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In The Shadows
Billie Carlson takes on a thrilling new case in the next instalment of this gripping series.YOU CAN'T ESCAPE THE PAST.The future is looking bright for Billie Carlson. With her child safely home and a new relationship on the horizon, she hasn't felt so settled in years.But when Billie takes on a new client, Elizabeth Fletcher, it's clear trouble is imminent. Elizabeth has killed a man in self-defence. She met him in a bar but he'd turned aggressive, attacking Elizabeth in the middle of the night when she caught him going through her husband's desk drawers. Refusing to go to the police for fear her husband will find out, Elizabeth wants Billie to work out who he was - and what secrets he was looking for. Can Billie help Elizabeth, or is she in way over her head?
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 20, 2025
36 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Anna Smith
387 books184 followersAnna Smith is an award-winning journalist who spent a lifetime in daily newspapers, reporting from the frontline all over the world. She has covered conflicts from Somalia to Rwanda to Kosovo, where she witnessed the plight of tragic refugees, genocide and hideous ethnic cleansing. She has also worked on major investigations, unmasking drug dealers and paedophiles, as well as reporting on the Dunblane Massacre, to 9/11, where she was one of the first journalists on the scene in both world shaking events.
She writes novels full time now, using her vast experience as a journalist to create the hugely popular Rosie Gilmour character, a gritty Glasgow journalist who tears down the walls of corruption and will stop at nothing to get her story. Anna lives between her homes in Scotland and the West of Ireland - and also in Spain to escape the British weather.
Her highly acclaimed debut novel, The Dead Won't Sleep, was the first in the series, exposing corruption and child abuse at the very top of the establishment, echoing real news stories that are being reported at the moment, even though the novel was published three years ago.
The second in the series is, To Tell The Truth, and takes Rosie on a terrifying investigation into the kidnapping of a three-year-old girl from a beach in Spain while on holiday with her parents. It's a fast paced story of people trafficking and
international child porn, and is set in Glasgow, Spain and Morocco.
Book three, is Screams In The Dark, is a harrowing tale of refugees going missing in Glasgow. When a torso is found floating in the River Clyde, Rosie is on the trail of international criminals from London to Belgrade and uncovers a network of evil. It's a story close to Anna's heart as she reported from Kosovo at the start of the war when stricken refugees were spilling across the border in their thousands.
Her fourth in the series, is Betrayed, where Rosie takes on the criminals in the Ulster Volunteer Force in Glasgow. It's a gripping story of cocaine smuggling, of divided loyalties, of love and regret, and ultimately of betrayal.
Her latest novel, A Cold Killing, takes Rosie on the dangerous trail of gun runners as she probes the murder of a retired Glasgow University lecturer. The deeper she digs, she finds that he has a dark past that leads all the way to MI6 and the KGB.
You can read more on www.quercusbooks.co.uk. And also on her Anna Smith Crime Author page on Facebook. Or on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 16, 2025
Thriller set mainly in GLASGOW
3.75*
This is the 4th outing for Billie Carlson, private investigator, ex cop. This time she is tackling two cases simultaneously. One is the death of a woman in the Costa del Sol, her daughter is sure that didn't simply fall and die whilst on holiday there. As Billie looks more closely at the case, she understands that the woman was easily beguiled and seemingly got herself involved in a smuggling operation.
The other: Billie is also engaged by a woman, Elizabeth, who had a drunken one night stand, found herself being strangled but turned the tables and ended up killing her paramour. She dumps him in the sea. Her husband, it transpires, is a university lecturer but also a spy and she believes there is clearly some link between the man who seduced her and her husband's operations. However, her husband absolutely must not find out about her dalliance. Then the body washes up on the shores of Portpatrick but still Elizabeth will not go to the police. It is Billie whom she has chosen to help her and it is only Billie - given the reveal of a shocking personal link - who can help her.
A crisp, fast-paced and easy-to-read-and-follow story that works well as a poolside read. Glasgow doesn't feature particularly strongly, although there are some specific references that set the novel in the city.
3.75*
This is the 4th outing for Billie Carlson, private investigator, ex cop. This time she is tackling two cases simultaneously. One is the death of a woman in the Costa del Sol, her daughter is sure that didn't simply fall and die whilst on holiday there. As Billie looks more closely at the case, she understands that the woman was easily beguiled and seemingly got herself involved in a smuggling operation.
The other: Billie is also engaged by a woman, Elizabeth, who had a drunken one night stand, found herself being strangled but turned the tables and ended up killing her paramour. She dumps him in the sea. Her husband, it transpires, is a university lecturer but also a spy and she believes there is clearly some link between the man who seduced her and her husband's operations. However, her husband absolutely must not find out about her dalliance. Then the body washes up on the shores of Portpatrick but still Elizabeth will not go to the police. It is Billie whom she has chosen to help her and it is only Billie - given the reveal of a shocking personal link - who can help her.
A crisp, fast-paced and easy-to-read-and-follow story that works well as a poolside read. Glasgow doesn't feature particularly strongly, although there are some specific references that set the novel in the city.
April 18, 2025
Billie Carson, investigator, is finally in a good place, following the years of pain and worry, hope and disappointment she has endured since her husband took her child abroad. Now Lucas is back with her, and she is also in a relationship, which is going well but Billie is taking it slowly.
Then like waiting for a bus, two come along together.
Gina Evans is emotional and frantic as she begs Billie to find out how her mother Cathy Evans has ended up on a beach in Spain, dead. And the mysterious and cagy Elizabeth Fletcher, who won’t speak on the telephone about her problem but wants to meet.
We learn in the first few pages of the book that Elizabeth has killed a man that assaulted her, but it’s not as straight forward as that as she wants Billie to find out who the man was and why he was searching her husband’s desk in the middle of the night. Billie’s response is that she should go to the police, but her response is ‘I knew your father’.
And so, Billie is not only caught up in two mysteries, but also a personal one that of the death of her father.
This is a compelling read and moves along at a cracking pace. I couldn’t put it down but sat up into the early hours to finish it. Most Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett
Then like waiting for a bus, two come along together.
Gina Evans is emotional and frantic as she begs Billie to find out how her mother Cathy Evans has ended up on a beach in Spain, dead. And the mysterious and cagy Elizabeth Fletcher, who won’t speak on the telephone about her problem but wants to meet.
We learn in the first few pages of the book that Elizabeth has killed a man that assaulted her, but it’s not as straight forward as that as she wants Billie to find out who the man was and why he was searching her husband’s desk in the middle of the night. Billie’s response is that she should go to the police, but her response is ‘I knew your father’.
And so, Billie is not only caught up in two mysteries, but also a personal one that of the death of her father.
This is a compelling read and moves along at a cracking pace. I couldn’t put it down but sat up into the early hours to finish it. Most Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett
July 11, 2025
Love the Billie Carlson books.
Really enjoyed all the Billie Carlson books. Great characters and storylines. Have read several of Anna Smith's books and Will definitely be reading more
Really enjoyed all the Billie Carlson books. Great characters and storylines. Have read several of Anna Smith's books and Will definitely be reading more
February 21, 2025
Another great read
Anna’s books just keep getting better. I love how the characters just keep growing. Looking forward to the next book
Anna’s books just keep getting better. I love how the characters just keep growing. Looking forward to the next book
February 25, 2025
Brilliant book again by Anna. As usual with reading her books, once I've picked it up, I can't put it down!
August 26, 2025
Such twists!
What a good read!
I really enjoyed this book. It was full of great characters and the plot was something new!
It made me want to be a private eye!
What a good read!
I really enjoyed this book. It was full of great characters and the plot was something new!
It made me want to be a private eye!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews