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If I Should Die

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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

2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read

About the author

Anna Smith

383 books184 followers

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.



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5 stars
18 (28%)
4 stars
27 (42%)
3 stars
14 (21%)
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4 (6%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Vanessa.
3,193 reviews26 followers
April 21, 2023
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..
Profile Image for Lisa Willis.
469 reviews13 followers
December 28, 2024
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.
Profile Image for Vicki - I Love Reading.
961 reviews56 followers
April 11, 2023
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.
Profile Image for Melanie Hodges.
266 reviews6 followers
March 16, 2023
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!
98 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2023
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
432 reviews
July 13, 2024
Enthralling and gripping. I’ve never wanted things to go so right for a character as much as I did whilst reading this.
15 reviews
August 17, 2024
A great second instalment in the series. I'm moving on to the next book now.
Profile Image for Nouhaila Laouina.
113 reviews16 followers
May 14, 2024
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.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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