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Monica Kennedy #2
Dark Waters
The haunting new novel from G. R. Halliday, author of FROM THE SHADOWS, shortlisted for THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZE
THREE MISTAKES. TWO MURDERS. ONE MORE VICTIM TO GO . . .
Annabelle loves to drive. It helps her escape her world, her past. Speeding on a mountain road in the Scottish Highlands, she sees a little girl step out in front of her. She swerves to avoid her. The next thing Annabelle remembers is waking up in a dark, damp room. A voice from the corner of the room says ‘The Doctor will see you now’.
Scott is camping in the woodlands in the Scottish Highlands - but in the middle of the night, he hears something outside his tent. When he goes out to have a look, a little girl is standing among the trees, staring right at him. Scott is never seen again.
When a dismembered body is discovered, DI Monica Kennedy gets called to the scene immediately. After six months away from the Serious Crimes team, they need her back on board.
As Monica searches for the murderer, another body is found. Monica knows the signs . . . She’s on the hunt for a serial killer.
Perfect for fans of James Oswald, Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.
THREE MISTAKES. TWO MURDERS. ONE MORE VICTIM TO GO . . .
Annabelle loves to drive. It helps her escape her world, her past. Speeding on a mountain road in the Scottish Highlands, she sees a little girl step out in front of her. She swerves to avoid her. The next thing Annabelle remembers is waking up in a dark, damp room. A voice from the corner of the room says ‘The Doctor will see you now’.
Scott is camping in the woodlands in the Scottish Highlands - but in the middle of the night, he hears something outside his tent. When he goes out to have a look, a little girl is standing among the trees, staring right at him. Scott is never seen again.
When a dismembered body is discovered, DI Monica Kennedy gets called to the scene immediately. After six months away from the Serious Crimes team, they need her back on board.
As Monica searches for the murderer, another body is found. Monica knows the signs . . . She’s on the hunt for a serial killer.
Perfect for fans of James Oswald, Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published July 9, 2020
16 people are currently reading
425 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 141 reviews
March 28, 2020
After the terrors of her last case, GR Halliday's 44 year old DI Monica Kennedy returns for this spine-chilling sequel that has more in common with the horror genre, where the location of the Scottish Highlands is depicted as sinister, dark and bleak, where unimaginable monstrous horrors lurk for the unwary. Kennedy has been taking a break from MIT, when she gets a call from a rattled Detective Superintendent Fred Hately, a dismembered body has turned up. Kennedy brings together her old team, harbouring the mistaken belief that DC Conor Crawford and geeky DC Ben Fisher were largely unaffected by the trauma of the last case, this is not true, particularly to her surprise, for Fisher. DC Maria Khan is a welcome addition to the team, a media specialist that is going to be sorely needed in a case that is going to attract huge media interest and lurid headlines.
As Monica tries to work out the identity of the murder victim, the team narrow it down to two men reported missing, 53 year old Sebastian Sinclair of Sinclair Enterprises, and Theo Gall, a career petty criminal, when another body with the same macabre stomach-churning MO turns up. Annabel is driving her BMW fast in the Highlands when the appearance of a girl on the road causes her to swerve and crash, waking up to find herself in a terrifying nightmare, being 'treated' by the doctor from hell. Canadian Scott is camping when he hears sounds outside his tent in the middle of the night, he spots a little girl, and is to disappear for good. In a narrative relayed from Annabelle and Kennedy's perspective, this is a creep fest of a case that goes back in time to other missing persons, a dam incident that results in many trapped in tunnels, where a number of leads point to Glen Turrit and the menacing village of Arklow.
Kennedy is a single mother, with a mother, Angie, a little too interested in crime and her cases, on whom she relies on to help look after her precious daughter, Lucy. Halliday develops her character further by filling in her haunted personal history in relation to her prison officer father, with themes that resonated with elements of her investigation, with the issues underlined with a Lucy sleepwalking and dreaming of her grandfather. This is a great sequel to what is a terrific series, one which steps firmly into the darkest of territories, and I do not mind admitting had me afraid, tense and fearful, desperately hoping Annabel will survive an ordeal that will surely mark her for life. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
As Monica tries to work out the identity of the murder victim, the team narrow it down to two men reported missing, 53 year old Sebastian Sinclair of Sinclair Enterprises, and Theo Gall, a career petty criminal, when another body with the same macabre stomach-churning MO turns up. Annabel is driving her BMW fast in the Highlands when the appearance of a girl on the road causes her to swerve and crash, waking up to find herself in a terrifying nightmare, being 'treated' by the doctor from hell. Canadian Scott is camping when he hears sounds outside his tent in the middle of the night, he spots a little girl, and is to disappear for good. In a narrative relayed from Annabelle and Kennedy's perspective, this is a creep fest of a case that goes back in time to other missing persons, a dam incident that results in many trapped in tunnels, where a number of leads point to Glen Turrit and the menacing village of Arklow.
Kennedy is a single mother, with a mother, Angie, a little too interested in crime and her cases, on whom she relies on to help look after her precious daughter, Lucy. Halliday develops her character further by filling in her haunted personal history in relation to her prison officer father, with themes that resonated with elements of her investigation, with the issues underlined with a Lucy sleepwalking and dreaming of her grandfather. This is a great sequel to what is a terrific series, one which steps firmly into the darkest of territories, and I do not mind admitting had me afraid, tense and fearful, desperately hoping Annabel will survive an ordeal that will surely mark her for life. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
February 6, 2020
4-5 stars
I have to admit the author had my immediate attention not only with an intriguing and exciting start but also with the setting in the Inverness area where I have stayed several times. Annabelle is driving fast along a private road that connects Inverness with the west coast when a child suddenly appears in front of her car. In order to avoid her she has no option other than to swerve and hits a tree. When she regains consciousnesses she finds she is being ‘looked’ after by Marcus who makes reference to the mysterious Doctor. She cannot move, she’s terrified and believes she is underground but has no idea where. In the same area a dismembered body is found near the hydroelectric dam near Beauly. Are these two events connected in any way, if so, how? DI Monica Kennedy has taken a step back from MIT following the effect of a terrible case the previous year but is asked to investigate the death along with DC Conor Crawford and DC Ben Fisher. The investigation leads the team into dark and dangerous territory in this nightmarish tale. The story is principally told from the perspective of Monica and Annabelle but there are flashbacks to years prior to this.
The highland area is used to great effect in this atmospheric story. There’s a sense of claustrophobia provided by the forests, a semi deserted village which is very oppressive, and the labyrinthine tunnels for the dams where Annabelle is held, which resemble the gateway to hell. The plotting is good, it’s well written and gritty though perhaps not the the faint hearted! The storyline in places is gruesome, it’s eerie, at times it’s quite spooky and creepy with occasional elements of horror and the supernatural. We have some characters that are so scary and evil you almost want to take cover! I really like Monica and the team and Monica’s daughter Lucy is adorable. Lucy sleepwalks for a time and has ghostly dreams especially about her grandfather which provides an intriguing element to the story. The book build well and I like the two alternate storylines and their feelings are strongly expressed. The ending is a really exciting race against time and is powerful.
Overall, a really good read which keeps you intrigued from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for the ARC.
I have to admit the author had my immediate attention not only with an intriguing and exciting start but also with the setting in the Inverness area where I have stayed several times. Annabelle is driving fast along a private road that connects Inverness with the west coast when a child suddenly appears in front of her car. In order to avoid her she has no option other than to swerve and hits a tree. When she regains consciousnesses she finds she is being ‘looked’ after by Marcus who makes reference to the mysterious Doctor. She cannot move, she’s terrified and believes she is underground but has no idea where. In the same area a dismembered body is found near the hydroelectric dam near Beauly. Are these two events connected in any way, if so, how? DI Monica Kennedy has taken a step back from MIT following the effect of a terrible case the previous year but is asked to investigate the death along with DC Conor Crawford and DC Ben Fisher. The investigation leads the team into dark and dangerous territory in this nightmarish tale. The story is principally told from the perspective of Monica and Annabelle but there are flashbacks to years prior to this.
The highland area is used to great effect in this atmospheric story. There’s a sense of claustrophobia provided by the forests, a semi deserted village which is very oppressive, and the labyrinthine tunnels for the dams where Annabelle is held, which resemble the gateway to hell. The plotting is good, it’s well written and gritty though perhaps not the the faint hearted! The storyline in places is gruesome, it’s eerie, at times it’s quite spooky and creepy with occasional elements of horror and the supernatural. We have some characters that are so scary and evil you almost want to take cover! I really like Monica and the team and Monica’s daughter Lucy is adorable. Lucy sleepwalks for a time and has ghostly dreams especially about her grandfather which provides an intriguing element to the story. The book build well and I like the two alternate storylines and their feelings are strongly expressed. The ending is a really exciting race against time and is powerful.
Overall, a really good read which keeps you intrigued from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for the ARC.
July 10, 2020
Monica Kennedy #2
Set in the Scottish Highlands. Monica has been working on some mundane cases after the trauma of the last case. But she's been called in to investigate a body that's been discovered with the limbs missing. There's also Annabelle who is missing.
The opening chapter grabbed my attention and kept it there until the end. The scenery and locations the author mentions are beautiful and well described. This is another quite gory read so it's definitely not for the faint hearted. The storyline is complex, with a dark and gothic feel to it. The chapters are told from Annabelle and Monic's perspectives. I recommend that you read the first book in this series before you read this one as you do need the backstory.
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.
Set in the Scottish Highlands. Monica has been working on some mundane cases after the trauma of the last case. But she's been called in to investigate a body that's been discovered with the limbs missing. There's also Annabelle who is missing.
The opening chapter grabbed my attention and kept it there until the end. The scenery and locations the author mentions are beautiful and well described. This is another quite gory read so it's definitely not for the faint hearted. The storyline is complex, with a dark and gothic feel to it. The chapters are told from Annabelle and Monic's perspectives. I recommend that you read the first book in this series before you read this one as you do need the backstory.
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, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Random House UK and the author for a chance to read and review this book.
#DarkWaters #NetGalley
Oh God, what have I just read? One of the most disturbing and troubling book that I have come across in some time, G R Halliday’s Dark Waters is terribly dark, so dark that I would like to give fair warning to readers that there are descriptions of dismembered bodies so gruesome that can make you feel nauseated.
Fans of thrillers have nothing to worry, Dark Waters with Monica Kennedy is a book that need to be read and have to say this, to be READ in order to understand the whys and whats of Monica’s trauma. This is book #2 and like always with me, haven’t read the first one, and there’s quite a bit of references to the previous case that has affected her and her team. Dark Waters continues from that previous case where in DI Monica has become so paranoid and worried about her young daughter Lucy that she’s taken to sleeping on the couch. I loved her team of Crawford, Fisher and Khan. Khan’s character is yet to be fleshed out fully but there’s a sense of solidity to her presence.
Anabelle is on a road trip to the highlands when she meets with an accident. But as her blackness recedes, Anabelle discovers that her troubles are just beginning. The story alternates between Anabelle and the investigation into the discovery of the 2 corpses found in the glen, dismembered and mutilated. Monica’s enquiries take her deeper into her own mental anguish as Lucy begins sleep-walking and giving out cryptic and distressing warnings.
There’s a sense of otherworldliness throughout the book with its setting in Inverness and the glens, the dam and its tunnels, the story gliding thru many POV’s before the adrenaline pumped climax. I loved how the author has used the bleakness of the place in creating a menacing and scary thriller that would probably leave me with nightmares with the kind of visceral images that the story left me with. It was interesting to see how the readers are made aware of Annabelle’s plight and about her captors but the grab your throat tension never lets up steam as Monica inches closer to the finish line.
Incredibly well-written, Dark Waters by G R Halliday is a must read for fans who love atmospheric thrillers.
#DarkWaters #NetGalley
Oh God, what have I just read? One of the most disturbing and troubling book that I have come across in some time, G R Halliday’s Dark Waters is terribly dark, so dark that I would like to give fair warning to readers that there are descriptions of dismembered bodies so gruesome that can make you feel nauseated.
Fans of thrillers have nothing to worry, Dark Waters with Monica Kennedy is a book that need to be read and have to say this, to be READ in order to understand the whys and whats of Monica’s trauma. This is book #2 and like always with me, haven’t read the first one, and there’s quite a bit of references to the previous case that has affected her and her team. Dark Waters continues from that previous case where in DI Monica has become so paranoid and worried about her young daughter Lucy that she’s taken to sleeping on the couch. I loved her team of Crawford, Fisher and Khan. Khan’s character is yet to be fleshed out fully but there’s a sense of solidity to her presence.
Anabelle is on a road trip to the highlands when she meets with an accident. But as her blackness recedes, Anabelle discovers that her troubles are just beginning. The story alternates between Anabelle and the investigation into the discovery of the 2 corpses found in the glen, dismembered and mutilated. Monica’s enquiries take her deeper into her own mental anguish as Lucy begins sleep-walking and giving out cryptic and distressing warnings.
There’s a sense of otherworldliness throughout the book with its setting in Inverness and the glens, the dam and its tunnels, the story gliding thru many POV’s before the adrenaline pumped climax. I loved how the author has used the bleakness of the place in creating a menacing and scary thriller that would probably leave me with nightmares with the kind of visceral images that the story left me with. It was interesting to see how the readers are made aware of Annabelle’s plight and about her captors but the grab your throat tension never lets up steam as Monica inches closer to the finish line.
Incredibly well-written, Dark Waters by G R Halliday is a must read for fans who love atmospheric thrillers.
July 16, 2020
Dark Waters is the second instalment in the Detective Inspector (DI) Monica Kennedy series set in the stunning surroundings of my favourite place on earth, the Scottish Highlands. This is a potent mix of the crime thriller, police procedural and horror genres and is gritty as well as gruesome. After the near catastrophe that happened in her previous case, forty-something single mother Monica has taken a break from MIT and has accepted a transfer to the traffic division but after eighteen years experience investigating serious crimes this is more than mundane to her. Luckily, she receives an almost panicked call from Detective Superintendent Fred Hately who informs her that they've just discovered a dismembered body at the site of a hydroelectric dam near Beauly. Kennedy then assembles her old team in order to begin investigating and identifying the male victim and the circumstances of his demise. Then a second body with the same nausea-inducing MO is found.
Annabelle is speeding along a road connecting Inverness and the West Coast in her BMW when she is startled by the sudden appearance of a girl in the middle of the road causing her to swerve and crash into a nearby tree. She awakens from unconsciousness to find herself trapped in a dark and dingy place with a man named Marcus who mentions the elusive ’doctor’ who will be ’treating’ her. Canadian Scott also sees a young girl whilst camping in a remote area and is never seen again. This is a nightmarish and unbelievably creepy read with a spine-chilling plot and where the setting of the Highlands is used to great effect creating a bleak and deeply sinister atmosphere. It is one of the most terrifying books I've ever picked up and there is grit, suspense and intrigue aplenty throughout. We learn more about the highly likeable Monica and her personal life too. Highly recommended but not for the faint-hearted! Many thanks to Harvill Secker for an ARC.
Annabelle is speeding along a road connecting Inverness and the West Coast in her BMW when she is startled by the sudden appearance of a girl in the middle of the road causing her to swerve and crash into a nearby tree. She awakens from unconsciousness to find herself trapped in a dark and dingy place with a man named Marcus who mentions the elusive ’doctor’ who will be ’treating’ her. Canadian Scott also sees a young girl whilst camping in a remote area and is never seen again. This is a nightmarish and unbelievably creepy read with a spine-chilling plot and where the setting of the Highlands is used to great effect creating a bleak and deeply sinister atmosphere. It is one of the most terrifying books I've ever picked up and there is grit, suspense and intrigue aplenty throughout. We learn more about the highly likeable Monica and her personal life too. Highly recommended but not for the faint-hearted! Many thanks to Harvill Secker for an ARC.
August 14, 2021
★★★★ 4.5 stars
The second in the DI Monica Kennedy series, DARK WATERS is a dark and disturbing read that both creepy and claustrophobic. It is so terribly dark that I feel I need to warn readers that, not only is it disturbing and troubling in some of the content, but there are descriptions of dismemberments that some may find a tad gruesome. But whoa! What a thrilling read!
Annabelle is visting from London and upon arrival in Stirling, snaps a selfie or twelve, applies a filter and uploads to Instagram. The only indication that she is in Scotland. She heads for Inverness and then towards the West Coast when she sees a gate. It isn't locked so she decides to take a chance and is driving her new blue BMW M4 as fast as she dares along the lonely stretch of road beyond. Suddenly a little girl appears out of nowhere and Annabelle swerves to miss her hitting the lone oak tree and sending her into unconscious oblivion.
When she wakes with no idea where she is and unable to move, she is terrified. What happened? Where is she? As the blackness of her surroundings recede, she finds herself in a damp dark room awaiting to see the Doctor. And only then does Annabelle realise that her troubles are only just beginning.
In the wake of the nightmarish end to the previous case which left both her and her daughter Lucy traumatised, DI Monica Kennedy took a temporary secondment to the traffic division so she could spend more time with her daughter. But then she receives a call from her superintendent in MIT. A dismembered body has been found in a remote area near Glen Turrit and she is the only SIO he trusts to handle the case. Joining her are DC Connor Crawford and DC Ben Fisher, both still recovering from the horrific previous case, as well as newest member DC Maria Khan. Assembling her team together in order to begin investigating and identifying the victim, Monica is shocked to learn of a second set of remains with the same injuries as the first has been found nearby.
After tentative identifications are made, investigations lead them to Sinclair Enterprises, a corporate body that seems to own half the highlands, with Monica questioning the victim's widow and his sister. Neither woman is entirely forthcoming leading Monica and her team to believe they are hiding something. But what? And how were the two unlikely men connected?
Enquiries take Monica to a remote almost deserted town in Little Arklow, primarily built during the construction of the hydro electric dam in the 1950s and 60s and after which was relatively abandoned to just a few remaining people. One of which is the partially delusional Gillian who regales Monica with tales of the Affric men and the death of her friend Euston Miller. But how much of her fairy tales are truth and how much are fantasy? But those delusional ravings send Monica on the hunt for the truth as she seeks out the website which Gillian alluded to that Miller had set up some years before. There she comes across the mysterious disappearance of a man, Colin Muir, in 1980...and then there is the apparent suicide of Miller himself four years before. How is all this related to the dismembered bodies found near the hydro electric dam in Glen Turrit? Are they somehow connected to the past?
And then...DC Fisher receives a strange and somewhat creepy text from an unknown number alerting him that whoever they are "is being held hostage somewhere in the highlands" along with as much detail as they could provide that could help pinpoint their location. Believing that it's one of his colleagues having a laugh, Fisher deletes the text without further thought. But Monica isn't so sure. She asks him to retrieve it and put a trace on the number to identify its owner.
Monica is a wonderful character and despite her dislike for her colleagues she has grown to appreciate their value and their unique personalities. She herself is a complex character with her own demons to battle as she comes face to face with them through flashbacks and memories. We actually see a lot more of her mother Angela this time around and I must say I'm pleased to note that she has finally taken Monica's advice and keeps the doors locked. Crawford also, it seems, spends rather a lot of time with her mother who has taken a real shine to him as has Monica's daughter Lucy. It was good to see the supporting characters of Crawford and Fisher fleshed out a bit more in this book and Khan makes a welcome addition bringing her own strengths to the table.
There's a real sense of otherwordliness throughout the book that borders on creepy with the remote settings of the glens, the dam and it's various caves and tunnels. The highland setting lends a remoteness and bleakness to the story that provides a menacing sense of claustrophobia despite its wide open landscape. And then there are Lucy's disturbing dreams, cryptic conversations and her sleepwalking which are creepy to say the least. Is it just because of Monica's sudden return to MIT or is it something far more disturbing? I love how the author leaves that question dangling for readers to ponder.
Told through the alternating narratives of Monica and Annabelle, DARK WATERS is a nightmarish and creepy read with a chilling plot and atmospheric setting. It is dark, disturbing and incredibly intense from the very first page until the very last. One of the most terrifying stories I've read complete with tension, suspense and intrigue, it is definitely NOT for the faint-hearted.
I was just telling hubby that this book would make an awesome movie or better yet...a BBC series with it's spine-tingling plot and the remote atmospheric setting of the Scottish Highlands. It has a touch of the darker side of Criminal Minds and Wolf Creek about it making it doubly disturbing. Mick Taylor meets the Doctor - who would come out of it alive?
Everything about this book is disturbing and yet it is an addictive thriller that is one of the most memorable of its kind. I doubt books like this would be endorsed by the tourism board because after reading, some would never want to venture to the Scottish Highlands again!
Don't worry if you haven't read the first book as DARK WATERS suffices perfectly well on its own. Only the vague references to the previous case from the first one will have some wondering but on the whole, readers learn a whole lot more about Monica in this book as she delves into her own past through memories and flashbacks.
Although I enjoyed "From the Shadows" , it pales in comparison to the deeply dark and disturbing tale woven throughout DARK WATERS. It is incredibly well written and though there appears to be a lot of bulked-out description which could have been thinned out a little, DARK WATERS is intense from start to finish.
Perfect for fans of dark, disturbing, intense and atmospheric thrillers.
I would like to thank #GRHalliday, #Netgalley and #VintageDigital for an ARC of #DarkWaters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The second in the DI Monica Kennedy series, DARK WATERS is a dark and disturbing read that both creepy and claustrophobic. It is so terribly dark that I feel I need to warn readers that, not only is it disturbing and troubling in some of the content, but there are descriptions of dismemberments that some may find a tad gruesome. But whoa! What a thrilling read!
Annabelle is visting from London and upon arrival in Stirling, snaps a selfie or twelve, applies a filter and uploads to Instagram. The only indication that she is in Scotland. She heads for Inverness and then towards the West Coast when she sees a gate. It isn't locked so she decides to take a chance and is driving her new blue BMW M4 as fast as she dares along the lonely stretch of road beyond. Suddenly a little girl appears out of nowhere and Annabelle swerves to miss her hitting the lone oak tree and sending her into unconscious oblivion.
When she wakes with no idea where she is and unable to move, she is terrified. What happened? Where is she? As the blackness of her surroundings recede, she finds herself in a damp dark room awaiting to see the Doctor. And only then does Annabelle realise that her troubles are only just beginning.
In the wake of the nightmarish end to the previous case which left both her and her daughter Lucy traumatised, DI Monica Kennedy took a temporary secondment to the traffic division so she could spend more time with her daughter. But then she receives a call from her superintendent in MIT. A dismembered body has been found in a remote area near Glen Turrit and she is the only SIO he trusts to handle the case. Joining her are DC Connor Crawford and DC Ben Fisher, both still recovering from the horrific previous case, as well as newest member DC Maria Khan. Assembling her team together in order to begin investigating and identifying the victim, Monica is shocked to learn of a second set of remains with the same injuries as the first has been found nearby.
After tentative identifications are made, investigations lead them to Sinclair Enterprises, a corporate body that seems to own half the highlands, with Monica questioning the victim's widow and his sister. Neither woman is entirely forthcoming leading Monica and her team to believe they are hiding something. But what? And how were the two unlikely men connected?
Enquiries take Monica to a remote almost deserted town in Little Arklow, primarily built during the construction of the hydro electric dam in the 1950s and 60s and after which was relatively abandoned to just a few remaining people. One of which is the partially delusional Gillian who regales Monica with tales of the Affric men and the death of her friend Euston Miller. But how much of her fairy tales are truth and how much are fantasy? But those delusional ravings send Monica on the hunt for the truth as she seeks out the website which Gillian alluded to that Miller had set up some years before. There she comes across the mysterious disappearance of a man, Colin Muir, in 1980...and then there is the apparent suicide of Miller himself four years before. How is all this related to the dismembered bodies found near the hydro electric dam in Glen Turrit? Are they somehow connected to the past?
And then...DC Fisher receives a strange and somewhat creepy text from an unknown number alerting him that whoever they are "is being held hostage somewhere in the highlands" along with as much detail as they could provide that could help pinpoint their location. Believing that it's one of his colleagues having a laugh, Fisher deletes the text without further thought. But Monica isn't so sure. She asks him to retrieve it and put a trace on the number to identify its owner.
Monica is a wonderful character and despite her dislike for her colleagues she has grown to appreciate their value and their unique personalities. She herself is a complex character with her own demons to battle as she comes face to face with them through flashbacks and memories. We actually see a lot more of her mother Angela this time around and I must say I'm pleased to note that she has finally taken Monica's advice and keeps the doors locked. Crawford also, it seems, spends rather a lot of time with her mother who has taken a real shine to him as has Monica's daughter Lucy. It was good to see the supporting characters of Crawford and Fisher fleshed out a bit more in this book and Khan makes a welcome addition bringing her own strengths to the table.
There's a real sense of otherwordliness throughout the book that borders on creepy with the remote settings of the glens, the dam and it's various caves and tunnels. The highland setting lends a remoteness and bleakness to the story that provides a menacing sense of claustrophobia despite its wide open landscape. And then there are Lucy's disturbing dreams, cryptic conversations and her sleepwalking which are creepy to say the least. Is it just because of Monica's sudden return to MIT or is it something far more disturbing? I love how the author leaves that question dangling for readers to ponder.
Told through the alternating narratives of Monica and Annabelle, DARK WATERS is a nightmarish and creepy read with a chilling plot and atmospheric setting. It is dark, disturbing and incredibly intense from the very first page until the very last. One of the most terrifying stories I've read complete with tension, suspense and intrigue, it is definitely NOT for the faint-hearted.
I was just telling hubby that this book would make an awesome movie or better yet...a BBC series with it's spine-tingling plot and the remote atmospheric setting of the Scottish Highlands. It has a touch of the darker side of Criminal Minds and Wolf Creek about it making it doubly disturbing. Mick Taylor meets the Doctor - who would come out of it alive?
Everything about this book is disturbing and yet it is an addictive thriller that is one of the most memorable of its kind. I doubt books like this would be endorsed by the tourism board because after reading, some would never want to venture to the Scottish Highlands again!
Don't worry if you haven't read the first book as DARK WATERS suffices perfectly well on its own. Only the vague references to the previous case from the first one will have some wondering but on the whole, readers learn a whole lot more about Monica in this book as she delves into her own past through memories and flashbacks.
Although I enjoyed "From the Shadows" , it pales in comparison to the deeply dark and disturbing tale woven throughout DARK WATERS. It is incredibly well written and though there appears to be a lot of bulked-out description which could have been thinned out a little, DARK WATERS is intense from start to finish.
Perfect for fans of dark, disturbing, intense and atmospheric thrillers.
I would like to thank #GRHalliday, #Netgalley and #VintageDigital for an ARC of #DarkWaters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 9, 2020
What a cracking read. I haven’t read a crime thriller book for a while and I certainly wasn’t disappointed with this one. I’m a big fan of Stuart MacBride’s Logan McCrae series of books and I am always looking for something new to read in this genre and G R Halliday’s DI Monica Kennedy is easily now going to be one of my favourites. She is a raw, genuine and believable character.
This story is well paced, and definitely chilling. I loved the used of the intimidating Scottish landscape to help tell the story and there were enough twists and turns along the way to keep me interested. I also enjoyed the slightly supernatural undertones that have got me hooked and ready to read more in this series.
Annabelle comes to the Scottish Highlands looking for an escape and fast quiet roads but as she enjoys the freedoms along the deserted mountain roads she is suddenly forced off the road. Next time she is awake she is in a dark, damp room waiting to see the Doctor. Will anyone come looking for her? Will anyone realise she’s missing?
DI Monica Kennedy is recalled for help with a Serious Crime following her absence from the team for six months. A dismembered body has been discovered, and then days later another victim is discovered with similar injuries. The hunt is now on for a ruthless killer.
This story is well paced, and definitely chilling. I loved the used of the intimidating Scottish landscape to help tell the story and there were enough twists and turns along the way to keep me interested. I also enjoyed the slightly supernatural undertones that have got me hooked and ready to read more in this series.
Annabelle comes to the Scottish Highlands looking for an escape and fast quiet roads but as she enjoys the freedoms along the deserted mountain roads she is suddenly forced off the road. Next time she is awake she is in a dark, damp room waiting to see the Doctor. Will anyone come looking for her? Will anyone realise she’s missing?
DI Monica Kennedy is recalled for help with a Serious Crime following her absence from the team for six months. A dismembered body has been discovered, and then days later another victim is discovered with similar injuries. The hunt is now on for a ruthless killer.
August 8, 2020
Not having read book 1, this was quite difficult as I didn't know anything about DI Monica's past. In sating that, I concentrated only on the investigation.
2 dead men and one missing woman, Annabelle, and one cop Monica form the characters of the book. Story was graphic in its description and told from Annabelle and Monica's viewpoints.
It was disturbing at some points. And I had to tread carefully. The investigation was detailed and Annabelle as the victim had some harrowing tales to tell.
Tension was plotted carefully on the pages until the very end. One of my most disturbing reads.
2 dead men and one missing woman, Annabelle, and one cop Monica form the characters of the book. Story was graphic in its description and told from Annabelle and Monica's viewpoints.
It was disturbing at some points. And I had to tread carefully. The investigation was detailed and Annabelle as the victim had some harrowing tales to tell.
Tension was plotted carefully on the pages until the very end. One of my most disturbing reads.
July 19, 2020
This is the second book in the Monica Kennedy series by G.R. Halliday and I must say that it was a fascinating and thoroughly compelling read.
In Dark Waters the opening chapters immediately lured me in. On a break from the Major Investigation Team, DI Monica Kennedy receives a call from an agitated Detective Superintendent Fred Hately - a drowned and dismembered body has been found by some fishermen. Kennedy rounds up her old team, DC Connor Crawford and university graduate DC Ben Fisher. Media specialist DC Maria Khan is an addition to the team. As Monica starts to figure out the identity of the murder victim, another dead body with the same grisly MO turns up.
Annabel is driving, too fast, on a mountain road in the Inverness area when the appearance of a young girl on the road causes her to swerve and crash. On waking from a concussed sleep, she finds that she is being looked after by Marcus, who makes reference to a 'doctor'. Scott is camping in woodlands nearby and sights a little girl after hearing noises outside his tent during the night, but is never seen again. Monica soon realises she is on the hunt for a serial killer.
The narrative was imparted from Annabelle and Monica 's perspectives in this nightmarish and exceedingly creepy read. In Dark Waters the well constructed plot is a real bone-chiller and the setting of the Highlands has been used to great effect, creating a haunting, bleak and sinister atmosphere. With grit, suspense and intrigue in spades, the reader learns something about the highly personable and efficient Monica and her personal life. Very highly recommended!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House Vintage/ Harvill Secker via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
In Dark Waters the opening chapters immediately lured me in. On a break from the Major Investigation Team, DI Monica Kennedy receives a call from an agitated Detective Superintendent Fred Hately - a drowned and dismembered body has been found by some fishermen. Kennedy rounds up her old team, DC Connor Crawford and university graduate DC Ben Fisher. Media specialist DC Maria Khan is an addition to the team. As Monica starts to figure out the identity of the murder victim, another dead body with the same grisly MO turns up.
Annabel is driving, too fast, on a mountain road in the Inverness area when the appearance of a young girl on the road causes her to swerve and crash. On waking from a concussed sleep, she finds that she is being looked after by Marcus, who makes reference to a 'doctor'. Scott is camping in woodlands nearby and sights a little girl after hearing noises outside his tent during the night, but is never seen again. Monica soon realises she is on the hunt for a serial killer.
The narrative was imparted from Annabelle and Monica 's perspectives in this nightmarish and exceedingly creepy read. In Dark Waters the well constructed plot is a real bone-chiller and the setting of the Highlands has been used to great effect, creating a haunting, bleak and sinister atmosphere. With grit, suspense and intrigue in spades, the reader learns something about the highly personable and efficient Monica and her personal life. Very highly recommended!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House Vintage/ Harvill Secker via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 1, 2020
I knew when I read the first book, From the Shadows, that this series had real promise so as soon as this the sequel appeared on NetGalley I couldn't resist requesting immediately and I was not disappointed. Halliday has kept all that made From the Shadows such a great read and come up with something even better.
The story picks up a few months after the events of the first book with DI Monica Kennedy and the rest of the team still trying to come to terms with everything that happened. When a dismembered body is found however Monica is called to the scene and finds herself back on the hunt for another serial killer. At the same time it seems there may be something or someone hunting unsuspecting tourists who wander into remote areas alone.
It's an incredibly dark and creepy read with a few moments which could easily come from a horror film, think Deliverance or Wrong Turn. I do love a creepy tale but even I found myself checking all of the doors and windows in my house to make sure no one could get in. I wouldn't describe it as a fast paced or action packed read but there's a real tension to the story that makes it very difficult to put down.
Main character, Monica Kennedy makes for an intriguing main character. I wouldn't necessarily describe her as likeable or relatable but there's something about her determination to get to the truth and her love for her daughter you can't help but admire. In this outing we also get a little more of her backstory, her relationship with her parents and her father in particular seems to be on her mind a lot. It feels like there's some real character development and I found myself wanting to know more about her.
I also very much enjoyed the sections from the point of view of kidnap victim Annabelle. Her fear at her captivity and the mystery around where she is an what is going to happen to her makes for compelling reading. I did have my doubts around whether I liked her at the start, she seems quite superficial, but I found myself really admiring her and rooting for her. She has such determination to escape and to survive no matter what.
The real highlight of this story was for me however the setting. The beauty and the wildness of the Scottish Highlands are used to full effect by Halliday. There's a sense of isolation and remoteness that adds to the dark and chilling atmosphere. I loved the use of the small and insular communities who live by their own laws and don't welcome strangers. There's no technology, no internet or social media and barely any phone signal. In some ways it sounds like the perfect escape from the modern world but if you're alone and need help it's terrifying.
Similar to in my review of the first book I do feel like Dark Waters would benefit from a few lighter moments to balance out the darkness. I can understand why the author decided to keep the tone the same throughout, there's not really a lot to laugh about in kidnapping and murder, but it's just so unrelentingly dark. Even when Monica is spending time with her family or when she's in the car with Crawford there's no lightness and I think it really needed it.
I also would have liked a little more background on Crawford, Fisher and new member of the team. We do find out a little more on Fisher this time around but it's not quite enough to make him feel like a fully rounded character. I felt like we got to know more around victim Annabelle.
Despite these minor niggles though I thought this was a great read and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a dark and atmospheric murder mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. This has in no way influenced my review.
The story picks up a few months after the events of the first book with DI Monica Kennedy and the rest of the team still trying to come to terms with everything that happened. When a dismembered body is found however Monica is called to the scene and finds herself back on the hunt for another serial killer. At the same time it seems there may be something or someone hunting unsuspecting tourists who wander into remote areas alone.
It's an incredibly dark and creepy read with a few moments which could easily come from a horror film, think Deliverance or Wrong Turn. I do love a creepy tale but even I found myself checking all of the doors and windows in my house to make sure no one could get in. I wouldn't describe it as a fast paced or action packed read but there's a real tension to the story that makes it very difficult to put down.
Main character, Monica Kennedy makes for an intriguing main character. I wouldn't necessarily describe her as likeable or relatable but there's something about her determination to get to the truth and her love for her daughter you can't help but admire. In this outing we also get a little more of her backstory, her relationship with her parents and her father in particular seems to be on her mind a lot. It feels like there's some real character development and I found myself wanting to know more about her.
I also very much enjoyed the sections from the point of view of kidnap victim Annabelle. Her fear at her captivity and the mystery around where she is an what is going to happen to her makes for compelling reading. I did have my doubts around whether I liked her at the start, she seems quite superficial, but I found myself really admiring her and rooting for her. She has such determination to escape and to survive no matter what.
The real highlight of this story was for me however the setting. The beauty and the wildness of the Scottish Highlands are used to full effect by Halliday. There's a sense of isolation and remoteness that adds to the dark and chilling atmosphere. I loved the use of the small and insular communities who live by their own laws and don't welcome strangers. There's no technology, no internet or social media and barely any phone signal. In some ways it sounds like the perfect escape from the modern world but if you're alone and need help it's terrifying.
Similar to in my review of the first book I do feel like Dark Waters would benefit from a few lighter moments to balance out the darkness. I can understand why the author decided to keep the tone the same throughout, there's not really a lot to laugh about in kidnapping and murder, but it's just so unrelentingly dark. Even when Monica is spending time with her family or when she's in the car with Crawford there's no lightness and I think it really needed it.
I also would have liked a little more background on Crawford, Fisher and new member of the team. We do find out a little more on Fisher this time around but it's not quite enough to make him feel like a fully rounded character. I felt like we got to know more around victim Annabelle.
Despite these minor niggles though I thought this was a great read and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a dark and atmospheric murder mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. This has in no way influenced my review.
April 14, 2022
För nästan exakt två år sedan läste jag första delen i den här serien och även om jag inte var helt övertygad så ville jag gärna läsa vidare. När Ner i mörkret dök upp här som en överraskning blev jag väldigt glad och den behövde inte vänta speciellt länge på att flyta upp i läskön.
Mycket av det jag inte gillade i Ut ur skuggorna finns fortfarande kvar här. Mitt allra största problem är alla dessa tillbakablickar. Vad huvudpersonen än gör/ser så får det henne att tänka på något som hände för x antal år sedan. Det som stör mig allra mest är dock att man trots allt detta ältande inte får veta vad det är som har hänt i hennes "mörka" förflutna. Det stör mig helt otroligt mycket. Glädjande nog så upphör de här osannolikt trista och temposänkande tillbakablickarna ungefär halvvägs. Då blir boken väldigt mycket bättre.
Ner i mörkret är en mycket passande titel för här är det verkligen ner i mörkret som gäller. Både bokstavligen och bildligt. Från mitten och framåt är den värd en fyra. Jag tycker den är bättre än första boken och nu ser jag fram emot tredje.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
Mycket av det jag inte gillade i Ut ur skuggorna finns fortfarande kvar här. Mitt allra största problem är alla dessa tillbakablickar. Vad huvudpersonen än gör/ser så får det henne att tänka på något som hände för x antal år sedan. Det som stör mig allra mest är dock att man trots allt detta ältande inte får veta vad det är som har hänt i hennes "mörka" förflutna. Det stör mig helt otroligt mycket. Glädjande nog så upphör de här osannolikt trista och temposänkande tillbakablickarna ungefär halvvägs. Då blir boken väldigt mycket bättre.
Ner i mörkret är en mycket passande titel för här är det verkligen ner i mörkret som gäller. Både bokstavligen och bildligt. Från mitten och framåt är den värd en fyra. Jag tycker den är bättre än första boken och nu ser jag fram emot tredje.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
January 19, 2020
A very interesting read with some creepy sounding characters in it and some very strange ones, had a slight his have eyes feel to it
July 11, 2020
*shudders*
*whispers out side of mouth* I think there’s something wrong with this author...
Yet, what does it say about me that I’d read it all over again?! Well, maybe not straight away. A drink (or two) of the alcohol variety would be needed first, me thinks! *snorts*
I was honestly starting to wonder if I needed the help of an old priest and a young priest... *shrugs*
You may laugh, but I’m being serious here. Pfft!
D.I. Monica Kennedy returns in her most chilling case to date (and it’s only flipping Book 2). Note to self: never, I repeat, NEVER drive along any private roads in the Highlands – that is all!!
The storyline reminded me off two films that unsettled me as a teenager. I’m worried it’ll give too much away if I mention them here so all I’m going to say is come and find me when you’ve finished, and we can discuss. Coz, frankly, I think free therapy sessions should come with this book – *sings* justsayin’!
Like From the Shadows, Dark Waters is an unputdownable read, and I wish I could say that I read it in one sitting... but, alas, no – I was so unnerved at times that I had to have a wee break. Talk about making the hair on the back of your neck stand on end!
I’m doing a really crap job of selling this book to you, aren’t I?! *snorts*
Dark Waters is dark, chilling, and addictive crime read. Plus, you all know how much I love it when history is woven into a story. What a spin this one takes – jeepers! (Apologies *hangs head*, I have no idea where that jeepers came from.)
Monica proved yet again why she is such a fascinating multifaceted character, the developing relationships with her colleagues, more tantalising teases of her backstory, her mum and little Lucy. I didn’t want to say goodbye (but I’m scared of what’s coming next, lol).
Thank heavens it’s the light nights just now – if this were the winter months you can guarantee my house would be lit up like Blackpool Illuminations tonight. G.R. Halliday, you have a lot to answer for!!
Roll on Book 3!!
*whispers out side of mouth* I think there’s something wrong with this author...
Yet, what does it say about me that I’d read it all over again?! Well, maybe not straight away. A drink (or two) of the alcohol variety would be needed first, me thinks! *snorts*
I was honestly starting to wonder if I needed the help of an old priest and a young priest... *shrugs*
You may laugh, but I’m being serious here. Pfft!
D.I. Monica Kennedy returns in her most chilling case to date (and it’s only flipping Book 2). Note to self: never, I repeat, NEVER drive along any private roads in the Highlands – that is all!!
The storyline reminded me off two films that unsettled me as a teenager. I’m worried it’ll give too much away if I mention them here so all I’m going to say is come and find me when you’ve finished, and we can discuss. Coz, frankly, I think free therapy sessions should come with this book – *sings* justsayin’!
Like From the Shadows, Dark Waters is an unputdownable read, and I wish I could say that I read it in one sitting... but, alas, no – I was so unnerved at times that I had to have a wee break. Talk about making the hair on the back of your neck stand on end!
I’m doing a really crap job of selling this book to you, aren’t I?! *snorts*
Dark Waters is dark, chilling, and addictive crime read. Plus, you all know how much I love it when history is woven into a story. What a spin this one takes – jeepers! (Apologies *hangs head*, I have no idea where that jeepers came from.)
Monica proved yet again why she is such a fascinating multifaceted character, the developing relationships with her colleagues, more tantalising teases of her backstory, her mum and little Lucy. I didn’t want to say goodbye (but I’m scared of what’s coming next, lol).
Thank heavens it’s the light nights just now – if this were the winter months you can guarantee my house would be lit up like Blackpool Illuminations tonight. G.R. Halliday, you have a lot to answer for!!
Roll on Book 3!!
November 17, 2020
This is my first introduction to DI Monica Kennedy and the writing of G R Halliday.
As such, I do feel I need to go back to find the first book in the series to give myself some background into the life of DI Monica Kennedy as there is clearly some interesting history there!
Dark Waters is seriously disturbing in places - that feeling of 'peril' was there in abundance for sustained periods. It was AWFUL and yet delicious in equal measure.
Also, utter gruesome too. In fact, without wishing to give spoilers, there was something that occurred to me in relation to the 'full english breakfasts' that were served that made me wonder something that wasn't quite spelled out...
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be heading back to find myself a copy of From The Shadows.
Blurb: THREE MISTAKES. TWO MURDERS. ONE MORE VICTIM TO GO...
Annabelle has come to the Scottish Highlands to escape. But as she speeds along a deserted mountain road, she is suddenly forced to swerve. The next thing she remembers is waking up in a dark, damp room. A voice from the corner of the room says ‘The Doctor will be here soon’.
Scott is camping alone in the Scottish woodlands when he hears a scream. He starts to run in fear of his life. Scott is never seen again.
Meanwhile DI Monica Kennedy has been called to her first Serious Crimes case in six months – a dismembered body has been discovered, abandoned in a dam. Days later, when another victim surfaces, Monica knows she is on the hunt for a ruthless killer.
But as she begins to close in on the murderer, her own dark past isn’t far behind…
As such, I do feel I need to go back to find the first book in the series to give myself some background into the life of DI Monica Kennedy as there is clearly some interesting history there!
Dark Waters is seriously disturbing in places - that feeling of 'peril' was there in abundance for sustained periods. It was AWFUL and yet delicious in equal measure.
Also, utter gruesome too. In fact, without wishing to give spoilers, there was something that occurred to me in relation to the 'full english breakfasts' that were served that made me wonder something that wasn't quite spelled out...
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be heading back to find myself a copy of From The Shadows.
Blurb: THREE MISTAKES. TWO MURDERS. ONE MORE VICTIM TO GO...
Annabelle has come to the Scottish Highlands to escape. But as she speeds along a deserted mountain road, she is suddenly forced to swerve. The next thing she remembers is waking up in a dark, damp room. A voice from the corner of the room says ‘The Doctor will be here soon’.
Scott is camping alone in the Scottish woodlands when he hears a scream. He starts to run in fear of his life. Scott is never seen again.
Meanwhile DI Monica Kennedy has been called to her first Serious Crimes case in six months – a dismembered body has been discovered, abandoned in a dam. Days later, when another victim surfaces, Monica knows she is on the hunt for a ruthless killer.
But as she begins to close in on the murderer, her own dark past isn’t far behind…
August 11, 2020
In our second encounter with Detective Kennedy we have another puzzling crime, that goes beyond the worst thing you can imagine, and we learn a little more about this character and her backstory.
This took a little time to come together as the strands were so varied. Two mutilated bodies are found, and nobody can be sure if they’re linked, but the methods used on both bodies is eerily similar. Alongside this, we have a young woman (Annabelle) visiting the Highlands who is caught in a horrific crash when she swerved to avoid a young girl on the road. There’s also Scott, a Canadian tourist, who gets scared by some hostile behaviour towards him and then he meets a similarly awful fate which is linked to the mysterious appearance of a young girl immediately beforehand.
For a long time we switch between Annabelle’s experience waking up chained in a room and the investigation being led by Monica Kennedy. This lends a disconcerting quality to the book, where things take a long time to really get going. We know every detail will be relevant but there was almost a ‘real time’ quality to this that meant things didn’t happen at an implausibly rapid pace.
This is not one for the squeamish, and I was appalled at the levels of depravity shown by the characters in the book. Once again, I found myself curious to get more information about Detective Kennedy and what motivated her.
A gritty read, but well worth it. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This took a little time to come together as the strands were so varied. Two mutilated bodies are found, and nobody can be sure if they’re linked, but the methods used on both bodies is eerily similar. Alongside this, we have a young woman (Annabelle) visiting the Highlands who is caught in a horrific crash when she swerved to avoid a young girl on the road. There’s also Scott, a Canadian tourist, who gets scared by some hostile behaviour towards him and then he meets a similarly awful fate which is linked to the mysterious appearance of a young girl immediately beforehand.
For a long time we switch between Annabelle’s experience waking up chained in a room and the investigation being led by Monica Kennedy. This lends a disconcerting quality to the book, where things take a long time to really get going. We know every detail will be relevant but there was almost a ‘real time’ quality to this that meant things didn’t happen at an implausibly rapid pace.
This is not one for the squeamish, and I was appalled at the levels of depravity shown by the characters in the book. Once again, I found myself curious to get more information about Detective Kennedy and what motivated her.
A gritty read, but well worth it. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication in exchange for my honest thoughts.
July 9, 2020
4.25 Stars
Annabelle has come to the Scottish Highlands to escape, as she speeds along a deserted mountain road, she is suddenly forced to swerve. The next thing she remembers is waking up in a dark, damp room. A voice from the corner of the room says ‘The Doctor will be here soon’. Scott is camping alone in the Scottish woodlands when he hears a scream. He starts to run in fear of his life. Scott is never seen again.
Meanwhile DI Monica Kennedy has been called to her first Serious Crimes case in six months – a dismembered body has been discovered, abandoned in a dam. Days later, when another victim surfaces, Monica knows she is on the hunt for a ruthless killer.
This is the second book in the series & what a series this is turning out to be, dark, chilling & utterly engrossing. I love Monica who is recovering from her last case & she’s once again joined by DC Conor Crawford and DC Ben Fisher who are presumed to be fine after the last case but they are both still recovering and a new member DC Maria Khan joins the team. I loved the book & felt drained when I’d finished it, whilst I totally understand the darkness of the book I would have liked some lighter moments & it’s not a book to read late at night
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Annabelle has come to the Scottish Highlands to escape, as she speeds along a deserted mountain road, she is suddenly forced to swerve. The next thing she remembers is waking up in a dark, damp room. A voice from the corner of the room says ‘The Doctor will be here soon’. Scott is camping alone in the Scottish woodlands when he hears a scream. He starts to run in fear of his life. Scott is never seen again.
Meanwhile DI Monica Kennedy has been called to her first Serious Crimes case in six months – a dismembered body has been discovered, abandoned in a dam. Days later, when another victim surfaces, Monica knows she is on the hunt for a ruthless killer.
This is the second book in the series & what a series this is turning out to be, dark, chilling & utterly engrossing. I love Monica who is recovering from her last case & she’s once again joined by DC Conor Crawford and DC Ben Fisher who are presumed to be fine after the last case but they are both still recovering and a new member DC Maria Khan joins the team. I loved the book & felt drained when I’d finished it, whilst I totally understand the darkness of the book I would have liked some lighter moments & it’s not a book to read late at night
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
July 6, 2020
With an adrenaline pumping opening chapter this then turns very dark. After the last case nearly ended in tragedy Monica has been taking a break from MIT to spend time with her daughter Lucy and working in the traffic department. During a cinema and burger trip with Lucy she gets a call from her boss and she is back to MIT and working again with Crawford and Fisher.
Yet again the author has used the setting to full effect bringing a real claustrophobic atmosphere. This book certainly isn’t for those with a weak stomach but for my dark hearted constitution I revelled in glee at the dismembered bodies and almost horror qualities within this crime novel.
The characters have become more developed and are now starting to feel like friends and I really liked the introduction of Detective Khan to the team. However this can be read as a stand alone so don’t worry if you haven’t read the first book.
The writing has really developed and I’m happy that there weren’t quite so many mentions of Monica’s height this time. Looking forward to Book three.
Yet again the author has used the setting to full effect bringing a real claustrophobic atmosphere. This book certainly isn’t for those with a weak stomach but for my dark hearted constitution I revelled in glee at the dismembered bodies and almost horror qualities within this crime novel.
The characters have become more developed and are now starting to feel like friends and I really liked the introduction of Detective Khan to the team. However this can be read as a stand alone so don’t worry if you haven’t read the first book.
The writing has really developed and I’m happy that there weren’t quite so many mentions of Monica’s height this time. Looking forward to Book three.
July 7, 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. ***
4.5 Stars
Dark Waters was dark and disturbing crime thriller, second novel in Monica Kennedy series that revolved around another serial killer case. It was about juggling work and family life, haunting and unsettled past and history, unsolved and mysterious murders, and real demons of the world-humans.
This is not for squeamish readers or those who feel claustrophobic by reading tunnels and caves under mountains. Author did amazing job with tension, suspense, and twist and turns. Suspects were few but yet I couldn’t guess who the killer was until around 40% of the book and yet I couldn’t connect the dots and figure out why these particular victims.
Overall, Dark Waters was clever, horrifying, fast paced and well written sequel with vivid and gruesome description and beautiful yet dangerous setting.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
4.5 Stars
Dark Waters was dark and disturbing crime thriller, second novel in Monica Kennedy series that revolved around another serial killer case. It was about juggling work and family life, haunting and unsettled past and history, unsolved and mysterious murders, and real demons of the world-humans.
This is not for squeamish readers or those who feel claustrophobic by reading tunnels and caves under mountains. Author did amazing job with tension, suspense, and twist and turns. Suspects were few but yet I couldn’t guess who the killer was until around 40% of the book and yet I couldn’t connect the dots and figure out why these particular victims.
Overall, Dark Waters was clever, horrifying, fast paced and well written sequel with vivid and gruesome description and beautiful yet dangerous setting.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
September 27, 2020
A deeper, darker delve into the human mind. Any author who paints a disturbing picture containing the woods with huts caves and tunnels wins my vote every time for sure (such is the ease of my own mind!)
But of course a great scene spoiled by average narrative is like putiing ketchup on a roast dinner (luckily those days are behind me!) And so, for the second time, G R Halliday delighted me in telling a quite superb story. So far, this series - including the wonderful Monica Kennedy - is sitting on 4.5 stars which is breathtaking for such a new author. I feel I am being slightly generous because I so much want this author to succeed, and that these fall firmly into that 4 star Peter James and Chris Carter category, although nothing like those series in storytelling.
If you like crime without science fiction or supernatural elements, then these will delight. As for this paticular novel-It is darker than the first, which of course means it's a toe in front of it...
:)
But of course a great scene spoiled by average narrative is like putiing ketchup on a roast dinner (luckily those days are behind me!) And so, for the second time, G R Halliday delighted me in telling a quite superb story. So far, this series - including the wonderful Monica Kennedy - is sitting on 4.5 stars which is breathtaking for such a new author. I feel I am being slightly generous because I so much want this author to succeed, and that these fall firmly into that 4 star Peter James and Chris Carter category, although nothing like those series in storytelling.
If you like crime without science fiction or supernatural elements, then these will delight. As for this paticular novel-It is darker than the first, which of course means it's a toe in front of it...
:)
April 25, 2022
An absolute brilliant read! The start of the story and all the way through to the end of this book was absolutely absorbing! Great pacing to the story and very atmospheric in parts! Highly recommended!!
August 28, 2021
This is the 2nd in the DI Monica Kennedy series. I enjoyed the first and this one develops the main characters satisfactorily. Overall though it went too far towards horror and I didn't enjoy the supernatural elements from both Lucy and the Slates. I'll give the third one a try, but if the dark spooky tone continues it will be the last.
March 12, 2020
Interesting, if slightly bizarre, concept for this thriller. I loved the setting in the far Highlands if Scotland and Inverness. I enjoyed the police team characters and how they interacted and worked together.
I’ve never read something quite like it and would suggest that anyone who loves something new gives this a try
I’ve never read something quite like it and would suggest that anyone who loves something new gives this a try
January 30, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for an advance copy of Dark Waters, the second novel to feature Inverness based DI Monica Kennedy.
After their last case Monica has been on a transfer to the traffic division but the discovery of a mutilated body sees her back on a murder investigation.A second body is found days later and the team realise that they are hunting a depraved killer.
I enjoyed Dark Waters which has a, strong, engrossing plot and some likeable characters. I was not, however, as enthusiastic about the format which I found confusing at times and extremely choppy. The narrative mostly switches between Monica and Annabelle, a young woman held captive in mysterious circumstances. Both have compelling tales to tell, especially Annabelle whose story is scary, tense and horrifying, but some of it gets lost in the ever changing point of view, because the author constantly switches, even within chapters and from paragraph to paragraph. It is confusing suddenly having to switch perspective and recalibrate. I think the novel loses something with all this jumping about.
The plot has something of a horror novel about it. I’m not going to expand on that as it would reveal too much, but suffice to say it is not for the faint hearted or squeamish. There is also a hint of the supernatural with Monica’s daughter Lucy knowing things she shouldn’t. There are rational explanations for most of it but the idea hangs around. It’s not my bag and seems a touch contrived but who am I to comment?
I like Monica Kennedy. She struggles to parent her four year old and hold down a full time job with irregular hours which gives her an everyday appeal as most of us can understand it. I like her relationship with her mother whom she loves but finds annoying, something I can empathise with! I think she’s a bit untethered, still trying to find the right balance in her life, and my heart goes out to her. All in all she’s a normal woman doing a difficult job.
Dark Waters is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
After their last case Monica has been on a transfer to the traffic division but the discovery of a mutilated body sees her back on a murder investigation.A second body is found days later and the team realise that they are hunting a depraved killer.
I enjoyed Dark Waters which has a, strong, engrossing plot and some likeable characters. I was not, however, as enthusiastic about the format which I found confusing at times and extremely choppy. The narrative mostly switches between Monica and Annabelle, a young woman held captive in mysterious circumstances. Both have compelling tales to tell, especially Annabelle whose story is scary, tense and horrifying, but some of it gets lost in the ever changing point of view, because the author constantly switches, even within chapters and from paragraph to paragraph. It is confusing suddenly having to switch perspective and recalibrate. I think the novel loses something with all this jumping about.
The plot has something of a horror novel about it. I’m not going to expand on that as it would reveal too much, but suffice to say it is not for the faint hearted or squeamish. There is also a hint of the supernatural with Monica’s daughter Lucy knowing things she shouldn’t. There are rational explanations for most of it but the idea hangs around. It’s not my bag and seems a touch contrived but who am I to comment?
I like Monica Kennedy. She struggles to parent her four year old and hold down a full time job with irregular hours which gives her an everyday appeal as most of us can understand it. I like her relationship with her mother whom she loves but finds annoying, something I can empathise with! I think she’s a bit untethered, still trying to find the right balance in her life, and my heart goes out to her. All in all she’s a normal woman doing a difficult job.
Dark Waters is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 4, 2020
This is the second book about Detective Monica Kennedy. There was an earlier book, the first, which I've not read, but it had another case. A horrific and shocking case that changed everything for Detective Monica Kennedy and her team. I don't know what that case was or what happened, but I do know something happened and it was big. Okay, I'm being a bit sarcastic because in truth I didn't actually need to know anything about the previous book, but I did get a bit tired of the constant mentions of this unspeakable case of which I, as a new reader, knew nothing about. And had I read the first book I would've known and probably not needed to be told about it either. Yes, it's a minor gripe really but it did hinder my ability to get drawn into this book early on, and I suspect that in turn stopped me feeling truly engaged with a story I suspect I could've enjoyed much more. Don't get me wrong, it was a decent enough read. It's just that it never quite hit the spot for me.
The main characters have a realism that I enjoy - they're capable without needing random superhuman abilities. They're even a little rough around the edges to make them nicely imperfect. They're three dimensional, if not super deep - there's just enough to them to make them relatable, and not so much that the story gets lost in unimportant details.
And the story is basically interesting and quite clever - mutilated bodies washing up in the Highlands are undoubtedly a good place to start, and the creepy legends of the mountain folk add a nice hook. It ticks a number of boxes and it's well constructed, slowly slotting the pieces together to show the full picture. I just never sank into it the way I'd hoped. The basic ingredients scream a dark and brooding noir novel; something that swallows my imagination and eats away at me. In truth, it never quite delivered that. At times it felt more horror than it did mystery, which made me feel I missed out on the book I was expecting.
All of which is probably more about my expectations rather than the book itself. I can see a lot of good aspects. The disappointment for me is that I wanted different. I came away feeling that this book could've given me more. "Darks Waters" just wasn't dark enough for me. For all the remoteness I never felt it in anything more than references to phone signal dropping out. I never felt on edge. I never felt engulfed.
Ultimately, I like the characters and I'd read the earlier book, and probably a few that may follow, but only with a shift in my expectations. It's a decent police story - nothing too taxing, and actually quite rewarding once you embrace that.
The main characters have a realism that I enjoy - they're capable without needing random superhuman abilities. They're even a little rough around the edges to make them nicely imperfect. They're three dimensional, if not super deep - there's just enough to them to make them relatable, and not so much that the story gets lost in unimportant details.
And the story is basically interesting and quite clever - mutilated bodies washing up in the Highlands are undoubtedly a good place to start, and the creepy legends of the mountain folk add a nice hook. It ticks a number of boxes and it's well constructed, slowly slotting the pieces together to show the full picture. I just never sank into it the way I'd hoped. The basic ingredients scream a dark and brooding noir novel; something that swallows my imagination and eats away at me. In truth, it never quite delivered that. At times it felt more horror than it did mystery, which made me feel I missed out on the book I was expecting.
All of which is probably more about my expectations rather than the book itself. I can see a lot of good aspects. The disappointment for me is that I wanted different. I came away feeling that this book could've given me more. "Darks Waters" just wasn't dark enough for me. For all the remoteness I never felt it in anything more than references to phone signal dropping out. I never felt on edge. I never felt engulfed.
Ultimately, I like the characters and I'd read the earlier book, and probably a few that may follow, but only with a shift in my expectations. It's a decent police story - nothing too taxing, and actually quite rewarding once you embrace that.
June 12, 2020
I wanted to like this series I really did. I was forgiving of the first book for a lot of things - mostly padding, waffle, and the inordinate number of mentions of the MC's appearance and childcare issues. I was hoping that these things would calm down in this, the second in series, but I am sad to say they didn't and this really did mar my enjoyment of the book as a whole. There's a balance to be struck in a series book between progression of storyline and development/backstory of characters, and in this case it isn't struck. This meant that the plot, the crime actually being investigated, was overshadowed by all the rest that was going on... Which is actually a shame cos it was interesting and intriguing and it did make me want to read on, struggle through, and finish the book. Which I did and it was worth finishing but the journey to get there meandered so much for me that I was more relieved than satisfied when I got there.
Sorry if this is a bit scathing but it's the truth as I see it and I have to be honest and say it as I found it. It probably means that my time with this series is done as it's more their writing style that I have a personal problem with. And I fully accept that it is a personal thing with me as, judging by other reviews, there are many others who have enjoyed it. I didn't, sorry.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book
Sorry if this is a bit scathing but it's the truth as I see it and I have to be honest and say it as I found it. It probably means that my time with this series is done as it's more their writing style that I have a personal problem with. And I fully accept that it is a personal thing with me as, judging by other reviews, there are many others who have enjoyed it. I didn't, sorry.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book
October 27, 2023
This is the second DI Monica Kennedy in the series and it is just as gripping and intense as the first one, From the Shadows, which was Halliday's debut novel. Set in Scotland among the beautiful Scottish Highlands and Inverness, this police procedural is grisly and horrific and will reel you in from the first page. I listened to this one though, and the (Sarah Barron) narrator was great! I'm looking forward to the third installment, Under the Marsh.
July 6, 2020
When I reviewed From the Shadows, the first book in this intriguing series, a couple of weeks ago, I said that it had elements of Scandi Noir about it. Now that I have read Dark Waters, that feeling is, if anything, stronger with this storyline being akin to something as dark as Lars Kepler might have come up with.
Halliday really does have a black as pitch mind and I must say I am really rather liking that. Again, his sense of place in using the Highlands to set his novels is really effective and important. The wildness and the bleakness of the landscape; the quiet and moody forests are full of significance and lend a dark feeling to this book from the outset.
Neatly straddling the crime/horror genre, Halliday also introduces, with the lightest of touches, a slight mystical element into his plotting.
D.I. Monica Kennedy has been trying to recalibrate her family life. She’s taken time away from Serious Crimes and has been spending quality time with her daughter, Lucy. All that is rudely interrupted when a dismembered body turns up in the River Beauly.
Annabelle has driven from London to the Highlands when, taking a detour so that she can let off steam by being a bit of a girl racer, she sees a figure in front of her and crashes her car to avoid it. When she wakes up, she finds that she is being held captive and that’s only the start of an increasingly creepy and chilling nightmare.
Kennedy returns to MIT and puts her team back together, but they’re all still impacted by the events of the last case and this one is really going to test their nerve. DC Crawford has thankfully recovered from his physical injuries, but the trauma that he and DC Fisher experienced alongside Monica goes deeper than just physical manifestations. They are joined by a new addition to the team, DC Khan, who is adept at media handling, a skill that is much required in this case.
The team are in the process of narrowing down identification of the body when they are faced with another macabre body find that is so chilling they fear for anyone who comes into this killer’s orbit. Told from Annabelle’s perspective and from that of D.I. Kennedy, the reader both follows the killer’s modus operandi through Annabelle’s increasingly frightened and frantic eyes, and the case developments through Monica Kennedy’s dedicated, relentless drive.
We learn a little more about Monica in this book and understand better what drives her and why her backstory is so important to her role as a police detective. Her daughter Lucy is showing signs of being sensitive, and her mother Angie has lost none of her fervent interest in true crime stories.
As the team uncover the grisliest of crimes in the most unhelpful of places, Halliday gives us a dark and tense horror drenched tale to chill the spine of any reader, however dark you like you crime novels. The intense nature of the book is well served by the oppressive, claustrophobic nature of the setting and it is both tense and nerve-wracking and as we follow the dual journeys of Monica and Annabelle in a race against time to capture a twisted and depraved killer.
Verdict: Creepy as anything, this is one for lovers of dark, visceral writing. I’m enjoying getting to know Monica and the team a little more and finding that I’m eager to read another of their adventures and to understand them all a bit better. There’s no higher praise than that from me.
Halliday really does have a black as pitch mind and I must say I am really rather liking that. Again, his sense of place in using the Highlands to set his novels is really effective and important. The wildness and the bleakness of the landscape; the quiet and moody forests are full of significance and lend a dark feeling to this book from the outset.
Neatly straddling the crime/horror genre, Halliday also introduces, with the lightest of touches, a slight mystical element into his plotting.
D.I. Monica Kennedy has been trying to recalibrate her family life. She’s taken time away from Serious Crimes and has been spending quality time with her daughter, Lucy. All that is rudely interrupted when a dismembered body turns up in the River Beauly.
Annabelle has driven from London to the Highlands when, taking a detour so that she can let off steam by being a bit of a girl racer, she sees a figure in front of her and crashes her car to avoid it. When she wakes up, she finds that she is being held captive and that’s only the start of an increasingly creepy and chilling nightmare.
Kennedy returns to MIT and puts her team back together, but they’re all still impacted by the events of the last case and this one is really going to test their nerve. DC Crawford has thankfully recovered from his physical injuries, but the trauma that he and DC Fisher experienced alongside Monica goes deeper than just physical manifestations. They are joined by a new addition to the team, DC Khan, who is adept at media handling, a skill that is much required in this case.
The team are in the process of narrowing down identification of the body when they are faced with another macabre body find that is so chilling they fear for anyone who comes into this killer’s orbit. Told from Annabelle’s perspective and from that of D.I. Kennedy, the reader both follows the killer’s modus operandi through Annabelle’s increasingly frightened and frantic eyes, and the case developments through Monica Kennedy’s dedicated, relentless drive.
We learn a little more about Monica in this book and understand better what drives her and why her backstory is so important to her role as a police detective. Her daughter Lucy is showing signs of being sensitive, and her mother Angie has lost none of her fervent interest in true crime stories.
As the team uncover the grisliest of crimes in the most unhelpful of places, Halliday gives us a dark and tense horror drenched tale to chill the spine of any reader, however dark you like you crime novels. The intense nature of the book is well served by the oppressive, claustrophobic nature of the setting and it is both tense and nerve-wracking and as we follow the dual journeys of Monica and Annabelle in a race against time to capture a twisted and depraved killer.
Verdict: Creepy as anything, this is one for lovers of dark, visceral writing. I’m enjoying getting to know Monica and the team a little more and finding that I’m eager to read another of their adventures and to understand them all a bit better. There’s no higher praise than that from me.
August 3, 2020
You may have seen my last review where I shouted about how much I loved, From the Shadows (the first book in this series) well, if I loved that book this latest book just totally blew me away. The author has really grown and developed the characters and this story was amazing. The best crime thriller I have read in a long while. I want to make clear that this second book can easily be read as a standalone.
I do have to say that this second book is very graphic and very dark so if you are a little queasy then this may not be for you but I was totally gripped, horrified and scared all the way through just the way I like it.
DI Monica Kennedy is back on the case. She’s taken a break after her last case but when she gets the call that she is needed she is straight onto it. Paired up with Crawford, who we met in book one and assisted by Fisher with a new recruit Khan they are soon up against it.
The Sinclairs run a successful business so when Sebastian Sinclair goes missing but there is no big media circus this leaves Monica a little perplexed and rings alarm bells. It’s not long before his mutilated body is found followed shortly after by another missing person, Gall. Both men had appeared to have drowned but the damage to the bodies and their missing limbs are unexplainable.
Annabelle Whittaker loved to drive. Going on a road trip from London to the Scottish Highlands is a big adventure but racing along a private road she has to swerve fast and as her car smashes into a tree she’s knocked out. She is rescued and brought inside to recover but little does she know that she is living the nightmare of her life. Annabelles biggest mistake is that no one actually knows that she has gone away. No one is missing her and therefore no one is looking for her. The killer leaves her with her mobile phone but that just adds to her misery as there is no phone signal in her prison.
Annabelle is a great character and I really found myself rooting for her. She tried all available tactics to escape. Even when the odds were stacked against her and she knew exactly what the killer is capable of she never fails to give up.
It’s a race against time for the detectives to hunt down the killer and more importantly to locate Annabelle before getting to the root of the evil.
I loved the fact that in this second book we got to know a lot more about the victims. The first book covered a lot more of the detectives’ side of the story but with this one whilst we get to know a lot more about DI Monica we also spend a lot of time in the Scottish Highlands entombed in tunnels under the mountains and importantly we get to see things from the criminal perspective.
I could go on and on and on about this wonderful book all night. It’s a big 5 stars from me and I hope there is another in the series very soon.
I do have to say that this second book is very graphic and very dark so if you are a little queasy then this may not be for you but I was totally gripped, horrified and scared all the way through just the way I like it.
DI Monica Kennedy is back on the case. She’s taken a break after her last case but when she gets the call that she is needed she is straight onto it. Paired up with Crawford, who we met in book one and assisted by Fisher with a new recruit Khan they are soon up against it.
The Sinclairs run a successful business so when Sebastian Sinclair goes missing but there is no big media circus this leaves Monica a little perplexed and rings alarm bells. It’s not long before his mutilated body is found followed shortly after by another missing person, Gall. Both men had appeared to have drowned but the damage to the bodies and their missing limbs are unexplainable.
Annabelle Whittaker loved to drive. Going on a road trip from London to the Scottish Highlands is a big adventure but racing along a private road she has to swerve fast and as her car smashes into a tree she’s knocked out. She is rescued and brought inside to recover but little does she know that she is living the nightmare of her life. Annabelles biggest mistake is that no one actually knows that she has gone away. No one is missing her and therefore no one is looking for her. The killer leaves her with her mobile phone but that just adds to her misery as there is no phone signal in her prison.
Annabelle is a great character and I really found myself rooting for her. She tried all available tactics to escape. Even when the odds were stacked against her and she knew exactly what the killer is capable of she never fails to give up.
It’s a race against time for the detectives to hunt down the killer and more importantly to locate Annabelle before getting to the root of the evil.
I loved the fact that in this second book we got to know a lot more about the victims. The first book covered a lot more of the detectives’ side of the story but with this one whilst we get to know a lot more about DI Monica we also spend a lot of time in the Scottish Highlands entombed in tunnels under the mountains and importantly we get to see things from the criminal perspective.
I could go on and on and on about this wonderful book all night. It’s a big 5 stars from me and I hope there is another in the series very soon.
July 8, 2020
If you like your thrillers a little dark, full of twists and turns, with fantastic characters giving the story new leads and information at every turn then grab a copy of this book!! A fantastic read where I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, ever eager to find out what would happen next. The pace and drama are totally engrossing and the narrative given by the main victim along with our protagonist DI Monica Kennedy was superb.
Following the end results of book one, Monica has cut back on her work by temporarily joining the traffic department, allowing herself time to heal and to spend more time with her young daughter Lucy. However whilst out on a trip to the cinema, Monica receives her first call in months from her old boss back in MIT. She is needed back! After the discovery of a dismembered body in the more remote parts of the Scottish Highlands Monica joins back up with Crawford, Fisher and new team member Khan, on what turns out to be a major murder and abduction investigation.
Yet again the Highlands and their landscape and weather are wonderfully evoked and it was great to meet back up with the team and we learn a little more about them in this new book. They also seem a little closer after the events of book one. I loved the way each chapter was told mainly from the point of view of each of the two main characters and how they overlapped within the time frame of the investigation, plus a few back stories and earlier events which gave the story insights into the crimes taking place. There are a number of characters but the author introduces them well, as you read about their involvement and learn of yet another lead for Monica and her team to follow up.
The chapters told by Annabelle are quite graphic and scary but boy did I found my heart pumping at each of her attempts to escape. Towards the end of the book the story line from Annabelle and Monica are full of such tense drama and adrenaline, and I loved the way their actions are told, one after another, so that you can follow them getting closer and closer but will it all be too late???
This second book can easily be read as a standalone but I've so enjoyed reading these two books that I can't wait for book three and further enjoyment from this new series.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the publishers in exchange for an honest review
Following the end results of book one, Monica has cut back on her work by temporarily joining the traffic department, allowing herself time to heal and to spend more time with her young daughter Lucy. However whilst out on a trip to the cinema, Monica receives her first call in months from her old boss back in MIT. She is needed back! After the discovery of a dismembered body in the more remote parts of the Scottish Highlands Monica joins back up with Crawford, Fisher and new team member Khan, on what turns out to be a major murder and abduction investigation.
Yet again the Highlands and their landscape and weather are wonderfully evoked and it was great to meet back up with the team and we learn a little more about them in this new book. They also seem a little closer after the events of book one. I loved the way each chapter was told mainly from the point of view of each of the two main characters and how they overlapped within the time frame of the investigation, plus a few back stories and earlier events which gave the story insights into the crimes taking place. There are a number of characters but the author introduces them well, as you read about their involvement and learn of yet another lead for Monica and her team to follow up.
The chapters told by Annabelle are quite graphic and scary but boy did I found my heart pumping at each of her attempts to escape. Towards the end of the book the story line from Annabelle and Monica are full of such tense drama and adrenaline, and I loved the way their actions are told, one after another, so that you can follow them getting closer and closer but will it all be too late???
This second book can easily be read as a standalone but I've so enjoyed reading these two books that I can't wait for book three and further enjoyment from this new series.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the publishers in exchange for an honest review
March 24, 2020
This is a very dark, atmospheric read, set in the Highlands, where the woods add to the claustrophobic feeling, the small town folk, don’t take kindly to strangers in there area, there’s no internet, very little mobile phone signal, no social media. If you want to live off the grid this is the perfect place to go.
Annabelle is driving her car far too fast along a road between Inverness and the West Coast, when a child appears from nowhere, forcing Annabelle to swerve to miss the child, she hits a tree. When she wakes up she has no idea where she is, she can’t move, she is terrified and believes she is underground. But where?
In the same area a dismembered body is found, could the two things be linked in some way? After the effects of a dreadful case a year earlier DI Monica Kennedy has taken a step back from MIT, but she is asked to investigate this death with D.C. Conor Crawford, and D.C. Ben Fisher.
The story is told mainly through the perspectives of Annabelle and Monica, but also includes some flashbacks to years prior to this case. There is nothing happy or joyful about this story, no light moments, just darkness, kidnapping and murder. If you love a creepy tale this will suit you, but if you are looking for a light read this is not the book to choose.
Annabelles character was interesting, she is determined to survive and escape, and I found myself rooting for her to do this, it made for gripping reading. I’m still on the fence regarding DI Kennedy, I’m not sure if I like her or not, she is determined and wants to get to the truth, and the love for her daughter is strong and admirable. Her character is still developing as we see some of her back story, including her relationship with her parents, he father mostly. So maybe over time she will grow on me.
I think this series will get better as it goes along, as we learn more about Kennedy and would be nice to get to know a little bit more about the rest of the team. But overall this is a gripping read, dark and sinister.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #HarvillSacker for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
Annabelle is driving her car far too fast along a road between Inverness and the West Coast, when a child appears from nowhere, forcing Annabelle to swerve to miss the child, she hits a tree. When she wakes up she has no idea where she is, she can’t move, she is terrified and believes she is underground. But where?
In the same area a dismembered body is found, could the two things be linked in some way? After the effects of a dreadful case a year earlier DI Monica Kennedy has taken a step back from MIT, but she is asked to investigate this death with D.C. Conor Crawford, and D.C. Ben Fisher.
The story is told mainly through the perspectives of Annabelle and Monica, but also includes some flashbacks to years prior to this case. There is nothing happy or joyful about this story, no light moments, just darkness, kidnapping and murder. If you love a creepy tale this will suit you, but if you are looking for a light read this is not the book to choose.
Annabelles character was interesting, she is determined to survive and escape, and I found myself rooting for her to do this, it made for gripping reading. I’m still on the fence regarding DI Kennedy, I’m not sure if I like her or not, she is determined and wants to get to the truth, and the love for her daughter is strong and admirable. Her character is still developing as we see some of her back story, including her relationship with her parents, he father mostly. So maybe over time she will grow on me.
I think this series will get better as it goes along, as we learn more about Kennedy and would be nice to get to know a little bit more about the rest of the team. But overall this is a gripping read, dark and sinister.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #HarvillSacker for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
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