In Her Blood

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
This is an amazing read, difficult at times, (child
and dog cruelty, plus mental health issues) but a powerful; one of the best books I have ever read in the mystery genre. Caro Ramsay also happens to be my favorite author.
The suspected suicide of a doctor starts the most difficult case of DCI Christine Caplan's career.
A young woman known only as Girl "A" is the most likely suspect. A supposed serial. killer, she was protected by law until she was 18, which age she has now reached. Now Caplan has to prove the girl did it ... not an easy task.
It's a riveting read, superb; I was literally blown away. The ending had me in tears, wow, I just loved it. When's the next in the series!?

The second in the Christine Caplan series is an enjoyable, if disturbing, novel. With many different themes, the complex plot sees the DCI looking into current and past crimes, trying to find what others have missed.

A psychologist is thought to have completed suicide from a remote bridge, but closer investigation soon changes that assumption. Then a link to 'Girl A' emerges - a young woman locked away for most of her life following the deaths of two of her sisters. Now styled by the press as 'Britain's Most Hated Woman', the force is on high alert when she escapes. Caplan is in charge of the case, and makes some disturbing discoveries.

In Her Blood is a difficult read at times, with the true nature of killers under examination. It's an engaging novel - and the ending is powerful.

In Her Blood by Caro Ramsay touches on the challenges of mental illness, of being young, and most especially, of being robbed of your voice and how that can affect your life.

When a body is discovered in the water at Connel Bridge, the police assume it's an open-and-shut case of suicide. But when DCI Christine Caplan is called in to take a closer look, she discovers that darker truths lurk beneath the surface, and suspicion begins to turn to a young woman recently out of care. I liked the main character and how real she is portrayed in her actions and dialogue. She is a believable character. She lives in a caravan with no heating and no roof, and her husband has been a shut-in for 7 years. As one character points out, You never know what's going on in anybody else's life.

I enjoyed reading this book and getting to know these characters. I liked how the author unraveled the story and provided tension and build-up to the shocking ending!

I would like to read more by this author. A well-thought-out plot and storyline. I would recommend this book and this author.

#InHerBlood #NetGalley @severnhouse

I'm enjoying this new series from Caro Ramsay. DCI Christine Caplan is called to the scene of a suspected suicide, but things don't seem to add up. When her boss--and friend, though they have to balance that relationship carefully--brings her in on a missing young woman suspected of killing two younger sisters, everything seems to point to this mysterious Girl A. Though officially all information about Girl A is protected, the local officers under Caplan's command know many of the details. It's always nice to see a strong female lead character of appropriate age in an honest light. Though this is the second book in the series, it could be read as a standalone, though references to Christine's children do allude to the previous book. Strongly recommended!

Thanks to Severn House for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

This felt so unlike any other fiction thriller I've read recently. It was a difficult read at times with some kf the topics but it's all so well written and depicted that it feels real! The main character isn't your usual stereotype and the dilemmas and struggles she's faced with are very relatable. Ots a police procedural but its so well written that it absolutely just feel real! As for the plot, it's well paced and engaging. Again, it poses real life questions of how well you do really know anyone and as for the ending? Omg!!!

I was looking forward to the second in the Christine Caplan series and this doesn't disappoint.
Well plotted, fast-paced with characters you care about and a really good storyline.
The twists were excellent as Caplan struggles to work out her emotions during this investigation. It's a tricky one for sure and somehow Ramsay managed to keep us on tenterhooks right till the end.
Very powerful and emotional subject matter dealt with sensitively.
Great read

This is the second book in the series featuring DCI Christine Caplan, however it is the first book by Caro Ramsay that I have read. The subject matter is quite bleak, a child killer, mental health issues and suicide, but it is handled well. The plot incorporates many surprises and twists. I was convinced I had sussed it all out until the next inevitable twist. I did find the first half of the book quite slow to get into. This may have been because I hadn't read the first book and I couldn't relate to the characters or some of the events that were referred to. Thankfully, the second half flew by and at the conclusion, I was a big fan of DCI Caplan.
Overall, this was an exciting read and I'm looking forward to reading more about these characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for an ARC copy
Set in Scotland Book #2 of the DCI Christine Caplan series starts out with a dead body in the water below a local bridge. Suicide is the initial conclusion but because Caplan was in the area finishing off the paperwork from the last case, she's asked to take a look. A closer look reveals it's murder not suicide. Once identified, the victim links to the case of Girl A. Girl A was convicted of killing three people when she was a child. She's now a young woman, released from the young offender's program, and on the run from vigilante justice. The subject matter of this book might be difficult for some but it's written with great care.
An excellent series. I'm a huge fan of Caro Ramsay's work. I love her flawed characters but she doesn't devote too much time to their stories that it takes away from the book's mystery. Highly recommend this and any of her other books.

This is the second book in the DCI Christine Caplan series by author Caro Ramsay but my first read of any novels by this author. I enjoy a good police procedural novel and this is right up my street. DCI Christine Caplan is a very determined and relentless Scottish detective who is thrust into a very chilling case. A young woman, known only as Girl A, has gone missing, and a man is found dead. What initially appears to be a straightforward suicide quickly unravels into something far more sinister as Caplan delves deeper into the investigation.

This was an excellent introduction for me into both the author and this series which works perfectly well as a standalone novel. The plot is well paced and I felt that I learnt quite a lot about DCI Caplan as the novel progressed. DCI Christine Caplan is a strong and resilient protagonist, driven by a relentless pursuit of justice. Her determination to uncover the truth, even when faced with daunting challenges, makes her a captivating character to follow throughout the story.

Girl A is a mysterious character, she is protected by the law and has a violent past that she will never get away from. Yet another solid Scottish crime author to add to my list, Ramsay’s writing is atmospheric and evocative, bringing the setting of Scotland to life with vivid descriptions that immerse the reader in the story.

“In Her Blood” is an emotionally charged novel that explores themes of justice, trauma, and the consequences of one’s actions. Well written, nicely paced and interesting characters make this a very good read and I expect to read more from this author in the near future.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Severn House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Dark, Tense..
The second in the DCI Christine Caplan series of thrillers and what first appears to a somewhat straightforward case turns way more sinister as Caplan delves deeper into complex circumstances. Undoubtedly dealing with difficult and emotional themes, the author handles her subject with a fluid pen whilst producing an edgy and tense police procedural populated with credible characters and a dark, compelling plot.

DCI Caplan is one strong and determined character in this book 2 in the series. I strongly recommend reading The Devil Stone first for background information and maximum enjoyment of the read. I loved the characterisation and the beautiful setting of Oban and the surrounding area. The plotting is superb, the subject matter is dealt with in a sensitive manner and the book flowed well. I was totally immersed from the beginning to the last page and highly recommend this series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC

After really enjoying The Devil Stone in the authors DI Caplan series I had high hopes for this book. I was not disappointed, and think this is a gem of a read, and one I thoroughly enjoyed from the first page to the last. I think the story is well written and absorbing, it flows really well and I could picture the scenes and characters in my mind from the lovely descriptive writing. DI Caplan and her colleagues are started really growing on me and I enjoyed seeing one of them in a very different light. I found this to be quite a hard hitting and thought provoking book mainly due to the issues at the centre of the story although the author dealt these sensitively and with care. I thought I'd sussed everything out and couldn't have been more wrong.

Overall, a very, very good read which really hit the mark with me and I'd recommend this if you're a fan of police procedurals. You're best to read The Devil Stone first so you know the characters from the beginning. I'll definitely want to read the next book in the series.

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve read most of Caro’s books, she writes really well. This is book two in a series ( though it could be a standalone) so characters are beginning to develop. Craigo was a bit of a wimp in the first book but is now blossoming under DCI Caplan’s influence. The story centres around a young woman who witnessed tragedy as a young child and suffers from the trauma associated with it. A psychologist researches her past and ends up dead - did she kill him? Throw in an extended family full of secrets and the story begins. Caplan’s personal life is under stress too and she is still suffering the after effects of the previous book’s crimes. There are enough red herrings to keep the reader intrigued. The ending is therefore a surprise. I look forward to more in the series. Thank you to NetGalley for a prepublication ebook.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of In Her Blood, the second novel to feature DCI Christine Caplan of Police Scotland, set in the Highlands.

A body is found in the water under the Connel Bridge, presumed to be a suicide although Christine isn’t so sure. Girl A was institutionalised as a young teenager under suspicion of three murders. Now she is out and living under a new identity, until she disappears. Christine has two investigations to handle, investigating the suicide that is actually murder and finding Girl A to take her into protective custody.

I thoroughly enjoyed In Her Blood, which is another absorbing read, full of twists and turns, from one of my favourite authors. It is told from Christine’s point of view so that offers an immersive read and an uninterrupted narrative.

The plot is twisty. Plenty of people, including senior police officers, are quick to assume that Girl A is responsible for the murder of the man on the bridge, but Christine and her team are thorough as they want a case that will stand up in court. They struggle to find a link between Girl A and Mr Bridges as they call him so they decide to delve into the past accusations against Girl A and find small anomalies, just as they find small anomalies in the events on the bridge. Nothing is clear cut and there’s a lot of supposition until the final twists, which are quite jaw dropping in their revelations.

This is a very interesting read, not just for the plot, but for what it has to say about the mental health profession, the supposition of guilt and the pernicious nature of social media. After all, Girl A has never been convicted of a crime and yet she’s labelled as Britain’s most hated killer. It really made me think about truth and perception.

Christine Caplan is a strong protagonist. She’s a good boss with a clear eyed way of seeing things and in general a rule follower which I find a good thing in a police procedural. Her private life is much messier. Her husband is a recluse with anxiety issues, her children were injured in a hit and run and are recovering in an island commune while she lives in a caravan in the garden of a house she wants to renovate. If that weren’t enough her two friends need careful negotiation as they have issues. Work must be a safe haven.

In Her Blood is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I liked this very much. Set in Scotland, the main suspect is a young woman with a troubled youth who is now suspected of the murder of a psychologist who has troubled adolescents as his area of interest. Poor Gillian lost 2 sisters and a friend and has spent time in different institutions. Christine (the DI) has her own problems and as the case moves on is not convinced that Gillian is the murderer.
Not really a police procedural, though there are moments when evidence is explored, there is a lot of team work and interviews with different people in Gillian's and the victims'lives. The action picks up towards the end of the book and there are a couple of twists in the plot, not totally unexpected for me . I like the no nonsense style of writing and the forthright discussion of the investigating team. I have not read the first book in the series, but will do soon . I loved the location and even the minor characters were well portrayed.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A body is discovered in the water under a bridge. Naturally enough, it's initially suspected to be a suicide. But then, more facts begin to emerge that lead the authorities to think otherwise...

This is the second book about DCI Christine Caplan, but as someone who has not read the first book (yet), I can safely say that this can be read as a stand-alone.

Christine is an interesting character, with a personal life that is almost as complicated as her professional performance is stellar. She swiftly starts making the connections that indicate the presumed suicide is anything but.

"Girl A" was accused of killing people - including a sibling - as a child. Her identity is protected under law, but that does not stop an arsonist from burning her house down and sending her on the run. The dead man also proves to be her mental health provider, so now a teenager already suspected of violent crimes is under suspicion for a new killing - and may be at risk herself.

Christine will have her hands full with this case, but this is a well-observed and intelligently delivered story that will delight readers of the genre.

This is the second book in the DCI Caplin series, written by Caro Ramsay. Having said that, this book can be read easily as a stand alone. The author provides enough background to understand where all the characters currently find themselves, mentally and physically.

In Her Blood is an engrossing read. DCI Caplin is investigating a really tricky case. We have a seemingly mindless murder of a decent, honest man who only wanted to do well. Who wanted to help young people facing challenges in their lives. This enquiry is set against the case of Girl A. A nationwide renowned case. Is Girl A innocent? A young patient with deep rooted mental health issues, who needs protection? Or is she a cold blooded killer, who others need protection from?

The team have really grown on me in this book. In the last book, The Devil Stone, I wasn’t sure who to trust. Now I know who the good guys are, I am really enjoying their quirks, infuriating traits, strengths and weaknesses, seeing their characters grow in the pages. The varied personalities provide interesting and entertaining interactions, and also bring a realism to the story. I know I certainly haven’t always got on with people I had to work with, and be in the company of frequently. Some of the dialogue between Christine and Craigo really made me smile, I’m sure her reactions have been reflected in my own face many times.

This is a complex, intricate, fast moving plot. The author doesn’t waste words describing incidental details, such as the colour of sky, you just get what the story needs, succinctly written.
This case has echoes in cases that readers will recognise from reality. I’m sure readers will have their own opinions on which side they would fall on this case. Cases like these will always be divisive.

The author has included one of my favourite words, at the start of Chapter 17, in the Killagal Blog. I won’t mention it here, as I’m sure the algorithm police will shoot me down and disallow this review from publication. This is the first time I have seen this word in a book, and I applaud the author for it’s use. It’s a 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me, and I really look forward to the next DCI Caplin book.

DCI Christine Caplan has a mess of a case on her hands. Girl A, whose identity was changed after the deaths of several people, has disappeared. A man has been found dead - and initially thought to be a suicide but then it's pinned on her. And then, btw, there's all the issues with Christine's family. Girl A's life has been one of struggle and she wasn't helped by those who were meant to do so but did she kill? No spoilers from me on this twisty and thought provoking procedural. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. While it's the second in a series, it will be fine as a standalone and it's a very good read.

In Her Blood is the latest in the DCI Christine Caplan series. I read the first book in the series, but I think this sequel would work well as a standalone. The cases in the two books are unrelated and the author supplies the important information from Christine's backstory.

Christine is from Glascow but has been reassigned to Cronchie, a village in the Scottish Highlands. She and her team are called to the scene of a drowning. It first appears to be a suicide, but then looks like it's murder. Making the case even more complicated is it seems to be tied to the recent release of "Girl A", the "most hated woman in Britain". The young woman is now 18 years old and is thought to have killed a young girl at camp as well as her own younger sister. Girl A is in danger from those who are furious at her release but confidentiality makes it harder for Christine to find the young woman to protect her, as well as question her.

The book has a slow start and I was sometimes a little confused over all the players in the story. However, it soon picks up to be an intriguing and suspenseful procedural. I like Christine and the working relationship she is forming with her new colleagues. The ending is surprising, going in a direction I hadn't expected, and satisfying. I hope this series continues as I would like to see more of Christine and her team who are really starting to gel and learning to work well together.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Severn House, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

In this second DCI Christine Caplan police procedural, we return to the Scottish Highland village of Cronchie. The DCI is ready to return to her home and family in Glasgow, after having been stationed in Cronchie. (I recommend reading the first book, The Devil Stone, to get the full backstory).

Caplan's departure is postponed when a call comes in about a man having jumped or was pushed off the Connel Bridge over the Falls of Lora. Here is the twist, he was stabbed before the fall. His name was
Ted Maxwell, a psychologist working on a book about children who kill. This creates fear and panic in the village. A young woman, who had been accused of murdering three people when she was a child, Girl A, has just been released. Could she have killed Ted Maxwell?

As Caplan, meets the girl, Gillian, and her family, she also begins to investigate the previous crimes. Things do not seem to be so straightforward. Adding to the pressure to solve Maxwell's murder, her superiors want a quick resolution and give her a deadline.

This is a fast paced story. The author does an excellent job with the subject of mental health issues, how people react to it and how the media forms the public's perceptions. Caplan is good at her job. She is dealing with personal issues on the home front at the same time she is dealing with a complex case. The author gives us a few twists, and I was surprised by the ending. I am hoping we see more of Christine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House for an ARC. The review is my own.

This was a wild ride and I was totally here for it! I read the 1st book in this series to get ready for this one and I am glad I did. There is a lot of backstory there that is helpful for the 2nd book. DI Caplan is badass and I want to work on her team of crime-solving misfits!

#InHerBlood
#NetGalley

EXCERPT: The incident room was quiet apart from Mackie, the early shift gone. Those present said hello then busied themselves. Caplan wondered if Jackson had phoned up, warning them. She looked at the wall, recapping for herself. Somebody had lured Dr Edward Maxwell, a clever, cautious man, onto the top of the Connel Bridge. There was a description and an unflattering drawing of the other figure on the bridge labelled 'Bev's Monkey'. Why did Maxwell go there? Obviously, something tohis advantage. There was a brief description of the Pest and a list of institutions scored out - not known as a member, didn't work there, not part of the governing body. Maybe she was from another part of his work or his life. Security footage had been requested to aid ID. Girl A may or may not be relevant, but Caplan owed it to Cordelia and the boys to focus more on this incident and find out who had stuck a knife into the soft flesh of their husband and father's chest and thrown him from the Connel Bridge.

ABOUT 'IN HER BLOOD': 'Girl A' was convicted of murdering three people when she was a child. Now she's missing and a man is dead. The clock is ticking for Scottish detective DCI Christine Caplan to bring her to justice - but the truth may be darker than even she fears . . .

When a body is discovered in the water at Connel Bridge, the police assume it's an open-and-shut case of suicide. But when DCI Christine Caplan is called in to take a closer look, she discovers that darker truths lurk beneath the surface, and suspicion begins to turn to a young woman recently out of care.

Known only as Girl A, her identity remains anonymous, protected under law. Her violent past includes an allegation of the murder of a younger sibling, so the timing of this new death seems too coincidental. Then a vigilante sets her home on fire and she flees, so the 'child killer' is now on the loose - and at risk herself.

As Caplan launches a search for the elusive teenager, looking for connections between her and the dead man, she turns to Girl A's past for answers. And when she gets them, she realizes the truth may be even more sinister.

MY THOUGHTS: In Her Blood is one of those books that starts off slowly, slightly muddly, but transforms into a ripper of a read. Just before the end I had tears running down my face incensed at the travesty of justice, the ruination of a life, and on the final page I was spluttering with laughter.

In Her Blood is not an easy read. It is harsh, violent at times, emotionally labile. It is dark and gritty including child and animal abuse. But it is a tale that will rip out and shred your heart. It is gripping, enthralling and brilliantly plotted, blending DCI Caplan's chaotic home and work lives. It seems that she is under siege from all sides.

The case is complicated, interwoven with another historical and sensitive case. There are discrepancies, inconsistencies, and people who do not want the status quo upset, people who believe Occam's Razor to be the correct outcome. Christine Caplan is not one of them. Deep inside, she knows something is not right, and she will push her team to the limit to learn the truth.

While In Her Blood could possibly be read as a stand-alone, it would be far better to read the first in the series, The Devil Stone, first as all the relationships are set up and explained. Without this knowledge there may be some confusion.

I read this in twenty-four hours. I was, once again, captivated and entranced by Ramsay's writing. Bring on #3!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#InHerBlood #NetGalley

I: #caroramsay @severnhouseimprint

X: @CaroRamsayBooks @severnhouse

#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #familydrama #murdermystery #policeprocedural #psychological thriller #thriller

THE AUTHOR: Caro Ramsay was born and brought up in Glasgow, and now lives in a village on the west coast of Scotland. She is an osteopath, acupuncturist and former marathon runner, who devotes much of her time to the complementary treatment of injured wildlife at a local rescue centre. (Amazon)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of In Her Blood by Caro Ramsay for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Christine Caplin has got her rank back as DCI after the events of 'The Devil Stone' case. She is working in various places when she is called back to the West Coast. A body has been found. It looks like it might have been a suicide, the victim having jumped from the Connel Bridge. However there is some doubt. There are suspicions concerning a young woman who recently came out of care. Known only as Girl A, she had been sentenced for killing a younger sibling. Along with her dog, she had escaped from her 'Safe House' after vigilantes had set it on fire. Has she returned to her roots? and if so why?

I read this book straight after finishing 'The Devil Stone' & wished I could dive straight into a Book 3 as I am really enjoying this series! The characters are well written & knowing the setting of the books makes it all the more enjoyable. There are plenty of twists to the tale to keep the reader guessing. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- bring on Book 3 quickly please!

In Her Blood is the second book in the DCI Christine Caplan series by British author, Caro Ramsay. With her children safe on Skone, DCI Christine Caplan is heading to Glasgow where her long-term unemployed, depressed husband has hopefully done something constructive about selling their house. They have bought Challie Cottage at Kilnlorn, which will need quite a bit of work, and the caravan isn’t very liveable, even in April, but it’s closer to where their children will be.

But her return is delayed when she’s called to an apparent suicide at Cronchie: someone has jumped off the Connel Bridge into the turbulent waters of Lora Falls, where the River Etive meets the Sound. But things don’t look quite right. His wife is adamant that forensic psychologist Dr Edward Maxwell would never take his own life. Nor, despite being meant to attend a conference in Leeds, would he have an affair. So why was he in Cronchie? And, when the post mortem unequivocally concludes murder, whom did he meet on the bridge?

In Glasgow, Caplan’s sometime friend, Assistant Chief Commissioner Sarah Linden tells her to be on the lookout for Girl A who, as a child, possibly murdered two of her sisters and a friend, and has been released from the mental health facility at eighteen, cured. She has a new name, but a dark web blog attributed to her has given away her secret location, resulting in a vigilante arson attack, burns and a self-discharge from hospital. She’s in the wind.

Linden points out that, even if she’s a psychopathic killer, Police Scotland owe her a duty of care. “Girl A had the right to confidentiality both over her medical past, and to her whereabouts” but “She needs to be found for her own safety.” While her treating doctors remind them “Girl A was a patient, not a convict” who “the right to live in peace as a free individual”, Linden is not convinced of her innocence: “She’s untouchable and the little bitch knows it.”

Apparently her team at Cronchie are very familiar with Girl A’s case, knowing much more than Caplan has been told. When it is revealed that Ted Maxwell had a special interest in youngsters who kill, and was probably writing a book on the subject, possibly a whistle-blower exposé, people start drawing conclusions. But are they adding two and two to make five?

Ramsay’s exploration of the balance of rights is interesting and thought-provoking: “Could those children, who were so damaged that they were compelled to damage others, ever be healed? It was the old argument of nature versus nurture, the rights of the individual versus the rights of society.”

Once again, Ramsay gives the reader an excellent police procedural, with a gripping plot into which she throws in some terrific red herrings and twists to keep all but the most astute reader guessing right up to the final reveal. She develops several of the Cronchie regulars into the characters with whom the reader will be happy to spend more time.

Unresolved is a Glasgow situation involving some missing evidence, Christine’s other good friend, PC Lizzie Fergusson, and a clandestine association with a member of one of Scotland’s biggest crime families, leaving plenty for a third instalment that will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Severn House.

This is the second in Caro Ramsay's marvellous Scottish crime series featuring the tenacious DCI Christine Caplan, and a truly dark and twisted case that reunites her with the team at Cronchie police station. It offers a opportunity for Caplan to develop stronger ties with DS Finnan Craigie, a quirky, vulnerable character who blossoms under her leadership. Caplan is called to an apparent suicide at Connel Bridge, Lora Falls, but wonders why her presence is required. It turns out the dead man is Dr Edward 'Ted' Maxwell, a well respected psychologist, a man who should have been at a conference in Leeds according to his wife, Cordelia. So why was he here instead? Could he possibly have any connection with 18 year old 'Girl A', the most hated woman in the country?

Assumed to be guilty of killing children as a young child, the evidence against Girl A was never tested in court, instead under the Tollen Protocol, her well being was prioritised, as she received treatment and therapy. Deemed to no longer to be a risk to anyone, she was recently released under a new name. However, her location was leaked, leading to vigilantes torching her home in which she was seriously burned rescuing her dog. She discharged herself from hospital and has since disappeared. It is Caplan's task to find her, but the Tollen rules means she has to do so with virtually no information and no official documentation, although it turns out there is plentiful office gossip that lifts the lid on Girl A's real identity. Worryingly, Killagal's blog on the dark web boasting of her murderous past has acquired a large following.

In a case where very little is as it appears, Caplan's inquiries go where she least expects, pushing her to re-evaluate how Girl A was perceived to be a murderer. Against all the odds, Caplan, with practically no support other than her tiny team, races against time in her efforts to seek truth and justice. The talented Ramsay provides a brilliant sense of the wilderness, a location experiencing challenging fierce stormy weather, with Caplan living in a damp caravan until her remote dilapidated cottage is renovated. This is a wonderful addition to the series, with its focus on miscarriages of justice, family, and mental health. This will likely appeal to fans of the author and those who love well written gritty Scottish crime fiction. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.