‘A Trouble Tide’ by Lynne McEwan

Published by Canelo,
27 March 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-83598065-1 (PB)

Detective Inspector Shona Oliver is an RNLI part time volunteer and along with helmsman Tommy McCall and new recruit Sophie, are in the lifeboat at Kirkness’s inaugural event which Tommy has organised to raise money for the RNLI. They check the course and then return to shore. Two of Shona’s team are taking part, and she finds her Detective Constable Kate Irving and Police Constable Hayley Cameron, take their photographs. They then rejoin the lifeboat and take the boat out to take up their position.

To everyone’s horror, Hayley gets into difficulties and drowns, although known as a really strong swimmer. The lifeboat attends but is too late to save her.

Evidence at the postmortem shows up drugs in Hayley’s system, but everyone seems adamant that she didn’t “use”. A murder investigation is launched. This leads to an uncovering of an organised drugs gang, connected to Hayley’s family.

Things get even more personal for Shona when a girl’s body is found at a Festival her daughter Becca is attending. This death is also suspected to be due to a drugs overdose. Shona is worried. Is Becca okay? Can she be taking too?

As the investigation proceeds it becomes clear that there must be a leak within the police, but who can it be? Everyone is on tender hooks, can they not even trust their colleagues?

When another body is found at the Festival the team is really stretched. As if Shona doesn’t have enough to cope with, an incident concerning the murder of her old boss some time ago rears its ugly head again. It’s clear she has something to hide about this crime, but what?

Evidence points out meanwhile that Hayley’s father and brothers really are a force to be reckoned with, as two of Shona’s team find out to their cost. However, it’s a matter of finding proof of their involvement. Whih proves very difficult.

There are at times very moving accounts of Shona’s dedicated team coming to terms with a traitor in their midst. A very clever piece of detective work. Recommended.
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Lynne McEwan was born in Glasgow. She is a former 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. Her DI Shona Oliver series is set on the beautiful Solway Firth which forms the border between Scotland and England, and where Shona is also a lifeboat volunteer. Lynne is a graduate of the University of East Anglia's Creative Writing Programme and splits her time between Lincolnshire and Scotland.  

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.