Many thanks to @MarionETodd @CaneloCrime @canelo_co @KellyALacey @lovebookstours for the opportunity to review it.
DCI Clare Mackay's team is investigating the case of a missing person who was found in Tentsmuir Forest inside his car with his throat cut. The victim is solicitor Harry Richards and his murder is just the start of a tricky investigation for Clare and the team.
The police team's personal lives are nicely balanced, and they all have likable personalities, making for enjoyable banter. Clare is an authentic and relatable protagonist. The perfect balance between her demanding job and the serenity of her partner, DCI Alistair Gibson.
The well-written novel follows a linear timeline to guide its storyline. The focus is on good storytelling without diverting from the story. The story becomes even more captivating as the investigation branches out from the deceased lawyer and into modern issues.
The pace is deliberate but well-considered, making it feel true to life. At the end, the different plots come together, making it an immersive and gripping experience. The comedic relief does a great job of offsetting the gloomy plot elements, and I wholeheartedly concur on the correct way to devour a Kit-Kat!!.
The series is fantastic and I’m eagerly awaiting the eighth instalment. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting from the beginning for the full experience. I certainly will.
Top marks to Marion Todd, for me a fantastic writer and my auto-buy Scottish writer.
About the Author
Marion grew up in the City of Dundee, now home to the magnificent V&A Museum. Always a keen writer, she has had point-of-view pieces published in the Dundee Courier and short stories in My Weekly magazine. She won first prize in the Family Circle Magazine Short Story for Children Competition in 1987.
More recently, Marion has turned her hand to crime fiction and was one of only six commercial fiction writers selected to pitch to an industry panel at XPONorth in Inverness in 2017. In 2018 Marion was long-listed for the Sunstory Award and the Scottish Arts Council Short Story Award. This year she was short-listed for Dundee Rep’s Stripped programme. She is represented by Northbank Talent Management and her debut novel, See Them Run, will be published as an eBook by Canelo on 31 October 2019.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Marion worked as a lecturer, candle-maker and hotel lounge pianist, a job which provided rich material for her novels. When she isn’t writing, Marion can be found tussling with her jungle-like garden and walking in the beautiful Scottish countryside.
Marion lives in North East Fife overlooking the River Tay and is a sometime babysitter for her daughter’s unruly but lovable dog.
Comments