Scan barcode
A review by adperfectamconsilium
The Flood by G.N. Smith
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
'Worst of all, Fiona was looking into the eyes of a killer from the wrong end of a shotgun.'
The first book in a new crime thriller series featuring Scottish police officer Fiona MacLeish.
Fiona is on sabbatical and visiting her Aunt Mary in a remote valley location when a storm brings an unprecedented flood to the local farmland and community. Finding a dead body that has been murdered and not drowned can Fiona solve the crime and save the lives of those around her?
It's a clever idea as the remote location and flood set up a whodunnit very much in the style of a locked room mystery. There's a limited number of suspects as our characters take refuge at a local farm and there's no chance of help until the storm subsides. In a neat twist no one knows that Fiona works for the police apart from her aunt. Can she use that to her advantage or will there be more deaths from the killer or from the increasingly dangerous flood?
There's a nice bit of backstory with Fiona and her motivations for joining the police. Her parents were murdered while she was at school and no one has ever been brought to justice for the crime. I suspect that this mystery will deepen as the series progresses.
Fiona is a likable lead character and the remote location and storm is described well.
The early section of the book is particularly exciting with the discovery of the body and the dangers of the rising floodwater.
As the story progressed there were sections where the plot slowed down and almost became a little repetitive with characters having to brave flood waters multiple times for various reasons.
For a debut it's a solid start, the crime is interesting and even if you guess the killer there are plenty of twists and motivations for character actions to keep you reading and with short chapters the book has that 'one more chapter' feel so that it's a quick read.
A good introduction to Fiona MacLeish and I'm moving straight onto read the second book as the first two are being released together.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-ARC.
The first book in a new crime thriller series featuring Scottish police officer Fiona MacLeish.
Fiona is on sabbatical and visiting her Aunt Mary in a remote valley location when a storm brings an unprecedented flood to the local farmland and community. Finding a dead body that has been murdered and not drowned can Fiona solve the crime and save the lives of those around her?
It's a clever idea as the remote location and flood set up a whodunnit very much in the style of a locked room mystery. There's a limited number of suspects as our characters take refuge at a local farm and there's no chance of help until the storm subsides. In a neat twist no one knows that Fiona works for the police apart from her aunt. Can she use that to her advantage or will there be more deaths from the killer or from the increasingly dangerous flood?
There's a nice bit of backstory with Fiona and her motivations for joining the police. Her parents were murdered while she was at school and no one has ever been brought to justice for the crime. I suspect that this mystery will deepen as the series progresses.
Fiona is a likable lead character and the remote location and storm is described well.
The early section of the book is particularly exciting with the discovery of the body and the dangers of the rising floodwater.
As the story progressed there were sections where the plot slowed down and almost became a little repetitive with characters having to brave flood waters multiple times for various reasons.
For a debut it's a solid start, the crime is interesting and even if you guess the killer there are plenty of twists and motivations for character actions to keep you reading and with short chapters the book has that 'one more chapter' feel so that it's a quick read.
A good introduction to Fiona MacLeish and I'm moving straight onto read the second book as the first two are being released together.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-ARC.