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Detective Shona Oliver #1
In Dark Water
Beneath the surface lie deadly secrets...
DI Shona Oliver agreed to move to Dumfries with her ex-banker husband when their teenage daughter got in with a bad crowd in London. As a Glasgow native, she’s back on home turf.
Living on the shores of the Solway Firth allows Shona to continue as an RNLI volunteer, and a call out to recover a woman’s body indicates foul play. Police in Cumbria take the case but links back to Scotland keep Shona’s team involved. As they investigate, reports of people trafficking and a spate of thefts from local shops compete for attention with a large scale drug bust. But Shona’s work may all be in vain when those close to her threaten to tear the case apart – and ruin Shona in the process.
An unforgettable debut novel by a Scottish crime writer to watch, for fans of Val McDermid, Marion Todd and Lin Anderson.
DI Shona Oliver agreed to move to Dumfries with her ex-banker husband when their teenage daughter got in with a bad crowd in London. As a Glasgow native, she’s back on home turf.
Living on the shores of the Solway Firth allows Shona to continue as an RNLI volunteer, and a call out to recover a woman’s body indicates foul play. Police in Cumbria take the case but links back to Scotland keep Shona’s team involved. As they investigate, reports of people trafficking and a spate of thefts from local shops compete for attention with a large scale drug bust. But Shona’s work may all be in vain when those close to her threaten to tear the case apart – and ruin Shona in the process.
An unforgettable debut novel by a Scottish crime writer to watch, for fans of Val McDermid, Marion Todd and Lin Anderson.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2021
About the author
Lynne McEwan
5 books64 followersGlasgow-born Lynne McEwan is a former national newspaper photographer turned crime author. She's covered stories including the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the first Gulf War in addition to many high profile murder cases.
She currently lives in Lincoln and is in the final year of an MA in Crime Fiction at the University of East Anglia.
She currently lives in Lincoln and is in the final year of an MA in Crime Fiction at the University of East Anglia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
June 24, 2021
Lynne McEwan begins a promising new Scottish crime series set in Dumfries that features DI Shona Oliver, who has recently moved from the City of London police, with her ex-banker, made redundant husband, Rob, who is now running a B & B business in their new home, and her 15 year old daughter, Becca, who got in with a bad crowd in London. What differentiates this from other crime fiction is that Shona volunteers for the RNLI on search and rescue missions under Tommy McCall on The Margaret Wilson. It is this role that has her discover the dead body of a young woman, a case that is allocated across the border to DC Daniel Radley of Cumbria Police.
Shona's boss, the ambitious DCI Gavin Baird, based at Divisional HQ in Kilmarnock, tells her to drop the case as there is no evidence of murder, and Radley is given the same orders by his boss. Baird is running Operation Fortress focusing on the drugs trade, and it is sucking resources and opportunities for Shona and her team, as they are expected to concentrate on the widespread thefts of baby milk in their region. However, Shona feels a debt to the dead that will not allow her to stop investigating what begins to look like murder in the case of the young woman, and she is aided by a Radley desperate to broaden his policing experience, with both willing to do whatever it takes to get to the truth. As more murders occur with a similar MO occur, Shona underestimates the powerful forces arraigned against her, intent on ensuring no investigations ever take place, and the consequent dangers begin to threaten her career and her family.
McEwan creates a great central protagonist in Shona, a Glaswegian woman with secrets, her marriage under threat with Rob's issues, and Becca, awkward, prickly and defiant, finding it hard to settle down in her new school. She is a no nonsense, hard and efficient boss, with a great team under her with DS Murdo O'Halloran, DC Ravi Sarwar, although DC Kate Irving feels more disgruntled, in her view her talents are not being recognised. This is a wonderfully engaging and twisted piece of crime fiction, with a terrific sense of location on the Solway Firth, and so good that I am really looking forward to the next in the series! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Shona's boss, the ambitious DCI Gavin Baird, based at Divisional HQ in Kilmarnock, tells her to drop the case as there is no evidence of murder, and Radley is given the same orders by his boss. Baird is running Operation Fortress focusing on the drugs trade, and it is sucking resources and opportunities for Shona and her team, as they are expected to concentrate on the widespread thefts of baby milk in their region. However, Shona feels a debt to the dead that will not allow her to stop investigating what begins to look like murder in the case of the young woman, and she is aided by a Radley desperate to broaden his policing experience, with both willing to do whatever it takes to get to the truth. As more murders occur with a similar MO occur, Shona underestimates the powerful forces arraigned against her, intent on ensuring no investigations ever take place, and the consequent dangers begin to threaten her career and her family.
McEwan creates a great central protagonist in Shona, a Glaswegian woman with secrets, her marriage under threat with Rob's issues, and Becca, awkward, prickly and defiant, finding it hard to settle down in her new school. She is a no nonsense, hard and efficient boss, with a great team under her with DS Murdo O'Halloran, DC Ravi Sarwar, although DC Kate Irving feels more disgruntled, in her view her talents are not being recognised. This is a wonderfully engaging and twisted piece of crime fiction, with a terrific sense of location on the Solway Firth, and so good that I am really looking forward to the next in the series! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
July 7, 2021
DI Shona Oliver knew it is not going to be easy to deal with the changes in her life. To protect her daughter Shone moves with her family from London to a small city in Scotland. When a body of a young woman is found Shona wants to solve the case, but is not going to be easy.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
June 24, 2021
In Dark Water is the first instalment in a brand spanking new Dumfries-based police procedural series featuring DI Shona Oliver. When DI Oliver isn't busy solving crime and keeping the streets safe, she can be found working as a volunteer for the RNLI. It's on one of those shifts she and her crew recover a woman’s body from the Solway Firth – a body of water with a shore in Scotland and another in England. The police in Cumbria take the case, but when evidence suggests the unidentified female had ties to Shona’s patch just over the Scottish border in Dumfries she’s pulled into the investigation. Her glad-handing boss wants her to drop it, but Shona learns of a network of criminal activity that links to wrongdoing and cover-ups right to the top. As she attempts to find justice, her career and family life hang in the balance as she risks everything to reveal the truth.
This is a compelling and captivating start to the series in what seems to be a set of books that could go the distance. A detective who volunteers for the RNLI is a stroke of genius on the author’s part, as the icy waters Shona knows so well bring her an abundance of drama on top of her day job. Add to that the atmospheric Dumfries setting, and cross-border complexities of a location so close to England, and there are many opportunities to establish a riveting, unique crime series. I found Lynne McEwan's crime writing packed with atmosphere, empathy and tension, and the world of her heroine, Shona Oliver, who is tenacious and intelligent, is one I can't wait to see expand in the upcoming instalments. A haunting and absorbing novel set against the backdrop of a notoriously stunning but dangerous seascape. Highly recommended.
This is a compelling and captivating start to the series in what seems to be a set of books that could go the distance. A detective who volunteers for the RNLI is a stroke of genius on the author’s part, as the icy waters Shona knows so well bring her an abundance of drama on top of her day job. Add to that the atmospheric Dumfries setting, and cross-border complexities of a location so close to England, and there are many opportunities to establish a riveting, unique crime series. I found Lynne McEwan's crime writing packed with atmosphere, empathy and tension, and the world of her heroine, Shona Oliver, who is tenacious and intelligent, is one I can't wait to see expand in the upcoming instalments. A haunting and absorbing novel set against the backdrop of a notoriously stunning but dangerous seascape. Highly recommended.
August 4, 2021
"In Dark Water" marks the beginning of what I believe to be a promising new Scottish noir police procedural series.
The setting, characters, and plot were all well developed and the story immersive. It touched on some serious themes such as people smuggling, the drug trade, and police corruption.
I relished the fine balance given to the book's coverage of Shona Oliver's home life and work life, and as a reader, I was equally invested in both.
This first book in a proposed series introduced several interesting characters who worked under DI Shona Oliver and I can see some great potential to further expand on these characters in future books.
The plot was cleverly executed and the ending tied up the several plot lines in a neatly wrapped package.
This is a series that I intend to follow for as long as it runs. Highly recommended!
4.5 stars rounded up
For my full review of "In Dark Water" visit https://fictionophile.com
The setting, characters, and plot were all well developed and the story immersive. It touched on some serious themes such as people smuggling, the drug trade, and police corruption.
I relished the fine balance given to the book's coverage of Shona Oliver's home life and work life, and as a reader, I was equally invested in both.
This first book in a proposed series introduced several interesting characters who worked under DI Shona Oliver and I can see some great potential to further expand on these characters in future books.
The plot was cleverly executed and the ending tied up the several plot lines in a neatly wrapped package.
This is a series that I intend to follow for as long as it runs. Highly recommended!
4.5 stars rounded up
For my full review of "In Dark Water" visit https://fictionophile.com
June 13, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of In Dark Water, the first novel to feature DI Shona Oliver of the Dumfries Police.
Shona, originally from Glasgow, has returned to Scotland from London where she worked for the City of London Police. Her 15 year old daughter had fallen in with a bad crowd and her husband Rob, a banker, had been made redundant so it was time for a change. When volunteering with the RNLI her crew find the body of a young woman. The Cumbrian force take charge of her death investigation, but with links to her area Shona is keen to stay involved. She soon finds herself embroiled in a wider investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed In Dark Water, which is an engrossing read that expands from one death into a much larger and more wide ranging investigation with long reach. I was impressed with how the author brings it all the disparate elements together into a cohesive whole with ease and a touch of humour. It makes for an interesting and absorbing read.
The plot is interesting from the beginning with a young girl in trouble. My mind started whirring immediately and didn’t let up until all the facts were in. None of it is particularly surprising as the perpetrators are fairly obvious from the start, but the why, how and their actions are full of twists and turns, continually giving the reader more to think about and a large dollop of uncertainty about the outcome.
I like Shona Oliver as she’s not to be messed with as we say up here. She’s tough (the Ringo story made me laugh), dedicated and smart. Her team call her wee Shona behind her back, although woe betide them if she finds out. She probably does know but none of them are prepared to find out and that’s her superpower- high standards and support. She asks a lot and gives a lot and they love her for it.
For readers who like a sense of place the novel has some lovely descriptions of the Solway Firth and its surroundings.
In Dark Water is a good read and I’m already looking forward to the sequel, so I have no hesitation in recommending it.
Shona, originally from Glasgow, has returned to Scotland from London where she worked for the City of London Police. Her 15 year old daughter had fallen in with a bad crowd and her husband Rob, a banker, had been made redundant so it was time for a change. When volunteering with the RNLI her crew find the body of a young woman. The Cumbrian force take charge of her death investigation, but with links to her area Shona is keen to stay involved. She soon finds herself embroiled in a wider investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed In Dark Water, which is an engrossing read that expands from one death into a much larger and more wide ranging investigation with long reach. I was impressed with how the author brings it all the disparate elements together into a cohesive whole with ease and a touch of humour. It makes for an interesting and absorbing read.
The plot is interesting from the beginning with a young girl in trouble. My mind started whirring immediately and didn’t let up until all the facts were in. None of it is particularly surprising as the perpetrators are fairly obvious from the start, but the why, how and their actions are full of twists and turns, continually giving the reader more to think about and a large dollop of uncertainty about the outcome.
I like Shona Oliver as she’s not to be messed with as we say up here. She’s tough (the Ringo story made me laugh), dedicated and smart. Her team call her wee Shona behind her back, although woe betide them if she finds out. She probably does know but none of them are prepared to find out and that’s her superpower- high standards and support. She asks a lot and gives a lot and they love her for it.
For readers who like a sense of place the novel has some lovely descriptions of the Solway Firth and its surroundings.
In Dark Water is a good read and I’m already looking forward to the sequel, so I have no hesitation in recommending it.
April 3, 2024
A well-written, compelling page turner!
June 24, 2021
REVIEW
In Dark Water by Lynne McEwan
Detective Shona Oliver #1
One of my personal pleasures is reading a debut author’s first book and being able to say I thoroughly enjoyed it…and this book was one that I honestly found held my attention from beginning to end. I can see that this author has a brilliant future and will only improve as she continues to hone her craft.
What I liked:
* The setting: Dumfries, Scotland
* Shona: DI with considerable experience, excellent team leader, professional, compassionate, volunteers as lifeboat rescuer, prioritizes, excellent at her job, wife, mother, dedicated to what she believes in.
* Meeting the team Shona works with – Can see potential for them in the future
* Rob: Shona’s husband has had some trouble in the past and could end up in trouble in the future. I look forward to seeing how his character will develop in the future.
* Becca: Shona’s teenage daughter, had some trouble in London, trying to find her way in her new setting, eager to find out how her life will unfold.
* RNLI: learning that the letters stand for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and that they put their lives on the line saving others.
* The police procedural aspect of the book
* The writing and plot
* That all of the threads of the story were tied up by the end of the book.
* The few surprises I wasn’t expecting – though much was predictable, too.
* That good eventually overcame evil
What I didn’t like:
* What and who I was meant to dislike ~ it was easy to hate those that were up to no good.
* The ease with which the bad guys did what they did and knowing that it is happening more often than we might think.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
What do I hope for in book two? More information about Shona, her family, and backstory
Thank you to NetGalley and CaneloCrime for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
In Dark Water by Lynne McEwan
Detective Shona Oliver #1
One of my personal pleasures is reading a debut author’s first book and being able to say I thoroughly enjoyed it…and this book was one that I honestly found held my attention from beginning to end. I can see that this author has a brilliant future and will only improve as she continues to hone her craft.
What I liked:
* The setting: Dumfries, Scotland
* Shona: DI with considerable experience, excellent team leader, professional, compassionate, volunteers as lifeboat rescuer, prioritizes, excellent at her job, wife, mother, dedicated to what she believes in.
* Meeting the team Shona works with – Can see potential for them in the future
* Rob: Shona’s husband has had some trouble in the past and could end up in trouble in the future. I look forward to seeing how his character will develop in the future.
* Becca: Shona’s teenage daughter, had some trouble in London, trying to find her way in her new setting, eager to find out how her life will unfold.
* RNLI: learning that the letters stand for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and that they put their lives on the line saving others.
* The police procedural aspect of the book
* The writing and plot
* That all of the threads of the story were tied up by the end of the book.
* The few surprises I wasn’t expecting – though much was predictable, too.
* That good eventually overcame evil
What I didn’t like:
* What and who I was meant to dislike ~ it was easy to hate those that were up to no good.
* The ease with which the bad guys did what they did and knowing that it is happening more often than we might think.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
What do I hope for in book two? More information about Shona, her family, and backstory
Thank you to NetGalley and CaneloCrime for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
July 5, 2021
Finished reading: May 21st 2021
"She'd had two hours' rest in the last twenty-four, but she welcomed the pain, the tiredness. This was what hard graft felt like, and hard graft was how you got results."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Canelo in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
June 22, 2021
Looking for a suspense detective mystery to grab your attention? Look no further! I thought that this was a really great read, I read this within a couple of days it was that good I just couldn't stop reading it !
This is the first book in the series (hopefully not the last!) , it features the wonderful clever and talented DI Shona Oliver and is set partly in bonny Scotland ! I personally love thrillers set in Scotland I think they have the best settings and this one is no different you can close your eyes and you are transported there watching the scenes unravel.
It does feel slightly like you are being put on a different story line with the raids etc but everything does tie together at the end . It is a brilliantly written book, that held my attention rom the first page , I would definitely recommend this book to fans of detective mystery books and I think the author is definitely going places and is one to keep your eye on!
This is the first book in the series (hopefully not the last!) , it features the wonderful clever and talented DI Shona Oliver and is set partly in bonny Scotland ! I personally love thrillers set in Scotland I think they have the best settings and this one is no different you can close your eyes and you are transported there watching the scenes unravel.
It does feel slightly like you are being put on a different story line with the raids etc but everything does tie together at the end . It is a brilliantly written book, that held my attention rom the first page , I would definitely recommend this book to fans of detective mystery books and I think the author is definitely going places and is one to keep your eye on!
January 19, 2022
4 stars
A solid detective mystery with good character development & writing. I look forward to future installments in this series!
[What I liked:]
•Shona is a well rounded character, & I really enjoyed the bits about her volunteer work with the FLNI. This book isn’t just a police procedural, but has good character development & we get to see Shona’s family life & work relationships grow and change.
•The mystery is satisfyingly complex & kept me guessing on the details, yet everything was built up to & the plot made sense.
•The writing is quite good. The dialogue is realistic, the descriptions (though not emphasized) are easy to picture, & the prose flows.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•What are the odds of a certain character getting targeted by different corrupt individuals twice in such a short time span? They must be really unlucky!
CW: sexual assault, substance abuse, human trafficking, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, murder, domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, gambling addiction, suicide
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
A solid detective mystery with good character development & writing. I look forward to future installments in this series!
[What I liked:]
•Shona is a well rounded character, & I really enjoyed the bits about her volunteer work with the FLNI. This book isn’t just a police procedural, but has good character development & we get to see Shona’s family life & work relationships grow and change.
•The mystery is satisfyingly complex & kept me guessing on the details, yet everything was built up to & the plot made sense.
•The writing is quite good. The dialogue is realistic, the descriptions (though not emphasized) are easy to picture, & the prose flows.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•What are the odds of a certain character getting targeted by different corrupt individuals twice in such a short time span? They must be really unlucky!
CW: sexual assault, substance abuse, human trafficking, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, murder, domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, gambling addiction, suicide
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
August 1, 2023
a solid, well told police procedural set on the Solway firth and the border towns of NW England (Carlisle) and Scotland (Dumfries).
The MC female DI Shona Oliver is also a volunteer with RNLI or The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (they love their abbreviations and acronyms in the UK-I constantly look them up). On a rescue mission, she retrieves the body of a young woman on the British side of the firth. The investigation into her death brings the English Major crimes unit over to Scotland and they cooperate (or NOT!) on the case.
Well done, enough red herrings and well drawn characters.
I liked the new setting, and am glad this is a series.
If you like British crime fiction, you'll probably enjoy this.
Stop here if you only want the literary side of this review.
My only gripe is the social/political commentary and the assumptions made by the author for various social, economic disparities that in the author's opinion, are the origins of modern day crime.
I won't go into my screed about how most people misunderstand or simply don't understand human psychology. Everything in the universe can be plotted on a distribution. Some humans will never 'play nice' because they are hard wired that way. you might be able to pay them off, but you can't talk, or educate them onto the straight and narrow. Deal with it. Oh heck! I gave my short screed anyway. Sorry.
I think I've made myself very clear about socialism or any kind of collectivist political theories-they should remain theories because they are Utopian in nature and have nothing to do with real life. If you find yourself in one, throw it out. Like old fish, it stinks and is useless. I say this from experience, living in a country that is still trying and mostly succeeding, to throw off dregs of the communist govt the British let us have back in the 1920's. The British and our former gov't heads were all in love with Uncle Joe in the USSR. At least we never had the gulag.
The MC female DI Shona Oliver is also a volunteer with RNLI or The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (they love their abbreviations and acronyms in the UK-I constantly look them up). On a rescue mission, she retrieves the body of a young woman on the British side of the firth. The investigation into her death brings the English Major crimes unit over to Scotland and they cooperate (or NOT!) on the case.
Well done, enough red herrings and well drawn characters.
I liked the new setting, and am glad this is a series.
If you like British crime fiction, you'll probably enjoy this.
Stop here if you only want the literary side of this review.
My only gripe is the social/political commentary and the assumptions made by the author for various social, economic disparities that in the author's opinion, are the origins of modern day crime.
I won't go into my screed about how most people misunderstand or simply don't understand human psychology. Everything in the universe can be plotted on a distribution. Some humans will never 'play nice' because they are hard wired that way. you might be able to pay them off, but you can't talk, or educate them onto the straight and narrow. Deal with it. Oh heck! I gave my short screed anyway. Sorry.
I think I've made myself very clear about socialism or any kind of collectivist political theories-they should remain theories because they are Utopian in nature and have nothing to do with real life. If you find yourself in one, throw it out. Like old fish, it stinks and is useless. I say this from experience, living in a country that is still trying and mostly succeeding, to throw off dregs of the communist govt the British let us have back in the 1920's. The British and our former gov't heads were all in love with Uncle Joe in the USSR. At least we never had the gulag.
May 15, 2021
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
3.5* rounded down. This was a police procedural in which Police Scotland liaised with the Cumbria force, initially over the discovery of a body right on the Scotland/England border. I found it well-written, but a little long. There was a lot going on, as the bodies piled up, quite apart from the county lines co-ordinated raids and the baby milk thefts (yes, really). Since this was a novel, everything turned out to be linked! Then there was Shona's personal life, which was eventful too, and her differences of opinion with her senior officer. It all felt a bit wearing.
The very ending wrapped things up a bit too neatly to be entirely realistic, but presumably the next instalment will show how Shona's family situation works itself out.
3.5* rounded down. This was a police procedural in which Police Scotland liaised with the Cumbria force, initially over the discovery of a body right on the Scotland/England border. I found it well-written, but a little long. There was a lot going on, as the bodies piled up, quite apart from the county lines co-ordinated raids and the baby milk thefts (yes, really). Since this was a novel, everything turned out to be linked! Then there was Shona's personal life, which was eventful too, and her differences of opinion with her senior officer. It all felt a bit wearing.
The very ending wrapped things up a bit too neatly to be entirely realistic, but presumably the next instalment will show how Shona's family situation works itself out.
August 12, 2024
In Dark Water…..Fabulous debut thriller / crime novel. I loved the female narrator (whose name I’ll add later) and I am now a big fan of this new series set in Scotland featuring a strong, lead, female D.I. Shona Oliver written by Lynn McEwan.
It involves a dead female body found in the water, as well as some historical info as part of the plot and setting so I felt I was more immersed in this story. The characters are very well developed and it was hard to put down.
Shona is warm and kind but also brilliant and shrewd as she deals with death, misogyny, and bad guys. Pick it up. Especially enjoyable on audio.
Goodreads Librarians: this new audiobook needs a photo like the Kindle and paperback versions. Many thanks.
It involves a dead female body found in the water, as well as some historical info as part of the plot and setting so I felt I was more immersed in this story. The characters are very well developed and it was hard to put down.
Shona is warm and kind but also brilliant and shrewd as she deals with death, misogyny, and bad guys. Pick it up. Especially enjoyable on audio.
Goodreads Librarians: this new audiobook needs a photo like the Kindle and paperback versions. Many thanks.
September 3, 2023
Book: In dark Water
Read By: Ebook
Author: Lynne McEwan
Genre: Mystery Crime
Recommend: Yes
Spice:🌶️️
< b>Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:
I love a good murder Mystery.
This one didnt disappoint. I love the take on this.
Trying to sort out a crime, while running a B&B and looking after a daughter who is rebelling against her parents.
So much was going on at once, it was like living in the shoes of Shona!
Highly Recommend.
‘Diazepam in various brands. Etizolam or street Valium. Methadone. Pregabalin, used to treat epilepsy and anxiety.’
Read By: Ebook
Author: Lynne McEwan
Genre: Mystery Crime
Recommend: Yes
Spice:🌶️️
< b>Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:
I love a good murder Mystery.
This one didnt disappoint. I love the take on this.
Trying to sort out a crime, while running a B&B and looking after a daughter who is rebelling against her parents.
So much was going on at once, it was like living in the shoes of Shona!
Highly Recommend.
‘Diazepam in various brands. Etizolam or street Valium. Methadone. Pregabalin, used to treat epilepsy and anxiety.’
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2022
Good points:
- Scottish crime
- likable characters
- Good plotline
- non-obvious red herrings
Less good:
- Scottish dialect spelling not consistent (and as a Scottish person this was very obvious to me)
- additional points/chapters that felt like 'extra' and for me, didn't add to the story as a whole
- Scottish crime
- likable characters
- Good plotline
- non-obvious red herrings
Less good:
- Scottish dialect spelling not consistent (and as a Scottish person this was very obvious to me)
- additional points/chapters that felt like 'extra' and for me, didn't add to the story as a whole
July 30, 2022
I really like a good crime detective drama and this was a goodie. I liked the authors style of writing, I was kept interested and on the edge of my seat. I found the characters believable too. Great story. I will read another shona Oliver story.
February 15, 2024
I had originally picked this as Decembers book club read but I hadn’t managed to find time for it.
I am so glad I did, hooked almost immediately, the story kept me interested through the twists, several of which I didn’t see coming.
Shona is a very good character and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next
I am so glad I did, hooked almost immediately, the story kept me interested through the twists, several of which I didn’t see coming.
Shona is a very good character and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next
May 14, 2021
In Dark Water is a very well written suspense novel.
There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested until the very end. When DI Shona finds a body on the shores of Solway Firth it's evident this was no ordinary drowning. The descriptions were so vivid it made me feel as if I was right there in Scotland. The characters were well-crafted and the ending was a surprise.
Brilliant!
There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested until the very end. When DI Shona finds a body on the shores of Solway Firth it's evident this was no ordinary drowning. The descriptions were so vivid it made me feel as if I was right there in Scotland. The characters were well-crafted and the ending was a surprise.
Brilliant!
August 20, 2022
Workmanlike whodunnit. Pleasant setting.
August 13, 2023
A good police procedural, but littered with typos.
August 7, 2024
Really enjoyed this, first in a series. Looking forward to reading more.
February 17, 2022
Really enjoyed this and read it very quickly. Police story, murder, drugs, based in Scotland and characters you cared about - what more do you need.
October 30, 2022
It took me a while to get captured by this story—it went so slow it almost dragged. I found Shona very difficult to like; she seemed very abrupt with most people. The only person she was nice with was Dan, and he was very likeable. The story only got interesting and sped up at the end. If there are more books in this series, I hope Shona gets more likeable, the story gets more interesting at the start, and the police team get along much better—Kate, this means you.
July 14, 2023
This book is my very first encounter with this former newspaper photographer, who has turned into a new female Scottish author for me, and this has been a brilliant reading experience.
Storytelling is absolutely amazing, all characters are very believable and human in their dealings with life and everything that will brings with it, while the Solway Firth and its surrounding countryside, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland and Cumbria in England are wonderfully pictured.
This crime thriller is about DI Shona Oliver, newly arrived from London in Dumfries to lead the police-department there but also a woman with a dark secret, with her husband Rob, ex-banker and gambling addict, and their teenage daughter Becca, who fell in with a bad crowd at school in London.
Sghona Oliver is also a RNLI volunteer, and as such is called out with her colleagues Tommy McCall and Callum "The Postman", to recover a dead body of a young woman, and that body will indicate foul play, and thus a case for her police-department in Dumfries, but that she will ahs to share with her counterparts in Carlisle in England.
Soon enough Police in Carlisle will take on this case at first with DC Dan Ridley, but soon links back to Scotland will bring DC Ridley into contact with DI Oliver and a working connection is accomplished.
Together with Shona and her Police Officers, DS Murdo, DC Kate Irving and DC Ravi Sharwar and several others, they will get to the bottom of this case and soon enough other events will happen in the form of more innocent deaths that will lead to a certain direction, a direction where power, money, greed and too much ambition are the main ingredients, and where Shona and her team are thwarted by various individuals in their attempt to get justice done.
What is to follow is a tremendous crime thriller, with several very interesting twists and turns, followed by a sublime worked-out plot that will eventually lead to the revelation of the major culprit, and this ultimate revelation is brought to us in a most astonishing fashion by the author.
Highly recommended to anyone who like a very committed and gripping crime thriller, and for me, this is an excellent start to this new series and so I'm on the lookout for the next one, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Superb Debut Crime Thriller"!
Storytelling is absolutely amazing, all characters are very believable and human in their dealings with life and everything that will brings with it, while the Solway Firth and its surrounding countryside, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland and Cumbria in England are wonderfully pictured.
This crime thriller is about DI Shona Oliver, newly arrived from London in Dumfries to lead the police-department there but also a woman with a dark secret, with her husband Rob, ex-banker and gambling addict, and their teenage daughter Becca, who fell in with a bad crowd at school in London.
Sghona Oliver is also a RNLI volunteer, and as such is called out with her colleagues Tommy McCall and Callum "The Postman", to recover a dead body of a young woman, and that body will indicate foul play, and thus a case for her police-department in Dumfries, but that she will ahs to share with her counterparts in Carlisle in England.
Soon enough Police in Carlisle will take on this case at first with DC Dan Ridley, but soon links back to Scotland will bring DC Ridley into contact with DI Oliver and a working connection is accomplished.
Together with Shona and her Police Officers, DS Murdo, DC Kate Irving and DC Ravi Sharwar and several others, they will get to the bottom of this case and soon enough other events will happen in the form of more innocent deaths that will lead to a certain direction, a direction where power, money, greed and too much ambition are the main ingredients, and where Shona and her team are thwarted by various individuals in their attempt to get justice done.
What is to follow is a tremendous crime thriller, with several very interesting twists and turns, followed by a sublime worked-out plot that will eventually lead to the revelation of the major culprit, and this ultimate revelation is brought to us in a most astonishing fashion by the author.
Highly recommended to anyone who like a very committed and gripping crime thriller, and for me, this is an excellent start to this new series and so I'm on the lookout for the next one, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Superb Debut Crime Thriller"!
June 26, 2021
Rating: 3.8/5
For her debut crime novel Lynne McEwan has opted to venture into the crowded and competitive world of police procedurals - and a fine job she has made of it too.
This is a genre that is littered with potential pitfalls for any author, let alone a debut novelist. I have lost count of the number of mediocre examples I have read, featuring yet another maverick lead investigator with hackneyed character flaws, leading a stereotypical team of detectives in melodramatic pursuit of an implausible perpetrator. Lynne McEwan has succeeded in producing something far better than that.
Although originating from Glasgow, D.I. Shona Oliver has spent much of her career working in London, but events have transpired that have led to her returning north of the border to Dumfries and Galloway. Here, in addition to her policing duties, Shona also volunteers for the RNLI covering the waters of the Solway Firth. While on a "shout", Shona is part of the RNLI team that discovers the dead body of a woman. She suspects foul play and sets about investigating matters further.
I have visited the Solway coast many times, so it made for a refreshing bonus to come across places being referenced that would not normally figure in a piece of literary fiction. However, that little pleasantry aside, Lynne McEwan deserves great credit for producing an authentic piece of crime fiction populated with well-drawn, credible protagonists. This is enhanced still further by dialogue that is impressively realistic and appropriate. The author really does succeed in painting characters who can step out from the pages of the book and be relatable in real life.
One of the inherent dangers of the police procedural genre is that in striving for authenticity, there is a risk that the prose can become a bit turgid and that the progression of the narrative can be stymied. There was a period in the central block of this novel when I felt that it was drifting into these perilous waters. Thankfully, this lull didn't prove to be terminal and it wasn't overly long before the pace of the storyline was back on track.
"In Dark Water" marks a promising debut for Lynne McEwan and I will be keeping an eye out for her subsequent publications.
For her debut crime novel Lynne McEwan has opted to venture into the crowded and competitive world of police procedurals - and a fine job she has made of it too.
This is a genre that is littered with potential pitfalls for any author, let alone a debut novelist. I have lost count of the number of mediocre examples I have read, featuring yet another maverick lead investigator with hackneyed character flaws, leading a stereotypical team of detectives in melodramatic pursuit of an implausible perpetrator. Lynne McEwan has succeeded in producing something far better than that.
Although originating from Glasgow, D.I. Shona Oliver has spent much of her career working in London, but events have transpired that have led to her returning north of the border to Dumfries and Galloway. Here, in addition to her policing duties, Shona also volunteers for the RNLI covering the waters of the Solway Firth. While on a "shout", Shona is part of the RNLI team that discovers the dead body of a woman. She suspects foul play and sets about investigating matters further.
I have visited the Solway coast many times, so it made for a refreshing bonus to come across places being referenced that would not normally figure in a piece of literary fiction. However, that little pleasantry aside, Lynne McEwan deserves great credit for producing an authentic piece of crime fiction populated with well-drawn, credible protagonists. This is enhanced still further by dialogue that is impressively realistic and appropriate. The author really does succeed in painting characters who can step out from the pages of the book and be relatable in real life.
One of the inherent dangers of the police procedural genre is that in striving for authenticity, there is a risk that the prose can become a bit turgid and that the progression of the narrative can be stymied. There was a period in the central block of this novel when I felt that it was drifting into these perilous waters. Thankfully, this lull didn't prove to be terminal and it wasn't overly long before the pace of the storyline was back on track.
"In Dark Water" marks a promising debut for Lynne McEwan and I will be keeping an eye out for her subsequent publications.
June 20, 2021
In Dark Water is a crime based novel based in the south west corner of Scotland and the north west corner of England.
The action starts with DI Shona Oliver, in her free-time capacity as a lifeboat volunteer, being sent out with the lifeboat crew to pick up a body spotted in the Solway Firth. The identification of the dead girl, found to be murdered, uncovers a series of crimes and more murders as the investigation deepens.
Shona has recently moved back to her native Scotland from London for personal reasons and is now working for Dumfries CID. She takes on the investigation aided by her trusty right hand man, DS Murdo O’ Halloran with cross border assistance from DC Dan Ridley of Cumbria Police which gives rise to some Scotland/England rivalry.
Shona might be on top of her game at work, but her home life is in chaos as her teenage daughter is in trouble at school and her ex banker husband has his own personal struggles. Her family life is not at all unexpected in this particular genre!
I really liked Shona or ‘wee Shona’ as her colleagues called her behind her back, but wouldn’t dare to her face! She was professional, thorough and tenacious and despite being pushed to quickly ‘bury’ these deaths as inconsequential, she sticks to her task to uncover the truth with steely focus.
The story is very well written and moves along at a good pace with enough twists and turns to hold my interest until the end. The scenery and landscape is beautifully described and the author really brings Scotland to life.
All of the characters were very well described and the author did a great job of bringing them to life. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to learn more about the characters and see how they develop.
I’d recommend Dark Water to all crime fiction fans. Lynne McEwan is definitely an author to watch!
The action starts with DI Shona Oliver, in her free-time capacity as a lifeboat volunteer, being sent out with the lifeboat crew to pick up a body spotted in the Solway Firth. The identification of the dead girl, found to be murdered, uncovers a series of crimes and more murders as the investigation deepens.
Shona has recently moved back to her native Scotland from London for personal reasons and is now working for Dumfries CID. She takes on the investigation aided by her trusty right hand man, DS Murdo O’ Halloran with cross border assistance from DC Dan Ridley of Cumbria Police which gives rise to some Scotland/England rivalry.
Shona might be on top of her game at work, but her home life is in chaos as her teenage daughter is in trouble at school and her ex banker husband has his own personal struggles. Her family life is not at all unexpected in this particular genre!
I really liked Shona or ‘wee Shona’ as her colleagues called her behind her back, but wouldn’t dare to her face! She was professional, thorough and tenacious and despite being pushed to quickly ‘bury’ these deaths as inconsequential, she sticks to her task to uncover the truth with steely focus.
The story is very well written and moves along at a good pace with enough twists and turns to hold my interest until the end. The scenery and landscape is beautifully described and the author really brings Scotland to life.
All of the characters were very well described and the author did a great job of bringing them to life. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to learn more about the characters and see how they develop.
I’d recommend Dark Water to all crime fiction fans. Lynne McEwan is definitely an author to watch!
July 15, 2022
Wow….. what an amazing debut!!! Already excited for future books in this series!!
A brilliant plot with high drama tension and twists and a fantastic lead character in Shona Oliver. Not to mention a great team around her and brilliant characterisation..
Shona has moved back to Scotland from London with her husband Rob and her daughter Becca after her daughter fell in with a bad crowd in London.
As well as working for the police she is also a volunteer with the RNLI. While out on the boat the body of a woman is discovered. It soon becomes clear that this is not a tragic accident and that she has been murdered. A man is also been found dead having been thrown out of the back of a van. The Scottish and English police work together to try and establish a link and a motive for these deaths.
Meanwhile Shona and her team are meant to be investigating the theft of baby milk.
Someone does not want Shona and her team to keep investigating the murders and more and more pressure is put on her not to continue the investigations., but like any good determined detective she is out there hellbent on getting to the truth no matter how much she might put herself in danger.
While this is all going on her family life is not all running smoothly.
A great storyline with great characters high drama tension and twists.
Can Shona get to the truth and how many more people will die before the killer is found??
How to give a shout out for the absolutely stunning narration of the audiobook that really brought the characters and storyline to life brilliantly.
Lynne McEwan this had me absolutely hooked from start to finish cannot wait for more in this series!!!
A brilliant plot with high drama tension and twists and a fantastic lead character in Shona Oliver. Not to mention a great team around her and brilliant characterisation..
Shona has moved back to Scotland from London with her husband Rob and her daughter Becca after her daughter fell in with a bad crowd in London.
As well as working for the police she is also a volunteer with the RNLI. While out on the boat the body of a woman is discovered. It soon becomes clear that this is not a tragic accident and that she has been murdered. A man is also been found dead having been thrown out of the back of a van. The Scottish and English police work together to try and establish a link and a motive for these deaths.
Meanwhile Shona and her team are meant to be investigating the theft of baby milk.
Someone does not want Shona and her team to keep investigating the murders and more and more pressure is put on her not to continue the investigations., but like any good determined detective she is out there hellbent on getting to the truth no matter how much she might put herself in danger.
While this is all going on her family life is not all running smoothly.
A great storyline with great characters high drama tension and twists.
Can Shona get to the truth and how many more people will die before the killer is found??
How to give a shout out for the absolutely stunning narration of the audiobook that really brought the characters and storyline to life brilliantly.
Lynne McEwan this had me absolutely hooked from start to finish cannot wait for more in this series!!!
July 4, 2021
Beneath the surface lie deadly secrets...
DI Shona Oliver agreed to move to Dumfries with her ex-banker husband when their teenage daughter got in with a bad crowd in London. As a Glasgow native, she’s back on home turf.
Living on the shores of the Solway Firth allows Shona to continue as an RNLI volunteer, and a call out to recover a woman’s body indicates foul play. Police in Cumbria take the case but links back to Scotland keep Shona’s team involved. As they investigate, reports of people trafficking and a spate of thefts from local shops compete for attention with a large scale drug bust. But Shona’s work may all be in vain when those close to her threaten to tear the case apart – and ruin Shona in the process.
An unforgettable debut novel by a Scottish crime writer to watch, for fans of Val McDermid, Marion Todd and Lin Anderson.
This book is beautifully written and your drawn in from the first few pages. Each character is created and described perfectly it’s so easy to visualise the characters, settings and scenes.
The book is the first in a series (hopefully!) and it’s definitely an author I would read again. It is set in bonnie Scotland which made it that bit special too.
I did find some points of the story going off in different tangents or focus too long on one section but it all came together so well it didn’t even bother me.
Overall a good wee read that kept me gripped and in suspense until the end.
Thank you to @lovebookstours @lynnejmcewanwriter @canelo_co for the gifted copy.
DI Shona Oliver agreed to move to Dumfries with her ex-banker husband when their teenage daughter got in with a bad crowd in London. As a Glasgow native, she’s back on home turf.
Living on the shores of the Solway Firth allows Shona to continue as an RNLI volunteer, and a call out to recover a woman’s body indicates foul play. Police in Cumbria take the case but links back to Scotland keep Shona’s team involved. As they investigate, reports of people trafficking and a spate of thefts from local shops compete for attention with a large scale drug bust. But Shona’s work may all be in vain when those close to her threaten to tear the case apart – and ruin Shona in the process.
An unforgettable debut novel by a Scottish crime writer to watch, for fans of Val McDermid, Marion Todd and Lin Anderson.
This book is beautifully written and your drawn in from the first few pages. Each character is created and described perfectly it’s so easy to visualise the characters, settings and scenes.
The book is the first in a series (hopefully!) and it’s definitely an author I would read again. It is set in bonnie Scotland which made it that bit special too.
I did find some points of the story going off in different tangents or focus too long on one section but it all came together so well it didn’t even bother me.
Overall a good wee read that kept me gripped and in suspense until the end.
Thank you to @lovebookstours @lynnejmcewanwriter @canelo_co for the gifted copy.
June 21, 2021
DI Shona Oliver’s personal life and career collide in In Dark Water, the first in an excellent and creative new Scottish police procedural series by the talented Lynne McEwan.
Shona Oliver is DI in Dumfries, having relocated with her family for a simpler life than that in London. Her husband Rob lost his job in finance and their daughter Becca had problems in school. So with Becca in a new environment and Rob managing their new B & B, life should be less complicated. It’s not.
Shona volunteers with the local lifeboat station and when an emergency call leads to the body of a murdered young woman, the nearby Cumbrian (England) police force is also involved. Shona’s team is eager to investigate this murder because the other case they are working on is the mysterious and unexciting theft of baby formula. How are those thefts connected to a drug ring in the area? And why is Shona told to end her investigation? What did Shona and Rob do in London that has caused problems for them in Dumfries?
In Dark Water shines with a complicated, satisfying plot line, well developed characters, especially Shona, Dan, Kate and Ravi. Shona and Rob’s relationship is troubled and I look forward to seeing how this develops in the next in the series. I especially enjoyed learning about the lifeboat station volunteers. This series has the potential to be one of the best! 5 stars.
Thank yo to NetGalley, Canelo Crime and Lynne McEwan for this ARC.
Shona Oliver is DI in Dumfries, having relocated with her family for a simpler life than that in London. Her husband Rob lost his job in finance and their daughter Becca had problems in school. So with Becca in a new environment and Rob managing their new B & B, life should be less complicated. It’s not.
Shona volunteers with the local lifeboat station and when an emergency call leads to the body of a murdered young woman, the nearby Cumbrian (England) police force is also involved. Shona’s team is eager to investigate this murder because the other case they are working on is the mysterious and unexciting theft of baby formula. How are those thefts connected to a drug ring in the area? And why is Shona told to end her investigation? What did Shona and Rob do in London that has caused problems for them in Dumfries?
In Dark Water shines with a complicated, satisfying plot line, well developed characters, especially Shona, Dan, Kate and Ravi. Shona and Rob’s relationship is troubled and I look forward to seeing how this develops in the next in the series. I especially enjoyed learning about the lifeboat station volunteers. This series has the potential to be one of the best! 5 stars.
Thank yo to NetGalley, Canelo Crime and Lynne McEwan for this ARC.
May 19, 2024
'In Dark Water' introduces Detective Shona Oliver, a Glasgow native who has moved to Dumfries with her husband and teenage daughter. Heading up a small team at the local cop shop and volunteering for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), she's enjoying the sea change and hoping that the problems of her rebellious daughter and ex-banker husband will stay well in the past.
Then the body of a young woman is hauled from a local waterway and Shona's ambitious superior asks her to treat it as an open and shut case -- despite the cause of death being unclear. Officially following up on leads related to a local drug ring as well as a series of baby milk powder thefts, Shona continues to investigate the women's death with the help of a young detective constable. When another body appears, a key witness becomes unaccessible and her daughter is almost killed in a hit and run, Shona realises she is up against forces far more powerful than she expected.
While this started promising and I enjoyed the depiction of the dynamics of Shona's team and police procedure, the plot soon became obvious and I found the family antics tedious and unbelievable (and they left little room for further development). I understand this may have been a prop to help flesh out Shona's character; however, she remained one-dimensional to me -- just another good-looking detective with a complicated past who likes to disobey orders.
All in all, an ok read.
Then the body of a young woman is hauled from a local waterway and Shona's ambitious superior asks her to treat it as an open and shut case -- despite the cause of death being unclear. Officially following up on leads related to a local drug ring as well as a series of baby milk powder thefts, Shona continues to investigate the women's death with the help of a young detective constable. When another body appears, a key witness becomes unaccessible and her daughter is almost killed in a hit and run, Shona realises she is up against forces far more powerful than she expected.
While this started promising and I enjoyed the depiction of the dynamics of Shona's team and police procedure, the plot soon became obvious and I found the family antics tedious and unbelievable (and they left little room for further development). I understand this may have been a prop to help flesh out Shona's character; however, she remained one-dimensional to me -- just another good-looking detective with a complicated past who likes to disobey orders.
All in all, an ok read.
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