Police procedural set in HAMPSHIRE and TYNE & WEAR

30th March 2026

Broken House by Louisa Scarr, police procedural set in Southampton and New Forest, Hampshire; Newcastle, Tyne and Wear.

Broken House is the third book in the PC Lucy Halliday police procedural series, written by Louisa Scarr. PC Lucy Halliday and her working police dogs, Moss and Iggy, are the main focus of the book, which involves the search for a woman who has been missing for ten years. Moss’s services are called on to search a remote and derelict house and garden where Lauren Shaw used to live. The assumption at the time was that she had voluntarily left her husband, but evidence now points to her having been murdered – and it isn’t long before Moss discovers a body.

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The case is headed up by DCI Jack Ellis, Lucy’s long-time friend and colleague. The two are currently not on speaking terms, as Lucy discovered that Jack knew a secret about Lucy’s past that he had been keeping from her. Lucy was formerly a DCI and, with his team stretched by the murder investigation, Jack asks Lucy for her input on the case. Despite the tension between them, Lucy and Jack have to travel together to Newcastle to investigate the case further; something that worries Lucy’s partner and fellow dog handler, Pete. The author is supremely skilled in describing the fragile emotions of her characters while not making them seem in any way weak and balancing all that with a superbly plotted story.

The settings of the Lucy Halliday books are not as important as the characterisation and the plot. There are descriptions of the locations but really only to situate the reader and provide a bit of atmosphere, rather than to act as a travelogue. I find it remarkable that Lucy has two such generous and understanding men in her life as Jack and Pete. She definitely shows that she is worthy of their devotion though. She also demonstrates how tough she is, both physically and mentally, as the case progresses. In this book, Iggy also comes into his own as he hunts down the criminals and protects his handler. Speaking of toughness, this book covers some rather disturbing crimes and the author doesn’t spare the details. That said, it is a thoroughly engaging and satisfying read.

Sue for the TripFiction Team

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