Proof of Life

Anna Cameron #4

by Karen Campbell

Chief Inspector Anna Cameron is a woman with everything to lose. Her life is finally back on track, but the mistakes she made in the past are about to come back to haunt her. When a body is discovered in a Glasgow canal, the death proves to have an unexpected link to something Anna wants desperately to forget. As Glasgow pulses with the threat of terrorist attack and growing civil discontent, she realises everything she holds dear is under threat.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Scottish writer Karen Campbell is a graduate of Glasgow University's prestigious Creative Writing Masters, and author of The Twilight Time.

A former police officer, Karen can legitimately claim to have worked the streets of Glasgow, and her debut novel, described as 'gritty as hell, shot through with black humour', weaves personal insights and experiences to take a look at life behind the uniform - and the choices women make in life.

Reviews

[David]

Quite disappointed with this, previous 3 had been good but this for me was slow, muddled and more about family lives than a good murder/mystery.

[Jill Andrews]

3.5. Final piece of the puzzle in this complex, entertaining series.

[Vicky]

This one just became too tedious to finish I am affraid

[Val Penny]

I recently attended a writers’ workshop run by Karen Campbell in my village library as part of Book Week Scotland. In preparation for this I read this, my first Karen Campbell novel. It had me quite confused at first with its complicated plot, rapid character changes and the many story threads. I could not follow the multiple transitions, nor could I see how they would inter-twine.

However, this author writes complex, multi-layered novels, and the threads did indeed inter-twine! Karen is an graduate in English Literature and a former policewoman. She certainly uses her police experience in her books. She writes gritty, real stories set in Scotland.

The story is set in Glasgow and other parts of Western Scotland. There are layers of character threads which move in concentric patterns but I did not realise this until close to chapter 60. I put lots of hard work working out who is who throughout the book: I certainly had to do more than just read. As a reader, I had to work continuously throughout the book, but then again the plot was gripping and ensured that I stuck with the story right to the bitter end.

Chief Inspector Anna Cameron is a policewoman with everything to lose. Her life is finally back on track, but the mistakes she made in the past are about to come back to haunt her. When a body is discovered in a Glasgow canal, the death proves to have an unexpected link to something Anna wants desperately to forget. As Glasgow pulses with the threat of terrorist attack and growing civil discontent, Anna realises everything she holds dear is under threat.

This is a beautifully crafted book, but it is not for the faint-hearted. If you enjoy a complex crime story with vividly drawn characters, this is the book for you.

The workshop was excellent too!

[Vivien]

Wow what a thrilling read! My 1st Karen Campbell novel and had me enthralled with complicated plot, rapid character changes and the expectation that as story thread made multiple transitions I could keep up! Set in Glasgow and parts of Scotland and layers of character threads, which move in concentric patterns but I didn't realise this until close to chapter 60, so lots of hard work working out who is who throughout the book - certainly have to do more than just read, as a reader I had to work continuously throughout the book, but then again the plot ensured that I stuck with the project to the bittersweet end.
3 other books written by Karen, which I must chase up with in near future.
Shadow Play; After the Fire and The Twilight Time.

[Sandra]

Second read (of the paperback. And despite ague memory of the ending, the depth and detail of the story still impressive (though I have to admit this my least favourite. And, no spoilers, but if possible read them in the right order - this is the fourth.
I'd already awarded five stars for the dialogue twixt Anna and Alex long before I reached the end - Karen Campbell's writing is superb on many levels - creation of place and character - she is my favourite female Scottish detective/crime novelist.
And the intertwining plotting of it was superb, despite the initial dislocation of changes of points of view at the beginning.

[Rog Harrison]

I had really enjoyed the previous book in this series but this was a severe let down. Near the beginning of the book the author gets the surname of Anna Cameron's partner wrong. Given that Anna is expecting his child you might have thought the author might have remembered his name! This book is not completely about Anna Cameron but also contains the stories of ex-junkie, Mary, and sixth-former, Joe. However Anna's actions did not really make sense even allowing for her being pregnant. Nor was the story about Mary plausible though to be fair Mary was a well developed character. The author does know how to tell a story but sadly the plot is full of holes and inconsistencies.

[Heather Hill]

Absolutely riveting read! I love Karen's writing style and the plots and way characters just keep missing each other throughout is so enthralling/page turning. So many twists and turns; another I couldn't put down.
A great read!

[Kirsten]

I really enjoyed this book, which was the first I'd read of hers. I particularly liked the characters and the Scots words thrown in, the plot hurtled along and I couldn't put it down.

[K]

spoiler risk!!! the ending broke my heart!

[Allen Pasternak]

Campbell is a terrific writer, and this plot has as many twists as the formula deviates from anything else you’ve ever read. Sorry I was limited to 5 stars to rate it.