I absoloutely loved this book and still think of the story today. I think it would make an epic tv drama programme and would like to hear more about these characters moving forward. The storyline is engaging and keeps you guessing until the end. The recent apocolyptic weather we seem to be experiencing in the UK added to the atmosphere. It is well written and I spent the entire story walking alongside the characters, sharing their experiences. I have recommended this book to many people. Thanks for letting me listen to it.

Fiona MacLeish a police officer visiting family when a storm threatens the ivalley in the Scottish Borders. When the body of Isla Edwards is found it is clear she didn’t drown, but who is the murderer and what was their motive.
I found this book to be atmospheric but the pace was a little slow with an abundance of characters that I struggled to remember.

Thank you Bookouture Audio for allowing me to read and review The Flood (A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller Book 1) on NetGalley.

Narrator: Helen McAlpine

Stars: 3

There is a flood in a rural farming area somewhere in possibly Scotland, I don't recall. Not recalling is the theme carried out several days after finishing the book. Briefly, I could have edited this down to at least a novella and in my mind a short story.

My issues in no particular order:
1. The narrator was just okay.
2. I didn't like or dislike any of the characters; I didn't connect to them.
3. The farming background bored me. It felt like filler.
4. The ending was difficult to read. The author 75% into the book attempts to give extreme personalities to the characters.
5. Sexuality of character victim trope is not for me.

If you enjoy slow storylines, bantering between characters, and farming stories this may be for you.

Published: 09/22/23

I enjoyed all the details given for the setting and so much heart is in the relationships, but I was disappointed in this as a mystery.
There's a murderer on the loose but way more info and detail was given to describe how they tried to handle the farm animals and debris from the flood, than any real tension or suspense.

Thank you, Netgalley for the copy!

// thank you to the publishers and net galley for giving me access to this audiobook arc!

i think this review is more the result of straying away from my own genre preference than the actual objective quality of the book itself, because this one just wasn't really for me.

to start with what i liked: the narrator had a wonderfully scottish accent, which made the setting feel all the more real. that said, it started getting a bit grating after a few hours, just because the unique pronunciation of certain words would stand out to me and take me out of the text. i also think the setting of a flooding valley that traps all inhabitants and the female protagonist were very interesting choices and made for a very interesting text.

however, i think several of the characters in the valley felt a bit too similar to be entirely distinguishable, and this made for a more confusing plot than was necessary. equally, i don't think the way the mystery was rounded up was very satisfying--the best mysteries are the ones where the reader *could've* seen it coming, but didn't, whereas here, there was no way for the reader to have guessed that ending (or at least, i couldn't identify any way for the reader to get any of the information fiona used to link it all together). furthermore, the writing got a bit repetitive, especially the internal dialogue the protagonist would undergo to try and figure out who the murderer was many times throughout the text.

perhaps fans of a fun scottish mystery would enjoy this one, but it just wasn't for me :)

Intriguing and thrilling read.
Well written with great characters and shocking twists and well worth a read on a cold, wet and windy night.
Leaving your bedroom lamp on is optional!

This was such a fun book. I love a good closed door mystery! Also the narrator was incredible! I remember I thought to myself if it was a case of the mystery stranger did it I was gonna be pissed so I'm so glad that wasn’t the answer. Over all this was a fun fast paced audio book that I really enjoyed

The author did a fantastic job with her description of the flooding and the desperation that the characters feel. As someone who has been through floods it was absolutely realistic. I also enjoyed the palpable tension between the characters that didn't really like each other as they are all stuck under one tiny roof (excellent job to the narrator for making this come alive for me).

I do wish the story did end abruptly and tell us to read the sequel. Finish one story, then begin your next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

The author created believable and sympathetic characters, vividly described the setting, and maintained the tension.

The Flood (A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller Book 1) by G.N. Smith
Narrated by Helen McAlpine
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Published: September 22, 2023

The Flood is the first book in the Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series by G.N. Smith. I thought this was a very interesting book but moved a little slow for me.

For Fiona MacLeish’s first major crime to solve, this one was a doozy. So many layers to unravel, unexpected twists and excitement! I thought she did a great job solving these murders and trying to keep the people safe…. from the flood waters and the murderer among them.

This was a good read and I enjoyed it!

The narration by Helen McAlpine was really good! I enjoyed how she brought this book to life!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately this one was not for me :( It was like listening to the weather channel mindlessly drone on about the rain, I don't mean to sound so harsh, but it was just too slow and nothing happened and I honestly didn't care what happened to any of the characters.

Just my personal opinion, I know others have really enjoyed this one.

A very slow book set in a flood. Flooding water, off duty police officer and a dead body, all a bit far fetched and I needed it to speed up a bit. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

I will start by saying I really enjoyed the setting of Scotland and in the context of the storm. However, i think at times too much time was spent on this which detracted from the mystery/psychological drama part of the book and as a result the booked lacked tension. I also found it repetitive at times. That said I listened to the audio book and enjoyed the narration.

📖 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 📖 ⭐️
Title: The Flood
Author: G N Smith
Genre: Thriller

So this unfortunately missed the mark for me. I enjoy thrillers but they have to pull you in and keep you interested. The main character explains her thought process repeatedly and keeps reminding us she's a police officer so therefore she must solve the crimes. I lost count of the number of times they rehashed why she went into policing and the story about her parents. Repetitive descriptions - the water is brown and murky, got it. The storyline was good but the pace was just painful. Reads like they were trying to hit a word count, if at least half was cut then it would be really good but there's too much waffle.

Quotes that were particularly amusing:
'assessing their inner feelings'
'murky brown malevolent water'
'murky brown water from a thousand orifices' - to describe the water coming through the debris

Disappointing read :(

Fiona, a police officer who's been forced to take a step back from her work, goes to live in the remote Scottish Borders with her aunt. Then chaos ensues when during a storm she discovers a murder, and a wild chase begins so there isn't another. Good crime book, occasionally a little slow paced, and with elements that might throw you off the main plot, but nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Flood by G.N. Smith is the first book in the new PC Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series and what a great book. Fiona MacLeish is a Scottish Police Detective and has been ordered to step back from her role in her job in the the Police Force in Scotland. Haunted by the murder of her parents, she is dangerously close to breaking point: and is back in her remote childhood home with her Aunt Mary, nestled in a valley on the Scottish border. But there’s a terrifying Storm Odin coming, this will play havoc on the village residents causing a huge flood in the area and the water is rising quickly. Fiona and Aunt Mary are clearing out quickly to travel a safe distance from the flood, but is wonder about their elderly neighbouring property. Fiona goes to check if they're ok and to see if they need any help. Only to find George dead and his wife missing.
On closer inspection, it looks like George has been murdered!

Now, with no way out.......the water is rising quickly there is a murderer on the loose and where is George's wife?

Can Fiona work out who the killer is before they kill again?

WoW this is so tense with great twist and turns that will have you sitting on the edge of my seat especially as I have a storm where I live and its pouring down! Great setting for this book. lol

This new series was addictive that made me want to read and find out more about this new character PC Fiona MacLeish which I did like. I am looking forward reading more books within this series.

Big thank you to netgalley, and Bookouture audio and the author G.N.Smith for an early copy of her book.

3⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thankyou netgalley for the arc copy of this book for honest review.
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I got to be honest, the only thing that it doesn’t have a stars as much as I like to is the genre. It doesn’t have thriller into it but yet it’s a good story if you love stories about the democrat or government. To be honest I’m lost at some point .
This book is not for me I’m afraid ☺️


❤️shaye.reads

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Fiona is a PC with the Scotland Police and she has taken a step back from the Department due to the unfortunate murder of her parents. While she is away visiting her aunt, a violent storm occurs and their is massive flooding everywhere. As Fiona decides to check on the neighbours to make sure they are safe she comes across a gruesome discovery. Her neighbour is dead and it is obvious he has been murdered. Not only that, but his wife is missing. Fiona's police training immediately kicks in and she knows she has to preserve the body until the storm is over and she can contact the necessary authorities. In the meantime, she needs to keep her identity of being a PC quiet and her aunt safe from a potential murderer among them. Enjoy!!!

It was so nice to get to know PC Fiona MacLeish, hope there will be more books in this series. As others have mentioned, some more editing would be good as it felt a tad repetitive at times. Still found it very entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley, the editor and the author for the opportunity to access this copy.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

A little drawn out but overall a good story to listen to! I wasn't totally engaged with it and as such kept losing track of the characters but still enjoyed it. The narrator was good.