What do you think?
Rate this book
False Dawn
St Andrew’s Day. A back shift from hell. A city about to erupt.
Warning – contains spoilers for DI Rob Marshall book 6...
After years working as detective, Sergeant Rakesh Siyal is back in uniform and facing the hard realities of Edinburgh’s streets. With a missing teenager sucking away manpower, his frontline team have to contend with a pub fight in danger of spiralling out of control and turning into something far more dangerous.
Juggling the chaos of the night, Rakesh is called to a domestic dispute that feels all wrong – and his instincts tell him there's more lurking beneath the surface.
As he hunts for a stray dog causing havoc with traffic, tensions soon rise and Rakesh must rely on more than his experience as a detective to navigate a city ready to erupt.
False Dawn follows on from events in His Path of Darkness, the sixth DI Rob Marshall novel.
Warning – contains spoilers for DI Rob Marshall book 6...
After years working as detective, Sergeant Rakesh Siyal is back in uniform and facing the hard realities of Edinburgh’s streets. With a missing teenager sucking away manpower, his frontline team have to contend with a pub fight in danger of spiralling out of control and turning into something far more dangerous.
Juggling the chaos of the night, Rakesh is called to a domestic dispute that feels all wrong – and his instincts tell him there's more lurking beneath the surface.
As he hunts for a stray dog causing havoc with traffic, tensions soon rise and Rakesh must rely on more than his experience as a detective to navigate a city ready to erupt.
False Dawn follows on from events in His Path of Darkness, the sixth DI Rob Marshall novel.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2024
112 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 23, 2024
After finding what he felt was his happy place in Professional Standards with Police Scotland, Sergeant Rakesh Siyal is not happy to be returned to uniform and put in charge of a frontline team on the streets of Edinburgh. There are never enough officers at his disposal but when a fourteen-year-old girl goes missing he finds himself working a night shift with only four other officers and the worst vehicles left in the garage. As the search for the missing teenager intensifies most of the other calls are sent Rakesh's way and he finds himself breaking up fights, looking for a missing Westie, and trying to find the truth behind a domestic dispute. There aren't enough hours in the day for him to get everything done but that's never been an acceptable excuse so he just has to get on with it, doesn't he?
One of the pleasures of reading an Ed James novel is that his own enjoyment of the process is obvious on every page. In Shunty's second outing there are serious problems to be dealt with, officers are put in danger, which the author describes in brilliant detail, and the pressure is constant, but added to this is laugh out loud humour that compliments the rest of the story and makes False Dawn even more of a pleasure to read. There are spoilers, especially to the most recent DCI Marshall story, but this is ultimately a very successful part of its own series.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to the author and publishers, Grey Dog Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I absolutely loved this and recommend it highly.
One of the pleasures of reading an Ed James novel is that his own enjoyment of the process is obvious on every page. In Shunty's second outing there are serious problems to be dealt with, officers are put in danger, which the author describes in brilliant detail, and the pressure is constant, but added to this is laugh out loud humour that compliments the rest of the story and makes False Dawn even more of a pleasure to read. There are spoilers, especially to the most recent DCI Marshall story, but this is ultimately a very successful part of its own series.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to the author and publishers, Grey Dog Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I absolutely loved this and recommend it highly.
December 6, 2024
What's Sunty up to this time?
We join SGT Rakesh Siyal now in uniform after his secondment to professional standards finished, and impatiently waiting for the call saying he will be back as a detective.
It's the beginning of a night shift, and shunty's team are preparing for a heavy night, armed with body cams and tazers, they take to the streets, answering the 999 calls to various disturbances, from drunks fighting to a domestic case, Ed James leads us through the maze of characters whose actions finally lead us to the answers of 'who dun it!' As the norm with these books there's never one simple crime, but loads of interlocking sections, that shunty, with DI Rob Marshall, and the drug squad getting results they all wanted, a fantastic 5🌟 effort once again! what will happen in the next book... will Sgt Siyal be back in a suit? Or still pounding the streets in uniform? I can't wait to find out
We join SGT Rakesh Siyal now in uniform after his secondment to professional standards finished, and impatiently waiting for the call saying he will be back as a detective.
It's the beginning of a night shift, and shunty's team are preparing for a heavy night, armed with body cams and tazers, they take to the streets, answering the 999 calls to various disturbances, from drunks fighting to a domestic case, Ed James leads us through the maze of characters whose actions finally lead us to the answers of 'who dun it!' As the norm with these books there's never one simple crime, but loads of interlocking sections, that shunty, with DI Rob Marshall, and the drug squad getting results they all wanted, a fantastic 5🌟 effort once again! what will happen in the next book... will Sgt Siyal be back in a suit? Or still pounding the streets in uniform? I can't wait to find out
December 1, 2024
After his spell with Professional Standards, Sergeant Rakesh Siyal finds himself in uniform in Edinburgh on St Andrew's night with a depleted team to keep the order. Half his team has been re-assigned to help in the search for a missing teenager, and the remaining few are soon involved in a pub fight with serious consequences and a domestic disturbance with an unexpected aftermath. DI Rob Marshall also finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time - Edinburgh on St Andrew's night. Loved catching up with Shunty in his (hopefully) temporary role.
December 14, 2024
love it or hate it
Or just let it confuse you. I expected to love those boob as I have with many other books by Ed James but then I wondered id I had missed one somewhere. So. I am annoyed that I didn’t love it and equally annoyed that I didn’t hate it.
I would usually not review a book below three stars. False Dawn didn’t quite make a four. blame the author entirely for his over thinking.
I also blame him for my. lack of appetite. An omelette piece FFS what’s next?
Or just let it confuse you. I expected to love those boob as I have with many other books by Ed James but then I wondered id I had missed one somewhere. So. I am annoyed that I didn’t love it and equally annoyed that I didn’t hate it.
I would usually not review a book below three stars. False Dawn didn’t quite make a four. blame the author entirely for his over thinking.
I also blame him for my. lack of appetite. An omelette piece FFS what’s next?
January 15, 2025
Wow!
I have zoomed through this book, really enjoyed it. Rakesh is really coming into his own in Craigmillar. He's gonna be a force to be reckoned with once that stint is over. Marshall and Rakesh will make a great team once he returns to Gala.
I didn't enjoy the latest Marshall novel as much as tge others...there just seemed to be something missing. It was great to see Gashkori fall from grace though.
Keep 'em coming Ed!! 1
I have zoomed through this book, really enjoyed it. Rakesh is really coming into his own in Craigmillar. He's gonna be a force to be reckoned with once that stint is over. Marshall and Rakesh will make a great team once he returns to Gala.
I didn't enjoy the latest Marshall novel as much as tge others...there just seemed to be something missing. It was great to see Gashkori fall from grace though.
Keep 'em coming Ed!! 1
December 5, 2024
Another cracking novel!
This is Ed James second "Shunty" book and it does not disappoint. This time Sergeant Rakesh Siyal is working in Edinburgh with a hankering to get back to the Bonnie border area. Poor soul gets a few beatings along the way but as always gets a good outcome and the promise of getting back where he wants to be. Well worth buying readers.
This is Ed James second "Shunty" book and it does not disappoint. This time Sergeant Rakesh Siyal is working in Edinburgh with a hankering to get back to the Bonnie border area. Poor soul gets a few beatings along the way but as always gets a good outcome and the promise of getting back where he wants to be. Well worth buying readers.
December 22, 2024
just great!
I’ve loved all Ed’s books so far, and False Dawn was very enjoyable to read. Being set in the uniform side of the police rather than CID was a refreshing change of pace. Can’t wait for the next Rakesh book!
I’ve loved all Ed’s books so far, and False Dawn was very enjoyable to read. Being set in the uniform side of the police rather than CID was a refreshing change of pace. Can’t wait for the next Rakesh book!
August 12, 2025
Another fabulous read
I love all Eds books and in particular the Marshall and Rakesh stories. Marshall features quite prominently in this one, and I can't wait until Rakesh is back working with Marshall permanently. It's where he really belongs after all.
I love all Eds books and in particular the Marshall and Rakesh stories. Marshall features quite prominently in this one, and I can't wait until Rakesh is back working with Marshall permanently. It's where he really belongs after all.
December 3, 2024
Rakesh Siyal is plausible.
Rakesh Siyal is a good character. Stays true to form. Believe abl. Good plot and story. Look forward to more with Rakesh.
Rakesh Siyal is a good character. Stays true to form. Believe abl. Good plot and story. Look forward to more with Rakesh.
December 10, 2024
Fantastic read great storylines and characters couldn’t put it down. Would recommend to anyone
December 13, 2024
another great Ed James book
I have enjoyed every series by Ed James and always happy to get each release. I highly recommend all of his books!
I have enjoyed every series by Ed James and always happy to get each release. I highly recommend all of his books!
December 17, 2024
great read
Loved this book lots going on good story line with lots of suspense
Will definitely read more books by this author
Loved this book lots going on good story line with lots of suspense
Will definitely read more books by this author
March 31, 2025
A great second book for Shunty, a wee spell in uniform.
August 11, 2025
Read this one in one session sitting by the pool on holiday. Great story and characters, clever ending and some laughs along the way too. Can’t wait now for False Hope.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews