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Anderson & Costello #9
Suffering of Strangers
When a six-week-old baby is stolen from outside a village shop, Detective Inspector Costello quickly surmises there's more to this case than meets the eye. As she questions those involved, she uncovers evidence that this was no impulsive act as the police initially assumed, but something cold, logical, meticulously planned. Who has taken Baby Sholto ? and why?
Colin Anderson meanwhile is on the Cold Case Unit, reviewing the unsolved rape of a young mother back in 1996. Convinced this wasn't the first ? or last - time the attacker struck, Anderson looks for a pattern. But when he does find a connection, it reaches back into his own past . . .
Colin Anderson meanwhile is on the Cold Case Unit, reviewing the unsolved rape of a young mother back in 1996. Convinced this wasn't the first ? or last - time the attacker struck, Anderson looks for a pattern. But when he does find a connection, it reaches back into his own past . . .
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First published March 1, 2018
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About the author
Caro Ramsay
34 books199 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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April 16, 2024
EXCERPT: Roberta was aware she was screaming. 'Where did that car go? she was shouting in the woman's face, flecking her skin with saliva. She plunged her hands into her pockets, grabbing only the silky lining and fresh air, frantically searching for her phone. It was on the dashboard of the car. James had called. She'd put it back in the cradle on the dashboard. After she had moaned about Sholto, how horrible he was, how noisy.
Well, her world was quiet now.
'Where did it go?' She heard the screeching of a banshee. She knew it was her, but she couldn't stop herself.
Now Barry was stopping people, the woman at the auto bank, the teenager walking the pug, another customer. Roberta scanned them, her finger held horizontally, pointing at each one, thinking that one of them could have taken the baby; one of them must have seen something they were not telling her. It was a conspiracy. They were all in it together. Cars do not disappear, not in that short period of time. How long had it been?
She heard the word "Duster".
'What? What?' She wiped the snot from her face.
The teenager with the pug pointed. 'Look, there's a blue Duster parked around there.' Just as the man who worked the front till for Barry shouted something from the end of the road and waved up the side street.
Roberta ran to the corner, to the narrow road that led to the small car park behind the shops. Not somewhere to leave a car on a rainy, darkening night. Not somewhere she would have parked. She thought she had been careful.
The Duster was there. She stopped dead, registering the number plate. Then began moving quickly again, almost laughing. Somebody had played a little joke and she had fallen for it. She could see the front seat, the outline of Sholto's car seat, still in its place. She ripped open the door. Wrapped up warm in his yellow blanket, the baby was there. He was fine.
He was quiet, he was gurgling and content.
She pulled down his fluffy blue coverlet trimmed with creamy fluffy lambs.
And then she started screaming.
ABOUT 'THE SUFFERING OF STRANGERS': When a six-week-old baby is stolen from outside a village shop, Detective Inspector Costello quickly surmises there's more to this case than meets the eye. As she questions those involved, she uncovers evidence that this was no impulsive act as the police initially assumed, but something cold, logical, meticulously planned. Who has taken Baby Sholto ? and why?
Colin Anderson meanwhile is on the Cold Case Unit, reviewing the unsolved rape of a young mother back in 1996. Convinced this wasn't the first ? or last - time the attacker struck, Anderson looks for a pattern. But when he does find a connection, it reaches back into his own past . . .
MY THOUGHTS: The Suffering of Strangers is #9 in the Anderson and Costello series, a wonderfully realistic and gritty series set in Glasgow. Now, just a wee word of warning: this is a series that does need to be read in order because sometimes the cases overlap from one book to the next - as is the case in this book.
There is a lot of grim reading in this book - child abduction, domestic abuse, rape, missing persons and human trafficking. The Anderson and Costello team have been split up with Anderson having been sent to re-examine cold cases and Costello to the domestic violence unit.
There are multiple storylines within The Suffering of Strangers. Ramsay juggles these with ease, resulting in a tense and absorbing read. The plot is complex and riveting. One of the team members becomes personally involved, a historic act coming home to roost. It was most surprising and, well, almost comforting.
The characters are every bit as important as the plot. Past events weigh heavily on our characters and somewhat influence their decisions in the present - not always wisely.
Ramsay doesn't pull her punches. Some of this is quite harrowing to read, but all is relevant and timely. She highlights the inadequacies of the social services, but also their lack of support for burnt out and overworked staff, and the consequences of the system not working as it should.
A gritty and rewarding read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#SufferingOfStrangersthe #NetGalley
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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House for providing a digital ARC of The Suffering of Strangers by Caro Ramsay for review. I apologise sincerely for taking so long to read this. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Well, her world was quiet now.
'Where did it go?' She heard the screeching of a banshee. She knew it was her, but she couldn't stop herself.
Now Barry was stopping people, the woman at the auto bank, the teenager walking the pug, another customer. Roberta scanned them, her finger held horizontally, pointing at each one, thinking that one of them could have taken the baby; one of them must have seen something they were not telling her. It was a conspiracy. They were all in it together. Cars do not disappear, not in that short period of time. How long had it been?
She heard the word "Duster".
'What? What?' She wiped the snot from her face.
The teenager with the pug pointed. 'Look, there's a blue Duster parked around there.' Just as the man who worked the front till for Barry shouted something from the end of the road and waved up the side street.
Roberta ran to the corner, to the narrow road that led to the small car park behind the shops. Not somewhere to leave a car on a rainy, darkening night. Not somewhere she would have parked. She thought she had been careful.
The Duster was there. She stopped dead, registering the number plate. Then began moving quickly again, almost laughing. Somebody had played a little joke and she had fallen for it. She could see the front seat, the outline of Sholto's car seat, still in its place. She ripped open the door. Wrapped up warm in his yellow blanket, the baby was there. He was fine.
He was quiet, he was gurgling and content.
She pulled down his fluffy blue coverlet trimmed with creamy fluffy lambs.
And then she started screaming.
ABOUT 'THE SUFFERING OF STRANGERS': When a six-week-old baby is stolen from outside a village shop, Detective Inspector Costello quickly surmises there's more to this case than meets the eye. As she questions those involved, she uncovers evidence that this was no impulsive act as the police initially assumed, but something cold, logical, meticulously planned. Who has taken Baby Sholto ? and why?
Colin Anderson meanwhile is on the Cold Case Unit, reviewing the unsolved rape of a young mother back in 1996. Convinced this wasn't the first ? or last - time the attacker struck, Anderson looks for a pattern. But when he does find a connection, it reaches back into his own past . . .
MY THOUGHTS: The Suffering of Strangers is #9 in the Anderson and Costello series, a wonderfully realistic and gritty series set in Glasgow. Now, just a wee word of warning: this is a series that does need to be read in order because sometimes the cases overlap from one book to the next - as is the case in this book.
There is a lot of grim reading in this book - child abduction, domestic abuse, rape, missing persons and human trafficking. The Anderson and Costello team have been split up with Anderson having been sent to re-examine cold cases and Costello to the domestic violence unit.
There are multiple storylines within The Suffering of Strangers. Ramsay juggles these with ease, resulting in a tense and absorbing read. The plot is complex and riveting. One of the team members becomes personally involved, a historic act coming home to roost. It was most surprising and, well, almost comforting.
The characters are every bit as important as the plot. Past events weigh heavily on our characters and somewhat influence their decisions in the present - not always wisely.
Ramsay doesn't pull her punches. Some of this is quite harrowing to read, but all is relevant and timely. She highlights the inadequacies of the social services, but also their lack of support for burnt out and overworked staff, and the consequences of the system not working as it should.
A gritty and rewarding read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#SufferingOfStrangersthe #NetGalley
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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House for providing a digital ARC of The Suffering of Strangers by Caro Ramsay for review. I apologise sincerely for taking so long to read this. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
February 2, 2018
This is wonderfully gritty series that I have read from the beginning featuring DCI Colin Anderson and DI Costello set in Glasgow. This is a stellar addition, with a highlight being Caro Ramsay's impressive and complex plotting, and her skilful juggling of multiple storylines. Much of the subject matter is grim, rape, child abduction, domestic abuse, and the suffering that takes place behind closed doors, and being well off does not preclude horrors taking place in the home. The old police team is split, Colin is whiling his time looking at cold cases, and Costello is placed in the domestic violence unit. Vik Mulholland and Gordon Wyngate are on desk duties, but sorely missing their old team, wishing they were out there, in the thick of the action. Colin is looking into a rape case from the past with his superiors wanting a past victim to front a current campaign. Costello is called out on the odd abduction of 6 week old Sholto, taken from his mother's car, but replaced with a downs syndrome child, Moses. Is the perpetrator a mother experiencing mental health issues or something more sinister?
An ex-lover of Colin's from University, Sally was raped and badly assaulted, and the police feel she might well be a suitable candidate for the campaign. A reluctant Colin finds himself revisiting his past, still harbouring a strong emotional attachment and hankering for Sally, a woman who has remained married to Andrew. Costello finds herself with another missing baby, Polly, which added to Sholto and Moses, alerts her to strange cases of murdered women who had just given birth. She traces the disappearance of Polly's mother to a place where rumours persist of Glasgow's underground city of Grahamston. Costello returns a runaway teen, Malcolm, to his well to do home and his menacing stepfather, George Haggerty. She knows something is desperately wrong in Malcolm's home but powerless to act. Bit by bit, Anderson and Costello with the critical help of Mulholland and Wyngate begin to make the connections between their separate investigations, and the closer they get to the truth, the more their lives are endangered.
This is a dark, tense and compelling read with a gripping and suspenseful narrative. Ramsay gives us an intimate glimpse into the personal lives of Anderson, a lonely man, surrounded by people in relationships, including his daughter, Claire, and being wealthy is just no compensation. Costello's covert relationship with Archie Walker comes under pressure as she suspects him of having an affair with another woman. Unexpectedly, Colin finds his investigation have personal ramifications that come out of the blue which just might give his spirits a boost amidst the unfolding tragedies that are revealed. I just adore this series, and I always look forward with anticipation for the next in the series. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
An ex-lover of Colin's from University, Sally was raped and badly assaulted, and the police feel she might well be a suitable candidate for the campaign. A reluctant Colin finds himself revisiting his past, still harbouring a strong emotional attachment and hankering for Sally, a woman who has remained married to Andrew. Costello finds herself with another missing baby, Polly, which added to Sholto and Moses, alerts her to strange cases of murdered women who had just given birth. She traces the disappearance of Polly's mother to a place where rumours persist of Glasgow's underground city of Grahamston. Costello returns a runaway teen, Malcolm, to his well to do home and his menacing stepfather, George Haggerty. She knows something is desperately wrong in Malcolm's home but powerless to act. Bit by bit, Anderson and Costello with the critical help of Mulholland and Wyngate begin to make the connections between their separate investigations, and the closer they get to the truth, the more their lives are endangered.
This is a dark, tense and compelling read with a gripping and suspenseful narrative. Ramsay gives us an intimate glimpse into the personal lives of Anderson, a lonely man, surrounded by people in relationships, including his daughter, Claire, and being wealthy is just no compensation. Costello's covert relationship with Archie Walker comes under pressure as she suspects him of having an affair with another woman. Unexpectedly, Colin finds his investigation have personal ramifications that come out of the blue which just might give his spirits a boost amidst the unfolding tragedies that are revealed. I just adore this series, and I always look forward with anticipation for the next in the series. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
May 10, 2019
Anderson and Costello #9
This is the first book that I have read in this series. A 6 week old baby has been stolen from outside a village shop. DI Costello has been called in to investigate. The mother had left the baby in the car and when she came back out the shop, the car and the baby were gone. The car is found just a couple of blocks away, but the baby that's inside does not belong to the mother! Anderson is in the cold case division. He's reviewing the rape case of a young mother in the early 1990's. This is quite a gripping storyline but the action does not really start until the last third of the book. A well written police procedural.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Black Thorn and the author Caro Ramsay for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book that I have read in this series. A 6 week old baby has been stolen from outside a village shop. DI Costello has been called in to investigate. The mother had left the baby in the car and when she came back out the shop, the car and the baby were gone. The car is found just a couple of blocks away, but the baby that's inside does not belong to the mother! Anderson is in the cold case division. He's reviewing the rape case of a young mother in the early 1990's. This is quite a gripping storyline but the action does not really start until the last third of the book. A well written police procedural.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Black Thorn and the author Caro Ramsay for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2018
This is the 9th book in this Scottish police procedural featuring DI Costello and DCI Colin Anderson.
Costello is called to investigate when someone snatches a baby from a parked car. The mother left him for just a moment and when she came out of the store, the car and her baby were both missing. The car was found a couple of blocks away and at first, mom thought the baby was safe. But the baby still in the car is not hers.
Costello finds evidence that this was not a random abduction .... this was a very well planned detail. So who would want to trade babies? And why these particular babies?
Anderson is in the Cold Case Unit, reviewing old cases. The one he comes across is assault of a young mother back in 1996. The man responsible has never been caught. Colin sees a pattern in that this was not the first woman assaulted by this man, nor the last. What he ultimately finds will change his life forever.
When the two cases dovetail, the expectation of danger explodes. Full of twist and turns, the ending was such a surprise! Without having read any of the previous books, I'm not sure what the relationship between the two has been like. It comes across now that they don't really like each other, although they respect each other's work,
The book is well-written with unique characters. Although 9th in the series, this can be read as a stand-alone, but the joy of reading would be much greater if started from the first. I look forward to the further adventures of Costello and Anderson.
Many thanks to the author / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 30, 2025
Although I’ve been aware of Caro Ramsay for a long time, this is actually the first book of hers I’ve ever read. Unfortunately, for me at least, this is the ninth in a series. Set mainly in Glasgow, the two main protagonists are Detective Inspector Costello (at no point in this book is she given a first name) and her boss, Chief Detective Inspector Colin Anderson.
The story begins with the abduction of a six-week old baby outside a village shop; the baby being replaced by another of similar age who has Down’s Syndrome. The investigation uncovers what appears to be a ring of “baby brokering” where unwanted children are given to parents desperate but unable to have children of their own. Somehow this all links back to the rape of a young mother back in 1996 - a woman Anderson knew very well. Is he somehow, unwittingly, connected to the current case.
This is undoubtedly a well written and meticulously plotted story with a thrilling conclusion. However, at times I felt my lack of knowledge of the main characters’ backstories did make it a bit difficult to follow.
The story begins with the abduction of a six-week old baby outside a village shop; the baby being replaced by another of similar age who has Down’s Syndrome. The investigation uncovers what appears to be a ring of “baby brokering” where unwanted children are given to parents desperate but unable to have children of their own. Somehow this all links back to the rape of a young mother back in 1996 - a woman Anderson knew very well. Is he somehow, unwittingly, connected to the current case.
This is undoubtedly a well written and meticulously plotted story with a thrilling conclusion. However, at times I felt my lack of knowledge of the main characters’ backstories did make it a bit difficult to follow.
February 21, 2019
Scottish author Caro Ramsay doesn't go easy on her readers in her Glasgow-set series starring detective duo Costello and Anderson. Ramsay boldly tackles some tough, gritty issues. In this ninth instalment, the pair have been separated by their bosses, and each is plunged into a testing case. Suffering aplenty.
DI Costello is still smarting from her sidelining and is now focused on domestic abuse and looking for a missing six-week-old baby, snatched from her mother's car. Bizarrely, a baby with Down’s Syndrome was left behind. Anderson is reviewing the cold case rape of a young mother back in the mid-1990s. When the victim dies, Anderson's superiors want him to convince his old college girlfriend, another victim of an historic unsolved rape, to do a television appeal for people to speak out about violent and sexual crime.
Unexpected connections begin to appear, and with the help of a force-of-nature social worker, Costello realizes something far deeper and more organized is going on than just one randomly snatched baby.
Ramsay writes in a straightforward manner with little frills, delivering via character and plot and some mind-pricking themes. She takes readers into places most British police procedurals avoid. There's some nice action and a multi-layered storyline with memorable supporting characters and situations that really test our two protagonists. They, and readers, may be put through the emotional wringer. A good solid crime read unafraid to address some tough subjects
DI Costello is still smarting from her sidelining and is now focused on domestic abuse and looking for a missing six-week-old baby, snatched from her mother's car. Bizarrely, a baby with Down’s Syndrome was left behind. Anderson is reviewing the cold case rape of a young mother back in the mid-1990s. When the victim dies, Anderson's superiors want him to convince his old college girlfriend, another victim of an historic unsolved rape, to do a television appeal for people to speak out about violent and sexual crime.
Unexpected connections begin to appear, and with the help of a force-of-nature social worker, Costello realizes something far deeper and more organized is going on than just one randomly snatched baby.
Ramsay writes in a straightforward manner with little frills, delivering via character and plot and some mind-pricking themes. She takes readers into places most British police procedurals avoid. There's some nice action and a multi-layered storyline with memorable supporting characters and situations that really test our two protagonists. They, and readers, may be put through the emotional wringer. A good solid crime read unafraid to address some tough subjects
January 2, 2019
This is a series I’ve dipped in and out of over the years, The Suffering Of Strangers is book 9, but could read as a standalone, however at least some previous knowledge of the characters gave it an added edge.
This is a tense and complex multi arc character drama as well as the usual police procedural and mystery elements – Caro Ramsay explores some emotive issues here in truly excellent fashion, with knock on consequences for our series regulars.
A child is stolen and replaced with another- but this is only the start of a dark and thought provoking story that finds Costello with a difficult path to follow. Meanwhile a cold case Anderson is working on leads him back into his own past with unexpected resonance- eventually the two investigations merge with devastating results.
It is a clever piece of plotting where the big picture emerges from many smaller snapshots and socially relevant themes abound. Highly intriguing with some fascinating psychological aspects, The Suffering Of Strangers is a page turner that reminded me why I loved this series in the first place.
Beautifully done. Recommended. I’m quite happy that I’ve missed a few now, it will give me something to do while I wait for the next.
This is a tense and complex multi arc character drama as well as the usual police procedural and mystery elements – Caro Ramsay explores some emotive issues here in truly excellent fashion, with knock on consequences for our series regulars.
A child is stolen and replaced with another- but this is only the start of a dark and thought provoking story that finds Costello with a difficult path to follow. Meanwhile a cold case Anderson is working on leads him back into his own past with unexpected resonance- eventually the two investigations merge with devastating results.
It is a clever piece of plotting where the big picture emerges from many smaller snapshots and socially relevant themes abound. Highly intriguing with some fascinating psychological aspects, The Suffering Of Strangers is a page turner that reminded me why I loved this series in the first place.
Beautifully done. Recommended. I’m quite happy that I’ve missed a few now, it will give me something to do while I wait for the next.
July 8, 2018
Reading this book was like tuning into a soap opera that had been running for years. There were roughly 2,345 characters, all with their own POV. It was really difficult to remember who was who and what the heck they were doing there! Frequent callbacks to previous plots in earlier books added to the deep confusion. I would consider starting at the beginning of the series, except I don't care that much. I won't be reading another.
Every character, each of whom is weird, strange, or just plain odd, led to another, and they all met up at the end in a complicated knot. This sort of resolved everything, except of course those who led to the cliffhanger part, where I expected the last page to read "Tune in tomorrow for the next chapter of The Guiding Light!!" I'll pass, thanks.
Every character, each of whom is weird, strange, or just plain odd, led to another, and they all met up at the end in a complicated knot. This sort of resolved everything, except of course those who led to the cliffhanger part, where I expected the last page to read "Tune in tomorrow for the next chapter of The Guiding Light!!" I'll pass, thanks.
January 10, 2019
#Blackthorn #NetGalley I hadn't realized that this was the 9th in the series when I requested it from Netgalley. Although I did manage to read and, mostly, enjoy, I think I would have benefitted greatly in knowing more about the background of the characters. When the action was happening, I found this a really gripping book, particularly towards the end of the book where there was so much happening. But, for me, in the first three quarters of the book there was too much description rather than action, and I felt a littles confused at times about who the characters were and how they fitted in to the overall story. Also the chapters were quite long - just a personal preference as I tend to keep reading 'just one more chapter' when they are quite short but find it daunting when my kindle says 34 minutes left in the chapter!! nevertheless a good story and plot line, quite harrowing in places and obviously with the ending......to be continued!
June 24, 2019
This is the ninth (the ninth!) in a series featuring Glasgow detectives Costello and Anderson, a series which I’ve somehow managed to be completely unaware of until now, though as I’ve frequently mentioned I do love a good police procedural.
When a baby is abducted from his mother’s car, another baby inexplicably left in his place, the investigations begin to uncover secrets which go far deeper than anyone might have expected.
I liked the hard-nosed Costello (I don’t think her first name is ever mentioned, which I also liked, but did find the plot quite confusing at times (there seem to be a lot of characters - babies included)... but that could well be my fault for not paying close enough attention. And the police characters, at least, would have been more familiar to me had I read the previous books. As it was, I could never recall who was who, and feel I was definitely at a disadvantage here as a first time reader of the series.
Not all the dialogue flows naturally and there are a few sentences which could do with a good editing. As I read an advance copy, hopefully this will be cleared up by publication.
While the plot and characters are intriguing, and I liked the Glasgow setting, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I might - but it hasn’t put me off reading earlier books in the series. Apart from anything else, I’m interested to learn more about the backstory of the characters. And this one ends in a cliffhanger... so I’m probably going to have to read the next, too.
When a baby is abducted from his mother’s car, another baby inexplicably left in his place, the investigations begin to uncover secrets which go far deeper than anyone might have expected.
I liked the hard-nosed Costello (I don’t think her first name is ever mentioned, which I also liked, but did find the plot quite confusing at times (there seem to be a lot of characters - babies included)... but that could well be my fault for not paying close enough attention. And the police characters, at least, would have been more familiar to me had I read the previous books. As it was, I could never recall who was who, and feel I was definitely at a disadvantage here as a first time reader of the series.
Not all the dialogue flows naturally and there are a few sentences which could do with a good editing. As I read an advance copy, hopefully this will be cleared up by publication.
While the plot and characters are intriguing, and I liked the Glasgow setting, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I might - but it hasn’t put me off reading earlier books in the series. Apart from anything else, I’m interested to learn more about the backstory of the characters. And this one ends in a cliffhanger... so I’m probably going to have to read the next, too.
July 2, 2019
The Suffering of Strangers (2017 UK/2018 North America)
By Caro Ramsay
Black Thorn, 257 pages.
★★
The problem with a series is that if you show up late, it's hard to catch up. The Suffering of Strangers is book nine of Scottish fiction writer Caro Ramsay's Costello and Colin Anderson series. If you are addicted to Ms Ramsay's "tartan noir"* detective novels, you will probably devour it with gusto. If not, you'll probably share my judgment that it's more mess than mystery. My late-to-the-table status notwithstanding, this is simply not a very well written book.
In The Suffering of Strangers we find that Freddie (a woman) Costello is now a Detective Inspector (DI) and Colin Anderson a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) who has been promoted to the Cold Case Unit, which investigates unsolved cases. Each will be drawn into a distressing incident in which 6-week old Sholto Chisholm has gone missing in an unusual way: when his mother Roberta ducked into a store for just a moment, Sholto** was gone but a Down syndrome baby sits in his place in a nearly identical car seat.
Costello is reluctant to get involved as she's still licking her wounds from botching a previous case–presumably described in book eight of the series. She's also angrier than usual as Archie Walker–her superior and covert lover–seems to be cavorting with a younger woman. Anderson, however, sees similarities between Sholto's switcheroo and other missing child cases. Even worse, as the investigation unfolds, several women go missing in ways that suggest the pattern of a serial rapist whose unsolved crimes gback at least 20 years and ravaged Colin's university flame, Sally Logan.
This novel is overpopulated with characters. Again, I presume that much of the detective force has been introduced in earlier novels, but be wary of reviews that say this book works as a standalone novel. It does not. I had to make lists of characters and relationships to keep them straight. This is problematic on several levels. First, my list was much longer than it needed be. Ramsay drops names in ways that give a new reader few clues as to whether the character in question is relevant, or just police station wallpaper. The same is true of past and pending cases mentioned. Second, Ramsay complicates matters by introducing new characters whose relationships to the story are murky. There is, for instance, a child support services caseworker named Deliana Despande. "Dali" ticks some boxes in that she's of Southeast Asian descent, non-white, and obese, but none of these portrayals are flattering. She seems to be in the novel to bond with DI Costello, whom most of her colleagues find cold and domineering. In truth, Dali doesn't need to be in such an already overstuffed book.
Colin is tasked with reconnecting with Sally and her now-husband Andrew Braithwaite, who was also one of Colin's university friends. This is also awkward because Colin hasn't seen either of them in many years; he is married with two children, but still carries a romanticized torch for Sally. At this juncture, the novel begins to unravel. In a short spate of time we hear of several woman who have disappeared, including one who vanishes just out of sight of the now ubiquitous CCTV security cameras and a drone. Toss in a young caseworker who screwed up when one of the missing women crawled out a bathroom window, a subplot involving Walker's goddaughter, several detectives who may or may not be withholding investigative details in hope of an advancement scoop, a legend of an underground city, some stumbling around in a subterranean car park, a yoga studio, a baby-selling network, a rooftop, and some high-powered water jets.
Ramsay brings all of this to a conclusion through logic-defying subterfuge. If that's not enough–and believe me, it is–Ramsay tacks on a cloudburst of coincidences that revolve around Anderson. This book has more contrivances than a Rube Goldberg machine. If only it had Goldberg's humor, his sense of irony, and his devotion to making his contraptions do just one thing.
Rob Weir
*American crime writer James Ellroy coined this wonderful term.
** This name sounds odd to North American ears, but not those in Scotland. It was the first name of the 8th century chieftain who sired the Douglas clan. It comes from a Gaelic word that means fruitful.
By Caro Ramsay
Black Thorn, 257 pages.
★★
The problem with a series is that if you show up late, it's hard to catch up. The Suffering of Strangers is book nine of Scottish fiction writer Caro Ramsay's Costello and Colin Anderson series. If you are addicted to Ms Ramsay's "tartan noir"* detective novels, you will probably devour it with gusto. If not, you'll probably share my judgment that it's more mess than mystery. My late-to-the-table status notwithstanding, this is simply not a very well written book.
In The Suffering of Strangers we find that Freddie (a woman) Costello is now a Detective Inspector (DI) and Colin Anderson a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) who has been promoted to the Cold Case Unit, which investigates unsolved cases. Each will be drawn into a distressing incident in which 6-week old Sholto Chisholm has gone missing in an unusual way: when his mother Roberta ducked into a store for just a moment, Sholto** was gone but a Down syndrome baby sits in his place in a nearly identical car seat.
Costello is reluctant to get involved as she's still licking her wounds from botching a previous case–presumably described in book eight of the series. She's also angrier than usual as Archie Walker–her superior and covert lover–seems to be cavorting with a younger woman. Anderson, however, sees similarities between Sholto's switcheroo and other missing child cases. Even worse, as the investigation unfolds, several women go missing in ways that suggest the pattern of a serial rapist whose unsolved crimes gback at least 20 years and ravaged Colin's university flame, Sally Logan.
This novel is overpopulated with characters. Again, I presume that much of the detective force has been introduced in earlier novels, but be wary of reviews that say this book works as a standalone novel. It does not. I had to make lists of characters and relationships to keep them straight. This is problematic on several levels. First, my list was much longer than it needed be. Ramsay drops names in ways that give a new reader few clues as to whether the character in question is relevant, or just police station wallpaper. The same is true of past and pending cases mentioned. Second, Ramsay complicates matters by introducing new characters whose relationships to the story are murky. There is, for instance, a child support services caseworker named Deliana Despande. "Dali" ticks some boxes in that she's of Southeast Asian descent, non-white, and obese, but none of these portrayals are flattering. She seems to be in the novel to bond with DI Costello, whom most of her colleagues find cold and domineering. In truth, Dali doesn't need to be in such an already overstuffed book.
Colin is tasked with reconnecting with Sally and her now-husband Andrew Braithwaite, who was also one of Colin's university friends. This is also awkward because Colin hasn't seen either of them in many years; he is married with two children, but still carries a romanticized torch for Sally. At this juncture, the novel begins to unravel. In a short spate of time we hear of several woman who have disappeared, including one who vanishes just out of sight of the now ubiquitous CCTV security cameras and a drone. Toss in a young caseworker who screwed up when one of the missing women crawled out a bathroom window, a subplot involving Walker's goddaughter, several detectives who may or may not be withholding investigative details in hope of an advancement scoop, a legend of an underground city, some stumbling around in a subterranean car park, a yoga studio, a baby-selling network, a rooftop, and some high-powered water jets.
Ramsay brings all of this to a conclusion through logic-defying subterfuge. If that's not enough–and believe me, it is–Ramsay tacks on a cloudburst of coincidences that revolve around Anderson. This book has more contrivances than a Rube Goldberg machine. If only it had Goldberg's humor, his sense of irony, and his devotion to making his contraptions do just one thing.
Rob Weir
*American crime writer James Ellroy coined this wonderful term.
** This name sounds odd to North American ears, but not those in Scotland. It was the first name of the 8th century chieftain who sired the Douglas clan. It comes from a Gaelic word that means fruitful.
June 11, 2019
“Clap clap. She ducked a minute too late as the coil of rope settled around her neck.” from the prologue of the Suffering of Strangers.
Roberta has had a day. Her six week old son will not stop crying. Her husband calls and wants her to pick up some champagne to celebrate his new job. When she reaches the store, her son is blessedly silent. She decides to just run into the shop quickly while leaving her son in the car. When she returns both her car and son are gone. After a frantic search, Roberta finds her car but the infant in the car seat is not her son. DI Costello investigates.
Meanwhile, DCI Anderson is investigating a 20 year old cold case. A young mother is out late buying milk when she is roped around the neck, raped, and tossed behind some rubbish bins. She can’t recall what happened. Could this be part of a series?
I enjoyed guessing how these cases were connected and whodunit. However, jumping into this series at the ninth book may not be wise. While it can be read as a standalone, the sheer number of characters—some important for this story and some obviously carryovers from previous books—makes a slow and confusing book at the start. However, the momentum quickly builds after about 20% into a twisty conclusion.
The Suffering of Strangers is a rip-roaring British police procedural highly recommended for armchair detectives. However, it might be best to read at least one other entry in the series before beginning this book. 4 stars!
Thanks to Black Thorn Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Roberta has had a day. Her six week old son will not stop crying. Her husband calls and wants her to pick up some champagne to celebrate his new job. When she reaches the store, her son is blessedly silent. She decides to just run into the shop quickly while leaving her son in the car. When she returns both her car and son are gone. After a frantic search, Roberta finds her car but the infant in the car seat is not her son. DI Costello investigates.
Meanwhile, DCI Anderson is investigating a 20 year old cold case. A young mother is out late buying milk when she is roped around the neck, raped, and tossed behind some rubbish bins. She can’t recall what happened. Could this be part of a series?
I enjoyed guessing how these cases were connected and whodunit. However, jumping into this series at the ninth book may not be wise. While it can be read as a standalone, the sheer number of characters—some important for this story and some obviously carryovers from previous books—makes a slow and confusing book at the start. However, the momentum quickly builds after about 20% into a twisty conclusion.
The Suffering of Strangers is a rip-roaring British police procedural highly recommended for armchair detectives. However, it might be best to read at least one other entry in the series before beginning this book. 4 stars!
Thanks to Black Thorn Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 22, 2019
I’m not usually one for a DI book. I just find them a little too much and a little too heavy. But due to the amazing writing style of this author. I actually found myself enjoying this very well written book.
April 7, 2019
The Suffering of strangers from Caro Ramsay is the ninth book in the Costello and Anderson series. I didn’t realise this when I requested this on NetGalley. This is the first book I have read in the series.
A baby is stolen outside a village shop when left in a car for a minute. They discover the car moments later with another baby who is suffering with Downs syndrome left in their place. DI Anderson is now working Cold cases, Is on investigation regarding a rape. As they both delve into their cases. They realise that both cases are linked.
Let me say this is not a bad book. It’s well written But, I found it hard to get into as some aspects of the story as it was referring to parts from previous books and it confused me somewhat. I also thought that there was too much description of characters and not enough of the case of the missing child.
Thank you NetGalley and Black Thorn for a copy of this book
A baby is stolen outside a village shop when left in a car for a minute. They discover the car moments later with another baby who is suffering with Downs syndrome left in their place. DI Anderson is now working Cold cases, Is on investigation regarding a rape. As they both delve into their cases. They realise that both cases are linked.
Let me say this is not a bad book. It’s well written But, I found it hard to get into as some aspects of the story as it was referring to parts from previous books and it confused me somewhat. I also thought that there was too much description of characters and not enough of the case of the missing child.
Thank you NetGalley and Black Thorn for a copy of this book
June 17, 2019
A baby is taken from his mother’s car; in his place is a baby with Down Syndrome. The cold case review team is looking into a series of historical rapes. Do these have anything to do with each other?
This is number nine is a series featuring Glaswegian detectives Costello and Anderson. I haven’t read the prior novels, and, unfortunately, this made me fell that I had come in in the middle of something. A number of different characters were introduced and I really had to pay attention to keep them straight.
Despite that, I found this to be a satisfying police procedural that was an engrossing read.
This is number nine is a series featuring Glaswegian detectives Costello and Anderson. I haven’t read the prior novels, and, unfortunately, this made me fell that I had come in in the middle of something. A number of different characters were introduced and I really had to pay attention to keep them straight.
Despite that, I found this to be a satisfying police procedural that was an engrossing read.
August 16, 2019
When an exhausted new mum leaves her sleeping six-week-old baby in the car while she nips into the shop she is horrified to discover that her car and baby are gone when she gets back just a few minutes later. She is flooded with relief when a call comes in to say the car has been spotted just a couple of streets away. When she got there the baby isn’t hers. This baby has downs syndrome.
Although this is the 9th book in the series I seemed to pick out the core story without any problems, although there was a huge number of characters in the book. It is recommended though to read the series in order to fully understand all the subplots that keep coming up from other cases.
I really took to Costella and Anderson, two Scottish detectives that are at the beginning of the story working on different cases from different timelines but they keep coming together like a pair of magnets. This police procedural ticks all the right boxes connects all the dots and opens up something much bigger than either of them could have dreamed up.
Brilliant characters, super location, and a fabulous plot.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Although this is the 9th book in the series I seemed to pick out the core story without any problems, although there was a huge number of characters in the book. It is recommended though to read the series in order to fully understand all the subplots that keep coming up from other cases.
I really took to Costella and Anderson, two Scottish detectives that are at the beginning of the story working on different cases from different timelines but they keep coming together like a pair of magnets. This police procedural ticks all the right boxes connects all the dots and opens up something much bigger than either of them could have dreamed up.
Brilliant characters, super location, and a fabulous plot.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
June 8, 2019
Caro Ramsay makes few concession to readers, and it would be best to start with the first book in the series. When I read The Sideman, I felt exactly the same way.
Ramsay has a number of well-drawn characters that are interesting (the snarky DI Costello is the most vivid, but I like the other characters as well).
While The Suffering of Strangers can be read as a standalone, it would be smoother sailing to begin with the first book in the series to become accustomed to Ramsay's writing style and have a better grasp of the characters.
from the description: "When a child abduction and sexual assault case overlap, Glaswegian police team Costello and Anderson team up to crack the cases.
DI Costello faces a disturbing child abduction case; a six-week-old has been stolen and replaced with another baby. The swap took cold and meticulous planning, so Costello treads the seedy, Glaswegian back streets for answers. She’s convinced that more than one young life is at stake.
Promoted into the Cold Case Unit, Colin Anderson reviews the unsolved rape of a young mother, whose attacker is still out there. Each case pulls Anderson and Costello in the same direction and, as their paths keep crossing, they begin to suspect their separate cases are dangerously entwined."
NetGalley/Blackthorn
Police Procedural. 2018. Print length: 356 pages.
Ramsay has a number of well-drawn characters that are interesting (the snarky DI Costello is the most vivid, but I like the other characters as well).
While The Suffering of Strangers can be read as a standalone, it would be smoother sailing to begin with the first book in the series to become accustomed to Ramsay's writing style and have a better grasp of the characters.
from the description: "When a child abduction and sexual assault case overlap, Glaswegian police team Costello and Anderson team up to crack the cases.
DI Costello faces a disturbing child abduction case; a six-week-old has been stolen and replaced with another baby. The swap took cold and meticulous planning, so Costello treads the seedy, Glaswegian back streets for answers. She’s convinced that more than one young life is at stake.
Promoted into the Cold Case Unit, Colin Anderson reviews the unsolved rape of a young mother, whose attacker is still out there. Each case pulls Anderson and Costello in the same direction and, as their paths keep crossing, they begin to suspect their separate cases are dangerously entwined."
NetGalley/Blackthorn
Police Procedural. 2018. Print length: 356 pages.
July 16, 2019
Anderson and Costello are working in separate units investigating cold cases and domestic abuse respectively. I am new to this series so it took a while to get my head round who they all were. I imagine it would make a lot more sense to start at the beginning and read them in order; the good news is I have a whole new series to look forward to. I loved the Glasgow setting but the subject matter is not for the faint-hearted. Caro Ramsey skillfully juggles multiple storylines until it becomes clear that Anderson and Costello’s cases are linked, and the clock is ticking – will they find the missing baby before it is too late? I really enjoyed The Suffering of Strangers, it kept me hooked right to the end and I look forward to reading the series from the beginning.
April 6, 2025
The initial idea is good but it quickly gets overly complicated. There are too many characters and story lines, most of which don’t seem to relate to the main plot for most of the book. The writer also relies on the reader to have read all the previous books in the series,in order to understand what is going on with the main characters, and their side stories (which are not necessary for the current plot). I have read other books from this writer and they all start with an interesting crime and then loose their way in a maze of insignificant characters and side plots. I will not be reading another one of their books.
June 5, 2019
So as a reader of crime thrillers and police procedurals, I am a little bit embarrassed to admit that this is the first book I’ve read by Caro Ramsay!! Yes, I know!! And I’m also a lover of all things Scottish so I’m doubly ashamed that I’ve only just come to the Costello and Anderson series on their 11th outing! Did that affect my enjoyment of The Suffering of Strangers? No! And will I now be trying to catch up on their relationship and cases in their previous books? Yes!! Honestly please don’t worry if, like me, this is your first experience of this gritty crime series based in Glasgow. The characters are well developed enough from their past to make you feel that you still know them and we are also drip fed any other information we need. So jump right in because this case is an absolute corker!
A mother popping into her local shop to buy a bottle of champagne to celebrate her husbands promotion leaves her young baby asleep in his car seat. Yes, I know we are all throwing our hands up in horror but imagine having that peace and quiet from the crying and dreading the possibility of baby waking just for the sake of popping in and out in a matter of minutes. But that’s all the time it takes for baby Sholto to be abducted. Strangely though, another baby has been left in his place. That’s the twisty premise that faces DI Costello in a case that will take her mind off a few personal dilemmas. But with Colin Anderson investigating cold cases, it soon becomes clear that they may be connecting sooner than expected.
This was a terrifically twisty and terrifying read from the moment I picked it up. It was one of my holiday reads (I take my time choosing the pile of books I read whilst away and only the best make it!) and it grabbed my attention throughout. I loved the way the characters were so well established that even newcomers to the series got a feel for them as soon as they appear on the page. The cases were distressing at times due to their nature but were intelligently drawn and handled with a realism and understanding of the police force. I got a real sense of place from the Glaswegian setting (wasn’t too impressed with her description of Edinburgh though lol!! You’ll understand when you read it!) a city I know well and love. It conveyed the openness and camaraderie of the people who live there. I had no idea which way the narrative was heading and there were a few shocks and twists especially towards the end that I hadn’t seen coming so when the denouement came there were a wide range of emotions that hit me….and I loved that!
A dark and intriguing storyline that kept me gripped till the very last word.
A mother popping into her local shop to buy a bottle of champagne to celebrate her husbands promotion leaves her young baby asleep in his car seat. Yes, I know we are all throwing our hands up in horror but imagine having that peace and quiet from the crying and dreading the possibility of baby waking just for the sake of popping in and out in a matter of minutes. But that’s all the time it takes for baby Sholto to be abducted. Strangely though, another baby has been left in his place. That’s the twisty premise that faces DI Costello in a case that will take her mind off a few personal dilemmas. But with Colin Anderson investigating cold cases, it soon becomes clear that they may be connecting sooner than expected.
This was a terrifically twisty and terrifying read from the moment I picked it up. It was one of my holiday reads (I take my time choosing the pile of books I read whilst away and only the best make it!) and it grabbed my attention throughout. I loved the way the characters were so well established that even newcomers to the series got a feel for them as soon as they appear on the page. The cases were distressing at times due to their nature but were intelligently drawn and handled with a realism and understanding of the police force. I got a real sense of place from the Glaswegian setting (wasn’t too impressed with her description of Edinburgh though lol!! You’ll understand when you read it!) a city I know well and love. It conveyed the openness and camaraderie of the people who live there. I had no idea which way the narrative was heading and there were a few shocks and twists especially towards the end that I hadn’t seen coming so when the denouement came there were a wide range of emotions that hit me….and I loved that!
A dark and intriguing storyline that kept me gripped till the very last word.
June 7, 2019
This is the 9th book in the Costello and Anderson series but very good as a stand-alone. There is lots of action as it is a gritty page-turner.
DI Costello is working on domestic abuse and Anderson heads up the cold case department. Set in Glasgow they are investigating a child swap case of baby Sholto being exchanged for “Moses”, a name by the police.
Anderson has been involved in a historical rape case that was something he worked on in the past. Eventually, the two stands meet up.
This is a complex plot brilliantly executed by author Caro Ramsay and well worth the time to read it.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
DI Costello is working on domestic abuse and Anderson heads up the cold case department. Set in Glasgow they are investigating a child swap case of baby Sholto being exchanged for “Moses”, a name by the police.
Anderson has been involved in a historical rape case that was something he worked on in the past. Eventually, the two stands meet up.
This is a complex plot brilliantly executed by author Caro Ramsay and well worth the time to read it.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
June 6, 2019
# The Suffering Strangers. #
When I started this book, and having read the first couple of chapters I was not certain if I wanted to continue reading it. Although I do try never to give up on a book. At the point I started to wonder if I wanted to continue or not. There had been the incident of the baby swopping. From there on it felt like a couple of chapters where just introducing different people. I was pretty bored and wondered if this story was actually going to take off or what. When Costello was assigned to the case of baby swop, only spoiler coming from me. Everything changed to like a aircraft with its turbo boost to actually take off. From there on in I could suddenly not put the book down. With twist coming all the way through the book I was absolutely gripped. I could not believe how a book suddenly changed so very much. To one I would most definitely recommend. The final twists at the end wow my jaw dropping almost hit the floor. I am knocking one star off due to slow start. Get past that and you really do have one hell of a jaw dropping read
When I started this book, and having read the first couple of chapters I was not certain if I wanted to continue reading it. Although I do try never to give up on a book. At the point I started to wonder if I wanted to continue or not. There had been the incident of the baby swopping. From there on it felt like a couple of chapters where just introducing different people. I was pretty bored and wondered if this story was actually going to take off or what. When Costello was assigned to the case of baby swop, only spoiler coming from me. Everything changed to like a aircraft with its turbo boost to actually take off. From there on in I could suddenly not put the book down. With twist coming all the way through the book I was absolutely gripped. I could not believe how a book suddenly changed so very much. To one I would most definitely recommend. The final twists at the end wow my jaw dropping almost hit the floor. I am knocking one star off due to slow start. Get past that and you really do have one hell of a jaw dropping read
November 22, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of The Suffering of Strangers, the ninth novel to feature Glasgow based detectives Anderson and Costello.
The MIT team Anderson led has been split up. He is now running the Cold Case Unit, Costello is in the Domestic Abuse unit and Wyngate and Mulholland are on desk duties. Costello is called out to the disappearance of a six week old baby but the circumstances are so strange she quickly comes to the conclusion that the abduction was planned meticulously and further investigation widens that theory considerably. In the meantime Anderson is considering re-opening a 1996 rape case but again the case widens until he is working with Costello and the old team again.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Suffering of Strangers and was glued to the pages from start to finish. It has a detailed plot and a large array of characters so concentration is required which, while not difficult to follow, makes it a grown up book. Of course, the setting of my home town, Glasgow, adds to my enjoyment as I know some of the locations and understand the humour in the dialogue.
The novel is a third person narrative with a linear timeline which is definitely my preferred format although I was not so keen on the initial multiple points of view which is distracting as you try to work out the relevance of each character. Fortunately it soon settles down into mainly Anderson and Costello. Without giving too much away I found that some parts of Anderson's investigation stretched my credulity to the limit but it is compulsive reading so I guess it doesn't matter too much. Costello's investigation, on the other hand, is frighteningly plausible although I'm not sure about the practicalities of it. I found the ethical issues raised by the investigation interesting and it put some of the arguments into perspective although none of them are new.
Anderson and Costello are like an old married couple in that they trust each other implicitly but their day to day interactions can be less than cordial which adds some spice and humour to the dialogue.
The Suffering of Strangers is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
The MIT team Anderson led has been split up. He is now running the Cold Case Unit, Costello is in the Domestic Abuse unit and Wyngate and Mulholland are on desk duties. Costello is called out to the disappearance of a six week old baby but the circumstances are so strange she quickly comes to the conclusion that the abduction was planned meticulously and further investigation widens that theory considerably. In the meantime Anderson is considering re-opening a 1996 rape case but again the case widens until he is working with Costello and the old team again.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Suffering of Strangers and was glued to the pages from start to finish. It has a detailed plot and a large array of characters so concentration is required which, while not difficult to follow, makes it a grown up book. Of course, the setting of my home town, Glasgow, adds to my enjoyment as I know some of the locations and understand the humour in the dialogue.
The novel is a third person narrative with a linear timeline which is definitely my preferred format although I was not so keen on the initial multiple points of view which is distracting as you try to work out the relevance of each character. Fortunately it soon settles down into mainly Anderson and Costello. Without giving too much away I found that some parts of Anderson's investigation stretched my credulity to the limit but it is compulsive reading so I guess it doesn't matter too much. Costello's investigation, on the other hand, is frighteningly plausible although I'm not sure about the practicalities of it. I found the ethical issues raised by the investigation interesting and it put some of the arguments into perspective although none of them are new.
Anderson and Costello are like an old married couple in that they trust each other implicitly but their day to day interactions can be less than cordial which adds some spice and humour to the dialogue.
The Suffering of Strangers is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 28, 2019
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
a baby is snatched from a car whilst mom quickly goes into a shop for a few items, she is tired and stressed and realising that having a baby isnt all sweetness and light...hardly any sleep but what happens next is every mothers worst nightmare..firstly her car has gone and then once the panic starts and screams and with everyone rushing to help her the car is found......and thats when it gets worse.....
this story also covers rapes and murders that have no apparent links to them...
but once investigations are under way some things are noticed right away...why do several very pregnant young girls walk down and alley and then disappear...they dont reappear at the end of the alleyway...they vanish into think air...
the banter between the two police officers is easily to understand as they have worked well together and know each other and though they arent working together now this case brings their own cases together in such a way that is only understood if you read this one...
well worth a read though its probably best to read the others in the series like i havent so sometimes i felt as if i was playing catchup...but on the whole i would read another of this authors works...
a baby is snatched from a car whilst mom quickly goes into a shop for a few items, she is tired and stressed and realising that having a baby isnt all sweetness and light...hardly any sleep but what happens next is every mothers worst nightmare..firstly her car has gone and then once the panic starts and screams and with everyone rushing to help her the car is found......and thats when it gets worse.....
this story also covers rapes and murders that have no apparent links to them...
but once investigations are under way some things are noticed right away...why do several very pregnant young girls walk down and alley and then disappear...they dont reappear at the end of the alleyway...they vanish into think air...
the banter between the two police officers is easily to understand as they have worked well together and know each other and though they arent working together now this case brings their own cases together in such a way that is only understood if you read this one...
well worth a read though its probably best to read the others in the series like i havent so sometimes i felt as if i was playing catchup...but on the whole i would read another of this authors works...
May 19, 2019
Firstly this book is the 9th book in a series and I didn't know that when I started it! I was a bit confused at the start of the book as there are a LOT of characters....I really struggled to get them all straight in my head. It didn't get that much easier throughout the story to be honest, I had to keep checking back to see who was who. There was also a lot that clearly had a backstory but having read none of the first 8 I didn't know this. However, I did enjoy reading it, I finished it in a day and was looking forward to the ending. It wasn't a huge whodunnit, a couple of small twists but nothing that made me shocked. I couldn't work out the relationships between all of the main players, it felt disjointed and again I can only guess that it's because I haven't read the series. I probably won't pick up the other books as there have been lots but if this was book two or three then I would....it was intriguing and well written. If you like police procedural and crime books then you would probably enjoy this one.
May 24, 2019
The Suffering of strangers was one of the best books i have read recently. It was complex and well plotted with the many characters so well developed and intertwined. I really loved this story and can not wait to read more from Caro Ramsay. I will definitely be looking for the previous books in this series and I can not wait to see if there is a follow-up to this one.
A woman on a hike in the mountains she feels she is not alone, hears a sound maybe a clap clap. A baby is taken but another is put in its place. A young boy from an upper scale home hiding behind a dumpster in the city. Women in an alleyway seem to vanish. And at the end of the story Clap Clap.
This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Thank you to Caro Ramsay for a wonderful adventure.
A woman on a hike in the mountains she feels she is not alone, hears a sound maybe a clap clap. A baby is taken but another is put in its place. A young boy from an upper scale home hiding behind a dumpster in the city. Women in an alleyway seem to vanish. And at the end of the story Clap Clap.
This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Thank you to Caro Ramsay for a wonderful adventure.
May 21, 2020
I feel like I missed something with this book. Like I read every word but just did not connect with it at all which is really unusual. It just felt disjointed and half the time I didn’t know what was going on but I’m sure it must have just been me.
A bizarre mix of a million characters left me not knowing what was going on. I really wanted to like it, the idea was good but I don’t know who was who, what was where or the answer to anything! I’m left highly confused. A very odd reading experience!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review!
A bizarre mix of a million characters left me not knowing what was going on. I really wanted to like it, the idea was good but I don’t know who was who, what was where or the answer to anything! I’m left highly confused. A very odd reading experience!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review!
May 19, 2022
The Suffering of Readers.
Messy, overpopulated with irrelevant characters and inexplicable storylines, immensely verbose.
Felt like struggling through a jungle not knowing why and where to go.
DNF.
Messy, overpopulated with irrelevant characters and inexplicable storylines, immensely verbose.
Felt like struggling through a jungle not knowing why and where to go.
DNF.
December 4, 2017
I broke my own series rule with this series coming into it from book 6, only breaking after that one to go back to read book one prior to continuing from book seven. As I have loved all subsequent books I can safely say that, although there must be things I have missed, it hasn't impeded my enjoyment of any of them.
So, Anderson and Costello are now no longer working together with Anderson safely ensconced on the cold case unit currently looking into the unsolved rape of a young woman back in the nineties. Meanwhile, still on the front line working in the Domestic Abuse task force, Costello is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a very young baby from a car parked outside a village shop. Was this just a random, opportunistic snatching or has someone targeted the young child and family? And more importantly, who is the child that has been left in his place? If that wasn't enough, Costello is also called to assist with the case of a missing young mother who, along with her hardly seen baby, social services are concerned about. Calling on help from two ex-colleagues who are currently desk bound, can Costello cut through the noise and figure out what is happening to the children in her town? And what exactly does Anderson discover when he digs deeper in his own case?
The early chapters of this book were a little busy with many characters and told from quite a few POVs. This did settle down after a while and I was very glad of that as I did struggle a wee bit initially. I also missed the interaction, banter and bickering between Anderson and Costello initially too but, when their paths did cross, I definitely saw glimpses of the old partnership shining through. Wyngate and Mulholland bravely took over the mantle of banterers-in-chief quite admirably as they were forced together by being desk bound so I did get my fix there instead!
I can't really say much more about the investigations as to do so would contain spoilers and I won't do that but I can say that Anderson gets more than he bargains for with his investigation when it takes a turn that takes it a little close to home for him. Suffice to say that both threads were quite credible and a little scary at times as they are both quite emotive subjects.
One of the things I do like about this series is the police procedure side of things. Sometimes I find that this side of things falls into place a little too easily sometimes but here, it is usually chaotic and more is made of the investigative side of things; dead ends and the like, so to me anyway, it comes across as more real than some.
The way that our duo come together again is also well done and doesn't come across as contrived. I was a little upset that their team had been split up as, as already mentioned, they all work really well together but, I understand why it had to be. i was very happy to say the least when eventually their paths' merged and they were coupled together once again.
All in all, a good addition to this author's catalogue. I really must go back and read books 2-5 to complete the series. I just wish I had more time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So, Anderson and Costello are now no longer working together with Anderson safely ensconced on the cold case unit currently looking into the unsolved rape of a young woman back in the nineties. Meanwhile, still on the front line working in the Domestic Abuse task force, Costello is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a very young baby from a car parked outside a village shop. Was this just a random, opportunistic snatching or has someone targeted the young child and family? And more importantly, who is the child that has been left in his place? If that wasn't enough, Costello is also called to assist with the case of a missing young mother who, along with her hardly seen baby, social services are concerned about. Calling on help from two ex-colleagues who are currently desk bound, can Costello cut through the noise and figure out what is happening to the children in her town? And what exactly does Anderson discover when he digs deeper in his own case?
The early chapters of this book were a little busy with many characters and told from quite a few POVs. This did settle down after a while and I was very glad of that as I did struggle a wee bit initially. I also missed the interaction, banter and bickering between Anderson and Costello initially too but, when their paths did cross, I definitely saw glimpses of the old partnership shining through. Wyngate and Mulholland bravely took over the mantle of banterers-in-chief quite admirably as they were forced together by being desk bound so I did get my fix there instead!
I can't really say much more about the investigations as to do so would contain spoilers and I won't do that but I can say that Anderson gets more than he bargains for with his investigation when it takes a turn that takes it a little close to home for him. Suffice to say that both threads were quite credible and a little scary at times as they are both quite emotive subjects.
One of the things I do like about this series is the police procedure side of things. Sometimes I find that this side of things falls into place a little too easily sometimes but here, it is usually chaotic and more is made of the investigative side of things; dead ends and the like, so to me anyway, it comes across as more real than some.
The way that our duo come together again is also well done and doesn't come across as contrived. I was a little upset that their team had been split up as, as already mentioned, they all work really well together but, I understand why it had to be. i was very happy to say the least when eventually their paths' merged and they were coupled together once again.
All in all, a good addition to this author's catalogue. I really must go back and read books 2-5 to complete the series. I just wish I had more time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 20, 2019
An Anderson and Costello thriller from Caro Ramsay always brings the promise of a gripping story and unsettling themes. This is the 9th book in the series, it can be read and enjoyed without reading the earlier titles (though returning readers will likely get more satisfaction/reward from the character developments).
The Suffering of Strangers has two main investigations for the reader to follow. Colin Anderson is investigating cold case crimes and turns his attention to an unsolved rape case. Anderson knows the victim and also knows the long-lasting consequences of the attack.
DI Costello also has a harrowing case to contend with. A baby has been taken. Left unattended in his mother’s car for just a few short minutes, baby Shoto is gone – in his place is another baby. A swap. An exchange. A nightmare for Shoto’s parents. Costello will need to work with child services to try to track down new mothers who may now be caring for a child that is not their own.
Two extremely emotive crimes and Caro Ramsay tackles them brilliantly to ensure the horror and consequence of each is forefront in the narrative. This is a well crafted police procedural where the investigations are diligently pursued by the lead characters and the reader gets the real feeling of being included in their quest for the truth.
On a personal note, I love reading books where the location can play a key role in the development of the plot. Glasgow shines in The Suffering of Strangers and while no spoilers are permitted in my reviews, the city and its history has a fascinating contribution to make and this delivered a very unexpected twist in proceedings.
Both investigations will bring surprises and by the end of the book there will be significant changes to the lives of Costello and Anderson. This story will shape things to come.
Hugely enjoyable reading. If Caro’s books are not on your radar yet then I urge you to grab a copy of The Suffering of Strangers and start catching up on this terrific series.
The Suffering of Strangers has two main investigations for the reader to follow. Colin Anderson is investigating cold case crimes and turns his attention to an unsolved rape case. Anderson knows the victim and also knows the long-lasting consequences of the attack.
DI Costello also has a harrowing case to contend with. A baby has been taken. Left unattended in his mother’s car for just a few short minutes, baby Shoto is gone – in his place is another baby. A swap. An exchange. A nightmare for Shoto’s parents. Costello will need to work with child services to try to track down new mothers who may now be caring for a child that is not their own.
Two extremely emotive crimes and Caro Ramsay tackles them brilliantly to ensure the horror and consequence of each is forefront in the narrative. This is a well crafted police procedural where the investigations are diligently pursued by the lead characters and the reader gets the real feeling of being included in their quest for the truth.
On a personal note, I love reading books where the location can play a key role in the development of the plot. Glasgow shines in The Suffering of Strangers and while no spoilers are permitted in my reviews, the city and its history has a fascinating contribution to make and this delivered a very unexpected twist in proceedings.
Both investigations will bring surprises and by the end of the book there will be significant changes to the lives of Costello and Anderson. This story will shape things to come.
Hugely enjoyable reading. If Caro’s books are not on your radar yet then I urge you to grab a copy of The Suffering of Strangers and start catching up on this terrific series.
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