If I Should Die

by Anna Smith

Private investigator Billie Carlson is back in the next gripping instalment of this utterly addictive series.

WILL SHE SACRIFICE EVERYTHING TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH?

PI Billie Carlson is in Cleveland, Ohio, following a lead on the whereabouts of her son, Lucas. But when the trail goes cold, she is forced to return to Glasgow and a life of waiting and praying that one day she might see him again.

Back in the office and ready to throw herself into work, she picks up a call from Lars, an old friend from her teenage years in Sweden. He tells her some devastating news. His younger sister, Astrid, was found dead in the Highlands, frozen to death with traces of drugs and alcohol in her system.

The police are convinced that Astrid killed herself, but Lars knows his sister would never do such a thing. He begs Billie to investigate and to accompany Astrid's body back to Sweden. Billie quickly agrees and soon finds herself involved in a web of institutional corruption linked to the dark recesses of the criminal underworld. Can Billie find out what happened to Astrid, or will she be silenced by those desperate to keep her from finding out the truth?

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What readers are saying about If I Should Die

'Another absolute page-turner ' 5* reader review

'Stunning writing, gritty plot , this book has it all' 5* reader review

'I love the characters !' 5* reader review

'Great read. Couldn't put it down ' 5* reader review

' Full of tension throughout' 5* reader review

' Gripping from the start right up to the end ' 5* reader review

304 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Anna Smith is an award-winning journalist who spent a lifetime in daily newspapers, reporting from the frontline all over the world. She has covered conflicts from Somalia to Rwanda to Kosovo, where she witnessed the plight of tragic refugees, genocide and hideous ethnic cleansing. She has also worked on major investigations, unmasking drug dealers and paedophiles, as well as reporting on the Dunblane Massacre, to 9/11, where she was one of the first journalists on the scene in both world shaking events.

She writes novels full time now, using her vast experience as a journalist to create the hugely popular Rosie Gilmour character, a gritty Glasgow journalist who tears down the walls of corruption and will stop at nothing to get her story. Anna lives between her homes in Scotland and the West of Ireland - and also in Spain to escape the British weather.

Her highly acclaimed debut novel, The Dead Won't Sleep, was the first in the series, exposing corruption and child abuse at the very top of the establishment, echoing real news stories that are being reported at the moment, even though the novel was published three years ago.

The second in the series is, To Tell The Truth, and takes Rosie on a terrifying investigation into the kidnapping of a three-year-old girl from a beach in Spain while on holiday with her parents. It's a fast paced story of people trafficking and
international child porn, and is set in Glasgow, Spain and Morocco.

Book three, is Screams In The Dark, is a harrowing tale of refugees going missing in Glasgow. When a torso is found floating in the River Clyde, Rosie is on the trail of international criminals from London to Belgrade and uncovers a network of evil. It's a story close to Anna's heart as she reported from Kosovo at the start of the war when stricken refugees were spilling across the border in their thousands.

Her fourth in the series, is Betrayed, where Rosie takes on the criminals in the Ulster Volunteer Force in Glasgow. It's a gripping story of cocaine smuggling, of divided loyalties, of love and regret, and ultimately of betrayal.

Her latest novel, A Cold Killing, takes Rosie on the dangerous trail of gun runners as she probes the murder of a retired Glasgow University lecturer. The deeper she digs, she finds that he has a dark past that leads all the way to MI6 and the KGB.

You can read more on www.quercusbooks.co.uk. And also on her Anna Smith Crime Author page on Facebook. Or on Twitter.

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

WoW.........If I Should Die by Anna Smith is the second book in the brilliant Private investigator Billie Carlson series and was an utterly gripping, gritty and was so addictive I was hooked from the beginning till the end.

Private investigator Billie Carlson is in Cleveland, Ohio following a lead on the whereabouts of her son, Lucas. The trail goes cold, she is forced to return to Glasgow and a life of waiting and praying that one day she might see him again.
A student called Astrid Eriksson was found mysteriously found dead in the Highlands, frozen to death with traces of drugs and alcohol in her system.. The local Police are convinced that Astrid killed herself.
Billie receives a phone call from an old friend called Lars. he is from her teenaged years when she lived in Sweden
Lars is Astrid brother and he knows his sister would never do such a thing. He begs Billie to investigate and to accompany Astrid's body back to Sweden. Billie quickly agrees and soon finds herself involved in a web of institutional corruption linked to the dark recesses of the criminal underworld.

Can Billie find out what happened to Astrid,

or

Will she be silenced by those desperate to keep her from finding out the truth?

Billie then receives a phone call about her son - there has been a sighting of him. Billie's world around her is spinning

Will she find her son in time? before the trail goes cold again!!!

WoW and Bang I didn't want this book to finish and looking forward to book three!

I do recommend you read the first book in the Billie Carlson series called "Until I Find You" which was another 5 star book. This book gives you a good introduction into the Billie life being a Private investigator and a retired police officer..

[Lisa Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billie Carlson is a private investigator and her main priority is trying to find her son, who her husband took from her.

Whilst that is ongoing she takes a call from an old friend from Sweden, Lars. His sister Astrid has been found and police have said it was suicide, but he thinks otherwise.

This was a good story, but it did feel a little drawn out in places with the hunt for who had her son and the case with the drug dealers who were involved with what happened to Astrid.

[Bee 🐝 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading this book it was so hard to put it down!

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am literally kicking myself`, I was a HUGE fan ofthe Rosie Gilmour series of books written by this author and although I read the first book in this series featuring Billie Carlson that was AGES ago. Thank goodness I realised that I had to catch up and got back into it with this, the second book and boy was I glad I did.

Billie Carlson the main character receives a call from Lars, an old schoolfriend from when she lived in Sweden. Lars younger sister has been found dead in the Highlands and the police up there have written it off as a suicide but Lars knows that isn't possible. Billie instantly decides to help her friend and takes on the case. The case invariably leads to the underworld and Billie doesn't shy away from danger!

I read this in a very quick time because the other element of the story that capyured me was Billie's missing son. This has now been expanded from book 1 and we get to learn a LOT more about what is happening and Billie's next steps. Another great book and I cannot wait to move straight onto the next book in the series...

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I should Die.
Another superb read from an amazing Author. Anna Smith has been a favorite author for many many years. I love each and everyone of her books that I have read. This authors work is never disappointing.
A gripping and tense story line that keeps you gripped from page one.
Billie Carlson is a PI. asked to aid in a suspicious death. The death of a friend.
While also battling her own demons Carlson throws everything she can at this case.
I can highly recommend this authors work. I have no issues in giving the full 5 stars it deserves.

[Melanie Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the Billie Carson series was thoroughly gripping. With some progress being made in the search for her missing son, the book really does pull you in, making you feel personally invested.
The case Billie is working doesn’t turn out to be straightforward, and she finds herself needing the help of old colleagues and her best friend.
This truly is amazing. And I can’t wait for the next one!

[Viviene Tesoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the character of billie, she's the embodiment of i would do anything for my son and that shows how a mother can sacrifice for her son, Although I'm a lil bit disappointed as the story didn't focus much on the death of astrid which i expected is the main topic of this story. Still it's a nice read!🩷🎀

[Graeme Robisnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna certainly doesn’t disappoint with this book, another great title to add to her collection, fantastic book from start to finish and I am looking forward to more in the future

[Tina Hardcastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read from onset very addictive.

[Marie Skelding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I started reading this book I couldn't stop

[Donna MacRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling and gripping. I’ve never wanted things to go so right for a character as much as I did whilst reading this.

[Emma Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great second instalment in the series. I'm moving on to the next book now.

[Nouhaila Laouina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that I thrifted a while ago and tbh I didn't have any expectations for it but I gotta admit
that I enjoyed it thoroughly. I guess this because I had lower expectations. This proves that unhyped books could be waaay better that hyped up books. Given that it's a thriller/ crime I expected some plot twists but there wasn't any however it did its job in
keeping me engaged.