion.’ Robert Bryndza author of The Girl in the Ice
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2017
2607 people are currently reading
2076 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Abbott
50 books2,691 followersI was born and brought up in the north of England, and worked for many years as the managing director of an interactive media company. I wrote every day - everything from creative proposals to user manuals - but most exciting of all was writing interactive dramas - including for the Cluedo (Clue in the US) interactive games. I was fortunate enough to sell my company in 2000 and we moved to Italy where we bought and restored an old country house.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
February 21, 2017
I have spent two days completely immersed in this twisty turny story and recently emerged breathless. Never in doubt was the skill this author has to captivate me with her complex, dark storylines and masterful character studies but the tension that built throughout this book simply blew me away. DCI Tom Douglas is a particular favourite of mine as well as his trusty aide Becky. I love the relationship between these two characters. I loved the exploration from the different viewpoints and developed a particular soft spot for Scarlett, a fifteen year old girl trying to find her way without her deceased father.
At 50% my head was darting in so many different directions due to this author’s skill at consistently blindsiding me and adding yet more psychological twists and thrilling turns that sent me off in a completely different direction. None of my theories were correct and I was left open-mouthed as the final pieces slotted into place. Incredibly skilfully woven tale of loss, deceit, jealousy and love set against the backdrop of a difficult subject with the highest amount of sensitivity. A definite 5* read from me.
At 50% my head was darting in so many different directions due to this author’s skill at consistently blindsiding me and adding yet more psychological twists and thrilling turns that sent me off in a completely different direction. None of my theories were correct and I was left open-mouthed as the final pieces slotted into place. Incredibly skilfully woven tale of loss, deceit, jealousy and love set against the backdrop of a difficult subject with the highest amount of sensitivity. A definite 5* read from me.
February 25, 2017
This story starts off with a huge bang which dominoes a sequence of events that destroy.
I refuse to go into details of this story simply because I'm bound to let something slip. I don't want to do this because it's such a fabulous plot that's keeps you enmeshed from the beginning to end.
Each character is clearly defines, rounded out and very real in your minds eye.
There are no muddling up of characters to cause the reader confusion.
I was endeared to the Mom and the daughter. A great close relationship, although misguided at times to protect each other from hurt. But totally vital to the story and very cleverly weaved in.
Misplaced loyalties can be hard.
If you have a unit of friends, a unit of trust but you know something. But you reveal it and that not only can cause hurt, but it can cause a knock on effect with trust "why didn't you tell me!!"
Sitting on things to not cause harm or hurt yet causing yourself pain and loss.
A human fact most of us at sometime can go through but to a lesser degree than this (hopefully)
The author never ceases to amaze me how she comes up with such shockingly good plots that I dare any reader who loves thrillers, not to love.
I was really taken with this book, so yes, I'm gushing because I loved it so much.
I've spent 2 days on and off twisted within the spinning web of this tale, this clever piece of work. And when I have had to go to sleep or carry on with daily life, I've wanted to pick up the book and get into it again.
I am a reader that can't wait for the next 'Rachel Abbott' book to be released
My thanks to Black Dot Publishing via Net Galley for my copy
June 29, 2017
3.5 STARS
Natalie Grey lost her policeman husband in a hit and run accident a year and a half ago. The driver of the car has never been found. She and her teenage daughter are still grieving, but Natalie has found a new love. Ed Cooper ...her deceased husband's best friend. Moving into Ed's house has been exciting, scary, all the emotional turmoil one would expect.
However, Natalie finds something .. something that has truly scare her and she feels her daughter is in real danger from Ed. Not knowing where to turn she takes her daughter and moves into an apartment building.
But this move may be far more dangerous to her daughter ......
DI Tom Douglas is investigating the suicide death of another teenage girl. This case draws him closer to Natalie and her daughter. How are these cases connected? Douglas is concerned enough that he re-opens the hit and run case.
There are multiple suspects, all have secrets and all tell lies. Is this to protect the families of the deceased ..or is it something much more sinister?
The characters are solid, story line is suspenseful. The only thing I did not like was the ending. It just didn't match what I had just read. Deducted 1 star for the ending.
Many thanks to the author / Black Dot Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Natalie Grey lost her policeman husband in a hit and run accident a year and a half ago. The driver of the car has never been found. She and her teenage daughter are still grieving, but Natalie has found a new love. Ed Cooper ...her deceased husband's best friend. Moving into Ed's house has been exciting, scary, all the emotional turmoil one would expect.
However, Natalie finds something .. something that has truly scare her and she feels her daughter is in real danger from Ed. Not knowing where to turn she takes her daughter and moves into an apartment building.
But this move may be far more dangerous to her daughter ......
DI Tom Douglas is investigating the suicide death of another teenage girl. This case draws him closer to Natalie and her daughter. How are these cases connected? Douglas is concerned enough that he re-opens the hit and run case.
There are multiple suspects, all have secrets and all tell lies. Is this to protect the families of the deceased ..or is it something much more sinister?
The characters are solid, story line is suspenseful. The only thing I did not like was the ending. It just didn't match what I had just read. Deducted 1 star for the ending.
Many thanks to the author / Black Dot Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 11, 2018
This is the sixth book in this series about DCI Tom Douglas, and though I like Tom, the plot did not really hold my attention. It felt a bit of a slog, unfortunately, and I mostly guessed at the identity of the villains fairly early on. I am not writing off this series, because some of the other books were really good, but this one just fell flat for me. I think sometimes in long-standing series, it is only natural that one book is maybe not as good (in my humble opinion) as some of the others. I'll probably give the next one a read and see how it continues, even if I probably won't be in a huge rush to get a copy.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
February 13, 2017
Natalie’s husband was killed by a hit-and-run driver and she has found a safe haven, with her fifteen year-old daughter Scarlett, in the home of his old best friend, Ed. It’s not long, though, before she begins to believe that Ed might have certain proclivities which make him a danger to her young daughter. Natalie and Scarlett move to an apartment which Scarlett hates. She can hear things which her mum can’t, and she’s afraid. She’d rather go back home to live with Ed.
This is a masterclass in tension from the queen of the genre. You can feel Scarlett’s frustration at being treated as too young to have her fears taken seriously. You can also feel Natalie’s genuine concern for her daughter and agree with the clues she has picked up on to bring her to that conclusion. In this story, however, the old adage of Trust No-one is the underlying theme. This is a scarily believable, tense and compelling thriller and it’s impossible to ration yourself to a few pages at a time. Go on. I dare you!
I received a pre-publication review copy.
This is a masterclass in tension from the queen of the genre. You can feel Scarlett’s frustration at being treated as too young to have her fears taken seriously. You can also feel Natalie’s genuine concern for her daughter and agree with the clues she has picked up on to bring her to that conclusion. In this story, however, the old adage of Trust No-one is the underlying theme. This is a scarily believable, tense and compelling thriller and it’s impossible to ration yourself to a few pages at a time. Go on. I dare you!
I received a pre-publication review copy.
December 20, 2025
Pradėjau net labai abejoti, ar man verta toliau skaityti šią seriją. Tiesiog darosi gaila laiko tokioms vidutiniškoms knygoms ir vis tikėtis, kad bus geriau, kai norimų knygų sąrašas yra begalinis ir vis pildosi. Tiesa, vieną kartą jau buvo net labai gerai, ketvirtoji serijos dalis man be galo patiko. Gal dėl to laikausi įsikibus vilties kaip šiaudo, jog autorė gali dar sužibėti. Jau pačioje pradžioje man užkliuvo faktas, kad Natalija vos po trijų mėnesių gedulo susidėjo su kitu. Ji nuo 17 metų buvo įsimylėjus Bernį, tad tai atrodo labai jau keista. Taip, galėjo ieškoti paguodos kito glėbyje, bet po pusmečio apsigyventi su kitu, nors be galo mylėjo savo vyrą? Na jau ne. Taip pat mane be galo savo netikroviškumu erzino Skarletės personažas. Penkiolikmetė, tačiau jos elgesys ir protas labiau priminė dešimtmetę. Visa istorija taip pat negalėjo pasigirti savo stiprumu ar išskirtinumu.
February 22, 2017
I've come to expect excellent books from Rachel Abbott and that's exactly what I got! Dark, twisted, and gripping. She is one of few authors that always manages to surprise me somehow. I never figure everything out until she tells us. A very enjoyable read. I love Tom Douglas! This was a very complex storyline with memorable characters. When's the next one come out?!
Natalie lost her husband to a tragic hit and run eighteen months ago. He left behind her and her daughter, Scarlett. She's found an unexpected comfort in the aftermath of his loss in the arms of his best friend and fellow police officer, Ed. Scarlett loves him and he makes Natalie feel safe and cared for. Soon after they move in with Ed, Natalie finds something alarming on his computer. Not willing to take any chances, she leaves him almost immediately. She would do anything to protect her teenage daughter, despite Scarlett's confusion as to why they left so abruptly. Could there be some explanation to the questionable site, or is the man she's spent months with hiding a dark side?
DCI Tom Douglas is investigating an apparent suicide of a young girl with the help of Becky, who has recently returned to the force after a long medical leave. The young girl's parents insist she wouldn't have killed herself, but they soon learn they didn't know everything about their teenage daughter. A strict religious upbringing may have caused her to rebel and head down a dangerous path. Could someone have pushed her off that building, or did she think it was her only option after someone drove her to want to end her life?
The two stories connect when Tom Douglas finds new evidence about the unsolved death of Natalie's husband, Bernie. A jealous lover, someone who needed to keep Bernie quiet, or a terrible drunken accident? The investigation rips open wounds for Natalie and Scarlett that have barely begun to heal, but the truth must be found... and they may not like it.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Black Dot Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Natalie lost her husband to a tragic hit and run eighteen months ago. He left behind her and her daughter, Scarlett. She's found an unexpected comfort in the aftermath of his loss in the arms of his best friend and fellow police officer, Ed. Scarlett loves him and he makes Natalie feel safe and cared for. Soon after they move in with Ed, Natalie finds something alarming on his computer. Not willing to take any chances, she leaves him almost immediately. She would do anything to protect her teenage daughter, despite Scarlett's confusion as to why they left so abruptly. Could there be some explanation to the questionable site, or is the man she's spent months with hiding a dark side?
DCI Tom Douglas is investigating an apparent suicide of a young girl with the help of Becky, who has recently returned to the force after a long medical leave. The young girl's parents insist she wouldn't have killed herself, but they soon learn they didn't know everything about their teenage daughter. A strict religious upbringing may have caused her to rebel and head down a dangerous path. Could someone have pushed her off that building, or did she think it was her only option after someone drove her to want to end her life?
The two stories connect when Tom Douglas finds new evidence about the unsolved death of Natalie's husband, Bernie. A jealous lover, someone who needed to keep Bernie quiet, or a terrible drunken accident? The investigation rips open wounds for Natalie and Scarlett that have barely begun to heal, but the truth must be found... and they may not like it.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Black Dot Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
February 18, 2017
OMG! My heart was completely pounding for the majority of this book!
I felt like I wanted to shout at the characters not to do this, not to do that! Specially Scarlett, I wanted to protect her, but from who, I didn't really know! I didn't know who I could trust. Everyone seemed to be hiding something!
And Rachel Abbott throws in a corker of a twist at the end which I never saw coming at all and it really threw me! I was thinking about it for days, it really bothered me!
The Sixth Window was an incredible read!
I felt like I wanted to shout at the characters not to do this, not to do that! Specially Scarlett, I wanted to protect her, but from who, I didn't really know! I didn't know who I could trust. Everyone seemed to be hiding something!
And Rachel Abbott throws in a corker of a twist at the end which I never saw coming at all and it really threw me! I was thinking about it for days, it really bothered me!
The Sixth Window was an incredible read!
August 22, 2018
4.5 stars
Really enjoyed this book! Definitely recommend it. It is one of those books where you just want to continue to read because it is so addictive, the writing is well done and just everything is really amazing. This is my first Rachel Abbott book but definitely won't be my last!
Really enjoyed this book! Definitely recommend it. It is one of those books where you just want to continue to read because it is so addictive, the writing is well done and just everything is really amazing. This is my first Rachel Abbott book but definitely won't be my last!
February 18, 2017
Rachel Abbott’s thrillers come with a sort of unspoken guarantee that they’ll give a really great read and I can confirm that ‘The Sixth Window’ is no exception. It was a twisty, menacing read that I really loved and didn’t want to end!
All the characters are well developed and believable with DCI Tom Douglas being of particular interest. The exploration of the mother-daughter relationship between Natalie and Scarlett was fascinating and felt authentic.
The plot was complex and shocking at times, revealing a dark underbelly of life that most of us would rather not think about. However, the storyline raises very important issues that need to be talked about.
Overall, this is a pacy, gritty and unpredictable read that kept me guessing. Abbott skilfully steered the narrative to a tense and satisfying ending that had me fearful of what might happen to the characters, Scarlett in particular. Highly recommended!
All the characters are well developed and believable with DCI Tom Douglas being of particular interest. The exploration of the mother-daughter relationship between Natalie and Scarlett was fascinating and felt authentic.
The plot was complex and shocking at times, revealing a dark underbelly of life that most of us would rather not think about. However, the storyline raises very important issues that need to be talked about.
Overall, this is a pacy, gritty and unpredictable read that kept me guessing. Abbott skilfully steered the narrative to a tense and satisfying ending that had me fearful of what might happen to the characters, Scarlett in particular. Highly recommended!
January 16, 2018
Once again Rachel Abbott has delivered a real page-turner. I don't want to give ANYTHING away in this twisty story except to say the wonderful DCI Tom Douglas still makes my heart flutter, his relationship with his team is brilliant and as for the crime they are investigating... OMG.
The Sixth Window does deal with a highly disturbing subject and some readers may feel uncomfortable however I felt it was dealt with sensitively at all times.
All of the DCI Tom Douglas books can be read as standalone but seriously.. why would you? I highly recommend this series and obviously would say start with Book 1.
The Sixth Window does deal with a highly disturbing subject and some readers may feel uncomfortable however I felt it was dealt with sensitively at all times.
All of the DCI Tom Douglas books can be read as standalone but seriously.. why would you? I highly recommend this series and obviously would say start with Book 1.
March 9, 2017
Wow! Can I breathe again yet? I feel like I have been on an emotional rollercoaster with this latest thriller from Rachel Abbott. I always have that frisson of anticipation when I start a new book by a favourite author but then I get a nervous excitement, alongside my fear that the latest offering will not live up to my high expectations. But as soon as I began The Sixth Window I knew it wasn’t going to disappoint, and my worries disappeared as I sank into it like it was a bathtub full of hot bubbles!
Tom Douglas is back! My favourite Detective Chief Inspector is called in to investigate the suicide of a teenage girl but when it becomes clear that the case may be connected to the unsolved hit and run of an undercover detective, Tom and Becky have to unravel a case that might be a little bit too close for comfort. I read the scene where police officer Bernie is out walking his daughter’s new puppy, with my heart in my mouth, what could possibly have happened within this lovely family to warrant such an horrific attack? His widow Natalie has now built a new life for herself and their daughter Scarlett but for now long?
Natalie was a great character creation. I really felt for her as she worked through her grief with the help of Ed, Bernies best friend. It takes a lot of courage to begin a new relationship as a widow, especially one with a teenage daughter, but she has bravely begun a new life giving herself another chance at love and happiness. When she sees signs that something isn’t quite right with Ed and Scarlett’s relationship and when she also finds something shocking on Eds laptop, she takes Scarlett and runs. As mothers we know to trust our instincts and read the signs even if it means destroying our own happiness. But have you ever heard that phrase “out of the frying pan and into the fire”? Well, the apartment block they move onto is hiding more than a few more secrets of its own.
Although it was fantastic having Tom back, this was first and foremost a psychological thriller and we are only fed snippets of Toms personal life in the background as the case is his main focus! But I did love the relationship between mother and daughter that takes centre stage here. And it was kept very current with the plot developments that occurred. Teenage girls don’t have an easy time of it nowadays with the evolving social media and peer pressure so they can be more vulnerable than we realise and here the fears that every parent has are brought to the surface as the we watch Scarlett becomes embroiled in something that, due to her upbringing and inexperience, she struggles to extricate herself from. I had no idea where this was heading and as the tension increased so did my fears for Scarlett.
The twists and turns of the The Sixth Window had me second guessing myself constantly right up until the end. And what an ending!! I loved this book from start to finish and now want to go back and reread all Rachel’s books from Only The Innocent. I will always need DCI Tom Douglas in my life!
Tom Douglas is back! My favourite Detective Chief Inspector is called in to investigate the suicide of a teenage girl but when it becomes clear that the case may be connected to the unsolved hit and run of an undercover detective, Tom and Becky have to unravel a case that might be a little bit too close for comfort. I read the scene where police officer Bernie is out walking his daughter’s new puppy, with my heart in my mouth, what could possibly have happened within this lovely family to warrant such an horrific attack? His widow Natalie has now built a new life for herself and their daughter Scarlett but for now long?
Natalie was a great character creation. I really felt for her as she worked through her grief with the help of Ed, Bernies best friend. It takes a lot of courage to begin a new relationship as a widow, especially one with a teenage daughter, but she has bravely begun a new life giving herself another chance at love and happiness. When she sees signs that something isn’t quite right with Ed and Scarlett’s relationship and when she also finds something shocking on Eds laptop, she takes Scarlett and runs. As mothers we know to trust our instincts and read the signs even if it means destroying our own happiness. But have you ever heard that phrase “out of the frying pan and into the fire”? Well, the apartment block they move onto is hiding more than a few more secrets of its own.
Although it was fantastic having Tom back, this was first and foremost a psychological thriller and we are only fed snippets of Toms personal life in the background as the case is his main focus! But I did love the relationship between mother and daughter that takes centre stage here. And it was kept very current with the plot developments that occurred. Teenage girls don’t have an easy time of it nowadays with the evolving social media and peer pressure so they can be more vulnerable than we realise and here the fears that every parent has are brought to the surface as the we watch Scarlett becomes embroiled in something that, due to her upbringing and inexperience, she struggles to extricate herself from. I had no idea where this was heading and as the tension increased so did my fears for Scarlett.
The twists and turns of the The Sixth Window had me second guessing myself constantly right up until the end. And what an ending!! I loved this book from start to finish and now want to go back and reread all Rachel’s books from Only The Innocent. I will always need DCI Tom Douglas in my life!
March 20, 2021
Pirma šios autorės knyga. Labai patiko ir labai įtraukiantis trileris 🙂👌
May 4, 2025
Rachel Abbott is a master in creating complex, gripping, twisty and fast paced stories. And The Sixth Window is a great addition to DCI Tom Douglas series.
Such a brilliant story that Abbott delivers with perfection. The plot just draws you in and holds your attention throughout. It's so good. And the characters are so well fleshed out. It's so great that it's not just Douglas and Becky but also Natalie and Scarlett that we get to know.
And that ending. I gasped. I loved it. Perfect.
Onto the next one for me.
Such a brilliant story that Abbott delivers with perfection. The plot just draws you in and holds your attention throughout. It's so good. And the characters are so well fleshed out. It's so great that it's not just Douglas and Becky but also Natalie and Scarlett that we get to know.
And that ending. I gasped. I loved it. Perfect.
Onto the next one for me.
February 23, 2017
It's nearly killed me not being able to review this book for the 5 long weeks before The Sixth Window was released! Praise once again goes to Rachel Abbott for the 6th instalment of the brilliant series featuring DCI Tom Douglas. Although this is part of a series it could easily be read as a standalone as the important references to the past are mentioned.
Rachel never shies away from difficult topics; instead tackling them head-on with power but sensitivity. I demolished this book in two sittings and was left wanting more! The tension is relentless and the twists are unpredictable and shocking with an ending that will leave you gasping!
5 shiny stars from me!
Thanks to Black Dot Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rachel never shies away from difficult topics; instead tackling them head-on with power but sensitivity. I demolished this book in two sittings and was left wanting more! The tension is relentless and the twists are unpredictable and shocking with an ending that will leave you gasping!
5 shiny stars from me!
Thanks to Black Dot Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2017
I'm noticing a theme with this author , and this is the third book I've read by her. They keep secrets , which causes complications in the lives of the characters , impedes murder investigations . Most times they don't want to hurt loved ones . These people. Are unbelievably silly .
November 21, 2022
To był dobry tom, ale bez wątpienia zdążyłam się odzwyczaić od tego typu kryminału! Ogromną radochę sprawił mi powrót do Toma i poznanie kolejnych przygód, ale przyznaję bez bicia, że druga część książki trochę mnie wymęczyła.
February 14, 2017
I have followed this series since first discovering it soon after becoming a kindle owner back in 2010 and have eagerly awaited each new book ever since. Rachel Abbott creates believable scenarios which touch on the important, and gritty subjects, that we might like to close our eyes to but never forgets that what the reader wants is a cracking good story. Better still her lead detective, the handsome and caring DCI Tom Douglas, creates an attractive backdrop, well, in my mind anyway.
In The Sixth Window Natalie Grey finds something disturbing on her partner’s laptop which throws her into a panic. So much so that she wants to scoop up her daughter Scarlett and take her to a place of safety. But part of her can’t believe that what she’s seen is true. After all she’s known Ed Cooper since she was a teenager, all through her marriage to his best friend Bernie and he was the person she turned to when he was killed in a hit and run accident.
As a temporary measure Natalie finds Scarlett and herself a furnished flat to rent in an old building in Manchester. Scarlett is bored, it is the summer holidays and she is far from her friends but hey she’s got plenty of school-work to be getting on with and the library is close by. Yes, that isn’t what happens at all. As I said Rachel Abbott writes believable stories, not fairy tales! Instead Scarlett mooches around her new home bored and angry with her mother until she hears voices… having discovered that the apartment is built on the site of an old workhouse, Scarlett wonders if she is hearing echoes from the past, needless to say she decides to investigate.
Meanwhile the disturbing suicide of a young girl is keeping our favourite DCI busy and there is a link to Natalie and Scarlett which he can’t ignore and as Bernie’s name keeps coming up in his investigations Tom Douglas has to face the fact that the former policeman may have been hiding a secret that his wife isn’t ready to confront. By this point in the plot I was well and truly hooked and found myself turning the pages ever faster as my brain whirred around trying to cling onto the facts while the suspicions swirled all around. This really is a fast-moving plot with plenty of the intrigue which I love. The characters are well-drawn and even if Natalie is prone to putting her head in the sand over some of the discoveries made, I liked the fact that she was determined to protect her teenage daughter no matter what. This combined with the recent loss of her husband meant that I was able to sympathise with her, which was in direct contrast to some of the other characters I met during The Sixth Window, who were downright creepy, none more so than the janitor of the building, the description Rachel provides of this dear soul is far from flattering, I do hope it wasn’t based on anyone she knows!
As with all my favourite crime fiction novels, The Sixth Window has a number of strands which are deftly pulled together to provide a scary picture which sadly isn’t quite as far from the truth as we may like to believe. I don’t normally mention the endings of books, for obvious reasons, but this one had me literally gasping with disbelief as my jaw dropped. In conclusion this book is the best in the series yet, brilliant plot, contemporary storyline, great characterisation which culminates in what on reflection seemed to be the only ending possible.
I’d like to thank the author Rachel Abbott who kindly gave me a copy of The Sixth Window, not for review purposes, although how could I not review this! For any of you who use NetGalley it is available for request and you will be able to pre-order the kindle copy from Amazon. The publication date for this being 21 February 2017.
In The Sixth Window Natalie Grey finds something disturbing on her partner’s laptop which throws her into a panic. So much so that she wants to scoop up her daughter Scarlett and take her to a place of safety. But part of her can’t believe that what she’s seen is true. After all she’s known Ed Cooper since she was a teenager, all through her marriage to his best friend Bernie and he was the person she turned to when he was killed in a hit and run accident.
As a temporary measure Natalie finds Scarlett and herself a furnished flat to rent in an old building in Manchester. Scarlett is bored, it is the summer holidays and she is far from her friends but hey she’s got plenty of school-work to be getting on with and the library is close by. Yes, that isn’t what happens at all. As I said Rachel Abbott writes believable stories, not fairy tales! Instead Scarlett mooches around her new home bored and angry with her mother until she hears voices… having discovered that the apartment is built on the site of an old workhouse, Scarlett wonders if she is hearing echoes from the past, needless to say she decides to investigate.
Meanwhile the disturbing suicide of a young girl is keeping our favourite DCI busy and there is a link to Natalie and Scarlett which he can’t ignore and as Bernie’s name keeps coming up in his investigations Tom Douglas has to face the fact that the former policeman may have been hiding a secret that his wife isn’t ready to confront. By this point in the plot I was well and truly hooked and found myself turning the pages ever faster as my brain whirred around trying to cling onto the facts while the suspicions swirled all around. This really is a fast-moving plot with plenty of the intrigue which I love. The characters are well-drawn and even if Natalie is prone to putting her head in the sand over some of the discoveries made, I liked the fact that she was determined to protect her teenage daughter no matter what. This combined with the recent loss of her husband meant that I was able to sympathise with her, which was in direct contrast to some of the other characters I met during The Sixth Window, who were downright creepy, none more so than the janitor of the building, the description Rachel provides of this dear soul is far from flattering, I do hope it wasn’t based on anyone she knows!
As with all my favourite crime fiction novels, The Sixth Window has a number of strands which are deftly pulled together to provide a scary picture which sadly isn’t quite as far from the truth as we may like to believe. I don’t normally mention the endings of books, for obvious reasons, but this one had me literally gasping with disbelief as my jaw dropped. In conclusion this book is the best in the series yet, brilliant plot, contemporary storyline, great characterisation which culminates in what on reflection seemed to be the only ending possible.
I’d like to thank the author Rachel Abbott who kindly gave me a copy of The Sixth Window, not for review purposes, although how could I not review this! For any of you who use NetGalley it is available for request and you will be able to pre-order the kindle copy from Amazon. The publication date for this being 21 February 2017.
January 26, 2018
Lies, lies and more lies. In this sixth outing for DCI Douglas it seems everyone is tying themselves in knots with their lies and, as a reader, you have little hope of seeing the truth until the author skilfully leads you there.
Natalie Gray's policeman husband died 18 months ago in a hit and run accident that was never solved. Eventually she felt it was time to move on and fell in love with Bernie's best friend Ed Cooper, also a policeman. She has just moved herself and teenage daughter, Scarlett, into Ed's house when she sees something on his computer that shocks and frightens her. She grabs Scarlett and they quickly move out and find a small apartment to stay in until they can move back into their old house.
In the new place Scarlett hears some strange noises and sets out to investigate. Meanwhile a teenager has killed herself by jumping from a roof and the investigation into Bernie Gray's death is reopened due to new information coming to light.
As the story unfolds and the two investigations begin to converge, police uncover a horrifying web of child exploitation and Natalie finds out she has been the subject of a heartbreaking betrayal. Natalie and Scarlett are both trying to protect each other but neither is playing with a full hand. There is so much they do not know or are not telling, but Scarlett ends up in terrible danger. What a nasty little web deceit this book was. Brilliant plotting and solid characters are a feature of Rachel Abbott's work and this book was right up there. Here's hoping for another one soon.
Natalie Gray's policeman husband died 18 months ago in a hit and run accident that was never solved. Eventually she felt it was time to move on and fell in love with Bernie's best friend Ed Cooper, also a policeman. She has just moved herself and teenage daughter, Scarlett, into Ed's house when she sees something on his computer that shocks and frightens her. She grabs Scarlett and they quickly move out and find a small apartment to stay in until they can move back into their old house.
In the new place Scarlett hears some strange noises and sets out to investigate. Meanwhile a teenager has killed herself by jumping from a roof and the investigation into Bernie Gray's death is reopened due to new information coming to light.
As the story unfolds and the two investigations begin to converge, police uncover a horrifying web of child exploitation and Natalie finds out she has been the subject of a heartbreaking betrayal. Natalie and Scarlett are both trying to protect each other but neither is playing with a full hand. There is so much they do not know or are not telling, but Scarlett ends up in terrible danger. What a nasty little web deceit this book was. Brilliant plotting and solid characters are a feature of Rachel Abbott's work and this book was right up there. Here's hoping for another one soon.
March 4, 2025
3.5🌟
Visa knyga skaitydama vis galvojau, kad kazko truksta.. kaip ir itraukia, bet kartu nevisiskai itikina. Bet islaike demesi iki galo 🌞
Visa knyga skaitydama vis galvojau, kad kazko truksta.. kaip ir itraukia, bet kartu nevisiskai itikina. Bet islaike demesi iki galo 🌞
March 29, 2021
Setting: Manchester, UK. Another great instalment in the series featuring DCI Tom Douglas and his DI Becky Robinson. Becky has just returned to work after nearly losing her life in the last book(!) and is thrown right in at the deep end investigating the apparent suicide of a young girl - was it suicide and, if so, what my drove her to it? At the same time, the widow of a policeman, killed in an apparent hit-and-run by intruders some 18 months earlier, is settling in with her teenage daughter to a relationship with a former colleague of her husband's. She is happy, until she finds something very unsettling on his computer.....
Another gripping and fast-paced book with lots of twists and turns in the story. Particularly intrigued by the twist at the very end and am wondering if this is going to be addressed in one of the subsequent books?! - 9.5/10
Another gripping and fast-paced book with lots of twists and turns in the story. Particularly intrigued by the twist at the very end and am wondering if this is going to be addressed in one of the subsequent books?! - 9.5/10
June 11, 2022
Dar viena įtraukianti autorės knyga,kurioje netrūks įtampos ir netikėtų siužeto vingių. Atrodo skaitant dėlioji įvykius tarsi detales, kurios iš pradžių atrodo skirtingos, bet pamažu jos siejamos viena su kita į visumą , daugmaž ima ryškėti paveikslas, bet vistiek autorė nustebina, ir galvoji kokios detalės trūksta, kas buvo nedasakyta, na ir kaip visada viskas išaiškėja knygos pabaigoje,ir sukrenta į bendrą paveikslą .
February 2, 2018
Natalie’s weakness at a crucial time puts her in the capable hands of Ed Cooper but something doesn’t sit right with her. Not knowing who to trust she runs to a safe house but the term ‘safe’ doesn’t apply to her teenage daughter Scarlett.
This book was terrifying. It had me on the edge of my seat but I do enjoy Abbott’s timely telling of events. She can keep the reader guessing right until the end and that is exactly what I’m looking for. This is a brilliant series and you don’t have to read the books in sequence to thoroughly enjoy them.
This book was terrifying. It had me on the edge of my seat but I do enjoy Abbott’s timely telling of events. She can keep the reader guessing right until the end and that is exactly what I’m looking for. This is a brilliant series and you don’t have to read the books in sequence to thoroughly enjoy them.
April 5, 2022
pirma pazintis su autore.lengvai skaitesi ir labai itrauke.bet galo nelabai supratau
February 21, 2017
I do love me a little bit of DCI Tom Douglas. Who in their right mind doesn’t? I will admit to having had a bit of a gap in my reading and to reading the books completely out of order, having missed the last couple as I struggle to make headway with my personal TBR, but then that is nothing unusual for me. But when the opportunity came up to get an advance copy of the The Sixth Window, the latest instalment in Rachel Abbott’s DCI Douglas series, well… I just couldn’t say no.
This is a really interesting story, high on tension, with a very difficult subject as a backdrop to the main action. We follow the life of Natalie Grey, a widow and mother whose husband Bernie, a police officer, had been killed in a hit and run accident over a year ago. She is now living with his best friend Ed, but discovers something on his laptop that she cannot ignore, something which could put her and her daughter Scarlett in real danger. Natalie thinks she has found them a safe haven in an apartment in the city but when the estate manager is attacked, and Scarlett starts to hear strange noises from within their flat, just how safe are they really?
As Scarlett begins to investigate the apartment block, Tom Douglas is looking into the suicide of a young girl. From a family which follows a strict religious code, her death makes little sense. Her mother will not accept that it is suicide, insisting that her daughter was murdered. The girl’s younger brother seems to be keeping a secret and her father is not as blinkered as his wife, but there is something truly troubling in the girls past and Tom needs to find out the truth before anyone else gets hurt.
The two stories intersect in the most troubling of ways, with Tom’s team being tasked with investigating the hit and run which killed Natalie’s husband after the suspected killers alibi checks out. There was a time when I wondered how the stories could possibly pull together, and what any of it had to do with the hit and run. But this is the beauty of Rachel Abbott’s writing. She has an ability to pull together many seemingly unconnected threads and weave them into a rich literary tapestry which truly engages and enthralls the reader. The Sixth Window was no exception.
I really liked the characters in this book. It goes without saying the Tom Douglas and Becky Robinson, both long standing characters from the series, are as well written and engaging as ever. We see a little of the playfulness of their relationship as Becky starts to interfere in Tom’s personal life, but this is part of the wonder of the pairing and it works perfectly. The supporting characters are well rounded and elicit a range of emotions from incredulity to suspicion to outright shock as I struggled to understand their motivations or their actions. Scarlett is a really strong character seemingly having gained some of her tenacity and resolve from her father. She is curious and brave beyond her years but that bravery leads her into danger creating one of the most heart stopping scenes of the whole story.
As I said at the start, the backdrop to this story is a very difficult one. One of exploitation and abuse. But just who is responsible is not entirely clear and there is misdirection galore throughout the book as Abbott carefully moves the focus from one character to another. The finger of suspicion even falls to the police at one point, with corruption being cited at the very top of the tree. I can’t say I was entirely surprised by the conclusion, I had my suspicions early on which proved correct, but the story was so enthralling and the question marks over certain characters actions so bold that I was willing to be proven wrong. In spite of everything, of suspecting what would come to pass, I still didn’t see that ending coming. Not at all.
I love these books and you can hardly ask for a stronger and more competent development of both character and plotting than you get from Rachel Abbott. I am even more determined now to play catch up (thank the world for Audible), and can’t wait for the next book in the series. I have loved Tom Douglas since I first read The Back Road, even though at that stage the police investigations were very much secondary to the main story. This book was different, with the Police playing a much greater part in the action and I think I loved it even more because of that. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this will be another storming great hit for Rachel Abbott.
A full on, twisted, be careful who you trust 5 stars.
This is a really interesting story, high on tension, with a very difficult subject as a backdrop to the main action. We follow the life of Natalie Grey, a widow and mother whose husband Bernie, a police officer, had been killed in a hit and run accident over a year ago. She is now living with his best friend Ed, but discovers something on his laptop that she cannot ignore, something which could put her and her daughter Scarlett in real danger. Natalie thinks she has found them a safe haven in an apartment in the city but when the estate manager is attacked, and Scarlett starts to hear strange noises from within their flat, just how safe are they really?
As Scarlett begins to investigate the apartment block, Tom Douglas is looking into the suicide of a young girl. From a family which follows a strict religious code, her death makes little sense. Her mother will not accept that it is suicide, insisting that her daughter was murdered. The girl’s younger brother seems to be keeping a secret and her father is not as blinkered as his wife, but there is something truly troubling in the girls past and Tom needs to find out the truth before anyone else gets hurt.
The two stories intersect in the most troubling of ways, with Tom’s team being tasked with investigating the hit and run which killed Natalie’s husband after the suspected killers alibi checks out. There was a time when I wondered how the stories could possibly pull together, and what any of it had to do with the hit and run. But this is the beauty of Rachel Abbott’s writing. She has an ability to pull together many seemingly unconnected threads and weave them into a rich literary tapestry which truly engages and enthralls the reader. The Sixth Window was no exception.
I really liked the characters in this book. It goes without saying the Tom Douglas and Becky Robinson, both long standing characters from the series, are as well written and engaging as ever. We see a little of the playfulness of their relationship as Becky starts to interfere in Tom’s personal life, but this is part of the wonder of the pairing and it works perfectly. The supporting characters are well rounded and elicit a range of emotions from incredulity to suspicion to outright shock as I struggled to understand their motivations or their actions. Scarlett is a really strong character seemingly having gained some of her tenacity and resolve from her father. She is curious and brave beyond her years but that bravery leads her into danger creating one of the most heart stopping scenes of the whole story.
As I said at the start, the backdrop to this story is a very difficult one. One of exploitation and abuse. But just who is responsible is not entirely clear and there is misdirection galore throughout the book as Abbott carefully moves the focus from one character to another. The finger of suspicion even falls to the police at one point, with corruption being cited at the very top of the tree. I can’t say I was entirely surprised by the conclusion, I had my suspicions early on which proved correct, but the story was so enthralling and the question marks over certain characters actions so bold that I was willing to be proven wrong. In spite of everything, of suspecting what would come to pass, I still didn’t see that ending coming. Not at all.
I love these books and you can hardly ask for a stronger and more competent development of both character and plotting than you get from Rachel Abbott. I am even more determined now to play catch up (thank the world for Audible), and can’t wait for the next book in the series. I have loved Tom Douglas since I first read The Back Road, even though at that stage the police investigations were very much secondary to the main story. This book was different, with the Police playing a much greater part in the action and I think I loved it even more because of that. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this will be another storming great hit for Rachel Abbott.
A full on, twisted, be careful who you trust 5 stars.
February 14, 2018
Ooooh great ending, there's a decided chill running down my spine! This had all the fun features of the archetypical detective novel without being cheesy or predictable. Rachel Abbott is great at plot twists and her stories come with a good balance of grit. She's right on the money for the current psychological/crime drama trend and manages to do a decent job of it (her characters are interesting but believable, something that many other contemporary authors hopping on the bandwagon fail to achieve). It may not be particularly original but it's good at being what it is. I've enjoyed all the books in this series and highly recommend it to any fans of Robert Galbraith's Strike series, Colin Dexter's Morse or Caroline Graham's Midsomer Murders. A solid 4 Stars.
More reviews at https://bookandbanana.com.
More reviews at https://bookandbanana.com.
March 9, 2017
Rachel Abbott's character, DCI Tom Douglas, has become one of my favorite characters. i enjoy the dark storylines revolving around his investigative team. This installment has Tom Douglas and his second in command, Becky, investigating the death of a law enforcement officer who was struck by a car eighteen months earlier. The officer's widow, Natalie, is now in a relationship with his best friend, Ed, and she and their teenaged daughter are living with him. Natalie sees something that makes her question everything she believes about Ed, and she takes her daughter, Scarlett, and rents an apartment. Soon, Scarlett realizes shady things are happening in their new apartment building, but she is afraid to tell anyone. It is impossible for mother or daughter to know who to trust, and this dark, twisting tale has them in an untenable situation.
I really enjoyed the familiar characters in this book, and liked getting to know the new ones. The storyline kept me guessing, and I'm still not sure what to think! This was a great addition to the series, and I'm already looking forward to finding out what Tom and Becky will encounter next. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the familiar characters in this book, and liked getting to know the new ones. The storyline kept me guessing, and I'm still not sure what to think! This was a great addition to the series, and I'm already looking forward to finding out what Tom and Becky will encounter next. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
February 26, 2017
Plenty of twists and turns make up the 6th psychological thriller featuring DCI Tom Douglas. The mother-daughter relationship between Natalie and Scarlett gave the characters depth and interest. Throughout you do not know who to trust as all characters seem to have something to hide. Some parts felt a bit too convenient and characters a little naive to have not realised anything was going on. But there are plenty of surprises to keep this entertaining though-out. Its hard to review this one without giving too much away. But overall a dark subject handled well to make this a quick read.
July 26, 2020
4.5 stars
DCI Tom Douglas is getting better and better. I think the more I get to know him the more I like him.
The Sixth Window was thrilling, yeah there was some cliche but reasonable enough considering the age and maturity of that character but overall I'm very satisfied.
DCI Tom Douglas is getting better and better. I think the more I get to know him the more I like him.
The Sixth Window was thrilling, yeah there was some cliche but reasonable enough considering the age and maturity of that character but overall I'm very satisfied.
March 7, 2017
Rachel Abbott is one of my favorite authors, but this book left a lot of loose ends. Perhaps there will be a sequel. It also seems like every two pages someone was crying. Haha.
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