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Monica Kennedy #1
From the Shadows
A stunning, atmospheric police procedural set against the grit of Inverness and the raw beauty of the Scottish Highlands, this is the first book in the DI Monica Kennedy series.
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again.
A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in this starkly beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death.
Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients whose last correspondence was a single ambiguous text message; Nichol Morgan has been missing for seven days.
As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
From the Shadows introduces DI Monica Kennedy, an unforgettable new series lead, perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves' Vera, Susie Steiner and Peter May.
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again.
A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in this starkly beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death.
Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients whose last correspondence was a single ambiguous text message; Nichol Morgan has been missing for seven days.
As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
From the Shadows introduces DI Monica Kennedy, an unforgettable new series lead, perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves' Vera, Susie Steiner and Peter May.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2019
75 people are currently reading
744 people want to read
About the author
G.R. Halliday
8 books60 followersG.R. Halliday lives in the rural Highlands outside of Inverness, where he is pursues mountain climbing and swimming in the sea. From the Shadows is his debut crime novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
April 9, 2019
GR Halliday's debut is a welcome addition to the Scottish Noir crime fiction genre, with its melancholic and morose atmosphere that hangs heavy throughout, set in the Scottish Highlands and Inverness. 16 year old Robert Wright disappears from his home, only for his mutilated, tortured body with a stone thrust deep down his throat to be found posed in a remote part of the Highlands. Leading the police team is DI Monica Kennedy, a rather tall woman, a single mother, with 4 year old daughter, Lucy, whom she barely sees but is constantly in her thoughts. Her mother who shows a touch too much interest in Monica's cases, looks after Lucy. Michael Bach is a guilt ridden social worker, with a traumatic past, desperately worried about about one of his missing clients, 17 year old Nichol Morgan. With a murder investigation on her hands, Monica knows the police have no resources to devote to finding Nichol, so she breaks procedure by telling him to find Nichol as she gives him his client's laptop.
Matters escalate when a second body of a another young boy with the same MO is found in a remote location by a loch. Monica's ambitious boss, Superintendent Hately foists on her a Dr Hamish Lees, a criminal psychologist, an arrogant man with certainties that Monica is highly doubtful of. Interspersed in the narrative is the watcher, a highly intelligent presence, operating several steps ahead of the police. Monica and Bach are faced with a case that throws ups ever increasing dangers, with the likes of Owen MacLennan and Don Cameron. The police team are not immune from the tragedies and horror that engulf the investigation where it appears there are more victims than the police were ever aware of in the past. With a boss that is too focused on one suspect, Monica is forced to operate below the radar until it all ends up in a blood soaked thrilling finale that has me avidly anticipating the next book in the series.
This may not be a perfect debut, the author dwells a little too assiduously throughout on Monica's height and the ending is a trifle too fudged. However, it is terrifically compelling, packed with plentiful suspense and tension, and with some wonderful characterisation. I liked the inclusion of the cat, Colonel Mustard, along with Michael's IT geek, Henry, and the flawed but determined DC Connor Crawford. Both Monica and Michael have suitably dark backgrounds with trauma, and a Monica that can make truly troubling decisions. All in all, this is a brilliantly chilling beginning to what promises to be a stellar series set amidst the background of the stunning Scottish Highlands. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
Matters escalate when a second body of a another young boy with the same MO is found in a remote location by a loch. Monica's ambitious boss, Superintendent Hately foists on her a Dr Hamish Lees, a criminal psychologist, an arrogant man with certainties that Monica is highly doubtful of. Interspersed in the narrative is the watcher, a highly intelligent presence, operating several steps ahead of the police. Monica and Bach are faced with a case that throws ups ever increasing dangers, with the likes of Owen MacLennan and Don Cameron. The police team are not immune from the tragedies and horror that engulf the investigation where it appears there are more victims than the police were ever aware of in the past. With a boss that is too focused on one suspect, Monica is forced to operate below the radar until it all ends up in a blood soaked thrilling finale that has me avidly anticipating the next book in the series.
This may not be a perfect debut, the author dwells a little too assiduously throughout on Monica's height and the ending is a trifle too fudged. However, it is terrifically compelling, packed with plentiful suspense and tension, and with some wonderful characterisation. I liked the inclusion of the cat, Colonel Mustard, along with Michael's IT geek, Henry, and the flawed but determined DC Connor Crawford. Both Monica and Michael have suitably dark backgrounds with trauma, and a Monica that can make truly troubling decisions. All in all, this is a brilliantly chilling beginning to what promises to be a stellar series set amidst the background of the stunning Scottish Highlands. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
April 18, 2019
My review for this has disappeared from Goodreads.
GR Halliday's debut is a welcome addition to the Scottish Noir crime fiction genre, with its melancholic and morose atmosphere that hangs heavy throughout, set in the Scottish Highlands and Inverness. 16 year old Robert Wright disappears from his home, only for his mutilated, tortured body with a stone thrust deep down his throat to be found posed in a remote part of the Highlands. Leading the police team is DI Monica Kennedy, a rather tall woman, a single mother, with 4 year old daughter, Lucy, whom she barely sees but is constantly in her thoughts. Her mother who shows a touch too much interest in Monica's cases, looks after Lucy. Michael Bach is a guilt ridden social worker, with a traumatic past, desperately worried about about one of his missing clients, 17 year old Nichol Morgan. With a murder investigation on her hands, Monica knows the police have no resources to devote to finding Nichol, so she breaks procedure by telling him to find Nichol as she gives him his client's laptop.
Matters escalate when a second body of a another young boy with the same MO is found in a remote location by a loch. Monica's ambitious boss, Superintendent Hately foists on her a Dr Hamish Lees, a criminal psychologist, an arrogant man with certainties that Monica is highly doubtful of. Interspersed in the narrative is the watcher, a highly intelligent presence, operating several steps ahead of the police. Monica and Bach are faced with a case that throws ups ever increasing dangers, with the likes of Owen MacLennan and Don Cameron. The police team are not immune from the tragedies and horror that engulf the investigation where it appears there are more victims than the police were ever aware of in the past. With a boss that is too focused on one suspect, Monica is forced to operate below the radar until it all ends up in a blood soaked thrilling finale that has me avidly anticipating the next book in the series.
This may not be a perfect debut, the author dwells a little too assiduously throughout on Monica's height and the ending is a trifle too fudged. However, it is terrifically compelling, packed with plentiful suspense and tension, and with some wonderful characterisation. I liked the inclusion of the cat, Colonel Mustard, along with Michael's IT geek, Henry, and the flawed but determined DC Connor Crawford. Both Monica and Michael have suitably dark backgrounds with trauma, and a Monica that can make truly troubling decisions. All in all, this is a brilliantly chilling beginning to what promises to be a stellar series set amidst the background of the stunning Scottish Highlands. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
GR Halliday's debut is a welcome addition to the Scottish Noir crime fiction genre, with its melancholic and morose atmosphere that hangs heavy throughout, set in the Scottish Highlands and Inverness. 16 year old Robert Wright disappears from his home, only for his mutilated, tortured body with a stone thrust deep down his throat to be found posed in a remote part of the Highlands. Leading the police team is DI Monica Kennedy, a rather tall woman, a single mother, with 4 year old daughter, Lucy, whom she barely sees but is constantly in her thoughts. Her mother who shows a touch too much interest in Monica's cases, looks after Lucy. Michael Bach is a guilt ridden social worker, with a traumatic past, desperately worried about about one of his missing clients, 17 year old Nichol Morgan. With a murder investigation on her hands, Monica knows the police have no resources to devote to finding Nichol, so she breaks procedure by telling him to find Nichol as she gives him his client's laptop.
Matters escalate when a second body of a another young boy with the same MO is found in a remote location by a loch. Monica's ambitious boss, Superintendent Hately foists on her a Dr Hamish Lees, a criminal psychologist, an arrogant man with certainties that Monica is highly doubtful of. Interspersed in the narrative is the watcher, a highly intelligent presence, operating several steps ahead of the police. Monica and Bach are faced with a case that throws ups ever increasing dangers, with the likes of Owen MacLennan and Don Cameron. The police team are not immune from the tragedies and horror that engulf the investigation where it appears there are more victims than the police were ever aware of in the past. With a boss that is too focused on one suspect, Monica is forced to operate below the radar until it all ends up in a blood soaked thrilling finale that has me avidly anticipating the next book in the series.
This may not be a perfect debut, the author dwells a little too assiduously throughout on Monica's height and the ending is a trifle too fudged. However, it is terrifically compelling, packed with plentiful suspense and tension, and with some wonderful characterisation. I liked the inclusion of the cat, Colonel Mustard, along with Michael's IT geek, Henry, and the flawed but determined DC Connor Crawford. Both Monica and Michael have suitably dark backgrounds with trauma, and a Monica that can make truly troubling decisions. All in all, this is a brilliantly chilling beginning to what promises to be a stellar series set amidst the background of the stunning Scottish Highlands. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
May 16, 2020
Monica Kennedy #1
Thenstory is set in Inverness, Scotland. Young teenage boys are either missing or they have been found dead. DI Monica Kennedyniz in charge of the investigation. Social worker, Michael Bach is also looking for a missing boy. Monica is also a single mother. They've just moved back to her roots and she's trying to make an impression.
This book held my attention all the way through. It's quite graphic in its descriptions of the violence that takes place. The descriptions of the scenery and the weather were spot on. This is a dark and gripping read. I liked the main characters and I hope that Michael will feature in more books as the series progresses. My only criticism is the constant reminders of how tall Monica is. A great start to a new police procedural series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing and the author G.R. Halliday for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thenstory is set in Inverness, Scotland. Young teenage boys are either missing or they have been found dead. DI Monica Kennedyniz in charge of the investigation. Social worker, Michael Bach is also looking for a missing boy. Monica is also a single mother. They've just moved back to her roots and she's trying to make an impression.
This book held my attention all the way through. It's quite graphic in its descriptions of the violence that takes place. The descriptions of the scenery and the weather were spot on. This is a dark and gripping read. I liked the main characters and I hope that Michael will feature in more books as the series progresses. My only criticism is the constant reminders of how tall Monica is. A great start to a new police procedural series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing and the author G.R. Halliday for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2023
The chilling atmosphere of the remote Highland locations was unsettlingly good at times. However I did get annoyed at the seemingly inappropriate and continual use of the term “the kid” when the detective had thoughts about her young daughter. The children of other people are kids.
I enjoyed the dark inner thoughts of the DI which contrasted with what she actually said to people. Not sure if that reflects my own personality.🤔
I enjoyed the dark inner thoughts of the DI which contrasted with what she actually said to people. Not sure if that reflects my own personality.🤔
March 31, 2019
Some books are just impossible to put down and From The Shadows by G. R.Halliday is one of them. I haven't been able to put this crime book down since the day it arrived and landed on my door mat. Here is introducing a major new Scottish crime series.
This book is an A. D. I Monica Kennedy novel. I'm very much hope that the next book that G. R. Halliday writes features Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy, she's so believable, which is important to me as a crime book lover that I believe in the Detective Inspector, also what is a plus for me the author made Monica a female Detective inspector.
What I liked about this book is that it's very easy to follow, with the chapters carefully divided into certain days of the week.
Sixteen year old Robert's mum, Amanda had left him and his dad, with the dog Ellie, six weeks ago.
Robert comes home late without a word to his dad, and is never seen again but when Ellie , the dog was in in Roberts bedroom , his dog whined, something is off here.
My stomach turned when, Detective Inspector Monica Kenedy finds a body in the Scottish Highlands. Expect a plot of mysteries waiting to be solved, as bodies were left in the highlands.
I found about the author G. R. Halliday fascinating world, he spent his childhood obsessing over the unexplained mysteries his father investigated. Now it's G. R. Halliday turn to give us great pleasure in reading his mysteries throughout From The Shadows.
This book is an A. D. I Monica Kennedy novel. I'm very much hope that the next book that G. R. Halliday writes features Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy, she's so believable, which is important to me as a crime book lover that I believe in the Detective Inspector, also what is a plus for me the author made Monica a female Detective inspector.
What I liked about this book is that it's very easy to follow, with the chapters carefully divided into certain days of the week.
Sixteen year old Robert's mum, Amanda had left him and his dad, with the dog Ellie, six weeks ago.
Robert comes home late without a word to his dad, and is never seen again but when Ellie , the dog was in in Roberts bedroom , his dog whined, something is off here.
My stomach turned when, Detective Inspector Monica Kenedy finds a body in the Scottish Highlands. Expect a plot of mysteries waiting to be solved, as bodies were left in the highlands.
I found about the author G. R. Halliday fascinating world, he spent his childhood obsessing over the unexplained mysteries his father investigated. Now it's G. R. Halliday turn to give us great pleasure in reading his mysteries throughout From The Shadows.
April 7, 2019
Mediocre police procedural debut set in the Highlands - unoriginal with a poor man’s Vera investigating.
From The Shadows is a solid police procedural debut set in the scenic surroundings of the Scottish Highlands and introduces forty-four-year-old single mother, DI Monica Kennedy, as the series lead. Recently returned to her birthplace of Inverness with her four-year-old daughter, Lucy, in order to be closer to her ever reliable mother, Angela, Monica has eighteen-years experience of investigating serious crimes.
When the body of a sixteen-year-old boy is discovered posed, mutilated and with no obvious cause of death amidst the coastal wilderness of the Highlands, DI Monica Kennedy is tasked with investigating and feels the prickle of unease that there is a deeper significance to the killers actions. As Monica attempts to identify the corpse she meets dedicated Inverness based social worker, Michael Bach, as he endeavours to track down his seventeen-year-old client Nichol Morgan after failing to make contact for seven days. Wracked with guilt that he has let Nichol down after missing a meeting and with the disappearance of someone who is technically classed as an adult a low priority, Bach soon endeavours to do his own digging.
When the victims body is identified as that of sixteen-year-old local boy, Robert Wright, and his father tells the police raises the suggestion that his boy made it home the precious night it begins to raise suspicions that I could have been abducted from his own house. After the autopsy reveals the presence of a mysterious black rock lodged in the victim’s throat it echoes with Michael Bach’s reports of his client, Nichol Morgan, also clutching a black rock the last few times they met and gut instinct tells Monica that there could be more deaths to come and she takes the maverick decision to hand Nichol’s laptop over to Bach and try to head off any potential risk to his client.
Within days however. a second boy is reported missing from his home and his body is discovered shortly after having been murdered in the exact same circumstances as Robert and with the black rock again present. As both strands of the investigation lead Monica and Bach into darker territory Monica finds herself reunited with an old adversary and Bach stumbles across the disappearances of other teenage boys with possibly undiscovered links to the recently discovered corpses. In truth, Bach does the bulk of the investigative work and his discoveries overwhelmingly assist Monica. Despite the plot feeling fairly far-fetched there are the requisite number of twists and surprises to hold the reader’s attention and also inject tension.
The narrative is predominantly made up of Monica and Michael Bach’s points of view with both of their efforts adding to the impetus of the story. Occasional excerpts entitled ‘The Watcher’ convey the point of view of the arrogant predator behind the murders and do little to expand on his motivation. As a series lead I was pretty disappointed by DI Monica Kennedy who I felt little connection with, and aside from her height and tight boots, I felt her character was abysmally underdeveloped. In all honesty she seemed a pale imitation of DI Vera Stanhope with the familiar hang-up of every fictional female detective who is also a mother of being overly committed to her job. Monica takes her police priorities very seriously and poor Lucy barely gets a look in but I was unconvinced of her powers of deduction as she moved through a number of prime suspects before eventually arriving at the guilty party. Aside from her appearance I didn’t really get any sense of the women behind the detective persona and although there are hints to her childhood familiarity with a crew of wrong ‘uns after her upbringing on a rough estate, it is never fleshed out.
Although the team of detectives are headed up by Monica there is minimal development of her team, including new partner, DC Connor Crawford, DC Ben Fisher, Detective Superintendent Fred Hately and criminal psychologist, Dr Hamish Lees. Aside from the slimy Lees, her fellow officers are eminently forgettable and pretty bland and only a menacing sex offender and a loner gamekeeper as suspects add interest. As a reader who enjoys police procedural I have to say that much of From The Shadows felt somewhat derivative, from the lumbering detective plagued with guilt about putting her job ahead of her daughter, to the supercilious criminal psychologist designed to undermine her and her unsurprising decision to go rogue and team up with social worker, Michael Bach. Urged on by the memory of his younger brother, Joseph, disappearing in childhood that plagues his life, Bach is well-intentioned and darkly mysterious with potential for exploration.
Overall, a middling debut that is unlikely to linger in the mind with a protagonist whom is less than fascinating. Despite being a mildly entertaining read I was also unconvinced by the convoluted rationale behind the killers motive and bizarre MO and found the denouement anti-climatic and somewhat confusing. I would read more in the series but on the strength of this debut I am unlikely to actively seek the books out. Although the brooding backdrop of the landscape undoubtedly added a ominous feel to the whole story the plot really did become increasingly far-fetched and I felt From The Shadows was short on thrills with an unsatisfactory resolution.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
From The Shadows is a solid police procedural debut set in the scenic surroundings of the Scottish Highlands and introduces forty-four-year-old single mother, DI Monica Kennedy, as the series lead. Recently returned to her birthplace of Inverness with her four-year-old daughter, Lucy, in order to be closer to her ever reliable mother, Angela, Monica has eighteen-years experience of investigating serious crimes.
When the body of a sixteen-year-old boy is discovered posed, mutilated and with no obvious cause of death amidst the coastal wilderness of the Highlands, DI Monica Kennedy is tasked with investigating and feels the prickle of unease that there is a deeper significance to the killers actions. As Monica attempts to identify the corpse she meets dedicated Inverness based social worker, Michael Bach, as he endeavours to track down his seventeen-year-old client Nichol Morgan after failing to make contact for seven days. Wracked with guilt that he has let Nichol down after missing a meeting and with the disappearance of someone who is technically classed as an adult a low priority, Bach soon endeavours to do his own digging.
When the victims body is identified as that of sixteen-year-old local boy, Robert Wright, and his father tells the police raises the suggestion that his boy made it home the precious night it begins to raise suspicions that I could have been abducted from his own house. After the autopsy reveals the presence of a mysterious black rock lodged in the victim’s throat it echoes with Michael Bach’s reports of his client, Nichol Morgan, also clutching a black rock the last few times they met and gut instinct tells Monica that there could be more deaths to come and she takes the maverick decision to hand Nichol’s laptop over to Bach and try to head off any potential risk to his client.
Within days however. a second boy is reported missing from his home and his body is discovered shortly after having been murdered in the exact same circumstances as Robert and with the black rock again present. As both strands of the investigation lead Monica and Bach into darker territory Monica finds herself reunited with an old adversary and Bach stumbles across the disappearances of other teenage boys with possibly undiscovered links to the recently discovered corpses. In truth, Bach does the bulk of the investigative work and his discoveries overwhelmingly assist Monica. Despite the plot feeling fairly far-fetched there are the requisite number of twists and surprises to hold the reader’s attention and also inject tension.
The narrative is predominantly made up of Monica and Michael Bach’s points of view with both of their efforts adding to the impetus of the story. Occasional excerpts entitled ‘The Watcher’ convey the point of view of the arrogant predator behind the murders and do little to expand on his motivation. As a series lead I was pretty disappointed by DI Monica Kennedy who I felt little connection with, and aside from her height and tight boots, I felt her character was abysmally underdeveloped. In all honesty she seemed a pale imitation of DI Vera Stanhope with the familiar hang-up of every fictional female detective who is also a mother of being overly committed to her job. Monica takes her police priorities very seriously and poor Lucy barely gets a look in but I was unconvinced of her powers of deduction as she moved through a number of prime suspects before eventually arriving at the guilty party. Aside from her appearance I didn’t really get any sense of the women behind the detective persona and although there are hints to her childhood familiarity with a crew of wrong ‘uns after her upbringing on a rough estate, it is never fleshed out.
Although the team of detectives are headed up by Monica there is minimal development of her team, including new partner, DC Connor Crawford, DC Ben Fisher, Detective Superintendent Fred Hately and criminal psychologist, Dr Hamish Lees. Aside from the slimy Lees, her fellow officers are eminently forgettable and pretty bland and only a menacing sex offender and a loner gamekeeper as suspects add interest. As a reader who enjoys police procedural I have to say that much of From The Shadows felt somewhat derivative, from the lumbering detective plagued with guilt about putting her job ahead of her daughter, to the supercilious criminal psychologist designed to undermine her and her unsurprising decision to go rogue and team up with social worker, Michael Bach. Urged on by the memory of his younger brother, Joseph, disappearing in childhood that plagues his life, Bach is well-intentioned and darkly mysterious with potential for exploration.
Overall, a middling debut that is unlikely to linger in the mind with a protagonist whom is less than fascinating. Despite being a mildly entertaining read I was also unconvinced by the convoluted rationale behind the killers motive and bizarre MO and found the denouement anti-climatic and somewhat confusing. I would read more in the series but on the strength of this debut I am unlikely to actively seek the books out. Although the brooding backdrop of the landscape undoubtedly added a ominous feel to the whole story the plot really did become increasingly far-fetched and I felt From The Shadows was short on thrills with an unsatisfactory resolution.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 22, 2018
Excellent new police procedural series set in Scotland with an intriguing (and very tall!!) main protagonist in Monica and a fairly creepy serial killer storyline to kick it off.
The author descriptively weaves the landscape around the characters, often giving the narrative a chilly, edgy feel. Social Worker Michael is an excellent character to offset Monica and there are plenty of haunting moments.
The finale opens up the series to all sorts of possibilities which makes you look forward to the next book.
If I had one little bugbear it was that Monica went a little mad at one point making a decision I just didn't believe any parent would make which took me out of the moment slightly- however that was a tiny and subjective off moment in what was an entirely atmospheric and highly addictive read.
Roll on the next. Fuller review to follow near publication.
The author descriptively weaves the landscape around the characters, often giving the narrative a chilly, edgy feel. Social Worker Michael is an excellent character to offset Monica and there are plenty of haunting moments.
The finale opens up the series to all sorts of possibilities which makes you look forward to the next book.
If I had one little bugbear it was that Monica went a little mad at one point making a decision I just didn't believe any parent would make which took me out of the moment slightly- however that was a tiny and subjective off moment in what was an entirely atmospheric and highly addictive read.
Roll on the next. Fuller review to follow near publication.
April 6, 2019
"From the Shadows" is a D.I. Monica Kennedy novel, a new Scottish crime series from debut author G.R. Halliday.
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again. A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in the beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death. Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
As debut police procedurals go this isn't a bad first time effort. I love crime thrillers set in Scotland, especially the Highlands and knowing the places mentioned in the story intimately, I did feel a connection to the location of the story and appreciated the raw beauty of the atmospheric descriptions. Although I would have a appreciated a little more positivity towards the Highland weather, which can be unforgiven but can also be quite stunning.
It is does have quite gruesome descriptions at times, so if easily offended this may not be for you but I thought it added to the story and as I do like my serial killers to be as twisted as they come, I was very content with the violent content in the book.
All in all a decent crime thriller, my only niggle was the constant reference to Monica's height, I'm sure it's not unusual to have tall women in the police force and I couldn't help picturing some totally freakish woman with very large feet! I would read more in this series should it be followed up and would hope Michael Bach returned to the story too, I thought he made a great character and worked well as a partnership with Monica. I would happily recommend this book.
4 stars
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again. A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in the beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death. Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
As debut police procedurals go this isn't a bad first time effort. I love crime thrillers set in Scotland, especially the Highlands and knowing the places mentioned in the story intimately, I did feel a connection to the location of the story and appreciated the raw beauty of the atmospheric descriptions. Although I would have a appreciated a little more positivity towards the Highland weather, which can be unforgiven but can also be quite stunning.
It is does have quite gruesome descriptions at times, so if easily offended this may not be for you but I thought it added to the story and as I do like my serial killers to be as twisted as they come, I was very content with the violent content in the book.
All in all a decent crime thriller, my only niggle was the constant reference to Monica's height, I'm sure it's not unusual to have tall women in the police force and I couldn't help picturing some totally freakish woman with very large feet! I would read more in this series should it be followed up and would hope Michael Bach returned to the story too, I thought he made a great character and worked well as a partnership with Monica. I would happily recommend this book.
4 stars
June 23, 2020
*** Note: I received e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Mia @vintagebooks for tour invite and providing review copy. ***
From the Shadows was intriguing crime fiction that revolved around Monica trying to solve murder and a social worker trying to find his missing client. It was about work-life balance, trying to find peace with traumatic past, and race between killer and detective.
From the Shadows was written in third person narrative mainly from Monica and Michael’s POV and occasional killer’s perspective under title ‘watcher’. Atmospheric setting of Scottish Highlands and Inverness beautiful yet remote with its weather and history of missing people added more darkness to story of murders by a delusional psycho killer.
Description of murders was gruesome but not unbearable or overly graphic. Suspense was solid. I couldn’t identify killer till climax. Climax was tense and surprising. I liked surprise at the end. That height references were too much. It made Monica look like some freak woman. And also reference popped at really usual scenes, like when they were visiting Robert’s father to hear his side of story and to let him know his missing son is dead. Monica’s decision near climax was biggest complain. She was smart capable of making better decision but this made me rethink that because no parent would do that.
Overall, From the Shadows was compelling, dark and interesting Scottish Noir with many twist and turns. It was commendable debut novel and definitely recommend it.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link- https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
From the Shadows was intriguing crime fiction that revolved around Monica trying to solve murder and a social worker trying to find his missing client. It was about work-life balance, trying to find peace with traumatic past, and race between killer and detective.
From the Shadows was written in third person narrative mainly from Monica and Michael’s POV and occasional killer’s perspective under title ‘watcher’. Atmospheric setting of Scottish Highlands and Inverness beautiful yet remote with its weather and history of missing people added more darkness to story of murders by a delusional psycho killer.
Description of murders was gruesome but not unbearable or overly graphic. Suspense was solid. I couldn’t identify killer till climax. Climax was tense and surprising. I liked surprise at the end. That height references were too much. It made Monica look like some freak woman. And also reference popped at really usual scenes, like when they were visiting Robert’s father to hear his side of story and to let him know his missing son is dead. Monica’s decision near climax was biggest complain. She was smart capable of making better decision but this made me rethink that because no parent would do that.
Overall, From the Shadows was compelling, dark and interesting Scottish Noir with many twist and turns. It was commendable debut novel and definitely recommend it.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link- https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
August 13, 2021
I keep telling myself not to start any more series or I won't be able to keep up, but G.R. Halliday's debut FROM THE SHADOWS offers something different with its melancholic backdrop of the rugged and remote Scottish Highlands. It's something of a welcome addition to the noir crime fiction genre that is both eerie and atmospheric set in and around Inverness and the Highlands.
When 16 year old Robert Wright disappears in the middle of the night from his home, his disappearance at first goes unnoticed until his mutilated and tortured body is discovered in an apparent pose in a remote part of the Highlands. A black stone wedged down his throat.
Enter DI Monica Kennedy.
Monica has recently moved back to Inverness and is trying to make an impression. She has a 4 year old daughter Lucy with whom her mother is more often than not looking after her while Monica investigates her latest case. When Monica receives the call about a young boy found up on the Highland moors, she delegates her team to sift out any missing persons who might match the description. Meanwhile she attends the post mortem hoping it might throw some light on his death. The nature of his wounds and the posing of the body make Monica think that this is not the killer's first...but she has nothing really to prove or disprove the idea.
Meanwhile social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. When he hears about a body found up in the Highlands, Michael fears it could be Nichol and is called in to identify the as yet unidentified lad. He is relieved to discover the body isn't Nichol and yet it raises more questions as to where Nichol could be. Michael follows a carefully laid sprinkling of breadcrumbs left by his client in the hope that he will find him safe and well at the end of the trail. But instead, Michael comes up against some characters who nearly beat him half to death but don't give him any further answers. Throughout his search, Michael seeks Monica's help along the way as officially the police just seem to dismiss Nichol as one of their many runaways.
Then another boy is found up in the Highlands, his injuries matching those of Robert Wright whom the police finally identified after his father reported him missing, Monica feels the race is on to catch this killer before he strikes yet again. Although a suspect is in her midst, Monica is not yet convinced of his involvement although her superiors are happy to lay the blame at his feet, particularly when he turns up dead having committed suicide. Or did he? Monica isn't convinced. Then her superintendent brings in a wholly untrustworthy psychiatrist to help steer their enquiries with a profile. He too seems quick to believe the dead man's involvement with that of a missing gamekeeper who knew the second victim.
As Monica and her team continue to investigate the murders, Michael uncovers some very interesting information about previous deaths and disappearances under similar circumstances. And all with a similar black stone found lodged in their throats. What is also interesting is that both the pathologist on the cases and the journalist investigating the stories Michael discovers are also dead with the latter having committed suicide. Or did she? Michael had also discovered that one of Nichol's friends had been found dead in a river some months prior and the conclusion was that he too had committed suicide. These suicides are all sounding far too coincidental for Michael's liking and he brings his findings to Monica for her to peruse.
What then ensues is a race to uncover the murderer before he claims another victim...this time with Monica in his sights.
I quite enjoyed FROM THE SHADOWS which is part police procedural and part thriller...which is always my favourite kind. The setting of the remote Scottish Highlands gives a chilling and atmospheric feel to the story and the reader feels that remoteness of the dense black night where many a person could find themselves lost forever in the mountainous terrain. It gives credence to the feeling of being alone...particularly as mobile phone signal is so patchy out there and one is cut off from everyone and everything.
The story is told in the third person from Monica and Michael's perspectives throughout with the occasional inclusion of "the Watcher". As it is in the third person, we learn that the watcher is male with the constant reference to "he" or "him" when alluding to himself. Had these chapters been in the first person narrative his gender would have added more of a mystery...though it was fairly obvious that it was going to be a male villain. Still...it could have provided an interesting red herring with maybe a female luring the victims out at night...teenage boys...a femme fatale...hormones and all that. But that's just my opinion.
As debuts go, FROM THE SHADOWS is a page turner from the beginning though I did find the pace slow down a little in the middle before picking up again towards the end. Some of the loose ends at the conclusion were a little too loosely tied up and the explanations somewhat vague by the end. And yet one of them does offer the promise that it may be followed up in a future installment...maybe? The other secondary characters of DCs Fisher and Crawford left a little to be desired as both fell into my own suspect pool at one point or another. It is also apparent that Monica doesn't really like either of her colleagues but I was glad to see she didn't follow the same lead as other protagonists in her position and become unlikable bossy bitches. She kept things professional which made her an appealing character. One thing I found missing was the usual banter that goes on between colleagues...the gallows humour which I always appreciate (probably because I have a similar dark humour) as it adds a little contrast to what is essentially a dark and tense narrative otherwise.
I liked Monica and I liked Michael. Both are interesting protagonists with pasts that are just begging to be delved into. I hope Michael features in further books in this series as he makes a welcome addition and distraction. The one thing that did grate on me was the constant reference to Monica's height. I was only a couple of chapters in when already it was becoming a thorn in my side. Yes, she is tall. Yes, she is very tall. No need to keep referencing it throughout 413 pages.
The highlight for me is by far the atmospheric setting of the remote Scottish Highlands which creates a very dark and chilling atmosphere. The wilderness, the barrenness, the remoteness, the emptiness...it is seriously chilling. The beauty, the tranquilness, the isolation and the danger...it is the perfect setting for such atmospheric thrillers and I look forward to more from this author trekking me up into the Highlands once again.
Overall, FROM THE SHADOWS is an enjoyable atmospheric read that is chilling and thrilling with the potential for the characters to develop in further installments. As a debut in a series, I think it shows real promise and I will certainly look out for more to come.
Perfect for fans of dark, intense and atmospheric crime thrillers.
I would like to thank #GRHalliday, #Netgalley and #VintageDigital for an ARC of #FromTheShadows in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
When 16 year old Robert Wright disappears in the middle of the night from his home, his disappearance at first goes unnoticed until his mutilated and tortured body is discovered in an apparent pose in a remote part of the Highlands. A black stone wedged down his throat.
Enter DI Monica Kennedy.
Monica has recently moved back to Inverness and is trying to make an impression. She has a 4 year old daughter Lucy with whom her mother is more often than not looking after her while Monica investigates her latest case. When Monica receives the call about a young boy found up on the Highland moors, she delegates her team to sift out any missing persons who might match the description. Meanwhile she attends the post mortem hoping it might throw some light on his death. The nature of his wounds and the posing of the body make Monica think that this is not the killer's first...but she has nothing really to prove or disprove the idea.
Meanwhile social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. When he hears about a body found up in the Highlands, Michael fears it could be Nichol and is called in to identify the as yet unidentified lad. He is relieved to discover the body isn't Nichol and yet it raises more questions as to where Nichol could be. Michael follows a carefully laid sprinkling of breadcrumbs left by his client in the hope that he will find him safe and well at the end of the trail. But instead, Michael comes up against some characters who nearly beat him half to death but don't give him any further answers. Throughout his search, Michael seeks Monica's help along the way as officially the police just seem to dismiss Nichol as one of their many runaways.
Then another boy is found up in the Highlands, his injuries matching those of Robert Wright whom the police finally identified after his father reported him missing, Monica feels the race is on to catch this killer before he strikes yet again. Although a suspect is in her midst, Monica is not yet convinced of his involvement although her superiors are happy to lay the blame at his feet, particularly when he turns up dead having committed suicide. Or did he? Monica isn't convinced. Then her superintendent brings in a wholly untrustworthy psychiatrist to help steer their enquiries with a profile. He too seems quick to believe the dead man's involvement with that of a missing gamekeeper who knew the second victim.
As Monica and her team continue to investigate the murders, Michael uncovers some very interesting information about previous deaths and disappearances under similar circumstances. And all with a similar black stone found lodged in their throats. What is also interesting is that both the pathologist on the cases and the journalist investigating the stories Michael discovers are also dead with the latter having committed suicide. Or did she? Michael had also discovered that one of Nichol's friends had been found dead in a river some months prior and the conclusion was that he too had committed suicide. These suicides are all sounding far too coincidental for Michael's liking and he brings his findings to Monica for her to peruse.
What then ensues is a race to uncover the murderer before he claims another victim...this time with Monica in his sights.
I quite enjoyed FROM THE SHADOWS which is part police procedural and part thriller...which is always my favourite kind. The setting of the remote Scottish Highlands gives a chilling and atmospheric feel to the story and the reader feels that remoteness of the dense black night where many a person could find themselves lost forever in the mountainous terrain. It gives credence to the feeling of being alone...particularly as mobile phone signal is so patchy out there and one is cut off from everyone and everything.
The story is told in the third person from Monica and Michael's perspectives throughout with the occasional inclusion of "the Watcher". As it is in the third person, we learn that the watcher is male with the constant reference to "he" or "him" when alluding to himself. Had these chapters been in the first person narrative his gender would have added more of a mystery...though it was fairly obvious that it was going to be a male villain. Still...it could have provided an interesting red herring with maybe a female luring the victims out at night...teenage boys...a femme fatale...hormones and all that. But that's just my opinion.
As debuts go, FROM THE SHADOWS is a page turner from the beginning though I did find the pace slow down a little in the middle before picking up again towards the end. Some of the loose ends at the conclusion were a little too loosely tied up and the explanations somewhat vague by the end. And yet one of them does offer the promise that it may be followed up in a future installment...maybe? The other secondary characters of DCs Fisher and Crawford left a little to be desired as both fell into my own suspect pool at one point or another. It is also apparent that Monica doesn't really like either of her colleagues but I was glad to see she didn't follow the same lead as other protagonists in her position and become unlikable bossy bitches. She kept things professional which made her an appealing character. One thing I found missing was the usual banter that goes on between colleagues...the gallows humour which I always appreciate (probably because I have a similar dark humour) as it adds a little contrast to what is essentially a dark and tense narrative otherwise.
I liked Monica and I liked Michael. Both are interesting protagonists with pasts that are just begging to be delved into. I hope Michael features in further books in this series as he makes a welcome addition and distraction. The one thing that did grate on me was the constant reference to Monica's height. I was only a couple of chapters in when already it was becoming a thorn in my side. Yes, she is tall. Yes, she is very tall. No need to keep referencing it throughout 413 pages.
The highlight for me is by far the atmospheric setting of the remote Scottish Highlands which creates a very dark and chilling atmosphere. The wilderness, the barrenness, the remoteness, the emptiness...it is seriously chilling. The beauty, the tranquilness, the isolation and the danger...it is the perfect setting for such atmospheric thrillers and I look forward to more from this author trekking me up into the Highlands once again.
Overall, FROM THE SHADOWS is an enjoyable atmospheric read that is chilling and thrilling with the potential for the characters to develop in further installments. As a debut in a series, I think it shows real promise and I will certainly look out for more to come.
Perfect for fans of dark, intense and atmospheric crime thrillers.
I would like to thank #GRHalliday, #Netgalley and #VintageDigital for an ARC of #FromTheShadows in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 6, 2019
I'm kind of unsure about this book. I enjoyed elements but also disliked some.
The plot was good, it was a compelling crime investigation, however, the pacing was poor. You needed to get like 2/3 of the way through before it actually picked up. But even then, you were given masses of information which at points was confusing.
The main character Monica was great. Despite her constant comments about her height, which were pointless and didn't add to the story, she was enjoyable to read about. The other main characters, Michael wasn't as well developed and I didn't really care for him.
Overall, it wasn't bad. It was a promising start to this series, hopefully, it was just setting up for a series which will grow to become something amazing because it had potential.
The plot was good, it was a compelling crime investigation, however, the pacing was poor. You needed to get like 2/3 of the way through before it actually picked up. But even then, you were given masses of information which at points was confusing.
The main character Monica was great. Despite her constant comments about her height, which were pointless and didn't add to the story, she was enjoyable to read about. The other main characters, Michael wasn't as well developed and I didn't really care for him.
Overall, it wasn't bad. It was a promising start to this series, hopefully, it was just setting up for a series which will grow to become something amazing because it had potential.
April 10, 2019
"From the Shadows" is a D.I. Monica Kennedy novel, a new Scottish crime series from debut author G.R. Halliday.
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again. A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in the beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death. Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
As debut police procedurals go this isn't a bad first time effort. I love crime thrillers set in Scotland, especially the Highlands and knowing the places mentioned in the story intimately, I did feel a connection to the location of the story and appreciated the raw beauty of the atmospheric descriptions. Although I would have a appreciated a little more positivity towards the Highland weather, which can be unforgiven but can also be quite stunning.
It is does have quite gruesome descriptions at times, so if easily offended this may not be for you but I thought it added to the story and as I do like my serial killers to be as twisted as they come, I was very content with the violent content in the book.
All in all a decent crime thriller, my only niggle was the constant reference to Monica's height, I'm sure it's not unusual to have tall women in the police force and I couldn't help picturing some totally freakish woman with very large feet! I would read more in this series should it be followed up and would hope Michael Bach returned to the story too, I thought he made a great character and worked well as a partnership with Monica. I would happily recommend this book.
4 stars
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again. A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in the beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death. Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
As debut police procedurals go this isn't a bad first time effort. I love crime thrillers set in Scotland, especially the Highlands and knowing the places mentioned in the story intimately, I did feel a connection to the location of the story and appreciated the raw beauty of the atmospheric descriptions. Although I would have a appreciated a little more positivity towards the Highland weather, which can be unforgiven but can also be quite stunning.
It is does have quite gruesome descriptions at times, so if easily offended this may not be for you but I thought it added to the story and as I do like my serial killers to be as twisted as they come, I was very content with the violent content in the book.
All in all a decent crime thriller, my only niggle was the constant reference to Monica's height, I'm sure it's not unusual to have tall women in the police force and I couldn't help picturing some totally freakish woman with very large feet! I would read more in this series should it be followed up and would hope Michael Bach returned to the story too, I thought he made a great character and worked well as a partnership with Monica. I would happily recommend this book.
4 stars
April 11, 2021
Den här boken var författarens thrillerdebut. Tyckte att han lyckades riktigt bra. Det är en mörk historia i det karga skotska landskapet. Miljöerna är väl beskrivna och det gillar jag. Men tycker inte att jag lär känna huvudkaraktärerna tillräckligt väl. Tycker att språket är riktigt bra, men jag tycker däremot att storyn blir lite seg stundvis och ibland känns den aningen rörig i min smak. Men i alla fall helt okej för en debut.
March 28, 2020
Ut ur skuggorna fick jag ögonen på när jag gick igenom kommande boksläpp för januari. Den lockade kanske mest tack vare att den utspelar sig. Skotska höglandet är en favorit. Jag blev väldigt glad när den plötsligt dök upp på hallmattan. Läs mer på min blogg
October 19, 2024
Ut ur skuggorna är i grunden är en polisroman, men med drag av psykologisk spänning och brutala detaljrika mord. Det som främst skapar spänning och en hel del obehag för mig är känslan av att man kan vara övervakad av vilken galning som helst utan att märka det. Och det finns ingen säker miljö. De brutala inslagen hade jag kunnat vara utan, i synnerhet när det bitvis blir mer frossande än att det tillför något till historien.
En deckare som utspelar sig i Skottland har ju en sak som talar för sig och det är miljön. Jag tycker G R Halliday får till en bra blandning mellan de öde miljöerna och stadsmiljöerna. Fast de ödsliga miljöerna ger ju en alldeles speciell stämning, och det är också där spänningen känns som starkast.
Karaktärerna i Ut ur skuggorna är speciella, och har en del drag som jag inte är så förtjust i. Monica Kennedy passar som en huvudperson i en polisdeckare, och jag uppskattar en kvinnlig polis med ett gott sinne för utredningar. En intressant bakgrund har hon också, som författaren kan spinna vidare på. Men det var ett evigt tjatande om hennes längd. Och hennes ständiga bortprioritering av dottern Lucy förstår jag inte riktigt. Socialarbetaren Michael Bach har jag faktiskt svårt för, men kan inte sätta fingret på varför.
Jag tycker spänningsmomentet håller en acceptabel nivå trots att mördaren har sina egna kapitel. Jag kunde inte lista ut slutet i förväg. Men helt förstår jag inte upplösningen ens när jag läst klart, det känns som om författaren inte tagit hand om alla trådar.
Nu har jag en till bok i hyllan men det är tydligen tredje delen. Den andra delen har jag däremot inte.
Betyg: 4-
En deckare som utspelar sig i Skottland har ju en sak som talar för sig och det är miljön. Jag tycker G R Halliday får till en bra blandning mellan de öde miljöerna och stadsmiljöerna. Fast de ödsliga miljöerna ger ju en alldeles speciell stämning, och det är också där spänningen känns som starkast.
Karaktärerna i Ut ur skuggorna är speciella, och har en del drag som jag inte är så förtjust i. Monica Kennedy passar som en huvudperson i en polisdeckare, och jag uppskattar en kvinnlig polis med ett gott sinne för utredningar. En intressant bakgrund har hon också, som författaren kan spinna vidare på. Men det var ett evigt tjatande om hennes längd. Och hennes ständiga bortprioritering av dottern Lucy förstår jag inte riktigt. Socialarbetaren Michael Bach har jag faktiskt svårt för, men kan inte sätta fingret på varför.
Jag tycker spänningsmomentet håller en acceptabel nivå trots att mördaren har sina egna kapitel. Jag kunde inte lista ut slutet i förväg. Men helt förstår jag inte upplösningen ens när jag läst klart, det känns som om författaren inte tagit hand om alla trådar.
Nu har jag en till bok i hyllan men det är tydligen tredje delen. Den andra delen har jag däremot inte.
Betyg: 4-
January 10, 2025
I feel conflicted about this book!
I'm not sure I liked the main character!
The scenery brought in an air of a claustrophobic atmosphere, but some descriptions felt repeatetive.
The epilogue was awful!
Some things in the investigation were brought in late, and the results never mentioned.
Monica Kennedy, the leading detective and protagonist despite showing empathy, I felt didn't like any of her colleagues. She appeared to be annoyed even if they tried to help her.
I liked Michael despite the fact that his situation made me feel depressed! I felt sorry for him and the amount of guilt he carried, which didn't lessen even in the end.
The elements that I liked from the book are the wild Scottish scenery and that it kept my interest, which made it easy to read!
I'm not sure I liked the main character!
The scenery brought in an air of a claustrophobic atmosphere, but some descriptions felt repeatetive.
The epilogue was awful!
Some things in the investigation were brought in late, and the results never mentioned.
Monica Kennedy, the leading detective and protagonist despite showing empathy, I felt didn't like any of her colleagues. She appeared to be annoyed even if they tried to help her.
I liked Michael despite the fact that his situation made me feel depressed! I felt sorry for him and the amount of guilt he carried, which didn't lessen even in the end.
The elements that I liked from the book are the wild Scottish scenery and that it kept my interest, which made it easy to read!
April 18, 2019
From the Shadows is a promising start to a new crime series set in the Scottish Highlands. It's a dark and atmospheric story that is truly gripping at times and while I didn't love it quite as much as I hoped I would this is definitely a series I want to read more of.
The story is told primarily from two points of view, DI Monica Kennedy and social worker Michael Bach, and is part police procedural, part mystery/thriller with Kennedy leading a murder investigation and Bach trying to track down one of his clients who has disappeared. It's an intriguing story, a little chilling and gruesome at times but one that goes in a very unexpected direction and kept me guessing throughout.
Both Monica and Michael make for interesting characters and are for the most part likeable however I'm not sure I ever got to know them well enough to feel truly invested in them. Both clearly have issues and shadows hanging over them from the past but while there are some hints as to what these may be I still feel like there's a lot to learn about them. I suspect the author is holding things back for subsequent books in the series but I feel like there could have been a bit more development of the characters and more depth given to them. I also found the constant references to Monica's height (she's very tall) and her insecurities about it became a little bit irritating after a while. It's great to have a detective who's a little different from the norm but it seemed a little overdone.
Similarly, I felt like the secondary characters such as DC Fisher and DC Crawford were also a little under developed. They seem a little bit stereotyped and lacking in depth at times and it was the characters who appeared very briefly who made the biggest impression. It also felt to me like the relationships between characters were all a little too serious and formal. It would have been nice to see a little humour (even if it was dark) or an emotion other than anger or guilt to provide a little contrast to what is a very disturbing and tense narrative.
The highlight of the story for me was by far the Highland setting and the very dark and chilling atmosphere the author creates. It's here that his writing really shines and he very skillfully conveys the wildness and remoteness of the rural communities while also taking us into the seedier parts of the city of Inverness, giving a real sense of place. I loved the way he showed the different sides of the area, the beauty and peacefulness and also the isolation and danger. It actually made me want to head up north for a visit despite the plot.
Overall, while not perfect From the Shadows does show some real skill from the author and I think there's a lot of potential for the characters to grow and develop. As the first book in a series I think it definitely shows promise and I will certainly be looking out for more books by the author.
I received an advance copy of this book via a Readers First giveaway
The story is told primarily from two points of view, DI Monica Kennedy and social worker Michael Bach, and is part police procedural, part mystery/thriller with Kennedy leading a murder investigation and Bach trying to track down one of his clients who has disappeared. It's an intriguing story, a little chilling and gruesome at times but one that goes in a very unexpected direction and kept me guessing throughout.
Both Monica and Michael make for interesting characters and are for the most part likeable however I'm not sure I ever got to know them well enough to feel truly invested in them. Both clearly have issues and shadows hanging over them from the past but while there are some hints as to what these may be I still feel like there's a lot to learn about them. I suspect the author is holding things back for subsequent books in the series but I feel like there could have been a bit more development of the characters and more depth given to them. I also found the constant references to Monica's height (she's very tall) and her insecurities about it became a little bit irritating after a while. It's great to have a detective who's a little different from the norm but it seemed a little overdone.
Similarly, I felt like the secondary characters such as DC Fisher and DC Crawford were also a little under developed. They seem a little bit stereotyped and lacking in depth at times and it was the characters who appeared very briefly who made the biggest impression. It also felt to me like the relationships between characters were all a little too serious and formal. It would have been nice to see a little humour (even if it was dark) or an emotion other than anger or guilt to provide a little contrast to what is a very disturbing and tense narrative.
The highlight of the story for me was by far the Highland setting and the very dark and chilling atmosphere the author creates. It's here that his writing really shines and he very skillfully conveys the wildness and remoteness of the rural communities while also taking us into the seedier parts of the city of Inverness, giving a real sense of place. I loved the way he showed the different sides of the area, the beauty and peacefulness and also the isolation and danger. It actually made me want to head up north for a visit despite the plot.
Overall, while not perfect From the Shadows does show some real skill from the author and I think there's a lot of potential for the characters to grow and develop. As the first book in a series I think it definitely shows promise and I will certainly be looking out for more books by the author.
I received an advance copy of this book via a Readers First giveaway
December 18, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for an advance copy of From the Shadows the first novel to feature DI Monica Kennedy od Inverness Police.
When the body of a teenage boy is found in a remote location DI Monica Kennedy is given the case. The nature of his wounds and the posing of the body make her think it may not be a one off killing but, apart from that, she doesn’t have much to go on. In the meantime social worker Michael Bach is searching for his client, Nichol Morgan, who seems to have vanished.
I thoroughly enjoyed From the Shadows which is a good procedural with the added advantage of a scenic location. The novel is told mostly from Monica and Michael’s points of view with occasional forays into the watcher’s (as he’s referred to in the novel) mindset. I don’t feel that these forays are particularly productive as I didn’t get a good feel for either him or his motivation, but perhaps that’s intentional to give the impression of a confused mind although maybe not as the killer is a highly organised individual. Whatever, it just didn’t strike the right note for me. The plot itself is a good page turner with plenty going on and the requisite blind alleys and red herrings. It comes to a fairly sudden head (as I imagine most real investigations do) but the resolution seems a bit half hearted with no clear solution and a lot of violence. I understand that this is a debut novel and as such is a creditable effort but I would have preferred better explanations at the end and everything tied up in a nice bow as it gives the reader a better sense of satisfaction.
DI Monica Kennedy is an interesting protagonist. She has a hang up about her appearance because she is so tall (as the author tells us ad nauseum). I find this highly unlikely in such a successful detective but it casts a long shadow over the first half of the book. Otherwise she is smart and dedicated, often to the detriment of her relationship with her young daughter, and a good, stubborn investigator. She ends up running her own off the books investigation because her superiors fixate on one suspect.
From the Shadows is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When the body of a teenage boy is found in a remote location DI Monica Kennedy is given the case. The nature of his wounds and the posing of the body make her think it may not be a one off killing but, apart from that, she doesn’t have much to go on. In the meantime social worker Michael Bach is searching for his client, Nichol Morgan, who seems to have vanished.
I thoroughly enjoyed From the Shadows which is a good procedural with the added advantage of a scenic location. The novel is told mostly from Monica and Michael’s points of view with occasional forays into the watcher’s (as he’s referred to in the novel) mindset. I don’t feel that these forays are particularly productive as I didn’t get a good feel for either him or his motivation, but perhaps that’s intentional to give the impression of a confused mind although maybe not as the killer is a highly organised individual. Whatever, it just didn’t strike the right note for me. The plot itself is a good page turner with plenty going on and the requisite blind alleys and red herrings. It comes to a fairly sudden head (as I imagine most real investigations do) but the resolution seems a bit half hearted with no clear solution and a lot of violence. I understand that this is a debut novel and as such is a creditable effort but I would have preferred better explanations at the end and everything tied up in a nice bow as it gives the reader a better sense of satisfaction.
DI Monica Kennedy is an interesting protagonist. She has a hang up about her appearance because she is so tall (as the author tells us ad nauseum). I find this highly unlikely in such a successful detective but it casts a long shadow over the first half of the book. Otherwise she is smart and dedicated, often to the detriment of her relationship with her young daughter, and a good, stubborn investigator. She ends up running her own off the books investigation because her superiors fixate on one suspect.
From the Shadows is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
April 6, 2019
"From the Shadows" is a D.I. Monica Kennedy novel, a new Scottish crime series from debut author G.R. Halliday.
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again. A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in the beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death. Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
As debut police procedurals go this isn't a bad first time effort. I love crime thrillers set in Scotland, especially the Highlands and knowing the places mentioned in the story intimately, I did feel a connection to the location of the story and appreciated the raw beauty of the atmospheric descriptions. Although I would have a appreciated a little more positivity towards the Highland weather, which can be unforgiven but can also be quite stunning.
It is does have quite gruesome descriptions at times, so if easily offended this may not be for you but I thought it added to the story and as I do like my serial killers to be as twisted as they come, I was very content with the violent content in the book.
All in all a decent crime thriller, my only niggle was the constant reference to Monica's height, I'm sure it's not unusual to have tall women in the police force and I couldn't help picturing some totally freakish woman with very large feet! I would read more in this series should it be followed up and would hope Michael Bach returned to the story too, I thought he made a great character and worked well as a partnership with Monica. I would happily recommend this book.
4 stars
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again. A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in the beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death. Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
As debut police procedurals go this isn't a bad first time effort. I love crime thrillers set in Scotland, especially the Highlands and knowing the places mentioned in the story intimately, I did feel a connection to the location of the story and appreciated the raw beauty of the atmospheric descriptions. Although I would have a appreciated a little more positivity towards the Highland weather, which can be unforgiven but can also be quite stunning.
It is does have quite gruesome descriptions at times, so if easily offended this may not be for you but I thought it added to the story and as I do like my serial killers to be as twisted as they come, I was very content with the violent content in the book.
All in all a decent crime thriller, my only niggle was the constant reference to Monica's height, I'm sure it's not unusual to have tall women in the police force and I couldn't help picturing some totally freakish woman with very large feet! I would read more in this series should it be followed up and would hope Michael Bach returned to the story too, I thought he made a great character and worked well as a partnership with Monica. I would happily recommend this book.
4 stars
June 22, 2020
I was gripped from the very first chapter. I already knew from the blurb Robert was in trouble but I had no idea how shocking that trouble would be. Just as I had started to like him too.
You know pretty early on how but not who and why, which the armchair detective in me loved. With another boy missing the race is on for Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy.
There are lots of clues from strange stones, burning incense, perfume, stars and drugged drinks and occasional narration from someone called “the watcher”. Also you have the social worker Michael taking it upon himself to try and find Nichol who has been missing a week.
The characters in this are fantastic. From Michael with his feral cats including Colonel Mustard. DI Monica, single mum to four year old Lucy, and her mum. Now Monica’s mum was my favourite and I loved how nosy she was due to watching too many police dramas. The author made me chuckle when Monica admitted that her mum wanted her to drink because all her favourite detectives were alcoholics.
This does contain quite graphic descriptions, luckily I’m not squeamish in the slightest, but it is the vivid imagery of the highlands and the portrayal of the weather and isolation that are the author’s skill. Bringing a real sense of atmosphere and adding extra creepiness to an already creepy and macabre plot.
This is a really solid debut and I can’t wait to read the next book for the tour in July.
You know pretty early on how but not who and why, which the armchair detective in me loved. With another boy missing the race is on for Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy.
There are lots of clues from strange stones, burning incense, perfume, stars and drugged drinks and occasional narration from someone called “the watcher”. Also you have the social worker Michael taking it upon himself to try and find Nichol who has been missing a week.
The characters in this are fantastic. From Michael with his feral cats including Colonel Mustard. DI Monica, single mum to four year old Lucy, and her mum. Now Monica’s mum was my favourite and I loved how nosy she was due to watching too many police dramas. The author made me chuckle when Monica admitted that her mum wanted her to drink because all her favourite detectives were alcoholics.
This does contain quite graphic descriptions, luckily I’m not squeamish in the slightest, but it is the vivid imagery of the highlands and the portrayal of the weather and isolation that are the author’s skill. Bringing a real sense of atmosphere and adding extra creepiness to an already creepy and macabre plot.
This is a really solid debut and I can’t wait to read the next book for the tour in July.
March 25, 2019
From the Shadows by G. R Halliday is the debut novel by the author and the first book in the DI Monica Kennedy series.
Sixteen-year-old Robert comes home late and his dad is strict with him. He is sent to his room to be never seen again. His mutilated body is found in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands with a stone stuck down his throat. DI Monica Kennedy is set to lead her team in the investigation, and she put herself wholehearted into this investigation. In more so, than being mother to her 4-year-old daughter Lucy, who is with her mother most often. But, is on her mind most of the time. When another body turns up and another kid has disappeared Monica knows she has a serial killer on her hands.
This is a good start for a first book in a new police procedural series and quite different to others I have read. I liked the descriptions of the moors and the remoteness of the Scottish Highlands. But I found it hard to like any characters in this book. Not even the protagonist DI Monica Kennedy and the comments made about her size. What was that all about? It didn’t make the story any better. Also, at first, I found it hard to get into this book. I thought I would give up but as I just got pas the half way mark it got interesting. A great start but I think it needs some improvements.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Vintage for a copy of this book.
Sixteen-year-old Robert comes home late and his dad is strict with him. He is sent to his room to be never seen again. His mutilated body is found in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands with a stone stuck down his throat. DI Monica Kennedy is set to lead her team in the investigation, and she put herself wholehearted into this investigation. In more so, than being mother to her 4-year-old daughter Lucy, who is with her mother most often. But, is on her mind most of the time. When another body turns up and another kid has disappeared Monica knows she has a serial killer on her hands.
This is a good start for a first book in a new police procedural series and quite different to others I have read. I liked the descriptions of the moors and the remoteness of the Scottish Highlands. But I found it hard to like any characters in this book. Not even the protagonist DI Monica Kennedy and the comments made about her size. What was that all about? It didn’t make the story any better. Also, at first, I found it hard to get into this book. I thought I would give up but as I just got pas the half way mark it got interesting. A great start but I think it needs some improvements.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Vintage for a copy of this book.
March 20, 2021
❥ Recension
Första boken i en ny serie.
Helvete vilket otäckt första kapitel! Gåshud! Den här boken har en kyla och råhet över sig som jag uppskattar med tillhörande skotskt landskap i bakgrunden.
I mitt tycke är tempot lite väl ojämt och berättelsen ibland lite rörig och spretig. Sen blir det bättre igen för att sen bli lite sämre och sådär håller det på. Det går lite för långsamt för mig och boken upplevs då som lite för lång. Samtidigt är det spännande och mörkt och jag tycker mycket om Monica, hon är originell och härligt cynisk. Favoriten måste ändå vara katten Överste Senap, honom blev jag allt lite kär i.
Allt som allt en läsvärd deckare i härligt mörk miljö.
Boken får 🌱🌱🌱 av 5.
Första boken i en ny serie.
Helvete vilket otäckt första kapitel! Gåshud! Den här boken har en kyla och råhet över sig som jag uppskattar med tillhörande skotskt landskap i bakgrunden.
I mitt tycke är tempot lite väl ojämt och berättelsen ibland lite rörig och spretig. Sen blir det bättre igen för att sen bli lite sämre och sådär håller det på. Det går lite för långsamt för mig och boken upplevs då som lite för lång. Samtidigt är det spännande och mörkt och jag tycker mycket om Monica, hon är originell och härligt cynisk. Favoriten måste ändå vara katten Överste Senap, honom blev jag allt lite kär i.
Allt som allt en läsvärd deckare i härligt mörk miljö.
Boken får 🌱🌱🌱 av 5.
February 3, 2019
Wow! What a thrilling experience! I loved this novel so much! [full review to follow]
June 28, 2020
****4.5 stars!****
I’ll admit to being a bit picky when it comes to my crime thriller/police procedural reads. I have my fav auto-buy authors (and don’t you know it, lol!). However, once in a while a book comes along that just screams to be read.
FTS had me hooked from the off. It’s truly amazing the power of words, isn’t it? How, with an opening sentence, an author can transport you to another setting. I instantly felt cold with a sense of unease and a side order of claustrophobia as if the dark were creeping in all around me. Atmospheric read? *nods* You could say that *snorts*.
I actually said to The Mommy aka my mum that I doubted how much sleep I was going to get the first night I started the book as it was haunting me, and, quite frankly, giving me the willies. She thought this was hilarious. Her exact words while hooting with laughter were, “It must be some story if it can do that to you.” *chuffs* I honestly believe the woman thinks I’m slightly twisted or something *whistles innocently*. No comments please!
As clichéd as it may sound, I literally felt like I was on the edge of my seat with this story. I HAD to keep reading. It almost felt like the pages were turning themselves, lol. I loved how the author ramped up the tension and momentum of the story with pacy chapters plus alternating the narrative between the main characters. Aaahhh! (<— that was my blood pressure *giggles*)
I really felt for Monica – the pressure to solve this puzzling case as the bodies mounted up. (Those crime scenes had me winching!) Although I still don’t know what to make of her. There seemed to be secrets on all sides. Were they connected? Was that throwaway comment an important clue? So. Many. Questions.
I loved the juxtaposition of the Scottish setting (well I would, wouldn’t I - SCOTLAND! 🏴). The land can be picturesque and stunning, but also harsh and unforgiving which reflects itself in the story.
As you can guess, this series has now been added to my auto-buy list. I can’t wait to continue getting to know more about D.I. Monica Kennedy, and help, I mean, join her on her upcoming cases!
I’ll admit to being a bit picky when it comes to my crime thriller/police procedural reads. I have my fav auto-buy authors (and don’t you know it, lol!). However, once in a while a book comes along that just screams to be read.
FTS had me hooked from the off. It’s truly amazing the power of words, isn’t it? How, with an opening sentence, an author can transport you to another setting. I instantly felt cold with a sense of unease and a side order of claustrophobia as if the dark were creeping in all around me. Atmospheric read? *nods* You could say that *snorts*.
I actually said to The Mommy aka my mum that I doubted how much sleep I was going to get the first night I started the book as it was haunting me, and, quite frankly, giving me the willies. She thought this was hilarious. Her exact words while hooting with laughter were, “It must be some story if it can do that to you.” *chuffs* I honestly believe the woman thinks I’m slightly twisted or something *whistles innocently*. No comments please!
As clichéd as it may sound, I literally felt like I was on the edge of my seat with this story. I HAD to keep reading. It almost felt like the pages were turning themselves, lol. I loved how the author ramped up the tension and momentum of the story with pacy chapters plus alternating the narrative between the main characters. Aaahhh! (<— that was my blood pressure *giggles*)
I really felt for Monica – the pressure to solve this puzzling case as the bodies mounted up. (Those crime scenes had me winching!) Although I still don’t know what to make of her. There seemed to be secrets on all sides. Were they connected? Was that throwaway comment an important clue? So. Many. Questions.
I loved the juxtaposition of the Scottish setting (well I would, wouldn’t I - SCOTLAND! 🏴). The land can be picturesque and stunning, but also harsh and unforgiving which reflects itself in the story.
As you can guess, this series has now been added to my auto-buy list. I can’t wait to continue getting to know more about D.I. Monica Kennedy, and help, I mean, join her on her upcoming cases!
July 12, 2019
From The Shadows has grit, suspense and intrigue aplenty. The characters are different enough to make me want to read more about them – Monica seems a strong, intelligent detective who avoids being too ‘perfect’ or ‘brilliant’ – she has her own issues and faults - and Michael is similarly touched by trauma, though a very different type of character (which I like as they balance each other somewhat). Both make for interesting reading, and the element of doubt that Monica has about certain characters just adds to the suspense as it makes the reader start to wonder whether they are also being duped by certain people (I don’t want to give away too much). You really feel united with Monica as some of her senior colleagues increasingly ignore her recommendations and suggestions, and it becomes a real race against time when more vulnerable characters seem to be at risk.
I really liked that one particular element of the plot towards the end of the story didn’t go down the route I thought it would which, in my opinion, would have been a little too dramatic and unbelievable – especially as the decision Monica made to get to that point didn’t feel like one that a parent would ever truly make. That’s the only criticism I have, though, and like I say I am glad it didn’t go a certain way in the end.
I liked the structure of the book – each chapter was split into days, and this made it easy to work out how much time had passed. Though there were a good amount of characters, there wasn’t a crazy number which meant it was easier to follow and keep track of who was who.
The plot is dark and has some pretty gruesome descriptions but I didn’t feel that it was too difficult to read (though some who are really squeamish might want to avoid – it was fine for me though!). Overall I thought this was a very enjoyable, promising start to a new series and I’m excited to read following books, and more from G.R. Halliday!
I really liked that one particular element of the plot towards the end of the story didn’t go down the route I thought it would which, in my opinion, would have been a little too dramatic and unbelievable – especially as the decision Monica made to get to that point didn’t feel like one that a parent would ever truly make. That’s the only criticism I have, though, and like I say I am glad it didn’t go a certain way in the end.
I liked the structure of the book – each chapter was split into days, and this made it easy to work out how much time had passed. Though there were a good amount of characters, there wasn’t a crazy number which meant it was easier to follow and keep track of who was who.
The plot is dark and has some pretty gruesome descriptions but I didn’t feel that it was too difficult to read (though some who are really squeamish might want to avoid – it was fine for me though!). Overall I thought this was a very enjoyable, promising start to a new series and I’m excited to read following books, and more from G.R. Halliday!
April 8, 2019
Set in the Scottish Highlands, From the Shadows, is one of the creepiest, atmospheric unnerving thrillers I have read for a while.
Sixteen year old Robert, struggling with the loss of his mother, not through death, but her walking out, comes home from school, late one evening, ignores his dad, goes straight up to his bedroom and is never seen alive again,
When a body is found on the coast, D.I. Monica Kennedy is called in, and her instinct is that this will not be the only murder, she's right, as more murdered boys turn up, each missing from their homes, and with no clues available, Monica knows there is something really dark going on.
Meanwhile in Inverness social worker Michael Bach is searching for Nichol Morgan, missing for seven days, and the only thing he has to go on is a very odd text message. Are the two linked?
It's hard to believe that this is G.R.Halliday's debut novel.
Tense, creepy,atmospheric and very unnerving, it did have me checking wardrobe and airing cupboards etc.
I've not been this creeped out my a crime thriller in a long time..
Can't wait for the next one.
Sixteen year old Robert, struggling with the loss of his mother, not through death, but her walking out, comes home from school, late one evening, ignores his dad, goes straight up to his bedroom and is never seen alive again,
When a body is found on the coast, D.I. Monica Kennedy is called in, and her instinct is that this will not be the only murder, she's right, as more murdered boys turn up, each missing from their homes, and with no clues available, Monica knows there is something really dark going on.
Meanwhile in Inverness social worker Michael Bach is searching for Nichol Morgan, missing for seven days, and the only thing he has to go on is a very odd text message. Are the two linked?
It's hard to believe that this is G.R.Halliday's debut novel.
Tense, creepy,atmospheric and very unnerving, it did have me checking wardrobe and airing cupboards etc.
I've not been this creeped out my a crime thriller in a long time..
Can't wait for the next one.
March 5, 2020
Das Cover vermittelt einen stimmungsvollen Eindruck der schottischen Highlands und hat mich sehr neugierig auf die Geschichte gemacht.
Die Hauptermittlerin ist hier Kommissarin Monica Kennedy – mit ihren fast 1,90 m Körpergröße flößt sie nicht nur ihren männlichen Kollegen ordentlich Respekt ein. Monica hat eine kleine Tochter, die aufgrund ihres Jobs ständig zu kurz kommt und daher viel von ihrer Großmutter betreut wird.
Das war für mich während des ganzen Buches nicht nachvollziehbar. Es wird zwar ständig erwähnt wie schlimm es für Monica ist kaum Zeit mit ihrer Tochter verbringen zu können, ihr Job steht bei ihr dennoch stets an erster Stelle. Sie ist ständig auf Abruf und kann nicht einmal im Kino ihr Handy ausmachen.
Die Story an sich ist sehr schön geschrieben und die Spurensuche und unerwarteten Wendungen sind zwar interessant, aber es wurde zu sehr in die Länge gezogen. Ich fand es sehr mühsam wirklich dranbleiben und hatte zwischendurch keine Lust mehr weiterzulesen. Nachdem ich mich letztendlich doch noch durchgerungen hatte, war ich froh endlich durch zu sein.
Dieser Krimi war leider bisher mein persönlicher Flop des Jahres.
Die Hauptermittlerin ist hier Kommissarin Monica Kennedy – mit ihren fast 1,90 m Körpergröße flößt sie nicht nur ihren männlichen Kollegen ordentlich Respekt ein. Monica hat eine kleine Tochter, die aufgrund ihres Jobs ständig zu kurz kommt und daher viel von ihrer Großmutter betreut wird.
Das war für mich während des ganzen Buches nicht nachvollziehbar. Es wird zwar ständig erwähnt wie schlimm es für Monica ist kaum Zeit mit ihrer Tochter verbringen zu können, ihr Job steht bei ihr dennoch stets an erster Stelle. Sie ist ständig auf Abruf und kann nicht einmal im Kino ihr Handy ausmachen.
Die Story an sich ist sehr schön geschrieben und die Spurensuche und unerwarteten Wendungen sind zwar interessant, aber es wurde zu sehr in die Länge gezogen. Ich fand es sehr mühsam wirklich dranbleiben und hatte zwischendurch keine Lust mehr weiterzulesen. Nachdem ich mich letztendlich doch noch durchgerungen hatte, war ich froh endlich durch zu sein.
Dieser Krimi war leider bisher mein persönlicher Flop des Jahres.
July 26, 2022
Unfortunately this was a very average crime thriller.
The plot of this book was nothing particularly unusual or groundbreaking.
Although, it was set in Scotland which is nice to read as its such a beautiful area I would love to visit.
The beginning was interesting but it went down hill quickly.
There was nothing particularly special or amazing about the writing style or the characters.
This book definitely suffered with the typical clichés of this genre.
There was nothing really wrong with this book either. If you haven't read lots of crime thrillers you may really enjoy it. However, as I've read lots from this genre before, this doesn't stand out to me.
It was a quick book for me to read. I finished it in a few sittings over the course of a few days.
However, overall, unfortunately this book was quite forgettable and nothing outstanding in the world of crime thriller fiction.
The plot of this book was nothing particularly unusual or groundbreaking.
Although, it was set in Scotland which is nice to read as its such a beautiful area I would love to visit.
The beginning was interesting but it went down hill quickly.
There was nothing particularly special or amazing about the writing style or the characters.
This book definitely suffered with the typical clichés of this genre.
There was nothing really wrong with this book either. If you haven't read lots of crime thrillers you may really enjoy it. However, as I've read lots from this genre before, this doesn't stand out to me.
It was a quick book for me to read. I finished it in a few sittings over the course of a few days.
However, overall, unfortunately this book was quite forgettable and nothing outstanding in the world of crime thriller fiction.
April 4, 2019
This book is the debut police drama series from G R Halliday that will not disappoint. Set in the highlands in Scotland; the story begins with Robert. He comes in one night and is never seen alive again. He is later found dead with a piece of rock stuck in his throat. D I Monica Kennedy; who is the main character has never seen a case like this ever in her long career.
While Monica is being introduced, another main character tells his story: social worker Michael Loch. Michael is concerned he should have helped one of his clients, Nichol more. It was clear Nichol wanted Michael for something, yet Michael brushed him off and all of a sudden Nichol has disappeared. But how does the murder of Robert and the disappearance of Nichol connect? This is a fantastic thriller, it keeps you guessing and I’m excited to read the next book in the series from G R Halliday. Thanks to Readers First & Harvill Secker for sending me a proof copy to read for an honest review.
While Monica is being introduced, another main character tells his story: social worker Michael Loch. Michael is concerned he should have helped one of his clients, Nichol more. It was clear Nichol wanted Michael for something, yet Michael brushed him off and all of a sudden Nichol has disappeared. But how does the murder of Robert and the disappearance of Nichol connect? This is a fantastic thriller, it keeps you guessing and I’m excited to read the next book in the series from G R Halliday. Thanks to Readers First & Harvill Secker for sending me a proof copy to read for an honest review.
August 14, 2024
Nej alltså det här blev ingen favorit. Det var ett sabla tjat om hennes längd och stora fötter. Människan går omkring i för små skor för det är pinsamt att ha rätt storlek 🙄 hon är tydligen en briljant kriminalare men jag tycker hon verkar ganska korkad faktiskt. Handlingen har en del brutala inslag men är i övrigt ganska meh....
Jag lyssnad klart på 1,5 hastighet för saktigare fungerade inte uppläsare. Men jag kommer inte läsa fler böcker av författaren.
Jag lyssnad klart på 1,5 hastighet för saktigare fungerade inte uppläsare. Men jag kommer inte läsa fler böcker av författaren.
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