This is a very good series, featuring Anderson and Costello, although I would recommend reading the previous book, The Suffering of Strangers first. This book follows on and builds on the previous plot. Costello resigns from Police Scotland and disappears, convinced that George Haggerty has murdered his wife and son. It is a bit of a puzzling plot as Costello really does not feature much. I enjoy this series, it's gritty and full of interesting characters and I really advise readers to start with book one, you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Net Galley and Severn House for my ARC.

A well done procedural. It would have helped to have read the earlier books in the series to full understand the relationship between DI Costello and DCI Anderson but the mystery and the murder investigation are universal themes. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was the first time I had anything by the author, so thank you goes to Netgalley and the publisher for bringing the series to my attention. I made the fundamental mistake of jumping straight in and didn't realise that this book was a follow on to Book 9 in the series. As such I struggled early on to get the characters clear in my mind. However as I read on things become clearer and I really enjoyed the book. The chemistry between Costello and Anderson certainly deserves further investigation. I will now be searching for some books in the series to read over Christmas. Would recommend without hesitation but read the series in order to avoid the initial struggle in understanding.

The tenth novel by Caro Ramsay to feature DCI Anderson and DI Costello, the Sideman focusses on Colin Anderson and his take on the seemingly unrelated murders and also Costello's obsession with George Heggerty. Although the book can be read as a standalone, as with any long standing series you'd be better off reading the others first.

There's a lot going on in The Sideman and you really have to concentrate but if you do you will be amply rewarded with a terrific read and an intriuging mix of relationship inside and outside the force.

This continues the Costello and Anderson series. Each have their own problems to face. Costello has gone off on her own to prove who has committed a murder as the police have provided the main suspect with an alibi. This is a multifaceted police procedural full of twists and turns that you need to keep abreast of. There are several story lines that do come together eventually. This book follows on from her previous The Suffering of Strangers and I would recommend reading it before this one..

Caro Ramsay’s Costello and Anderson series goes from strength to strength. With each new book the characters absorb a different dimension as they grow which keeps them fresh and us, the reader wanting more. Their narratives evolve and respond to each investigation and that, I think, is the secret of their longevity. The Sideman follows on from last year’s powerful The Suffering of Strangers and I would advise that you read this first.
Still reeling from the previous novels revelations, DCI Colin Anderson is adapting to life as the grand father and carer of his grandson, whilst trying to make sense of the murders that happened at the end of the previous novel and debating how much faith to invest in DI Costello’s allegations that his grand child, baby Moses’, step grandad is the perpetrator. Meanwhile Costello has resigned from the police and is pursuing her own investigation which seems to link into a murder on the banks of Loch Lomond.
One of the main strengths of this novel is the way that Ramsay weaves her intricate storylines relentlessly to a dynamic conclusion. Her attention to detail is strong and her characterisation at times left me gasping – she isn’t one to pull punches as her description of an alcoholic’s life will uphold. She has an incisive style that cuts to the chase and often shocks.
Alongside that, she paints a realistic vision of the versatility and contrasts of the Scottish landscape from city life to the highlands to the countryside.
For me this is a series well worth reading. Ramsey’s quirky narratives and unflinching plots deserve a place on even the most well stocked book shelf.

An outstanding read! Bravo Caro Ramsay

DI Winifred Prudence Costello (known to everyone only as Costello) has handed in her notice and disappeared. The question is why? Where is she? Has she decided to track down the killer of Abigail and her son Malcolm Haggerty? Is she still convinced that George Haggerty killed his wife and son?

This is the continuation of the previous book by Caro Ramsay, The Suffering of Strangers and finally, all the loose ends come together, and we get the whole picture of what has led to Costello taking the unprecedented step of resigning and disappearing.

I can highly recommend this book. However, I suggest that you read the previous book, The Suffering of Strangers because the storyline in The Sideman is a continuation of that book.

I think my biggest regret is that I’ve only recently discovered Caro Ramsay. I now wish I’d read the whole series featuring Anderson and Costello.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

The events in this book do follow directly from what happened in the previous one - The Suffering of Strangers - so, if you haven't been with this series from the beginning, you would really be better off reading that one first at the very least. I feel you would probably struggle with this one if you don't although there are some recaps, they are really only memory joggers. Obviously it is better starting from book one but as this is the tenth, that might be a step too far for some!
So, with Costello still convinced of Haggerty's guilt, and her "interest" in him bordering on stalking and harassment, her superior officers frown upon her behaviour so she does the only think she can do: quit and go off grid. Anderson's own "relationship" with Haggerty isn't helping things either and he is also getting a bit tired of it all. Meanwhile, the rest of the force have a couple of, on first look, unrelated incidents, a body is found on a hillside, a woman presents herself with amnesia and some blood is also found, without any signs of where it came from. But it soon becomes transparent that there is more to these than first meets the eye.
This is a book best read when you have all your wits about you. There is a lot going on and, initially anyway, things really aren't too clear as to what is really going on. Don't get me wrong, it is not confusing, although there are quite a few perspectives given, you just have to hold some things until later when it all finally comes together; and it does come together, very nicely in fact!
Obviously, with Costello out of the picture for a while, the emphasis for the majority falls firmly at Anderson's feet, and we follow him as he, alongside the reader, tries to make sense of what he is being presented with. There are also quite a few bit part players in this book but, as with all this author's books, all the characters, however prominent, are well described and easy to differentiate.
When Costello does eventually resurface, with a vengeance, her part is played out perfectly. Whether she does "get her man", well, you'll just have to read to find out.
As already mentioned, jumping in cold to this book is not really a good idea, what with it being very busy and convoluted initially. As a bit of a fan of the series, I loved the ride it took me on, but I can well understand how it might confuse others not to familiar. Me, I can't wait to see what happens next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

'The Sideman' is the tenth novel to feature DCI Anderson and DI Costello of Police Scotland and is another stonking success for Mr Ramsay! I recommend reading these books in chronological order as they all follow on from where the previous book concluded. Any reader trying to join the series here will find themselves pretty perplexed as it's pretty essential to have read 'The Suffering of Strangers' beforehand. I live just over the border from Scotland and visit it often for holidays, so the settings and scenery really spoke to me - it was all so wonderfully vivid. There are some imaginative and unpredictable twists throughout, and I found the story intriguing enough that I found it difficult to place it down.

This is a deftly plotted, intelligent and entertaining read which held me captive for the duration. As always the characters are well drawn and watching them evolve over the series means I was really invested in the outcome. I wanted to know what would happen. This book is one that requires you to fully concentrate in order to keep up with what is going on and has the potential to confuse readers due to the large cast of characters as well as more action than you can shake a stick at!

Many thanks to Severn House Publishers for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

DI Costello has resigned from the Scotland Police force to spend all her time bringing suspected murderer George Haggerty to justice. He has an alibi, but Costello knows Haggerty is hiding something. Her former partner and friend DCI Colin Anderson is reeling from the news, but has to focus on a group of related cold cases he’s working on before they’re closed for good. Further developments has even Anderson questioning Haggerty’s innocence, but finding proof could be impossible.

“The Sideman” is the tenth book in this series. I don’t know if any of the earlier books in the series can stand alone, but this one really requires first reading “The Suffering of Strangers”, the book right before this one. It’s basically a continuation of the storyline in that book and although some basic information was given at the beginning, so many other important details aren’t included. I read “The Suffering of Strangers” and still found there to be a lot of characters to keep straight in this follow-up and the plot to be very confusing. There are a lot of different people investigating a lot of different things. Eventually, those seemingly disjointed subplots do come together, but I was confused and frustrated through most of the middle of the book.

I really enjoy the character of DCI Anderson when he’s on the job and at home. His personal life is chaotic when the book opens, due to developments in the prior book. I also like the intense DI Costello, but even though she plays a large role in the book, I missed her during the bulk of the book when she wasn’t actively investigating. Former prosecutor Valerie Abernethy is in the middle of the investigation. George Haggerty is suspected of killing her sister and nephew. Valerie is also related to an official involved in the investigation and is a suspect herself. She was in the house the night of her sister’s murder, but because of her alcoholism can’t remember anything about that night. She is a hard character to figure out, which adds some tension to the story.

The beginning and the ending of the book are engaging. I like the Scottish setting as well as the main characters of Costello, Anderson, and public prosecutor Archie Walker. However, the most I can give the book is 3.5 stars because of the complicated and confusing plot and subplots and overabundance of characters.

I received this books from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Severn House. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

The Sideman is the 10th book in the series by Caro Ramsay and the first one that I have read

Unfortunately I struggled to get into this book as it required a lot of knowledge of the backstory and had a large cast that made it difficult to follow.

If you have read the previous books in the series then it will probably be ok for you

It's actually happened! DI Costello has thrown in the towel along with her badge. Her last case involved a man she 'knows' killed his wife and son ... only no one believes it. He has a rock sold alibi that they haven't been able to break. Her solution ... get rid of the badge and then go rogue and find the proof that he is , indeed, guilty.

Costello didn't even tell her partner of 20 years, Colin Anderson, that she was leaving .. no good bye, no good luck.. nothing.

He's disturbed, but his hands are full. A badly beaten body on a mountain pass, a woman with a serious head would, but won't communicate.

Is this a connection to the disappearance of DI Costello?

There is lots of fast paced action here with credible characters. I did feel a little lost as this is the 10th book in the series. This is a continuance from Book 9, but there's little information here. As always, I highly recommend starting at the very beginning.

The characters are solidly written, human beings with their own flaws and issues. This seems to be an engaging series.

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.

Having read this gritty and atmospheric series from the beginning, I love the Glasgow based police procedurals featuring DI Costello and DCI Colin Anderson. This is a stellar addition, but I should warn readers it is likely to be frustrating read unless they have at least read the previous novel, as it builds on characters and actions from it. DI Winifred Prudence Costello, I am not sure if I have ever known her first names as she is always referred to as Costello, knows in her bones that the creepy, menacing and clapping George Haggerty is a murderer, despite having a cast iron alibi for the murders of Abigail, his wife, and Malcolm, his son. She simply cannot stomach him getting away with it, as she tenders her resignation from Police Scotland. Anderson's lonely home now is busier than ever, particularly since he acquired baby Moses, a grandson he never knew about, but who is connected to George. Anderson is not happy with George dropping by at all hours to his home, ostensibly to see Moses, but doesn't feel he has the right to stop him.

Valerie Abernethy, raging alcoholic, bereft at not having a child, with her significant gaps in memory, is Abigail's sister, and seen as a possible suspect for the murders. Struggling to contain her drinking, she finds some purpose in life after she recognises a woman suffering serious injuries in hospital who has no idea of her identity. A man beaten close to death is found in the Scottish countryside, and there are blood soaked sites and evidence of drugs. PC Donnie McCaffery is missing and being investigated by Professional Standards. Aspersions are cast on Costello as her reputation is trashed by the media, and compromising photographs of Valerie find their way into the hands of the police. Anderson has worked with Costello for twenty years, he doesn't believe a word said against her but where is she? Moreover, he thinks Valerie's photographs have been interpreted incorrectly. DC Morna Taverner, a clumsy woman prone to accidents, contacts Anderson over the cold case rapes he has been looking at, convinced there are connections she has discovered locally.

Anderson takes more of a centre stage than Costello in this riveting novel, though this is balanced with the actions of Morna, Valerie and Isla, the griefstricken wife of Donnie McCaffrey. Caro Ramsay's intricate and complex plotting pays dividends as the tension and suspense is sky high as we wonder whether the police can get close to the slippery, devious and cunning George Haggerty, a ruthless man who will take any steps to wipe out any threats he faces. The characterisation is superb and I loved the ex-military DCI Alastair Patrick, DC Morna Taverner's boss, a man not given to following rules. I am already looking forward to the next in this distinctly moreish series, just hope I do not have too long to wait. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.

DI Costello has resigned from the force, convinced of the guilt of George Haggerty (despite a cast-iron alibi) in his wife & son's murders. Determined to expose with killer without the constraints of the Job, she has also disappeared.

Her partner DCI Anderson has enough work to ensure he doesn't have time to ponder her disappearance. But does his mounting caseload have anything to do with her disappearance?

I really didn't warm to these characters, and wasn't sufficiently interested in them to finish the book

While I have read other books from Caro Ramsay - and liked them - I really had a hard time with this one. I think the main problem is that I haven't read all other books in the series.

From page one on there is a lot going on. DI Costello resigned and disappeared. Colin Anderson meanwhile is very happy to have found a grandson. But Costello wants Haggerty for the murder of his wife and son, while said Haggerty befriends Anderson because he adopted Andersons daughter. Anderson didn't even know he had a daughter.
And then there are other people: the murdered woman, her son, her sister, who despite the fact she is an alcoholic tries to find out what happened, a policeman, another policeman and and and...

I'm sorry. I've read the whole book and in the end it was clear who murdered who and why. But the road to the solution to the mystery was way too long and too complicated. Furthermore there are way too many coincidences, and almost all characters apparently are family members or the have a history together.

I finished the book because I wanted to give it a chance, but for me, it just didn't work out as I hoped.

Thanks to NetGalley for this book.

Excellent story. Wonderful characters and plot line. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.

I started this book three times but never got beyond chapter 6, unsure why but I just couldn't get into the storyline.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I'm abandoning this at 36%. I see now that this is the tenth in a series, but the subtitle "a Scottish procedural" led me to believe that it would stand alone - it really doesn't. It starts in the middle of an on-going narrative involving mysterious events at something called "Blue Neptune" and people who are all related to one another by adoption or having sold their baby or having discovered just recently that they fathered a baby that was sold and then adopted. Many of these people are already dead when the book begins.

There is an enormous cast of characters and I can't tell which are from previous instalments and which are new characters, whose stories will feed into the plot of this book.

It is too exhausting to keep going without starting again and making notes of who everyone is. I found it well-written and I am sure it's great if you're familiar with the previous nine books in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Was I glad I had read The Suffering of Strangers; it made it easier to follow this book. That said, it was still a story to be read carefully and with concentration. Not that I'm complaining...I loved it. Caro Ramsay is such a great writer and Costello and Anderson marvellous characters.
Costello has resigned the force; no goodbyes, not a word to anyone. Not even Anderson and after having worked together for 20 years, he's more than a little hurt and worried. No one knows where she is, but she's following George Haggerty, convinced he killed his wife and son, despite the fact he has a solid alibi. Costello cannot work on that closed case anymore, it's done and dusted - the only solution was for her to quit and spend her own time following and observing him.
Most of the book she's missing and we meet many other familiar and unfamiliar characters. That's when I really had to pay attention, because it wasn't apparent what was going on till later in the story. But what a story! I loved it and have just ordered the first in the series as I really want to start from the beginning, to get to know the backstory, especially of Costello and Anderson. The setting, Glasgow, is another plus for me, having spent time there. I would like to be up to date with the series so I'll enjoy the follow up to The Sideman. Caro is definitely a great find for me; added to my list of favorite Scottish authors whose books I know I will love.

The Sideman follows on The Suffering of Strangers, which I've not read. Usually, I don't have any trouble beginning in the middle or at the end of a series, but The Sideman gave me fits initially because it was so obviously connected to a previous story, and I was not familiar with the previous books or the plot. Most authors manage to give enough background to make it easy to follow, but The Sideman was like beginning a book in the middle with no correlations to rely on. There were so many characters that it seemed the reader was expected to know...and I didn't.

That said, I was intrigued enough to persevere and eventually found myself engrossed. Caro Ramsay is a new author to me and The Sideman is the 10th in a series of the Anderson and Costello novels set in Glasgow.

Brief description from blurb: "Detective Inspector Costello has resigned. No notice, no goodbyes. Convinced that George Haggerty murdered his wife and son despite his cast-iron alibi, Costello has gone solo, determined to expose a ruthless killer without being hampered by police protocol. But is she right about Haggerty’s guilt? And where has she disappeared to?"

Expecting Costello to have a large role, I was puzzled when she failed to actually show up. Her partner and friends are concerned about her, but Costello is a notable absence in what was (for me) at first a hugely puzzling plot. Gradually, I was drawn in and picked up enough of the previous story to have some background with which to work. About a quarter of the way in, I was completely invested.

In spite of my initial confusion, I think this is a series I'd like to pursue--but beginning with the first book!

Read in June; blog review scheduled for Sept. 17.

NetGalley/Severn House
Mystery/Thriller. Oct. 1, 2018. Print length: 256 pages.