‘If I Should Die’ by Anna Smith

Published by Quercus,
11 May 2023.
ISBN: 978-1-52941-584-1 (HB)

PI Billie Carlson is back in her office in Glasgow, having returned from three weeks in Cleveland, Ohio, where she has been following a lead from the American PI Dan Harris, who had taken over the case to find her three and a half-year-old son Lucas, who was taken away by her American husband Bob to the US, eighteen months ago. But the trail has gone cold.

On her first day back, she receives a call from a teenage friend from her past in Sweden, Lars Erikson, who tells her his younger sister Astrid has been found dead in the north of Scotland where she was at university. The police have deemed it a suicide having found alcohol and drugs in her system.

Billie quickly agrees to travel to the highlands to investigate. A short meeting with Chief Inspector McPhail of the local police produces nothing but evasion. It was clear to her that the police had closed the case. Billie does get to speak to a friend of Astrid’s, but she is very nervous, and Billie knows she is holding something back.  Pressed by Billie she admits that she is scared and will say no more.

Meeting blank walls at every turn she is surprised to receive a call from Dave Fowler Ex-cop. He suggests a meeting. She apprehensively agrees.  Dave drives her to a beautiful part of the highlands and then reveals to her the huge web of corruption and criminal underworld that exists in the area.

But Billie has already asked too many questions, and there are ruthless people who want her shutdown quickly. She heads back to Glasgow, but will she make it?

I read in reviews the phrase, this is an unputdownable book, and this is certainly one of those. I will go further and say it is the best book I have read this year. The action moves along at a ripping pace. There are some heart-stopping scenes. With a jaw-dropping ending. Don’t miss this terrific book.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Anna Smith has been a journalist for over twenty years and is a former chief reporter for the Daily Record. She has covered wars across the world as well as major investigations and news stories. she decided to put her experiences to good use. And so, the series of Rosie Gilmour novels were born, featuring a Glasgow journalist trying to tear down the world of corruption and injustice.  Her debut novel was The Dead Won't Sleep, There are nine books in the series. Her most recent series features Billie Carlson, former police officer now a working as a PI. The first book in the series is Until I find You. Anna lives in Scotland. 

www.annasmithscotland.com/