‘In the Shadows’ by Anna Smith

Published by Quercus,
13 February 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-52942898-8 (HB)

Billie Carson, investigator, is finally in a good place, following the years of pain and worry, hope and disappointment she has endured since her husband took her child abroad. Now Lucas is back with her, and she is also in a relationship, which is going well but Billie is taking it slowly.

Then like waiting for a bus, two come along together. 

Gina Evans is emotional and frantic as she begs Billie to find out how her mother Cathy Evans has ended up on a beach in Spain, dead. And the mysterious and cagy Elizabeth Fletcher, who won’t speak on the telephone about her problem but wants to meet.

We learn in the first few pages of the book that Elizabeth has killed a man that assaulted her, but it’s not as straight forward as that as she wants Billie to find out who the man was and why he was searching her husband’s desk in the middle of the night. Billie’s response is that she should go to the police, but her response is ‘I knew your father’.   

And so, Billie is not only caught up in two mysteries, but also a personal one that of the death of her father.  

This is a compelling read and moves along at a cracking pace. I couldn’t put it down but sat up into the early hours to finish it. Most Highly recommended.
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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. There are now four books in the series. Anna lives in Scotland. 

www.annasmithscotland.com/