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Fiona MacLeish #3
The Shelter
An agonised scream cuts through the roar of the snowstorm. Horrified, Fiona twists around to look at the group of hikers behind her. There are four people, where there should be five…
When police officer Fiona MacLeish stumbles upon a group of fellow hikers in dire trouble in the dramatic peaks of the Scottish Highlands, she has no choice but to help. One of the party has fallen off the path, lying below with the crisp white snow around his head starting to turn scarlet.
Fiona soon learns the potential accident is actually a deliberate murder. But who would want to hurt this man and why? With visibility worsening and the snowstorm getting worse, Fiona and the group of hikers make it just in time to a nearby shelter. As Fiona questions those in the party, she realises that everyone is keeping secrets about their relationship with the victim. Any one of these hikers could be the killer…
When another brutal attack happens, it is clear that the murderer is still among them.
Trapped in a shelter at the top of a mountain, Fiona must move fast and identify the killer before they strike again. When her role as a police officer is revealed, Fiona herself becomes a target. With tensions rising and food running out, she knows she doesn’t have long until more people die. But can she find the killer and save herself and the innocent hikers in time?
The Shelter is the third book in the Fiona MacLeish series, set in the remote Scottish mountains. Fans of J.M. Dalgliesh, J.D. Kirk and Simon McCleave will love this character-driven police procedural with a dark twisty plot.
When police officer Fiona MacLeish stumbles upon a group of fellow hikers in dire trouble in the dramatic peaks of the Scottish Highlands, she has no choice but to help. One of the party has fallen off the path, lying below with the crisp white snow around his head starting to turn scarlet.
Fiona soon learns the potential accident is actually a deliberate murder. But who would want to hurt this man and why? With visibility worsening and the snowstorm getting worse, Fiona and the group of hikers make it just in time to a nearby shelter. As Fiona questions those in the party, she realises that everyone is keeping secrets about their relationship with the victim. Any one of these hikers could be the killer…
When another brutal attack happens, it is clear that the murderer is still among them.
Trapped in a shelter at the top of a mountain, Fiona must move fast and identify the killer before they strike again. When her role as a police officer is revealed, Fiona herself becomes a target. With tensions rising and food running out, she knows she doesn’t have long until more people die. But can she find the killer and save herself and the innocent hikers in time?
The Shelter is the third book in the Fiona MacLeish series, set in the remote Scottish mountains. Fans of J.M. Dalgliesh, J.D. Kirk and Simon McCleave will love this character-driven police procedural with a dark twisty plot.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2023
72 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 22, 2023
*4.5 stars*
Despite the freezing temperatures, it’s a clear day, with a decent forecast, so off duty cop, Fiona MacLeish and her friends Donna and Jack are climbing all three thousand one hundred feet of one of Scotland’s toughest Munro’s at the head of Loch Fyne. However, as the temperature dips even lower and the wind speed increases, the first flurries of snow that were forecast for tomorrow, begin to appear and quickly turn into a blizzard.
In the silence of the snowstorm comes a terrifying scream, it was coming from a group of six hikers behind Fiona and her friends.
Quick to investigate, Fiona discovers one of the hikers has fallen over the side and is very badly injured, but something doesn’t sit right with Fiona - had he actually been pushed?
The group carry the injured hiker between them and set off back down the mountain, but as the blizzard worsens, they’re forced to take shelter in a Bothy.
It soon becomes apparent to Fiona that the potential accident was actually deliberate, and when the victim dies of his injuries, she begins to question everyone, but who would want to kill him when nobody had a bad word to say about him?
When another attack happens, it’s clear that they have a murderer in their midst. With Fiona doing much theorising and questioning, the reader finds the tension mount along with the snow - there’s danger without and danger within!
A group of people thrown together in an isolated location in the depth of winter, no mobile phone signal, snow so deep there’s no way to make it out of there, very little food, and a dead body, all come together to make this literally the perfect storm!
It’s great when a writer can make a situation so real that you feel as if you’re there - the freezing cold, the blizzard which makes it impossible to see in front of you, the tension and claustrophobia of the bothy with a murderer amongst you, and the finger of suspicion pointing at everyone. Terrific.
*Thank you to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
Despite the freezing temperatures, it’s a clear day, with a decent forecast, so off duty cop, Fiona MacLeish and her friends Donna and Jack are climbing all three thousand one hundred feet of one of Scotland’s toughest Munro’s at the head of Loch Fyne. However, as the temperature dips even lower and the wind speed increases, the first flurries of snow that were forecast for tomorrow, begin to appear and quickly turn into a blizzard.
In the silence of the snowstorm comes a terrifying scream, it was coming from a group of six hikers behind Fiona and her friends.
Quick to investigate, Fiona discovers one of the hikers has fallen over the side and is very badly injured, but something doesn’t sit right with Fiona - had he actually been pushed?
The group carry the injured hiker between them and set off back down the mountain, but as the blizzard worsens, they’re forced to take shelter in a Bothy.
It soon becomes apparent to Fiona that the potential accident was actually deliberate, and when the victim dies of his injuries, she begins to question everyone, but who would want to kill him when nobody had a bad word to say about him?
When another attack happens, it’s clear that they have a murderer in their midst. With Fiona doing much theorising and questioning, the reader finds the tension mount along with the snow - there’s danger without and danger within!
A group of people thrown together in an isolated location in the depth of winter, no mobile phone signal, snow so deep there’s no way to make it out of there, very little food, and a dead body, all come together to make this literally the perfect storm!
It’s great when a writer can make a situation so real that you feel as if you’re there - the freezing cold, the blizzard which makes it impossible to see in front of you, the tension and claustrophobia of the bothy with a murderer amongst you, and the finger of suspicion pointing at everyone. Terrific.
*Thank you to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
January 8, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley, for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Well, honestly, that was underwhelming.
While I don't hate this book, I don't have much good to say about it either. I am a big fan of thrillers and crime novels, which meant requesting this ARC was a no-brainer.
If you are someone who likes a cut-and-dry crime novel with very little mystery, then this may be the book for you. Unfortunately, it was a little disappointing for my taste.
Most of the story comprised of speculation by the main character about who may have committed the crime, but without any real evidence. Full chapters are filled with speculation based on imagined situations between the characters, rather than on what the MC, a cop, actually can deduce from the facts.
My second problem with this book is the fact that the male-written female MC is so obsessed with thinking about sex (e.g. "sex is always the motive," "i don't have real relationships, just random sex," "this person's sexuality must have something to do with the murders"). And this stuff is mentioned over and over and over.
Then, there is the (also female) best friend whose only personality traits are physically clinging to her husband and making crude sexual jokes. Are there women like this out there? Of course! But certainly not every one. And the fact that a man is portraying the only important women in the story in this fashion gives me an indescribable amount of ick.
Finally, and most upsetting for me, is the lackluster ending. We find out the killer way too early, and then there is no twist, just a painfully long chase and an explanation that I don't really care about at all.
I really wanted to like this. I really want to like every book I read. I don't read to hate, but this was not at all my cup of tea. I wish better luck upon my fellow readers.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | Linktree | Instagram
Well, honestly, that was underwhelming.
While I don't hate this book, I don't have much good to say about it either. I am a big fan of thrillers and crime novels, which meant requesting this ARC was a no-brainer.
If you are someone who likes a cut-and-dry crime novel with very little mystery, then this may be the book for you. Unfortunately, it was a little disappointing for my taste.
Most of the story comprised of speculation by the main character about who may have committed the crime, but without any real evidence. Full chapters are filled with speculation based on imagined situations between the characters, rather than on what the MC, a cop, actually can deduce from the facts.
My second problem with this book is the fact that the male-written female MC is so obsessed with thinking about sex (e.g. "sex is always the motive," "i don't have real relationships, just random sex," "this person's sexuality must have something to do with the murders"). And this stuff is mentioned over and over and over.
Then, there is the (also female) best friend whose only personality traits are physically clinging to her husband and making crude sexual jokes. Are there women like this out there? Of course! But certainly not every one. And the fact that a man is portraying the only important women in the story in this fashion gives me an indescribable amount of ick.
Finally, and most upsetting for me, is the lackluster ending. We find out the killer way too early, and then there is no twist, just a painfully long chase and an explanation that I don't really care about at all.
I really wanted to like this. I really want to like every book I read. I don't read to hate, but this was not at all my cup of tea. I wish better luck upon my fellow readers.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | Linktree | Instagram
September 16, 2023
The only thing better than a locked room murder mystery is one set in an isolated mountain cabin. Now put that cabin on a mountain in Scotland in the middle of a ferocious blizzard and you have The Shelter, an impossible to put down thriller. Police officer Fiona MacLeish is hiking with friends Donna and Jack as the weather suddenly changes, plunging them from autumn into winter in minutes. They are joined by another group who follows them on their way down the mountain. As the snow deepens, one of the group disappears. Has he fallen off the mountainside? Was he pushed? Although Fiona knows her friends well, she has no idea of who this other party is. She has little time to wonder because after they recover the injured man, they are all forced to take shelter in a stone cabin on the path. There is no way they can continue down the mountain. There is no way a rescue helicopter can get to them. There is no cell signal. Then there is another murder and Fiona realizes that the danger in the cabin is worse than the danger outside. Can she identify the killer before there is another victim?
Tension slowly builds in The Shelter. Suspicions pile up like the drifts outside as Fiona tries to understand who is trapped with her. This mystery is so well written that you will feel the numbing cold, the isolation and the growing desperation. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and G.N. Smith for this ARC.
Tension slowly builds in The Shelter. Suspicions pile up like the drifts outside as Fiona tries to understand who is trapped with her. This mystery is so well written that you will feel the numbing cold, the isolation and the growing desperation. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and G.N. Smith for this ARC.
September 18, 2023
There's nothing I love more than a "trapped in a cabin in the middle of a snowstorm up a mountain woth a murderer" storyline and this was even better that for once, it wasn't set in the US and was right here in Scotland! The writing was flawless, the scene is set so vividly you can feel the freezing Scottish weather, and the tension!!! Omg the tension is built up until its unbearable and I was just suspecting everyone. Absolutely loved every second of it
October 22, 2023
The Shelter is the third book in the Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series. I do recommend reading the books in order as there is a lot of backstory to Fiona that is important to know. The series is quite intriguing. Just a heads up, though each story seems to drag a bit, I encourage you to keep reading on.
Fiona seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. This is the case in The Shelter. A ordinary hike turns into so much more for Fiona. Can she discover what is going on? What other potential dangers await her?
The conclusion is dramatic and full of suspense.
A tension filled story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Fiona seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. This is the case in The Shelter. A ordinary hike turns into so much more for Fiona. Can she discover what is going on? What other potential dangers await her?
The conclusion is dramatic and full of suspense.
A tension filled story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 29, 2024
I loved the first and second books (on AUDIOBOOK) in this series. I particularly enjoy the strong and feisty woman detective, Fiona. However, in book #3, sadly, this plot didn’t do it for me. I kept waiting for something more to happen, but it was a very very slow story without much action. I read both on audiobook and the narrator is just terrific. I’ll wait a while before trying the next book in this series but will definitely read it.
September 25, 2023
Where to start. There were parts of The Shelter, a Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller, book 3 that I enjoyed and thought were especially well done. This is the first G.N. Smith, MacLeish novel, that I have read. On the surface, the concept is excellent. Isolated in a shelter during a snowstorm offers many terrific opportunities for Smith to create tension, as the bodies begin to accumulate.
Flora is not nearly as worthy of this setup as I had hoped. As a police officer she does a terrific job of interviewing the suspects. She knows how to ask questions and how to listen, as well as how to observe. In the last section of the novel, as she pursues the killer, the action is terrific. This section is very well described and is easily visualized. What does not work as well is the first half of the book. I expect a police officer to think about possible scenarios for who might be the guilty party and who is at risk, but there can be too much of that, as there is in The Shelter. Over and over again, with the same ideas explored in endless ways is the sort of writing that forces readers to either put down a book or to skim way too much. However, since all this thinking occupies so much space and time, it begins to read like filler. The object isn't to fill space and make the novel longer. There needs to be a purpose and at some point, it does read like filler. Some judicial editing would be helpful.
I want to thank the author and publisher, Bookcouture, for providing this ARC for me to read and review. I am undecided by how to grade this novel. Half of the book is excellent, and so while I am inclined to think this novel is 3 1/2 stars, I suspect this series is much stronger than the first half of Book 3 appears. Smith fans will no doubt love The Shelter, and thus based on that view, I will increase my score to 4 stars.
Flora is not nearly as worthy of this setup as I had hoped. As a police officer she does a terrific job of interviewing the suspects. She knows how to ask questions and how to listen, as well as how to observe. In the last section of the novel, as she pursues the killer, the action is terrific. This section is very well described and is easily visualized. What does not work as well is the first half of the book. I expect a police officer to think about possible scenarios for who might be the guilty party and who is at risk, but there can be too much of that, as there is in The Shelter. Over and over again, with the same ideas explored in endless ways is the sort of writing that forces readers to either put down a book or to skim way too much. However, since all this thinking occupies so much space and time, it begins to read like filler. The object isn't to fill space and make the novel longer. There needs to be a purpose and at some point, it does read like filler. Some judicial editing would be helpful.
I want to thank the author and publisher, Bookcouture, for providing this ARC for me to read and review. I am undecided by how to grade this novel. Half of the book is excellent, and so while I am inclined to think this novel is 3 1/2 stars, I suspect this series is much stronger than the first half of Book 3 appears. Smith fans will no doubt love The Shelter, and thus based on that view, I will increase my score to 4 stars.
October 26, 2023
WoW! This latest book by G.N Smith was Just Brilliant. This author has just got better and better. The Shelter is the third book in the brillant
PC Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series and this was another brilliant book from start to finish. This book is set in the peaks of the Scottish Highlands.
When Police officer Fiona MacLeish stumbles upon a group of fellow hikers in dire trouble in the dramatic peaks of the Scottish Highlands, she has no choice but to help. One of the party has fallen off the path, lying below with the crisp white snow around his head starting to turn scarlet.
However, Fiona soon learns the potential accident is actually a deliberate murder. But who would want to hurt this man and why?
With visibility worsening and the snowstorm getting worse, Fiona and the group of hikers make it just in time to a nearby shelter. Fiona needs to question everyone in the party, But, no one knows she is a Police Officer, she soon realises that everyone is keeping secrets about their relationship with the victim, and any one of these hikers could be the killer…
When another brutal attack happens, it is clear that the murderer is still among them.
All trapped in a shelter at the top of a mountain, Fiona must move fast and identify the killer before they strike again. Fiona herself also becomes a target. With tensions rising and food running out, she knows she doesn’t have long until more people die.
But can she find the killer and save herself and the innocent hikers in time?
WoW, Once I opened my kindle I became hooked from the very first few pages and it was just as tense as the last book with great twists and turns throughout with a great storyline. I ended up reading this all day.....So glad for take aways!!!! lol.
But with this book I have given it another 5 stars. Its Brilliant!
I am looking forward reading more books within this series.
Big thank you to netgalley, and Bookouture and the author G.N.Smith for an early copy of her book.
PC Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series and this was another brilliant book from start to finish. This book is set in the peaks of the Scottish Highlands.
When Police officer Fiona MacLeish stumbles upon a group of fellow hikers in dire trouble in the dramatic peaks of the Scottish Highlands, she has no choice but to help. One of the party has fallen off the path, lying below with the crisp white snow around his head starting to turn scarlet.
However, Fiona soon learns the potential accident is actually a deliberate murder. But who would want to hurt this man and why?
With visibility worsening and the snowstorm getting worse, Fiona and the group of hikers make it just in time to a nearby shelter. Fiona needs to question everyone in the party, But, no one knows she is a Police Officer, she soon realises that everyone is keeping secrets about their relationship with the victim, and any one of these hikers could be the killer…
When another brutal attack happens, it is clear that the murderer is still among them.
All trapped in a shelter at the top of a mountain, Fiona must move fast and identify the killer before they strike again. Fiona herself also becomes a target. With tensions rising and food running out, she knows she doesn’t have long until more people die.
But can she find the killer and save herself and the innocent hikers in time?
WoW, Once I opened my kindle I became hooked from the very first few pages and it was just as tense as the last book with great twists and turns throughout with a great storyline. I ended up reading this all day.....So glad for take aways!!!! lol.
But with this book I have given it another 5 stars. Its Brilliant!
I am looking forward reading more books within this series.
Big thank you to netgalley, and Bookouture and the author G.N.Smith for an early copy of her book.
November 3, 2023
I love a good walk, one to blow the cobwebs away, a mental and physical challenge but I draw the line at walking in snow. Snow is evil stuff so trekking up a mountain is the worst kind of walk! But our Fiona is up to the challenge and yet again she’s thrown into a murder case where the weather is not making it easy (again) – it’s like Mother Nature just doesn’t like Fiona!!
Fiona is definitely an overthinker but that’s what you need when you’re put on the spot like she is. She goes through every permutation as she tries to keep up with event and solve the case she’s been thrown into inadvertently. The way she goes through the suspects around her in this close quarters mountainside shelter shows her capabilities no matter what those around her say.
I loved the way Smith injects some of his familiar humour into what is a chilling story. He lightens the dark narrative briefly before wrenching me back to the midst of Fiona’s thought processes in this tension packed story. Each time Fiona or one of the supporting cast left the shelter, I feared they might not return, worried the blizzard and icy conditions would cause hypothermia … or worse, they’d leave with the killer for their last snowy trek!!
The Shelter is a cracking addition to this new series from Smith. He left me wanting more – I want, nay, need to know what’s happening next!!! I need more Fiona!!!
Fiona is definitely an overthinker but that’s what you need when you’re put on the spot like she is. She goes through every permutation as she tries to keep up with event and solve the case she’s been thrown into inadvertently. The way she goes through the suspects around her in this close quarters mountainside shelter shows her capabilities no matter what those around her say.
I loved the way Smith injects some of his familiar humour into what is a chilling story. He lightens the dark narrative briefly before wrenching me back to the midst of Fiona’s thought processes in this tension packed story. Each time Fiona or one of the supporting cast left the shelter, I feared they might not return, worried the blizzard and icy conditions would cause hypothermia … or worse, they’d leave with the killer for their last snowy trek!!
The Shelter is a cracking addition to this new series from Smith. He left me wanting more – I want, nay, need to know what’s happening next!!! I need more Fiona!!!
September 21, 2023
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my approval to read and review this book.
This is the 3rd in the Fiona MacLeish series. This book is set on a one of the Munro Mountains near Loch Fyne and the action takes place on the mountain and in a secluded bothy, which is where they take shelter. Fiona is on a day off and goes hiking with 2 of her oldest friends, Donna and Jack (a married couple) and they meet up with a group of 6 hikers on their way down from the summit. All of a sudden, there is a scream and one of the 6 has disappeared over the side!! Fiona and one of the group climb down to find hiker severely injured. They all start to descend down the mountain only to be find themselves stranded in blizzard conditions and forced to take shelter in the bothy, where there are 3 more people that are part of the original 6 hikers. PC Fiona MacLeish is on her own without support of Police Scotland and she has to investigate how the accident happen. Was it intentional? All through the story, you will face plot twists and turns that lead to a dramatic conclusion. I read this book in one day as it was unputdownable! I will recommend this book to fellow book readers.
This is the 3rd in the Fiona MacLeish series. This book is set on a one of the Munro Mountains near Loch Fyne and the action takes place on the mountain and in a secluded bothy, which is where they take shelter. Fiona is on a day off and goes hiking with 2 of her oldest friends, Donna and Jack (a married couple) and they meet up with a group of 6 hikers on their way down from the summit. All of a sudden, there is a scream and one of the 6 has disappeared over the side!! Fiona and one of the group climb down to find hiker severely injured. They all start to descend down the mountain only to be find themselves stranded in blizzard conditions and forced to take shelter in the bothy, where there are 3 more people that are part of the original 6 hikers. PC Fiona MacLeish is on her own without support of Police Scotland and she has to investigate how the accident happen. Was it intentional? All through the story, you will face plot twists and turns that lead to a dramatic conclusion. I read this book in one day as it was unputdownable! I will recommend this book to fellow book readers.
October 20, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this Arc in exchange for my honest review.
Another adventure following the police officer Fiona where the weather is against her and she has to find out who is/are the murderer/s. This is the 3rd book of the serie and the same setting, where there is a group of persons, victims, and the weather does not allow her to ask for back up. Anyone could be the culprit and she's the only law officer in this shelter. It was great to read another of her adventures.
Another adventure following the police officer Fiona where the weather is against her and she has to find out who is/are the murderer/s. This is the 3rd book of the serie and the same setting, where there is a group of persons, victims, and the weather does not allow her to ask for back up. Anyone could be the culprit and she's the only law officer in this shelter. It was great to read another of her adventures.
October 26, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
well its the sort of book i would normally go for ...a snow storm and stranded people on the mountain and a killer amongst them
but the descriptive nature was off putting for me... i like an all action book with these elements but there was to much thought processing going on that it was to over whelming for me
well its the sort of book i would normally go for ...a snow storm and stranded people on the mountain and a killer amongst them
but the descriptive nature was off putting for me... i like an all action book with these elements but there was to much thought processing going on that it was to over whelming for me
November 2, 2023
Police officer Fiona MacLeish is with her friends, Donna and Jack on the peaks of Scottish Highlands. When they notice the clouds have changed and are moving rapidly, they know they need to get down before the snowstorm traps them.
With other climbers making their way down too, all is going well until a horrific scream is heard. When they reach him, Fiona quickly realises he has been deliberately smashed around the head. The journey is taking longer now that they have to carry the unconscious man down.
With the storm coming in and taking its toll on everyone, they find a shelter, where another group of people have already set up. With not much food and no signal, it’s going to be a long night.
With a potential killer in their midst, Fiona has to try and see if she can work out who would hurt the unconscious man and why, before anyone else gets hurt.
This has been my favourite book in the series so far. I found this story intriguing and action packed. With believable characters, there really were some who just got on my nerves!
It is a dark story and it flowed well. You can’t help but feel sorry for Fiona, she does seem to attract trouble wherever she goes.
An entertaining read that had me hooked from the first page to the very end.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
With other climbers making their way down too, all is going well until a horrific scream is heard. When they reach him, Fiona quickly realises he has been deliberately smashed around the head. The journey is taking longer now that they have to carry the unconscious man down.
With the storm coming in and taking its toll on everyone, they find a shelter, where another group of people have already set up. With not much food and no signal, it’s going to be a long night.
With a potential killer in their midst, Fiona has to try and see if she can work out who would hurt the unconscious man and why, before anyone else gets hurt.
This has been my favourite book in the series so far. I found this story intriguing and action packed. With believable characters, there really were some who just got on my nerves!
It is a dark story and it flowed well. You can’t help but feel sorry for Fiona, she does seem to attract trouble wherever she goes.
An entertaining read that had me hooked from the first page to the very end.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 5, 2023
“Fiona had three thoughts all of which arrived together. … Fiona’s third thought was the one to pierce her psyche with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel; not again. Twice in the past year Fiona had been trapped in a solitary location by freakish weather, and on both of those occasions a murderer had been among the people isolated alongside her.”
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Shelter’ by G.N. Smith. I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour.
This is Book 3 in the Fiona MacLeish series of crime thrillers.
Police officer Fiona MacLeish is on a mountain hike in the Scottish Highlands with her long time friends Donna and Jack. Then the weather quickly turns as a blizzard is on its way. They decide to head down the mountain, passing a group of six hikers. Shortly after a scream cuts through the air and turning Jo sees that only five hikers remain as one of their party has fallen off the path!
On the way down the slope to attend to the critically injured man, Fiona finds evidence that it was no accident. Yet who would do this and why? With nightfall approaching and the snowstorm increasing, the two groups of hikers only just make it to a nearby stone hut that has been outfitted as an emergency shelter. Two other hikers are waiting there, both associated with the larger group of hikers, thus adding to Jo’s suspect pool.
Concerned that one of the group is a potential murderer, Fiona shifts into investigative mode while concealing her role as a police officer. She questions the hikers, unearthing secrets along the way. Then another attack occurs, removing all doubt that there is a dangerous killer in their midst. No further details to avoid spoilers.
As the quote above demonstrates PC Fiona MacLeish is quite aware that she has again found herself in an isolated location during extreme weather conditions with a murderer about. She is still not a detective as due to previous trauma, she panics in exam situations and so hasn’t been able to sit the required Detective Exam.
With that ‘not again’ at least Fiona (and by extension the author) is aware that this is the third time that she’s found herself in this kind of situation. If I were her I might decide to stay at home unless it’s a bright sunny day with no mega storms, floods, gales, or blizzards in the forecast.
Maybe the universe is trying to tell her something?
Fiona’s inner dialogue certainly is brimming with anxiety almost to the point of paranoia as she suspects pretty much everyone is the guilty party poised to kosh her or knock her down the mountain. Only Donna escapes suspicion as she was standing next to Fiona when she had heard the scream.
As with the previous two novels G. N. Smith creates a powerful sense of the ferocity of the weather and how it affects his characters and their environs. There was also the claustrophobia experienced as the group squeezes into the small hut with the snowstorm howling around them. Every time anyone went outside, I was reaching for an extra jumper.
Overall, I found ‘The Shelter’ an engaging mystery that was enjoyable. I certainly wasn’t able to figure out whodunnit before the final denouement.
However, I do hope that ‘three’s the charm’ and that if the series continues Fiona MacLeish won’t be faced with further singlehanded sleuthing in such extreme weather conditions. The woman deserves a break though I would suggest avoiding tropical islands during hurricane season….
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Shelter’ by G.N. Smith. I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour.
This is Book 3 in the Fiona MacLeish series of crime thrillers.
Police officer Fiona MacLeish is on a mountain hike in the Scottish Highlands with her long time friends Donna and Jack. Then the weather quickly turns as a blizzard is on its way. They decide to head down the mountain, passing a group of six hikers. Shortly after a scream cuts through the air and turning Jo sees that only five hikers remain as one of their party has fallen off the path!
On the way down the slope to attend to the critically injured man, Fiona finds evidence that it was no accident. Yet who would do this and why? With nightfall approaching and the snowstorm increasing, the two groups of hikers only just make it to a nearby stone hut that has been outfitted as an emergency shelter. Two other hikers are waiting there, both associated with the larger group of hikers, thus adding to Jo’s suspect pool.
Concerned that one of the group is a potential murderer, Fiona shifts into investigative mode while concealing her role as a police officer. She questions the hikers, unearthing secrets along the way. Then another attack occurs, removing all doubt that there is a dangerous killer in their midst. No further details to avoid spoilers.
As the quote above demonstrates PC Fiona MacLeish is quite aware that she has again found herself in an isolated location during extreme weather conditions with a murderer about. She is still not a detective as due to previous trauma, she panics in exam situations and so hasn’t been able to sit the required Detective Exam.
With that ‘not again’ at least Fiona (and by extension the author) is aware that this is the third time that she’s found herself in this kind of situation. If I were her I might decide to stay at home unless it’s a bright sunny day with no mega storms, floods, gales, or blizzards in the forecast.
Maybe the universe is trying to tell her something?
Fiona’s inner dialogue certainly is brimming with anxiety almost to the point of paranoia as she suspects pretty much everyone is the guilty party poised to kosh her or knock her down the mountain. Only Donna escapes suspicion as she was standing next to Fiona when she had heard the scream.
As with the previous two novels G. N. Smith creates a powerful sense of the ferocity of the weather and how it affects his characters and their environs. There was also the claustrophobia experienced as the group squeezes into the small hut with the snowstorm howling around them. Every time anyone went outside, I was reaching for an extra jumper.
Overall, I found ‘The Shelter’ an engaging mystery that was enjoyable. I certainly wasn’t able to figure out whodunnit before the final denouement.
However, I do hope that ‘three’s the charm’ and that if the series continues Fiona MacLeish won’t be faced with further singlehanded sleuthing in such extreme weather conditions. The woman deserves a break though I would suggest avoiding tropical islands during hurricane season….
October 3, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "The Shelter" in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is book three in the Fiona MacLeish series and like the previous two, she finds herself in a "locked room" style mystery, only this time she is on a Munro in Scotland called Beinn Bhuidhe. Natural disasters and Fiona seem to travel together. This time it is a blizzard on the Munro where and her friends Donna and Jack were hiking. The storm arrives sooner than predicted and they meet up with a group 6 travelers Kevin, Steve, Thomas, Neil, Frances and Alice who are also braving the storm to get off the Munro. After a scream, they realize that someone in the group is missing.
When they happen upon a shelter they find three people in there who know the people that they have been traveling with...but how? Ivor, Sarah and Lewis are shocked to learn that one of their group has been attacked.
Fiona is a great character. She is very distrustful of everyone she meets, she always thinks the worst of everyone and to her everyone is a suspect. She spends too much time coming up with fantastic ideas, outlandish plots and theories. Everything everyone does is suspect to her - like being given a torch with a bad battery - that couldn't have been an accident, it had to have been done on purpose. Everything that happens on the Munro is a ploy to her or a ruse to attack her. Constantly on high alert she leaps to a lot of inaccurate conclusions. She is desperate to to sit her detective exams but she spends so much time speculating rather than focusing on real evidence.
Fiona is driven by the murder of her parents when she was sitting her history GSCE and that has coloured her life since. She is convinced that she can do a better job of solving the crime if she were a detective instead of just a PC with Police Scotland.
There is a lot of brilliant tension written into this story as several attempts are made to get off the Munro and get help for the injured and justice for the dead. The conclusion and why everything happened is not one that the reader expects as they start this story. The reader also "meets" the often mentioned Dave Lennox in this book and once again Aunt Mary has a small part to play.
This is a wonderful series and personally I can't wait to see where the next book will lead Fiona.
This is book three in the Fiona MacLeish series and like the previous two, she finds herself in a "locked room" style mystery, only this time she is on a Munro in Scotland called Beinn Bhuidhe. Natural disasters and Fiona seem to travel together. This time it is a blizzard on the Munro where and her friends Donna and Jack were hiking. The storm arrives sooner than predicted and they meet up with a group 6 travelers Kevin, Steve, Thomas, Neil, Frances and Alice who are also braving the storm to get off the Munro. After a scream, they realize that someone in the group is missing.
When they happen upon a shelter they find three people in there who know the people that they have been traveling with...but how? Ivor, Sarah and Lewis are shocked to learn that one of their group has been attacked.
Fiona is a great character. She is very distrustful of everyone she meets, she always thinks the worst of everyone and to her everyone is a suspect. She spends too much time coming up with fantastic ideas, outlandish plots and theories. Everything everyone does is suspect to her - like being given a torch with a bad battery - that couldn't have been an accident, it had to have been done on purpose. Everything that happens on the Munro is a ploy to her or a ruse to attack her. Constantly on high alert she leaps to a lot of inaccurate conclusions. She is desperate to to sit her detective exams but she spends so much time speculating rather than focusing on real evidence.
Fiona is driven by the murder of her parents when she was sitting her history GSCE and that has coloured her life since. She is convinced that she can do a better job of solving the crime if she were a detective instead of just a PC with Police Scotland.
There is a lot of brilliant tension written into this story as several attempts are made to get off the Munro and get help for the injured and justice for the dead. The conclusion and why everything happened is not one that the reader expects as they start this story. The reader also "meets" the often mentioned Dave Lennox in this book and once again Aunt Mary has a small part to play.
This is a wonderful series and personally I can't wait to see where the next book will lead Fiona.
February 4, 2024
I found myself struggling to immerse myself in this book. If it hadn't been the selected read for my book club, I might have abandoned it altogether. It's rare for me to leave a book unfinished, even if it's not captivating. Unfortunately, this one lacked the intrigue, excitement, and authenticity I typically seek in a novel. I was relieved to have accessed it through Kindle Unlimited; purchasing it would have left me disappointed. The writing felt excessively verbose, hindering the flow of the narrative.
The story revolves around Fiona MacLeish, a determined cop with aspirations of becoming a detective to solve the decades-old murder of her parents. The narrative kicks off as she treks through the rugged peaks of the Scottish Highlands with her best friend and her best friends husband. Their encounter with another group of hikers, one of whom suffers a serious fall, sets off a chain of events that exposes a web of secrets connecting them all. The injured man, it turns out, is related to one of the hikers and runs a quaint bed-and-breakfast business. As they seek refuge from an impending storm, tensions rise, and Fiona senses there's more to the accident than meets the eye.
The dynamics within the shelter, though described as cramped, fail to evoke a sense of urgency or genuine suspense. Despite the potential for a gripping narrative, the plot unfolds predictably, with Fiona uncovering clues and eventually identifying the perpetrator—much to my unsurprised anticipation. The subsequent murder within the confined space strains credulity, leaving me questioning how it went unnoticed by the other characters.
Ultimately, I struggled to connect with the story. While the reviews may speak favorably of the book, I couldn't find the resonance others seemed to have found. However, I remain open to exploring other works by the author; perhaps this particular novel just didn't resonate with me.
The story revolves around Fiona MacLeish, a determined cop with aspirations of becoming a detective to solve the decades-old murder of her parents. The narrative kicks off as she treks through the rugged peaks of the Scottish Highlands with her best friend and her best friends husband. Their encounter with another group of hikers, one of whom suffers a serious fall, sets off a chain of events that exposes a web of secrets connecting them all. The injured man, it turns out, is related to one of the hikers and runs a quaint bed-and-breakfast business. As they seek refuge from an impending storm, tensions rise, and Fiona senses there's more to the accident than meets the eye.
The dynamics within the shelter, though described as cramped, fail to evoke a sense of urgency or genuine suspense. Despite the potential for a gripping narrative, the plot unfolds predictably, with Fiona uncovering clues and eventually identifying the perpetrator—much to my unsurprised anticipation. The subsequent murder within the confined space strains credulity, leaving me questioning how it went unnoticed by the other characters.
Ultimately, I struggled to connect with the story. While the reviews may speak favorably of the book, I couldn't find the resonance others seemed to have found. However, I remain open to exploring other works by the author; perhaps this particular novel just didn't resonate with me.
October 19, 2023
This premise should have placed this book among my favourites— a Locked Room Mystery, set in the mountainous region of Scotland during a wild, unexpected winter storm. The story continues as the group shelters in an isolated stone cabin protected from the blizzard and freezing cold.
Police officer Fiona MacLeish has been hiking with her two friends, Donna and Jack, who are a married couple. As they make their way down the mountain, the wind and rapid snowfall reduce visibility. They hear a group descending behind them and then a scream. One of a group of those six hikers has disappeared in the storm. The missing hiker is recovered, and it looks like he has been severely injured in a fall, but Fiona realizes that this was a case of attempted murder. The injured man soon dies.
As she begins to learn about the individuals in this group of five people, the pace slows down as Fiona theorizes who the killer might be. All this early unsubstantiated wild speculation seems like a filler and serves little purpose.
Once sheltered in the cabin, they find several others already there who seem to know the group of five. Conditions are grim, with no communications, little food, and the storm making a helicopter rescue impossible. Another person dies, and it is apparent that there is a killer in their midst. There is no safety inside the shelter. Fiona questions the occupants of the cabin, hoping to discover the perpetrator before they claim another victim. Her life is in danger when it is learned she is a police officer.
The pace of the story quickens amidst twists and turns. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. Publication is set for November 2.
Police officer Fiona MacLeish has been hiking with her two friends, Donna and Jack, who are a married couple. As they make their way down the mountain, the wind and rapid snowfall reduce visibility. They hear a group descending behind them and then a scream. One of a group of those six hikers has disappeared in the storm. The missing hiker is recovered, and it looks like he has been severely injured in a fall, but Fiona realizes that this was a case of attempted murder. The injured man soon dies.
As she begins to learn about the individuals in this group of five people, the pace slows down as Fiona theorizes who the killer might be. All this early unsubstantiated wild speculation seems like a filler and serves little purpose.
Once sheltered in the cabin, they find several others already there who seem to know the group of five. Conditions are grim, with no communications, little food, and the storm making a helicopter rescue impossible. Another person dies, and it is apparent that there is a killer in their midst. There is no safety inside the shelter. Fiona questions the occupants of the cabin, hoping to discover the perpetrator before they claim another victim. Her life is in danger when it is learned she is a police officer.
The pace of the story quickens amidst twists and turns. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. Publication is set for November 2.
October 30, 2023
4.5⭐
PC Fiona MacLeish is back and once again finds herself isolated and vulnerable. When she spends her day off hiking one of the Munro Mountains with her two oldest friends Jack and Donna.
As on the way down from the summit. The trio bumps into a group of six hikers and as they continue down. A scream renders the air, and Fiona is quick to notice one of the six hikers is missing, and as a snow storm starts to move in. It becomes clear the hiker has gone over the edge of the cliff.
So, before the weather worsens Fiona, her friends and the other five hikers scramble down to rescue the fallen man, ready and willing to carry him off the mountain before its too late.
However, Fiona realises that something isn't right and her gut is telling her his fall wasn't an accident and now the snowstorm has turned into a blizzard.
And the group is going to have to take shelter in a Bothy. If they're to survive.
Which gives Fiona the chance to observe those with her and when the hiker succumbs to his injuries. She begins to question everyone.
But nobody has a bad word to say about him.
Then another attack happens, and Fiona has to face the fact there is a killer amongst them.
And with so much tension and danger. As the characters are stranded, short of food and water. With no mobile signal and only a dead body for company. This was an enthralling read. That really packs a punch when it comes to the feeling of claustrophobia and uncertainty, and for me it's the best of the series so far.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Shelter. 😊
PC Fiona MacLeish is back and once again finds herself isolated and vulnerable. When she spends her day off hiking one of the Munro Mountains with her two oldest friends Jack and Donna.
As on the way down from the summit. The trio bumps into a group of six hikers and as they continue down. A scream renders the air, and Fiona is quick to notice one of the six hikers is missing, and as a snow storm starts to move in. It becomes clear the hiker has gone over the edge of the cliff.
So, before the weather worsens Fiona, her friends and the other five hikers scramble down to rescue the fallen man, ready and willing to carry him off the mountain before its too late.
However, Fiona realises that something isn't right and her gut is telling her his fall wasn't an accident and now the snowstorm has turned into a blizzard.
And the group is going to have to take shelter in a Bothy. If they're to survive.
Which gives Fiona the chance to observe those with her and when the hiker succumbs to his injuries. She begins to question everyone.
But nobody has a bad word to say about him.
Then another attack happens, and Fiona has to face the fact there is a killer amongst them.
And with so much tension and danger. As the characters are stranded, short of food and water. With no mobile signal and only a dead body for company. This was an enthralling read. That really packs a punch when it comes to the feeling of claustrophobia and uncertainty, and for me it's the best of the series so far.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Shelter. 😊
October 13, 2023
Hello Fiona MaacLeish!
This is the first book in the series that I have read and it was a great introduction. Fiona is obsessed with becoming a detective in the department so that she can investigate a tragedy that is close to her heart.
While on a trip with one of her closest friends and her spouse, she gets trapped in a snow storm and stumbles across a dead body. Fiona is quickly able to determine that there was no "accident" in this storm and that the victim was murdered. Using all of her skills of deduction, Fiona has to evaluate which of the strangers around her committed the murder, while trying to hide her profession.
As the body count increases, it becomes increasingly more urgent for her to identify the murderer and help find someone to rescue them before everyone's time runs out.
I really enjoyed this book! Although there were some very obvious clues and some threads that were not picked up on, it was suspenseful enough for you to suspect several people. The relationships ( Fiona and her friend, suspect to suspect) are also interesting, and you get a good insight into who Fiona is as a person, along with her bravery. I was especially impressed with how Fiona was always aware of her surroundings and the potential dangers and making plans in her head as a "just in case," as I feel that is what is missing in a lot of stories like this one.
I will go back and read the books before this one, and I am very much looking forward to the next!
This review was given in exchange for an honest opinion by NetGalley and the publisher.
This is the first book in the series that I have read and it was a great introduction. Fiona is obsessed with becoming a detective in the department so that she can investigate a tragedy that is close to her heart.
While on a trip with one of her closest friends and her spouse, she gets trapped in a snow storm and stumbles across a dead body. Fiona is quickly able to determine that there was no "accident" in this storm and that the victim was murdered. Using all of her skills of deduction, Fiona has to evaluate which of the strangers around her committed the murder, while trying to hide her profession.
As the body count increases, it becomes increasingly more urgent for her to identify the murderer and help find someone to rescue them before everyone's time runs out.
I really enjoyed this book! Although there were some very obvious clues and some threads that were not picked up on, it was suspenseful enough for you to suspect several people. The relationships ( Fiona and her friend, suspect to suspect) are also interesting, and you get a good insight into who Fiona is as a person, along with her bravery. I was especially impressed with how Fiona was always aware of her surroundings and the potential dangers and making plans in her head as a "just in case," as I feel that is what is missing in a lot of stories like this one.
I will go back and read the books before this one, and I am very much looking forward to the next!
This review was given in exchange for an honest opinion by NetGalley and the publisher.
October 26, 2023
Fiona, Police Scotland's unluckiest cop, is back! Fiona is back for another "locked room" mystery based outside with Geography and weather once again trying to thwart her investigation!
This time her long-time friend Donna and her husband, Jack are climbing a Munro near to Loch Fyne. When the weather takes a turn for the once they make their way downhill. Sadly not all of them make it down unscathed and Fiona has another murder to solve. Who can she trust? Who has their sights set on more trouble? Is she on her own with an angry, scared mob or does she have some allies at her back?
I really enjoyed being back with Fiona. It's a bit of a Busman's holiday for me since I actually do work for the Police, lol. So there is some "artistic licence" but nothing too outlandish!
Fiona has to think on her feet with being hemmed in with so many possible suspects. Eliminating people from her investigation isn't easy and her own feelings don't come out untouched. She has to face some harsh comments levelled at her and still do her job.
There are twists and turns, a red herring or two and fabulous "gotcha" moment. Again the weather takes centre stage and I really did feel like I was right there with Fiona et al in the snow and wind. I did have a wee smile at the end when get to meet an often referred to character and we learn just what Fiona has been up to since we last saw her!
This time her long-time friend Donna and her husband, Jack are climbing a Munro near to Loch Fyne. When the weather takes a turn for the once they make their way downhill. Sadly not all of them make it down unscathed and Fiona has another murder to solve. Who can she trust? Who has their sights set on more trouble? Is she on her own with an angry, scared mob or does she have some allies at her back?
I really enjoyed being back with Fiona. It's a bit of a Busman's holiday for me since I actually do work for the Police, lol. So there is some "artistic licence" but nothing too outlandish!
Fiona has to think on her feet with being hemmed in with so many possible suspects. Eliminating people from her investigation isn't easy and her own feelings don't come out untouched. She has to face some harsh comments levelled at her and still do her job.
There are twists and turns, a red herring or two and fabulous "gotcha" moment. Again the weather takes centre stage and I really did feel like I was right there with Fiona et al in the snow and wind. I did have a wee smile at the end when get to meet an often referred to character and we learn just what Fiona has been up to since we last saw her!
October 3, 2023
There she is again, Fiona MacLeish and she brings with her ... bad weather. :) This seems to follow her around. If you are a fan of locked room crimes stories, you will love this series. The locked room is not really only one room in these cases but Fiona is always trapped due to the bad weather with a killer and his victims past and present. A flood, a storm or a snow blizzard, you name it and Fiona is stuck in the middle of it often without any means of communication or help from the outside. Thank God, she always has one person she can count on to have her back more or less.
This time snow on a mountain is her warden, but Fiona would not be Fiona if she would sit down and give up. Oh no, no way. She struggles, she fights, she is like a cat with nine lives, but maybe she has used them all up this time? She really finds herself in a very dire situation, but she never thinks about stepping down. Will this be it now though?
You cannot not admire this strong lady. I like the numerous theories that float through her head during her investigations.
I also had the feeling she was less hard on herself and I loved that.
The two previous books were very enjoyable too, but in my opinion this one is the best so far. 5 stars
Thank you
This time snow on a mountain is her warden, but Fiona would not be Fiona if she would sit down and give up. Oh no, no way. She struggles, she fights, she is like a cat with nine lives, but maybe she has used them all up this time? She really finds herself in a very dire situation, but she never thinks about stepping down. Will this be it now though?
You cannot not admire this strong lady. I like the numerous theories that float through her head during her investigations.
I also had the feeling she was less hard on herself and I loved that.
The two previous books were very enjoyable too, but in my opinion this one is the best so far. 5 stars
Thank you
October 26, 2023
Fiona goes for a walk up a munro (Scottish hill) with her friends Donna and Jack, and runs into a group of hikers who are in a bit of strife. One of their number has had a fall. Was it an accident, though? When he is retrieved, there is a question mark around his injuries.
As a snowstorm traps the hikers plus Fiona and her friends in a shelter, she starts to speculate that the fallen hiker was actually injured on purpose and so she goes about trying to figure out who out of the hikers could have done it. When another of their number is injured, Fiona knows they are in big, big trouble....
Now, I really like Fiona. She is tough, hard-working and a dedicated police officer. And I really loved the first 2 books. However, this book, with it's endless speculation of "whodunnit" started to get a little tedious and I found my attention drifting. It was an effort not to begin skim reading.
The ending was a little bit weak as well, the high level of tension was missing with this book, compared to the other two, for some reason.
I like Fiona, I like the bones of this book...but the middle of it was just a little flat for me.
4 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
As a snowstorm traps the hikers plus Fiona and her friends in a shelter, she starts to speculate that the fallen hiker was actually injured on purpose and so she goes about trying to figure out who out of the hikers could have done it. When another of their number is injured, Fiona knows they are in big, big trouble....
Now, I really like Fiona. She is tough, hard-working and a dedicated police officer. And I really loved the first 2 books. However, this book, with it's endless speculation of "whodunnit" started to get a little tedious and I found my attention drifting. It was an effort not to begin skim reading.
The ending was a little bit weak as well, the high level of tension was missing with this book, compared to the other two, for some reason.
I like Fiona, I like the bones of this book...but the middle of it was just a little flat for me.
4 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
November 3, 2023
Not Again. HOW? At Least The MC And Author Acknowledge It. Third book in the series - and the third murder within a few weeks that our MC, police officer Macleish, finds herself locked in an enclosed environment with the bodies piling up and a murderer prowling about - but at least there is a quick line early where the MC (and thus, the author) acknowledge that this just doesn't happen to people normally. Which then allows the reader to settle in and just enjoy the book. For the established formula, this one again works well - though perhaps with even more pure speculation and even less actual evidence throughout this particular tale, due to the exact nature of this particular "locked room" isolated environment. (Here, a blizzard in the Scottish Highlands, vs the first book's flood-blocked valley and the second book's storm-blocked island.) Solid overall character work again with the MC though, bringing in the best friend for this particular event and then having some solid progression on the overall mythos of the series in the finale. Which leads to lingering questions of if this series will continue and if it will continue with the existing formula...
Overall a solid book of its type, and one that is well worth the read. Very much recommended.
Overall a solid book of its type, and one that is well worth the read. Very much recommended.
November 19, 2023
Police woman Fiona MacLeish is having a bit of downtime. Along with her friend Donna & Jack Donna's husband they are climbing a Monroe near Loch Fyne. However on the way down, the weather looks like it is taking a turn for the worst. They meet up with another group of 'Monroe Baggers' when there is a yell as someone falls - & meets his death. The other group are all connected with an upmarket hotel. The faller is the owner. As weather shows no sign of improving the group head towards a bothy. Fiona discovers that the victim didn't fall- he was murdered & once again she finds herself cut off by the weather with a killer in their midst.
The author does an amazing job at creating the setting for these stories. I felt I needed to put on an extra jumper! I have enjoyed the previous two books in the series but I found Fiona being in the same situation a third time a bit herd to accept. The whodunnit bit kept me guessing though! I would like to read more about Fiona but I think she needs a change of format now.
Thanks for Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
The author does an amazing job at creating the setting for these stories. I felt I needed to put on an extra jumper! I have enjoyed the previous two books in the series but I found Fiona being in the same situation a third time a bit herd to accept. The whodunnit bit kept me guessing though! I would like to read more about Fiona but I think she needs a change of format now.
Thanks for Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
September 20, 2023
#TheShelter #NetGalley
Awesome locked room mystery.
Police officer Fiona MacLeish is hiking with friends Donna and Jack as the weather suddenly changes, plunging them from autumn into winter in minutes. They are joined by another group who follows them on their way down the mountain. As the snow deepens, one of the group disappears. Has he fallen off the mountainside? Was he pushed? Although Fiona knows her friends well, she has no idea of who this other party is. She has little time to wonder because after they recover the injured man, they are all forced to take shelter in a stone cabin on the path. There is no way they can continue down the mountain. There is no way a rescue helicopter can get to them. There is no cell signal. Then there is another murder and Fiona realizes that the danger in the cabin is worse than the danger outside. Can she identify the killer before there is another victim?
I'm not telling more. Pre order your copy today.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.
Awesome locked room mystery.
Police officer Fiona MacLeish is hiking with friends Donna and Jack as the weather suddenly changes, plunging them from autumn into winter in minutes. They are joined by another group who follows them on their way down the mountain. As the snow deepens, one of the group disappears. Has he fallen off the mountainside? Was he pushed? Although Fiona knows her friends well, she has no idea of who this other party is. She has little time to wonder because after they recover the injured man, they are all forced to take shelter in a stone cabin on the path. There is no way they can continue down the mountain. There is no way a rescue helicopter can get to them. There is no cell signal. Then there is another murder and Fiona realizes that the danger in the cabin is worse than the danger outside. Can she identify the killer before there is another victim?
I'm not telling more. Pre order your copy today.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.
November 6, 2023
The Shelter (A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller Book 3) by G.N. Smith
Our Fiona MacLeish was back! We knew when she’s here, which meant someone was in trouble.
A huge snowstorm was hitting the Scottish highlands, not only a scream caught Fiona interest, also a person in a group missing. Lucky enough, Fiona and the group of hikers stayed in the shelter. Fiona asked questions, until she realised everyone was hiding secrets. The murderer was among them.
I was always drawn into the theme of isolated place with a group of people, a body and loads of secrets. It kept me guessing who’s lying and why. The relationships among these people needed to be untangled.
Fiona MacLeish was one of my favourite fictional characters. Strong, brave and intelligent. Could not wait to have more cases solved by her.
Many thanks to NetGalley, bookouture and GN Smith for my copy. Thanks Bookouture for hosting the booktour.
Pub date: Nov 2, 2023
Read
September 28, 2023I want to start by saying thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-arc of this book. All of my thoughts and opinions are my own.
What I really enjoyed about this book:
The locked room mystery formatting made for an easy, fast-paced read. I liked that the author introduced a variety of characters that were suspects so the storyline kept you guessing until the reveal of the killer at the end. It gave almost a "clue" game murder mystery vibe.
What I didn't enjoy about the book:
While the storyline was very interesting I found it a little chaotic at the start, everything seemed to go wrong almost too perfectly which made it a little unbelievable which didn't allow me to connect with the main character on the level that I would have liked to, (this might be a me problem though as I've read a lot of crime/thriller books).
What I really enjoyed about this book:
The locked room mystery formatting made for an easy, fast-paced read. I liked that the author introduced a variety of characters that were suspects so the storyline kept you guessing until the reveal of the killer at the end. It gave almost a "clue" game murder mystery vibe.
What I didn't enjoy about the book:
While the storyline was very interesting I found it a little chaotic at the start, everything seemed to go wrong almost too perfectly which made it a little unbelievable which didn't allow me to connect with the main character on the level that I would have liked to, (this might be a me problem though as I've read a lot of crime/thriller books).
November 6, 2023
The Shelter is the third in the Fiona MacLeish series. It's a series that I've been on board with from book one and I would definitely recommend you give them all a read. Although saying that it can read as a standalone, but for further context...don't miss out!
Set in Scotland, you knew things were going to get bumpy when snow was mentioned. Can you imagine being trapped in a snowstorm, in a shelter, atop a mountain, with a killer on the loose?
It's a slow starter that builds up into a pacey thriller as the heat hots up and it's time to catch a killer.
Having previously enjoyed the last two books I'm enjoying the character development in MacLeish and am already anticipating book four.
Thrilling, compelling and full of suspense, The Shelter is definitely one to recommend and G.N. Smith an author to look out for.
Set in Scotland, you knew things were going to get bumpy when snow was mentioned. Can you imagine being trapped in a snowstorm, in a shelter, atop a mountain, with a killer on the loose?
It's a slow starter that builds up into a pacey thriller as the heat hots up and it's time to catch a killer.
Having previously enjoyed the last two books I'm enjoying the character development in MacLeish and am already anticipating book four.
Thrilling, compelling and full of suspense, The Shelter is definitely one to recommend and G.N. Smith an author to look out for.
November 30, 2023
I was not too keen on this book to start off with, stuck upon a mountain in the snow , Fiona (the policewoman) decides that a man has been murdered. When going either up or down the mountain is deemed too dangerous, the group shelter in a shepherds cottage. Hoping to get help, Fiona and others start to make their way down the mountain. Not once, but twice. There are a couple more deaths .
Besides the foolhardiness of being on a Munroe mountain in the depths of winter , with less than optimal physical condition, the drawn out thoughts of what Fiona determined had happened, based on feelings and little physical evidence did not really make for exciting reading. However after the half way mark, there was more action and the pace picked up. My interest was aroused and I enjoyed the last third of the book .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. A mixed bag for me .
Besides the foolhardiness of being on a Munroe mountain in the depths of winter , with less than optimal physical condition, the drawn out thoughts of what Fiona determined had happened, based on feelings and little physical evidence did not really make for exciting reading. However after the half way mark, there was more action and the pace picked up. My interest was aroused and I enjoyed the last third of the book .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. A mixed bag for me .
November 7, 2023
Police officer Fiona MacLeish is hiking with friends when suddenly the weather changes and they run into another group of hikers. Strange things are happening people are disappearing, getting injured and sick. Can Fiona catch the culprit before it is too late? This is the third book of the series but I believe it can be easily read as a standalone. Once again I was in awe of Fiona and her detective skills. The settings are beautiful a isolated cabin in a snowstorm and are described vividly. The incidents kept me trying to guess what would happen next and I could feel the tension throughout. I also could feel the fear of not knowing what would happen. I felt my heart racing the whole time. A book that you don't want to miss!
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