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Rosie Gilmour #2
To Tell The Truth
A three-year-old British girl is taken from a Spanish beach while on holiday with her parents. Nobody heard a sound. Nobody saw a thing. Or so they claim. Meanwhile, on the nearby Costa del Sol, Rosie Gilmour is enjoying a well-deserved vacation: one that is cut short when the abduction story breaks and she's sent to cover it. Rosie's instincts tell her something's wrong. Such a crime, committed in broad daylight, must surely have its witnesses. Moreover, the girl's mother's story just doesn't add up. When Rosie is approached by an illegal sex worker with information about the abduction, she knows these instincts are correct. Key information about the crime is being withheld from the authorities. The reason: corrupt politicians and vicious human trafficking gangs - enemies one would think twice about making. But thinking twice is not in Rosie Gilmour's DNA, especially when a young child's life is at stake. And, as Rosie closes in on the truth, she realises the penalty for missing this particular deadline is just that, death.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2012
70 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 29, 2015
5 Go Get'em Rosie Gilmour Stars
Rosie Gilmour is taking a well earned break getting some sun in Spain when a call from her editor tells her to check out a story thats about to break out there...
A child has gone missing from outside her parents villa.
Rosie thinks the child's mum is hiding something but that is the least of it because once Rosie starts to get some information together no one can prepare anyone for what might lie ahead.
My thoughts
As with The Dead Don't Sleep Anna Smith has written another fantastic story that is so fast paced I was left hold my breath at times.
It brings back some of those wonderful characters from her first book and some new ones but Rosie is the one that shines.
A journalist that is in the front line making sure so gets to the truth
Another 5 Star read
Rosie Gilmour is taking a well earned break getting some sun in Spain when a call from her editor tells her to check out a story thats about to break out there...
A child has gone missing from outside her parents villa.
Rosie thinks the child's mum is hiding something but that is the least of it because once Rosie starts to get some information together no one can prepare anyone for what might lie ahead.
My thoughts
As with The Dead Don't Sleep Anna Smith has written another fantastic story that is so fast paced I was left hold my breath at times.
It brings back some of those wonderful characters from her first book and some new ones but Rosie is the one that shines.
A journalist that is in the front line making sure so gets to the truth
Another 5 Star read
May 30, 2018
The story is well-written and fast-paced. The stakes are high and I easily was drawn into the narrative. The only thing I disliked about it had to do with Rosie herself, specifically about her profession. As a reporter, she is driven to find and “Tell the Truth” about what she discovers. To do so, she manipulates people, puts them (and herself) in danger, and values truth over consequences of revealing that truth. Frankly, at times it disgusted me even though I realized it likely represents a reporter’s reality.
Nonetheless, I likely will look for the next book.
Nonetheless, I likely will look for the next book.
May 4, 2014
Three-year-old Amy is snatched off the beach whilst her mother is otherwise engaged.
Rosie Gilomor is on holiday recovering after she nearly got killed 6 months ago, when her editor Mick Mcguire in Glasgow phones her, although she is not longer a hack, she is now the assistant editor in charge of investigations. He has her driving to Marbella to cover the story, as she's the only one he can trust to cover it.
And off Rosie goes on a new Journey and new story.......................
With different accounts of what happened on the beach and who was where its only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
Some very likeable and some very disturbing characters, its great how this book just blends and brings everything together.
Not for the faint hearted, but it is a very good read.
Didn't think it was possible but I enjoyed Anna's second book in the Rosie Gilmour series even more than the first.
I had pre ordered Anna's 4th book when i suddenly realised i still hadn't read book 2 and 3, which is a good thing as i dont have to wait for ever to start the next one now...
A three-year-old girl is snatched from a Spanish beach while on holiday with her parents. Nobody heard a sound. Nobody saw a thing. Or so they claim. Rosie Gilmour is enjoying a well-deserved holiday on the Costa del Sol: one that is cut short when the abduction story breaks and she's sent to cover it. Rosie's instincts tell her something's wrong. Such a crime, committed in broad daylight, must surely have its witnesses? The girl's mother's story, what's more, doesn't add up. When Rosie is approached by an illegal sex worker with information about the abduction, her instincts are confirmed. Key information about the crime is being withheld from the authorities. The reason: corrupt politicians and vicious human trafficking gangs - enemies one would think twice about making. But thinking twice is not in Rosie's DNA, especially when a child's life is at stake. As she closes in on the truth, Rosie realises the penalty for missing this particular deadline could be her own death
Rosie Gilomor is on holiday recovering after she nearly got killed 6 months ago, when her editor Mick Mcguire in Glasgow phones her, although she is not longer a hack, she is now the assistant editor in charge of investigations. He has her driving to Marbella to cover the story, as she's the only one he can trust to cover it.
And off Rosie goes on a new Journey and new story.......................
With different accounts of what happened on the beach and who was where its only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
Some very likeable and some very disturbing characters, its great how this book just blends and brings everything together.
Not for the faint hearted, but it is a very good read.
Didn't think it was possible but I enjoyed Anna's second book in the Rosie Gilmour series even more than the first.
I had pre ordered Anna's 4th book when i suddenly realised i still hadn't read book 2 and 3, which is a good thing as i dont have to wait for ever to start the next one now...
A three-year-old girl is snatched from a Spanish beach while on holiday with her parents. Nobody heard a sound. Nobody saw a thing. Or so they claim. Rosie Gilmour is enjoying a well-deserved holiday on the Costa del Sol: one that is cut short when the abduction story breaks and she's sent to cover it. Rosie's instincts tell her something's wrong. Such a crime, committed in broad daylight, must surely have its witnesses? The girl's mother's story, what's more, doesn't add up. When Rosie is approached by an illegal sex worker with information about the abduction, her instincts are confirmed. Key information about the crime is being withheld from the authorities. The reason: corrupt politicians and vicious human trafficking gangs - enemies one would think twice about making. But thinking twice is not in Rosie's DNA, especially when a child's life is at stake. As she closes in on the truth, Rosie realises the penalty for missing this particular deadline could be her own death
January 7, 2014
Very disappointed with this book, full of cliches and a very obvious plot.
March 3, 2017
I wish I'd discovered this author before now - another great read which follows the same main character not long after the end of the previous book. Excellent, loved it.
March 27, 2017
A really good crime novel that pulls at the heartstrings. Rosie Gilmour is a fearless reporter that will literally put her life on the line to get her scoop!
July 27, 2022
A little tense and disturbing storyline, however it was a don’t put me down book 📖 enjoyed it
July 5, 2023
Excellent novel. Crime fiction books are a thousand a penny but this one really stands out, purely because of the excellency of the writing standard and the compelling, action paced nature of the story. The plot line is sound, the characterisation is great, Rosie being really relatable as far as journalists could possibly go (not an easy task to pull off!). A really good read. Just a star less due to some mistakes in the editing, and the repeated use of 'Christ!' and its variants as a continual expletive by most of the characters.
May 6, 2012
The One Sentence Summary: On vacation in sunny Spain, Glasgow reporter Rosie Gilmour finds herself covering the kidnapping of a young girl, a case whose implications may be more far-reaching than she realizes.
The Meat and Potatoes: Vacationing in Spain after nearly being killed in Glasgow, reporter Rosie Gilmour is asked by her boss to cover the kidnapping of a three-year-old Scottish girl in Costa del Sol. As usual, Rosie gets the breaks—a young sex worker comes to her with an eyewitness account that doesn’t match the story that the mother told the police on the morning of the disappearance. With the help of her photographer, a Spanish private detective, and her Bosnian friend from Glasgow who saved her life months before, Rosie gets deep into the world of child sex trafficking. She follows her leads to Morocco where she hopes to find the missing little girl, the story, or both.
To Tell the Truth is a past-tense novel in the third person, written with a shifting point-of-view. Most often we see the story through the eyes of the main character, Rosie Gilmour, but the point-of-view also shifts to other characters at times, including the kidnapper himself. With this style, the readers know more than any one character, and follow the plot anticipating what’s to come. Unlike Anna Smith’s first novel, which takes place completely in Glasgow, Scotland, To Tell the Truth is set in Spain and Morocco, with just a couple quick sojourns up to Glasgow.
Other than the setting though, To Tell the Truth is very similar to Smith’s first novel, The Dead Won't Sleep. Both deal with crimes against children, delve into the seamy world of prostitution, have a sex worker as a key informant, and include a parallel political plot. Indeed, both novels employ many of the same plot devices, such as the informant finding him/herself in danger as a result of his/her involvement. The cast of characters is largely the same as well, including Adrian, Rosie’s Bosnian friend who saved her life in The Dead Won’t Sleep (and who, serendipitously, is in Spain, embroiled in the same scandal that Rosie’s investigating, but for a completely unrelated reason). New in this novel though is Javier, a Spanish private detective, who provides the local link to the investigation of which Rosie is an outsider.
Overall I preferred To Tell the Truth over The Dead Won’t Sleep, and think Smith did a fantastic job creating suspense and tension and building these to the climax, which lasted about forty action-packed pages.
The Praiseworthy: To Tell the Truth is a complex and well-crafted story. Smith creates many different storylines that run simultaneously (), weaves them together well, and manages to tie them all up in the end without it seeming contrived.
Rosie’s work as a journalist, and her uncovering of the story, are very detailed and realistic. The fact that Smith worked as a journalist for over twenty years is clear in her writing, and these real-life details create a believable main character with a very true voice.
The Shortcomings: The writing in To Tell the Truth is decent, but not great. A large part of what makes a writer great is the ability to look at the everyday and describe it in a new and refreshing way; not just to tell a story, but to tell it with a bit of poetry. In my opinion, Smith has not yet reached this level. Also, much of the backstory and characters’ thoughts and feelings are given to us in the form of extended narration or internal monologue, rather than being slipped into the story more subtly and naturally.
In addition, To Tell the Truth contains many references to the events of Smith’s first novel, some of which are quite central to the present story, without adequate summary. While I did read The Dead Won’t Sleep before To Tell the Truth, it was some months prior (as would be the case with most readers, I would think), and I found myself struggling to recall the exact details to which Smith referred on occasion. The novel would have benefited if better description of the important events from the previous book were woven into the narrative.
The Verdict: I would recommend To Tell the Truth to readers who enjoy crime stories with complex plots, a bit of political intrigue, and an international slant.
The Meat and Potatoes: Vacationing in Spain after nearly being killed in Glasgow, reporter Rosie Gilmour is asked by her boss to cover the kidnapping of a three-year-old Scottish girl in Costa del Sol. As usual, Rosie gets the breaks—a young sex worker comes to her with an eyewitness account that doesn’t match the story that the mother told the police on the morning of the disappearance. With the help of her photographer, a Spanish private detective, and her Bosnian friend from Glasgow who saved her life months before, Rosie gets deep into the world of child sex trafficking. She follows her leads to Morocco where she hopes to find the missing little girl, the story, or both.
To Tell the Truth is a past-tense novel in the third person, written with a shifting point-of-view. Most often we see the story through the eyes of the main character, Rosie Gilmour, but the point-of-view also shifts to other characters at times, including the kidnapper himself. With this style, the readers know more than any one character, and follow the plot anticipating what’s to come. Unlike Anna Smith’s first novel, which takes place completely in Glasgow, Scotland, To Tell the Truth is set in Spain and Morocco, with just a couple quick sojourns up to Glasgow.
Other than the setting though, To Tell the Truth is very similar to Smith’s first novel, The Dead Won't Sleep. Both deal with crimes against children, delve into the seamy world of prostitution, have a sex worker as a key informant, and include a parallel political plot. Indeed, both novels employ many of the same plot devices, such as the informant finding him/herself in danger as a result of his/her involvement. The cast of characters is largely the same as well, including Adrian, Rosie’s Bosnian friend who saved her life in The Dead Won’t Sleep (and who, serendipitously, is in Spain, embroiled in the same scandal that Rosie’s investigating, but for a completely unrelated reason). New in this novel though is Javier, a Spanish private detective, who provides the local link to the investigation of which Rosie is an outsider.
Overall I preferred To Tell the Truth over The Dead Won’t Sleep, and think Smith did a fantastic job creating suspense and tension and building these to the climax, which lasted about forty action-packed pages.
The Praiseworthy: To Tell the Truth is a complex and well-crafted story. Smith creates many different storylines that run simultaneously (), weaves them together well, and manages to tie them all up in the end without it seeming contrived.
Rosie’s work as a journalist, and her uncovering of the story, are very detailed and realistic. The fact that Smith worked as a journalist for over twenty years is clear in her writing, and these real-life details create a believable main character with a very true voice.
The Shortcomings: The writing in To Tell the Truth is decent, but not great. A large part of what makes a writer great is the ability to look at the everyday and describe it in a new and refreshing way; not just to tell a story, but to tell it with a bit of poetry. In my opinion, Smith has not yet reached this level. Also, much of the backstory and characters’ thoughts and feelings are given to us in the form of extended narration or internal monologue, rather than being slipped into the story more subtly and naturally.
In addition, To Tell the Truth contains many references to the events of Smith’s first novel, some of which are quite central to the present story, without adequate summary. While I did read The Dead Won’t Sleep before To Tell the Truth, it was some months prior (as would be the case with most readers, I would think), and I found myself struggling to recall the exact details to which Smith referred on occasion. The novel would have benefited if better description of the important events from the previous book were woven into the narrative.
The Verdict: I would recommend To Tell the Truth to readers who enjoy crime stories with complex plots, a bit of political intrigue, and an international slant.
January 29, 2013
I only read Anna’s first book in October but as I knew her new one was due out at the end of January I figured I’d better catch up with Rosie and how she was doing. In Anna’s second book To Tell the Truth we start off by seeing Rosie on holiday. She’s taking a well earned break, but as usual nothing stays quiet when Rosie is about. In a scene that is hauntingly similar to a news story a few years back, a young girl is snatched from a beach in the Costa del Sol. When Rosie realises the huge news impact she speaks to her boss and she decides to cover it herself. Rosie’s boss McGuire sends out Matt to help her cover and between them they start the task of trying to get to the bottom of what’s happened.
The same as her last book, Anna doesn’t mess about, and throws the reader straight in at the deep end. I really love Rosie and after reading this current one I love her even more. As usual, she likes to get involved irrelevant of the danger and this case is no different. Rosie knows from the off that the mother of the missing girl is covering up for what really happened that day, and in addition she is approached by an illegal sex worker with information about the abduction.
The pace is full speed pretty much from start to finish and with this book and the last there is a certain frenetic energy about the books which I love. The only other author who I can think of that has that same kind of pace is Simon Kernick. What I also loved about this book is that although we see Rosie completely absorbed in the case we still see glimpses of her personal life and her real vulnerability. A friend of Rosie’s named Adrian made a brilliant addition to this story and I would love to see him appear again at some point. Towards the ending I dismissed dinner, TV and phone calls just to make sure I finished it. Cannot believe I didn’t read her books sooner, but having said that I am pleased that I can get straight onto book three entitled Screams in The Dark. Anna also added a wee bit of a question mark right at the end of this book with regards to Rosie’s personal life. All this made me do was groan “For GODS SAKE!” but in a good way. I would say in all honesty that her first book held a slight edge for me, probably just in terms of story. Other than that I loved this book. Absolutely itching to get started on book three and cannot recommend her highly enough. If you haven’t read an Anna Smith before, you may want to start now!
The same as her last book, Anna doesn’t mess about, and throws the reader straight in at the deep end. I really love Rosie and after reading this current one I love her even more. As usual, she likes to get involved irrelevant of the danger and this case is no different. Rosie knows from the off that the mother of the missing girl is covering up for what really happened that day, and in addition she is approached by an illegal sex worker with information about the abduction.
The pace is full speed pretty much from start to finish and with this book and the last there is a certain frenetic energy about the books which I love. The only other author who I can think of that has that same kind of pace is Simon Kernick. What I also loved about this book is that although we see Rosie completely absorbed in the case we still see glimpses of her personal life and her real vulnerability. A friend of Rosie’s named Adrian made a brilliant addition to this story and I would love to see him appear again at some point. Towards the ending I dismissed dinner, TV and phone calls just to make sure I finished it. Cannot believe I didn’t read her books sooner, but having said that I am pleased that I can get straight onto book three entitled Screams in The Dark. Anna also added a wee bit of a question mark right at the end of this book with regards to Rosie’s personal life. All this made me do was groan “For GODS SAKE!” but in a good way. I would say in all honesty that her first book held a slight edge for me, probably just in terms of story. Other than that I loved this book. Absolutely itching to get started on book three and cannot recommend her highly enough. If you haven’t read an Anna Smith before, you may want to start now!
February 7, 2013
This is the second book in the series featuring Rosie Gilmour but, at the time of writing this review, I hadn't read the first book. I picked this one up at the library because of the blurb and because of the echoing similarities to a similar kidnapping a few years ago in Portugal in which every single person that heard about it had their own ideas or theories about what had happened.
This book picked up the pace extremely fast and reminded me of the books written by Simon Kernick. You turn the pages at breakneck speed often missing words out and having to slow down. The chapters are also very short which I always feel adds tension to the book and makes you read quicker because you keep telling yourself 'just one more chapter' however one turns into ten.
I immediately took the character of Rosie and thought she was a great creation, and one I really enjoyed reading about. I will definitely be checking out the first book in the series in the near future. The storyline itself was horrifying but all to realistic given the events of a few years ago. I was abroad myself at the time and it was all the papers and holidaymakers were discussing so this book felt very realistic.
Towards the end though the book really picked up speed and I would advise all readers to spare an hour or two when you are near the end of the book because you will absolutely not want to put this book down until you reach the end. The only thing with not reading the first book first was the author of a second novel always has to backtrack and recap bits of previous books so although I know some of what happened in the first book from reading this I still want to read it. Also I don't think I had that attachment with Rosie that readers from the first book will have because they are more familiar with her. But as I said she is a great character and one I really enjoyed reading about.
This book picked up the pace extremely fast and reminded me of the books written by Simon Kernick. You turn the pages at breakneck speed often missing words out and having to slow down. The chapters are also very short which I always feel adds tension to the book and makes you read quicker because you keep telling yourself 'just one more chapter' however one turns into ten.
I immediately took the character of Rosie and thought she was a great creation, and one I really enjoyed reading about. I will definitely be checking out the first book in the series in the near future. The storyline itself was horrifying but all to realistic given the events of a few years ago. I was abroad myself at the time and it was all the papers and holidaymakers were discussing so this book felt very realistic.
Towards the end though the book really picked up speed and I would advise all readers to spare an hour or two when you are near the end of the book because you will absolutely not want to put this book down until you reach the end. The only thing with not reading the first book first was the author of a second novel always has to backtrack and recap bits of previous books so although I know some of what happened in the first book from reading this I still want to read it. Also I don't think I had that attachment with Rosie that readers from the first book will have because they are more familiar with her. But as I said she is a great character and one I really enjoyed reading about.
April 26, 2012
‘To Tell the Truth’ by Anna Smith
Published by Quercus, 9th February 2012. ISBN: 978-0-85738-296-2
Jenny and Martin Lennon and their three-year-old daughter Amy are on holiday with friends on the Costa del Sol, when Amy is abducted from the beach outside their villa.
Journalist Rosie Gilmour is also holidaying in Spain, but a call from her editor Mick Mcguire in Glasgow has her driving to Marbella to cover the story. Arriving at the villa Rosie is just one more journalist camping outside the Lennon’s holiday villa. But Rosie is not one to let grass grow under her feet she devises a plan to speak with the Lennons. When she does she becomes cognisant that there is more to the situation than has been reported in the press. How much should she reveal? Later at her hotel she is approached by a rent boy who has information about the abduction, and she realises that she has been presented with information that the young rent boy doesn’t realise is dynamite. Rosie has information that puts her on the inside track in more ways than one.
As she pursues her story she uncovers so much more than the abduction of Amy Lennon. Soon Rosie is walking a very fine line between keeping her editor happy and pursuing the abductors, for whom human life is cheap.
The story moves at a cracking pace as several parties become involved in finding Amy, all have different reasons, but basically all have the same goal. An exciting climax to the story which ends with winners and losers, but whilst cheering for the winners one might want to shed a tear for some of the losers. An emotional and explosive mystery. Highly recommended.
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Lizzie Hayes
Published by Quercus, 9th February 2012. ISBN: 978-0-85738-296-2
Jenny and Martin Lennon and their three-year-old daughter Amy are on holiday with friends on the Costa del Sol, when Amy is abducted from the beach outside their villa.
Journalist Rosie Gilmour is also holidaying in Spain, but a call from her editor Mick Mcguire in Glasgow has her driving to Marbella to cover the story. Arriving at the villa Rosie is just one more journalist camping outside the Lennon’s holiday villa. But Rosie is not one to let grass grow under her feet she devises a plan to speak with the Lennons. When she does she becomes cognisant that there is more to the situation than has been reported in the press. How much should she reveal? Later at her hotel she is approached by a rent boy who has information about the abduction, and she realises that she has been presented with information that the young rent boy doesn’t realise is dynamite. Rosie has information that puts her on the inside track in more ways than one.
As she pursues her story she uncovers so much more than the abduction of Amy Lennon. Soon Rosie is walking a very fine line between keeping her editor happy and pursuing the abductors, for whom human life is cheap.
The story moves at a cracking pace as several parties become involved in finding Amy, all have different reasons, but basically all have the same goal. An exciting climax to the story which ends with winners and losers, but whilst cheering for the winners one might want to shed a tear for some of the losers. An emotional and explosive mystery. Highly recommended.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
October 31, 2012
I liked this book, more than the first one which was unexpected (though the author did tell me I would when I met her at the book signing). It's fast paced and has moments of suspense, and it offers an insight into the world of tabloid journalism that many people (including me) probably have no clue about. An interesting point is that I found I still liked the main character, but some of her more unlikeable characteristics are revealed. The author was a journalist for many years, and my only criticism is of some of the sensationalist tabloid labels that are used for certain characters e.g. prejudices about types of criminals, though it does fit in with the world in which the novel is set. I'll definitely read the next one.
February 15, 2013
Gripping thriller with a sadly familiar basis to the story, when a small girl is snatched from her family whilst on holiday. The main character is a journalist, Rosie, who cuts short her holiday to investigate the case for the newspaper she works for.
The trail leads Rosie the the world of sex trafficking, rent boys and the most shocking forms of abuse.
Not for the feint hearted, but a cracking good read.
The trail leads Rosie the the world of sex trafficking, rent boys and the most shocking forms of abuse.
Not for the feint hearted, but a cracking good read.
January 22, 2013
Rosie is a journalist caught up in child-snatching and people smuggling, then chasing down the gangsters. She is a believable character who gets things sorted. This is a good and easy read, though I found some of the action scenes a bit too over-scripted for my liking, giving it all a slight clunky feeling.
Overall, worth the read and interesting scene setting in Spain and Morocco.
Overall, worth the read and interesting scene setting in Spain and Morocco.
February 8, 2013
This was a quick read with a lot of pace and action, though personally I would have liked more suspense. With the story told from several different viewpoints, there was nothing really hidden from the reader and at times one or two plot elements became repetitive as different characters found out what was happening.
August 1, 2013
Didn't think it possible but I enjoyed Anna'second book in the Rosie Gilmour series even more than the first. Loved the character Javier and can't wait to find out his fate as the reader is left wondering. Roll on the next book.
August 12, 2016
I think this was even better than book 1 but life sure doesn't get any easier for Rosie. I was reading this one in hardback and it was a bit of a page turner. The last line was the hook that will make me read book 3.
February 24, 2018
After finishing 'The dead won't sleep' the first book of the series, I was really looking forward to this, the second instalment. Sadly, it was nowhere near as good as the first, but I intend to keep going with the series. Fingers crossed it gets better.
June 8, 2020
5,*
After bringing down rouge cops Rosie takes time out in Spain to get her head focused just when she is starting to relax a young girl is taken from the beach in Marbella and there is it one journalist who is able to handle the storyline...nothing is as it seems
After bringing down rouge cops Rosie takes time out in Spain to get her head focused just when she is starting to relax a young girl is taken from the beach in Marbella and there is it one journalist who is able to handle the storyline...nothing is as it seems
January 22, 2014
excellent ...it was recommended by a friend and i wasnt disappointed
April 3, 2015
Equally as good as the first book, enjoyed
August 9, 2015
anna smith is a brill writer can not put this book down you just want to know how this book ends fanastic book cant wait to start another book by anna smith
May 24, 2014
Another fantastic read by Anna smith. I'm really getting to like the journalist in this story
March 12, 2022
I had stumbled across Anna Smith's first novel in the Rosie Gilmour series, The Dead Won't Sleep, in one of the many bookshops that exist in the bibliophiles' paradise that is Hay-on-Wye, in the UK. I talked about the both the book, and the shop I bought it from at some length in my previous review so I'll spare the details here. Suffice to say I loved them both. So after finishing the book, I was once again hugely grateful to my lovely wife for agreeing to visit Hay-on-Wye during what was otherwise supposed to have been a romantic weekend away. But if anything, I was even more grateful for the fact that I had also bought the second instalment, To Tell The Truth.
This book picks up shortly after where the previous novel had left off. Investigative journalist Rosie Gilmour is on a beach in Spain, catching up on some much-needed rest and relaxation after her previous assignment almost cost her her life. But her holiday is cut short after she receives a report from her office that a three-year-old girl has been abducted from a near-empty beach.
It's a fantastic opening, but it comes with a small proviso. You really do need to have read the first book in the series to gain the most out of this one. So I recommend that you do. Like I said, I loved it. However, the real problem for me is that To Tell the Truth really didn't work as well as The Dead Won't Sleep did.
Part of the issue is the setting. The first novel is set in and around Glasgow and I had absolutely no problem visualising any of the locations described - even though this isn't a city I know particularly well. But I struggled with some of the scenes in this book, particularly those set in Morocco, which admittedly is somewhere that I have never visited. I don't know if the author has, but do wonder if her being less familiar with the location meant that she wasn't able to describe it as vividly.
The other problem is the storyline, which for me was a little too similar to the first novel in some aspects and a little too improbable in others. The plot again features child prostitution and corrupt authoritative figures, and I think I would have preferred an entirely different subject matter - if only to prove to me that the author can write about a variety of issues. And without wanting to give away any major spoilers, the plot relies on the same character having multiple attempts made on his/her life as well as having to witness a personal friend murder someone. My strongest feeling as I got to the end was one of disbelief.
I'm sorry if this is making it sound as though I didn't like this book, because that's not right. I read it easily, stayed intrigued until the end and - just like I did in the first book - cheered Rosie on from start to finish and supported every decision to be made. She is, as I said before, a wonderful creation: admirable in her dedication and passion yet with just the right amount of vulnerability to feel human.
And it's this, really, that's the important thing in a series. The fact that this particular storyline didn't really do it for me is not the end of the world. I still want to see what Rosie does next, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out.
The problem now is that I don't actually have the next book. Maybe another trip to Hay-on-Wye beckons ...
This book picks up shortly after where the previous novel had left off. Investigative journalist Rosie Gilmour is on a beach in Spain, catching up on some much-needed rest and relaxation after her previous assignment almost cost her her life. But her holiday is cut short after she receives a report from her office that a three-year-old girl has been abducted from a near-empty beach.
It's a fantastic opening, but it comes with a small proviso. You really do need to have read the first book in the series to gain the most out of this one. So I recommend that you do. Like I said, I loved it. However, the real problem for me is that To Tell the Truth really didn't work as well as The Dead Won't Sleep did.
Part of the issue is the setting. The first novel is set in and around Glasgow and I had absolutely no problem visualising any of the locations described - even though this isn't a city I know particularly well. But I struggled with some of the scenes in this book, particularly those set in Morocco, which admittedly is somewhere that I have never visited. I don't know if the author has, but do wonder if her being less familiar with the location meant that she wasn't able to describe it as vividly.
The other problem is the storyline, which for me was a little too similar to the first novel in some aspects and a little too improbable in others. The plot again features child prostitution and corrupt authoritative figures, and I think I would have preferred an entirely different subject matter - if only to prove to me that the author can write about a variety of issues. And without wanting to give away any major spoilers, the plot relies on the same character having multiple attempts made on his/her life as well as having to witness a personal friend murder someone. My strongest feeling as I got to the end was one of disbelief.
I'm sorry if this is making it sound as though I didn't like this book, because that's not right. I read it easily, stayed intrigued until the end and - just like I did in the first book - cheered Rosie on from start to finish and supported every decision to be made. She is, as I said before, a wonderful creation: admirable in her dedication and passion yet with just the right amount of vulnerability to feel human.
And it's this, really, that's the important thing in a series. The fact that this particular storyline didn't really do it for me is not the end of the world. I still want to see what Rosie does next, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out.
The problem now is that I don't actually have the next book. Maybe another trip to Hay-on-Wye beckons ...
August 14, 2018
Rosie Gilmour is a gutsy Glaswegian reporter who is taking a month long holiday in the Costa del Sol on the orders of boss after a near death experience whilst following a story in Glasgow. A young child, a girl, disappears from a Spanish beach metres from her mother whilst she is shagging her husband's best friend. It appears that she has been kidnapped. The child's father is out on a run and her mother and her lover make up a story so that the father does not find out the mother has been unfaithful. At the same time as the child disappears the British Home Secretary is having relations with a rent boy on a balcony of a block of flats over looking the beach where the child is and both he and the rent boy see a man taking the child. The abduction is also seen by a wind surfer. Rosie Gilmour is despatched by her boss to cover the story as she is the closest to the scene of the crime. Rosie starts to investigate this kidnap as a reporter and uncovers not only the British Home Secretary's sordid sex life but his friendship with a Russian gangster. Rosie Gilmour tries to find out what happened to the little girl and runs up against not only Russian gangsters, but their Albania friends and colleagues who together amongst other crimes run the people trafficking rackets. The deeper she digs the more she uncovers and the more danger she puts herself and her friends in. This is a great read and I really like the character of Rosie Gilmour, a real ballsy lady.
June 8, 2021
3.5 Stars I think. It's a good story, sadly one that skates very close to the worst aspects of humanity. The potential for evil is all too common. All you need is power over another and a total lack of interest in their well-being. Men, women, children; captured by violence or economics, and plunged into slavery. That's this book in a nutshell. It's not just the snatched child, its all the characters who find their stings being pulled.
I found the writing to be smooth and with a tone I liked. There was just enough setup for me, something I hate when its overdone. Yes, as some others have said, there were some cliches, but then there were other characters which were full of depth. It was not this that caused me to drop a few points on the star scale.
What I didn't like came right at the part of the story I was most looking for; the action. It felt as if the writer was in a hurry to get things wrapped up. The kidnapper seemed to die out of nowhere. The bad guy just up and ran away and an entire army of emergency vehicles turn up within minutes of a fire starting at a deserted farm in the wilderness.
As they say in Glasgow "Ahhhh comeon Jimmy."
I really think if these closing scenes were given the time they deserved this book would have been a 4.5 at the least so there is a lot to recommend it, and I do.
I found the writing to be smooth and with a tone I liked. There was just enough setup for me, something I hate when its overdone. Yes, as some others have said, there were some cliches, but then there were other characters which were full of depth. It was not this that caused me to drop a few points on the star scale.
What I didn't like came right at the part of the story I was most looking for; the action. It felt as if the writer was in a hurry to get things wrapped up. The kidnapper seemed to die out of nowhere. The bad guy just up and ran away and an entire army of emergency vehicles turn up within minutes of a fire starting at a deserted farm in the wilderness.
As they say in Glasgow "Ahhhh comeon Jimmy."
I really think if these closing scenes were given the time they deserved this book would have been a 4.5 at the least so there is a lot to recommend it, and I do.
March 16, 2021
I thought I'd enjoyed the first Rosie Gilmour book, so picked this one up in an Audible 2 for 1. However, it transpired that I didn't remember much of the story of the first one - never a good sign, and in fact spent most of the second half of this book counting down to finishing it. It was fine - horrible subject matter of awful things that happen in our world, that I am certainly not trying to minimize - but why on earth a reporter is apparently the only person who can put the pieces togetherI am not sure, let alone why she actually thinks it's more important that she goes off on a mission that could easily fail, thereby not saving anyone, rather than calling in authorities who have many more resources to get the job done. For the first half of the book almost every scene where Rosie isn't outside, she seems to be spending having just had a shower or bath - surely there's something else Smith could have thought of that she could have realistically been occupying her time with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2017
A good crime/thriller but with a journalist doing the sleuthing rather than the police. The main character of Rosie Gilmour is likeable & credible - though not knowing any journalists I don't know if they really take all these risks for a story! - she knows some very handy folk who aren't averse to a bit of violence... even murder..& they certainly make an intriguing & entertaining team.
The one thing that really bugged me about the story was: why did it need to be set in 1998? Okay, it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to the story that it's not "current" but that's my point.
The one thing that really bugged me about the story was: why did it need to be set in 1998? Okay, it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to the story that it's not "current" but that's my point.
August 19, 2018
It took me a while to decide how much I liked this one. It is written in a kind of hurried, breathless style which does maybe lend itself to the action-packed story that it is. Maybe the journalist background of the author is a factor. We have most of the action here set in Spain with a kidnapped youngster in one story and people trafficking gangsters in the other. It races along in what is actually a very readable manner with a good outcome. Rosie Gilmour is a likeable character and the support cast are pretty good on the whole. Will definitely read more in the series!
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