I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

This is the second in Caro Ramsay's marvellous Scottish crime series featuring the tenacious DCI Christine Caplan, and a truly dark and twisted case that reunites her with the team at Cronchie police station. It offers a opportunity for Caplan to develop stronger ties with DS Finnan Craigie, a quirky, vulnerable character who blossoms under her leadership. Caplan is called to an apparent suicide at Connel Bridge, Lora Falls, but wonders why her presence is required. It turns out the dead man is Dr Edward 'Ted' Maxwell, a well respected psychologist, a man who should have been at a conference in Leeds according to his wife, Cordelia. So why was he here instead? Could he possibly have any connection with 18 year old 'Girl A', the most hated woman in the country?

Assumed to be guilty of killing children as a young child, the evidence against Girl A was never tested in court, instead under the Tollen Protocol, her well being was prioritised, as she received treatment and therapy. Deemed to no longer to be a risk to anyone, she was recently released under a new name. However, her location was leaked, leading to vigilantes torching her home in which she was seriously burned rescuing her dog. She discharged herself from hospital and has since disappeared. It is Caplan's task to find her, but the Tollen rules means she has to do so with virtually no information and no official documentation, although it turns out there is plentiful office gossip that lifts the lid on Girl A's real identity. Worryingly, Killagal's blog on the dark web boasting of her murderous past has acquired a large following.

In a case where very little is as it appears, Caplan's inquiries go where she least expects, pushing her to re-evaluate how Girl A was perceived to be a murderer. Against all the odds, Caplan, with practically no support other than her tiny team, races against time in her efforts to seek truth and justice. The talented Ramsay provides a brilliant sense of the wilderness, a location experiencing challenging fierce stormy weather, with Caplan living in a damp caravan until her remote dilapidated cottage is renovated. This is a wonderful addition to the series, with its focus on miscarriages of justice, family, and mental health. This will likely appeal to fans of the author and those who love well written gritty Scottish crime fiction. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Another cracking read in the Caplan series. Can be read as a stand alone but is far better to have read the first in the series to get the full background story. Gritty and hatshepsut throughout, this book starts off slow but soon builds momentum.

In Her Blood is the second book in the DCI Christine Caplan series by British author, Caro Ramsay. With her children safe on Skone, DCI Christine Caplan is heading to Glasgow where her long-term unemployed, depressed husband has hopefully done something constructive about selling their house. They have bought Challie Cottage at Kilnlorn, which will need quite a bit of work, and the caravan isn’t very liveable, even in April, but it’s closer to where their children will be.

But her return is delayed when she’s called to an apparent suicide at Cronchie: someone has jumped off the Connel Bridge into the turbulent waters of Lora Falls, where the River Etive meets the Sound. But things don’t look quite right. His wife is adamant that forensic psychologist Dr Edward Maxwell would never take his own life. Nor, despite being meant to attend a conference in Leeds, would he have an affair. So why was he in Cronchie? And, when the post mortem unequivocally concludes murder, whom did he meet on the bridge?

In Glasgow, Caplan’s sometime friend, Assistant Chief Commissioner Sarah Linden tells her to be on the lookout for Girl A who, as a child, possibly murdered two of her sisters and a friend, and has been released from the mental health facility at eighteen, cured. She has a new name, but a dark web blog attributed to her has given away her secret location, resulting in a vigilante arson attack, burns and a self-discharge from hospital. She’s in the wind.

Linden points out that, even if she’s a psychopathic killer, Police Scotland owe her a duty of care. “Girl A had the right to confidentiality both over her medical past, and to her whereabouts” but “She needs to be found for her own safety.” While her treating doctors remind them “Girl A was a patient, not a convict” who “the right to live in peace as a free individual”, Linden is not convinced of her innocence: “She’s untouchable and the little bitch knows it.”

Apparently her team at Cronchie are very familiar with Girl A’s case, knowing much more than Caplan has been told. When it is revealed that Ted Maxwell had a special interest in youngsters who kill, and was probably writing a book on the subject, possibly a whistle-blower exposé, people start drawing conclusions. But are they adding two and two to make five?

Ramsay’s exploration of the balance of rights is interesting and thought-provoking: “Could those children, who were so damaged that they were compelled to damage others, ever be healed? It was the old argument of nature versus nurture, the rights of the individual versus the rights of society.”

Once again, Ramsay gives the reader an excellent police procedural, with a gripping plot into which she throws in some terrific red herrings and twists to keep all but the most astute reader guessing right up to the final reveal. She develops several of the Cronchie regulars into the characters with whom the reader will be happy to spend more time.

Unresolved is a Glasgow situation involving some missing evidence, Christine’s other good friend, PC Lizzie Fergusson, and a clandestine association with a member of one of Scotland’s biggest crime families, leaving plenty for a third instalment that will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Severn House.

This was a wild ride and I was totally here for it! I read the 1st book in this series to get ready for this one and I am glad I did. There is a lot of backstory there that is helpful for the 2nd book. DI Caplan is badass and I want to work on her team of crime-solving misfits!

#InHerBlood
#NetGalley

This was a good story, it is the second in the series, I had not read the first and had no trouble with getting into this one, so it could be read as a stand a lone. DCI Caplan, a Scottish police detective, is called out to a bridge in the middle of the night. A man, later identified as Ted Maxwell, has been found in the river, presumed a suicide, that is until the post mortem shows he was stabbed before he went into the water. Ted is a psychologist who had been writing a book on children who kill, and one of those he wanted to talk to was known as Girl A. She was known as Britain's most hated woman for a series of deaths she was accused of, but due to her youth, had been institutionalized for mental health rather than sent to prison. Now Ted is dead and Girl A, Gillian, is missing, did she have anything to do with Ted's death? As DCI Caplan investigates, she also looks into the previous crimes that Gillian had been accused of, not all are black and white, Gillian's home life, when she's there, is also harrowing, to say the least. DCI Caplan is aptly aided by her team who all pitch in under a tight deadline to solve the case. This was a very well written and interesting story, DCI Caplan is also dealing with person issues, a husband who is reluctant to leave the house, and children who had been injured as a result of events in the previous book. I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Severn House for the ARC.

Christine Caplin has got her rank back as DCI after the events of 'The Devil Stone' case. She is working in various places when she is called back to the West Coast. A body has been found. It looks like it might have been a suicide, the victim having jumped from the Connel Bridge. However there is some doubt. There are suspicions concerning a young woman who recently came out of care. Known only as Girl A, she had been sentenced for killing a younger sibling. Along with her dog, she had escaped from her 'Safe House' after vigilantes had set it on fire. Has she returned to her roots? and if so why?

I read this book straight after finishing 'The Devil Stone' & wished I could dive straight into a Book 3 as I am really enjoying this series! The characters are well written & knowing the setting of the books makes it all the more enjoyable. There are plenty of twists to the tale to keep the reader guessing. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- bring on Book 3 quickly please!

EXCERPT: The incident room was quiet apart from Mackie, the early shift gone. Those present said hello then busied themselves. Caplan wondered if Jackson had phoned up, warning them. She looked at the wall, recapping for herself. Somebody had lured Dr Edward Maxwell, a clever, cautious man, onto the top of the Connel Bridge. There was a description and an unflattering drawing of the other figure on the bridge labelled 'Bev's Monkey'. Why did Maxwell go there? Obviously, something tohis advantage. There was a brief description of the Pest and a list of institutions scored out - not known as a member, didn't work there, not part of the governing body. Maybe she was from another part of his work or his life. Security footage had been requested to aid ID. Girl A may or may not be relevant, but Caplan owed it to Cordelia and the boys to focus more on this incident and find out who had stuck a knife into the soft flesh of their husband and father's chest and thrown him from the Connel Bridge.

ABOUT 'IN HER BLOOD': 'Girl A' was convicted of murdering three people when she was a child. Now she's missing and a man is dead. The clock is ticking for Scottish detective DCI Christine Caplan to bring her to justice - but the truth may be darker than even she fears . . .

When a body is discovered in the water at Connel Bridge, the police assume it's an open-and-shut case of suicide. But when DCI Christine Caplan is called in to take a closer look, she discovers that darker truths lurk beneath the surface, and suspicion begins to turn to a young woman recently out of care.

Known only as Girl A, her identity remains anonymous, protected under law. Her violent past includes an allegation of the murder of a younger sibling, so the timing of this new death seems too coincidental. Then a vigilante sets her home on fire and she flees, so the 'child killer' is now on the loose - and at risk herself.

As Caplan launches a search for the elusive teenager, looking for connections between her and the dead man, she turns to Girl A's past for answers. And when she gets them, she realizes the truth may be even more sinister.

MY THOUGHTS: In Her Blood is one of those books that starts off slowly, slightly muddly, but transforms into a ripper of a read. Just before the end I had tears running down my face incensed at the travesty of justice, the ruination of a life, and on the final page I was spluttering with laughter.

In Her Blood is not an easy read. It is harsh, violent at times, emotionally labile. It is dark and gritty including child and animal abuse. But it is a tale that will rip out and shred your heart. It is gripping, enthralling and brilliantly plotted, blending DCI Caplan's chaotic home and work lives. It seems that she is under siege from all sides.

The case is complicated, interwoven with another historical and sensitive case. There are discrepancies, inconsistencies, and people who do not want the status quo upset, people who believe Occam's Razor to be the correct outcome. Christine Caplan is not one of them. Deep inside, she knows something is not right, and she will push her team to the limit to learn the truth.

While In Her Blood could possibly be read as a stand-alone, it would be far better to read the first in the series, The Devil Stone, first as all the relationships are set up and explained. Without this knowledge there may be some confusion.

I read this in twenty-four hours. I was, once again, captivated and entranced by Ramsay's writing. Bring on #3!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#InHerBlood #NetGalley

I: #caroramsay @severnhouseimprint

X: @CaroRamsayBooks @severnhouse

#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #familydrama #murdermystery #policeprocedural #psychological thriller #thriller

THE AUTHOR: Caro Ramsay was born and brought up in Glasgow, and now lives in a village on the west coast of Scotland. She is an osteopath, acupuncturist and former marathon runner, who devotes much of her time to the complementary treatment of injured wildlife at a local rescue centre. (Amazon)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of In Her Blood by Caro Ramsay for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

A good police procedural drama. This is the second book in a series…I didn’t know that going in, but it was not necessary to read the first one.

In Her Blood is the latest in the DCI Christine Caplan series. I read the first book in the series, but I think this sequel would work well as a standalone. The cases in the two books are unrelated and the author supplies the important information from Christine's backstory.

Christine is from Glascow but has been reassigned to Cronchie, a village in the Scottish Highlands. She and her team are called to the scene of a drowning. It first appears to be a suicide, but then looks like it's murder. Making the case even more complicated is it seems to be tied to the recent release of "Girl A", the "most hated woman in Britain". The young woman is now 18 years old and is thought to have killed a young girl at camp as well as her own younger sister. Girl A is in danger from those who are furious at her release but confidentiality makes it harder for Christine to find the young woman to protect her, as well as question her.

The book has a slow start and I was sometimes a little confused over all the players in the story. However, it soon picks up to be an intriguing and suspenseful procedural. I like Christine and the working relationship she is forming with her new colleagues. The ending is surprising, going in a direction I hadn't expected, and satisfying. I hope this series continues as I would like to see more of Christine and her team who are really starting to gel and learning to work well together.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Severn House, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

This is not a light read: it's harsh, sometimes hard to read (child/animal abuse), dark and gritty. But it's a hell of novel, a wild ride into the heart of darkness.
A gripping, well plotted and enthralling novel that kept me reading and turning pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a decent crime read and I am sure others would rate it higher than I have. I did enjoy the storyline, especially how historic and current crimes became intertwined. However, I did find the story was dragged out a little with little clues being given to keep be hooked.

In this second DCI Christine Caplan police procedural, we return to the Scottish Highland village of Cronchie. The DCI is ready to return to her home and family in Glasgow, after having been stationed in Cronchie. (I recommend reading the first book, The Devil Stone, to get the full backstory).

Caplan's departure is postponed when a call comes in about a man having jumped or was pushed off the Connel Bridge over the Falls of Lora. Here is the twist, he was stabbed before the fall. His name was
Ted Maxwell, a psychologist working on a book about children who kill. This creates fear and panic in the village. A young woman, who had been accused of murdering three people when she was a child, Girl A, has just been released. Could she have killed Ted Maxwell?

As Caplan, meets the girl, Gillian, and her family, she also begins to investigate the previous crimes. Things do not seem to be so straightforward. Adding to the pressure to solve Maxwell's murder, her superiors want a quick resolution and give her a deadline.

This is a fast paced story. The author does an excellent job with the subject of mental health issues, how people react to it and how the media forms the public's perceptions. Caplan is good at her job. She is dealing with personal issues on the home front at the same time she is dealing with a complex case. The author gives us a few twists, and I was surprised by the ending. I am hoping we see more of Christine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House for an ARC. The review is my own.

For full enjoyment you could do yourself a favour and read the series opener - The Devil Stone - first. That said, the main story is self contained and can be read as a standalone but Devil Stone is a cracking book in itself...
So.. Christine is really in for a rough ride in this, her second outing. There's a body, found in the water under a bridge, firstly assumed suicide. But on further investigation Christine isn't having any of that and her thoughts soon turn to that of Girl A, recently released from the care which she has been in since the allegation of her having killed her younger sibling. She herself is on the run after someone found out her new identity and torched her home. But is she victim or perpetrator? Christine now has her hands very full both with the suicide-cum-murder and the disappearance of Girl A but, if you've read the series opener, you'll know that she will stop at nothing to cut through the noise, make her own mind up about things, and find the truth, whatever that shall be...
This book is just as good as the series opener was. Christine, as a character, is coming on nicely both within and outwith the crime(s) being investigated. And the crimes are deliciously twisted as you'd expect. It's well plotted and that plot ably executed delivering shock after surprise all the way through. With no superfluous waffle or padding to distract, it gets on with itself very well too. Ramping up until delivering a perfectly satisfying ending.
All in all, a worthy follow up - can't wait for book three! My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is the second book in the DCI Caplin series, written by Caro Ramsay. Having said that, this book can be read easily as a stand alone. The author provides enough background to understand where all the characters currently find themselves, mentally and physically.

In Her Blood is an engrossing read. DCI Caplin is investigating a really tricky case. We have a seemingly mindless murder of a decent, honest man who only wanted to do well. Who wanted to help young people facing challenges in their lives. This enquiry is set against the case of Girl A. A nationwide renowned case. Is Girl A innocent? A young patient with deep rooted mental health issues, who needs protection? Or is she a cold blooded killer, who others need protection from?

The team have really grown on me in this book. In the last book, The Devil Stone, I wasn’t sure who to trust. Now I know who the good guys are, I am really enjoying their quirks, infuriating traits, strengths and weaknesses, seeing their characters grow in the pages. The varied personalities provide interesting and entertaining interactions, and also bring a realism to the story. I know I certainly haven’t always got on with people I had to work with, and be in the company of frequently. Some of the dialogue between Christine and Craigo really made me smile, I’m sure her reactions have been reflected in my own face many times.

This is a complex, intricate, fast moving plot. The author doesn’t waste words describing incidental details, such as the colour of sky, you just get what the story needs, succinctly written.
This case has echoes in cases that readers will recognise from reality. I’m sure readers will have their own opinions on which side they would fall on this case. Cases like these will always be divisive.

The author has included one of my favourite words, at the start of Chapter 17, in the Killagal Blog. I won’t mention it here, as I’m sure the algorithm police will shoot me down and disallow this review from publication. This is the first time I have seen this word in a book, and I applaud the author for it’s use. It’s a 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me, and I really look forward to the next DCI Caplin book.

While I enjoyed the various twists and turns and admittedly a surprised ending I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of the constabulary characters. Not sure if reading the first in the series would have helped. Enjoyable but perhaps better editing would have helped.

Glad that I got to read this early. Good story with some surprises. Will recommend to patrons. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

DCI Christine Caplan has a mess of a case on her hands. Girl A, whose identity was changed after the deaths of several people, has disappeared. A man has been found dead - and initially thought to be a suicide but then it's pinned on her. And then, btw, there's all the issues with Christine's family. Girl A's life has been one of struggle and she wasn't helped by those who were meant to do so but did she kill? No spoilers from me on this twisty and thought provoking procedural. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. While it's the second in a series, it will be fine as a standalone and it's a very good read.

I liked this very much. Set in Scotland, the main suspect is a young woman with a troubled youth who is now suspected of the murder of a psychologist who has troubled adolescents as his area of interest. Poor Gillian lost 2 sisters and a friend and has spent time in different institutions. Christine (the DI) has her own problems and as the case moves on is not convinced that Gillian is the murderer.
Not really a police procedural, though there are moments when evidence is explored, there is a lot of team work and interviews with different people in Gillian's and the victims'lives. The action picks up towards the end of the book and there are a couple of twists in the plot, not totally unexpected for me . I like the no nonsense style of writing and the forthright discussion of the investigating team. I have not read the first book in the series, but will do soon . I loved the location and even the minor characters were well portrayed.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A body is discovered in the water under a bridge. Naturally enough, it's initially suspected to be a suicide. But then, more facts begin to emerge that lead the authorities to think otherwise...

This is the second book about DCI Christine Caplan, but as someone who has not read the first book (yet), I can safely say that this can be read as a stand-alone.

Christine is an interesting character, with a personal life that is almost as complicated as her professional performance is stellar. She swiftly starts making the connections that indicate the presumed suicide is anything but.

"Girl A" was accused of killing people - including a sibling - as a child. Her identity is protected under law, but that does not stop an arsonist from burning her house down and sending her on the run. The dead man also proves to be her mental health provider, so now a teenager already suspected of violent crimes is under suspicion for a new killing - and may be at risk herself.

Christine will have her hands full with this case, but this is a well-observed and intelligently delivered story that will delight readers of the genre.