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DCI Craig Gillard #5
The Body Under the Bridge
DCI Craig Gillard will be pushed to his limits… But will he break?
It seems like a routine disappearance, a case of musician’s stage fright. As a senior detective, Craig Gillard isn’t sure why he’s even involved. Until it turns out the woman’s father is the German Minister of Justice, and the British Home Secretary is on the case too.
But nothing about the case is simple. How does a woman on a train simply vanish? What do you do when a trail runs cold and the pressure is on?
Before long the perpetrator has another target: DCI Gillard himself. What if the detective isn’t just running the case, but is part of it? The victim merely a lure for a bigger fish.
The answer is under the bridge. The chilling setting for the biggest challenge of his life.
The latest DCI Gillard Crime Thriller is a knockout: fast and completely gripping, perfect for fans of Stuart Macbride, Mark Billingham and Robert Bryndza.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2020
354 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Nick Louth
41 books290 followersNick Louth is a freelance journalist and author, based in Lincolnshire UK.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
April 30, 2020
The Body under the Bridge is the fifth book in a series about Surrey-based detective Craig Gillard, which I've read in order over the last year or so, and largely enjoyed, apart from some persistent niggles, mostly related to the characters. The mysteries are clever and the suspense works well, and there's enough variation between the plots to keep it interesting, but once again I was disappointed by the characters.
A month after the events of The Body in the Snow, Craig is ordered by his boss, Chief Constable Alison Rigby, to go all out on the investigation of a young musician who has gone missing, because her father is a high-ranking German government minister, so no expense will be spared to find her. A freak flood reveals the body of a young woman in a river who was reported missing in the 1980s - so how can she still be a teenager? And who is stalking Craig and his young wife Sam?
My main criticism of some of the previous books has been that the focus has been solely on Gillard as main character, with minimal development of the rest of his team. This begins with him being pulled away from the funeral of a colleague killed in the previous book, and despite only reading that one a few months ago, I genuinely couldn't remember what had happened to him as he left so little impression. This one attempts to fix that as there's a major subplot about DI John Perry, a pitiful character having problems at home, who seems there mainly to make Craig look super-manly by comparison.
Once again, the mystery was well done, as Louth gradually reveals clues and red herrings in equal measure, and we don't know whether the missing girl will be saved, or how she connects to the other disappearances. I do find it odd that Craig, a Detective Chief Inspector, spends so much time doing on-the-ground grunt work more usually suited to a Detective Seargent - this is sort of explained by the political pressure to have their "best man" on the job, but still felt wrong when he should've been coordinating from the top.
The aspect of this series I find most off-putting, and it was even more obvious here, is the portrayal of women. All the female characters are either bitches, sluts, idiots, ball-breakers or victims - in Sam's case a mix of all these. The only remotely sympathetic woman is Craig's colleague and friend Claire, a nice mumsy type always ready to lend him an ear or a spare bed, but she doesn't get to do any detecting herself. Craig really loves his wife but we never really get to understand why, as she's mostly comes across as a jealous shrew who objects to him spending so much time on his much-more-important -than-hers job and seems to fill hers gossiping on the phone with her girlfriends. Even Rainy, Glaswegian doctor turned cop, is portrayed as a sort of comedy thug to be scared of for her intelligence and size rather than valued as a team member.
A major sub-plot of the past couple of books has been Craig's malicious aunt Trish, who moved in over the road to torment them, and was at least interesting as a crazy-cat-lady nemesis who kept getting one over on him, but here barely features other than to become another victim and her fate is unclear as at one point it's mentioned that she died, but then perhaps not. Craig's refusal to go and feed her pets while she's in hospital dropped my impression of him another few notches.
I'm invested in this series and want to know what happens next, but would enjoy it far more if the hero were backed up by some intelligent capable female characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. The Body under the Bridge is published on 30th April.
A month after the events of The Body in the Snow, Craig is ordered by his boss, Chief Constable Alison Rigby, to go all out on the investigation of a young musician who has gone missing, because her father is a high-ranking German government minister, so no expense will be spared to find her. A freak flood reveals the body of a young woman in a river who was reported missing in the 1980s - so how can she still be a teenager? And who is stalking Craig and his young wife Sam?
My main criticism of some of the previous books has been that the focus has been solely on Gillard as main character, with minimal development of the rest of his team. This begins with him being pulled away from the funeral of a colleague killed in the previous book, and despite only reading that one a few months ago, I genuinely couldn't remember what had happened to him as he left so little impression. This one attempts to fix that as there's a major subplot about DI John Perry, a pitiful character having problems at home, who seems there mainly to make Craig look super-manly by comparison.
Once again, the mystery was well done, as Louth gradually reveals clues and red herrings in equal measure, and we don't know whether the missing girl will be saved, or how she connects to the other disappearances. I do find it odd that Craig, a Detective Chief Inspector, spends so much time doing on-the-ground grunt work more usually suited to a Detective Seargent - this is sort of explained by the political pressure to have their "best man" on the job, but still felt wrong when he should've been coordinating from the top.
The aspect of this series I find most off-putting, and it was even more obvious here, is the portrayal of women. All the female characters are either bitches, sluts, idiots, ball-breakers or victims - in Sam's case a mix of all these. The only remotely sympathetic woman is Craig's colleague and friend Claire, a nice mumsy type always ready to lend him an ear or a spare bed, but she doesn't get to do any detecting herself. Craig really loves his wife but we never really get to understand why, as she's mostly comes across as a jealous shrew who objects to him spending so much time on his much-more-important -than-hers job and seems to fill hers gossiping on the phone with her girlfriends. Even Rainy, Glaswegian doctor turned cop, is portrayed as a sort of comedy thug to be scared of for her intelligence and size rather than valued as a team member.
A major sub-plot of the past couple of books has been Craig's malicious aunt Trish, who moved in over the road to torment them, and was at least interesting as a crazy-cat-lady nemesis who kept getting one over on him, but here barely features other than to become another victim and her fate is unclear as at one point it's mentioned that she died, but then perhaps not. Craig's refusal to go and feed her pets while she's in hospital dropped my impression of him another few notches.
I'm invested in this series and want to know what happens next, but would enjoy it far more if the hero were backed up by some intelligent capable female characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. The Body under the Bridge is published on 30th April.
April 19, 2020
4.5 stars. I’ve had a run of great books lately. This is the fifth book in the DCI Craig Gillard series. I have read 3 of the previous 4 books and I think this is the best one yet. Happily it can be read as a stand alone although you do get context from the earlier books.
Someone seems to have it in for Gillard. A series of baffling crimes leaves the police in Guildford reeling. A 25 year old up and coming violin prodigy disappears. She is the daughter of the German justice Minister, so resources are thrown at the investigation as politics overtakes policing. But it doesn’t help. It soon becomes apparent that the investigation is being hampered by a devilish piece of ,misdirection. Eventually two bodies are recovered from a vehicle in a flooded river. One of them just doesn’t make sense, it seems impossible. Gillard gets some threatening emails but his world implodes when someone close to him disappears and another taunting message is left. The clock is ticking.
The suspense became almost unbearable towards the end. As police started to get a handle on the devious and manipulative killer I had real concerns this would not end well. The Body Under The Bridge was a riveting a page turner that was all the more enjoyable for depicting characters that seemed likeable and realistic. Thanks to Netgalley, Canelo and Nick Louth for my review copy.
Someone seems to have it in for Gillard. A series of baffling crimes leaves the police in Guildford reeling. A 25 year old up and coming violin prodigy disappears. She is the daughter of the German justice Minister, so resources are thrown at the investigation as politics overtakes policing. But it doesn’t help. It soon becomes apparent that the investigation is being hampered by a devilish piece of ,misdirection. Eventually two bodies are recovered from a vehicle in a flooded river. One of them just doesn’t make sense, it seems impossible. Gillard gets some threatening emails but his world implodes when someone close to him disappears and another taunting message is left. The clock is ticking.
The suspense became almost unbearable towards the end. As police started to get a handle on the devious and manipulative killer I had real concerns this would not end well. The Body Under The Bridge was a riveting a page turner that was all the more enjoyable for depicting characters that seemed likeable and realistic. Thanks to Netgalley, Canelo and Nick Louth for my review copy.
July 23, 2023
The fifth book in this series already that I’ve read in short succession. And although it was an enjoyable read, with lots of surprises in the plot, it didn’t grab me as the first four. Maybe it’s the fact that Craig Gillard and his colleagues seem to be exactly the same as in the first book? Although we know of the dead of one of them, and we know that there is a new member of the team, they are starting to look alike a lot. And I still wish that Sam, Gillards wife, would step up and make a real life for herself instead of just sitting and waiting for Craig to come home.
It’s the twists in the plot that saved the one from getting just two stars. I’m on to something completely else now before I go back to this series.
It’s the twists in the plot that saved the one from getting just two stars. I’m on to something completely else now before I go back to this series.
May 6, 2020
This 5th installment in the DCI Craig Gillard crime thriller series is the best yet -- and I've read them all. There is so much going on in the Surrey Police with a complicated case that starts slowly and then builds to an incredible climax with lots of suspense and tension until the chilling conclusion.
The story begins with a missing woman -- a 25-year-old German-born student at London's Royal College of Music goes missing and doesn't show up for a scheduled performance. Gillard is a bit irritated as the woman hadn't even been missing for 24 hours. He then discovers that she's the daughter of Germany's Minister of Justice and suddenly the case is high profile and they throw all available resources into the search. But, there are problems tracing Beatrice Ulbricht's last known locations and even such a large team can't figure out what happened. But the investigation really turns bizarre when the body of a 15-year-old girl turns up in a car found floating in a flooded river -- the shocker is that it turns out to be someone who had been missing for 37 years! How can this even be possible? The crazy stuff just keeps happening and everyone is working on trying to figure out what is going on. There's so much more that I can't say because -- NO SPOILERS.
You'll just have to read this one! Such a complicated police procedural that requires so much work and involves so many different experts in various criminology fields. I really enjoyed the methodical approach and the details needed for the Surrey Police et al to solve this. The characters are well known to me from reading the previous books and they have grown on me over time. Gillard is the protagonist but others on the team have significant roles as well. The writing is excellent and this was a hard one to put down. I'm looking forward to the next installment due out later this year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I am sure you would be OK to read this as a standalone, but I feel that you'd appreciate it more if you had all the background from the previous books.
The story begins with a missing woman -- a 25-year-old German-born student at London's Royal College of Music goes missing and doesn't show up for a scheduled performance. Gillard is a bit irritated as the woman hadn't even been missing for 24 hours. He then discovers that she's the daughter of Germany's Minister of Justice and suddenly the case is high profile and they throw all available resources into the search. But, there are problems tracing Beatrice Ulbricht's last known locations and even such a large team can't figure out what happened. But the investigation really turns bizarre when the body of a 15-year-old girl turns up in a car found floating in a flooded river -- the shocker is that it turns out to be someone who had been missing for 37 years! How can this even be possible? The crazy stuff just keeps happening and everyone is working on trying to figure out what is going on. There's so much more that I can't say because -- NO SPOILERS.
You'll just have to read this one! Such a complicated police procedural that requires so much work and involves so many different experts in various criminology fields. I really enjoyed the methodical approach and the details needed for the Surrey Police et al to solve this. The characters are well known to me from reading the previous books and they have grown on me over time. Gillard is the protagonist but others on the team have significant roles as well. The writing is excellent and this was a hard one to put down. I'm looking forward to the next installment due out later this year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I am sure you would be OK to read this as a standalone, but I feel that you'd appreciate it more if you had all the background from the previous books.
June 5, 2020
Another story for Craig Gillard.
It was a reasonable story, some things were a bit different this time and I felt a bit disappointed.
I have really enjoyed all the ones though.
I think 3.5stars is a good rating.
It was a reasonable story, some things were a bit different this time and I felt a bit disappointed.
I have really enjoyed all the ones though.
I think 3.5stars is a good rating.
April 1, 2020
A highly detailed police procedural of an investigation into kidnap and murder.
The story opens with a report of a missing person - Beatrice Ulbricht, a German musician who lives and works in London. It's the sort of routine case that usually doesn't merit much attention.
But it turns out that the missing woman is the daughter of the German government's German Minister of Justice and suddenly a lot of police manpower is brought to bear on the case.
Leading the investigation is Detective Chief Inspector Craig Gillard whose task isn't made any easier by the fact that the Beatrice seems to have completely vanished while travelling on a London bound train. Craig is under pressure from his Chief Constable to solve the case while she in turn is being leaned on by the British Government's Home Secretary.
The case takes a twist when major flooding throws up clues including the body of a teenage girl who's been missing for more than 30 years! And then the investigation twists again as the killer strikes inside Craig's home. Now, it's a race against to find another kidnap victim before it's too late and for Craig and the killer, it's personal.
This is the 5th book featuring DCI Craig Gillard and an investigation that revolves around missing women and their mobile phones, the extensive use of close circuit TV and a murderer who has a deadly grudge against Craig and seems set on showing up the police in a bad light. It's a gripping mystery thriller and even though the action slows in places, the author Nick Louth adds some intriguing twists and turns to the plot. A fine addition to what is turning out to be a great crime series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Canelo for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
The story opens with a report of a missing person - Beatrice Ulbricht, a German musician who lives and works in London. It's the sort of routine case that usually doesn't merit much attention.
But it turns out that the missing woman is the daughter of the German government's German Minister of Justice and suddenly a lot of police manpower is brought to bear on the case.
Leading the investigation is Detective Chief Inspector Craig Gillard whose task isn't made any easier by the fact that the Beatrice seems to have completely vanished while travelling on a London bound train. Craig is under pressure from his Chief Constable to solve the case while she in turn is being leaned on by the British Government's Home Secretary.
The case takes a twist when major flooding throws up clues including the body of a teenage girl who's been missing for more than 30 years! And then the investigation twists again as the killer strikes inside Craig's home. Now, it's a race against to find another kidnap victim before it's too late and for Craig and the killer, it's personal.
This is the 5th book featuring DCI Craig Gillard and an investigation that revolves around missing women and their mobile phones, the extensive use of close circuit TV and a murderer who has a deadly grudge against Craig and seems set on showing up the police in a bad light. It's a gripping mystery thriller and even though the action slows in places, the author Nick Louth adds some intriguing twists and turns to the plot. A fine addition to what is turning out to be a great crime series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Canelo for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
June 11, 2023
4.5 stars. This would have been a 5 star story for me, but the start was slow. 5th book in the DCi Gillard series, this becomes a very suspenseful and exciting addition to the series. Craig’s past catches up with him resulting in awful consequences.
September 20, 2022
Bit far fetched but well written. I enjoyed it.
April 10, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of The Body under The Bridge, the fifth novel to feature DCI Craig Gillard of the Surrey Police.
When musician Beatrice Ulbricht disappears from a crowded train Gillard fumes about time and resources until he learns that Beatrice is the daughter of the German Justice Minister and that there are a lot of eyes on his investigation. With no time and all the resources he could want it soon becomes apparent that the perpetrator is making the case personal to Gillard.
I enjoyed The Body under The Bridge which is an intricately plotted police procedural with a nasty perpetrator and a few good twists. The novel is told mostly from the investigative point of view and mostly Gillard’s so there are scant hints of the perpetrator’s identity or motivation, allowing the reader plenty of scope for guesswork and speculation. Don’t get me wrong, I was glued to the pages throughout as it is a good read with enough going on to hold the interest but I can’t help feeling that it was a bit writing by numbers and contrived, the way so many characters were linked to the perpetrator, his Machiavellian planning and the happenstance that revealed his plans. I think it lacked a little emotion despite the personal nature of many of the events. I’m not sure that it really matters as this is a plot driven novel, it’s just something I noticed.
As I said it’s a plot driven novel so the characters don’t get much development. They are marginally more vivid when events turn personal but still tend to be overshadowed by events.
The Body under The Bridge is a good read that I can recommend.
When musician Beatrice Ulbricht disappears from a crowded train Gillard fumes about time and resources until he learns that Beatrice is the daughter of the German Justice Minister and that there are a lot of eyes on his investigation. With no time and all the resources he could want it soon becomes apparent that the perpetrator is making the case personal to Gillard.
I enjoyed The Body under The Bridge which is an intricately plotted police procedural with a nasty perpetrator and a few good twists. The novel is told mostly from the investigative point of view and mostly Gillard’s so there are scant hints of the perpetrator’s identity or motivation, allowing the reader plenty of scope for guesswork and speculation. Don’t get me wrong, I was glued to the pages throughout as it is a good read with enough going on to hold the interest but I can’t help feeling that it was a bit writing by numbers and contrived, the way so many characters were linked to the perpetrator, his Machiavellian planning and the happenstance that revealed his plans. I think it lacked a little emotion despite the personal nature of many of the events. I’m not sure that it really matters as this is a plot driven novel, it’s just something I noticed.
As I said it’s a plot driven novel so the characters don’t get much development. They are marginally more vivid when events turn personal but still tend to be overshadowed by events.
The Body under The Bridge is a good read that I can recommend.
April 8, 2020
What a riveting read! Started off a bit slowly but once the scene was set it took off at a rollicking pace. Real page turner as you want to see what happens next. Thanks for the ARC - I am really enjoying Louth's books
August 8, 2022
I read this because I love to suffer. Genuinely bonkers in a boring way. Though I have a new appreciation for how you get sucked into a series because of one or two tiny things you like and want to see through out of sheer momentum.
January 21, 2025
Loved this one .
May 24, 2021
Plot relies on an avalanche of female stereotypes. I was thinking how this book would work in the reverse. If the person set on revenge was a woman who wooed men to do what she told them. And the men would say things like: Oh, I've never felt like a man until she chose me and rescued me. I just hope I don't disappoint her with my foolish mistakes. I can only try harder next time.
March 30, 2020
288 pages
4 stars
DCI Craig Gillard and his team catch the case of a missing woman. She is a concert violinist who disappeared on a train on her way to a performance with the rest of her quartet. The catch is that she is the daughter of a very high ranking German official. So, he and the brass are on Craig's back constantly.
As they begin their investigation, they seem to make progress until the missing woman's father drops a bombshell. They realize that there is much more to the case than it seemed at first.
Little does Gillard know that he is in for perhaps the toughest and most upsetting case of his career.
This book is well written and plotted. It is easy to read and enjoyable. I like Gillard and the rest of his team. They get along well together and that's always a plus in a book I choose to read. It was a little slow in places, but still a very good police procedural. It showed the highs and lows that all officers experience in any investigation. It was very real and I believe true-to-life.
I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
4 stars
DCI Craig Gillard and his team catch the case of a missing woman. She is a concert violinist who disappeared on a train on her way to a performance with the rest of her quartet. The catch is that she is the daughter of a very high ranking German official. So, he and the brass are on Craig's back constantly.
As they begin their investigation, they seem to make progress until the missing woman's father drops a bombshell. They realize that there is much more to the case than it seemed at first.
Little does Gillard know that he is in for perhaps the toughest and most upsetting case of his career.
This book is well written and plotted. It is easy to read and enjoyable. I like Gillard and the rest of his team. They get along well together and that's always a plus in a book I choose to read. It was a little slow in places, but still a very good police procedural. It showed the highs and lows that all officers experience in any investigation. It was very real and I believe true-to-life.
I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
March 31, 2020
I was made up getting this book as an ARC, I love this series, and I have to say this is the BEST so far, wow! What a story.
I was pleased to see his wife, Sam is behaving herself a bit better these days, so that’s taking the pressure off poor Craig. However, one thing that did confuse me, and maybe I’ve got it wrong, is Craig’s auntie I thought was called Barbara, but in this book she’s called Trish, or is that another auntie??!! Barbara I remember was quite comical and this me that lives over the road is a bitch, surprised her and Sam don’t get on better!!
Anyway, back to the story and the missing German musician who literally has disappeared without a trace into fresh air. It really is a well thought out story, with a lot of red herrings, and my, oh my what a tale of deceit and intrigue. I was so excited I didn’t want it to end. The lives of all concerned are all mixed up, and how Nick thought it all out just amazes me. If you want a good tale, read this you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next one.
My thanks to Nick & Netgalley for the ARC.
I was pleased to see his wife, Sam is behaving herself a bit better these days, so that’s taking the pressure off poor Craig. However, one thing that did confuse me, and maybe I’ve got it wrong, is Craig’s auntie I thought was called Barbara, but in this book she’s called Trish, or is that another auntie??!! Barbara I remember was quite comical and this me that lives over the road is a bitch, surprised her and Sam don’t get on better!!
Anyway, back to the story and the missing German musician who literally has disappeared without a trace into fresh air. It really is a well thought out story, with a lot of red herrings, and my, oh my what a tale of deceit and intrigue. I was so excited I didn’t want it to end. The lives of all concerned are all mixed up, and how Nick thought it all out just amazes me. If you want a good tale, read this you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next one.
My thanks to Nick & Netgalley for the ARC.
March 30, 2020
Thank you to the author, Canelo Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 3rd Nick Louth book I've read, with DCI Gillard at the helm of a murder investigation (5th in the series). Once again, the author delivers a solid police procedural, with all the tedious, frustrating and sometimes exciting things involved in police work. However, I did feel that much of the time, the perpetrator seemed to be running rings around the police - which I am sure happens, but it did impinge a bit on my reading pleasure (and peace of mind, tbh). Who exactly is behind the crimes, and how it all fits together, is kept hidden to the end, although the identity of the perpetrator was pretty clear to me about halfway through. The only false note for me was Gillard's relationship with his wife. This wasn't quite the afterthought it was in the last book, but it did still feel very one-dimensional and superficial.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
This is the 3rd Nick Louth book I've read, with DCI Gillard at the helm of a murder investigation (5th in the series). Once again, the author delivers a solid police procedural, with all the tedious, frustrating and sometimes exciting things involved in police work. However, I did feel that much of the time, the perpetrator seemed to be running rings around the police - which I am sure happens, but it did impinge a bit on my reading pleasure (and peace of mind, tbh). Who exactly is behind the crimes, and how it all fits together, is kept hidden to the end, although the identity of the perpetrator was pretty clear to me about halfway through. The only false note for me was Gillard's relationship with his wife. This wasn't quite the afterthought it was in the last book, but it did still feel very one-dimensional and superficial.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
April 28, 2020
The Body Under The Bridge is the 5th Edition of the DCI Gillard Detective series. DCI Gillard is asked to follow up a case in which a missing young musician Beatrice Ulbricht goes missing on the train. The Mystery deepens when the police are unable to identify the Musician leave the train and the phone turns up a few days later in a City waste site. Gillard has the usual job of juggling his home life with his wife Sam and overbearing neighbour who just happens to be his Aunt as well as having his boss and the German Minister on his case.
The book had me hooked but I would have preferred fewer characters as there were a lot of characters to follow in the plot making characterisation not as effective as in previous books. I would like to have more dialogue with DCI Gillard's Aunt as in previous books Nick has created some very strong characters in the DCI's family making these books compelling.
The book had me hooked but I would have preferred fewer characters as there were a lot of characters to follow in the plot making characterisation not as effective as in previous books. I would like to have more dialogue with DCI Gillard's Aunt as in previous books Nick has created some very strong characters in the DCI's family making these books compelling.
March 27, 2020
The fifth book in the excellent police procedural series featuring DCI Craig Gillard. A German music student is reported missing and events soon escalate. This book had a good pace and lots of suspense. As with all the books in this series, this book is well-written and easy to read. The characters are well-drawn and very likeable. There were some aspects of the plot I found a little implausible, nevertheless I really enjoyed this book.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
May 20, 2020
Oh dear, this is book five and my first in the Gillard series so I have some fun catching up to do! All must be stand alone novels, as other then the number in the title, I found the story and characters easy to read and appreciate in this British crime story. With plenty of red herrings/ throwaway clues I was riveted right to the end. Would like to see the female cops a little more challenging and more developed - perhaps in one of the previous ones I now need to track down.
August 12, 2020
Good series and this is the best mystery of them all.
February 11, 2022
DCI Craig Gillard is called in on what appears to be a fairly simple missing persons case. At first he’s surprised to be called in so very early on what apparently is a completely routine situation. Until it turns out the missing woman is the daughter of a very important politician, and as the hours and then days pass this simple, routine case turns out to be anything but easy.
I found this to be a very interesting and complex story. While it is absolutely a police procedural style of mystery/suspense book, I was interested by the refreshingly different plot and a quite complex turn the missing person aspect of the case took. Before I’d reached the half-way mark of the story it was very clear this wasn’t a simple or straightforward plot but a very convoluted and well thought out story. I really enjoyed that rather than having two or three plots running simultaneously the events all unfolded quite neatly, with one aspect of the plot leading to the next and then the next after that. Often, I find it a bit difficult to believe that two or three mysteries/cases just “happen” to all dovetail and neatly intertwine – often that aspect to a story doesn’t feel realistic to me. But in this book while the missing person case is sometimes left on the backburner, the leads and red herrings and different threads the investigation leads to all widen until multiple – and not one – crime is being investigated concurrently. I found this really gripping to read and I was seriously impressed with the author’s handling of such a complex and multi-faceted plot.
I also really enjoyed the main characters. I had no idea when I picked up this book – and indeed didn’t realize until I was well past the mid-point of the book – that this story is in the middle of a series. Much of it can absolutely be read as a standalone, though I expect some of the back story to the secondary characters and police team likely would be given in the previous stories so from that perspective having read others might give the reader a deeper connection with the characters. From a plot perspective though at no time did I feel like I was missing pieces of the puzzle or that I needed more back-story to really understand the story I was reading.
Readers looking for a very complex and interesting plot – a solid mystery where there are many moving parts and is a lot more intense than your usual linear and straight-forward murder mystery, this is an excellent book to give a try to. While it’s a British based police procedural and more mystery than action based, I feel it is a solid and gripping read, and I am definitely planning on going back to the start of the series and reading more from this author.
I found this to be a very interesting and complex story. While it is absolutely a police procedural style of mystery/suspense book, I was interested by the refreshingly different plot and a quite complex turn the missing person aspect of the case took. Before I’d reached the half-way mark of the story it was very clear this wasn’t a simple or straightforward plot but a very convoluted and well thought out story. I really enjoyed that rather than having two or three plots running simultaneously the events all unfolded quite neatly, with one aspect of the plot leading to the next and then the next after that. Often, I find it a bit difficult to believe that two or three mysteries/cases just “happen” to all dovetail and neatly intertwine – often that aspect to a story doesn’t feel realistic to me. But in this book while the missing person case is sometimes left on the backburner, the leads and red herrings and different threads the investigation leads to all widen until multiple – and not one – crime is being investigated concurrently. I found this really gripping to read and I was seriously impressed with the author’s handling of such a complex and multi-faceted plot.
I also really enjoyed the main characters. I had no idea when I picked up this book – and indeed didn’t realize until I was well past the mid-point of the book – that this story is in the middle of a series. Much of it can absolutely be read as a standalone, though I expect some of the back story to the secondary characters and police team likely would be given in the previous stories so from that perspective having read others might give the reader a deeper connection with the characters. From a plot perspective though at no time did I feel like I was missing pieces of the puzzle or that I needed more back-story to really understand the story I was reading.
Readers looking for a very complex and interesting plot – a solid mystery where there are many moving parts and is a lot more intense than your usual linear and straight-forward murder mystery, this is an excellent book to give a try to. While it’s a British based police procedural and more mystery than action based, I feel it is a solid and gripping read, and I am definitely planning on going back to the start of the series and reading more from this author.
March 17, 2023
One of the most interesting plots I've read in this series and in any mystery book. Spoilers ahead.
Summary: Do not read this if you don't want spoilers.
It starts off with a missing violinist, the daughter of a German minister. She had dinner with an acquaintance and after an unwanted proposition, went out late at night to a bus stop where the buses had already stopped running.
Gillard was put on the case and as much manpower as he needed thrown into the case due to the high profile of her father. Using CCTV, she was tracked getting on a train and then disappeared when she wandered into a coach that had broken CCTVs. Her phone was later tracked into a waste disposal station where apparently it had been thrown in the trash at a station. No other clue is found and she remains missing.
Meanwhile there is very heavy rain and the rivers are flooded. Gillard and his wife are at a river crossing when he dives in to save a woman trapped in a car. Another flooded car drifts by. When divers recover that car, they find the body of a young woman. When they ID the woman, they find it's a missing person from 37 years ago, however the woman has not aged, she is still 15 years old in age.
Gillard examines the flooded car and find some hair under the foot pedals. Examination of the DNA reveals it's the hair of the violinist so for some inexplicable reason, these 2 cases are linked.
More and more women are kidnapped or missing, including a young PC named Lynn, DI Perry's young daughter and Gillard's wife. By this time, they know all the cases are linked.
I found this book interesting because it started out as a single missing woman's mystery and ballooned into a vast kidnapping spree. As usual, I like this series because of the depiction of the characters and their interaction with each other. I'm now deep into the next book.
Summary: Do not read this if you don't want spoilers.
It starts off with a missing violinist, the daughter of a German minister. She had dinner with an acquaintance and after an unwanted proposition, went out late at night to a bus stop where the buses had already stopped running.
Gillard was put on the case and as much manpower as he needed thrown into the case due to the high profile of her father. Using CCTV, she was tracked getting on a train and then disappeared when she wandered into a coach that had broken CCTVs. Her phone was later tracked into a waste disposal station where apparently it had been thrown in the trash at a station. No other clue is found and she remains missing.
Meanwhile there is very heavy rain and the rivers are flooded. Gillard and his wife are at a river crossing when he dives in to save a woman trapped in a car. Another flooded car drifts by. When divers recover that car, they find the body of a young woman. When they ID the woman, they find it's a missing person from 37 years ago, however the woman has not aged, she is still 15 years old in age.
Gillard examines the flooded car and find some hair under the foot pedals. Examination of the DNA reveals it's the hair of the violinist so for some inexplicable reason, these 2 cases are linked.
More and more women are kidnapped or missing, including a young PC named Lynn, DI Perry's young daughter and Gillard's wife. By this time, they know all the cases are linked.
I found this book interesting because it started out as a single missing woman's mystery and ballooned into a vast kidnapping spree. As usual, I like this series because of the depiction of the characters and their interaction with each other. I'm now deep into the next book.
June 20, 2022
I’m continuing with audiobooks by Nick Louth and “The Body Under the Bridge” is the next in the series. Gillard is surprised to be called into a missing persons case until he learns that the missing talented cellist is the daughter of the German Minister of Justice and that the British Home Secretary is looking at this case very carefully. As with all of the books I’ve read (listened-to) so far, this book features unexpected twists that keep even regular readers slightly off-base.
The initial mystery -- how a woman on a train with lots of CCTV coverage -- can disappear without a trace. By this stage I’m familiar with the recurring characters and I’m also liking them, which is surely subjective but an essential part of my enjoyment of a story. Louth maintains a nice balance of familiar locales, characters and dynamics with dramatic new introductions and complications. It becomes clear that the police are being lead on a wild goose chase intended to frustrate and humiliate them.
Not incidental to the plot and in keeping with recent events in the UK, is a storm that causes significant flooding which both reveals and conceals the truth. A body that ends up as flood debris under a bridge is crucial to understanding the mystery. The intrigue unravels very nicely. As the police use CCTV and cell phone data to track the victim from step to step, only to disappear. Political and international pressures mount. Personal relationships unravel. The large cast of characters and their interactions make it a challenge to follow the plot when listening to an audiobook since my memory isn’t what it was and I’m always distracted by walks and bike rides. Still, I’m glad I opted for the audiobook because the performance is excellent.
Messages are being sent to Craig so it’s clear there is something personal in this story -- an impression massively increased when Sam, his wife, is taken! Craig is removed from the case as SIO but doesn’t go far away from it. There are so many entangled threads to this story that it’s a genuine achievement when Louth manages to bring all the twists and turns together. That said, the conclusion is a bit simple compared to the complex narrative and is not entirely satisfying. Still -- it’s worth the read.
The initial mystery -- how a woman on a train with lots of CCTV coverage -- can disappear without a trace. By this stage I’m familiar with the recurring characters and I’m also liking them, which is surely subjective but an essential part of my enjoyment of a story. Louth maintains a nice balance of familiar locales, characters and dynamics with dramatic new introductions and complications. It becomes clear that the police are being lead on a wild goose chase intended to frustrate and humiliate them.
Not incidental to the plot and in keeping with recent events in the UK, is a storm that causes significant flooding which both reveals and conceals the truth. A body that ends up as flood debris under a bridge is crucial to understanding the mystery. The intrigue unravels very nicely. As the police use CCTV and cell phone data to track the victim from step to step, only to disappear. Political and international pressures mount. Personal relationships unravel. The large cast of characters and their interactions make it a challenge to follow the plot when listening to an audiobook since my memory isn’t what it was and I’m always distracted by walks and bike rides. Still, I’m glad I opted for the audiobook because the performance is excellent.
Messages are being sent to Craig so it’s clear there is something personal in this story -- an impression massively increased when Sam, his wife, is taken! Craig is removed from the case as SIO but doesn’t go far away from it. There are so many entangled threads to this story that it’s a genuine achievement when Louth manages to bring all the twists and turns together. That said, the conclusion is a bit simple compared to the complex narrative and is not entirely satisfying. Still -- it’s worth the read.
October 9, 2025
The Body Under the Bridge, is the fifth book in the DCI Craig Gillard series by Nick Louth. I have followed this series from the very start and was hooked. Clever plots and good characters make this series a very entertaining read.
A seemingly routine missing-person case quickly spirals into a complex international investigation with deadly personal stakes. When a young musician vanishes without a trace during a train journey, Gillard is puzzled as to why he’s been assigned to the case, until he learns that the missing woman’s father is none other than the German Minister of Justice. With political pressure mounting and the British Home Secretary demanding answers, the case takes on an urgent and high-stakes dimension.
This is a very good police procedural novel that is full of suspense with the hunt for the missing young woman. Gillard soon discovers that there is more to this case than meets the eye as every lead seems to raise more questions for him to answer. How did the young musician simply disappear in plain sight? The case gets amore personal when Gillard realises he may be the next target.
The Body Under the Bridge is a smart, fast-paced police procedural with an international twist, rich in tension, political intrigue, and emotional depth. If you enjoy well plotted police procedurals this one could be for you.
A seemingly routine missing-person case quickly spirals into a complex international investigation with deadly personal stakes. When a young musician vanishes without a trace during a train journey, Gillard is puzzled as to why he’s been assigned to the case, until he learns that the missing woman’s father is none other than the German Minister of Justice. With political pressure mounting and the British Home Secretary demanding answers, the case takes on an urgent and high-stakes dimension.
This is a very good police procedural novel that is full of suspense with the hunt for the missing young woman. Gillard soon discovers that there is more to this case than meets the eye as every lead seems to raise more questions for him to answer. How did the young musician simply disappear in plain sight? The case gets amore personal when Gillard realises he may be the next target.
The Body Under the Bridge is a smart, fast-paced police procedural with an international twist, rich in tension, political intrigue, and emotional depth. If you enjoy well plotted police procedurals this one could be for you.
October 5, 2024
DCI Gillard is investigating the disappearance of the 25 year old musician daughter of Germany's Minister of Justice and there's intense scrutiny and political pressure to solve this quickly. There are complications tracing the missing woman's last sightings with a number of red herrings popping up and when the body of a teenager who went missing 40 years ago is found, the race is on to find the connection between the two. The case becomes quite complex when it appears the perpetrator is out to get to DCI Gillard when his wife goes missing. Gillard's colleague, DI Perry also appears to have a personal connection to the case as it appears his wife and daughter have been unwittingly drawn in by the perpetrator.
A well-written crime novel where the mystery plays out well and the police investigative procedure is methodically described. Although it's the 5th installment, it's the first of these books I've read and I had no trouble at all following the storyline. DCI Gillard is a likeable, sympathetic character unlike Perry who comes across as a sad, rather pathetic individual. I very much enjoyed reading this one and would hope that in any future books on the series, the other characters play a bigger role as this one focuses mostly on Gillard.
A well-written crime novel where the mystery plays out well and the police investigative procedure is methodically described. Although it's the 5th installment, it's the first of these books I've read and I had no trouble at all following the storyline. DCI Gillard is a likeable, sympathetic character unlike Perry who comes across as a sad, rather pathetic individual. I very much enjoyed reading this one and would hope that in any future books on the series, the other characters play a bigger role as this one focuses mostly on Gillard.
October 12, 2020
There's so much going on in this complex and fast-moving thriller. The original investigation is not what it seems at first - a missing musician, young and female, possibly abducted from a bus stop on her way to an important event. It soon becomes clear that there is a lot more going on, and that the lead investigator could be a target in his own right.
The characters are believable and the police team seems realistic, working as an efficient team, with almost unlimited resources due to the victim's connection to a high-profile foreign politician. The author clearly knows a lot about police procedures, not to mention trains and waste management!
The writing is good and I did like the way that every loose end was tied up by the end of the story. I've read other books in this series and would happily continue reading them.
The characters are believable and the police team seems realistic, working as an efficient team, with almost unlimited resources due to the victim's connection to a high-profile foreign politician. The author clearly knows a lot about police procedures, not to mention trains and waste management!
The writing is good and I did like the way that every loose end was tied up by the end of the story. I've read other books in this series and would happily continue reading them.
March 18, 2024
I am continuing to enjoy the DCI Craig Gillard series. With #5, The Body Under the Bridge, Craig is looking for a missing young musician. But not any young woman, she’s the daughter of the German Minister of Justice, so needless to say, the whole of the English government is breathing down his neck. But the few clues they have point them in entirely different directions. How could the woman be in two places at the same time? Things get even more confusing when a second body of a young girl shows up in a car washed away by a flood. The plot is complicated but at the same time, it all made sense and kept me engaged throughout.
This one had me thinking hard, just the same as the team. I enjoyed that most of the search was done from behind desks - lots of searching phone records, computer files and CCTV facial recognition. Far from making it feel slow, it gave a real sense of realism to the story. The whole team is involved with this investigation and we get a deeper look into DI Perry’s personal life.
Having had a family situation with a scam artist, I found Louth did an excellent job of weaving this into the story.
This could work as a stand-alone, but you’d miss the backstory of Craig’s crazy aunt, who finally does something good in this book.
Marston York does a good job as the narrator.
This one had me thinking hard, just the same as the team. I enjoyed that most of the search was done from behind desks - lots of searching phone records, computer files and CCTV facial recognition. Far from making it feel slow, it gave a real sense of realism to the story. The whole team is involved with this investigation and we get a deeper look into DI Perry’s personal life.
Having had a family situation with a scam artist, I found Louth did an excellent job of weaving this into the story.
This could work as a stand-alone, but you’d miss the backstory of Craig’s crazy aunt, who finally does something good in this book.
Marston York does a good job as the narrator.
September 5, 2024
Exciting
It seems like a routine disappearance,a case of a musicians stage fright. As a senior detective Craig Gillard isn't sure why he's even involved , until it turns out the woman's father is the German Minister of justice and the British Home Secretary is on the case. But before long the perpetrator has another target,DCI Gillard himself, well that should have got you interested, what I thought was at first I was a bit disappointed and thought this is going to be a bit boring, but how wrong was I I won't give any spoilers but it was a very exciting read one what you couldn't put down and now I can highly recommend it . So as for me I'm on to book 6 as usual id like to thank Nick Louth for writing an excellent book
It seems like a routine disappearance,a case of a musicians stage fright. As a senior detective Craig Gillard isn't sure why he's even involved , until it turns out the woman's father is the German Minister of justice and the British Home Secretary is on the case. But before long the perpetrator has another target,DCI Gillard himself, well that should have got you interested, what I thought was at first I was a bit disappointed and thought this is going to be a bit boring, but how wrong was I I won't give any spoilers but it was a very exciting read one what you couldn't put down and now I can highly recommend it . So as for me I'm on to book 6 as usual id like to thank Nick Louth for writing an excellent book
October 28, 2020
What a ride authour Nick Louth takes us on!
It seems like a routine disappearance, a case of musician’s stage fright. As a senior detective, Craig Gillard isn’t sure why he’s even involved. Until it turns out the woman’s father is the German Minister of Justice, and the British Home Secretary is on the case too.
But nothing about the case is simple. How does a woman on a train simply vanish? What do you do when a trail runs cold and the pressure is on?
Before long the perpetrator has another target: DCI Gillard himself. What if the detective isn’t just running the case, but is part of it? The victim merely a lure for a bigger fish.
It seems like a routine disappearance, a case of musician’s stage fright. As a senior detective, Craig Gillard isn’t sure why he’s even involved. Until it turns out the woman’s father is the German Minister of Justice, and the British Home Secretary is on the case too.
But nothing about the case is simple. How does a woman on a train simply vanish? What do you do when a trail runs cold and the pressure is on?
Before long the perpetrator has another target: DCI Gillard himself. What if the detective isn’t just running the case, but is part of it? The victim merely a lure for a bigger fish.
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