A fair debut....

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"From the Shadows" is a D.I. Monica Kennedy novel, a new Scottish crime series from debut author G.R. Halliday.
Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again. A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in the beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death. Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients, Nichol Morgan, who has been missing for seven days. As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.
As debut police procedurals go this isn't a bad first time effort. I love crime thrillers set in Scotland, especially the Highlands and knowing the places mentioned in the story intimately, I did feel a connection to the location of the story and appreciated the raw beauty of the atmospheric descriptions. Although I would have a appreciated a little more positivity towards the Highland weather, which can be unforgiven but can also be quite stunning.
It is does have quite gruesome descriptions at times, so if easily offended this may not be for you but I thought it added to the story and as I do like my serial killers to be as twisted as they come, I was very content with the violent content in the book.
All in all a decent crime thriller, my only niggle was the constant reference to Monica's height, I'm sure it's not unusual to have tall women in the police force and I couldn't help picturing some totally freakish woman with very large feet! I would read more in this series should it be followed up and would hope Michael Bach returned to the story too, I thought he made a great character and worked well as a partnership with Monica. I would happily recommend this book.
4 stars