From the Shadows is a promising start to a new crime series set in the Scottish Highlands. It's a dark and atmospheric story that is truly gripping at times and while I didn't love it quite as much as I hoped I would this is definitely a series I want to read more of.
The story is told primarily from two points of view, DI Monica Kennedy and social worker Michael Bach, and is part police procedural, part mystery/thriller with Kennedy leading a murder investigation and Bach trying to track down one of his clients who has disappeared. It's an intriguing story, a little chilling and gruesome at times but one that goes in a very unexpected direction and kept me guessing throughout.
Both Monica and Michael make for interesting characters and are for the most part likeable however I'm not sure I ever got to know them well enough to feel truly invested in them. Both clearly have issues and shadows hanging over them from the past but while there are some hints as to what these may be I still feel like there's a lot to learn about them. I suspect the author is holding things back for subsequent books in the series but I feel like there could have been a bit more development of the characters and more depth given to them. I also found the constant references to Monica's height (she's very tall) and her insecurities about it became a little bit irritating after a while. It's great to have a detective who's a little different from the norm but it seemed a little overdone.
Similarly, I felt like the secondary characters such as DC Fisher and DC Crawford were also a little under developed. They seem a little bit stereotyped and lacking in depth at times and it was the characters who appeared very briefly who made the biggest impression. It also felt to me like the relationships between characters were all a little too serious and formal. It would have been nice to see a little humour (even if it was dark) or an emotion other than anger or guilt to provide a little contrast to what is a very disturbing and tense narrative.
The highlight of the story for me was by far the Highland setting and the very dark and chilling atmosphere the author creates. It's here that his writing really shines and he very skillfully conveys the wildness and remoteness of the rural communities while also taking us into the seedier parts of the city of Inverness, giving a real sense of place. I loved the way he showed the different sides of the area, the beauty and peacefulness and also the isolation and danger. It actually made me want to head up north for a visit despite the plot.
Overall, while not perfect From the Shadows does show some real skill from the author and I think there's a lot of potential for the characters to grow and develop. As the first book in a series I think it definitely shows promise and I will certainly be looking out for more books by the author.
The story is told primarily from two points of view, DI Monica Kennedy and social worker Michael Bach, and is part police procedural, part mystery/thriller with Kennedy leading a murder investigation and Bach trying to track down one of his clients who has disappeared. It's an intriguing story, a little chilling and gruesome at times but one that goes in a very unexpected direction and kept me guessing throughout.
Both Monica and Michael make for interesting characters and are for the most part likeable however I'm not sure I ever got to know them well enough to feel truly invested in them. Both clearly have issues and shadows hanging over them from the past but while there are some hints as to what these may be I still feel like there's a lot to learn about them. I suspect the author is holding things back for subsequent books in the series but I feel like there could have been a bit more development of the characters and more depth given to them. I also found the constant references to Monica's height (she's very tall) and her insecurities about it became a little bit irritating after a while. It's great to have a detective who's a little different from the norm but it seemed a little overdone.
Similarly, I felt like the secondary characters such as DC Fisher and DC Crawford were also a little under developed. They seem a little bit stereotyped and lacking in depth at times and it was the characters who appeared very briefly who made the biggest impression. It also felt to me like the relationships between characters were all a little too serious and formal. It would have been nice to see a little humour (even if it was dark) or an emotion other than anger or guilt to provide a little contrast to what is a very disturbing and tense narrative.
The highlight of the story for me was by far the Highland setting and the very dark and chilling atmosphere the author creates. It's here that his writing really shines and he very skillfully conveys the wildness and remoteness of the rural communities while also taking us into the seedier parts of the city of Inverness, giving a real sense of place. I loved the way he showed the different sides of the area, the beauty and peacefulness and also the isolation and danger. It actually made me want to head up north for a visit despite the plot.
Overall, while not perfect From the Shadows does show some real skill from the author and I think there's a lot of potential for the characters to grow and develop. As the first book in a series I think it definitely shows promise and I will certainly be looking out for more books by the author.