I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘What They Knew’, the fourth in the Detective Mackay series written by Marion Todd, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DI Clare Mackay and DS Chris West are called out to investigate when the body of Alison Reid is found dead in her bath after welcoming a guest to her home to celebrate the new year. When the body of a second woman, Ingrid McKinnie, is pulled out of the Kinness Burn, the method used to kill both women is so similar that it’s likely they were murdered and by the same person. Can Clare and her team find out who’s killing these women and the reason why?

‘What They Knew’ is another exciting police thriller that continues from where the previous one ‘Lies To Tell’ concludes. The storyline is interesting with drama, suspense and twists and turns that’s had me gripped from page one, and the possible suspects have kept me guessing throughout. I’ve enjoyed reading more of Clare’s team including Chris, Sara and Zoe the new admin assistant, and the way they work together to get to the truth, and it’s good to know that DCI Alastair Gibson is still on the scene. I’ve enjoyed reading this thriller which I thought was true to life and an entertaining read and I’m more than happy to recommend it.

A detective story set in St Andrews in Scotland . I thought the plot was well thought out, did not drag too much and seemed reasonably believable. I liked the characters of the detectives and the banter and the personal relationships. This book is the fourth in the series, but is fine as a stand alone read too . There is a twist in the plot though I guessed it along the way , this book definitely encourages the reader to think about what has happened and who did it .
A quick and interesting read , will read more from this author. Thanks to Net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

🚿Afraid of a watery death yet?😳

This was another great murder mystery with the brave and persistent Detective Inspector Clare Mackay. I've read all four books thus far in the series set in St. Andrews, Scotland, and they are all page turner gems.

DI Mackay is a really appealing chief protagonist. She's got great leadership skills, and is very down to earth, compassionate and kind to victims' family and her staff but a bit lost and lonely on the romance front. She's regretting some choices she made and uncertain whether she's got any chance of mending fences with her DCI. I really like the balance Author Marion Todd strikes between the police procedure and the private lives of Clare and her crew.

The investigation itself seems realistic, with lots of legwork and potential leads followed, many a waste of time and effort. And it's great that this police team works so well together and they seem to really like and respect each other.

A really good visit to Scotland!

Thanks to publishers Canelo and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Another great book from Marion Todd. I enjoyed this fast paced well written book as much as I have others in this series. I can’t wait to read more by her.

Marion Todd’s attention to detail is exceptional. It’s what makes her series so enjoyable. Each book in the D.I. Clare Mackay series is well plotted and a delight to read – and What They Knew is another example of her skill.
Alison Reid dies in her bath – the circumstances are unclear, but there are similarities to the death of another woman, which leads to a murder enquiry.

While carrying out her investigation, Clare Mackay is also having to deal with the ups and downs of her personal life, leading her to do a bit of online stalking. Instead of setting me against her, it made her more human.

This is a well-crafted police procedural not only looking at the whodunit, but also the why. All the clues are there, it’s up to the reader to work out where they lead – which is to a brilliant and exciting conclusion. What They Knew comes highly recommended by me.

My thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC.

Detective Clare Mackay #4

It's the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve when Alison Reid admits a caller to her home. When her death is reported, DI Clare MacKay attends the scene. The inital evidence does not rule out murder. But when the pathologist informs Clare about the post mortem of a young woman found in the Kinness urn with som similarities to Alison, it seems there is a strong chance that there's a killer on the loose in St. Andrews.

This is a well written and gripping read. Over the firt three books we have learned some of the main characters personal lives which continue to develop. With the body count rising, Clare and her dedicated team have their work cut out. The investigation takes us through many twist and turns before reaching a satisfactory conclusion. This is another fantastic addition to the series. I hope that there's more to come!

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Canelo and the author #MarionTodd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of What They Knew, the fourth novel to feature St Andrews based DI Clare Mackay.

A New Year, a new death. Clare is called out to the death of Alison Reid who has been found in her bath. Nobody is quite sure how she died but the pathologist notes similarities to the death of another woman a few days previously. That’s enough for Clare and she opens a murder enquiry.

I thoroughly enjoyed What They Knew which is a compulsive police procedural with its roots in the victims’ past. The novel is mainly told from Clare’s point of view so it’s easy to get involved and theorise alongside her, and although I had no problem getting involved I came a bit unstuck on the theorising. It’s a real who and why dunnit. The novel is a steady stream of reveals about the victims, mostly because they are private people with few friends and there is not much in the public domain. I like this way of doing things as it gives the author room to manoeuvre and keeps the reader turning the pages, wondering what will be uncovered next.

If I have a minor criticism of the novel it’s that certain avenues of enquiry get picked up then abandoned in favour of more promising leads. It gives a certain feeling of unfinished business at points. It is a minor point and didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment.

Clare is at a crossroads in her love life in this novel, her boyfriend has moved to Boston and she’s still thinking about a certain DCI. She’s emotional and has taken to scouring the men’s Facebook pages. Written down it comes across as slightly stalkerish and self pitying, but it’s behaviour we can all relate to. Besides, I like Clare, she’s refreshingly normal for a fictional detective.

What They Knew is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Alison Reid uses the dating site ‘Attracto’. It’s New Years Eve, Jools Holland’s Hootenanny is on the television, she’s expecting a guest who arrives late, clutching a bottle of wine. A few days later, Alison is found dead in the bath and over the next few weeks of a cold January in St Andrews, DI Clare Mackay, DS Chris West and the team have their work cut out as more victims are murdered using the same mo. A spate of shoplifting occupies the team too, is there any connection?

Although the story takes a little while to get going once the momentum increases it then becomes a compelling and fascinating read. The case is gritty and complex, exercising all the team’s ingenuity to make connections between the victims to achieve a break in the case. The characters in the police team are excellent, they’re all really likeable especially Clare but they all feel authentic and individual. I like how their personal life is also included as it allows you to understand them better. I love the camaraderie between the officers and the good humoured banter especially between Clare and Chris. There’s one joke the team play at the end which is really funny, makes you laugh and you can imagine it actually happening! The novel is easy to read, meticulously plotted, it’s well written with real attention to detail. The end is fantastic, it’s very exciting and utilises a well known landmark in the area very creatively. I like how the novel ends on a good note with things looking up personally for Clare. The author always evokes a good atmosphere using the local St Andrews area and the weather adds an extra dimension to the storyline.

Overall, this is a very good quality police procedural and a worthy addition to a really good series.

DI Clare Mackay returns in What They Knew which is the latest book in by Marion Todd and it is another very worthy addition to a very enjoyable series.

As usual the main storyline is interesting and moves along at a good pace whilst still allowing time for the main characters to grow and the long running subplots to develop

This is one of my favourite series and What They Knew is definitely recommended

Another great story featuring D I Claire Mackay and her team. The story centres around school friends from 20 years previously and whom from nowhere have been murdered. Claire and her team work endlessly to finally bring the culprit to justice in the end. Great story line.

I'm a massive fan of Marion Todd's DI McKay series and it was a delight to have a new novel to get stuck into to. What's great is that whilst the main characters and their stories stay throughout the series, the police cases in each novel are very different. I found myself shouting at some of the characters in What They Knew, and it will certainly make you think twice about what you share online and who you trust....

Love this book. The camaraderie between all the police and civilian workers was so well depicted. I wasn't sure until the very end who the murderer was. It just all felt right. It was obvious from the outset that Clare and Al were going to get together though.

crime-fiction, international-crime-and-mystery, procedural, law-enforcement, Scotland, murder, murder-investigation*****

How did I miss the earlier books by this author? The publisher is right, this IS an utterly gripping Scottish detective story. The individuals in the department are well developed and relatable and the rest of the characters are interesting and believable as well. There are some interesting twists and red herrings to push things right along as well as simple references to past histories and interactions. Loved it and finished it in one day. No summary and no spoilers here.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Canelo via NetGalley. Thank you!

Police procedural at its finest

The DI Clare Mackay series has gone from strength to strength. This time, the St Andrews based team are faced with a series of puzzling murders. As step by step they establish the links between the victims, we’re taken in and out of homes, offices and bars, through the town and along the coastline. Marion Todd’s descriptions and sense of place are outstanding. So much so, that during one scene (the harbour scene - you’ll know it when you come to it) I actually got dizzy holding my breath because I forgot it wasn’t me in the story!

For me, this book (like the others in the series) has all of the right elements in the right places. There’s enough attention to detail to satisfy curiosity about police procedure, but without the tedium; there’s enough gruesome detail of the murder scenes, but without going unnecessarily overboard; the pace is just right to allow readers to follow what’s going on, and ramps up towards the end to keep you on the edge of your seat; and there’s enough backstory to keep us on-side with the main characters.

A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read for crime fiction fans, and as always, superbly written.

A solid four star read. Good premise. Great characters. Enjoyed the style of writing. Plenty of mystery to keep me interested. I guessed the culprit hence the four star review. Definitely look forward to her next offering.Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this exceptional book

marion todd has done it again... written a book that keeps you on the edge of the seat right to the end of the book

from the first chapter right up until the last chapter there is action all the way

new years eve and before the first hour into the new year is gone the first victim is murdered...at first its a suspected suicide but with the results of the post mortem in, its quickly becomes a murder investigation

all hands are on deck but with the next victim found in suspicious circumstances and the post mortem reveals a pattern, could there be a serial killer out there and what is the motive and what links the two victims?

claire and her team have their work cut out for them and with added manpower can they find their murderer

brilliantly written, cant wait for the next one in this series, love the characters, they feel so real and friendly, its never a dull moment when you are back in this world

Another Twitter find, Marion Todd is one of a few thriller writers whose books I would purchase without a second thought, I’ve also bought them as gifts.
What they knew, catches up with Clare McKay as Hogmanay gives way to a new year. Of course, such is Claire’s job, the bodies soon start racking up and the case looks like a complicated one.
I’m getting to understand more about Claire as this series goes on. Her team in beautiful St Andrews are loyal and I’m pleased to see their stories developing as well. I find that there is the perfect combination of thriller and personal life to keep me consumed with the story. I don’t mind admitting that Claire kept me up way past my bedtime!
The story revolves around the seemingly unconnected murders of three women; the only link that they shared seemed far too tenuous. At first, everything points towards a spineless ex-husband and a shady restaurateur. I don’t offer spoilers and will continue with that policy. If you want to know more, I would highly recommend picking up a copy, but make sure that you have plenty of time to read, as this is a page-turner.
I am delighted to say that I felt only one step ahead in working out who the killer was, I was clueless for most of the book and the suspense had me gripped. It dawned on me only moments before the book confirmed my thoughts, but I had nothing to prepare me for the final takedown.
I must admit to a warm glow as the book wrapped up with, for me, a happy ending.

DI Clare Mackay has got a lot on her plate. Her long-distance relationship may or may not be working and a case that initially looks like a suicide turns out to be murder. No one knows much about the victim's personal life, and except for her ex-husband and his new wife, no one has anything bad to say about Alison. Then another victim is found and there are enough similarities to make DI Clare determined to figure out how these women are connected.
As the body count continues to rise, could something from the distant past bind the victims and the killer together? Figuring out the motive and finding the murderer might even put Clare in harm's way. A very engaging mystery and my first book by this author.
Yes, this is part of a series, and this is the fourth book! No issue reading it as a stand-alone, and lucky for me, I have three more books to read to catch up on everything that has happened so far.

So the very wonderful Marion Todd has done it once more and produced another brilliant read in the Detective Clare Mackay series and I really think this is the best one so far.
This is an excellent police procedural and DI Clare Mackay is such a well crafted character as are all the members of the team and reading this book 4 of the series was like being back with old friends again and long may the series continue as I feel there is a lot more to come from all of the characters.
The plot is an unpleasant one a killer using rohypnol and strangling the victims in a distinctive manner keeping Clare and the team on their toes to try and find a motive for the murders and well it certainly kept me guessing throughout.
Never predictable, always enjoyable I have loved all of the books in the series, Marion is a fabulous writer who deserves every bit of praise I can give and please hurry up with the next book I miss Clare and the team already.
Highly recommended and don’t miss out read the whole series it really is one not to be missed.
My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed reading this fourth book and breezed through it, as usual. The writing just flows and I love the busy environment of the St Andrews police station. The case was gripping although I suspected who the killer was about three quarters of the way through. That still didn’t take away from the joy of the team finding their culprit.
Marion is a great crime writer and I’m so happy to have discovered her writing. I look forward to the continuation of Clare’s story.