Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Aline Templeton’s Deadfall is a masterful addition to the Scottish crime thriller genre, weaving a tale that is as atmospheric as it is gripping. Set in the shadowy depths of Drumdalloch Woods on the Black Isle, this novel plunges readers into a world where nature’s beauty is juxtaposed with human greed and malice.

The story begins with the mysterious death of Perry Forsyth, a character whose unsavory reputation precedes him. The woods, a character in their own right, are depicted with such vivid detail that they almost breathe, adding an eerie backdrop to the unfolding drama. Templeton’s portrayal of the Scottish Highlands is both haunting and enchanting, drawing readers into a landscape that is as much a part of the mystery as the characters themselves.

DCI Kelso Strang, the protagonist, is a compelling figure whose personal and professional lives are intricately entwined. His investigation into Perry’s death reveals layers of deceit, ambition, and long-held grudges among the inhabitants of Drumdalloch. Strang’s relationship with his new girlfriend, Cat Fleming, adds a personal dimension to the narrative, making his character relatable.

Deadfall explores themes of justice, both natural and societal, as Strang navigates the murky waters of local politics and personal vendettas. The novel delves into the complexities of family dynamics, particularly the strained relationships within the Forsyth family, and the impact of past traumas on present actions.

Templeton’s writing is lyrical and precise, capturing the essence of the Scottish landscape while maintaining a tight, suspenseful plot. Her ability to create multi-dimensional characters who are flawed yet sympathetic is one of the novel’s strengths. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, adding depth to the characters and advancing the plot seamlessly.

Deadfall is a standout in the crime thriller genre, offering a richly textured narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Templeton’s skillful storytelling and deep understanding of human nature make this a must-read for fans of crime fiction. Whether you’re a long-time follower of the Kelso Strang series or a newcomer, Deadfall promises a thrilling thought-provoking read.

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.
Deadfall sees the return of the wonderful Kelso Strang in this high end Scottish police procedural. Aline Templeton really does like to take her time setting the scene and laying the foundations and therefore it is quite a while before Kelso comes properly into the story. This is when the pace really starts to ramp up and things start to get interesting. An array of fascinating characters makes for plenty of suspects as we follow Kelso and the delightful Livvy as they put the pieces together. My least favourite in the series but still an enjoyable read 3.5 ⭐️

Deadfall is the sixth installment in the police procedural series featuring DCI Kelsey Strang and the members of the All Scotland Regional Police Force. This force is called in to supplement local resources in smaller, more remote areas of Scotland no longer manned for serious crime investigations. I have enjoyed all the books in the series. These are well written police procedurals with a strong sense of place and wonderful descriptions of various areas in the north of Scotland. Deadfall takes place at Drumdalloch Woods in the Black Isle near Inverness and the description of the woods gave them an almost oversized presence. There were a fair number of characters in the book and I struggled a bit for the first 25 percent until DCI Strang arrives to work the case and other characters from the previous books in the series show up. From then on it was a quick read and I hope there will be another DCI Stang book in the future.

This instalment of Aline Templeton’s Kelso Strang series sees murder occur at an environmentally significant site with a range of self interested stakeholders with murky morality. Perry an unlikeable and dishonest bully has been murdered and it seems most players have a motive. Kelso and Livy also have to contend with being undermined by the local force and budget pressures from above. Aline Templeton writes character so well and this combined with a well crafted mystery plot and relevant musings on practical and natural justice make this a compelling read. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this one!

I thoroughly enjoyed “Deadfall” by Aline Templeton. It contained many features I consider essential for a good mystery:
1) Good writing (the most important component);
2) Character-driven rather than plot-driven; and
3) Sensory images that immerse the reader in the setting.

Although “Deadfall” is the sixth instalment of the Kelso Strang series, it was the first Aline Templeton novel I have read. At no point did I feel lost. Enough information was provided about Strang to enable me to understand his actions, but the story focused more directly on the needs and motivations of characters embroiled in a unique setting .

<b>Brief Synopsis</b>

The Drumdalloch Woods is a privately owned forest situated on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands. Filled with thick, dark trees, a sanctuary for woodland birds, its owner, Giles Forsyth, considered Drumdalloch a sacred trust to be passed on to future generations. Giles did not believe that either of his two children—Oriole, his daughter, or Perry, his son—would carry on this historic legacy and consequently was planning to bequeath it to his daughter-in-law, Helena. Then Helena died in a freak accident. Or was it an accident? Her ten-year-old son, Jay, didn’t believe that it was, but no one listened to him.

Three years later, Giles has died and his two children are still waiting for approval of their ownership rights. Oriole, still lives in the large deteriorating house in the woods and is struggling to pay her bills; Perry, who works for his cousins—a branch of the wealthy Forsyths in Edinburgh—has been living comfortably until he is laid off from the family firm during an economic downturn. No one at his firm was sorry to see him go, as several staff members had accused him of bullying and harassment. The loss of his generous salary means that he must return to Drumdalloch, accompanied by Jay, his sullen thirteen-year-old son.

Several people have plans for Drumdalloch. Pompous Professor Michael Erskine views getting the woods officially transferred to the Institute for Studies in Biological Sciences as his way to academic respectability. After all, the Institute has had unfettered access to them for scientific research for almost 100 years. Hot tempered Norwegian graduate student, Lars Andersen, is consumed by his own research project and wants nothing to interfere with his work. Hotel owner Steve Christie needs Perry’s cooperation to include the woods in a luxury hotel investment. And Perry intends to sell to the highest bidder.

Another death, and this one was not an accident, although it doesn’t appear to have been a well-planned murder. After being struck in the head, the victim toppled into a pond and drowned; it appeared to be an opportunistic crime, one committed on impulse. Called in to carry out the investigation, DCI Strang collected his overnight bag and drove to the isolated peninsula. He was followed by his regular (and favourite) assistant, DS Livvy Murray. But what appeared to be a simple act of temper turns out not to be so simple to unravel, as Strang and Murray dig deeper.

<b>What I Liked</b>

1) I thoroughly enjoyed the description of the setting—the woods, alternatively ominous and majestic, mysterious and yet home to hundreds of birds that formed a chorus to greet visitors. To a Canadian reader, it seemed very familiar, close to home, even if the mixture of exotic trees, planted as a private sanctuary, differed from what I typically see in my homeland. But the important thing was that the author’s narrative helped me see and hear the environment.

2) Many of the characters were well-drawn, and unique, not stereotypes. I especially liked the picture of Oriole as it unfolded by showing how others viewed her, as well as her own thought patterns. Awkward, graceless, with a sad-spaniel face and a tendency to continuously talk whenever given the slightest amount of attention, most people pitied her. Steve Christie was the opposite—charming, well-liked, but hiding secret fears. Even Lachie MacIver, a minor character who played a small but significant role, was distinct. Only a major villain was conventionally villainous, but no attempt was made to hide his nefarious personality from the moment he made his first appearance.

3) As mentioned earlier, I loved the author’s writing style—descriptive, yet clear, not pretentious. I quickly flew through the story, finishing it in record time (for me).

<b>What I Didn’t Like</b>

Although in terms of the police investigation, the killer was identified, a comment near the end showed that, although guilty of many things, he couldn’t have committed the opportunistic murder. It was left to DS Murray, in her mind, to make the connections that solved that crime. But there was no proof, and Murray decided to leave it be, just a gut feeling about who was responsible.

Initially, because of this ambiguous ending, I was going to give “Deadfall” a four-star rating. But then while re-reading sections of the book to write this review, I came across a passage early in the story that predicted exactly how the real killer thought. The solution was planted early, but easily overlooked by the multitude of details that followed. So, in light of the fact that I overlooked this clue, I am rating it as 4.5 stars, upped to 5.

“Deadfall” will be released in North America on November 21, 2024.

Thanks to Allison & Busby for providing an electronic copy of this book via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

This uses the crime thriller element and was hooked from the first page. It had that tension that I was looking for and enjoyed about the genre. The characters were everything that I was expecting and glad I got to get to know them in this. Aline Templeton has a great writing style and can’t wait for more.