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Stalking Horse
Paroled from prison after serving sixteen years for the murders of two people, a crime that he did not commit, Bill Holt returns to his hometown in search of the true killer
185 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2000
About the author
Jill McGown
34 books39 followersJill McGown (9 August 1947, Campbeltown, Scotland – 6 April 2007 in Kettering, Northamptonshire) was a British writer of mystery novels. She was best known for her mystery series featuring Inspector Lloyd and Judy Hill, one of which (A Shred of Evidence) was made into a television series. McGown wrote her first mystery novel after being laid off from the British Steel Corporation in 1980. She is sometimes credited as Elizabeth Chaplin.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 22, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down.
It was shorter than I thought it would be but I liked the way they went about solving the case. The flashbacks were a bit difficult to separate from the main timeline at first but it was interesting to see bits and pieces of the past tie in with the present. I liked that McGown didn't use it as a way to "hide" clues from the reader, as the protagonist was also finding out the truth along the way.
I don't like what Bill did to Jan, it felt like a hard left turn and really didn't make me root for him as much as I had. The ending was also a bit...contrived? It felt kind of unsatisfying and maybe even a bit rushed, though I understand why she didn't feel the need to write further.
It was shorter than I thought it would be but I liked the way they went about solving the case. The flashbacks were a bit difficult to separate from the main timeline at first but it was interesting to see bits and pieces of the past tie in with the present. I liked that McGown didn't use it as a way to "hide" clues from the reader, as the protagonist was also finding out the truth along the way.
I don't like what Bill did to Jan, it felt like a hard left turn and really didn't make me root for him as much as I had. The ending was also a bit...contrived? It felt kind of unsatisfying and maybe even a bit rushed, though I understand why she didn't feel the need to write further.
July 14, 2022
A brilliant standalone by Ms McGown.
We meet Bill Holt who has just served 16 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.
He’s had 16 long years to think about who amongst his circle could have committed the murder & he leaves prison determined to uncover the truth &, when he’s certain he’s got the right person, to kill them.
We meet Bill Holt who has just served 16 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.
He’s had 16 long years to think about who amongst his circle could have committed the murder & he leaves prison determined to uncover the truth &, when he’s certain he’s got the right person, to kill them.
March 17, 2011
Interesting British mystery about a man released from prison after serving 16 years for two murders he did not commit. He sets out to find the real killer.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews