The third in the series about Rachel, a fiscal based in the Highlands of Scotland. Rachel is still loiking for answers after the murder of her mother. A young man is found dead and another acquaintance, Eric, is missing after a cryptic exchange with Rachel on a mountain hike. There is a lot going on in this book and the connections between the incidents are not apparent. Rachel wants justice and needs the help of friends such as Selina, a police officer, Mags (her neighbour) and others to solve her personal case as well as others in the plot.
I thought the book started well, but lost momentum as it progressed, picking up again in the last few chapters. It became repetitive, Rachel & Selina both took unnecessary and dangerous risks . The plot was quite complicated and the solution could not really be predicted. I found some of Rachel and Selina's behaviour irritating in this book but I suppose they did find answers to some of their questions.
I was thinking about the rating throughout the boik, in the beginning and end definately a 4 star, in the middle I was not so engaged, so a 3 star. I do want to read more about these people and love the descriptions of life in that part of the world, so have rounded up
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

A dead body in the local cemetery haunts prosecutor Rachel McKenzie, even thought it's somewhat work adjacent. Rachel isn't supposed to get involved in solving the details of crimes, but when has that ever stopped her? As the details unfold, the case brings up ghosts from her past involving her mother's tragic, untimely and unsolved demise. As she becomes more obsessive about the case, she enlists the help of new DC Selena MacDonald.

The further she digs, the more drama unfolds including an attack on her neighbor, a break/entry into her home, and various threats. Is dredging all this up worth the possible fallout?

It was a compelling story and once I got into it, I found it hard to put down. I like the recurring connections of characters from prior books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Morag Pringle for the eARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Morag Pringle's "The Final Truth" is a gripping Scottish crime thriller that will leave you breathless. This third installment in the Rachel McKenzie series plunges readers into a chilling descent into the heart of darkness, where secrets buried deep within the Highland landscape threaten to shatter the fragile peace of a small community.

Pringle masterfully weaves a complex tapestry of suspense, weaving together a chilling murder mystery with a poignant exploration of grief, guilt, and the enduring power of the past.

The characters, particularly the enigmatic and morally ambiguous Rachel McKenzie, are richly drawn and deeply flawed, making them both compelling and relatable.

"The Final Truth" transcends the typical crime thriller formula. Pringle seamlessly blends elements of psychological suspense and gothic horror, creating an atmosphere that is chilling and mesmerizing. The stark beauty of the Scottish Highlands which serves a backdrop, adds another layer of depth and atmosphere to this narrative.

If you're a fan of atmospheric thrillers then the "The Final Truth" is a must-read. Pringle's masterful storytelling will keep you guessing until the very last page, leaving you satisfied yet unsettled.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book and read it in one day. I didn't realize this was book #3 in a series. I didn't feel like I was missing anything, but I will go back and read the first 2 books in this series. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

I've got to admit that I really struggled with this book although it was my type of read I found that the main protaganist very dislikeable from the start, and she uses people to her advantage even if they get into trouble as long as she is ok, which shows how selfish she is and this seem to follow through the book.
The story is there perhaps its the way it was written but will not bother with this series anymore.

I found this book a little slow at times, but when they started investigating it soon began to speed up. I found myself wishing I had a neighbour like Rachel's as she has more personality than all mine put together. It was sad at times due to the death of a character, but it shows how well written characters are when I feel for them. A good book

Unfortunately, due to an oversight, I accidentally read this book before I had read book 2 in the series. Still enjoyed it and I do think it could be read as a standalone.

Rachel still has some questions about her mother's demise, specifically whether or not her father was responsible for it. I can't even imagine asking my father a question along these lines but the author takes us very skilfully down this path.

I have to admit that I really like Rachel's neighbour, Mags. She is one feisty lady and she takes her self-appointed role as Rachel's protector very seriously, which is actually quite lucky for Rachel, as it turns out!

So many twists and turns and all taking part in the beautiful Scottish highlands and islands.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

I enjoyed this quick paced procedural set in the Scottish Highlands. This is the third in a series, and I have not read the first two but did not have an issue with understanding characters or any plot lines. I kept forgetting that the main character, Rachel, was a prosecutor because she was investigating more than doing paperwork despite several people warning her not to. The mystery she unravels that helps her understand the story of her mother’s disappearance and death was complex and clever. I was invested throughout the whole book.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and the author, for early access to a digital copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The third book in this excellent series, this one doesn't disappoint. Plenty of twists and surprises. A good read. Recommended.

Perfect crime thriller! I was engaged the entire time and couldn't put this book down! Guessing and rollercoaster ride until the very end!

I love mysteries set in the UK, and Scotland is always a wonderful place to visit—unless there’s murder involved! I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire story. The setting was haunting at times, but it was also lovely to experience that spookiness. I highly recommend it.
Thank you #Netgalley #TheFinalTruth
carolintallahassee

This book is well written and is a presentation of a very complex storyline.'

Rachel is investigating the death of her mother and the guilt of her father, who is in prison. As she proceeds with her investigation, she is presented with conflicting information and she continues to dig, even as she receives warnings from unknown entities to back off.

Rachel involves friends and colleagues in her dogged determination to find the truth.

This is the first book that I've read in the series and it would have been beneficial for me to have read the previous books because it is very much a continuing story.

This is the third book in a crime thriller series following Rachel McKenzie, a prosecutor in the Scottish Highlands. While the premise—a murder connected to Rachel’s mother’s mysterious disappearance—had plenty of potential, I found this one a bit hard to get into, especially since I hadn’t read the first two books in the series. There were moments where I felt like I was missing important backstory, which made it tough to fully connect with the plot at first.

That said, there are aspects of the book that worked well. The characters were solid, and I especially enjoyed Rachel’s dynamic with her friend DC Selena MacDonald. Their teamwork and bond added depth to the story, even when the pacing felt slow. However, Rachel’s recklessness didn’t sit right with me at times. For someone in her line of work, her impulsive decisions felt unrealistic, almost as if she were trying to lose her job.

What really stood out was the setting. The eerie, remote Scottish Highlands added so much atmosphere to the story. You can practically feel the tension in the misty air and imagine the unsettling things lurking in the shadows of the island Rachel investigates. It’s a setting that absolutely enhances the suspense, even if the story itself lacked the edge-of-your-seat moments I was hoping for.

Overall, The Final Truth wasn’t a bad read—it just wasn’t the one for me.

A body is found in a cemetery that has a connection to Rachel's missing mother. A gripping thriiler this is the first book I've read in this series and it's the third it can be read as a standalone. Good characters especially Rachel well written with plenty of twists and suspense. Thanks to Storm publishing and Netgalley for this review ARC.

My, my, my. Rachel may be a prosecutor but she asks more like a detective constable as she searches for answer regarding her mother's death, whether or not her father was involved, what has happened to her reporter friend, and who the dead body is that was found in a cemetery. There is a good mix of characters - from Rachel herself to the police force to her neighbor. One thing is for sure, nothing is going to hold her back when her instinct tells her there's clue worth following. Of course, this also puts her at peril. Thankfully for her, others have her back as the case comes to a close.

The last instalment of the Rachael McKenzie tri-ology and it disappoint
Really enjoyable series that whilst it had a back story developing all the way through, each book also had a current case.
Wondered how it would all link up at the end and thought it was very cleverly written
Spent twelve years of my adult life in Inverness, so was able to relate to locations.
No hesitation in recommending.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.

Another great murder mystery. Rachel finds herself embroiled with a death that links to her mothers mysterious disappearance. It leads her into danger, but she is determined to discover what really happened. Well written, good characters and an interesting read from start to finish. I received an ARC copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Final Truth
by Morag Pringley
Pub Date: Jan 08 2025

The Final Truth is the third book in the Rachel McKenzie mystery series, if you haven't read the first two books this can be read as a stand a lone book. The story is well written with lots of suspense, mystery, emotion and at times a very tense and thrilling read!

Rachel McKenzie lives in the Scottish Highlands as a prosecutor. Her past has caught up with her. She's not sure who she can trust if anyone! A body is found in a local cemetery, Rachel McKenzie is on the case. This time, the victim has close ties to her mother- who went missing year ago.

There are a lot of twists and turns, a very entertaining read!

Many thanks to #TheFinalTruth #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star thriller!

Rachel McKenzie may finally have the answers she has been searching for regarding her mother's death. If you have followed this series, you know this is a bone of contention for Rachel.

The story begins with a body that is found in a cemetery. Cause of death appears to be a suicide, but there is something that is just a little strange about this scene. After poking her nose where it does not seem to belong, Rachel has put herself and her neighbor in danger. If you know anything about Rachel McKenzie, you know this will not deter her from digging deeper and going beyond the bounds of what she should be doing.

This book was a much more complex mystery than the others. The action was not present like usual. But this did not deter from my enjoyment of the book. This would be what I would call a slow burn mystery (if there is such a thing). You have to hang in there through the complex moving parts and many characters, but in the end it is well worth the wait.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mae fy mhen ym mhob man ar ôl darllen hwn, nes i ei ddarllen mewn chydig ddyddiau gydag ambell noson hwyr am nad oeddwn eisiau rhoi'r gorau iddi! Nofel drosedd yn llawn cyffro diddiwedd yn yr Alban. Mae dipyn o gymeriadau i'w cofio ac roeddwn yn drysu rhyngddynt ychydig ar y dechrau ond wedi i mi fynd ati i ddarllen ymhellach roedd straeon yr holl gymeriadau yn cyd-blethu gan arwain at ddiweddglo annisgwyl. Ambell waith roeddwn yn credu fy mod yn gwybod beth yn union oedd am ddigwydd a beth fyddai ffawd Rachel wrth iddi fynd ati i geisio datrys dirgelwch eich gorffennol a hanes ei theulu, ond roeddwn i'n bell ohoni bob tro! Mae hon yn nofel i'w rhoi ar eich rhestr ddarllen yn sicr os ydych chi'n hoff o nofelau trosedd.

My head is all over the place after reading this one, I read it in a few days with a few late nights as I didn't want to put it down! An action packed crime novel set in Scotland. There are quite a few characters to remember and I was a little confused at the start but as I carried on reading their stories tied together leading to an unexpected ending. A few times I thought I'd figured out what was to come and what Rachel's fate would be as she tried to solve the mysteries of her past and her family history, but I was very wrong each time!. This is certainly one for your TBR if you're a crime fan.