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Anderson & Costello #11
The Red, Red Snow
Called to investigate the bloodstained aftermath of an eventful Christmas party, detectives Anderson & Costello discover that the holiday season can be anything but merry.
A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession – and cold-blooded murder.
A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession – and cold-blooded murder.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2020
About the author
Caro Ramsay
45 books209 followersCaro Ramsay was born and educated in Glasgow. She has been writing stories since she was five years old, developing a keen interest in crime fiction and a passion for the genre that lead her to write Absolution, her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 7, 2020
I always look forward to Caro Ramsay's latest addition to the gritty Scottish crime series featuring DCI Colin Anderson and the spiky DI Costello series which I have followed from the beginning, set in Glasgow. This one begins with Eric Callaghan, a family man, running the Inkermann Tattoo Parlour, stabbed to death in a crowded fast food restaurant at a packed out Christmas Ice Show. Having been murdered in plain sight, the police have no leads, no witnesses, and scouring CCTV has so far turned up nothing for DS Mulholland as he entices DC Gordon Wyngate whose strengths lies in such areas, to return to the team. Anderson's home life is chaotic, he has no idea who is in the house, and whilst theoretically he knows life would be substantially easier without baby Moses, he loves him.
He has been astonished how his family have accepted Moses, helping to take care of him, including Brenda, still his wife, although she has acquired a partner, Rodger, both of whom live in his house, along with Peter, Claire, Paige Riley and god knows who else. No-one takes any notice of Anderson, but he finds himself disappointed and worried about Claire, who seems to have gone off the rails, and he is having difficulties contacting his bank after some financial irregularities. Amidst conflict with Brenda over how many are invited for Christmas dinner, he heaves a sigh of relief when he and Costello leave behind Glasgow for a strange puzzle of a case at Glen Riske in the bitterly cold, dangerous, and snowy Highlands where a German academic couple, geologists Elise and Henning Korder, have been murdered at the isolated Rhum Cottage after a party.
Ramsay writes an atmospheric and complex mystery with a great sense of the remote winter Highlands, its sinister overtones of Mordor with its woods and mountains, the coffin bridge, its folklore and superstitions, with locals who believe in the Skirfin snow sprite and the nuckelavee having a hand in what appear to be the impossible deaths. This is a dark, intense and compulsive crime read, with strong elements of the bonkers and turbulent family life that is overwhelming Anderson, and the presence of the odious and entitled Juliet and Jonathan Catterson and their despairing mother, Suzette. The connection between what happened to Eric Callaghan and the German couple eventually becomes clear in the well plotted narrative. I love this series, and am already looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
He has been astonished how his family have accepted Moses, helping to take care of him, including Brenda, still his wife, although she has acquired a partner, Rodger, both of whom live in his house, along with Peter, Claire, Paige Riley and god knows who else. No-one takes any notice of Anderson, but he finds himself disappointed and worried about Claire, who seems to have gone off the rails, and he is having difficulties contacting his bank after some financial irregularities. Amidst conflict with Brenda over how many are invited for Christmas dinner, he heaves a sigh of relief when he and Costello leave behind Glasgow for a strange puzzle of a case at Glen Riske in the bitterly cold, dangerous, and snowy Highlands where a German academic couple, geologists Elise and Henning Korder, have been murdered at the isolated Rhum Cottage after a party.
Ramsay writes an atmospheric and complex mystery with a great sense of the remote winter Highlands, its sinister overtones of Mordor with its woods and mountains, the coffin bridge, its folklore and superstitions, with locals who believe in the Skirfin snow sprite and the nuckelavee having a hand in what appear to be the impossible deaths. This is a dark, intense and compulsive crime read, with strong elements of the bonkers and turbulent family life that is overwhelming Anderson, and the presence of the odious and entitled Juliet and Jonathan Catterson and their despairing mother, Suzette. The connection between what happened to Eric Callaghan and the German couple eventually becomes clear in the well plotted narrative. I love this series, and am already looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
June 13, 2020
EXCERPT: Eric Callaghan paused as co-worker Simon chucked some ketchup and salt sachets on top of the fries,then picked a Santa balloon from the display behind him and tucked the string under Geraldine's diet coke.
Simon wished him a happy Christmas.
Eric wished him a better career.
He could see Geraldine through the Santa balloons and light sabres. Suddenly, he coughed, balancing the tray on one arm as his body jerked. He tried to resist another cough; his mouth tasted blood. Leaving the crush at the counter, he needed fresh air. The heat in the food court was oppressive, making him feel dizzy, even a little faint. He leaned against a bin, catching his breath. The small snakes of potato wriggled across the tray, turning his stomach. He bumped into a grey-haired woman holding onto two Santa balloons, thinking that the mild collusion in such a tight space did not merit the look of alarm on her face. She asked him if he was okay, a gloved hand touching his arm, the kindness of a stranger, and then Geraldine was at his side as his eldest daughter lifted the tray from him. It all went rather colourful and pretty as the Santa balloons danced around the room.
'I'm fine.' He looked around him, lifted up his jacket, his black T-shirt wet with sweat. The tail of his peacock tattoo wound round his lower ribs, curving to his abdomen. The tail feathers were blue and purple, their tips turning crimson as the blood ran and dripped.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession - and cold-blooded murder.
MY THOUGHTS: I haven't been hiding in the salt mines of Siberia, or even in remote parts of the Scottish highlands, so how come this is the first ever Caro Ramsay book that I have read, and #11 in the series at that?
I loved this complex and atmospheric mystery/police procedural. Even starting this series at #11 didn't diminish my pleasure.
There are multiple mysteries in The Red, Red Snow. Why would anyone take the risk of stabbing a family man in plain sight in a crowded food court? Why would anyone stab him anyway?
And the elderly German couple in a holiday cottage in the remote Scottish Riske Glen, who would want them dead?
How did the killer get in? There are no footprints in the snow...
There is talk of Skirfin and nuckelavee, which are by no means the creepiest things in this book. No, that honour goes to the coffin bridge, a remarkable contraption that has you lay inside a coffin and, using an arrangement of ropes and pulleys, pull yourself across the river. No way would I ever climb inside that thing!
The characters are very real, their lives as complex as this case. But in no way do their private lives overshadow the main storyline, indeed it complements it. There is obviously a bit of back history between some of the characters of which I am unaware, and this has piqued my curiosity. Amongst the characters is a bad-tempered DI, a lovestruck forensic scientist, a pathologist obsessed with choosing her new curtains, and a woman called Suzette and, I quote, 'I do apologise for my horrible daughter. I wish I could blame it on some disorder, but I'm afraid she is just an evil little cow.' There is even a character called Arthur 'Conman' Doyle, and a wonderful Staffie (I love Staffies) called Nesbit.
Ramsay writes with a lightness of touch, a sensitivity to the situation, and a wry sense of humour.
I now have another series to add to my list to read from the beginning. And rest assured, I will be first in line for the next Caro Ramsay book.
🤩🤩🤩🤩
#TheRedRedSnow #NetGalley
'She wondered vaguely what had happened to the rise of feminism, and if it applied in adverse weather conditions.'
'It's Christmas. People fight about everything.'
'I can read you like a book. Just not a very good book.'
THE AUTHOR: Caro Ramsay was born and educated in Glasgow. She has been writing stories since she was five years old, developing a keen interest in crime fiction and a passion for the genre that lead her to write Absolution, her first novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Red,Red Snow by Caro Ramsay for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Simon wished him a happy Christmas.
Eric wished him a better career.
He could see Geraldine through the Santa balloons and light sabres. Suddenly, he coughed, balancing the tray on one arm as his body jerked. He tried to resist another cough; his mouth tasted blood. Leaving the crush at the counter, he needed fresh air. The heat in the food court was oppressive, making him feel dizzy, even a little faint. He leaned against a bin, catching his breath. The small snakes of potato wriggled across the tray, turning his stomach. He bumped into a grey-haired woman holding onto two Santa balloons, thinking that the mild collusion in such a tight space did not merit the look of alarm on her face. She asked him if he was okay, a gloved hand touching his arm, the kindness of a stranger, and then Geraldine was at his side as his eldest daughter lifted the tray from him. It all went rather colourful and pretty as the Santa balloons danced around the room.
'I'm fine.' He looked around him, lifted up his jacket, his black T-shirt wet with sweat. The tail of his peacock tattoo wound round his lower ribs, curving to his abdomen. The tail feathers were blue and purple, their tips turning crimson as the blood ran and dripped.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession - and cold-blooded murder.
MY THOUGHTS: I haven't been hiding in the salt mines of Siberia, or even in remote parts of the Scottish highlands, so how come this is the first ever Caro Ramsay book that I have read, and #11 in the series at that?
I loved this complex and atmospheric mystery/police procedural. Even starting this series at #11 didn't diminish my pleasure.
There are multiple mysteries in The Red, Red Snow. Why would anyone take the risk of stabbing a family man in plain sight in a crowded food court? Why would anyone stab him anyway?
And the elderly German couple in a holiday cottage in the remote Scottish Riske Glen, who would want them dead?
How did the killer get in? There are no footprints in the snow...
There is talk of Skirfin and nuckelavee, which are by no means the creepiest things in this book. No, that honour goes to the coffin bridge, a remarkable contraption that has you lay inside a coffin and, using an arrangement of ropes and pulleys, pull yourself across the river. No way would I ever climb inside that thing!
The characters are very real, their lives as complex as this case. But in no way do their private lives overshadow the main storyline, indeed it complements it. There is obviously a bit of back history between some of the characters of which I am unaware, and this has piqued my curiosity. Amongst the characters is a bad-tempered DI, a lovestruck forensic scientist, a pathologist obsessed with choosing her new curtains, and a woman called Suzette and, I quote, 'I do apologise for my horrible daughter. I wish I could blame it on some disorder, but I'm afraid she is just an evil little cow.' There is even a character called Arthur 'Conman' Doyle, and a wonderful Staffie (I love Staffies) called Nesbit.
Ramsay writes with a lightness of touch, a sensitivity to the situation, and a wry sense of humour.
I now have another series to add to my list to read from the beginning. And rest assured, I will be first in line for the next Caro Ramsay book.
🤩🤩🤩🤩
#TheRedRedSnow #NetGalley
'She wondered vaguely what had happened to the rise of feminism, and if it applied in adverse weather conditions.'
'It's Christmas. People fight about everything.'
'I can read you like a book. Just not a very good book.'
THE AUTHOR: Caro Ramsay was born and educated in Glasgow. She has been writing stories since she was five years old, developing a keen interest in crime fiction and a passion for the genre that lead her to write Absolution, her first novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Red,Red Snow by Caro Ramsay for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 29, 2020
A family man's stabbing leaves Anderson and Costello and their teams baffled. The perpetrator left no clues. No motive emerges. No witnesses identified themselves. Two more bodies show up a week later at a cottage where the family intended to spend Christmas. Investigation uncovers dislike for these victims. The novel spends a little too much time discussing problems within the detectives' families and explored some things which needed omission to tighten the novel. Those who read previous series installments may appreciate some of the detectives' family problems more than I did. I did not feel I knew the detectives because I missed earlier installments. I may try the first couple of books in the series to see if I warm to the series. If so and I continue reading the series, I may revisit this installment to see if it improves with the background from earlier cases and without the distractions of reading in a time of COVID-19. I received an electronic copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2020
I liked parts of this book but not it's entirety. This is a series I've dipped in and out of over the course of the eleven books with most of them being solid four star reads for me. This entry in the series spent a whole lot of its pages dealing with personal lives and problems of the police officers. I just don't enjoy a police procedural that pays that much attention to plot lines having nothing to do with the crime.
Anderson and Costello are part of the team who travel to a tiny village in Scotland to investigate the death of a stranger in the area. The weather conditions will play a large part as this story unfolds. The person who found the body is so shocked by the experience that he's not making any logical sense at all. The team finds the animosity toward one family spending the Christmas holidays in the area to be so deeply felt that it opens the door for many motives for the crimes discovered.
The portions of this novel dealing with the crimes and the investigations were very interesting to me and the only reason I finished the book. I don't remember other books in this series being so heavily focused on personal drama. I'm going to have to choose more wisely next time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.
Anderson and Costello are part of the team who travel to a tiny village in Scotland to investigate the death of a stranger in the area. The weather conditions will play a large part as this story unfolds. The person who found the body is so shocked by the experience that he's not making any logical sense at all. The team finds the animosity toward one family spending the Christmas holidays in the area to be so deeply felt that it opens the door for many motives for the crimes discovered.
The portions of this novel dealing with the crimes and the investigations were very interesting to me and the only reason I finished the book. I don't remember other books in this series being so heavily focused on personal drama. I'm going to have to choose more wisely next time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.
February 14, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of The Red, Red Snow, the eleventh novel to feature Glasgow detectives DCI Anderson and DI Costello.
A family man is stabbed to death in a burger bar but how? The victim didn’t realise he’d been stabbed so there are no forensics or witnesses. Then Anderson and Costello are sent to Glen Riske in the Highlands to investigate two dead bodies found in an isolated cottage. Again there are no forensics or witnesses. So what happened in both these cases?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Red, Red Snow which is the usual mix of tricky investigation and domestic woes. It starts quite slowly with a series of seemingly unrelated characters and narratives which are designed to set the scene so it takes a while for the investigation to ramp up. Once that gets going the narrative settles down and reverts back to Colin Anderson’s point of view. This means that the bulk of the novel is concerned with events in Glen Riske. The team do rather go round in circles for a while with the villagers remaining tight lipped on historical events and relationships and them trying to understand the lack of forensics. The solution when it comes is a doozy and while the motive is clear I didn’t really get to grips with the mechanics and I have no idea if it’s even possible.
In the meantime Anderson is having family problems with his wife who isn’t really a wife and his daughter, Claire. Costello, as ever, is there with the snarky comments and hard eyed realism. They are an odd combination but it works.
I have been reading this series for many years and while I can recommend The Red, Red Snow as a good read I don’t think it is one of the best in the series.
A family man is stabbed to death in a burger bar but how? The victim didn’t realise he’d been stabbed so there are no forensics or witnesses. Then Anderson and Costello are sent to Glen Riske in the Highlands to investigate two dead bodies found in an isolated cottage. Again there are no forensics or witnesses. So what happened in both these cases?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Red, Red Snow which is the usual mix of tricky investigation and domestic woes. It starts quite slowly with a series of seemingly unrelated characters and narratives which are designed to set the scene so it takes a while for the investigation to ramp up. Once that gets going the narrative settles down and reverts back to Colin Anderson’s point of view. This means that the bulk of the novel is concerned with events in Glen Riske. The team do rather go round in circles for a while with the villagers remaining tight lipped on historical events and relationships and them trying to understand the lack of forensics. The solution when it comes is a doozy and while the motive is clear I didn’t really get to grips with the mechanics and I have no idea if it’s even possible.
In the meantime Anderson is having family problems with his wife who isn’t really a wife and his daughter, Claire. Costello, as ever, is there with the snarky comments and hard eyed realism. They are an odd combination but it works.
I have been reading this series for many years and while I can recommend The Red, Red Snow as a good read I don’t think it is one of the best in the series.
December 21, 2020
I used to enjoy the Anderson and Costello series in the beginning but I have failed to enjoy the last few, so I don't know why I keep requesting them. Probably in the hope they will improve somehow. I really disliked
"The Sideman"
(though I did persevere with it) and this one I just could not get into.
The chapters are long and descriptive to the point where there is so much being said that I forget the whole point of the last several paragraphs or even the chapter! And I get completely lost in Caro Ramsay's descriptions that I end up wandering aimlessly looking for help to get me out of here.
I usually write lengthy reviews outlining some of the story, usually enough to draw a reader in, whilst at the same time giving my opinions on the book. I can't really be bothered writing a lengthy review because I was so bored and lost, I wouldn't know what to say to keep things neutral.
I don't like giving negative reviews, but I think I will have to ditch Anderson and Costello from now on. THE RED RED SNOW ended up being a big big bore.
I would like to thank #CaroRamsay, #NetGalley and #SevernHouse for an ARC of #TheRedRedSnow in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The chapters are long and descriptive to the point where there is so much being said that I forget the whole point of the last several paragraphs or even the chapter! And I get completely lost in Caro Ramsay's descriptions that I end up wandering aimlessly looking for help to get me out of here.
I usually write lengthy reviews outlining some of the story, usually enough to draw a reader in, whilst at the same time giving my opinions on the book. I can't really be bothered writing a lengthy review because I was so bored and lost, I wouldn't know what to say to keep things neutral.
I don't like giving negative reviews, but I think I will have to ditch Anderson and Costello from now on. THE RED RED SNOW ended up being a big big bore.
I would like to thank #CaroRamsay, #NetGalley and #SevernHouse for an ARC of #TheRedRedSnow in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 23, 2021
An exciting read.
Anderson and Costello were sent to a remote village, later becoming even more isolated by the snow blocking the roads. A murder victim's demise being extremely puzzling. The descriptions of the scenery and the locals were vibrant and authentic. The characters were skillfully crafted by the author, and felt that they were real people.
Anderson and Costello were sent to a remote village, later becoming even more isolated by the snow blocking the roads. A murder victim's demise being extremely puzzling. The descriptions of the scenery and the locals were vibrant and authentic. The characters were skillfully crafted by the author, and felt that they were real people.
August 11, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Red, Red Snow is the 11th book in the Anderson & Costello series by Caro Ramsay. Released 2nd June 2020 by Severn House, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a modern procedural with a returning ensemble cast with a complex interwoven past both together and severally. I hadn't read any of the previous books, so the very intricate and involved interrelationships took a while for me to sort out in my own mind. Like many police procedurals, there are lots of disparate plot threads which wind together more tightly as the book goes on. All of the action is set against a backdrop of approaching Christmas holidays in Scotland. The author is quite gifted with immersive atmospheric ambience and the Glasgow setting was believable and encompassing. It *felt* cold and dark. The characterizations are superb, and the characters are distinct from one another and well delineated. The dialogue is believable and never rang false for me.
The denouement (especially the epilogue) was top notch, well written with an extra twist which I definitely didn't see coming. It was a satisfying end to a very well written book. I'll go back and pick up the earlier books in the series, though there are major spoilers in this book which will color earlier installments. If readers are planning to read this one, I would recommend picking up the backlist first.
Four stars. This is a really well written modern murder mystery with believable characters.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Red, Red Snow is the 11th book in the Anderson & Costello series by Caro Ramsay. Released 2nd June 2020 by Severn House, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a modern procedural with a returning ensemble cast with a complex interwoven past both together and severally. I hadn't read any of the previous books, so the very intricate and involved interrelationships took a while for me to sort out in my own mind. Like many police procedurals, there are lots of disparate plot threads which wind together more tightly as the book goes on. All of the action is set against a backdrop of approaching Christmas holidays in Scotland. The author is quite gifted with immersive atmospheric ambience and the Glasgow setting was believable and encompassing. It *felt* cold and dark. The characterizations are superb, and the characters are distinct from one another and well delineated. The dialogue is believable and never rang false for me.
The denouement (especially the epilogue) was top notch, well written with an extra twist which I definitely didn't see coming. It was a satisfying end to a very well written book. I'll go back and pick up the earlier books in the series, though there are major spoilers in this book which will color earlier installments. If readers are planning to read this one, I would recommend picking up the backlist first.
Four stars. This is a really well written modern murder mystery with believable characters.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 8, 2020
Christmas is approaching but also death as at Planet Burger a man is stabbed. But with no why and how it makes the case difficult to investigate
Then DCI Colin Andersons' potentially disastrous Christmas is saved. As up in the highlands, at Glen Riske, a body is discovered in one of the holiday lets. Could it be murder.
I found the mystery part of the story, interesting and enjoyable. But for me there was too much extraneous, and boring details about the Anderson and Costellos' personal lives. So overall I liked the mystery, but didn't love the final story. Also the two main police characters are really not that likeable.
A NetGalley Book
Then DCI Colin Andersons' potentially disastrous Christmas is saved. As up in the highlands, at Glen Riske, a body is discovered in one of the holiday lets. Could it be murder.
I found the mystery part of the story, interesting and enjoyable. But for me there was too much extraneous, and boring details about the Anderson and Costellos' personal lives. So overall I liked the mystery, but didn't love the final story. Also the two main police characters are really not that likeable.
A NetGalley Book
February 18, 2021
Didn't realize until I had the book in hand that it is the most recent in a series that I have not read. I read this one anyhow and enjoyed it enough to get the first book in the series on my list. Mystery set in Scotland. Fierce weather.
April 25, 2024
Not as good as past books.
June 19, 2020
I started this gritty series at book ten with The Sideman which was probably, with hindsight, a little reckless, nevertheless, I was still keen to read this taut story The Red, Red Snow.
This gritty police procedural is set in Glasgow and features DI Costello and DCI Colin Anderson. The instalment begins with the stabbing of the owner of the Inkermann tattoo parlour, Eric Callaghan, in a jam-packed fast food restaurant at a thronged Christmas ice show. Even though there was so many people around, the police have no witnesses or leads and CCTV has revealed nothing for DS Mulholland and DC Gordon Wyngate. Meanwhile, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen. German couple Elise and Henning Korder, both geologists, have been murdered at the isolated Rhum Cottage after a party. DCI Anderson is keen to head off there and leave Glasgow and his turbulent home life behind for a while, along with DI Winifred Prudence Costello.
With its mixture of clever plotting, suspense and the atmospheric Scottish location of Glen Riske, The Red, Red Snow is an exhilarating read. There is some switching of perspectives from different characters and events until the story settles mainly on DCI Colin Anderson's viewpoint. DI Costello is there with the snarky comments and antiseptic realism. A great cocktail of tricky investigations and domestic woes, the connection between what happened to Eric Callaghan and the German couple eventually becomes clear in the well plotted narrative. With a sizeable chunk of good twists and unexpected surprises I have been inspired to read more from this series and accomplished author.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
This gritty police procedural is set in Glasgow and features DI Costello and DCI Colin Anderson. The instalment begins with the stabbing of the owner of the Inkermann tattoo parlour, Eric Callaghan, in a jam-packed fast food restaurant at a thronged Christmas ice show. Even though there was so many people around, the police have no witnesses or leads and CCTV has revealed nothing for DS Mulholland and DC Gordon Wyngate. Meanwhile, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen. German couple Elise and Henning Korder, both geologists, have been murdered at the isolated Rhum Cottage after a party. DCI Anderson is keen to head off there and leave Glasgow and his turbulent home life behind for a while, along with DI Winifred Prudence Costello.
With its mixture of clever plotting, suspense and the atmospheric Scottish location of Glen Riske, The Red, Red Snow is an exhilarating read. There is some switching of perspectives from different characters and events until the story settles mainly on DCI Colin Anderson's viewpoint. DI Costello is there with the snarky comments and antiseptic realism. A great cocktail of tricky investigations and domestic woes, the connection between what happened to Eric Callaghan and the German couple eventually becomes clear in the well plotted narrative. With a sizeable chunk of good twists and unexpected surprises I have been inspired to read more from this series and accomplished author.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
February 9, 2020
4 stars
A man is stabbed to death after taking his family to see an ice show. There are no witnesses, no motive and no suspects. This is going to be a very hard case to solve – if it gets solved at all.
A German couple, Henning and Elise Korder, are murdered in a little cabin in the wilds of Scotland a distance from Glasgow. There are no tracks in the heavy snow. The young man named Charlie who came to clean up after a party at the cabin discovers the man's body and goes off the deep end crashing his car in his haste to leave the scene.
DCI Colin Anderson and DI Costello are asked to investigate the case. There are only two local police officers and the murder is way out of their depth. When Anderson and Costello arrive, they discover a second body, that of a woman. It appears that the couple were man and wife, both in their sixties. They were geology professors from Germany. Could it be murder – suicide? Did Charlie kill them?
This book is very confusing in places. There is a great deal of background information given on each of the characters in the book. I felt it could have been more condensed and still gotten the points needed across to the reader. Costello is very rude to a young DC named Morna. I don't believe I like the Costello character at all. Anderson's home life is beset with problems; his daughter is apparently going down the wrong path, his wife's live-in boyfriend is a pain in the behind and there is his adorable grandson Moses. This is a very good police procedural, and would even be better in it were trimmed in a few places. I have read other Caro Ramsay novels and have enjoyed them more.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this entertaining book for me to read, enjoy and review.
A man is stabbed to death after taking his family to see an ice show. There are no witnesses, no motive and no suspects. This is going to be a very hard case to solve – if it gets solved at all.
A German couple, Henning and Elise Korder, are murdered in a little cabin in the wilds of Scotland a distance from Glasgow. There are no tracks in the heavy snow. The young man named Charlie who came to clean up after a party at the cabin discovers the man's body and goes off the deep end crashing his car in his haste to leave the scene.
DCI Colin Anderson and DI Costello are asked to investigate the case. There are only two local police officers and the murder is way out of their depth. When Anderson and Costello arrive, they discover a second body, that of a woman. It appears that the couple were man and wife, both in their sixties. They were geology professors from Germany. Could it be murder – suicide? Did Charlie kill them?
This book is very confusing in places. There is a great deal of background information given on each of the characters in the book. I felt it could have been more condensed and still gotten the points needed across to the reader. Costello is very rude to a young DC named Morna. I don't believe I like the Costello character at all. Anderson's home life is beset with problems; his daughter is apparently going down the wrong path, his wife's live-in boyfriend is a pain in the behind and there is his adorable grandson Moses. This is a very good police procedural, and would even be better in it were trimmed in a few places. I have read other Caro Ramsay novels and have enjoyed them more.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this entertaining book for me to read, enjoy and review.
December 3, 2021
A Weak Hero
With one book left in this series, I am inclined to determine this hero a weak man who goes through life allowing everyone close to him take advantage of him, from his sour DI Costello to his family members who have all moved in on him in the home he inherited from his boss's wife who he was sleeping with after his boss died. His wife Brenda tells people who can stay there, even a former drug addict and Brenda's lover, who turned out to be a thief who stole all the money. Of course, the hero never checking his accounts let it slide. His son never speaks to him and he allows his daughter to disrespect him, from underage drinking, which he allows to cocaine, which he never said a word about to her. Why would a writer create such a pitiful person as a hero? I like him because he is the hero of the story, but I have zero respect for him. I won't even say his name.
With one book left in this series, I am inclined to determine this hero a weak man who goes through life allowing everyone close to him take advantage of him, from his sour DI Costello to his family members who have all moved in on him in the home he inherited from his boss's wife who he was sleeping with after his boss died. His wife Brenda tells people who can stay there, even a former drug addict and Brenda's lover, who turned out to be a thief who stole all the money. Of course, the hero never checking his accounts let it slide. His son never speaks to him and he allows his daughter to disrespect him, from underage drinking, which he allows to cocaine, which he never said a word about to her. Why would a writer create such a pitiful person as a hero? I like him because he is the hero of the story, but I have zero respect for him. I won't even say his name.
February 7, 2020
The good detectives are back! Everything is crowded during the Christmas Ice Show. And when a seemingly random husband and father is stabbed in a crowded food court, there are no witnesses, no clues and no idea who would do such a thing.
When a week later they are called out to a holiday cottage in a fairly remote glen in the highlands, they fin two bodies. One inside and one outside. Whoever the killer was, there is no evidence of them. Not even a snowprint.
Anderson is glad enough to jump in as he has more problems than a man should have at home. And his partner has her own issues.
Full of superstition and family squabbles, the characters are really well done and the old tale of greed, superstitious nonsense, and stone-cold murder was very well done!
NetGalley/ June 2nd, 2020 by Severn House Publishers
When a week later they are called out to a holiday cottage in a fairly remote glen in the highlands, they fin two bodies. One inside and one outside. Whoever the killer was, there is no evidence of them. Not even a snowprint.
Anderson is glad enough to jump in as he has more problems than a man should have at home. And his partner has her own issues.
Full of superstition and family squabbles, the characters are really well done and the old tale of greed, superstitious nonsense, and stone-cold murder was very well done!
NetGalley/ June 2nd, 2020 by Severn House Publishers
January 17, 2022
I couldn’t wait to be done with this book. I almost didn’t finish it but the book was so short I trudged along. Too many characters! Too many plot points! I ended up just feeling confused the entire story and trying to pick up the pieces as much as possible. To be fair, I likely didn’t feel attached to the characters bc this is the first book I’ve read of the series and that was a big component of the book.
June 2, 2020
Anderson and Costello have a bizarre case to solve.
Eric Callaghan has been out with his family to Planet Burger when someone bumps him and stabs him with a tiny instrument. He can’t be saved, and his death becomes a murder that looks like a random killing.
Elise and Henning Korder, both geologists, have finished a series of lectures in London and decide to head to Scotland to a little cottage in Glen Riske for a break.
Suzette Catterson, her husband Jonathan and their two children, Jon and Juliet, always spend Christmas in a cottage at Glen Riske. Suzette arrives before her family – it’s the only time she’ll be able to relax before these irritants arrive and destroy her calm. Suzette is enjoying the solitude when Elise and Henning arrive. They should be in the cottage called Eigg, but when Suzette sees that Henning has a cast on his leg, she offers them the cottage she had booked, Rhum as it has a bedroom and bathroom downstairs which will be easier for Henning to use.
Young Charlie Priestly arrives at Rhum to clean up after the party that Suzette always holds there each year, only to discover a body and blood splatter everywhere. He panics and leaves in a hurry to call the local police.
PC Jim McIver is one of two policemen stationed in Glen Riske. After examining the crime scene, he decides it’s far too complicated for him and his fellow officer, Dan Priestly, to investigate, especially as Charlie, Dan’s son could be a suspect. He immediately calls DCI Colin Anderson who agrees to head up the investigation. DI Winifred Prudence Costello (known to everyone only as Costello) together with Dr Jessica Gibson and Mathilda McQueen travel with him to Glen Riske and arrive shortly before the village is closed off by heavy snow.
It’s going to be a complicated investigation as it’s soon apparent that the Korders were not the intended victims. Every suspect seems to have a perfect alibi. The snow doesn’t help matters either.
This is such an excellent series. The characters are so well-drawn and so alive. However, I think it’s time that Costello did something about the way Anderson treats her! She’s far too kind to him, whereas he’s rude and obnoxious to her. I’ve never fully understood their relationship, but Costello might be hard on the outside, but she’s an empathic person, and I don’t think Anderson could do his job without her. Do you hear me, Colin Anderson?? I was tempted to deduct a star only because Anderson is turning into such a grump!
Rony
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.
Eric Callaghan has been out with his family to Planet Burger when someone bumps him and stabs him with a tiny instrument. He can’t be saved, and his death becomes a murder that looks like a random killing.
Elise and Henning Korder, both geologists, have finished a series of lectures in London and decide to head to Scotland to a little cottage in Glen Riske for a break.
Suzette Catterson, her husband Jonathan and their two children, Jon and Juliet, always spend Christmas in a cottage at Glen Riske. Suzette arrives before her family – it’s the only time she’ll be able to relax before these irritants arrive and destroy her calm. Suzette is enjoying the solitude when Elise and Henning arrive. They should be in the cottage called Eigg, but when Suzette sees that Henning has a cast on his leg, she offers them the cottage she had booked, Rhum as it has a bedroom and bathroom downstairs which will be easier for Henning to use.
Young Charlie Priestly arrives at Rhum to clean up after the party that Suzette always holds there each year, only to discover a body and blood splatter everywhere. He panics and leaves in a hurry to call the local police.
PC Jim McIver is one of two policemen stationed in Glen Riske. After examining the crime scene, he decides it’s far too complicated for him and his fellow officer, Dan Priestly, to investigate, especially as Charlie, Dan’s son could be a suspect. He immediately calls DCI Colin Anderson who agrees to head up the investigation. DI Winifred Prudence Costello (known to everyone only as Costello) together with Dr Jessica Gibson and Mathilda McQueen travel with him to Glen Riske and arrive shortly before the village is closed off by heavy snow.
It’s going to be a complicated investigation as it’s soon apparent that the Korders were not the intended victims. Every suspect seems to have a perfect alibi. The snow doesn’t help matters either.
This is such an excellent series. The characters are so well-drawn and so alive. However, I think it’s time that Costello did something about the way Anderson treats her! She’s far too kind to him, whereas he’s rude and obnoxious to her. I’ve never fully understood their relationship, but Costello might be hard on the outside, but she’s an empathic person, and I don’t think Anderson could do his job without her. Do you hear me, Colin Anderson?? I was tempted to deduct a star only because Anderson is turning into such a grump!
Rony
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.
May 19, 2020
This is book 11 of this series and although the main story is self contained, if you want to get the very best from it with regard to character backstory and development, and you have time and inclination, you could do well to go back and start from book one and read in order.
We start with an isolated incident in a fast food place at a busy Christmas Ice Show where a man was stabbed to death. Despite the volume of people there, or maybe because of it, the police have absolutely no clues as to what really happened and why. Meanwhile, in a remote Highland village a German couple are found murdered. Whilst Mulholland and Wyngate concentrate on the stabbing, Anderson and Costello are dispatched to Glen Riske to investigate the double murder. It's a bit of a puzzle all told with a possible case of mistaken identity. With little to go on initially, especially given the witnesses and locals, they flounder a little. The weather also plays its part in their frustrations, as does the isolation. Can they cut through the noise to try and figure things out...?
This was a bit of a slow burner for me with quite a bit of early confusion. There is, however, a point in the book when it suddenly all comes together and the author's skill at plotting really comes good. I say this mainly as I do fear that the time it takes to really get going may frustrate the reader but, in my opinion, if you are feeling this way, please do carry on. Another thing with this book is that there is quite a bit of the detectives personal stuff creeping in. Not enough to really overshadow the case being investigated but, given the low page count, definitely something the author may need to keep an eye on. That said, certain things are resolved in the book for one of our detectives so maybe that's just that door shutting.
Although not the strongest book in the series, it's a good addition nevertheless. It definitely kept me on my toes with its intricacies and interconnected plotting. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We start with an isolated incident in a fast food place at a busy Christmas Ice Show where a man was stabbed to death. Despite the volume of people there, or maybe because of it, the police have absolutely no clues as to what really happened and why. Meanwhile, in a remote Highland village a German couple are found murdered. Whilst Mulholland and Wyngate concentrate on the stabbing, Anderson and Costello are dispatched to Glen Riske to investigate the double murder. It's a bit of a puzzle all told with a possible case of mistaken identity. With little to go on initially, especially given the witnesses and locals, they flounder a little. The weather also plays its part in their frustrations, as does the isolation. Can they cut through the noise to try and figure things out...?
This was a bit of a slow burner for me with quite a bit of early confusion. There is, however, a point in the book when it suddenly all comes together and the author's skill at plotting really comes good. I say this mainly as I do fear that the time it takes to really get going may frustrate the reader but, in my opinion, if you are feeling this way, please do carry on. Another thing with this book is that there is quite a bit of the detectives personal stuff creeping in. Not enough to really overshadow the case being investigated but, given the low page count, definitely something the author may need to keep an eye on. That said, certain things are resolved in the book for one of our detectives so maybe that's just that door shutting.
Although not the strongest book in the series, it's a good addition nevertheless. It definitely kept me on my toes with its intricacies and interconnected plotting. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 31, 2021
Thank goodness this book returns to a more straightforward tale of crime and investigation after the labyrinthine tales of the previous two books which got quite confusing at times.
This book seems to start out that way as the team are scattered and all working on other cases but gradually, although some are at a physical distance from others, they are come together to investigate a baffling case. This is another take on a classic mystery tale to which there seem to be so many more versions than one would think possible.
The setting of this story is brought vividly to life with integrated description. The author doesn’t halt the story to describe the scene but shows it through the senses of her characters. We see, hear and feel the coldness and the snow as it falls then more falls on top of it layer by layer. We feel and hear the crunch as feet are placed on top of snowed on tracks and footsteps. I was clad of my thick cardigan and fleecy throw as I read.
I have just one concern about inconsistency between this book and the previous one as I recall Anderson coming into more money than he knew what to do with and the explanation given doesn’t entirely fit.
Although all the stories in this series are good, I have to say that I found this one more satisfying than the two which preceded it.
This book seems to start out that way as the team are scattered and all working on other cases but gradually, although some are at a physical distance from others, they are come together to investigate a baffling case. This is another take on a classic mystery tale to which there seem to be so many more versions than one would think possible.
The setting of this story is brought vividly to life with integrated description. The author doesn’t halt the story to describe the scene but shows it through the senses of her characters. We see, hear and feel the coldness and the snow as it falls then more falls on top of it layer by layer. We feel and hear the crunch as feet are placed on top of snowed on tracks and footsteps. I was clad of my thick cardigan and fleecy throw as I read.
I have just one concern about inconsistency between this book and the previous one as I recall Anderson coming into more money than he knew what to do with and the explanation given doesn’t entirely fit.
Although all the stories in this series are good, I have to say that I found this one more satisfying than the two which preceded it.
October 17, 2023
Caro Ramsay (2020) THE RED, RED SNOW (AUDIOBOOK)
BorrowBox - Black Thorn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "Called to investigate the bloodstained aftermath of an eventful Christmas party, detectives Anderson and Costello discover that the holiday season can be anything but merry. A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murder in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive. A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow. What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession - and cold-blooded murder."
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Wicked whodunnit! Thoroughly recommend.
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#CaroRamsay #TheRedRedSnow #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox #Christmas #Xmas #MerryChristmas #HappyChristmas #MerryXmas #HappyXmas #HappyHolidays #CrimboReads
BorrowBox - Black Thorn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "Called to investigate the bloodstained aftermath of an eventful Christmas party, detectives Anderson and Costello discover that the holiday season can be anything but merry. A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murder in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive. A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow. What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession - and cold-blooded murder."
=====
Wicked whodunnit! Thoroughly recommend.
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#CaroRamsay #TheRedRedSnow #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox #Christmas #Xmas #MerryChristmas #HappyChristmas #MerryXmas #HappyXmas #HappyHolidays #CrimboReads
May 27, 2020
Anderson and Costello (but Anderson the most) are almost happy to be sent out of Glasgow to the sale town of Glen Fiske to investigate the murder of a German couple. Anderson's personal life, described at length in the beginning, is chaotic and confusing to him while crime makes sense. The mystery opens with a stabbing at a fast food place and you might wonder how will relate to the Glen Fiske but trust that it will all come together in the end. It's nicely atmospheric - the weather plays a role- and a snappy read. I like the interplay between Anderson and Costello (never short of a pointed remark). It would help, I think to have read one or more of the earlier books to appreciate the dynamic here but if not, know that this slim volume (and short ebook) has some really good twists readers of procedurals will appreciate. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Read
October 3, 2021 3.93 · Rating details · 97 ratings · 28 reviews
Called to investigate the bloodstained aftermath of an eventful Christmas party, detectives Anderson & Costello discover that the holiday season can be anything but merry.
A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession - and cold-blooded murder.
Very good.
Called to investigate the bloodstained aftermath of an eventful Christmas party, detectives Anderson & Costello discover that the holiday season can be anything but merry.
A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession - and cold-blooded murder.
Very good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2022
It seems to be the season for me to read 'Locked Room' mysteries where weather provides the physical barrier (the locked room)
Despite having had a gap from reading the Costello and Anderson series, I found myself firmly engrossed from the beginning as the characters familiarity made me sink into a confortable chair and succumb to the ride.
Set just before Christmas time in the Scottish highlands when a suspicious death has Costello and Anderson leaving their homes and ending up cut off from the rest of the world as they investigate, the Red Red Snow is a combination of extreme weather coping strategies, domestic noir, police procedure and small community intrigue.
Beautifully plotted, Ramsay weaves varying strands together subtly and thus the narrative flows perfectly as the two struggle to work out who is keeping secrets form them and why.
Compelling and thought provoking this is a commentary on entitlement, community, loyalty and more.
Loved it!
Despite having had a gap from reading the Costello and Anderson series, I found myself firmly engrossed from the beginning as the characters familiarity made me sink into a confortable chair and succumb to the ride.
Set just before Christmas time in the Scottish highlands when a suspicious death has Costello and Anderson leaving their homes and ending up cut off from the rest of the world as they investigate, the Red Red Snow is a combination of extreme weather coping strategies, domestic noir, police procedure and small community intrigue.
Beautifully plotted, Ramsay weaves varying strands together subtly and thus the narrative flows perfectly as the two struggle to work out who is keeping secrets form them and why.
Compelling and thought provoking this is a commentary on entitlement, community, loyalty and more.
Loved it!
January 28, 2024
Called to investigate the bloodstained aftermath of an eventful Christmas party, detectives Anderson & Costello discover that the holiday season can be anything but merry.
A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession – and cold-blooded murder.
A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive.
A week later, two bodies are discovered at a holiday cottage in a remote highland glen: one in the kitchen; the other sprawled outside on the icy lawn. The killer would appear to have arrived and left without leaving a trace, not even a footprint in the snow.
What secrets are lurking within this isolated, superstitious community? As the snow piles higher, detectives Anderson and Costello put their wits to solving a seemingly impossible crime, and gradually uncover a twisted tale of greed, obsession – and cold-blooded murder.
October 26, 2025
In a remote cottage in the wild Glencoe region of Scotland two German tourists are found dead. A week earlier a man visiting an ice show with his wife and children was stabbed to death. The Germans were distinguished academics with no known enemies, and the ice show victim's background gave no clue why anyone should want him dead.
Battling the snow and freezing conditions in Glencoe, Anderson and Costello find it difficult to investigate the locals in such a small closed community. As usual in the series, both have personal problems to grapple with ! Gradually they begin to uncover secrets that the locals would prefer to keep hidden, and slowly the case moves towards a solution, with a few twists and turns on the way.
Battling the snow and freezing conditions in Glencoe, Anderson and Costello find it difficult to investigate the locals in such a small closed community. As usual in the series, both have personal problems to grapple with ! Gradually they begin to uncover secrets that the locals would prefer to keep hidden, and slowly the case moves towards a solution, with a few twists and turns on the way.
July 9, 2021
A solid read. The atmosphere was tense from the outset, the sense of geographical isolation compounded by the bad weather. Maybe I should have saved this for winter, rather than reading in summer, albeit a Scottish summer. The characters felt very real, especially the less likeable suspects. I normally really enjoy the sub plots surrounding the protagonists and their private lives, but was less interested on this occasion. This may just be because I saw them as a distraction from the main story. Looking forward to the next instalment.
August 30, 2021
I had enjoyed "On an outgoing tide" so was pleased to get hold of the book which preceded it. This is a police procedural with some events taking place in Glasgow but most of the story taking place in the highlands in December. I found this a compelling read and I read it in one sitting (only pausing for a mug of coffee and crispbread and cheese!). The plot is complicated but the main characters are believable and I will definitely have to read the previous ten books in this series.
July 14, 2024
Even the best families have their difficulties. But the worst, made more so by greed and perversion, become murderous. Which means that Christmas is not a joyful time, especially in a small community isolated by place and, in late December, by a blizzard. The blizzard keeps everyone penned in, including the investigative team brought in from outside. That produces claustrophobia and suspicion. Definitely recommended.
June 12, 2020
An excellent mystery with a great story-line and an interesting cast of characters.
The plot is well crafted and kept me hooked, the mystery is solid and the characters well thought.
I enjoyed it and it's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The plot is well crafted and kept me hooked, the mystery is solid and the characters well thought.
I enjoyed it and it's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
September 8, 2022
Nearly up to par for the series. 3.5 stars. The creepy and horrible villain was given short shrift. It’s what he deserved, but the creepiness could have been more so. Here Anderson and Costello are trapped in a country snow storm trying to solve an uncozy village mystery. Anderson’s family life unfolds and Costello’ s doesn’t exist.
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