July 20, 2015
Two particularly brutal murders claim the attention of Det. Chief Insp. Colin Anderson in Ramsay’s unsettling sixth police thriller featuring the Scottish copper and Det. Insp. Winifred “Freddie” Costello (after 2014’s The Night Hunter). One victim, found in a field with his arms ripped off, appears to be Warren McAvoy, long wanted for questioning in a child murder case. The other is 92-year-old Arabella Barr, an invalid who was wrapped in her duvet before someone set fire to the duvet. Anderson turns the arson case over to his juniors so he and Costello can focus on who killed McAvoy. That McAvoy murdered three children becomes increasingly doubtful. Newcomers to the series may have trouble keeping the many deftly sketched characters straight, but the intricate plot will keep readers turning the pages of this well-told tale of evil brought to justice. Those seeking evocative descriptions of the Scottish countryside should look elsewhere. Agent: Jane Gregory, Gregory & Company (U.K.).
August 1, 2015
Detectives Anderson and Costello are back in a case that's thoroughly creepy. A man is found in a field, his arms torn out of their sockets and a Tarot card stuck in his throat. He's eventually identified as Warren McAvoy, who's been missing for months after being accused of killing at least one child. The first thought in Anderson's mind is that this was some horrifying form of retribution, but as he and Costello dig deeper, their investigation takes them back decades to another unsolved murder, and leads them to the shores of Loch Lomond, where a seemingly haunted holiday park, rumors of witchcraft, and families torn apart by grief and hatred are linked to the case. After weeks of frustration, they finally think they've cracked it, only to find their own lives at risk in a nerve-jangling climax. Masterful writing, vivid characters, and a highly imaginative, terrifying, and byzantine plot combine for a satisfying read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)