Daniel Sellers' Murder on the Clyde is an engaging and intricately plotted crime thriller that kept me hooked from the very beginning. Set against the hauntingly atmospheric backdrop of the River Clyde, this novel blends classic detective work with modern psychological suspense, creating a layered mystery full of unexpected twists.

The protagonist, DI Lola Harris, is a standout character—smart, determined, and deeply human. Her personal struggles are woven seamlessly into the story, making her both relatable and compelling. I appreciated the depth of her character as well as her nuanced relationships with her colleagues. The emotional stakes were just as high as the mystery itself, and Sellers handled both aspects with great skill.

The story is well-paced, and I found myself constantly trying to piece together the clues as they were uncovered. Sellers is adept at creating tension, and the plot takes some clever turns, keeping me guessing right up until the final reveal. The vivid descriptions of the Clyde and surrounding areas add another layer of richness to the novel, transporting the reader to the heart of Scotland.

Although there were a few moments where the pacing slowed down, particularly in the middle, the overall structure of the novel worked well to build suspense and develop the characters.

Final Thoughts: Murder on the Clyde is an atmospheric and well-written crime thriller with a compelling protagonist and a mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. I highly recommend it to fans of police procedurals, Scottish crime fiction, and anyone who enjoys a good, twisty murder mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I’m looking forward to more books by Daniel Sellers!

Loved this book , a really good one for an easy read on holiday , lots of mystery and twists and turns and things that left you wanting to read more and more , couldn’t leave it down… very really well written book that I really recommend.

Lola Harris is coming home from a night out when she sees a commotion going on by a Clyde bridge. Someone has gone in the water. Cammy, a vulnerable young man saw what happened & recorded it but is terrified of the police. Gossip says it was the work of the 'Clyde Pusher' although according to the police that person is just an urban myth. Lola can't understand why they are so dismissive until she realises that the local council is pushing 'Glasgow is safe & sound' agenda & a serial killer does not fit with their message. In spite of being told to keep out of it, Lola is determined to reveal the Pusher before he gets to Cammy.

I have not read the previous books in this series but it did not spoil my enjoyment of this fast paced twisty tale. I will be looking out for more in the series. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

My first book by this author and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A good female cop mystery set in Scotland. Liked Lola and liked the story overall, although at times felt a bit like too much details, but might just be me. Still though, liked it enough to find out who the serial killer was and would recommend this one.

I was just getting interested in the book when my time was up and the book disappeared. I gather there are other books and this was part of a series. I will be checking out the author for further works.

I liked this thriller a lot, though it did take a few of the 90 chapters until I got into the mindset of the main detective, Lola . There is a lot going on in this book, Gay/bisexual men are being found dead in the river and although Lola receives some information about these deaths not being accidental , this is ignored by the investigating team. I liked Lola and her way of doing things, which is sometimes unconventional, but which gets results. The setting is Glasgow, though beyond a few short descriptions of areas, it could be anywhere really. This book is a quick and interesting read, but there are a lot of characters so that is perhaps the reason that it took me a while to get into the plot.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC, I`ll definately look out for more by this author

I originally come from the area about which this book is based and looked forward to reading, never having read any of this author's books previously.
The book kept my interest, was easily read but became a little confusing towards the end as I felt too much was happening at once in a few pages! I enjoyed the story all the same and couldn't help but think about all the under handedness which happens frequently in certain sections of the ruling society of today!!
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

Thanks to the Joffee books and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Murder on the Clyde” by Daniel Sellers is a riveting addition to the crime mystery genre, particularly the Detective Lola Harris series. This third installment plunges readers into the murky depths of Glasgow’s legendary river and the equally enigmatic urban legend of the Clyde Pusher.

The narrative grips you from the outset as Detective Lola Harris, returning from a rare night out, encounters a scene that sets the tone for the rest of the novel. A young man named Cammy claims to have witnessed the work of the infamous Clyde Pusher—a hooded figure said to throw men into the river to drown. With eight victims over five years and no substantial evidence, the Pusher has remained a specter, dismissed by the police as mere myth.

Sellers masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, where the line between legend and reality blurs. The character of Lola Harris is brilliantly crafted—tough yet empathetic, her determination to uncover the truth drives the narrative forward. As she delves into the investigation unofficially, she faces pushback from her superiors, hinting at a cover-up that adds layers of complexity to the plot.

The pacing of the book is impeccable, with each chapter drawing the reader deeper into the mystery. The setting of Glasgow is almost a character in itself, with its gritty atmosphere perfectly complementing the story’s dark themes. Sellers’ attention to detail and the authenticity of the setting make “Murder on the Clyde” stand out in its vivid portrayal of the city.

What truly sets this book apart is the “massive twist” that awaits readers. Without giving anything away, the revelation is both shocking and satisfying, a testament to Sellers’ skill in plotting a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

In conclusion, “Murder on the Clyde” is a must-read for fans of crime mysteries. With its compelling protagonist, atmospheric setting, and a plot that delivers a punch, Daniel Sellers has penned a novel that is both a page-turner and a thought-provoking exploration of the myths that haunt a city. It’s a story that stays with you long after the last page is turned, and Detective Lola Harris is a well-rounded, dynamic character.

Third in a series but easily read alone. Young men, gay or assumed to be so, have been pushed into the Clyde on dark, wet nights for some years now. Locals are convinced it's the work of the 'Clyde Pusher', a perverted serial killer. The police insist on simple coincidence and those who feel otherwise are quickly warned off or moved. Lola Harris is not going to be one of those. Plenty of drama, police cover-up, despicable council officers, misogynistic police officers, vulnerable young people. I could have done with less of Lola's energy drink problem and, while sort of relevant, there is an awful lot of detail about streets, ginnels and side alleys of Clydeside Glasgow that I don't think added much to the story (unless you know the city and can follow the routes described). 3.5* rounded up so not as good as previous books in the series (unless I'm just in a more grumpy frame of mind). Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

When I saw the reference to the Clyde in the title and then read that the author lives in the same part of Scotland that I do, I couldn't resist picking up this book. I hadn't read any of the earlier titles in the Lola Harris detective series, but that wasn't a problem. This was a very easy book to get into and contained just the right number of nods to the previous stories to pick up the thread.
Murder on the Clyde concerns a near-mythical serial killer, The Pusher, who disposes of his victims in the River Clyde in Glasgow. Many people believe that The Pusher is real; sadly, the police don't agree. When detective Lola Harris is on the scene one night as another young male has gone into the Clyde, she becomes intrigued and starts to ask questions against a wall of resistance from colleagues and seniors at work.
Lola has two jobs to do in this novel; establish what is really happening with a series of deaths of mostly young gay men, and establish why there is such reluctance to investigate these deaths properly.
I enjoyed the local settings and references dotted throughout this novel, and having worked with the vulnerable communities Lola encounters as she investigates, found this to be a credibly-written book.
Lola Harris is a likeable detective who isn't afraid to upset people in the course of seeing justice done. I will look out for other books in this series.

Complex thriller full of secrets ,lies and stonewalling..Set in Glasgow young men are being killed and pushed into the Clyde. There is a pattern but the bosses don't want to know A good read.

A decent read and similar to many others that are out there using a Glasgow as a backdrop, making it difficult for an author to capture an audience.

🏙Good suspense: Lola tackles a bogeyman & finds loads of resistance⚠

This was my first read of a Daniel Sellers murder mystery and I really enjoyed the plot and the way Lola, the lead police detective, bowed to no one when it came to getting justice for the victims and their families. A strong, principled and intelligent woman as a lead: just the kind of character I like.

The plot had plenty of suspense, with a police cover-up spanning multiple cases, shady actions by a local politician, and Lola determined to end it. Interesting that her most trusted colleagues are female officers and the way she successfully navigates the police bureaucracy to make progress in the case.

Lola's personal life gets constant mention, mostly because she's exhausted due to a lack of sleep and chugs energy drinks to get through the day. Her love life is a minor element but includes an original twist when there are surprising revelations about a fellow she once dated. But I did not find the personal life stuff distracted from the murder case.

If you know the city of Glasgow well, this story is very specific about routes and locations in the city and along the Clyde River which flows through Glasgow. Unfortunately for me, I've only had a few transit stop-offs in the city and I found the descriptions did not click for me. Maybe if the author had included a map it would have helped me picture things better.

All in all a good, solid suspense novel with an engaging lead and total unpredictability. Had me scratching my head and baffled right through to the climax.

Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

What a page turner! I really enjoyed this book – it’s the third in a series and I haven’t read the others but the characters were well enough laid out for that to be no problem.

The story is set in Glasgow and centres around Lola, a police detective caught up in the case of ‘The Pusher’, a possible serial killer who has been pushing young gay men into the Clyde over a number of years. As she investigates, she realises there has been a cover up of what’s been happening, meaning she has to fight internal politics as well as uncover the killer.

The plot moves along very quickly and the setting is atmospheric, with Glasgow portrayed very realistically. The characters are interesting and the killer hard to guess, so this was a really enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

This book is part of a series, but I think can hold it's own as well. Overall, this was a great read and engaging. There were a lot of characters and it was a little difficult to keep track of at times.

Book 3 of the Lola Haris series sees the Glasgow DCI working on one case when she stumbles across another. A man has been pushed into the river in the style of an urban legend known as the Clyde Pusher. She forces her way into the case, wondering whether there is actually truth behind the stories.

Lola finds several other similar cases, as well as links to a possible cover up involving both police and Council officials. But can she get to the truth?

Murder On The Clyde has a decent premise, but there are too many coincidences that allow the solution to be stumbled across eventually. There are also too many one dimensional characters, good and bad - and that's just among the detectives. And far too much detail is given about Lola's love life and energy drink consumption.

This was a new author for me but I chose the book as I am from Glasgow. Someone has been pushing young men into the Clyde for the last seven years and the police don’t seem interested. Is there a cover up? I liked that I could follow all the streets as I know of the area in the city centre. One down side was that most of the characters despite being Glaswegian were very well spoken! I don’t think you need to read the first two books in the series and I will read the others. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

2024, April 14 — Review of Murder on the Clyde

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

NINETY CHAPTERS in 4498 Locations on my Kindle Paperwhite (Page numbers are not available.)
I thought that the book was in serious need of editing. This pre-publication copy began on the Prologue with a lot of text in Italic font purporting to represent some sort of news article from the Glasgow Chronicle newspaper in Scotland. It describes the discovery of a murdered young man in the River Clyde. He is just one of the victims of a serial killer known as the “Clyde Pusher.” He kills his victims by striking them on the head rendering them unconscious. He then pushes them into the Clyde River where they subsequently drown.

The very first chapter begins introducing characters by name, with no explanation as to how they fit into the storyline. It took me a while to figure out that some of the characters are active and former detectives with Police Scotland. One of them is searching for a young man called “Cammie,” which is short for Cameron. Lola is searching for Cammie without success. Lola is a retired detective/social worker who is apparently still active in her profession for some unclear reason. There is a clear intent by the author to describe life in the gay community within Glasgow, Scotland.

The writing is cumbersome, with chapter headings titled by date and time. I have no idea why the author thought this might be important, but I did not find it helpful. I read as far as Chapter Eight, at which point I gave up on the book. Reading it had become too tedious. Chapter Eight begins with the subtitle, “9.10 p.m.” The very first sentence in the chapter, however, reads that: “Lola . . . woke with a jolt of adrenaline to find it was five to nine.” This is very confusing. Which is it? Is it 9:10 P.M., or is it five to nine? It can’t be both.

At the end of the story, and after several advertisements for other books from the same publisher, the author includes a “Glossary of English Usage for US Readers.” It is seven and a half pages long and might be more accurately titled “Glossary of Scottish slang and terminology for English readers.”

I apologize to other potential readers of this book for not finishing it so as to provide a more complete description, but I just did not enjoy the writing style at all. I can award only two of five available stars and no recommendation to others. Feel free to skip this one. 2 Stars

DCI Lola Harris #3

Detective Lola Harris is heading back over the river from a rare night out when she spots a crowd of people looking over the parapet. Someone's gone in. A young man called Cammy witnessed everything. He swears it's the work of the Clyde Pusher, but he is terrified of the police. The Clyde Pusher is the stuff of urban legend. A hooded figure who throws men into the river to drown. Eight victims over five years. But according to the police, the Pusher doesn't exist. There are no reliable witnesses, nothing to link the victims. Lola starts looking into the case unofficially but gets a rap on the knuckles from her higher-ups for nosing around. Someone is trying to derail the investigation.

There are a lot of characters to try and remember in this gripping read. The way the Glasgow people speak is how this book is written. There's a serial killer the locals have called the Clyde Pusher, as he pushes his victims into the water and watches them drown. But Lola's bosses tell her there's no connection between the victims. Cammy Leavey has captured footage of the Pushers latest attack, but the Pusher also saw that he was recording the event.

The story is told from DCI Lola Harris' perspective, and we get snippets of information from Cammy and his friend Brenda. There are quite a few flawed characters, But why do the higher-ups in the police force not want this case investigated? You'll need to read this book to find out.

Published 18th April

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #DanielSellers for my ARC of #MurderOnTheClyde in exchange for an honest review.