I was gripped from the very first chapter. I already knew from the blurb Robert was in trouble but I had no idea how shocking that trouble would be. Just as I had started to like him too.
You know pretty early on how but not who and why, which the armchair detective in me loved. With another boy missing the race is on for Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy.
There are lots of clues from strange stones, burning incense, perfume, stars and drugged drinks and occasional narration from someone called “the watcher”. Also you have the social worker Michael taking it upon himself to try and find Nichol who has been missing a week.
The characters in this are fantastic. From Michael with his feral cats including Colonel Mustard. DI Monica, single mum to four year old Lucy, and her mum. Now Monica’s mum was my favourite and I loved how nosy she was due to watching too many police dramas. The author made me chuckle when Monica admitted that her mum wanted her to drink because all her favourite detectives were alcoholics.
This does contain quite graphic descriptions, luckily I’m not squeamish in the slightest, but it is the vivid imagery of the highlands and the portrayal of the weather and isolation that are the author’s skill. Bringing a real sense of atmosphere and adding extra creepiness to an already creepy and macabre plot.
This is a really solid debut and I can’t wait to read the next book.
You know pretty early on how but not who and why, which the armchair detective in me loved. With another boy missing the race is on for Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy.
There are lots of clues from strange stones, burning incense, perfume, stars and drugged drinks and occasional narration from someone called “the watcher”. Also you have the social worker Michael taking it upon himself to try and find Nichol who has been missing a week.
The characters in this are fantastic. From Michael with his feral cats including Colonel Mustard. DI Monica, single mum to four year old Lucy, and her mum. Now Monica’s mum was my favourite and I loved how nosy she was due to watching too many police dramas. The author made me chuckle when Monica admitted that her mum wanted her to drink because all her favourite detectives were alcoholics.
This does contain quite graphic descriptions, luckily I’m not squeamish in the slightest, but it is the vivid imagery of the highlands and the portrayal of the weather and isolation that are the author’s skill. Bringing a real sense of atmosphere and adding extra creepiness to an already creepy and macabre plot.
This is a really solid debut and I can’t wait to read the next book.