‘Watch Them Fall’ by Marion Todd

Published by Canelo London,
12 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-83598322-5 (PB)

When Dennis Gibb’s body is found floating in St Andrews harbour, DI Clare Mackay wants to give his death priority. Her boss, Superintendent Penny Meakin, has other ideas. Penny insists Clare prioritises a burglary reported by Rex and Erika Freeman, architects who are overseeing a controversial and expensive housing development. There is a shortage of affordable homes in the small university town and a protest march has been organised against the development. 

Clare and Sergeant Chris West visit the Freeman’s posh house. They are told that nothing has been taken and, although they suspect the burglary is a hoax designed to get the protest march banned, they send forensic experts to examine the supposed crime scene. The search of the Freeman’s house revealed a camera hidden in a false smoke alarm in the sitting room.  Two other similar break-ins, where nothing was taken and spy cameras were installed, were reported. Who was spying on these people and why? Where was the recorded data stored? Would it provide useful information if they could find it? 

Once the pathologist’s report showed that Dennis Gibb had been drowned deliberately, the Freemans and Gibb’s son, Steve, and his wife Jenny, became suspects. They all stood to benefit from Dennis’s death because he had owned a cottage in the middle of the proposed development area. The situation is further complicated by a second death in the Gibb family, the discovery that Steve Gibb had never divorced his first wife, and that he had an older brother, Brad whom nobody has seen for years. Is Brad still alive? Could he be the murderer? 

Superintendent Penny Meakin remained a constant thorn in Clare’s side. Despite it being obvious that the St Andrews police force lacked the resources to manage a large protest march safely, Penny insisted it went ahead.  Clare’s partner Detective Alistair, Al, Gibson had told her in strict confidence that Penny was using the event to lure and arrest professional agitators. Her intransience had devastating results. 

In the police station the desk sergeant, Jim Douglas, is a steady and reliable presence and Patch is the new ‘weightlifting’ girl on the block. Sergeant Chris West and his constable wife Sarah, whilst happily married, have an issue they need to resolve. As indeed does Clare herself. Alistair is now living and working away from home four days a week. Clare misses Al and finds his absence difficult. Her little dog Bengy, whilst very affectionate, can’t quite fill the gap.  Watch them fall is a great read although it comes with a warning. You might just want to keep a hanky ready when you reach the end of the book.
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Reviewer: Angela Crowther. 

Marion Todd studied music and worked for many years as a piano teacher and jobbing accompanist. A spell as a hotel lounge pianist provided rich fodder for her writing and she began experimenting with a variety of genres. Early success saw her winning first prize in the Family Circle Magazine Short Story for Children national competition and she followed this up by writing short stories and articles for her local newspaper. Marion has also worked as a college lecturer, plantswoman and candle-maker and now is a full-time writer, penning the DI Clare Mackay series of crime fiction novels set in St Andrews. Marion lives now in North East Fife, overlooking the magnificent River Tay.  

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.