I see now that this was the debut novel by this talented author, which means I have some more to look forward to! Entertaining read, and I can see the author successfully going forward in her career. Well done.

I've had this book for years, I still haven't, unfortunately, got to it, so this is a placeholder review to reduce my shelf for my own sanity, but will replace this if I ever get to the book

I enjoyed this book, although I expected a bit more of a mystery element whereas it was actually largely character-driven. I did like both of the main characters and felt the plot moved along at a decent pace.

Mit einer sehr eigenen, schönen Sprache und einer guten Geschichte, kann dieses Buch punkten. Bei der Ausarbeitung der Charaktere ist dagegen noch Luft nach oben.

This book just did not grab me. I tried on a few occasions, but never could get myself into it. If I am ever able to get into it and finish, I will update review.

Sewing the Shadows Together is a book about how one event can effect so many lives. Almost 40 years ago 13 year old Shona was raped and murdered. Now DNA proves that the troubled man who has been serving time for this crime is innocent.

That sounds like the perfect setup for a murder mystery but this story is more of a character exploration. The two main characters are Sarah (Shona's best friend) and Tom (Shona's older brother). While the backdrop of the story is this miscarriage of justice it is more about who these two are and how there lives changed as a result of this crime. There are massive personal revelations for them and the ability in the end to come out on the greener side.

Once I started reading I had a hard time putting it down. There are characters you love and characters you hate but they all help the narrative that is being told. Don't grab this if you want an investigative story but do if you want to explore these imperfect characters that you just want to root for.

I really enjoyed this book and I think the title is perfect for this story. The identity of Shona's murderer is reinvestigated and the pieces fall into place. I liked the characters and the setting and will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Sewing the Shadows Together is an exceptional mystery, set for the most part in Scotland (Portobello, Edinburgh, the Outer Hebrides,) and in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Alison Baillie with her fine prose makes you feel like you have been there, and can't wait to go back.

Her characters are all genuine, for the most part empathetic, caring people, with problems they carry well and hearts that give. Her mystery is very well concealed until late in the work and her ending is happy. She is an author I will follow. I am pleased to refer her work to friends and family.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Alison Baillie, and Bloodhound Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

Following recent DNA advances, a convicted killer has been proven to have been the victim of a miscarriage of justice and the case is reopened. This is a compelling, twist-filled and entertaining read based in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland as the police chase the real murderer who has had over a thirty-year headstart on them. Each chapter alternates between the perspectives of the two main characters, Tom and Sarah. and they begin to bond over a shared sense of loss and grief over victim, Shona. The identity of the killer is quite the surprise; it makes for a shocking and memorable conclusion.

Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.

Thirty years ago thirteen year old Shona McIver was raped and murdered in a seaside suburb of Edinburgh. When modern the DNA reveals that the wrong man was convicted of this crime, the case is reopened. This is a great murder which had me tapping my kindle like a mad thing, I had to know, when the real killer was revealed it was a shock. I read this book in one sitting, each chapter is given to each of the main characters. This was a compelling read and kept me tapping until the wee hours. Another of my favourite authors and her work just keeps getting better. How well do you know those that are close to you? A MUST READ and highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for giving an honest review.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was a pretty standard mystery, exploring small town dynamics and the effects of grief in a somewhat superficial manner. Entertaining is a time filler.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the eARC.
What a lovely book, I really enjoyed it.
The book features alternate chapters from the point of view of Sarah and Tom. Shona, Tom's 13-year old sister and Sarah's best friend, was raped and murdered more than 30 years ago. The both of them still carry the scars. Tom's family moved to South Africa after the harrowing life changing event and now Tom has returned to Portobello, Edinburgh with his mother's ashes. When he reluctantly attends a school reunion he runs into Sarah and the two of them fall head over heels. Unfortunately, Sarah is married to Rory, a popular t.v. chat show
host, a serial adulterer, narcissistic and selfish, who leaves Sarah alone at home most of the time. Their twins have grown and moved away and Sarah is lonely. The highlight of her life is the weekly Sunday dinner she prepares: the twins, Rory (hardly ever there) and her mother. It's a painful ritual nobody really enjoys, and Sarah's mother, an odious self-obsessed woman, only adores Rory and is constantly critical of Sarah, who is forever trying to please her.
In the meantime, the man accused of Shona's murder has been let free, modern DNA tests have proven that he couldn't be the killer and the case has been reopened. Both Tom and Sarah 's lives were upended by Shona's death and the memories plus the reopening of the case has brought them very close and very much in love.
Halfway through the book takes an unexpected turn (which I won't go into) and Tom has to return to S. Africa to visit his aunt who is dying in hospital. But he's determined to return to Scotland to start his life over, hopefully with Sarah.
I was surprised at the identify of the killer, that was a good twist and I loved the ending.
All in all it was a terrific read, very enjoyable and a must read. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this book. The story flows really well and I really bought in to the two lead characters and was desperate to know what happened to them in the end. It is full of twists and a great murder mystery and love story.