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Anna Scavolini #2
Cruel Summer
Zoe Callahan is having the summer from hell… and it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
She’s stuck in a dead-end job, her relationship is going nowhere, and the memory of the Kelvingrove Park Murders three years ago continues to cast a long shadow over every aspect of her life.
When a prostitute is brutally assaulted by Dominic Ryland, a rising political star with a suspiciously spotless personal reputation, Zoe leaps at the chance to distract herself with a noble cause, and sets out on a one-woman crusade to bring Ryland to justice.
But in doing so, she quickly finds herself on the wrong side of some very dangerous people – people who have reputations to protect and who would think nothing of silencing Zoe by any means necessary.
An explosive thriller set against the backdrop of a sweltering heatwave, Cruel Summer is the sequel to M.R. Mackenzie’s critically acclaimed In the Silence and the second instalment in the Kelvingrove Park Trilogy.
She’s stuck in a dead-end job, her relationship is going nowhere, and the memory of the Kelvingrove Park Murders three years ago continues to cast a long shadow over every aspect of her life.
When a prostitute is brutally assaulted by Dominic Ryland, a rising political star with a suspiciously spotless personal reputation, Zoe leaps at the chance to distract herself with a noble cause, and sets out on a one-woman crusade to bring Ryland to justice.
But in doing so, she quickly finds herself on the wrong side of some very dangerous people – people who have reputations to protect and who would think nothing of silencing Zoe by any means necessary.
An explosive thriller set against the backdrop of a sweltering heatwave, Cruel Summer is the sequel to M.R. Mackenzie’s critically acclaimed In the Silence and the second instalment in the Kelvingrove Park Trilogy.
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First published May 28, 2019
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About the author
M.R. Mackenzie
11 books70 followersTo get the latest news and your FREE sample chapters from the McIlvanney Prize-nominated In the Silence, join the M.R. Mackenzie Readers’ Club:
https://www.mrmackenzieauthor.com/rea...
M.R. Mackenzie is the author of several gritty, character-driven crime fiction novels set mainly in his native Glasgow, including an ongoing series of mysteries featuring criminology lecturer Anna Scavolini.
The first book in the series, In the Silence, was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2019.
The sixth, The Secrets We Keep, featured in the Financial Times’ Best Summer Books of 2025 (Crime and Thrillers) and IngramSpark’s 2025 Editorial Selection (Mystery/Thriller).
PRAISE FOR M.R. MACKENZIE:
“One of the most consistently accomplished writers on the current scene.” — Financial Times
“Brings a fresh new voice to the field of Tartan Noir.” — James Oswald
“Writes with precision and passion.” — Caro Ramsay
“An immersive slow burn of a tale, peppered with disquieting fire-crackers of revelation.” — Gordon J. Brown
“Mackenzie has come up with something that defies easy definition and is truly original.” — NB Magazine
“Up there with the best contemporary authors working today.” — David B. Lyons
https://www.mrmackenzieauthor.com/rea...
M.R. Mackenzie is the author of several gritty, character-driven crime fiction novels set mainly in his native Glasgow, including an ongoing series of mysteries featuring criminology lecturer Anna Scavolini.
The first book in the series, In the Silence, was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2019.
The sixth, The Secrets We Keep, featured in the Financial Times’ Best Summer Books of 2025 (Crime and Thrillers) and IngramSpark’s 2025 Editorial Selection (Mystery/Thriller).
PRAISE FOR M.R. MACKENZIE:
“One of the most consistently accomplished writers on the current scene.” — Financial Times
“Brings a fresh new voice to the field of Tartan Noir.” — James Oswald
“Writes with precision and passion.” — Caro Ramsay
“An immersive slow burn of a tale, peppered with disquieting fire-crackers of revelation.” — Gordon J. Brown
“Mackenzie has come up with something that defies easy definition and is truly original.” — NB Magazine
“Up there with the best contemporary authors working today.” — David B. Lyons
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 28, 2019
Having thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series, I was very excited to have the second in my tbr list .. and it more than lived up to my expectations!
Zoe Callahan finds herself unwittingly drawn into the wrongdoings of a local politician; with misplaced faith in the police authorities, Zoe assumes they will deal with the matter but that's not what happens. Nor could she have foreseen the repercussions which would take place because of her naivety. Having brought unwanted attention to herself and those she loves, Zoe strikes up a friend with the unusual Fin and unwittingly gets into even deeper - and more serious - trouble.
This is an excellent sequel! An entirely new tale but with a nod to what went on in the first, it is a delight to see how the author's work has evolved. Skilfully crafted and beautifully written, this is a gripping read full of suspense and tension which is nicely deflected with some fabulous Glaswegian humour. I love reading fiction set in different regions of the UK, and none more than novels set in my own neck of the woods. The locations mentioned are spread throughout the city of Glasgow giving a sense of reality. The characters are flawed and realistic, and as the story unfolds I found it completely believable and absolutely riveting. A fantastic thriller, and easily worth the five shiny stars I'm pleased to give it.
Zoe Callahan finds herself unwittingly drawn into the wrongdoings of a local politician; with misplaced faith in the police authorities, Zoe assumes they will deal with the matter but that's not what happens. Nor could she have foreseen the repercussions which would take place because of her naivety. Having brought unwanted attention to herself and those she loves, Zoe strikes up a friend with the unusual Fin and unwittingly gets into even deeper - and more serious - trouble.
This is an excellent sequel! An entirely new tale but with a nod to what went on in the first, it is a delight to see how the author's work has evolved. Skilfully crafted and beautifully written, this is a gripping read full of suspense and tension which is nicely deflected with some fabulous Glaswegian humour. I love reading fiction set in different regions of the UK, and none more than novels set in my own neck of the woods. The locations mentioned are spread throughout the city of Glasgow giving a sense of reality. The characters are flawed and realistic, and as the story unfolds I found it completely believable and absolutely riveting. A fantastic thriller, and easily worth the five shiny stars I'm pleased to give it.
April 1, 2022
I absolutely loved the first book in this series - and the second was NOT a disappointment!
Zoe Callahan returns, and we are dropped back into the heart of Glasgow three years after the event of the first book took place. Zoe has landed herself in the middle of some political shenanigans - believing that the police will take care of everything! As you can imagine, the police don't take care of ANYTHING. Much like Anna from the first book, Zoe is now off on a journey to prove the injustices that are happening and why they should be stopped. What Zoe didn't anticipate was the power that the people involved would have, and the lengths they would go to in order for her to stop digging into the subject. Zoe makes a few enemies and a couple of potential friends along her journey to justice - continuing to get deeper and deeper into some very serious trouble.
Mackenzie has successfully launched into an amazing series with these books! Everything that I loved and enjoyed about the first books was revisited with this one, and I couldn't be any happier. I did expect to see more of Anna throughout this story, but I'm glad that Carol was still in the picture for this book. The author has an amazing eye for detail, and this is heavily reflected in his books.
I will be happily starting the third (and I think final??) installation in this series tonight, and I fully anticipate staying up as long as possible to ensure I finish it.
Zoe Callahan returns, and we are dropped back into the heart of Glasgow three years after the event of the first book took place. Zoe has landed herself in the middle of some political shenanigans - believing that the police will take care of everything! As you can imagine, the police don't take care of ANYTHING. Much like Anna from the first book, Zoe is now off on a journey to prove the injustices that are happening and why they should be stopped. What Zoe didn't anticipate was the power that the people involved would have, and the lengths they would go to in order for her to stop digging into the subject. Zoe makes a few enemies and a couple of potential friends along her journey to justice - continuing to get deeper and deeper into some very serious trouble.
Mackenzie has successfully launched into an amazing series with these books! Everything that I loved and enjoyed about the first books was revisited with this one, and I couldn't be any happier. I did expect to see more of Anna throughout this story, but I'm glad that Carol was still in the picture for this book. The author has an amazing eye for detail, and this is heavily reflected in his books.
I will be happily starting the third (and I think final??) installation in this series tonight, and I fully anticipate staying up as long as possible to ensure I finish it.
July 6, 2019
A very strong follow up to (the hopefully award winning) In the Silence. The shift of emphasis of protagonist from In the Silence kept the book very fresh. Highly recommended.
June 11, 2022
This is book 2 in the Anna Scavolini series. It revolves more around Anna's friend Zoe, who gets into all sorts of trouble trying to help people. It also deals with a court case from happenings in the previous book. A good read
July 19, 2019
Well written second novel. Enjoyed it very much.
December 9, 2025
Decent mystery, plenty of twists in the plot and the characters are interesting but very flawed. This was a continuation of the first book, and it appears that this series should be read in order to keep up with what happened previously that impacts the current plot.
February 1, 2026
Intriguing
The writing is excellent as is the plotting. I was a bit confused about the meet up at the ending. Did I miss something important??? There was not much of Anna in her personal series. Zoe got the attention and the credit.
The writing is excellent as is the plotting. I was a bit confused about the meet up at the ending. Did I miss something important??? There was not much of Anna in her personal series. Zoe got the attention and the credit.
October 4, 2023
Congratulations on yet another brilliantly written book which once I started reading it I could not put it down i Absolutely enjoyed reading this book.
February 21, 2024
great read
Really enjoyed book 2 in the Anna Scavolini series will definitely be reading the next 2 in the series love all the Glasgow dialect makes it more realistic
Really enjoyed book 2 in the Anna Scavolini series will definitely be reading the next 2 in the series love all the Glasgow dialect makes it more realistic
August 27, 2024
A bit predictable
September 12, 2025
I read the first book and really enjoyed it
Looked forward to this one but was disappointed
Looked forward to this one but was disappointed
April 23, 2024
Well written second book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews