Lead Review (In The Shadows)

• Book: In The Shadows
• Location: Glasgow
• Author: Anna Smith

Review Author: tripfiction

3.75*

This is the 4th outing for Billie Carlson, private investigator, ex cop. This time she is tackling two cases simultaneously. One is the death of a woman in the Costa del Sol, her daughter is sure that didn’t simply fall and die whilst on holiday there. As Billie looks more closely at the case, she understands that the woman was easily beguiled and seemingly got herself involved in a smuggling operation.

The other case: Billie is also engaged by a woman, Elizabeth, who had a drunken one night stand, found herself being strangled but turned the tables and ended up killing her paramour. She dumps him in the sea. Her husband, it transpires, is a university lecturer but also a spy and she believes there is clearly some link between the man who seduced her and her husband’s operations. However, her husband absolutely must not find out about her dalliance. Then the body washes up on the shores of Portpatrick but still Elizabeth will not go to the police. It is Billie whom she has chosen to help her and it is only Billie – given the reveal of a shocking personal link – who can help her.

A crisp, fast-paced and easy-to-read-and-follow story that works well as a poolside read. Glasgow doesn’t feature particularly strongly, although there are some specific references that set the novel in the city.

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