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DCI Christine Caplan #3
Out of the Dark
A young woman is missing. But is she in hiding . . . or has she been captured? A dying cop asks DCI Christine Caplan to investigate a series of cold bodies found in remote woods, naked and with injuries to their legs that prevent them running. As the scent grows stronger, a new victim is found in the bleak Scottish highlands, and the cold cases seem suddenly dangerously hot. In this thrilling hunt for the missing girl, Caplan must trace where love and control get out of hand, and question where power lies in any relationship. Meanwhile, the dark nights of Scotland conceal a terrifying game of cat and mouse . . . This gripping Scottish police procedural meets twisted psychological thriller, featuring a complex and fascinating female protagonist, is a perfect choice for fans of tartan noir and authors Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and William McIlvanney.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
20 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Caro Ramsay
34 books203 followersCaro Ramsay was born and educated in Glasgow. She has been writing stories since she was five years old, developing a keen interest in crime fiction and a passion for the genre that lead her to write Absolution, her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 10, 2024
DCI Christine Caplan #3
Caplan’s evening starts with two dead bodies, apparent suicides, in a quiet cul-de-sac and no one hears a thing. DS Craigo is placed in charge of that though both officers know something is off with the crime scene, whilst she is sent to Glen Douglas. After a tortuous and mysterious journey in the dark, close to Ministry of Defence land, there’s another body and it’s a strange one. It’s certainly suspicious and definitely unexplained. As if that’s not enough, Caplan’s dying friend Rachel asks her to investigate a missing person cold case that’s been troubling her final days. Does this have any links to a current missing person enquiry, that Bethany Robertson? As ever, Caplan’s life is a busy one but she has a good small team to back her up. Further dogged investigation reveals the presence of something much bigger and darker than they could ever have envisioned and several cold cases merge into one large distressing one .
I really like the character of Caplan and feel that Caro Ramsay has created someone that you can relate to, who feels authentic and who you can like. Not only are the cases gripping but you got a good blend of the demands of a ranking officer with just the right balance of the personal in order to add to the realism. They are good supporting characters in the police team, Craigo is a fascinating one and Mackie is entertaining! The higher ranking officers stonewall as per usual, worrying about budgets. I’m sure that’s true! Christine‘s husband Aklan features too and he inadvertently provides some pertinent information for the enquiry.
The story is told at a steady pace, it’s never especially fast except towards the end, but I like the reflective way in which it’s told and that aids the readers thinking too. The case is a real puzzle, as the scale reveals itself it becomes increasingly shocking and horrifying. Who is behind what’s been happening and continues to evade capture? Clearly they are clever, obstructive and seem in control as it becomes apparent that a dangerous and deadly cat and mouse game is underway.
The author has chosen some great settings throughout rural Scotland that gives the right of atmosphere to a suspenseful and tense read.
The suspicions Caplan has are proving accurate and the hunt is on. The ending is a good one and my heart is in my mouth in one terrifying scenario.
Overall, this is another entertaining read from this author and if you like Tartan Noir check the series out, it’s a good one.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Severn House for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Caplan’s evening starts with two dead bodies, apparent suicides, in a quiet cul-de-sac and no one hears a thing. DS Craigo is placed in charge of that though both officers know something is off with the crime scene, whilst she is sent to Glen Douglas. After a tortuous and mysterious journey in the dark, close to Ministry of Defence land, there’s another body and it’s a strange one. It’s certainly suspicious and definitely unexplained. As if that’s not enough, Caplan’s dying friend Rachel asks her to investigate a missing person cold case that’s been troubling her final days. Does this have any links to a current missing person enquiry, that Bethany Robertson? As ever, Caplan’s life is a busy one but she has a good small team to back her up. Further dogged investigation reveals the presence of something much bigger and darker than they could ever have envisioned and several cold cases merge into one large distressing one .
I really like the character of Caplan and feel that Caro Ramsay has created someone that you can relate to, who feels authentic and who you can like. Not only are the cases gripping but you got a good blend of the demands of a ranking officer with just the right balance of the personal in order to add to the realism. They are good supporting characters in the police team, Craigo is a fascinating one and Mackie is entertaining! The higher ranking officers stonewall as per usual, worrying about budgets. I’m sure that’s true! Christine‘s husband Aklan features too and he inadvertently provides some pertinent information for the enquiry.
The story is told at a steady pace, it’s never especially fast except towards the end, but I like the reflective way in which it’s told and that aids the readers thinking too. The case is a real puzzle, as the scale reveals itself it becomes increasingly shocking and horrifying. Who is behind what’s been happening and continues to evade capture? Clearly they are clever, obstructive and seem in control as it becomes apparent that a dangerous and deadly cat and mouse game is underway.
The author has chosen some great settings throughout rural Scotland that gives the right of atmosphere to a suspenseful and tense read.
The suspicions Caplan has are proving accurate and the hunt is on. The ending is a good one and my heart is in my mouth in one terrifying scenario.
Overall, this is another entertaining read from this author and if you like Tartan Noir check the series out, it’s a good one.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Severn House for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 26, 2024
In this latest from Caro Ramsay, we return to the life and work of DCI Christine Caplan with the third book of the series. This is an intense police procedural involving multiple layers of police personnel, in a missing person case with ever increasing ramifications. What begins with the dying wish of a former police academy classmate to come to her hospice bedside leads to a confusing hunt for potential victims of a sadistic killer or group. And then another person goes missing.
This is a complex procedural which portrays police as individuals with personalities and characteristics that make them part of this successful, though eccentric, team. Caplan herself has an interesting backstory which continues to develop in each book.
I recommend this series and Caro Ramsay’s books in general as all I have read have been well written and engaging. This book could be read as a standalone but I would recommend starting with the first two in the series, The Devil Stone and In Her Blood, in order to follow the development of the personal and professional relationships.
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
This is a complex procedural which portrays police as individuals with personalities and characteristics that make them part of this successful, though eccentric, team. Caplan herself has an interesting backstory which continues to develop in each book.
I recommend this series and Caro Ramsay’s books in general as all I have read have been well written and engaging. This book could be read as a standalone but I would recommend starting with the first two in the series, The Devil Stone and In Her Blood, in order to follow the development of the personal and professional relationships.
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
September 12, 2024
OUT OF THE DARK is Book #3 of the DCI Christine Caplan thriller series and it moves at a fast pace. I have not read the first two books in the series, and so I wasn’t sure whether I was missing important background by starting with #3. Information about Caplan’s family situation was explained early in the story, so I felt I had a good grasp of that. There was less information provided about her investigation team, and I floundered when trying to unravel their strengths and weaknesses. Many team members were named but their backgrounds left blank. To me, they were like pieces moving on a chessboard, just names with no personality.
However, the main thrust of the novel is a series of cases being investigated by Caplan and her team.
(1) It begins with a case that appears to be either a double suicide or one suicide and one naturally caused death. Peter Todd had committed suicide while his long-term partner Roderick Taylor laid dead in his upstairs bed. Taylor was dying, according to the neighbour. It seems straightforward but Caplan leaves DS Craigo to ensure that it is.
(2) Then Caplan is sent to Glen Douglas and another crime scene—this one the dead body of a man with horrendous injuries and his face smashed to a pulp. The first challenge will be to identify the dead man.
(3) Then Caplan visits a former colleague (Rachel) who is dying of cancer in a hospice and has asked her friends (Caplan and Fergusson) to carry on with a cold case investigation she had been surreptitiously carrying out. Rachel is barely conscious and can’t explain clearly what she was investigating.
Caplan said: ‘Rachel Ghillies wasn’t a stupid woman, and it’s bothered her enough that it’s still on her mind as she’s dying. People don’t use the last piece of energy they have for something that doesn’t bother them.’
(4) Finally, the POV is briefly changed and we are witnesses to the kidnapping of Bethany Robertson. Soon afterwards, Caplan is asked to look into why she has disappeared. Bethany hasn’t been missing long enough for it to become an official case but her father is worried; he is able to get a missing person case started because he has links to a former senior officer (Rachel’s husband who is now retired). Through frequent updates via Bethany’s POV, the reader knows that she is in great danger and that Caplan is correct in prioritizing the search for Bethany.
The middle part of the novel involves chasing all the clues and connections.
It was the small things that would solve the case. The devil was in the details.
By the 65% mark, Caplan is quite sure that she knows who the villains are, but the challenge is proving it, and finding the missing Bethany.
This is a fast paced thriller with an emphasis on unraveling the interconnections among several different cases. The only problems I had with it were: (1) keeping track of all the members of Caplan’s team, and (2) understanding how the Rod-Todd case fit into the overall picture.
Thanks to Severn House for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGallry. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
However, the main thrust of the novel is a series of cases being investigated by Caplan and her team.
(1) It begins with a case that appears to be either a double suicide or one suicide and one naturally caused death. Peter Todd had committed suicide while his long-term partner Roderick Taylor laid dead in his upstairs bed. Taylor was dying, according to the neighbour. It seems straightforward but Caplan leaves DS Craigo to ensure that it is.
(2) Then Caplan is sent to Glen Douglas and another crime scene—this one the dead body of a man with horrendous injuries and his face smashed to a pulp. The first challenge will be to identify the dead man.
(3) Then Caplan visits a former colleague (Rachel) who is dying of cancer in a hospice and has asked her friends (Caplan and Fergusson) to carry on with a cold case investigation she had been surreptitiously carrying out. Rachel is barely conscious and can’t explain clearly what she was investigating.
Caplan said: ‘Rachel Ghillies wasn’t a stupid woman, and it’s bothered her enough that it’s still on her mind as she’s dying. People don’t use the last piece of energy they have for something that doesn’t bother them.’
(4) Finally, the POV is briefly changed and we are witnesses to the kidnapping of Bethany Robertson. Soon afterwards, Caplan is asked to look into why she has disappeared. Bethany hasn’t been missing long enough for it to become an official case but her father is worried; he is able to get a missing person case started because he has links to a former senior officer (Rachel’s husband who is now retired). Through frequent updates via Bethany’s POV, the reader knows that she is in great danger and that Caplan is correct in prioritizing the search for Bethany.
The middle part of the novel involves chasing all the clues and connections.
It was the small things that would solve the case. The devil was in the details.
By the 65% mark, Caplan is quite sure that she knows who the villains are, but the challenge is proving it, and finding the missing Bethany.
This is a fast paced thriller with an emphasis on unraveling the interconnections among several different cases. The only problems I had with it were: (1) keeping track of all the members of Caplan’s team, and (2) understanding how the Rod-Todd case fit into the overall picture.
Thanks to Severn House for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGallry. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
September 28, 2024
Out Of The Dark is the third book in the DCI Christine Caplan series by British author, Caro Ramsay. DCI Christine Caplan is heading to the van and husband Aklen at Kilnlorn after attending a scene at Balloch that could be a natural death and suicide of gay lovers, except that something doesn’t sit right.
She’s asked to stop on the way at Glen Douglas where the naked body of an unidentified young man has been spotted in a forest near MoD land. The attending pathologist quickly dismisses any notion of a hillwalker falling from a height. The state of the body, and the injuries suggest the body was dumped recently, but some time after death.
Soon after, Caplan is reminded of her promise to visit a woman with whom she, Lizzie Fergusson and Sarah Linden trained for police service. Rachel Ghillies is in a hospice and she only just manages to communicate to them her barely-intelligible dying wish that they find a certain person or persons.
Some smart searching by both Fergusson and Caplan’s IT whiz, Mackie uncovers the details of one Nikolas Ardman, found in an isolated forest site, in circumstances and with injuries uncannily similar to those of the body at Glen Douglas. More extensive searches reveal others that match, perhaps not exactly, but the circumstances have too much in common to be ignored.
But while results of post mortems on the Balloch dead are awaited, and attempts are made to identify the Glen Douglas body, Caplan’s priority suddenly becomes, at the request of a former DCC (and, coincidentally, the husband of Rachel Ghillies), the search for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of William Robertson. Bethany left her volunteer stint at The Revolve charity on Saturday afternoon but never arrived at home.
She doesn’t quite fit the victim profile, but they feel a sense of urgency, soon convinced she’s not off on a lark with a friend.
Meanwhile, one of her team, PC Callum McPhee is distracted enough by his new girlfriend for his colleagues to be concerned at his out-of-character symptoms and behaviour. And throughout, Caplan finds her resources restricted, and thus getting results, hampered, by the need for approval from the Fiscal, although when she’s able to convince Linden, the ACC goes in to bat for her.
One of the major challenges is that these victims are difficult to track due to their chaotic lifestyles and vulnerability. The picture that begins to emerge, even as it becomes apparent that top brass are stonewalling their investigation, is a shocking one. No wonder the dying former DC wanted Caplan to follow it up.
Aklen later tells her “There’re no such thing as evil people. Just dangerous people. We are all products of our environment and our nature, the moral compass and all that”, but when the truth is finally revealed, Caplan wonders if this is true.
This is an excellent police procedural with Caplan’s team, who are becoming favourites by this third instalment, doing truly outstanding work. And even as the tension builds towards a nail-biting climax, there are moments of laugh-out-loud humour. Readers will have fingers crossed that Ramsay has more of this exceptional series up her literary sleeve. Caro Ramsay’s best yet.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Severn House.
She’s asked to stop on the way at Glen Douglas where the naked body of an unidentified young man has been spotted in a forest near MoD land. The attending pathologist quickly dismisses any notion of a hillwalker falling from a height. The state of the body, and the injuries suggest the body was dumped recently, but some time after death.
Soon after, Caplan is reminded of her promise to visit a woman with whom she, Lizzie Fergusson and Sarah Linden trained for police service. Rachel Ghillies is in a hospice and she only just manages to communicate to them her barely-intelligible dying wish that they find a certain person or persons.
Some smart searching by both Fergusson and Caplan’s IT whiz, Mackie uncovers the details of one Nikolas Ardman, found in an isolated forest site, in circumstances and with injuries uncannily similar to those of the body at Glen Douglas. More extensive searches reveal others that match, perhaps not exactly, but the circumstances have too much in common to be ignored.
But while results of post mortems on the Balloch dead are awaited, and attempts are made to identify the Glen Douglas body, Caplan’s priority suddenly becomes, at the request of a former DCC (and, coincidentally, the husband of Rachel Ghillies), the search for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of William Robertson. Bethany left her volunteer stint at The Revolve charity on Saturday afternoon but never arrived at home.
She doesn’t quite fit the victim profile, but they feel a sense of urgency, soon convinced she’s not off on a lark with a friend.
Meanwhile, one of her team, PC Callum McPhee is distracted enough by his new girlfriend for his colleagues to be concerned at his out-of-character symptoms and behaviour. And throughout, Caplan finds her resources restricted, and thus getting results, hampered, by the need for approval from the Fiscal, although when she’s able to convince Linden, the ACC goes in to bat for her.
One of the major challenges is that these victims are difficult to track due to their chaotic lifestyles and vulnerability. The picture that begins to emerge, even as it becomes apparent that top brass are stonewalling their investigation, is a shocking one. No wonder the dying former DC wanted Caplan to follow it up.
Aklen later tells her “There’re no such thing as evil people. Just dangerous people. We are all products of our environment and our nature, the moral compass and all that”, but when the truth is finally revealed, Caplan wonders if this is true.
This is an excellent police procedural with Caplan’s team, who are becoming favourites by this third instalment, doing truly outstanding work. And even as the tension builds towards a nail-biting climax, there are moments of laugh-out-loud humour. Readers will have fingers crossed that Ramsay has more of this exceptional series up her literary sleeve. Caro Ramsay’s best yet.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Severn House.
April 14, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read by Caro Ramsay. There was no problem with not having read the previous books in the series other than possibly some bits of backstory to some of the characters. I’m not sure whether I’d have enjoyed it more if I’d read the others because I really struggled to form any connection with any of the characters. I found the pace slow and had to stop often for a break which is unusual for me. I did manage to finish but can’t say that any of it particularly stuck in my head. I won’t be reading any more from this series.
December 21, 2025
I'm very fond of this series - and yet I forgot to add this book to my list of books when I was actually reading/listening to it.
It made me begin to listen to it a second time, because I couldn't be sure I had listened to it all ready.
A bit awkward, I must confess. 😅
So now I've tried to rectify that - and I will of course show up for a 4th book when it becomes available as an audiobook. ✨
It made me begin to listen to it a second time, because I couldn't be sure I had listened to it all ready.
A bit awkward, I must confess. 😅
So now I've tried to rectify that - and I will of course show up for a 4th book when it becomes available as an audiobook. ✨
November 25, 2025
When a body is found in an isolated spot with broken limbs and a missing tooth, DCI Caplan and team don't know how it relates to the message of a dying colleague, but then two young women disappear and the race is on to find them. Complex, a well-written exploration of human cruelty, highly recommend.
October 22, 2024
Very hard to follow the story and characters.
July 11, 2024
Sadly, Out of the Dark didn’t work for me. This was my first book in the DCI Caplan series, so maybe I missed some things in the first books. The plot had so much potential and was interesting, but the execution fell short for me. Overall it didn’t feel very cohesive. It opens with two dead bodies and an investigation starting, but then that investigation is only mentioned a few more times. And it still wasn’t clear to me what happened to them or why. I might have overlooked that part, but it just felt disconnected to the main storyline. I also struggled at times to follow the writing. There were parts with dialogue where it wasn’t clear who was speaking, or being spoken about. Pronouns were used but without specifying which he/she/him/her was being referred to.
I did really enjoy the police procedural aspect of this book. The most interesting parts were when Caplan was reviewing old cases and trying to connect the dots with her current case to past incidents.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
I did really enjoy the police procedural aspect of this book. The most interesting parts were when Caplan was reviewing old cases and trying to connect the dots with her current case to past incidents.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
August 11, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
DCI Christine Caplan is investigating the home death and hanging of two partners; the disappearance of two young women and bodies found in outlying areas of Scotland. Plus, an old police friend of hers wants her to look into the old cases of disappearing men and missing girls. The friend is dying of cancer and it's her last wish. There aren't enough hours in the day for Caplan!
This is a taut and well written book with some incredibly evil people in it.
Caplan, Craigo and the others on her team are all terrific. I love Craigo, he's such an undervalued and fun character.
Can't wait for the fourth in this fabulous series.
Highly recommended!
DCI Christine Caplan is investigating the home death and hanging of two partners; the disappearance of two young women and bodies found in outlying areas of Scotland. Plus, an old police friend of hers wants her to look into the old cases of disappearing men and missing girls. The friend is dying of cancer and it's her last wish. There aren't enough hours in the day for Caplan!
This is a taut and well written book with some incredibly evil people in it.
Caplan, Craigo and the others on her team are all terrific. I love Craigo, he's such an undervalued and fun character.
Can't wait for the fourth in this fabulous series.
Highly recommended!
August 22, 2024
D.C.I. Christine Caplan is settling into her post at the rural location of Cronchie in the Scottish Highlands. She still harbours hope of clearing her name and getting back to the Major Incident Team in Glasgow, but for the moment her small team is coming together and her husband, architect Aklen, is showing signs of recovering from his depression. Christine and Aklen are living in a caravan while their cottage undergoes substantial repairs and renovation.
Caplan is called to a murder-suicide. Roderick Taylor and Peter Todd are both found dead at their Balloch home, but there’s something about the scene that niggles at Christine; it just doesn’t make sense to her. When she learns from the pathologist that Roderick Taylor, who was terminally ill, died at least two days before his partner Peter Todd was found hanged inside their home, she knows this is not what it seems..
Leaving Craigo in charge she has to leave to attend the discovery of another dead body. A young man has been found in Glen Douglas on MoD land; beaten so badly he is unrecognisable. That’s a lot for a small team to take on, but even at that, it doesn’t take long before Christine’s plate is heaped with more to concern her.
Rachel Ghillies was a former colleague of Christine’s back in the early days of their careers. Rachel married Rory Ghillies, formerly a Chief Inspector and now retired with many charitable interests. Now, in a hospice with terminal cancer, she has got in touch with Christine to ask her and Lizzie Fergusson to visit her. Christine is curious; she and Rachel were never great pals but she can’t ignore a request from a dying woman. Rachel, who appears to be in the end stage of her disease, isn’t terribly coherent but she is clearly very concerned to point Christine towards a cold case. Though the names she mutters mean nothing to Christine or Lizzie, it is clear that Rachel needs this to be investigated and she is adamant that she doesn’t want Rory involved.
Rory Ghillies crops up again as he intervenes to make sure that Christine takes a personal interest in a missing girl. Bethany Roberts was on her way to volunteer at the Revolve Centre. Though she hasn’t been gone long, William, her over anxious father, is distraught and has turned to Ghillies to ask him to use his contacts to get the police to treat this disappearance seriously from the start.
Bethany’s friend, Shivonne McDougall is also missing but her disappearance is much less out of character and she has no-one to be concerned about her.
Caro Ramsay does a great job of demonstrating how few resources are given to a tiny team who are simply overwhelmed by the amount of serious crime they are having to deal with. At the end of her tether and with a one team member down in very difficult circumstances, there’s not much help for what turns out to be a series of utterly horrendous killings and which has the potential to add Bethany Roberts to the list.
In these circumstances I’m always tempted to think of Cronchie as ‘crunchy’, because these murders are very crunchy indeed. Ms Ramsay’s propensity for the gruesome comes out in spades here and the race against time to save Bethany becomes a vicious fight for survival.
Verdict: Jam packed with action, full of tension and a good helping of pure evil, Caro Ramsay has given us a crime thriller with many layers and one in which the perpetrators share a common theme. If you’re looking for murder, kidnapping, abuse and corruption all wrapped up in a tense and thrilling police procedural, then this is your book!
Caplan is called to a murder-suicide. Roderick Taylor and Peter Todd are both found dead at their Balloch home, but there’s something about the scene that niggles at Christine; it just doesn’t make sense to her. When she learns from the pathologist that Roderick Taylor, who was terminally ill, died at least two days before his partner Peter Todd was found hanged inside their home, she knows this is not what it seems..
Leaving Craigo in charge she has to leave to attend the discovery of another dead body. A young man has been found in Glen Douglas on MoD land; beaten so badly he is unrecognisable. That’s a lot for a small team to take on, but even at that, it doesn’t take long before Christine’s plate is heaped with more to concern her.
Rachel Ghillies was a former colleague of Christine’s back in the early days of their careers. Rachel married Rory Ghillies, formerly a Chief Inspector and now retired with many charitable interests. Now, in a hospice with terminal cancer, she has got in touch with Christine to ask her and Lizzie Fergusson to visit her. Christine is curious; she and Rachel were never great pals but she can’t ignore a request from a dying woman. Rachel, who appears to be in the end stage of her disease, isn’t terribly coherent but she is clearly very concerned to point Christine towards a cold case. Though the names she mutters mean nothing to Christine or Lizzie, it is clear that Rachel needs this to be investigated and she is adamant that she doesn’t want Rory involved.
Rory Ghillies crops up again as he intervenes to make sure that Christine takes a personal interest in a missing girl. Bethany Roberts was on her way to volunteer at the Revolve Centre. Though she hasn’t been gone long, William, her over anxious father, is distraught and has turned to Ghillies to ask him to use his contacts to get the police to treat this disappearance seriously from the start.
Bethany’s friend, Shivonne McDougall is also missing but her disappearance is much less out of character and she has no-one to be concerned about her.
Caro Ramsay does a great job of demonstrating how few resources are given to a tiny team who are simply overwhelmed by the amount of serious crime they are having to deal with. At the end of her tether and with a one team member down in very difficult circumstances, there’s not much help for what turns out to be a series of utterly horrendous killings and which has the potential to add Bethany Roberts to the list.
In these circumstances I’m always tempted to think of Cronchie as ‘crunchy’, because these murders are very crunchy indeed. Ms Ramsay’s propensity for the gruesome comes out in spades here and the race against time to save Bethany becomes a vicious fight for survival.
Verdict: Jam packed with action, full of tension and a good helping of pure evil, Caro Ramsay has given us a crime thriller with many layers and one in which the perpetrators share a common theme. If you’re looking for murder, kidnapping, abuse and corruption all wrapped up in a tense and thrilling police procedural, then this is your book!
August 6, 2024
I am a big fan of this author's Anderson and Costello series so it was a no brainer that I would also pounce on this, a series featuring DCI Christine Caplan. This book being the third and, usual series rules apply...
So, in this, her third outing, we start with Christine being called to the scene of two dead bodies that are probably suicides, maybe murder-suicide, or even natural death-suicide. Found in a quiet neighbourhood with no witnesses, but something appears to be a bit off with the whys and wherefores. But Christine has to leave Craigo there as she is called to the scene of another body. This time definitely suspicious. The body appeared between MoD patrols but had been dead for longer than the gap. A definite body dump.
Meanwhile, an old ex-cop friend of Christine's who is on end-of-life care in a hospice, summons her and their two other friends to ask that she re-examine an old cold case... Interesting...
Now does all this sound like something I'd like to get my teeth into - you bet your life I do! It's all a bit disjointed and convoluted and interconnected and frustrating - but all in a good way! Until, eventually it all starts to come together after the disappearance of Bethany, a young woman vanishing after a volunteering shift... Which throws another cat amongst the already flapping pigeons!
Honestly, you just have to get on a read this book, preferably with all you wits about you. And discover all the shocking secrets that eventually start to pour out. Christine is one formidable woman, with her challenges at home with partner Aklen, and an unfinished house, and those at work mostly around budget and resources. But she juggles it all well.
Pacing is good and matches the narrative all the way through. Slow and steady initially as all the pieces are placed, ramping up with each revelation and shock delivered along the way.
There are a lot of characters. Maybe too many... but they all have their parts to play, even the smallest is well described. Could be useful writing a cast list if you struggle.
But the occasional confusion and frustration is all worth it when the truth is finally laid bare. In all cases. Shocking though it is. And brutal. But a mostly satisfying conclusion is delivered.
All in all, a cracking addition to what is now a well established series. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So, in this, her third outing, we start with Christine being called to the scene of two dead bodies that are probably suicides, maybe murder-suicide, or even natural death-suicide. Found in a quiet neighbourhood with no witnesses, but something appears to be a bit off with the whys and wherefores. But Christine has to leave Craigo there as she is called to the scene of another body. This time definitely suspicious. The body appeared between MoD patrols but had been dead for longer than the gap. A definite body dump.
Meanwhile, an old ex-cop friend of Christine's who is on end-of-life care in a hospice, summons her and their two other friends to ask that she re-examine an old cold case... Interesting...
Now does all this sound like something I'd like to get my teeth into - you bet your life I do! It's all a bit disjointed and convoluted and interconnected and frustrating - but all in a good way! Until, eventually it all starts to come together after the disappearance of Bethany, a young woman vanishing after a volunteering shift... Which throws another cat amongst the already flapping pigeons!
Honestly, you just have to get on a read this book, preferably with all you wits about you. And discover all the shocking secrets that eventually start to pour out. Christine is one formidable woman, with her challenges at home with partner Aklen, and an unfinished house, and those at work mostly around budget and resources. But she juggles it all well.
Pacing is good and matches the narrative all the way through. Slow and steady initially as all the pieces are placed, ramping up with each revelation and shock delivered along the way.
There are a lot of characters. Maybe too many... but they all have their parts to play, even the smallest is well described. Could be useful writing a cast list if you struggle.
But the occasional confusion and frustration is all worth it when the truth is finally laid bare. In all cases. Shocking though it is. And brutal. But a mostly satisfying conclusion is delivered.
All in all, a cracking addition to what is now a well established series. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 22, 2024
This is the latest from Caro Ramsay in a favourite Scottish crime series, featuring DCI Christine Caplan, her life more settled as she lives in a caravan with husband, former architect Aklen, who seems to be recovering in the beauty of the more rural surroundings, whilst the building works continue on their dilapidated cottage. Caplan is surprised when a former police colleague she had not kept in touch with, Rachel Ghillies, a dying cancer patient in a hospice, married to former senior officer, Rory, asks her and Lizzie Fergusson to visit her on her deathbed. A barely coherent Rachel, clearly in a lot of pain, asks them to look into a cold case she had been investigating below the radar, the names are not familiar and barely make sense, but what is clear, Rachel does not want them to let Rory know.
Caplan finds herself at a murder-suicide, Roderick Taylor and Peter Todd at their home, but something about the scene does not feel quite right. This is followed with her making her way to Glen Douglas and MOD territory, where there is the nightmare sight of a horrifyingly badly beaten body of a young male, unrecognisable, with a missing tooth. It is going to take some work to identify him as no such person has been reported missing. Why? An anxious and fearful father, photographs his daughter, Bethany, on her way to volunteer, but she never returns home, abducted it would seem from a park. Rory, using his influence, contacts Caplan, persuading her to mount a hunt for her. Could there possibly be any connection between what happens to Bethany, and the missing cold case victims, identified by Rachel?
Caplan is supported by her small, determined, and hardworking police team, but the workload generated by the cases is overwhelming, and despite what help Sarah Linden gives, she is being starved of resources, are there powers keen to see her not succeed? However, nothing is going to put her off, in what is the most complex and gruesomely horrendous of cold cases with numerous victims, and the urgent need to locate a Bethany who is thought to be in grave danger. This is a brilliant addition to Ramsay's moreish crime series. I cannot wait for the next book! Highly recommended to fans of Scottish crime and other readers new to the author. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Caplan finds herself at a murder-suicide, Roderick Taylor and Peter Todd at their home, but something about the scene does not feel quite right. This is followed with her making her way to Glen Douglas and MOD territory, where there is the nightmare sight of a horrifyingly badly beaten body of a young male, unrecognisable, with a missing tooth. It is going to take some work to identify him as no such person has been reported missing. Why? An anxious and fearful father, photographs his daughter, Bethany, on her way to volunteer, but she never returns home, abducted it would seem from a park. Rory, using his influence, contacts Caplan, persuading her to mount a hunt for her. Could there possibly be any connection between what happens to Bethany, and the missing cold case victims, identified by Rachel?
Caplan is supported by her small, determined, and hardworking police team, but the workload generated by the cases is overwhelming, and despite what help Sarah Linden gives, she is being starved of resources, are there powers keen to see her not succeed? However, nothing is going to put her off, in what is the most complex and gruesomely horrendous of cold cases with numerous victims, and the urgent need to locate a Bethany who is thought to be in grave danger. This is a brilliant addition to Ramsay's moreish crime series. I cannot wait for the next book! Highly recommended to fans of Scottish crime and other readers new to the author. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
July 19, 2024
In this third book of the series, DCI Christine Caplan is now content with her move to Conchie in Scotland and her small team of three are working well. She and her husband Aklan are restoring an old cottage, while living on a caravan onsite. Aklan’s mental health is improving as he gets involved in the project and her two kids are busy leading their own lives.
Caplan is involved in two cases – one investigating the apparent suicide of a man after the death at home of his partner, supposedly from a terminal illness and the other a series of cold case murders she was alerted to by a dying colleague. When the body of a badly beaten, naked body in the woods is found bearing similarities to the cold cases, Caplan realises someone has been killing people for a long time. The disappearance of a young woman makes her fear that she has been abducted by the same killer or killers.
The plot builds steadily as Caplan and her small team try to investigate multiple cases on their own without additional funding from above. The darkness of the plot and the sense of pure evil is served well by the settings in the remote, deep, dark woods as the plot boils to its horrifying climax. I like Caplan’s character as a practical and capable detective who gets things done very much, although felt there was less development of her three team mates in this novel. While I mostly enjoyed this one, especially the development and twists in the plot, I didn't felt the motives behind the killings were strongly convincing and there were some elements that I felt needed more explanation 3.5★
With thanks to Severn House via Netgalley for a copy to read
Caplan is involved in two cases – one investigating the apparent suicide of a man after the death at home of his partner, supposedly from a terminal illness and the other a series of cold case murders she was alerted to by a dying colleague. When the body of a badly beaten, naked body in the woods is found bearing similarities to the cold cases, Caplan realises someone has been killing people for a long time. The disappearance of a young woman makes her fear that she has been abducted by the same killer or killers.
The plot builds steadily as Caplan and her small team try to investigate multiple cases on their own without additional funding from above. The darkness of the plot and the sense of pure evil is served well by the settings in the remote, deep, dark woods as the plot boils to its horrifying climax. I like Caplan’s character as a practical and capable detective who gets things done very much, although felt there was less development of her three team mates in this novel. While I mostly enjoyed this one, especially the development and twists in the plot, I didn't felt the motives behind the killings were strongly convincing and there were some elements that I felt needed more explanation 3.5★
With thanks to Severn House via Netgalley for a copy to read
June 11, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley and Severn House for the eARC of this book. It's the third installment of the DCI Christine Caplan series.
For a change, Christine's homelife is on an even keel. A relocation to the countryside has helped her husband's depression and her children are off living their lives. There's less focus on her personal life in this book and I'm happy about that. I prefer my police procedurals to focus on the crime, or in this case, crimes. Christine, and her small team, are on scene of what appears to be a double suicide when Christine is pulled away. She's driven in secrecy to a Ministry of Defence plot of land where there lies another dead body. In the midst of the two investigations she's asked by a terminally ill colleague to investigate a death that was shut down by her superior officers. As Christine starts to review it she's struck by the parallels to the MOD case, and soon to other bodies found in Scotland's forests.
Caro Ramsay writes excellent books. I enjoy how she intwines the lives of her characters, and how she weaves the crime story amongst them. I'm coming to enjoy the Caplan series but my preference is still for her Anderson and Costello books. This is a good book. 3 out of 5 stars.
For a change, Christine's homelife is on an even keel. A relocation to the countryside has helped her husband's depression and her children are off living their lives. There's less focus on her personal life in this book and I'm happy about that. I prefer my police procedurals to focus on the crime, or in this case, crimes. Christine, and her small team, are on scene of what appears to be a double suicide when Christine is pulled away. She's driven in secrecy to a Ministry of Defence plot of land where there lies another dead body. In the midst of the two investigations she's asked by a terminally ill colleague to investigate a death that was shut down by her superior officers. As Christine starts to review it she's struck by the parallels to the MOD case, and soon to other bodies found in Scotland's forests.
Caro Ramsay writes excellent books. I enjoy how she intwines the lives of her characters, and how she weaves the crime story amongst them. I'm coming to enjoy the Caplan series but my preference is still for her Anderson and Costello books. This is a good book. 3 out of 5 stars.
October 9, 2024
Wow! What a Winner!
Well, first let me say that the editors of this series need to do their job. I’ve read 16 Ramsay’s books and the grammatical errors are just laziness!
But, enough. This mystery is so well thought out and developed that it is definitely a keeper. This new series, “Christine Caplan,” has engaging and endearing characters that are quirky enough to be in the early “Midsommer Murders”series. I’ve fallen in love with their country charm and amazingly insightful into the criminal mind, all the while Caplan focuses and leads them to an eventual conclusion.
The climax is gripping. I couldn’t put it down, and it seemed I couldn’t read fast enough to get to the next harrowing event. I also like that Ramsay’s denouement is a quick summation. In her Anderson and Costello, often I needed the denouement to figure out what I’d just read. Not so in this Caplan series.
I’ve read these 16 book straight over 4 weeks. It was a grand adventure. I will miss it. But….hopefully, a new Christine Caplan mystery will be in the works, and I’ll look forward to continuing my enchantment (poor word choice for murder mysteries—but I like the characters!) with Caro Ramsay’s works.
Well, first let me say that the editors of this series need to do their job. I’ve read 16 Ramsay’s books and the grammatical errors are just laziness!
But, enough. This mystery is so well thought out and developed that it is definitely a keeper. This new series, “Christine Caplan,” has engaging and endearing characters that are quirky enough to be in the early “Midsommer Murders”series. I’ve fallen in love with their country charm and amazingly insightful into the criminal mind, all the while Caplan focuses and leads them to an eventual conclusion.
The climax is gripping. I couldn’t put it down, and it seemed I couldn’t read fast enough to get to the next harrowing event. I also like that Ramsay’s denouement is a quick summation. In her Anderson and Costello, often I needed the denouement to figure out what I’d just read. Not so in this Caplan series.
I’ve read these 16 book straight over 4 weeks. It was a grand adventure. I will miss it. But….hopefully, a new Christine Caplan mystery will be in the works, and I’ll look forward to continuing my enchantment (poor word choice for murder mysteries—but I like the characters!) with Caro Ramsay’s works.
August 6, 2024
This is the first book I have read by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a wonderful sense of the amazing Scottish setting and a very well-written and strong lead character, it was easy to like, and root for DCI Caplan. I probably should point out that this is the third in a series, and whilst it works as a standalone, I feel there are details that, had I had prior knowledge of, would have made the myriad of characters easier to follow and place - there are so many characters to remember. I feel that the author could have made keeping track of the characters easier by being consistent with their names, sometimes referring to them by surname and then other times using their Christian names - this aided my confusion. I also found the tale hard to follow, even though the story runs at a slow pace, there is such a lot going on – historic murders, current murders, a missing girl and a domestic abuse case to name a few elements.
In conclusion, I think the storyline has potential and there are some exceptionally evil characters, but even they weren’t enough to keep my mind from wandering.
In conclusion, I think the storyline has potential and there are some exceptionally evil characters, but even they weren’t enough to keep my mind from wandering.
May 17, 2024
I have never read this author and was unaware that Our of the Dark is actually Book #3 in a series featuring DCI Christine Capley. Had I known this, I would not have read this book. Well, that would most likely be a mistake, as this seems to be a pretty good series based on this book. DCI Capley is investigating a missing persons case in Scotland. I am American so I enjoyed the Scottish setting and some of their terms. Google is my friend! The supporting characters, such as some of the other officers are interesting and I do love me a police procedural! Now this is a slower book, but I do not mean that in a bad way. It just means there a lot of slow reveals and that is a good thing. This can definitely be read as a standalone, but I would have loved to know some of the backstories and that could only add to this one! I would like to go back and read the first two in this series.
Thank you to #NetGalley. Caro Ramsay and Severn House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley. Caro Ramsay and Severn House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
April 19, 2024
Out Of The Dark is the third in the DCI Caplan series, and probably the best yet. Caplan investigates a missing young woman with family links to a former senior officer. A dying former colleague asks her to visit and alludes to a number of unsolved cases that were not takes seriously. Caplan takes up the challenge ...
The DCI and her team find themselves embroiled in something much bigger than they could have thought. The case takes them across rural Scotland, seeking some very devious and twisted criminals. With elements of police politics, psychological control and a cunning cover up, this is a complex plot.
Out Of The Dark has a relatively slow pace, the case developing from small clues and deductions. It is gripping and intriguing in equal measures as Caplan and co near the solution. Overall, an excellent read.
The DCI and her team find themselves embroiled in something much bigger than they could have thought. The case takes them across rural Scotland, seeking some very devious and twisted criminals. With elements of police politics, psychological control and a cunning cover up, this is a complex plot.
Out Of The Dark has a relatively slow pace, the case developing from small clues and deductions. It is gripping and intriguing in equal measures as Caplan and co near the solution. Overall, an excellent read.
May 2, 2024
A dying cop asks DCI Christine Caplan to fulfill her last wish: to investigate a cold case that’s still preying on her mind. The naked body of a young man that was found in a lonely wood, dismissed as a down and out by her superiors. Caplan connects the case to other victims left to die in the bleak Scottish forests, injured and unable to escape. As the scent grows stronger, the cold cases suddenly seem dangerously hot.
Out of the Dark by Caro Ramsay is a combination police procedural and psychological thriller book. It was suspenseful and atmospheric. This is a good addition to the DCI Christine Caplan thriller series.
I will read more by this author and in this series. I would recommend this book. It had solid characters, a good plot, well-planned suspense, and good twists to hold my interest.
#OutoftheDark #NetGalley @severnhouse
Out of the Dark by Caro Ramsay is a combination police procedural and psychological thriller book. It was suspenseful and atmospheric. This is a good addition to the DCI Christine Caplan thriller series.
I will read more by this author and in this series. I would recommend this book. It had solid characters, a good plot, well-planned suspense, and good twists to hold my interest.
#OutoftheDark #NetGalley @severnhouse
August 8, 2025
This third book in the Christine Caplan series is an excellent police procedural, It begins with two different, seemingly unconnected crimes. The first initially looks like a double suicide, and the second is a murdered man with his face bashed in that he is unrecognisable. Then a girl goes missing. On top of this Caplan visits a terminally ill old friend who asks her to investigate a cold case.
The storyline is pretty complex and needed my full attention. The author builds up the tension throughout the book with secrets spilling out everywhere until the savage conclusion. I like Christine. She is a strong capable detective who works hard with her small unconventional team. A special mention to Craigo, who really makes me laugh.
The narration by Kristin Atherton is excellent.
The storyline is pretty complex and needed my full attention. The author builds up the tension throughout the book with secrets spilling out everywhere until the savage conclusion. I like Christine. She is a strong capable detective who works hard with her small unconventional team. A special mention to Craigo, who really makes me laugh.
The narration by Kristin Atherton is excellent.
July 7, 2024
This is book 3 in the series featuring Christine Caplan and I think it is the best yet! I would recommend reading the series for background information but it can be read as a stand alone. I really like the solid plotting, interesting characterisation and the insight into Caplan's personal life, for once it is pretty settled without too much turmoil. Although the pace is steady, I found it worked really well as there are quite a few revelations along the way in the investigation of a young woman who has gone missing. The Scottish setting is beautifully described, as always, which takes the reader right to the heart of the action. I highly recommend the author, one who never disappoints. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
October 1, 2024
A young girl goes missing in a park on a Saturday afternoon and Caplan's team is drawn in. Meanwhile Caplan is asked to visit a former colleague who is dying of cancer. This woman is convinced that a series of unexplained deaths are related, and interestingly, Caplan has recently been involved in the recovery of a body under similar circumstances. Now there is a race against time to find young Bethany and maybe the answers are a little too close to home.
This is an evolving series set in the more remote parts of Scotland and the landscape definitely plays a big part in this tale. The plot is a little far-fetched but the procedural element is strong. I particularly liked the inter-twined plotlines that juxtaposed the search for the vulnerable with the domestic violence aspect.
This is an evolving series set in the more remote parts of Scotland and the landscape definitely plays a big part in this tale. The plot is a little far-fetched but the procedural element is strong. I particularly liked the inter-twined plotlines that juxtaposed the search for the vulnerable with the domestic violence aspect.
August 17, 2024
This ticked a lot of the boxes for me when it comes to a great yarn, however, am I the only one who felt somewhat cheated by how it ended? It felt somewhat rushed, and lacking in detail...one minute we are deep in the forest being chased by a group of 'Mo's' turn the page and we are contemplating life as we sit on a swing....come on Ramsay, we get that you like to keep ends loose and I am totally not wanting everything tied up neatly in a bow, but I think you gave us a poor excuse of an ending, believe me I get it, you want Caplan to meet the 'Tinman' again in a future mystery, but we and your main characters deserve more....
August 25, 2024
I am a fan of this author and enjoyed reading her thirteen books featuring Anderson and Costello, the standalone "Mosaic" aka "The Cursed girls" and the first two books in this police procedural series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Christine Caplan. This story mainly takes place in the west of Scotland from Oban in the north to Galloway in the south.
The plot is far-fetched but is an exciting read. There are various strands. Caplan is asked to investigate some unsolved crimes by a dying colleague but also has to deal with a suicide, a body dumped in the woods, a case of domestic violence and the abduction of a young woman!
The plot is far-fetched but is an exciting read. There are various strands. Caplan is asked to investigate some unsolved crimes by a dying colleague but also has to deal with a suicide, a body dumped in the woods, a case of domestic violence and the abduction of a young woman!
June 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, author Caro Ramsay and publisher Severn House for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.
I have to admit that this one was just not for me. I found there were way too many characters and I couldn’t keep up with who was who. There were times when I was so confused I didn’t even know who the character was.
I found it very hard to follow along. The storyline has great potential if it wasn’t so all over the place with so much going on.
This was my first book by this author and I would like to read another as maybe this was just a one off for me.
I have to admit that this one was just not for me. I found there were way too many characters and I couldn’t keep up with who was who. There were times when I was so confused I didn’t even know who the character was.
I found it very hard to follow along. The storyline has great potential if it wasn’t so all over the place with so much going on.
This was my first book by this author and I would like to read another as maybe this was just a one off for me.
August 12, 2024
A gritty Scottish police procedure story. DCI Christine Caplan has many investigations to juggle but seems to be hindered at every turn with no money for extra hands.
A dying friend also a police officer puts her on track of a series of murders that might be connected.
The story is a through attention to detail investigation that occurs to get the single break that can bring the big results.
Book 3 of this series will have you searching for more of DCI Caplan.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
A dying friend also a police officer puts her on track of a series of murders that might be connected.
The story is a through attention to detail investigation that occurs to get the single break that can bring the big results.
Book 3 of this series will have you searching for more of DCI Caplan.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2024
This is a solid thriller. A young girl goes missing, and initially the police aren’t sure if she’s missing or left by choice. However, with several bodies found in the woods being loosely linked to the case, Christine and crew dig in. There are a lot of loose threads to knot up here, and Ramsey does a good job. A little too much work place politics, but this is a complicated story with a lot of layers and they are handled well.
This could stand alone but it’s stronger as part of a series.
This could stand alone but it’s stronger as part of a series.
August 17, 2024
A totally absorbing read
Caro Ramsay has the skill , insight and understanding, to create genuine characters in her writing. These are real people with hopes ; fears; pasts;; futures; strengths; and flaws.
The characters are intertwined within a complexity of manipulation, murder, and power.
Caro Ramsay has the skill , insight and understanding, to create genuine characters in her writing. These are real people with hopes ; fears; pasts;; futures; strengths; and flaws.
The characters are intertwined within a complexity of manipulation, murder, and power.
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