I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of The Girl in the Loch, the first novel to feature Glasgow based PI Teàrlach Paterson.

Three years ago three year old Lilybet Masterton disappeared from her loch side home in the Highlands. Now her father Tony, a dangerous man and alleged gangster, wants Teàrlach to find out what happened.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl in the Loch, which is a riveting read, full of twists and turns and an astonishing resolution. It is told from various points of view, all of whom are on the investigative side, although not necessarily with the same agenda. It works well, keeping the plot secrets while giving the reader a broader perspective on events.

The plot is well conceived with quite a few shocks and twists. It is very readable and I was glued to the pages, even if it is fairly unlikely. Still, it’s entertaining and that’s all that matters. There is a continual sense of menace in the novel, whether it is the horrific murder that takes place early in the novel, the myths about kelpies in the loch or more directly Tony Masterton and his uncertain motives. This accompanies the well paced story where nothing is as it seems. There is a steady stream of developments and reveals that often lead to more questions rather than answers. I also like the tone of the novel as it is easy to read with a dash of light humour.

I like Teàrlach Paterson, who is a smart, dogged investigator with a fairly even temperament. He teams up with Tony’s IT woman aka hacker, Dee Fairlie and she’s a different kettle of fish. She’s more flamboyant and a bit more insouciant, but still smart. They’re a formidable team that I look forward to meeting again.

The Girl in the Loch is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

The first time I have read this Author. I enjoyed the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to

The story of a crime committed against a gangster's family shows that even the heartless can love! The suspense is great and the actions of a hacker are very scary! Will it be possible to enter so many government systems? I really enjoyed reading this book.

A well written, action packed murder mystery. PI, Teàrlach, finds himself on an old case, looking to find out out what happened to the disappearance of 3 year old Lily. The case leads to so much more than he expects. Working for Tony Masterton, a man with a dark side, combines a dysfunctional marriage, an alleged kidnap and interrogation, murders, folklore and so much more. Highly recommended.

Ok I felt like I was on the best rollercoaster! So many twists and turns I loved it ! I adored Dee was my favourite and I’m glad she’s now on Sherlock’s team 😂 this was a great first book in a series I spent the whole day snuggled up reading I needed to know what was going on as I had no idea the whole way.
Can’t wait for more in this series

Gritty and gripping I really enjoyed it and was annoyed when I had to stop reading because life got in the way.

The Girl in the Loch by Andrew James Grieg - Out in the UK 26/1/24
 
What happened to Lilybet Masterton? A three-year-old goes missing from her loch-side Highland home. Has she fallen in and drowned? Or has something more sinister happened? Despite police searches, there’s no body and no trace.
 
Three years on and Private Investigator Teàrlach Paterson is hired by her parents to find out what happened. But nothing is straightforward. The father is a dangerous criminal, the mother won’t talk, and then a mutilated body is found at a local landmark.


This is a first-rate thriller - the first to feature Teàrlach, and hopefully not the last. I was immediately invested in his quest, with the help (and hinderance) of a company of supporting characters.
 
The book is at its finest when it’s covering the Scottish landscape, its landmarks, and its mythology. There’s an air of suspense brought by the loch and the weather, making it a thoroughly enjoyable, creepy page-turner.
 
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this early copy, to review in my own words.

The girl in the log gave me goosebumps and made me want to keep on reading. I don't think I have read anything of this author before but I am sure I will in the near future. Luckily this is the first volume in a new series, at least that is what I surmised, and if it is not this is a plea for more books about PI Teàrlach Paterson. And that should also include Dee Fairlie please, two delightful characters.

The book starts when Teàrlach is hired by Glasgow gangster Tony Matterson to find out what happened to his three year old daughter Lilybet who disappeared three years ago. It doesn't take Teàrlach much time to discover that Matterson is not a good boss to work for and that the job comes with a lot of risks, you definitely don't want to fail when you are working for the Glasgow mobster or you could pay with your live. Tony also puts a dedicated "watchdog" on Teàrlach, in the person of Dee Fairlie, who turns out to be both a hindrance and a big help.

While investigating what really happened to Lilybet and unravelling a couple of other mysteries Teàrlach encounters a lot of Scottish folklore and it is this Scottish mythologie that makes the book so interesting.

Definitely a book to recommend. 5 stars to encourage the author to continue with this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This is book 1 in the new series, and it's off to a grand new start! This is a book with plenty of red herrings, so not one to be read late at night, or you might miss a clue or two! Teàrlach has a knack for finding the missing, and when he finds bones, it seems he is at the top of his game again. But are they the missing child's? Or are they a red herring, and the original investigation missed clues and opportunities to discover the real truth of what happened to Lilly? This book reads like a mini series, you'll be casting the roles in your head as you read it (Douglas Henshall as Tony Masteron, and Martin Freeman as Teàrlach, are my top picks!), and eagerly awaiting the next book in the series! if you love BBC styled crime dramas, THIS is your next book!

I needed this! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! The Girl in the Loch by Andrew James Greig was the thriller novel I’ve been looking for! I could picture the mist around the dark and mysterious loch and could feel the dread that everybody was sensing as if they were being watched by someone, or something. The setting of the back roads of Scotland, the tales the locals tell, and the travelers living off the grid made it all so mysterious. And then there was PI Tearlach Paterson. Just as mysterious, asking all the right questions. I thought I had it all figured out so many times, and yet was still stunned by the ending. I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially Dee. What a fantastic novel!

Thank you @stormbooks_co and @netgalley for this advanced copy.

The Girl in the Loch (Private Investigator Teàrlach Paterson Book 1) by Andrew James Greig. Storm Publications, 2024.

Tony Masterson is a Glasgow gangster. Teàrlach Paterson, a private investigator, finds missing children. Three years after Tony and Samantha Masterson’s daughter Lilybet disappears from their Highland lakehouse deck when there is little hope of ever seeing her again, Teàrlach agrees to try to find out what happened to her. Aided by his assistant Chloe and Masterson’s computer whiz, Dee, he sets out to uncover what happened and why those involved acted as they did just as the situation begins to change.

The writing style is easy to follow, not unlike that of most popular crime fiction series. With a few shadowy exceptions, main character development is consistent, we care about the good guys, and can even empathize with the Glasgow gangster, to a point. I suspect we have not seen the last of him.

I read rather than watch movies or TV or game, for both entertainment and to escape. I find excessive drinking of alcohol disturbing, alarming and unpleasant, not at all entertaining. For me, these descriptions were the only discordant element in the book; like gratuitous sex scenes that have little to do with the story and don’t enhance it. Perhaps these are one of the red herrings or loose ends in this first of a series, that will be developed further in a way that makes sense later.

I look forward to reading the next in this series.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of the Girl in the Loch for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheGirlintheLoch #NetGalley.

A twisty, creepy thrill ride through the highlands of Scotland where something dangerous lurks in the mists of the loch.

Just when you believe you have a handle on the situation, the narrative takes an unexpected turn. Multiple times. Meet Tearlach (pronounced Char-lock) Paterson, a private investigator specializing in finding missing children. His current mission involves the three-year-old daughter of Glasgow mobster Tony Masterton, who vanished from their Highlands home years ago. Collaborating with Tony's hired hacker, Dee, the duo finds themselves entangled in a web of messy circumstances. Witnesses with crucial information to the mystery meet gruesome fates, and the discovery of a young girl's bones in the water adds a new layer of intrigue.

Atmospheric, creepy, and laden with violence, "The Girl in the Loch" will captivate you, drawing you into a journey fraught with danger, red herrings, and surprises at every turn. This book serves as the thrilling introduction to a new series featuring PI Tearlach Paterson, leaving readers eager for the next installment.

Thank you to NetGally, Andrew James Grieg and Storm Publishing for an advanced e-copy of this book. Grab it soon at the end of January 2024.

The Girl in the Loch by Andrew James Greig is an atmospheric, gripping thriller that absolutely kept me guessing to the very end.
Greig presents a three-year-old mystery of a lost child with so many twists and turns that it's difficult to see where the storyline is headed, much as it is difficult for his characters to navigate in the fog from the loch surrounding them. The lead characters of PI Teàrlach Paterson and computer hacker Dee are both compelling and complex, and the switching back and forth between their points of view gives the story texture and depth.
I admit that I followed a red herring down a rabbit hole and didn't see the resolution to the disappearance coming.
After reading the book, I felt as though I had experienced a bit of Scotland, so rich were Greig's descriptions of the settings and the country's people.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the ARC of #TheGirlintheLoch that I received from #NetGalley and stayed up way too late to finish it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy of The Girl In Tye Loch by Andrew James Greig.
WOW!!! What a start to the new year. This book is going to be a hard act to follow.. Private Investigator Teàrlach Paterson is a private detective with a good track record in finding missing children, so it’s no surprise that Tony Masterton wants to hire him to find his daughter who disappeared 3 years ago. If she’s alive she’d be 6 now. Paterson will try his best to find her but if what he has heard about Masterton is true he could be in danger if he doesn’t.
I hope this develops into a series. Well worth the read.

The Girl in the Loch is the first book of Andrew James Greig's "Private Investigator Teàrlach Paterson" series.
Story begins years ago, when Tony Masterson's only daughter Lily Masterson get lost during her play in their house's garden, near the loch. After a big search done for her, nothing could be found; she almost disappears without a trace.
Years later, Tony Masterson hires Tearclach Paterson, private investigator to find anything about his daughther's disapperance.
After Paterson starts his search, he gets deeper the truth in each page while choatic truth behind all starst to shown. And when a body found, the question appears; what happened the Lily and who's body is that? Could there be any relation?
It was nice reading for me, as a crime/thriller fiction, the book kept me wondering till the last pages. So are the characters, i almost found the hacker charater Dee like a Lisbeth Salandre, who i also like. Easy to read while you're trying to understan whole truth about a lost girl, and the whole things done to cover the truth Author lets us to try and find, too. You can also feel like a team with Paterson and Dee.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for ARC.

| loved this amazing novel with lots of plots and twists during the Scottish private investigators journey of finding the missing 3yr old girl.

The location was described so beautifully and well written by the author.

Highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

Stunning and atmospheric backdrop in the misty highland and loch side location with whispers of mystic and local legends. The premise of the story is that a young child has gone missing, daughter of a criminal father and slightly distant and detached mother. Our lead character has been hired as a private investigator as the Police trail has long since gone cold.
Various avenues are explored including the gardener with his part traveller blood and his reputation as a ladies man with whom many local women have been enchanted. There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises along with a couple of gruesome murders to keep us on our toes and some convoluted family connections best unravelled by science. This kept my attention from start to finish and i genuinely didn’t guess the answers or ending. A story with immense appeal.

The Girl in the Loch by Andrew James Grieg - A 3-Star Review

"The Girl in the Loch" by Andrew James Grieg takes us on a mystery journey led by the intriguing characters of Teàrlach "Charlie" Paterson and Dee. The story follows the disappearance of Lilybet Masterson, and Teàrlach, a skilled private investigator, steps in to unravel the mystery.

The novel shines in its portrayal of characters, with Teàrlach and Dee stealing the spotlight. Grieg sets the stage for a promising sequel, promising more adventures with this dynamic duo. Their interactions add a layer of interest to the story that keeps readers engaged.

However, the mystery itself falls a bit short. The plot follows a predictable path, lacking the unexpected twists that mystery enthusiasts crave. Early speculations about Lilybet's disappearance miss the mark, and the eventual resolution feels somewhat straightforward, missing the usual "big bang" associated with mystery novels.

Tony Masterson, Lilybet's father, brings emotional tension to the narrative, but there's room for more exploration of his grief and determination to find his daughter. Insights into Tony's perspective could deepen the emotional impact of the story.

On the downside, the inclusion of random, unrelated facts is distracting. It feels like the author is showcasing their knowledge, but these details disrupt the immersive experience, requiring readers to pause and look up unfamiliar terms.

The addition of haikus adds a unique touch, but their relevance could be better explained. While referenced towards the end, a clearer connection to the story would enhance the overall cohesion of the novel.

In conclusion, "The Girl in the Loch" offers a moderately engaging mystery with standout character development, especially with Teàrlach and Dee. The predictable plot might leave mystery enthusiasts wanting more surprises, but the inclusion of haikus and the potential for a sequel offer hope for improvement in subsequent installments. A special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing first novel of a series! I loved it and am so excited for the next one!

I didn’t guess what was going to happen and the scenery and location was so beautifully written.

‘The Girl in the Loch’ is a deftly plotted novel that radiates a malevolent evilness and it is goosebumps raising in places! As a huge fan of Andrew’s previous books I was very happy to be given the chance to read this one. Start of a brand new series that revolves about Tearlach Paterson, a private investigator based in Glasgow. I'm glad Andrew is returning to crime set in present day Scotland as I believe this is where his best work has come out of. Please, please please go read ‘Whirligig’ as it's one of my favourite ever Scottish crime novels!

When Tearlach Paterson is approached by Tony Matterson to help search for his daughter Lilybet, who has been missing for three years, he takes the case. Tony is a Glasgow gangster and has a huge glass modern house on the edge of a sea loch. His three-year-old daughter was playing one summer afternoon and went missing in broad daylight. The police have not been able to find her or even have any viable leads and after three years Tony decides to hire Tearlach to look into the events of that afternoon. Lilybet’s nanny was fired just weeks after her disappearance and now a body has been found at a local landmark. As Tearlach delves into the secrets of the Mastertons the bones of a child are found in the loch. Has Lily been there this whole time?

This book had me hooked from the very start to the final page. It had this way of getting under your skin and making its presence felt. I devoured it a few sittings and it felt like such a quick read but it was very immersive. The hook of a missing girl drew me in instantly but it was the characters who made me stay! Tearlach is going to become a firm favourite for me I think. He was nuanced and his background has just been teased at and already I feel heartsore for him. He has a vulnerability to him but also a moral core that is hard to shake, even when faced with a dangerous gangster. He is intelligent, loyal and makes a great protagonist! Another character of mention has to be Dee Fairlie, an employee of Tony’s who has also been tasked with finding Lily. She is wildly unpredictable, extremely damaged but also comes across brilliantly, someone who has a heart of gold and is severely misunderstood!

This was a gritty story and dealt with some dark topics. I loved the inclusion of some traditional Scottish mythology and it definitely helped to mix the waters shall we say! As the story progress the feeling of danger intensifies and the latter half of the story definitely gets the heart beating faster. It is a well-plotted book full of dead ends, red herrings and misdirection. Once again, Andrew manages to make the most of the Scottish landscape, history and weather. As the mist rolls in, the tension ramps up and it definitely gave me the heebie-jeebies! But maybe like Brain the Barman I am a believer!

This book deserves to be hitting the best sellers lists as its a brilliant piece of Scottish crime fiction! Let me know if you pick it up!